Page 73 of Sweet Venom

“Even in your darkness, I see the light that belongs only to me.” – P

After the signing, Azariel and I were back on the jet, leaving behind both the city and one of the sweetest memories I’ve had in a long time. I knew I’d never forget this day.

As the plane climbed into the night sky, the lights of Miami shrinking below us, I leaned into the leather seat. My heart was still racing from everything that had happened. I kept replaying it all—the magical bookstore, the lovely readers, the way their faces lit up holding my books like they meant something to them.

It was surreal. Overwhelming, but in the best way.

And through it all, like a quiet storm I couldn’t shake…there was Azariel.

He hadn’t said much. He rarely did. And yet, somehow, he’d said everything. His actions said everything.

When I agreed to follow him to “chase romance,” I thought it would be a disaster. A cruel joke wrapped in expensive suits and sarcastic remarks. But some part of me—a small, quiet, and stubborn part—whispered that maybe there was something waiting at the end of it.

And today, that whisper turned into truth.

He didn’t just change my life by putting my books into the spotlight—he created something truly beautiful. A moment I’ll carry forever in my heart and memories.

In that cute little bookstore, surrounded by kind faces, stories, and soft-spoken love, the girl I used to be—the one with stars in her eyes and too much fear in her chest—she was brought back to life.

She stood there, nervous but smiling, and finally lived the dream she once thought was too far away. A dream she was too afraid to chase for a long time.

All because of him.

When thoughts of the day, gave me an idea for the romance of my next book, I picked up my iPad and opened the notes app, quickly typing everything that happened today while it was still fresh—every detail, every feeling, every soft spark. I didn’t want to forget. I didn’t want to lose any of it.

When I finished, I set it down gently and turned to look at the man responsible for the kaleidoscope turning in my stomach.

Azariel sat the way he always did—composed, distant, every inch of him wrapped in black. Black shirt, black slacks, black boots. Effortless luxury and beauty that made him look like sin dressed in black silk.

His tattoos peeked out from beneath his sleeves, climbing up his neck, disappearing into the open collar of his shirt. They looked like they were carved into him by something ancient,something powerful—like a curse or a spell etched in ink. He was covered in them, head to toe, and I couldn’t look away. Every line whispered a secret I wanted to write, and every shape left me wanting to trace it with my fingers and learn more of him.

He was beautiful. So achingly beautiful.

Like the moon, the stars, and the night sky all in one. And sometimes, he felt like the sun too—too bright, too much, almost painful to look at. But tonight, he was the moon. Quiet. Distant. Bright.

There was no doubt in my mind that he was the most breathtaking man I had ever seen. But it wasn’t just his beauty that left me shaken. It was the shift. The feeling in the air between us.

The moment he took my hand, something deep inside me stilled. Something clicked into place.

As if whatever had kept us apart finally let go.

With one touch, he steadied me. With one look, he made me believe I belonged. That I wasn’t an impostor like my mind so often made me believe.

As I looked at him, all the little moments we’d shared today played through my mind like quick flashes and like a story moving too fast for me to hold onto.

Then he caught me staring and heat creeped up from my neck to my cheeks.

His face didn’t change. He didn’t even blink. But his gray eyes… they were looking at me differently.

There was no coldness in them. They didn’t look far away. They didn’t look right through me. No.

There was only warmth.

My throat tightened, and I had to swallow to calm my racing heart. The traitor had already done enough flips for one day.

“You know,” I said softly, trying to break the silence, “if I told anyone what you did for me today, they wouldn’t believe it.” Okay, maybe mom would since she’s his biggest fan.

Azariel didn’t answer right away. His tattooed fingers tapped a slow rhythm on the armrest. For a second, I thought maybe he didn’t hear me.

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