Page 30 of Venom Within Her

Instead of answering, Larz stepped towards the tree, pressing into it with both palms. In seconds, thick, wooden steps jutted from the tree’s trunk. It spiraled up, a smooth railing appearing at the edge.

“After you, my love.” Larz swept her hand out in front of her.

My mouth hung open. I was too amazed to form any words, so I pushed up the first step. My fingers brushed against the smooth railing on my way up. I could feel Larz close behind me, her gaze burning into me.

“Stop looking at my ass.” I joked.

“Never.” She tapped it playfully as she reached over to push the front door open.

Her home was small, cozy and very her. It was an intriguing mix of woodsy and edgy. Dark wood blended beautifully with shades of black splashed all across the home. There were intricate painted skateboard decks lining the walls and unique art pieces, along with a large shelf of books.

I beelined straight for the bookshelf, running my fingers over the spines. I was surprised to find some of my favorite classics front and center.

“Tea?” Larz was in the small kitchen, filling a tea kettle and placing it on the stove.

“Wait, how-?”

Larz cocked a brow.

“Ah,” I sighed, “the magic of the forest?”

“Right. We are fully functIlonal. Electricity. Running water. Everything you could ever need.” She smiled.

“Well, tea sounds amazing.”

“I’ll meet you on the balcony in a few minutes.” She pointed her chin across the room to a sliding glass door.

When I stepped onto the balcony, my jaw dropped and my heart tightened in my chest. It was so beautiful. I could see thousands of trees in front of me, stretching for miles. The sky had already darkened, the leaves only illuminated by the full moonlight. I couldn’t wait to see it in the daytime, but at that moment, it was perfect.

I didn’t realize how long I had been standing in the same spot staring until Larz pressed into my back, circling her arm around me with a steaming mug of tea.

“Beautiful, isn’t it?” She said, her low voice and warm breath sending chills down my spine.

“It’s amazing,” I sighed, taking the mug but not able to rip my eyes away just yet. It felt like a dream I wasn’t ready to wake up from.

Larz didn’t rush me. She didn’t speak. She just wrapped her strong arms around me, rested her chin on my shoulder, and let me enjoy the moment as we swayed lightly together. I relaxed into her strong hold, sipping my tea and relishing in the feeling of her hard body supporting me.

I hadn’t known her for long, but I couldn’t imagine my future without her now. I couldn’t imagine not waking up every morning to her or being surrounded by nature. The sense of calm that washed over me was unlike anything I’d ever felt. It was like I finally understood what I had been longing for my entire life. It was here, stretching out in front of me and wrapped around my waist. I may have been diving headfirst into the unknown, but I’d never wanted anything more.

21

Larz

As much as I didn’t want to scare her, I’d learned that keeping things from Ilona only made everything worse. I was almost sure that the footsteps I’d heard in the woods were hunters, and that they’d traveled farther into the forest than ever. Searching for me, no doubt.

I didn’t want to ruin our plans for the claiming ritual and changing Ilona, so I decided to wait to tell her until after. Besides, she would be much safer against any attacks if she were able to shift. At least she would be able to heal.

Preparations for our mating ritual had been in the works since the moment I laid eyes on Ilona. I had gathered everything she would need to be comfortable before and after the sting. I ran her a warm bath filled with scented oils and left her there to soak while I set everything up.

First, I set the mood by dimming the lights to a sensual red. I made an array of playlists for her to choose from, depending on her mood. I lined the brand new mattress with black silky sheets and plush pillows. Both nightstands were stocked with cold water, snacks, and different-sized toys for her to choose from.

Lastly, tucked away under my side of the mattress was a fat, shiny ruby ring. We hadn’t known each other long, but I knew Ilona was my fated mate. In my world, the claiming ritual was as close to human marriage as it could get. If she was going to indulge in my traditions, I wanted to include hers.

She emerged from the bathroom with a black, sheer robe draped over her naked body. My mouth watered as I drank in her soft curves. She pulled the tie from her hair, sending her voluminous, two-toned curls cascading down her shoulders, covering her nipples that had been poking through the scandalous fabric.

Even from across the room, she smelled divine. She’d lathered herself with the cocoa and shea butter I’d left out on the vanity for her. The way it mixed with the smell of her arousal was intoxicating. Shivers ran over my skin as she approached me. Tonight, I wouldn’t have to hold back.

With a roll of my neck and shoulders, I let myself shift. My tail grew from the small of my back and hit the floor with a dull thunk. My claws stretched from under my arms. My split tongue elongated and darkened along with my eyes.