Page 36 of Something Handsome This Way Comes

Just wait and see.

Then the Naga opened its massive mouth, revealing rows of sharp teeth and a thick, slitted tongue. Then his mouth opened wider, his bottom jaw seeming to disconnect and drop impossibly low. Like a snake. Even though Milo was pretty sure that was a myth, it didn’t stop the imposing image from startling him. Milo flinched. He couldn’t help it.

Run.

Danger.

DANGER!

Milo’s body went hot as adrenaline surged through his veins, giving his muscles a burst of strength to run. To fight. To get away from what was certainly a slow, painful death.

Grievance’s tongue darted from that wide mouth, stretching longer and longer. Goosebumps erupted all over Milo’s body when that wet, split tongue found his collarbone. It traced all the way up his neck, looped around the back, and traced the opposite collarbone.

Lantern. Give me bravery. Please.

Milo said a silent prayer, hoping he could withstand what was about to come. Withstand the instinctual fear that nearly took over his body and demanded he fight back, as the Naga’s thick, wet tongue coiled around his neck and tightened.

Now his breath was constricted around his throat, as well as his crushed chest. He would very soon begin to struggle for air.

Still. He forced himself not to move.

Grievance’s head tilted, observing. His wide-open mouth was even more horrifying at an angle. His eyes were searching. Perhaps confused. The coils around Milo’s body tightened again, sending a ripple of fresh fear flooding to his brain. Milo knew what he must look like. Helpless. Wrapped up with blown pupils and pale skin.

Does… does he want me to fight?

Maybe the very thing he was suppressing was what the Naga needed. Craved.

Where is the sport in prey that has no fear for its life?

Milo kicked out, his heel finding that hard pack of muscle along Grievance’s abdomen. Instantly the hold around his neck and body loosened. Not because Milo could do any damage, but likely from surprise.

Milo yelled and fought back like a wild animal. Kicking at the thick muscle that caged him until he found a gap wide enough to dive through. He slipped free of the Naga’s hold, landing with a hard thud onto the mattress.

He was already on his knees, ready to scramble for the door when a tail coiled around his ankle, yanking him back.

“Ahh!” Milo yelled as blankets bunched around him. He clawed at the mattress, trying to find purchase, tearing his sheets as he did so.

The tail was too strong, yanking him back to the center of the bed, where rough hands grabbed him by the shoulders, forcing him onto his back.

Grievance peered down at him, his own pupils blown with desire as Milo struggled in his hold. The tail coiled up Milo’s leg until the tip of it found his erection, giving it a long, smooth stroke.

“Grievance, you son of a bitch—MHMM!”

His voice was cut off as something long, thick, and slick shoved past his teeth and into his mouth. Grievance’s tongue traced the edges of his mouth, finding his throat and pumping in and out at a quick pace. The room filled with wet, choking sounds as Milo’s throat was fucked.

“Mmm!” Milo tried to protest, pushing on Grievance’s shoulders with his hands. He might as well have been trying to push a building for all the good that it did.

That low, chest-deep hiss sounded again. Filling Milo’s ears with serpent song.

Fuck fuck fuck!

Milo was choking, his body trying to cough but too full of tongue to do it properly. Tears welled in his eyes, and when it seemed the Naga wouldn’t give him a respite, he bit down.

Hard.

The steady hissing sound hitched in surprise; Grievance’s entire body jerked as his sensitive tongue was crushed. He withdrew immediately, finally letting Milo cough.

“You—” cough “bastard,” Milo said between wet gulps of air.