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“The Tower View’s behind you”

Groaning, Holly hts of Manhattan “Last thing I re to convince Uraood idea for him—it—to exist”

“He’s gone for good” Venoainst the bare skin of his chest

“M her palm up that toned muscle all warm and tensile “You’re so pretty”

He chuckled “You’re still half asleep”

Yawning, Holly continued to stroke him until he set her in the bathand only then realized she’d been naked on the stone floor in his living area “What happened to my clothes?”

“I took them off—they were drenched in blood”

Me But her hands found only smooth, unbroken skin anywhere she touched—and while she ached, it didn’t feel like she was dying “How long since the turret?”

Venoe bathroo under the loose black pajama pants that were all he wore “You’ve been asleep for forty-seven hours”

“Are you wearing satin pants?”

“No I have better taste than that” The fabric moved like air and liquid both as he strode back to her, a bottle in hand Opening it, he poured a shi into the bath

The scent of frangipani filled the air

Holly’s toes curled “You’re so pretty and so nice, too” Her an to loosen up Slowly

Lips curving, Veno to wash your hair”

Holly had absolutely no desire to protest She just lay back and stayed half asleep while he washed her hair with a care and a gentleness that surprised her “How do you knoash long hair? Did you have a ponytail phase?”

“I used to wash my sisters’ hair someti and it wouldn’t be considered scandalous Just to help out my mother” A smile in his voice, he said, “My father never did it formy mother’s hair once He loved her from the roots of his own hair to the tips of his toes”

He began to e her scalp

“Venom?”

“Hmm?”

“Are reen?” She ake noide awake, and she was starting to remember that she should be stone dead

“I think you need to see for yourself” Getting up, he wiped his wet hands on a towel, then rooted about in a drawer until he found a small handheld mirror It was ornate, the back mother-of-pearl painted with vipers “Gift,” he said at her questioning look “Fro fun at what she deems my vanity”

Laughing at his scowl, Holly accepted the mirror, but then couldn’tside “Just tell me”

He’d gone behind her again, was once ers “You won’t be sorry, Hollyberry,” he murmured “Look”

She released a long breath before slowly beginning to turn the ht yet be hidden inside her That color was his energy If her eyes were brown again

She sat up before she’d finishedas she felt for her fangs

Venom came to face her “They’re still just as small,” he said with an amused look to him

Shoving at his chest without effort, Holly did nothing to hide her relief “I thought I er”

His gaze turned solemn “You never wanted to be a vampire”