“What was it like?” I ask. “Being a serpent.” He hesitates. “There were only feelings—hatred and terror and the desire to destroy.” I start to speak but he stops me with a gesture.” And you. I knew little else, but I always knew you.”
“You do love me.” “I love you,” I confirm. “Because I am clever and funny,” he says, smiling. “You didn’t mention my handsomeness.” “Or your deliciousness,” I say. “Although those are both good qualities.”
“You looked like a knight in a story tonight,” he says softly against my neck. “Possibly a 𝑓𝑖𝑙𝑡ℎ𝑦 story.” I kick him in the leg, and he kisses me harder.
“This is my room. And that’s my wife.” “So you keep telling everyone,” The Bomb says. “But I am going to take out her stitches, and I don’t think you want to watch that.” “Oh, I don’t know,” I say. “Maybe he’d like to hear me scream.”
“Mock me all you like. Whatever I imagined then, now it is I who would beg and grovel for a kind word from your lips.” His eyes are black with desire. “By you, I am forever undone.”
“I imagined you telling me to do with you whatever I liked.” “Really?” I ask, the surprised laugh in my voice makes him meet my gaze. “Along with some begging on your part. A little groveling.” He gives me an embarrassed smile. “My fantasies were rife with overweening ambition.”