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Eddie wished a support group existed for symbiote hosts to discuss the, er, more intimate aspects of being a near-perfect match for an alien parasite in need of a host. And yes, parasite had become a term of endearment, at least from his perspective. Venom bristled when he heard the word but Eddie thought it was a cute codeword that helped him play off the reality of life with a symbiote while being honest. Sort of.
And, okay, it was fun to irritate Venom just a little because Venom had appeared one day, taken up residence in his body, and Eddie found himself stuck with a friend that never went home. Which would have been fine if it was sexually gratifying. It wasn't and Eddie struggled with the idea of defining boundaries with Venom. Eddie wasn’t interested in dating. The idea of trying to balance a partner with a symbiote whose idea of a good time involved biting the heads off bad guys and piling them in a corner was too much. If anyone could handle it, Anne could, but he didn't want to put her (or Dan, really) in another life-or-death situation. Anne and Dan were incredible people and he’d come to have... affection for Dan, as much as it surprised him. He'd never understood polyamorous relationships before Venom and Dan, but he thought he got it. If he could balance a life with more than one person, it would have been Anne and Dan. But Anne wasn’t asking and Eddie didn't want to get either of them involved in the reality of life with a symbiote.
There were perks to being a host, like never feeling lonely, but there were frustrations, too, in not being able to lock himself in the bedroom and jerk off as long as he wanted, edging himself until he lost control. Even though he'd had a conversation with Venom in the beginning about bodily autonomy and privacy and the aspects of life that humanity agreed were private and personal after a series of strange dreams that were reminiscent of his teenage wet dreams, minus waking up with a mess or raging hard-on, he wasn't sure Venom would be able to resist getting involved while they were both awake.
Venom had withdrawn some after that conversation. It had been for the best, Eddie thought, except now he couldn’t figure out how to ask Venom to go away for a bit so he could jerk off, and he wasn’t sure how he’d feel just whipping it out and going to town with Venom riding shotgun. Eddie wasn't sure he wanted to get off that badly.
Except he kind of did, because it was reaching the point when the way his pants brushed him could provoke a chubby, leaving him embarrassed and overly sensitive, and just--Eddie had needs, even if those needs were met by his own hand, and he wanted to be alone while he fulfilled those needs, to enjoy whatever he wanted in the privacy of his own mind, and he couldn’t because he had a damn symbiote.
He really wanted to know how other hosts handled it.
He’d almost brought it up to Anne but decided against it. He wasn’t sure what she’d think about him mentioning dating or sleeping with someone else, even with Dan in the picture, and he especially didn’t want to listen to what she had to say about him getting involved with Venom, so Eddie ignored it.
YOU KNOW I HAVE ACCESS TO ALL OF YOUR THOUGHTS AND MEMORIES, RIGHT?
Eddie winced.
AND YOU’VE BEEN HARD FOR THE PAST FIVE MINUTES, STANDING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE KITCHEN.
Eddie glanced down. The refrigerator door was open and he was noticeably hard in his soft pajama pants.
“If you have access to all of my thoughts, why are you discussing this with me? You know I’m struggling and want to deal with it alone!”
BUT, EDDIE, YOU ARE NOT ALONE. I CAN HELP.
“Uh, no, no way, this is not--” Eddie mimed zipping his lips shut, locking a key, and throwing it away. “We’re not going there.”
DO YOU WANT TO KNOW WHAT OTHER SYMBIOTES DO WITH THEIR HOSTS?
He desperately wanted to know how others handled it, wanted to know if the dream-not-dreams were Venom’s way of taking care of his business--which, rude, because where was the consent in that--but then again, where was the consent when Venom joined him initially? Eddie had given it later, but--
EDDIE.
“Okay, okay,” Eddie muttered and pushed the refrigerator door shut. He walked to his bedroom, shoulders slumped in defeat. “Show me.”
Venom did, vivid images flashing through his mind's eye: a red symbiote snaking out a long tendril to wrap another their host’s external reproductive organs, blue symbiotes forming fleshy appendages to push into their hosts with internal organs, black symbiotes wrapping their hosts in their tendrils, using them to bind and stimulate their hosts--
“Oh, god,” Eddie groaned, unable to keep his palm off his dick. He was rock hard now and could feel the wet spot from the first spurt of precome that had been waiting for some time. “That’s. You can’t just show a man that without warning.”
YOU ASKED, DID YOU NOT?
Eddie wanted to stop himself from wrapping his hand around his dick. He couldn't. His pants stayed on but he clutched himself tightly through the fabric. His hand shifted slowly, attempting to stroke, but the pajamas bunched and muted the sensation. He was thankful for the distraction. He might have come immediately otherwise.
“That was you, with the dreams, wasn’t it?” Eddie bit his lip.
I THOUGHT WE WERE SHARING EVERYTHING. Venom sounded petulant. I DIDN’T KNOW YOU HAD BOUNDARIES.
“Maybe I shouldn’t.” Eddie closed his eyes and the highlights of Venom’s shared hive memories replayed in his mind’s eye. He squeezed his dick painfully tight, wishing something would happen.
MAY I?
There were reasons he didn’t want to cross the sexual boundary with Venom, he was sure of it, but he couldn't remember any of them in the face of the images Venom shared. If anything, he was convinced there was no point in holding back. Eddie might as well enjoy because it was an inevitability, a byproduct of bonding with a symbiote.
“Yeah,” Eddie grunted and shoved his pajamas down.
Venom wrapped around his cock like a sheath, pulsing around him with a deep sucking sensation that felt like a throat swallowing over and over.
“Woah, wait, too much,” Eddie gasped, “slow down, we like to take it slow.”
Venom pulled off his cock slowly then stroked down and back as Eddie whimpered. He felt a long tongue slip around his neck and knew Venom had pulled away from him, watching as he took Eddie apart. His long, hot tongue flicked across Eddie's chest and nipples, down his stomach, and toward his cock.
Eddie's eyes widened. “Woah, woah, I like tongues but watch the teeth down there.” Venom looked at him with a flat expression.
I HAVE ACCESS TO YOUR MEMORIES, EDDIE. That must have included the first blowjob with the girl in high school who took him too deep and bit him instinctively. That was an awful experience he never wanted to relive.
A hot, wet tongue replaced the appendage wrapped around him. Venom jerked him off with his tongue wrapped around his dick, the tip flicking over his head as drool puddled at the base of his dick. He thought he felt Venom purring in contentment, the sensation coming from outside and within, Venom's normally distinctly separate thoughts and feelings bleeding through as he brought Eddie closer and closer to the brink with a warm swell of affection.
The tongue pulled away as multiple appendages returned to wrap around his cock like a sheath again. Eddie groaned as Venom's long tongue slipped over his balls and between his legs, slicking down his frenulum to the puckered muscle where Venom pushed his tongue in--
Eddie had been eaten out but he’d never had a tongue in his ass. As soon as Venom hit his prostate, he came harder than he ever remembered coming before, still sheathed in tight, moist heat that simulated swallowing as Venom absorbed his come.
“Holy shit,” he panted through the lingering pulses. His dick grew soft inside Venom's sheath. It was warm, like being inside of a partner after, except he wasn’t slipping out as he softened. Venom stayed snug around him. It felt... nice.
From next to him, Venom said, YOU LIKED.
It wasn't a question but Eddie agreed anyway. “Uh, yeah, buddy,” Eddie laughed awkwardly, “I liked.”
Maybe it was inevitable, with the way the symbiote wanted to take care of him and protect him, with the symbiote always riding shotgun in his mind and body, that they would end up with Venom taking care of his physical needs, too. But it felt a little empty after and it didn’t hit Eddie until he was drifting off: he wasn’t sure if Venom had enjoyed it, if he’d gotten anything from the experience aside from enjoying Eddie.
He wondered if Venom was listening and if he’d bring it up, but Venom said nothing so Eddie said nothing, punching his pillow and rolling over on his side before he fell asleep.
***
Eddie woke up rock hard the next morning. Venom had wrapped a tentacle around his balls and rolled them gently in a careful massage.
Eddie blinked at the sight. “Uh, morning buddy. What you got there?”
Venom squeezed gently. DO YOU LIKE THIS?
“Yeah, but maybe not--not all the time?”
YOU WOKE UP THIS WAY.
“Almost every day. And then I gotta take a piss, and it goes away because it’s impossible to be hard and piss at the same time.”
The urge to pee vanished.
Eddie paused. “Was that you? If so, that was kinda--look, humans like our rituals. I want to go to the bathroom when I wake up and relieve myself. I don’t want you to take care of it.”
IT’S EFFICIENT AND FAST.
“Yeah, and so are baby wipes, but I would still rather take a shower.”
...
“Look, I’ve got to get Dan and Anne a wedding present today. Let’s shelve this--”
OR TAKE CARE OF IT FIRST? He stroked Eddie’s dick, which twitched eagerly.
“Yeah, we should probably take care of that first,” Eddie agreed, rocking forward into Venom’s grip on his dick.
He wasn’t sure why he’d held out so long. The idea seemed silly in hindsight: Eddie could have been experiencing the best orgasms of his life if he hadn’t been so weird about the concept. After, it only made sense. Venom knew everything, including what he liked that he would hesitate to tell others. Venom had no frame of reference for shame or humility. All that mattered is If it felt good to Eddie.
Something was still missing. Eddie couldn’t figure out how to ask, either.
They ended up at the mall browsing for a gift for Anne and Dan, Eddie occasionally skimming an online registry with things like cookware and silver dinnerware and eight-hundred thread count Egyptian cotton sheets for ideas before he ended up picking up some candles.
THIS STORE SMELLS LIKE FAKE FLOWERS. I DON’T LIKE IT.
“Doesn’t matter what you like, it’s about Anne and Dan.”
THESE WERE NOT ON THEIR LIST.
“I wanted to be creative, give them something to enjoy. Flickering candlelight--I don’t know, I thought people liked candles.”
DO YOU LIKE CANDLES?
Eddie considered. “Not really.”
EXACTLY.
Disgusted, he put the candles down and left the store, oblivious to the way the other patrons stared as he talked to himself before he left.
THE LE CREUSET COOKWARE LOOKED NICE.
“Are you serious right now?” Eddie said. “Anne doesn’t cook!”
DAN COOKS.
“How do you--you don’t know that.”
DAN LOOKS LIKE HE COOKS.
There was a trace of judgment in his tone. Eddie scowled. “Are you kidding me right now? I can cook.”
TATER TOTS DON’T COUNT.
“You don’t eat human food,” Eddie hissed.
I DO, TOO!
They were crossing the food court when Venom yanked him toward a slushie machine. I WANT THE BLUE BEVERAGE.
Eddie smirked at the thought of Venom experiencing brain freeze. “Okay.”
He was slurping down a blue slushie a few minutes later when the icepick-to-the-brain feeling set in, Venom cursing as Eddie laughed and groaned in pain.
THAT IS UNPLEASANT!
“It’s called brain freeze,” Eddie wheezed, wiping tears of laughter away as the pain began to recede.
YOU ARE A TERRIBLE HOST.
Eddie sobered immediately. The words hit something inside that told him the thing same. He tried not to think about the reality that Venom didn’t need him the way Eddie needed Venom, or how easy it would be for Venom to find another host that was more compatible while Eddie was just--
Eddie Brock.
“It’s a human experience,” he grumbled, the defensiveness lacking. He felt bad. He tossed the rest of the slushie in the trashcan as they left the food court and headed toward the department store at the end of the mall.
He hated the repetitive commercialized, overpriced stores, one after the other with kitschy seasonal displays and young, eager sales clerks with shiny name tags that were fueling the collapse of late-stage capitalism.
Eddie was so caught up in his thoughts ranting toward malls--not the concept of a convenient location to pursue multiple stores but the rich-only experience they had become, how they had slowly begun to die, storefronts shuttering as online purchasing picked up--that he almost fell forward when Venom forced him to stop walking suddenly.
EDDIE. EDDIE, LOOK AT THAT HEADLESS HUMAN.
Eddie glanced at the glass front display for Victoria’s Secret. There were a couple of mannequins wearing colorful scraps of cloth. One boasted a racy black lingerie set with lots of straps that crossed over the abdomen and down the thighs.
“Victoria’s Secret, buddy? Really? We can find better on Porn Hub,” Eddie said, trying to force his body to keep walking toward the department store. His legs wouldn't budge.
NOT THE FAKE WOMEN, Venom said with a touch of impatience, THE CLOTHING.
“The whole point is that they’re not wearing clothing,” Eddie said, “they’re wearing bras and panties, underclothes.” He glanced over the displays again, bralettes and thongs with high cuts that accentuated the long lines of the mannequins. One had a gauzy robe over their bikini top and bottom. Another bore a corset top, lace zig-zagging across the front from eyelet to eyelet, tied neatly in a bow at the top. “Anything in particular catch your eye?”
Venom forced him to take a few steps toward the mannequin with the black strappy outfit. THAT ONE. WHERE DO WE PURCHASE IT.
“They sell them in the store--”
WE MUST GO INTO THE STORE. Venom forced him to take halting steps toward the Victoria’s Secret entrance as Eddie tried to fight back and refuse the steps.
“--but not in your size, or mine, and I don’t think Anne would appreciate such intimate items as a wedding gift.”
I WILL SEE YOU WEAR IT.
Eddie’s mouth ran dry. He liked the look of women’s clothes, the softer fabrics, bright colors, all cut to accentuate curves--but Eddie wasn’t much of a looker and couldn’t imagine his hairy stomach leading down to such sheer fabric, balls spilling out of a thong.
“They’re really not made for us,” Eddie hissed as Venom forced him closer and closer to the store. Eddie cast his gaze around, looking for something he could grab to hold them back. “Seriously, Venom, don’t do this--” he had to force a smile as he crossed the threshold of the store and a young blond looked up and greeted him with an automatic smile.
“Welcome to Victoria’s Secret,” she said, eyes following Eddie as he moved awkwardly across the store. “Is there, um, anything I can help you find?”
THAT, Venom insisted.
“You wouldn’t happen to have the black strappy number in my size, would you?” There was no point in feeling shame, Eddie thought. Venom would push until there was no other option, so he might as well face it head-on.
The girl squinted at him. “From the window display? In your size?”
YES!
“Uh, yeah, that’s what I said.” Eddie forced a grin that was more like a grimace.
She shook her head slowly. “No, sorry.”
WHAT ABOUT IN THE BACK? I KNOW THAT IS A THING. I SAW IT ON THE ‘INTERNET.’
“No,” Eddie hissed out of the corner of his mouth, trying to give the girl an ‘it’s okay, I’m not crazy’ expression that was likely failing, “they don’t, that’s not a thing, we’re not--”
ASK ABOUT THE BACK, EDDIE!
Eddie closed his eyes. “You don’t have any in the back, right?”
“No,” she said, drawing the o out. “Sorry?”
SHE’S LYING! EDDIE, THEY ARE WITHHOLDING IT FROM US--
“Thanks,” Eddie said and finally managed to get his legs to work for him again, moving out of the store as fast as possible, face red. “I told you!”
YOU DIDN’T SEE THE LOOK ON HER FACE. SHE WAS WITHHOLDING VITAL INFORMATION FROM US, EDDIE.
“Sir?”
Eddie turned around. The girl was standing at the threshold of the store, tucking her hair behind her ears, glancing around furtively to make sure no one else could hear.
“Yeah?”
“Um,” she took a few steps toward him and shoved a piece of paper in his hand, “there’s a place downtown, you might find what you’re looking for there.” Her face was bright red.
WE MUST CHECK IT OUT AT ONCE!
Eddie stared at the address scrawled on the paper. “Yeah, okay. Thanks.” Then, to Venom, “I thought you hated her a few seconds ago.”
SHE WAS ACTUALLY TRYING TO HELP US!
She had already disappeared back into the safety of Victoria’s Secret. Eddie tucked the slip of paper in his pocket, shrugged, and said, “Well, let’s go look at this La Croix shit so we can head downtown.”
LE CREUSET, EDDIE.
“That's what I said!”
***
When he stepped inside the basement store tucked between two pubs, he realized why the girl from Victoria’s Secret had looked so furtive passing him the address.
It was a sex shop. Immediately he was confronted with options from heading left for the adult theater, to right for clothing, straight for merchandise. Merchandise was a broad term for what turned out to be rows and rows of dildos in various shapes, sizes, textures, and colors, from vibrators that looked like bullets to vibrators with remote controls and bluetooth app options, to a wide variety of strap-ons, harnesses, and toys for those with penises from sheaths to fleshlights to cockrings. There was a deep kink section too, with chastity devices, sounding kits (Venom perked up as they passed that particular display and Eddie hoped he wasn’t getting any ideas), and more. Shelves and shelves of lubricants made from different bases, with different flavors, additives, viscosities, and more.
HUMANS APPRECIATE SEX IN MANY FORMS, Venom took everything in through Eddie’s eyes.
“Sure do,” he said, “we tend to be hedonistic. And puritanical, so we repress it, which is why places like this are hidden.”
WHERE IS THE CLOTHING.
Eddie walked to that section, taking in the whips and leather apparatuses on the way, that gave way to leather outfits, latex outfits, masks, heels and boots, feet thongs with sparkling diamonds for those with specific fetishes, a wall of ropes from various types and weight limits, pulleys, and carabiners, and finally lingerie for all body types, in various styles.
A worker with a spiked purple mohawk, thick Buddy Holly frames, and dozens of piercings studding their ears, nose, lips, and eyebrows approached, snapping a piece of gum. “Yo, looking for anything in particular?”
YES. BLACK WITH STRAPS.
“Sort of, there was this--my partner is interested in something that is like lingerie, a top and a bottom, but lots of straps. In black.” The words were halting and the person waiting for him to finish didn’t look judgmental but saying it out loud was different than having the thoughts in his head, whether the voice was his or Venom’s.
YOU SHOULD LET ME TALK TO THEM.
Eddie tried to subtly shake his head. “No. I mean. Kind of like this,” he pointed to a basic lingerie set in hot pink, with lacy, see-through fabric for the cups and the crotch, “but with more straps? Or ribbon that I could criss-cross?”
“Did he see that Victoria’s Secret release?”
Eddie blinked. “Um. What?” His face felt like it was on fire.
“Yeah, we’ve had a few people looking for something similar, it’s a pretty racy display. Those on the edge of the mainstream realize there’s something more out there when they stumble across outfits like that--anyway, come here. We don’t have a replica but we have some options that your, uh, partner,” and it sounded like they were using air quotes, “might like to see you wear.”
They showed him a bunch of outfits clearly made for larger, broad bodies with muscles. There were a few strappy pieces but none quite like what they’d seen at the mall, though Venom took interest in the lacy outfit they’d seen on the floor. The color was dark blue instead of pink, and as Eddie held it up to his chest in a changing room mirror, he thought it might be interesting. He refused to try it on, ignoring Venom’s wheedling, just holding the ones he liked up to his chest and deciding he’d try them on at home.
He left with three outfits in total, two lingerie two-pieces with thongs and a corset with a full bottom instead of skimpy fabric tucked between his ass cheeks. Venom liked the look of both on the mannequins at the store.
He thought about toys but figured there was room to add when he knew Venom’s limits, if any--what was the point in buying a vibrator if your partner could vibrate?
Eddie wanted to wrap Anne’s gift first but the outfits were exciting and Venom urged him to change.
Eddie picked out the dark blue set first, stripping down in the bathroom and looking over his naked body with a critical eye, the scars from sports and tight situations in the past, his crooked teeth, the way the bottom of his belly softened into a slope down to the soft thatch of pubes where his cock rested. He was soft against the dark curls, balls hanging below. Eddie tried to view himself critically as someone else might. Another human could enjoy his body, absolutely; he was in decent shape, muscular, healthy. But an alien? He was fleshy and hairy and wasn’t quite sure he compared to the form Venom took when he wrapped around Eddie and took over.
I LIKE THE WAY YOU LOOK.
“I think we need more boundaries.” Eddie stretched and tried to catch a look at the curve of his ass in the bathroom mirror. “I’ve got a nice ass, if I do say so myself.”
VERY, Venom agreed, a few dark tendrils of the symbiote reaching out and smoothing down Eddie’s ass, then smacking.
Eddie made a garbled noise.
YOU LIKE? I SAW AN INFORMATIONAL BROCHURE ABOUT IMPACT PLAY AT THE STORE, Venom informed him, slapping him again, harder this time, with more tiny tendrils. It was beginning to feel like a whip and Eddie was into it.
“I do,” he said, growing harder, “but if you keep going, I’m going to get distracted and won’t get the outfit on.”
Venom withdrew the tendrils immediately.
Eddie slowly pulled on the lacy underwear. The way the scrap of fabric slipped between his cheeks was different but not entirely uncomfortable. There wasn’t enough fabric to contain his testicles and cock without rearranging, and it took him a few minutes to neatly tuck everything so he was covered by the scanty scrap of fabric, spread thin over the bulges of his cock and balls. He looked up at himself in the mirror and his mouth went dry.
I LIKE. Venom looked over his shoulder. Eddie stared at them in the mirror as Venom reached out and dragged a clawed hand down Eddie’s chest, catching on the wispy bralette, the fabric dragging against his sensitive nipples. Venom’s tongue trailed down his chest and licked at him through the lace. Eddie’s nipples pebbled beneath the fabric, his dick taking a noticeable interest and growing hard, pushing the fabric of the panties away from his crotch as Venom smoothed his hand over Eddie’s stomach, then under the waistband and spread his fingers through the tight curls of Eddie’s pubes.
Eddie groaned as Venom took him in hand, his massive palm covering Eddie’s cock as he stroked experimentally. Precome dribbled down Eddie's head, smearing a wet spot across the panties that Venom rubbed with his fingers before bringing them up to his face so he could lick them clean.
“That’s hot,” Eddie managed as Venom made a noise similar to a purr and took his dick back in hand to stroke him.
FEELS GOOD?
“Oh yeah,” Eddie thrust into Venom’s hand, the other spread across Eddie's thigh. What had been bothering him came back to him. “How does this work for you? How can I make you feel good?”
SYMBIOTES CAN REPRODUCE BOTH ASEXUALLY AND SEXUALLY. WE MIMIC OUR HOST’S FORM, UNLESS WE ARE WITH ANOTHER SYMBIOTE.
“You have a cock?”
YES. I CAN ALMOST RECREATE MY FORM SEPARATELY FROM YOU, BUT I NEED A FEW POINTS OF CONTACT.
Eddie thought of how much larger Venom was, broader and taller, and his cock drooled more precome. The thought of being held down and fucked by Venom was hot.
I THINK SO, TOO. YES, WE SHOULD DO THAT NOW.
Eddie laughed, the sound breaking off as Venom slid tendrils between his legs, pushing the scrap of fabric out of the way to touch and circle his rim, then carefully push inside, slicking his own way somehow--Eddie wasn’t going to ask during, maybe after--thickening as he slipped in and out of Eddie, the ring of muscle gradually stretching to accommodate Venom until Eddie realized he was being fucked by something that was larger than his cock, grunting in time with Venom’s thrusts as he hit that spot in Eddie that made stars explode across the backs of his eyelids.
“Yeah, that’s it,” he grunted, Venom’s tongue flicking across his neck, then chin, then his lips--Eddie sucked the tip into his mouth as Venom fucked his ass and mouth.
Eddie came across his stomach and over the panties, white come smeared across lace, and Venom kept fucking him, muttering in his deep voice about how beautiful Eddie was until Venom went still inside him, something hot flooding within Eddie.
His cock twitched, interested, but he was spent. If he hadn’t already gotten off, he would have come then, the sensation overwhelming.
“Don’t pull out right away,” he said and wondered where the words came from.
I COULD KEEP YOU FULL ALL NIGHT. Venom sounded confident.
“Yeah, wow. Okay then.” Eddie swallowed. “Maybe.”
WE HAVE TIME TO EXPLORE.
Eddie thought of the future stretching out in front of him and wondered why he’d been so hesitant to face what was happening between them. Venom was an alien but he was Eddie’s alien. He had chosen Eddie. He needed Eddie as much as Eddie needed him, apparently, and he didn’t have to hold back.
Venom could take it all.
“Yeah, we do.” Eddie thumbed at the come-sticky panties. “You might have to pull out so I can clean up before these dry and adhere to my skin.”
THAT SOUNDS PAINFUL. Black tendrils appeared, coating the front of the panties, including the soft bulge of Eddie’s flaccid dick inside of them. A few seconds later he retreated and the come was gone.
“Are you ingesting that?” Eddie demanded.
THERE ARE SOME BENEFICIAL NUTRIENTS, Venom said. He sounded slightly defensive.
“Or you just like the taste,” Eddie teased. Venom’s silence made him raise his eyebrows. “Okay, that’s interesting. We might have to explore that eventually, too.”
A tendril wound over his soft dick and pushed at the tiny slit of his urethra.
“But, um, maybe not right now,” Eddie thought of the sounding gear and tried to shake the image from his mind. “We have to get ready for a wedding. Anne will kick our asses if we don’t show up.”
***
Anne’s wedding was beautiful. Eddie may have shed a tear or two as she and Dan exchanged their vows. Anne looked gorgeous in her dress and Dan beamed at her like she was the only woman he’d ever noticed. Maybe she was. Anne was special like that.
Venom didn’t cry, or so he said, but Eddie could hear the emotion in his voice when he said that Dan was an acceptable companion for Anne. Venom noted Dan had stood up for what was right when it was necessary, so maybe they wouldn’t eat his head after all. Especially since it would really upset Anne now that they were wed.
“I’ll be sure to tell them that,” Eddie murmured, ignoring the old lady next to him that gave him a scathing look.
Anne caught his eye as they walked down the aisle and gave him a grin. Eddie returned it with a thumb’s up of his own.
She found him at the reception, loading a plate with mini quiches and beef tartar (I WANT THOSE, Venom demanded when Eddie tried to pass up the bright cuts of meat. Eddie begrudgingly picked up a few).
“That was a real--that was a beautiful ceremony. You look amazing. You look happy.” Eddie gave her a half hug, plate in his other hand. “I’m glad.”
She gave him a soft smile. “Thank you, Eddie. That means a lot. How’s everything going your way? Haven’t heard from you in a few weeks.”
“Yeah, well, you know, just getting into a little bit of this, a little bit of that.”
“Mmm,” she made a noncommittal noise and took a bite of a tartlet. “You’re walking like you were pegged last night.”
Eddie choked on his quiche. “Excuse me--I--you--what?”
Anne raised an eyebrow. “Venom, is he finally letting you take care of him?”
Venom forced Eddie to breathe and nodded his head jerkily.
“Good.” She reached out and pinched Eddie’s cheek. “It’s about time. We’re getting ready to do the first dance, but it’s good to see you, Eddie. Even better to see you happy.” She winked and walked off, her long gown trailing after her.
I REALLY LIKE HER, Venom commented.
Eddie finally remembered how to breathe on his own again.
“You would,” he retorted and turned back to the buffet. “Just for that, I’m leaving these.” He put the beef tartar back on the buffet.
NO, EDDIE! Venom wailed in his ear.
Eddie ignored everyone around him and said, “Keep it up and you won’t get me tonight, either.”
YOU WOULDN’T.
“I would.” He wouldn’t, but Venom didn’t know that.
NOW I DO.
“Shit.” He turned away from the buffet table as Venom began to touch him beneath his pants. “Let’s get out of here.”
LETS, Venom purred.
***