THE HEIR IN MY TERRARIUM

I released the little black snake I'd kept for so long—and that very night, New York's ruthless highsociety heir knocked on my door. “I've been so good.

I do what you say,” he pleaded, sounding hurt. “Baby, please don't give me up.” But a second later, I heard his thoughts. [She's actually trying to abandon me.

She must have another snake.] [She's kept me all this time. It's time I ate my baby up.] Wait. What? Chapter 1 There was a strange smell of liquor in the air along the path home.

I stopped instinctively. Something stirred in the grass beside me. A small, completely black snake caught my eye.

I'd seen plenty of exotic pets, but this little black snake was stunning. Each slender scale was sharply defined and gleamed like black crystal.

As I approached, he weakly raised his little rounded head, a shimmer passing through his golden, slitpupiled eyes. He looked so fragile, so pitiful. I hesitated.

He was a snake, a coldblooded animal, and I didn't even know whether he was venomous. People said you shouldn't take home random men you found by the road.

A pretty little snake should be fine, right? I carefully reached toward him. “Don't be scared. I'm helping you, so no biting, okay?

Come home with me.” The little black snake seemed to understand. When I picked him up, he gently wound himself around my wrist in a friendly gesture.

He felt so wonderfully cool that I couldn't get enough of holding him. He settled docilely in my palm.

In the dim light, I didn't notice his bright red tongue flicking excitedly, or the white fangs brushing lightly over the artery in my wrist. Dangerously close.

Once we were home, I gave the listless little snake some basic wound care and cleaned out the enclosure I'd used for a previous pet snake. This one was incredibly clingy.

When I tried to put him inside, he resisted, wrapped so tightly around my wrist that he seemed glued to it. I frowned and accidentally touched the tip of his tail.

His reaction was immediate. His entire body seemed to freeze, and he dropped into the enclosure with a little thump. I couldn't help laughing. “Inky, this is your new home.

Be good and stay here.” When I came out of the shower, the enclosure was empty. I searched around and finally found him coiled on my pillow.

He had claimed half of it as though it belonged to him and was sleeping soundly. I poked him in annoyance. “Inky, you little escape artist.

You can't sleep here.” He seemed to understand. He raised his little head with a defiant air, as if to say, “No. No.” Quite the rebel.

Seeing that he was about to slither away instead of going back into his enclosure, I curled my lips into a smile and held out a hand. “Come here, baby,” I coaxed softly. “I've got something tasty for you.” The little black snake paused.

Then he eagerly wagged his tail, opened his mouth, and launched himself at me.

I swiftly flipped my hand over, caught him, and stuffed him into the enclosure. “You greedy little idiot,” I teased.

Ignoring his struggles, I climbed straight into bed and drifted off to sleep. In my dream, a cold, powerful snake's tail wound around my waist.

A beautiful young man's voice sounded beside my ear, low and chilling. His threat was vicious. “You think you can play tricks on me? I'll eat you up.” His tail slid lower.

Chapter 2 I tried to struggle, but he held my wrists still. When I opened my eyes again, I stared thoughtfully at the little black snake wound tightly around my wrist.

How on earth had he gotten out? I spent fifteen minutes lecturing Inky about not escaping. He lazily shifted around, trying to climb onto me, and I pulled him off without mercy.

He turned his back on me in a sulk, retreating aloofly into a corner to contemplate life as a snake. Honestly. Inky recovered quickly. Within a week, he had healed completely.

He was remarkably intelligent and incredibly clingy. One evening, I was busy with my design work.

Beside me, the little black snake was frantically trying to charm me into paying attention, but I ignored him. I gave his tail an absentminded stroke. He went stiff again.

When I finished working and closed my laptop, I felt a tingling tickle at my waist. A second later, a little black head popped out of my shirt at my chest, his tail waving smugly.

I could feel him all too clearly against my breasts.

I gritted my teeth. “Inky, you little pervert!” I pulled him all the way out, gave him a good roughingup, and tossed him onto the edge of the bed.

The little black snake lay there, dazed. For a long moment, he didn't move at all.

I started to panic and hurried over to check on him. “Inky, are you okay?” The moment I touched him, he darted up my arm and coiled around my neck.

Realizing he'd been playing dead, I laughed in exasperation. The cold, clammy feeling against my neck scared me a little.

Strange red marks appeared on my collarbone where he'd crawled. It suddenly struck me that he seemed far too smart for a snake.

The next day, it was already completely dark when our student government dinner ended. A familiar voice sounded behind me. “Hey, I'm going your way.

Let me take you home.” Gabriel Cook was a year ahead of me at my university. Gentle and handsome, he was the most popular guy on campus.

Before I could politely decline, he chuckled. “I could take a look at that snake you mentioned a couple of days ago, too.” I remembered asking him what kind of snake I had, since he knew a fair amount about animals.

I nodded. “Thanks. I appreciate it.” When we reached my door, Gabriel politely said he wouldn't come inside.

The moment I opened it, I saw the little black snake waiting obediently by the entrance. At the sight of me, he wagged his tail excitedly, like a puppy.

He darted up onto my shoulder and nudged my cheek with his little head. Adorable. I couldn't help giving him two kisses before carrying him back to the door.

When Inky saw Gabriel standing there, he hissed. An icy glint flashed in his golden eyes as he stared at the man in front of him.

Gabriel frowned. “Sorry, I still can't tell what kind of snake he is. But he looks dangerous.

You should get him off your shoulder.” At that, the little black snake poised himself to strike at Gabriel. Just as he was about to lunge and bite, I caught him by the tail.

He struggled fiercely. I tucked him against my chest to soothe him, and only then did he settle down. “Sorry, Gabriel.

He's a little wary of strangers.” Gabriel's intoxicating smile never left his lips. “It's all right.

But that aggressive stance probably means he's highly venomous.” The little black snake in my arms became even more agitated.

After I said goodbye to Gabriel, I looked at the little snake going berserk around my wrist, refusing to let go. “Get off,” I said helplessly. He wouldn't listen.

Chapter 3 His beautiful eyes stayed fixed on me. There it was again, that strange feeling. Cold, clinging, invasive.

Late that night, I read the messages Gabriel had sent to my phone. [I've done some research, and I'm fairly sure he could be a nonnative species.

Snakes like that usually have deadly venom.

You'd better get rid of him soon…] [Oh, no, I mean release him back into the wild…] I looked at the little black snake sleeping with the tip of his tail resting on my hand, torn about what to do.

I prepared some food for Inky.

That weekend, toward evening, I drove for an hour before finally finding a suitable place. “You need to look after yourself,” I told the little snake in my bag earnestly. “Don't get hurt again.

This is where our time together ends.” I left the bag there, slightly open. Afraid I'd relent again, I fled. Late that night, I tossed and turned in bed, missing Inky terribly.

He was so small. What if something ate him? I smacked my forehead, full of regret. Then the doorbell rang.

I opened the door and found myself looking into a pair of irresistibly alluring eyes. The young man was gorgeous, with rosy lips, white teeth, and a beautifully defined nose.

His face was also terribly familiar. My brain raced until I remembered: he was the utterly ruthless Ashford heir I'd once seen at a party.

I forced a smile. “May I ask who you're looking for?” Trevor Ashford hung his head, sounding hurt. “Baby, I've been good. I do what you say. Please don't give me up.” What?

Then I heard the same voice again. [Hmph. That wicked woman tried to abandon me. She must have another snake. I ought to make her cry.] [She's kept me all this time.

It's about time I ate her up.] What? My brain went blank for a moment. Was I hearing his thoughts? Even more outrageous: that little black snake was the Ashford heir.

With the sound of approaching footsteps, a group of men in black appeared quietly behind him. The men spread out as though to surround us. Every one of them looked vicious