The Beast In My Palms

1 The last time I went to Wesley’s place to beg for us to get back together, he set his snake on me, trying to drive me away. My nose stung with the prickle of tears, and I was just turning to leave when sudden streaks of glowing text flickered across my vision—a cascade of floating comments hovering in mid-air. [Don’t be scared, Parker! That snake is Wesley’s spiritual manifestation! His heat cycle hit, and he broke up with you only because he was terrified he’d hurt you.] [He’s too afraid to show his face, but he couldn’t resist sending his little white snake out for some cuddles…] [Hehe, Parker, pinch the tip of the tail! Forget getting back together—Wesley would hand you his damn soul!] I froze, bewildered. Without thinking, my fingers tightened around the tail of the snowy little reptile coiled around my arm. A split second later, from deep inside the closed bedroom, came a man’s stifled, agonizing groan. At the exact same time, the tail in my grasp gave a violent, shuddering twitch. I stood petrified on the hardwood floor. [Holy shit, he actually squeezed it! God, the shared sensory link is insane right now… Wesley’s whole nervous system is wired directly into that little creature!] [Just behind that door, Wesley’s knees must have given out completely. Parker went way too hard on the first squeeze, lmao.] [I can’t breathe. Wesley tried to white-knuckle through his heat all on his own before coming back to beg for Parker, and he almost met his maker right here.] [Keep squeezing, Parker! Who told him to break up with you in the first place? Punish him! That dense idiot doesn’t even realize his spirit form produces a soothing lubricant—the process doesn’t hurt at all, in fact it feels…] [Is this a punishment? This is basically a divine reward for Wesley!] [Pure-hearted Wesley! His mom was so terrified he’d lose control that she drilled it into his head since childhood that the heat cycle is terrifying and can only be relieved through specific legal bonding rites. Wesley took that to heart. But his heat cycle just had to trigger right now…] Watching the frantic wall of text scroll across the air, I bit my lower lip. Instinctively, I gave the tail another deliberate squeeze. The sound of something heavy crashing to the floor echoed from inside the room. Around my forearm, the snow-white little snake coiled tighter, trembling, and pressed its cool snout against the crook of my neck in an urgent, needy rub. The bedroom door was violently yanked open. Wesley stood braced against the doorframe, veins bulging along his forearms. Those dark eyes of his—usually so cool, composed, and unreadable—were now drowned in an intoxicating haze of raw, unvarnished desire. “Put… my snake down,” Wesley ground out through clenched teeth, his voice thicker and rougher than I had ever heard it. “Parker. Weren’t you terrified of snakes?” His chest rose and fell sharply. “Did breaking up with me magically cure your phobia?” I didn’t let go. Now that I knew this little creature was his spiritual form, the bizarre nature of the situation faded into a strange, blossoming affection. The longer I looked at it, the more endearing it seemed. “Wesley, I don’t want to break up.” Right under his dark, burning stare, I leaned in and pressed a gentle kiss to the head of the white snake resting against my wrist. The snake responded with a sudden, excited nuzzle against my cheek. Its cool scales gradually warmed beneath my skin. I gathered every ounce of courage I had. “I’m not afraid of your snake. Can we please get back together?” Wesley’s Adam’s apple bobbed heavily. He jerked his gaze aside, his jaw ticking, and forced out two gravelly words: “We can’t.” 2 My eyes stung, turning a faint red. Even knowing the truth from the mysterious screen, the blunt rejection still sliced into me. I pulled in a deep, shaky breath, pushing down the prickle of tears, and kept my voice soft and measured. “Fine. If that’s how it is, give me this little white snake as a parting gift.” “…No,” Wesley rasped, his breath catching in his throat. He reached out, intending to recall the creature. But the moment the little snake sensed his gesture, it darted downward, wrapping itself securely around my waist. It flicked its scarlet tongue, its narrow vertical pupils flashing with an unmistakable hiss of defiance aimed right at its master. The floating text burst into laughter: [Wesley is barely hanging on by a thread! He’s putting on the toughest front while his knees are turning to jelly, hahaha.] [He’s completely hopeless. His spirit form is desperately in love with Parker. Wesley kept it hidden away before because he knew Parker was scared of reptiles, but now that it’s finally out, there’s no way in hell it’s going back!] [Wesley, you stubborn bastard! Parker is literally on the verge of tears, how can you still say no?] [Is Parker taking the snake home for daily remote discipline (pleasure)?] [I support Parker! If Wesley refuses to yield, keep pinching the tail! It actually helps take the edge off his fever anyway.] [God, the tension. Parker, break him completely!] I skimmed the floating words, swallowed my nervousness, and kept my expression mournful. “Why not?” I whispered. “You don’t want me anymore… Can’t I at least keep your snake by my side so I can stroke it whenever I miss you?” I let my head drop, playing the picture of quiet heartbreak. Wesley’s breathing turned ragged and heavy. A visible war raged behind his dark eyes, but when the words stroke it left my lips, a dark, possessive spark flashed across his irises. Finally, barely perceptible, Wesley gave a single, stiff nod. 3 Inside, I let out a triumphant hum. Ever since the breakup, I had been miserable. Even my favorite takeout—spicy crawfish, garlic noodles, hot pots—tasted like cardboard. Every time I tried to sit him down and talk things through like adults, he avoided me like the plague. Today was supposed to be my final day in Seattle. My father had issued an ultimatum from Chicago: if I didn’t pack my bags and fly home immediately, he would send a private security detail to drag me back. I had gathered every scrap of pride I possessed to come to Wesley’s villa for one last plea. I never anticipated discovering the truth through a supernatural live chat. No wonder back when we were together, whenever things got heated, Wesley would always stop right on the brink. He would spend hours bringing me to the edge through other means, but never crossed that final line himself. He had even gotten my name tattooed across his left chest, right over his heart, only to call it quits out of nowhere just days later. I lightly stroked the smooth, pearlescent scales of the snake nestled in my arms, a faint smirk tugging at the corner of my lips. So you wanted to break up, huh? Thought you could just suffer through it alone in silence? Since he hadn’t brought up the heat cycle himself, I couldn’t outright expose him. But now that I had his spirit form as my little hostage, I wasn’t worried about him staying away for long. Carrying the white snake, I stepped out the front gates of the villa, only to run straight into Piper Quinn. Piper was Wesley’s childhood family friend, and ironically, one of the few people I had considered a friend in Seattle. Her eyes flickered with calculated curiosity when she saw me. “Parker? Are you here begging him to take you back again?” She gave a small, pitying smile. “He still refused to see you, didn’t he? How about I pass a message inside for you?” Before I could answer, Piper’s gaze dropped to the snowy coil resting in my arms. Her hand shot out. “Isn’t that Wesley’s prized snake?” she gasped, her voice shrill with disbelief. “Parker, did you actually steal his pet?” [Ugh, the snake-in-the-grass frenemy has arrived! Parker, get away from her!] [Piper has had a massive crush on Wesley for years. She only pretended to befriend you to keep tabs on him and drive wedges between you two. Don’t believe a word she says!] I glanced at the floating text, shifting my torso to dodge Piper’s reaching fingers. “Wesley gave it to me.” I wasn’t about to let anyone else touch what belonged to him. “Impossible!” Piper’s brow furrowed tightly, her veneer slipping. “We grew up with him and have barely caught a glimpse of that creature once or twice from a distance. Wesley would never just hand it to you.” I arched an eyebrow. Having known her for over a year, I found the sudden sharpness in her voice entirely alien. “If you don’t believe me, go ask him yourself.” 4 The polite mask on Piper’s face shattered instantly. “Cut the crap and give the snake to me. Wesley was generous enough to give you a severance package that could set you up for life. If you had any sense, you’d take the money and disappear, instead of sneaking around like a petty thief—” Before she could finish, the white snake lunged forward, baring its fangs and hissing with vicious hostility. Piper shrieked, stumbling backward in terror. With a sharp crack, the slender heel of her designer pump snapped beneath her. I gently patted the snake’s head to calm it down, fixing Piper with a cold stare. “This is between Wesley and me. It has nothing to do with you.” Piper clutched her twisted ankle, her face pale with pain, yet her lips curled into a spiteful sneer. “Who do you think you are, Parker? I’ve tolerated you for long enough! You’re nothing but a kept bird living off someone else’s dime—and a guy, at that! You think you belong in our circle? Know your place!” When I first arrived in Seattle two years ago, circumstances had indeed left me somewhat stranded. But it was Wesley who had pursued me relentlessly for months before I finally agreed to date him. After we got together, I had never once touched the black card he gave me. My father might have frozen my primary accounts back in Chicago, but my personal trust funds were untouched. I spent my time curating Wesley’s wardrobe, styling him from head to toe. The Patek Philippe watch he wore daily was an anniversary gift I bought for him. It was my own private game of dressing up the man I loved; I simply never felt the need to advertise my financial standing to anyone. I hadn’t realized that Piper, who had smiled so sweetly at our brunches, viewed me with such bitter contempt. I couldn’t be bothered to waste another breath on her. Tucking the little snake safely into my jacket, I turned and walked away. Piper tried to lunge after me, but the sharp agony in her ankle forced her to freeze. “Parker! Our families are already arranging our engagement! You’re nothing to him—” Her shrill voice faded behind me. I didn’t turn back, but my steps quickened, my thoughts tangling into a knot. A cold breeze slipped beneath my collar, sending an involuntary shiver through my ribs. Was Wesley’s refusal to get back together truly just about his heat cycle? Or was he really being pressured into a strategic marriage with the Quinn family? In our world, high-society families rarely tolerated a male heir being with another man. Even my own father… would probably lose his mind if he knew the full extent of my relationship. Back at my penthouse, as I began packing my luggage, the floating text flared to life again. [Parker, don’t listen to a single word out of Piper’s mouth! That engagement is purely the Quinn family’s one-sided daydream. Wesley would never agree to it!] [Yikes, Piper couldn’t even get past Wesley’s front door. He just told the house manager to call an ambulance for her. Now she’s going to hate Parker even more.] [Yep, she’s already crying in their private group chat, claiming Parker stole Wesley’s pet and plotting to cause trouble!] [Why are you all looking at the side character? Look at Wesley in the shower right now… omg… he’s deliberately commanding the white snake to burrow into Parker’s chest, and his breathing is so damn filthy…] 5 I stopped in my tracks. The lingering gloom in my chest instantly vanished, replaced by a sudden, intense heat that rushed up into my cheeks. No wonder the snake had been squirming restlessly beneath my shirt, nuzzling against my collarbones and shifting between warm and cold temperatures. I had genuinely thought it was sensing my sadness and trying to comfort me. “Wesley Pierce,” I muttered through gritted teeth, thoroughly flustered. You closet pervert. He had acted so reluctant when I took the snake, and now he was pulling this? I grabbed the little snake by the middle and marched straight into the master bathroom. Plugging the drain, I filled the marble basin with warm water and set the snake inside. “Don’t be scared, little guy… You have to get clean before you’re allowed on my bed. If we’re sleeping together tonight, you’ll just have to endure a bath.” The snake twisted nervously in the shallow water before shutting its golden slit-pupils in complete resignation. I stifled a laugh. Reaching down, I stroked the top of its smooth, white head, letting my fingertips glide slowly down the length of its body. When I reached the lower third, near the base of its tail, I paused, applying a gentle, rhythmic pressure. [OMG! Wesley just barely handled the fire Parker lit earlier, and now Parker is stoking it again!] [Wesley is literally under the shower stream right now. This double stimulation just made his knees buckle straight to the tile!] [Look at those soaked chest muscles, that V-line, those cut abs, and further down… holy hell, it’s huge (screaming and throwing up)] [Honestly, Wesley’s fear is valid. I’d be terrified of breaking Parker too…] [I have VIP access, keep the camera rolling on both of them!] Reading the unfiltered commentary, my hand froze. Vivid flashes of Wesley’s breathless, desperate expressions in past moments of intimacy flickered through my mind. The steam in the bathroom seemed to thicken, warming the tips of my ears to a bright crimson. Suddenly, my phone on the counter buzzed. I tapped the screen and put it on speaker. Wesley’s voice drifted through the line, raspy, strained, and trembling with forced restraint. “Parker…” “Yeah?” “The snake… has a unique physiology. It doesn’t need baths.” A ragged exhale slipped past his lips. “It’s… naturally clean.” I licked my dry lips, playing completely dumb. “Oh. But how did you know I was giving it a bath?” Wesley let out a stifled, shuddering breath, trying desperately to sound detached. “I didn’t. I just remembered its habits and thought I should let you know.” A brief pause followed before he added, almost frantically, “And for the record—I have no intention of marrying anyone.” The line clicked dead before I could reply. A quiet laugh escaped my throat. [He literally called immediately just so Parker wouldn’t misunderstand, look at him trying to act tough! Once Parker gets back to Chicago tomorrow, Wesley’s going to be chasing him to the ends of the earth!] [A heat cycle lasts up to six months! Even if he wants to protect Parker, six months apart is asking for disaster.] [Don’t worry, once Wesley finds out Parker’s dad is forcing him into an arranged marriage with a woman, he won’t care about his heat cycle anymore. Parker will have him completely wrapped around his finger…] I lifted the little white snake out of the basin, gently drying its scales with a soft pink towel. Then, moving with deliberate slowness, I pulled off my white cotton tee. A moment later, my jeans slid to the floor. I stepped into the warm water of the soaking tub. On the vanity counter, the previously lethargic little snake suddenly bolted upright, its pale scales flushing a deep, radiant pink from head to tail. 6 Because of the snake, I opted out of flying. I hired a private chauffeured SUV and turned the trip back to Chicago into a leisurely solo road trip. I took my time, meandering through scenic routes and small Midwestern towns, stretching the journey into an entire week before finally pulling up to my family’s estate. Yet reality was waiting for me the moment I crossed the threshold. At the long mahogany dining table, my father cast a cool, brief glance at the white snake coiled loosely around my wrist. “I let your two-year tantrum slide,” he said, cutting into his steak without looking at me. “It’s time to settle down. Learn a thing or two from Mason.” I kept my lips pressed tight, studying my father in silence. He looked noticeably thinner than he had two years ago, the lines around his eyes deeper. Directly across from me, Mason Hayes stared at me with unblinking, dark eyes, as if searching for something in my face. …Or rather, I should say Mason. Two years ago, the older boy who had been fostered in our home as a surrogate brother was suddenly revealed to be my father’s illegitimate, older biological son. I mechanically chewed the food in my mouth, the meat tasteless on my tongue. My father took a slow sip of his black tea, unmoved by my cold silence. “Parker, remember what you promised me when you agreed to come back. There’s a dinner gala tomorrow evening. You’ll accompany me to meet the right people.” I looked away. I knew exactly what “the right people” meant: a blind date. Even though I had come out to him years ago, he remained stubbornly convinced that he could force me into a traditional heterosexual marriage. Two years ago, his aggressive attempts to arrange a match—coupled with the sudden shock of Mason’s true parentage—had driven me to pack a bag and leave for the West Coast. If he hadn’t used my late mother’s personal keepsakes as leverage, I would never have stepped foot back in this house. … Later that night, upstairs in my childhood bedroom, a text from Wesley popped up right on cue. [How is the snake doing? Has it been behaving?] [If you’re upset about anything… you can talk to it.] [It’s very sensitive to emotional cues. If you’re unhappy, it becomes lethargic. You can interact with it more, maybe kiss it.] [It doesn’t like crowds, and it hates being touched by strangers. Only you.] [I just don’t want it to get sick. Don’t read too much into it.] The irritation from dinner vanished entirely. I bit back a smile, looking down at the little white snake currently winding its way up from my ankle toward my knee. Did he really think I didn’t know? He felt every single touch through this creature. Keep acting tough, Wesley. I typed back: [It’s very well-behaved.] [Um… my dad is making me go on a blind date tomorrow night. Can I bring the snake with me?] The “typing…” indicator at the top of the chat flickered continuously, but no message came through. I raised the little snake to my lips and kissed the crown of its head. My fingers idly traced the sensitive tip of its tail, watching the pale scales blush an immediate, soft crimson. Only then did I continue typing: [I don’t mean anything by it… Things at home are complicated, and having your snake on me makes me feel safer.] [I’ll keep it hidden inside my suit jacket. I won’t let anything happen to it.] 7 Before Wesley could reply, two light knocks sounded against my door. It was Mason. He pushed the door open slightly, his tall frame silhouetted against the hallway light. His dark eyes held an intense, unreadable weight as they rested on me. “Parker. Do you need me to have a suit tailored for tomorrow’s gala?” “No need, thank you,” I replied with polite distance, looking away almost immediately. Growing up, I had followed Mason around like a shadow, idolizing him as my protective older brother. But after learning the truth of our bloodline, every interaction with him felt suffocating and awkward. Mason stood quietly for a moment before speaking in a low voice. “Father wants to introduce you to Vivian Quinn from the West Coast tomorrow.” “He just wants you to get acquainted slowly. You don’t have to be defensive; it’s not a private dinner. If you feel uncomfortable at any point, come find me.” My brow furrowed. Quinn? Vivian Quinn? The name rang a bell. She was Piper’s older half-sister—the formidable heiress who had outmaneuvered several rivals to take control of Quinn Enterprises. I gave a curt nod. “Is there anything else?” Mason’s eyes dimmed. His gaze dropped to the white snake draped over my arm. “You used to be terrified of reptiles. Why are you keeping that?” “Because I like it.” I pulled the snake closer, tucking it beneath my cashmere throw blanket with obvious wariness. Did he want to get rid of my snake? My defensive posture seemed to wound him. “Are you still angry with me, Parker? We used to talk about everything.” “I never lied to you. I found out about our paternity at the exact same time you did.” He stepped closer, his voice dropping. “And when I told you how I felt about you back then, that was real—” My heart skipped a frantic beat. That unspoken, messy confession from years ago was something I never wanted to unearth again. More importantly… The snake was listening. Which meant Wesley was listening. “That’s all in the past!” I interrupted sharply, stepping toward the doorway to make my point clear. “Mason, please leave. I’m going to sleep. Goodnight.” A storm of dark emotion surged through Mason’s eyes, but he swallowed whatever he wanted to say, turned on his heel, and walked out. I exhaled a long breath and shut the door. When I turned around, I met the piercing, slit-eyed gaze of the little white snake. It had emerged from the blanket, sitting coiled and rigid, staring dead at the doorway. Its tail was thumping against the mattress in sharp, agitated beats. A wave of guilty heat rushed to my face. Right on cue, my phone lit up with a new text from Wesley: [You cannot take it with you.] [It does not like meeting strangers.] 8 The floating comments instantly erupted: [HE’S PANICKING HE’S PANICKING HE’S PANICKING!!] [Is the snake the one who hates strangers, or is it our male lead who can’t stand the thought of Parker going on a date with a woman?] [Wesley’s whole world is collapsing! He thought Parker was just taking a scenic road trip to clear his head, and he was planning to secretly move into the penthouse next door to wait out his heat. He had no idea Parker was heading straight for an arranged marriage! That’s what you get for playing the martyr!] [Wesley typed and deleted a dozen messages: ‘Are you really going on a date right after leaving me?’ ‘Do you actually like women? Were we just a game to you?’ ‘Can you please not go, baby, can you just wait six months for me?’—and he didn’t have the guts to send a single one!] [I’m dying laughing. Overhearing the conversation with the ‘brother’ made his vision go red. He just booked a red-eye flight to Chicago and is speeding to the airport right now!] I couldn’t help the small smile that broke across my face. Finally, I had baited him all the way to Chicago. My father was clearly dead set on using this gala to steer my life off course. If I wanted out of this corner, taking the offensive was my only play. I picked up my phone, hovering over the keyboard. [If I don’t go, will you…] Before I could finish drafting the sentence, the white snake slid sluggishly across the sheets and flopped onto my shin, going completely limp. I gasped, immediately scooping the small creature into my hands. Deleting the unsent text, I typed out a frantic message: [Wesley!] [The snake suddenly lost all its energy. It looks like it just passed out—what happened to it?] Wesley’s reply came within seconds. [It’s fine. Don’t worry.] [Where is your dinner tomorrow night?] Surprised, I instinctively typed out the venue: [The Langham.] [I happen to be in Chicago on business tomorrow. Suite 9201. Bring the snake to me there.] [It requires a specific nutrient solution administered regularly. The process is delicate, so only I can do it.] Nutrient solution? The floating text was quick to debunk his excuse: [I was wondering why he gave the snake away so easily—he had this mapped out all along!] [The ‘nutrient solution’ is pure BS. A spirit form gets weak when it stays too far from its host for too long. It just needs physical proximity to him!] [He’s terrified of hurting Parker, but equally terrified of losing him, so he invented a weekly check-up excuse just to see his boy.] [Too bad he didn’t calculate that Parker came home to a full-blown arranged marriage setup!] 9 Knowing the snake wasn’t in any real danger, my racing heart finally settled. I typed back with measured calm: [What a coincidence.] [I’ll come up to your suite tomorrow evening. My father arranged this entire banquet, so I can’t skip out early.] [Tell the little guy to hang in there for me. (crying cat emoji)] The prospect of seeing Wesley tomorrow night washed away the lingering dread of the family dinner. I fell asleep with a light heart. The next evening, the grand ballroom of The Langham was bathed in warm crystal light, the clinking of champagne flutes echoing against marble walls. I stood beside my father and Mason, nodding politely as they exchanged pleasantries with corporate executives and socialites. To my quiet surprise, my father introduced Mason strictly as his protege and foster son. He still hadn’t publicly acknowledged Mason’s biological lineage. Soon, we reached the main table. My father rested a hand on my shoulder, his voice genial. “This is my son, Parker. He was working out in Seattle for the past couple of years and just returned.” He turned toward the distinguished gentleman opposite us. “Jonathan, this is your eldest, Vivian, I presume?” After the customary introductions, the elders excused themselves under the guise of discussing joint venture logistics, leaving Vivian Quinn and me standing alone. Vivian’s sharp, assessing gaze lingered on me, an unapologetic glimmer of interest dancing in her hazel eyes. “Mr. Hayes,” she said with a low, cultured laugh. “We actually crossed paths briefly at one of Piper’s charity galas last spring. I didn’t expect our paths to cross again quite like this.” I kept my smile polite. “Neither did I.” After a few minutes of smooth small talk, Vivian gestured toward her vibrating phone with an apologetic smile. “Excuse me for a moment, I need to take this.” I nodded, using the break to text Wesley: [Are you in the suite? I’m heading up now.] Wesley replied instantly: [Yes.] As I slipped my phone into my pocket, I caught Vivian frowning at her screen before reciting a room number into the receiver: “Piper, this is the last time I’m bailing you out with our hotel access. Suite 9201.” Hearing the exact suite number, a cold spike of adrenaline shot through my veins. 10 The floating comments instantly confirmed my worst nightmare. [HOLY SHIT! Emergency! The Langham’s parent group has ties to the Quinn estate—Piper tracked Wesley down and begged Vivian for his room number and a master key! SOMEONE CALL THE COPS!] [Piper found out Wesley rejected the family alliance, so she chased him all the way to Chicago! Why does she have to show up right now?!] [NO NO NO Wesley’s fever just spiked violently again! Parker, run!] [It’s over, Wesley was expecting Parker because of the text, the room is pitch black, Piper just walked in and Wesley thinks it’s Parker! HE’S GOING TO MISTAKE HER FOR HIM!] [I’m screaming, she’s leaning in—I CANNOT HANDLE THIS MISUNDERSTANDING!] Beside me, Vivian hung up and offered a polite smile. “Parker, would you care to join me for a private drink at the lounge after this?” A loud ringing filled my ears. My fingers slipped, and the wine glass I was holding shattered against the polished floor, the dark red liquid splashing across the marble. “Excuse me,” I choked out, not waiting for her response. “I need to clean up.” I unbuttoned my suit jacket, broke into a sprint, and bolted out of the ballroom. I grabbed my bag containing the sleeping white snake from the private coatroom and dashed straight for the private elevator bank, punching the button for the 92nd floor. When I reached Suite 9201, my lungs were burning. The heavy door was unlatched, resting open by a mere inch. From the darkened entryway inside came Piper’s breathless, theatrical whimper: “Wesley… please… I…” The world seemed to lose all sound, collapsing into the violent thudding of my pulse. I forced air into my lungs, pushed the heavy door open, and hit the master light switch in one swift motion. The suite flooded with brilliant, harsh light. My breath caught. Wesley had Piper pinned against the wall by the throat with a single, bruising hand. His dark eyes were wild with fury, his voice lethal and cold enough to freeze bone. “You think I would ever mistake my own boy for you?” “Drop the pathetic schemes. I have never felt anything but disgust toward you. Don’t think for a second that your family name protects you from me.” Piper’s face was mottled red, tears streaming down her cheeks as she clawed weakly at his iron grip. “Wesley… let go… I can’t…”

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