Snakes & Lovers: Part One

Snakes & Lovers Part one K.L. Coburn This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental. Copyright © 2023 by K. L. Coburn All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or used in any manner without written permission of the copyright owner except for the use of quotations in a book review. For more information, please address: [email protected] First published in May 2023 Coburn, K. L. Cover design: Natasha Williams - Dazed Designs https://dazed-designs.com/ Interior image: Valentyna Smordova Editing: Maria Smith - Not the Red Pen Formatting: Kirsten Coburn Contents Dedication A note from the author regarding content 1. Chapter 1 Aria 2. Chapter 2 Aria 3. Chapter 3 Aria 4. Chapter 4 Aria 5. Chapter 5 Austin Leo 6. Chapter 6 Aria Austin 7. Chapter 7 Aria 8. Chapter 8 Austin 9. Chapter 9 Aria 10. Chapter 10 Reid 11. Chapter 11 Aria 12. Chapter 12 Raff Reid 13. Chapter 13 Aria 14. Chapter 14 Aria Reid 15. Chapter 15 Aria Raff 16. Chapter 16 Aria Austin 17. Chapter 17 Aria 18. Chapter 18 Leo Reid 19. Chapter 19 Aria 20. Chapter 20 Raff Leo 21. Chapter 21 Austin 22. Chapter 22 Aria 23. Chapter 23 Aria 24. Chapter 24 Reid 25. Chapter 25 Leo Raff 26. Chapter 26 Aria 27. Chapter 27 Aria 28. Chapter 28 Reid Aria 29. Chapter 29 Leo Aria 30. Chapter 30 Aria Austin 31. Chapter 31 Aria Raff Zeke Acknowledgments About the Author Stalk me! Also By K.L. Coburn For all my girls, Thank you for being there right from the first word. A note from the author regarding content Snakes & Lovers is a Why Choose contemporary romance. This means that our leading lady will not have to choose between her love interests. It is suitable for readers 18+ due to language and sexual scenes. Please be mindful of some dark elements when reading. Situations include PTSD and mental health conditions stemming from past physical and sexual abuse, including abuse of a minor. There's also drug dealing and use, physical violence and intimidation, kidnapping and mention of human trafficking. Please note that I am an Australian author, and this book is set in Australia. As such, the language and spelling will reflect this. Chapter 1 Aria It's turning out to be another one of those nights. The same boring, totally predictable night containing rude, loudmouth, drunk arseholes that either want to look down on you for serving them or hit on you in their fucked-up state. It's always the same. In a way I appreciate it because I know what's coming. The predictability is something I need in my life, but in this setting, it just makes me want to throw the towel in and run screaming back to my tiny unit and hide in my box-sized room. For the hundredth time tonight, I contemplate how much I need this job. I mean, food and electricity aren't that important, are they? Sighing loudly, I serve the next customer, expertly ignoring his innuendo suggesting that he'd have me if I was on the menu. So original. I pour his stupid craft beer and slide it over, dodging his grabby hands as he passes over his card. I swipe it and return it, relieved when he moves away without any further harassment. "This a typical night for you, love? I'm exhausted just watching you with these vultures, can't imagine how tiring it must be for you." I look towards that deep, gravelly voice and see the man that I had served earlier on that night. He is leaning against the bar, one elbow resting with his body facing sideways, enabling him to survey the room. I was too busy earlier to fully appreciate his good looks, so I give him the once over as I slowly nod at him. At around six foot two, with black hair styled in a fauxhawk, dark brown eyes, and a short, neat beard, he cuts a handsome figure. He has that bad boy look; the tattoos peeking above his collar, the leather jacket complimenting his edge. Normally, this look would scare me, I have known too many like this, but on him, it works. Perhaps it's the warm smile that he shoots me in response to my nod. He might have that bad boy look, but I can spot a genuine soul when I see one. I have had a lot of practice in distinguishing the good from the bad, and my gut is telling me that this one is in the former category. "Must get taxing after a while?" "It does. Unfortunately, I'm used to it. All us girls are," I reply, wiping down the bar top while I have a spare minute. "That's sad," he says, eyeing me up and down slowly, making me blush from the intensity. Strangely, he isn't making me feel like the other arseholes that do the same. Instead of disgust, I am feeling a little turned on. "You shouldn't have to get used to it." I just shrug. It is what it is. "So, you a student here? Let me guess, English major?" I laugh and shake my head. "No, not English. Psychology." I'll leave the English learning up to my best friend, Gemma. She's the one that you find reading and critiquing literature; the one who understands what the hell Shakespeare is going on about. It's bad enough I must do my compulsory English class this year. I left it until the last year of my degree and I'm regretting that decision now that the time has arrived. "Ahh, right. You want to understand people; what makes them tick, and such." "Yeah, I do. I find the way we think and act interesting. I'd love to help people find better ways to express their thoughts, recover from their