the cuteness on my screen? My brain was against me, it was the only explanation.
But as soon as a notification slid down from the top of my screen, my mood changed completely. My body froze, my stomach bottoming out.
Holy shit. She’d messaged me.
My mind immediately went back to two nights ago, back in the cage with Haven. I’d never felt anything like I had when I’d been dancing with her. And it was nothing compared to the way my body reacted when she touched me.
Haven: Hey.
My giddiness at her one-word message was unstoppable. I sat up straighter, crossing my legs and not moving my gaze off the screen as my thumb hovered over the keyboard, not sure what to reply.
I shrugged my shoulders, deciding simple was better. Right?
Thalia: Hey yourself.
I waited with bated breath as the three dots signaling that she was replying came up. They disappeared for a millisecond them reappeared.
Haven: What are you up to?
Thalia: Nothing much. Just chilling at home.
Haven: Cool…
Haven: I enjoyed Friday night.
Thalia: Me too Although I feel like I didn’t get to know you much.
I cringed. Had I been too forward? I’d had relationships before…although, I hadn’t, not really. I’d had one-night flings and kisses here and there. But this felt like something…more. I couldn’t quite put my finger on it, but it was as if I knew her, yet, I didn’t.
Haven: Same. Maybe we should do that?
I grinned.
Thalia: I’m down.
Haven: Okay…
Haven: What’s your favorite color?
Thalia: Yellow. Yours?
Haven: Purple.
I could imagine the way she’d look in purple. Her hair was blond, more on the white side, and it would bring out the brightness of her light-gray eyes.
Haven: Sunshine or rain?
That was easy.
Thalia: 100% rain. You?
Haven: Sunshine lol
The videos I’d been watching came into my mind and I shot off a question to her before I even had chance to think about it.
Thalia: Cats or dogs?
Haven: Do I have to choose?
Thalia: Yep.
I leaned closer to my cell, waiting for her to answer.
Haven: Okay…erm…cats.
I nearly fist-bumped the air. I wondered if she had a cat?
Thalia: Same. Okay, this one is important…
Thalia: Burgers or hotdogs?
Haven: Burgers. Every. Damn. Time.
I gasped.
Thalia: No! Hotdogs!
Haven: Nope. Burgers are far superior.
Haven: These are definitely the more important things in life.
I tilted my head to the side, my cheeks aching from how wide I was smiling. She wasn’t even here with me, yet it felt like she was. My fingertips whispered over my lips, remembering the way she’d felt. Soft yet wanting. It was the perfect mix.
Thalia: Agreed.
“What are you doing?” a harsh voice said, interrupting the bubble I’d created around myself. My head whipped around, seeing Dale standing in the doorway, his narrowed eyes on me, more specifically, my cell. “Who are you talking to?”
“No…no one.” I hated how unsure I sounded. “It’s—”
I didn’t get the chance to finish what I was saying because he’d crossed the ten feet from my door to my bed and snatched it from me. He threw it down onto the floor just as it beeped again. “You keeping secrets from me, Thalia?” His face came closer to mine and I tried to keep my features neutral, but it was hard when he was so close.
“No.” I shook my head and grasped my hands in my lap, squeezing them. If I had something else other than him and his dark eyes to focus on, then maybe I’d get away from him unscathed.
I should have known better though. Dale never did anything he didn’t want to. He lived for moments like these; the spark in his eyes at my obvious fear told me as much.
“You wouldn’t lie to me, would you?” He tilted his head to the side, his voice deceptively calm. “Little sisters don’t lie to their big brothers.”
My nostrils flared at his words. He wasn’t my big brother; he hadn’t been from the moment he’d gotten into bed with me and pushed his erection into my ass.
I didn’t know whether it was the sound of my cell beeping a second time, or the way I’d felt more like me than ever since meeting Haven on Friday, but my mouth opened, the words escaping before I’d even registered. “You’re not my brother.” My chest heaved. “Brothers don’t treat their sisters—”
His hand whipped out, his palm wrapping around my throat and squeezing so hard I could barely catch my breath. “Like what?” he asked, his easy tone now turning to the one I was more used to. Dale pushed his weight into me, causing me to lean