Page 6 of Dark Thirst (The Scandalous Novellas)

I can’t even fathom going back out there and seeing Corey again.

I hate my mom. She is always doing shit like this to hurt me.

I wish Sean would have stayed longer. Would it be so bad to ask him to come back and hang out longer?

He probably has plans for tonight. Why wouldn’t he?

My phone vibrates on my bed, and I see a message from him:

Sean: Text or call me anytime. I’m here for you.

My heart skips a beat. Why is he being so nice to me suddenly? And those things he said earlier in the car really surprised me. We have never connected like this before, but I’m glad to have seen his softer side. I text him:

Michelle: Would it be too much to ask you to come back? I don’t want to stay here any longer…

Sean: I’m on my way.

I can’t believe what I just read. There was no question. I look out my window and see his black Mustang pull up to the curb. Saying nothing to my parents, I walk out the front door and climb into the passenger seat.

Sean says nothing as he pulls away from my house. I don’t care where we go, I just want to get away from here. Away from these people that don’t really care about me. Away from those that don’t know me. Tears well in my eyes and I look out the window so I don’t have to cry in front of him.

Sean drives as I silently cry. The fact that my mother invited the man that hurt me and broke my heart tears me up in ways I can’t explain. Someone that barely knows me knew I would be hurting and is doing more than my mother at the moment.

“Where are we going?” I ask.

“My apartment. Is that okay?” he asks tenderly. I nod yes, and he puts his right hand on mine and squeezes gently.

“It’s not far. Want to stop and grab anything on the way?”

“Do you have any alcohol?”

He laughs and turns to face me with a smile on his face. “Of course I do. What do you like to drink?”

“Anything.” I close my eyes and put my head back against the seat.

I feel him squeeze my hand again. It feels so good.

I haven’t had someone hold or touch me in that way in a while—not since Corey and I broke up.

I haven’t wanted to be with anyone or let anyone in since then.

It’s just easier than getting my heart broken over and over.

The car comes to a stop, and I open my eyes again.

I don’t recognize the area, but we are behind a large apartment complex, which I assume is where he lives.

He lets go of my hand and gets out of the car.

I follow him into the gray building and up the stairs to the fifth floor.

I wasn’t sure what to expect, but the building is pretty old school and I like the architecture.

Sean stops in front of a door and takes out his keys, unlocking the door and holding it open for me. Apartment 511. I take mental note of that.

It’s dark until he turns on the light, and I realize I have walked into the kitchen area. Across from it is the living room, which has a large sectional couch, a TV, and a bookshelf filled with books and games. I recognize the couch from all the videos I saw online and it makes me blush.

I feel a hand rest on my lower back, and I turn around to find Sean standing right beside me. “What can I get you to drink, princess?” His voice is soft.

“Mmm, do you have any vodka?” He nods, turning around and reaching into a cabinet above the fridge. Wow, he has an entire bar sitting there just waiting to be consumed.

“What do you want to mix it with? Or would you prefer it straight?” he says with his back turned to me. “On the rocks, please.”

I enjoy watching him move around the kitchen with ease.

His tight shirt makes his back muscles visible as he reaches for a glass and makes my drink.

I’m suddenly parched. And not for a drink.

I shake those thoughts out of my head before he turns around to hand me a drink, noticing he made something for himself as well.

“Make yourself at home.” He motions to the living room, and I walk over to take a seat at the end of the couch.

I feel like I’ve been here before, only because of all the content he’s made in this very room.

He takes a seat right next to me and sits back.

I take a sip of my drink and the warmth of the vodka coats my mouth and throat.

It feels good; it’s so nice and quiet here.

“Want to talk about it?” he asks, and I shake my head no as I stare at the clear liquid in my glass. “I’m sorry he hurt you. And I’m sorry he was there today. He shouldn’t have been,” he growls.

“You have nothing to be sorry for,” I whisper. “You’ve done nothing wrong. If anything, you’re my hero today.”

I hear him chuckle, “Like I said in my text, I’m always here for you. I’m only a phone call away.”

His words make my heart ache. I wish our situation was different—that we weren’t family and that I could make him mine. Nothing in the world would make me happier right now. Oh, how I wish I could feel his embrace or put my head on his chest and hear his heartbeat.

He gently grabs the glass from my hand and sets it down on the coffee table in front of us, and then wraps his arm around me.

Almost as if he had read my thoughts just now, he pulls me in for a hug.

My head finds his chest and it feels like home.

I close my eyes and relax in his arms as he circles his thumb on my shoulder.

Words didn’t need to be spoken at this moment. He knew this was what I needed.

We spent the rest of the afternoon and early evening hanging out on the couch, talking about our favorite movies, shows, games, books and him wanting to learn Spanish. I should try and teach him a word or two. I learned so much about him in such an intimate way tonight.

He’s so different from his online persona and I want to know even more.

I feel guilty that I’ve seen him touch and play with himself online without him knowing, but I can’t help myself.

He shows me the rest of his apartment, but I don’t see any of the masks he uses.

They must be hidden in a closet somewhere.

It’s past eight when I get a call from my mom. I’m sure she’s wondering where I am, but she doesn’t need to know, so I text her that I'm out with a friend. Sean and I run out to grab a bite to eat before he drops me off at home again. There is no awkwardness between us anymore.

He’s shown me a side that I’m sure most people have never seen, and I’m grateful. He drives me back to the house and parks down the street.

We sit for a few moments before he reaches into his pocket and takes out a key. “This is the key to my apartment,” he says, putting it in the palm of my hand. “You can come over anytime you need or want. No questions asked.” I just nod, not knowing what to say to that.

He turns to face me before I step out of the car and gently grabs my chin. “Thanks for a nice night, princess. I hope you’ll let me see you again soon.” I watch his eyes travel down my face and land on my lips. I swear he looks like he’s about to kiss me before he breaks contact.

“That would be really nice. Thank you again for everything, Sean. Goodnight.” I slip out of the car and close the door behind me. The deep rumble of the engine fills the quiet night as he pulls away and turns the corner.

I bite my bottom lip as I walk up the sidewalk to my house. My mother is waiting for me at the door with a scowl on her face as I walk in.

“Where did you go?” she says through clenched teeth.

“Out. Why?”

“How could you leave without saying anything?! Everyone was asking where you were, and we were worried!”

I roll my eyes. “What, Corey was asking? Because I’m damn sure no one else even noticed that I was gone!” I walk down the hallway to my bedroom while she yells after me.

“Don’t you dare walk away from me while I’m speaking to you, Michelle! You need to change your attitude, or you’ll be alone forever.”

I slam my door shut. I’m so fucking tired of hearing her say that to me. She thinks I’m some kind of freak, the black sheep of the family. Fine. I’ll give her something real to hate me for.

My hands are shaking as I pull out my phone and log into my fake profile.

I haven’t had time all day to check it, and I see that Sean sent a video.

It’s of him in the shower, holy fuck. Luckily, I didn’t see this earlier or it would have made our afternoon super awkward, and he wouldn’t have known why.

He hasn’t logged on in hours, but I respond to him, thanking him for the special treat. Fuck. I know I shouldn’t keep this going, but I can’t stop. I want to see if he will open up to me online like he did in person today.

It’s like playing with fire, but I can’t help it, even if it means I get burned.