Page 26 of Violent Little Thing

Interlude — Piano Date

DELILAH

Adonis: Delilah

Me: Adonis

Adonis: Why aren’t you talking to me? You barely said anything at dinner.

Me: That’s not true. I said you were a middle-aged man with too much money

Adonis: And then you didn’t say anything else. What’s wrong?

Only this man would think something is wrong because I wasn’t insulting him enough.

Sighing, I click the button to kill my screen and glance at my open closet.

Pants, shorts, sandals and dresses in more colors than I could ever want stare back at me.

I haven’t repeated an outfit once and it makes me wonder how long he’s been building the wardrobe.

How many women before me had he needed to dress? And how had we all been the same size?

Me: How many women have stayed in this room?

Adonis: Just you. Why?

Me: Then why do you have so many women’s clothes?

Adonis: Never been a minimalist when it comes to you

Me: What does that mean?

Adonis: Whatever you want it to mean

Me: You’re not making sense

Adonis: Come downstairs. You can say whatever you want about me as long as you say it to my face.

Me: You got a humiliation kink or something?

I smirk at the dancing bubbles that appear immediately. Indigo would be proud of me for remembering that.

Adonis: When it comes to you? Maybe

Adonis: Come downstairs, Delilah. I want to hear your voice

Me: I wasn’t aware you liked it when I talked

Adonis: Delila h

I stare at my name and imagine his deep voice saying it, exasperated and gruff. And I can’t stand that goosebumps raise on my skin just from the thought.

Adonis: Did something happen while you were out today?

Me: No. I just don’t want to talk to you.

Adonis: I want to play something for you. Come here.

The next message I get is a picture of Titus laid out near the back leg of the grand piano and my mouth says, “Aww” without my permission.

Me: You’ve gotta stop using your dog to sway me.

Adonis: Is it working?

Me: …

Adonis: Please?

Me: I’m coming