Page 73 of The Alpha's Pen Pal

My brows moved together in confusion before I realized what he was asking me. I lifted my eyes to meet his in the mirror and raised an eyebrow at him, a tiny smile threatening my mouth.

“Male or female, Haven?” he repeated, my name spilling out of his mouth with a growl.

“If I say male, what will you do?” I teased, leaning back so his fingers met my skin again.

“Haven…” he warned, his hands dropping from my costume and forming fists at his side.

He tilted his neck to the side, cracking it, and closed his eyes. His nostrils flared just a little, and his shoulders rose and fell even faster than when he’d first appeared in my dressing room doorway.

I turned around and placed my hand on his chest, his heart rate slowing at my touch. “Calm down, Pal. It’s Maya.”

“Hmph,” he grunted, his hands grabbing my hips and squeezing them. “It better be,” he added. He tilted his head at me and raised his eyebrows, then he chuckled. “Pal. Like pen pal?”

“Yep,” I chirped.

He shook his head and laughed again. “Just get dressed, Twinkle Toes,” he said, kissing my forehead one last time before he walked out of the dressing room and closed the door behind him.

CHAPTER 26

HAVEN

“Where are we going?” I asked Wesley as I climbed into his truck, dressed in my purple leotard and black skirt from earlier that morning.

“It’s Wednesday,” he said as he pulled away from the theater. I cocked my head at him and waited for him to elaborate. “Where did you see me last Wednesday?” he asked.

“Oh!” I exclaimed, my eyes widening. “Oh, that’s genius!” I added as I realized who he thought I should give my premiere tickets to.

“You’re welcome.” He winked, grabbing my hand and bringing it to his lips to kiss. “And I am definitely a genius.”

“You’re definitely cocky,” I teased.

His lips twitched into a smirk, and I groaned and rolled my eyes. “Oh, my god, that isn’t even what I meant, and you know it,” I said, reaching over and shoving him with my other hand.

“You said it.” He shrugged.

“Well, it’s true.”

“Is it?”

“Yes. Even Maya said so,” I said without thinking.

His brows lifted. “Did she now?” he mused.

“Yes. Right before she told me you weren’t a liar,” I said. “Don’t tell her I told you that, though!”

“Don’t worry. I’m sure many people have said worse things about me.” He chuckled.

He pulled up to the curb in front of Jack and Shirley’s house and shot me a glare as he unbuckled himself, pointing his finger at me as if to say “Don’t you even dare” when I reached for the handle.

I rolled my eyes but stayed in my seat as he walked around the front end, my eyes once again darting to those strong, muscular arms that strained against his T-shirt sleeves. They traveled over to his torso as he came towards the door, taking in the stretch and pull of the fabric as he moved.

I wondered what it would be like to have those muscular arms toss me on a mattress, what it would feel like to have his solid chest pressed against mine, keeping me pinned between him and the bed. What would it be like for those calloused hands to do more than just unhook the back of my tutu, for his warm mouth to explore more than just my lips?

I shook those uncharacteristically lustful thoughts from my mind just as the door to the truck jerked open. I swallowed, meeting Wesley’s eyes. His pupils dilated, his nostrils flared, and his jaw clenched as his hand tightened on the metal of the car door.

Something about how he looked at me—like he wanted to devour me—sent all those thoughts flooding back into my mind. Like a tidal wave washing over and through me, my body had a visceral response to him and his presence and how he asserted his dominance over me.

Not because he wanted to control me or boss me around, like someone else I knew. But because he wanted to take care of me—protect me.

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