Page 66 of Muted

My smile feels mischievous when I smirk at Theo’s reply.

Theo: Fuuuck Susu…

Me: You like it, then?

Theo: Can I ask you a non-friend question?

Me: I’m certain you’re the one who established that line.

Theo: It was in pencil and I’m erasing it tonight.

Snickering silently, I shake my head at his response. The ache is still there, and I try to stretch my neck again. Trying out my voice, I attempt to read his text out loud, but nothing will come out. Not even a hint of a hum.

“Silence.”

Swallowing against the reminder, I shake off the last vestiges of my dream and reread our texts again, enjoying how Theo has a way of pulling me out of my head.

Me: LOL… What’s your question?

Theo: What would you do if I walked up to you at work and kissed you like that?

Well, shit. I didn’t expectthatquestion.I try to picture it. A shiver rolls through me, hardening my nipples just by the thought of him pressing me against the wall… Fuck.

I don’t know what to say. Unsure if I should just go for it, I try to buy myself some time, but his response has me answering quickly, squeezing my thighs together when a pulse throbs through my pussy.

Me: That’s definitely not a friend question.

Theo: I want you to answer me.

Me: …I’d let you.

Theo: You’d let me grab you by the back of the neck, spin you around and slam you up against the wall? Grip your hair in my fist to angle your mouth the way I want it?

Me: Yes…

Theo: Would I hear your voice?

I hesitate. Would he? I try to hum again, but there’s nothing there. I managed a few words with Vance yesterday afternoon, but he doesn’t expect anything from me. At that moment, I felt entirely safe and alone. It’s like we were in our own bubble where my vocal cords were able to take a breather.

It slipped out, the thanks for his companionship and being there just for me, there was no stopping it.

Theo, though. He still intimidates me. No, that’s not right. He overwhelms me. Chester, too. Vance has a powerful aura around him, but there’s an even footing with him I don’t have around the other two.

Deciding to be honest, I answer him.

Me: No…

Theo: What would it take to make you speak to me?

Me: More than that. More than just a kiss.

Theo: But I get your voice here, why not in person?

Me: This isn’t my voice. These are just my words.

The dots dance across the bottom of the screen for a moment before he asks what I can’t answer. Not yet.

Theo: Why don’t you speak, Susu?

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