~Alistair's POV~
I was just starting to relax, feeling the warmth of his skin against mine, when the sharp, digital chime of his phone cut through the silence.
I watched him stiffen. He grabbed the device and stood up abruptly, turning his back to me as he typed a rapid response.
He stayed like that for several minutes, hunched over the screen in a way that felt uncomfortably secretive, before tossing the phone back onto the nightstand.
Curiosity sparked, sharp and unsettling. I licked my lips, masking it with a small smile.
"Babe," I murmured, "I'm really thirsty. Would you mind getting me a cold glass of water from downstairs?"
"Of course, baby," Alex said, his voice a little too quick, a little too eager to please. He headed for the door, leaving the phone behind.
The moment I heard his footsteps fade down the hallway, I lunged for the device. My heart hammered against my ribs. I swiped into his messages and saw the name at the top: Mother.
