Page 142 of Muted

Vance takes up his spot in the chair he’s been occupying, only he moves it closer to her, refusing to keep the distance as vast as it’s been. He doesn’t say anything, but winks when she turns to look at him.

“I’m going to go get drinks,” Chaz mutters, slipping out of the room as I walk around her bed to lean against the wall, gazing down at her.

I let her watch as I slip my phone from my pocket slowly and send her a text.

Me: I really do love you. So fucking much, carebear.

Her face flushes when she reads what I’ve sent. She types her reply quickly, and when I read it, I want nothing more than to gather her against my chest to protect her forever.

Susu: Is he really gone?

Me: Yeah baby, he’s gone. I’m typing this here so you can read it whenever you need to.

Instead of writing back to me, her eyes dance as she tilts her head back, studying me. My fucking cheeks hurt with how hard I smile when she whispers, “I love you too, teddy bear.”

Chapter 41

Con Amore

Vance

Placing my keys on the counter, I toe my shoes off and walk into my living room, now full of more furniture, to find my songbird curled up on a chair in the corner of the living room. She’s staring out the window, lost in her head, and obviously didn’t hear me come in.

We’ve only been back for a few days, and although she’s been content, there’s still an underlying sadness I’d give anything to unburden from her.

Eyeing the piano centered in front of the windows, I quietly walk over to the bench and gently lift the cover off the keys. She still hasn’t noticed me as she watches more snow fall over the city.

I know at times I can be awkward with my words, especially when it comes to expressing myself with her. But that doesn’t mean I don’t have ways to speak to her where she’ll fully understand what I’m trying to say.

Running my long fingers over the smooth keys, I smile to myself when the songBrilliant Dayby Steve Horner comes to mind. I love it for her because it’s a peaceful, uplifting song that is filled with so much emotion and happiness. It’s the way she makes me feel about her.

With her,lovingher, every day is a beautiful andbrilliantday. It’s the same feeling each time she gives me her voice. It’s like she’s handing me her trust on a platter, andfuckif that doesn’t feel good.

Settling my fingers on the first notes, I begin to play softly at first, and then let it build to prevent startling her. This song is one of those pieces where you can keep playing different parts, each one flowing into the next on an endless loop. So, that’s what I do.

I play, and play, and continue playing for her until she hears what I’m telling her. Watching her over the top of the piano, she slowly turns her neck to meet my eyes. We’re locked together, my mind screaming for her to hear what I’m saying.

Susu drops her legs to the ground and rises from her chair, still watching my face as she slowly walks around the piano to the left of where I’m sitting. Dropping my eyes down her body, I notice she’s only wearing one of Chester’s shirts that he’s forever putting on her each night.

Tapping my arm, I lift my left hand from the keys and give her space to maneuver her way in between my body and the piano. When she hikes her leg over my lap, I raise a brow at the flash of her panty-less pussy before the shirt covers her once more when she sits.

With her head angled back, she wraps her arms and legs around me, holding tight as I drop my left hand back to the keys to continue playing. I watch her as she studies me for a while before she finally pushes up to lay a kiss along my jaw.

“I love you too, Vance,” she whispers to me.

Immediately, my hands lift from the keys, the music ending suddenly, to wrap my arms around her. Holding one side of her face, I sweep my tongue into her mouth, thanking her for understanding me.

Tangling her fingers in my hair as she climbs me, trying to get closer, we kiss each other like it’s the first time. My hands can’t stay in one place, roaming around her body like I need to touch every inch of her to make sure she’s all here. Eventually, my hands find her bottom and flex hard, molding her flesh roughly, grinding her against the steel hardness of my cock.

Tearing my mouth away, I press my head against hers, still rocking her against me. “I want you to come back. I want you to play with me again.”

Susu’s eyes are closed as she rolls her hips slowly in my lap, a smile curling up her lips lazily. Sliding a hand between us, she slides her palm over my shaft through my pants and tightens her hold.

“I’m playing with you right now.” The way she says it is teasing and has a whole lot of need.

Chuckling, I thrust against her, groaning out, “Youareplaying with me, and it feels so fucking good. But you know what I mean. I want you to come back to the bar.”

Her movements still for a moment as she peers up at me, some of the lust filled haze clearing from her eyes. “I’m going to. I think I just needed a little time to accept that it’s over. Well, that it’s mostly over. I know the legal stuff isn’t finished by a long shot, but it’s hard to convince myself that he’s not coming back.”

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