Page 148 of Muted

Grabbing the glass from his hand, I take a long drink before handing it back to him. I’d set it on the piano, but Vance would have a heart attack over possible water marks. Flicking my gaze to him, I let my anger ebb as I appreciate his protectiveness over the beautiful pianos on stage here at Sonority.

Another loud giggle, then the shout, “Will you playCan’t Help Falling in Love?” leaves her ruby stained lips and my shoulders stiffen.

“I’m going to end her,” I hiss out under my breath, moving to stand up and get in her face.I’m feelingreallyfucking stabby right now.

Theo’s heavy palm drops to my shoulder, halting me with a chuckle. “Calm yourself. Sometimes they get rowdy. You know this. Youalsoknow that Vance isn’t going to play into her flirting.”

I’m proven right when Vance asks, “Presley? Sorry. Susanna and I don’t have that one. If you look over the card on the table, there’s a list of songs you’re more than welcome to request.” He’s speaking into the microphone and then dismisses her when someone else shouts another song. Thankfully, the one he asks forison the card.

“The night’s almost over,” Theo whispers just before planting a quick kiss to my cheek, then leaves the stage.

Vance continues to lean into the microphone, speaking to the crowd. “This is one that we like to play together on the same bench.Baby, would you come over here?” he asks me, stressing the endearment with a wink. The crowd cheers at his announcement. Our shared bench duets have become a favorite event, which I have no complaints about since I get to sidle up next to him. Even though we’re in front of everyone, it still feels incredibly personal between just the two of us.

Eyeing the woman who’s got a death wish, I stand from my seat and take my time walking to the man who’s more than just my boyfriend. He’s my whole fucking world.

Her lips are pinched together, and she’s scowling as she sits between her friends. Maybe I should give her a little grace because she’s obviously been drinking throughout the course of the night. Her comments and voice level have increased and even her friends have tried to get her to tone it down.

Vance starts to slide over to make room for me, but I stop him. Normally, I sit next to him on performance nights, but not tonight. We’re going to do this the way we practice at home. With a shrug at his questioning look, I lift his arm and slip my body between his lap and piano, then drop my ass right on his cock.

His quick hiss of pleasure makes me smirk and I side-eye the woman, who’s now staring at where my body is cradled against his. With a smirk, I lean back and feel him moving his mouth close to my ear. “What are you playing at, songbird? Not that I’m complaining.”

Turning my face toward him, my smirk turns into a full smile. “Just want to make sure people know you’re mine.” I press a quick kiss to his lips, then face the piano and get my fingers into position over the keys. “Ready?” I whisper.

Vance’s arms come around my body, one of his hands settling between mine. I should be playing an octave higher, but I like when we have to fight each other for the keys. Flicking my eyes over the room, I see Theo is stationed back at the door with crossed arms and ankles as he leans back on his stool. My eyes move to the bar, where I find Chester bent over, his arms braced and brows lowered. He’s not looking at me, though. No. His eyes are narrowed to slits on the woman pissing me off all night.

Wiggling my shoulders to straighten my spine, I feel an extra surge of energy, knowing that each one of them has my back. They see this nonsense as well.I’ll thank them later.

With Vance’s soft count in my ear, we begin our duet ofAll of Meby John Legend. Closing my eyes, I ease back against his chest and let our bodies flow together as our fingers find the notes with perfect precision. When we make it to the second chorus, I crack my eyes open to lock with Chester’s. He’s no longer glaring at the woman I’ve practically forgotten. Now he’s smiling gently at me.

The microphone is moved out of the way, but when I start softly singing the words, his eyes light up. I know he can hear me, which means so does the rest of the bar. People are unmoving and silent as Vance and I push the song harder, throwing ourselves into the music, my voice never raising above that low volume.

With a flourish, we wrap the song up and as soon as we lift our fingers, there’s a lull in sound. The pause is just long enough for Vance to brush my hair from the back of my neck to press a kiss to the top of my spine. We’re both lost in the feel of his lips when the bar explodes in applause, causing both of us to jump.

Chuckling, Vance grabs the microphone to thank everyone, but a loud “BOO” halts him, his smile faltering. Something breaks free inside of me and I’m to my feet in a split second, jumping from the stage and charging toward the same woman flirting all night.

I vaguely hear Theo shout, “Goddamnit!Chaz!” from somewhere to my left. But I don’t care. This bitch sees her imminent pain written all over my face as I circle her table to get to her.

She shoves away from it, scrambling to run, but all she does is open herself up. My body slams into her and we both go crashing to the floor along with her chair. With a screech, she attempts to shove me off, and I’m just jerking my arm back to punch her for hurting Vance like that when my body is plucked, fuckingpluckedfrom her body.

“Calm, baby,” Chester murmurs to me, hauling my struggling form away from where the girl is fake sobbing on the ground.Good. I hope she broke a nail.I’m slung over my boyfriend’s shoulder to chuckles in the crowd, but I have no idea who it is since my hair is hanging in my face and the only view I have is Chester’s ass.

“Theo!” he barks out. “Shut it down!” He enforces his words by slamming his office door shut, cutting off all noise from the bar. I’m dropped onto the couch with a small bounce, and the moment I’m free from his hold, I immediately try to scramble from the trap that are these fucking cushions.

“Fuck this couch,” I complain. My hands barely have a hold before Chester drops his body over mine, his chest to my back.

“You’re angry,” Chester says. His voice is cool and collected, which reignites my need to go back out there and find her before she walks out of here.

Struggling under him, I try to buck him off, but he weighs too much. “I’m fucking furious! That twat was—” I growl in annoyance when he flips me to my back and stretches my arms above my head, interrupting me. He settles his waist between my legs, which I part immediately for him. I like him here like this.

“I know what she was doing. But sweetheart, you can’t attack people like that.Especiallyin front of all the other customers.” His eyes are looking back and forth between mine, I assume, to make sure I’m listening.

Blowing out a breath in frustration, I nod once. “I know. But Chester, shebooedhim. Did you see his face?”

He doesn’t get a chance to answer before the door flies open and both Vance and Theo come storming into the office. Chester turns his head to look out the door. “We locked up?”

“Everyone’s gone,” Vance says distractedly, then moves quickly to the couch, standing near my head. “Shit, songbird. Are you okay?”

Theo snorts out a laugh. “She’s fucking fine. Fuck, that was hot. I never thought I’d want to see you involved in something like that, but the way you…” He looks around the room at the way we’re all staring at him blankly. “Oh, fuck right off. I guarantee you two have a fucking hard-on right now.”

---