Page 75 of Muted

I hear Chester swallow before he asks, “Are you ready to go home?”

With her eyes locked on him, she steps up to my side and pulls on my arm until I lower enough for her lips to meet my ear. Then she whispers, “Ten minutes. Tell him.” I turn my face to study her and our noses brush.

“She needs ten minutes, Chester,” I announce while trying to figure out if I’ve been reading things with her all wrong. He makes a noise in his throat, maybe wanting to argue, but my sole focus is on her as she grabs my hand and pulls me away.

My thoughts rage through my head as I silently follow her out to the back lot. I’m questioning if she’s pulling me away to let me down in private, or to scold me for talking with Chester about her private life. I devolve into memories of when other women told me they weren’t interested, and a sick feeling of loneliness grows in my stomach.

The cool night air, damp from the rain that’s been falling all day, hits us when she strides outside. She keeps walking to the corner of the building where we are unseen by anyone standing on the street. Once she stops, she drops my hand to look around.

I prepare for whatever she has to say, but I freeze when she turns around, steps up to my chest, laying her head back to look up into my face before she proceeds to climb me like a fucking tree.

She struggles only for a moment, but it’s enough to unlock me from standing like a statue and I help her by gripping her under her thighs and hoist her higher up my body. She wraps one arm around my shoulders and cups my cheek to meet my stare, emotions roiling in the depths of her caramel-colored eyes.

I’m not entirely sure what’s happening right now, so I ask, “Was what Chester said true? Are you seeing Theo? Because if you are, I’m not going to fight you on it, but I would like an opportunity to date you as well. If you’re interested.” I’ve never been more truthful in my life. If she wants to see more than one person, I’m okay with it as long as eventually she makes a decision.

She studies me while chewing on her lip, then curls her mouth up into a slow smile before pressing her soft lips against mine. Her upper lip is tucked between mine as she rests her mouth there without moving.

Both of us have our eyes open as we continue to stay locked together, waiting for the other one to make a move. When I feel the warmth of her tongue graze my lower lip, I groan and slide an arm under her ass, the other around her back to hold her closer.

We both open our mouths at the same time, slanting our heads to deepen the kiss. I slip my tongue alongside hers, shuddering at her taste and the sound of her soft whimper.

She holds on tighter as I kiss the fuck out of her, pouring every ounce of relief that she’s not turning me down, and want for her into it. Her legs tighten around my waist as she crosses her ankles to stay locked on me.

The push and pull between the dance of our mouths feels like we’re writing our own music together. It’s a tempo only the two of us recognize and I want more from her. Our tongues duel together, and I’ve never had an experience more raw or real in my life.

She rips her mouth away from mine, breathing heavily, when we hear the back door banging open and Chester’s car engine start up. I don’t give a fuck if he saw us. He can watch all day long for all I care, as long as I’m the one with my mouth on her.

“So, I’ll see you tomorrow then?” I ask, releasing my hold on her as her body slides down mine until she finds her feet. It’s adorable the way she tucks her hair behind her ear and touches a finger to her kiss-swollen lips.

With a small nod and a little wave, she walks around me toward the car, where I’m sure Chester is waiting for her.

Ignoring the way Chester’s car speeds out of the lot after I hear two doors slam shut, I grin as I stride out to the street and make the short walk to my condo. Even as it starts to sprinkle rain, I don’t care. I felt only peace and heard nothing but silence when she was in my arms.

I would trade my life to feel just a few more moments of peace with her.

Chapter 21

Speechless

Susu

The moment I shut the car door, Chester is practically peeling out of the parking lot. I grab the ‘oh-shit’ bar with one hand as I hurry to buckle my seatbelt with the other.

You can be pissed at me if you want, but I’m just as pissed at you, you dick.

I send my thoughts toward him as we get straightened out on the road that will take us to the highway. He doesn’t ask me for my hand this time. Instead, he reaches over and plucks it from where my fingers are gripping the edge of my seat and slides his fingers between mine, then rests them together between us.

“You’re mad at me.”

There’s no reason to answer. I am, and he knows it. Not because of how he got into my business, that’s just him being a friend to Theo. But he doesn’t get to have a go at Vance because of my choices.ThatI won’t stand for. Whatever happened between me and Theo, or me and Vance, is between us. No fucking way does he get to make him feel like he’s ‘just another guy’. Maybe it wasn’t Chester’s intention, but I’m certain it was.

“You kissed him,” he says after I don’t answer.

Sure fucking did.

Chester sighs, then adjusts his hold on my hand. “You’ve kissed both of them.”

Whipping my head toward him, I glare and squeeze his hand as hard as I can. Ihavekissed both of them, and there’s absolutely nothing wrong with that. Neither are my boyfriends. Theo can’t decide if he’s angry at me or my age, but then flirts and asks questions until I open up and spill all my secrets. He makes me feel alive, and it’s exciting. That man is ice and fire.

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