Page 85 of Muted

Chester’s face pops into my mind, but I don’t think he’s looking at me in the same way the other two do. Plus, he’s my boss. I’m sure there are some written rules somewhere about that being a no-no. Even if Idosee him as more than the man who signs my paycheck.

All three of them have been texting me since I walked out two days ago. I only responded last night because Theo threatened to break down my door. Damn the consequences or the wrath from Miriam.

Chester has been patient and understanding, just reassuring me he’ll be there if I want to share what happened. He also let me know he suspects it was Cliff who scared me, but I refused to confirm it.

Theo has been demanding, pushy, and really fucking worried to the point of panic. His texts have come through almost hourly since he left my apartment and a part of me regrets not letting him come in. But at that moment, I couldn’t because my mind was still trying to decide if I was going to run or not. If I let him in without a plan, I knew I would stay no matter what. I had to make that decision on my own.

My Vance, though. He’s the one that drew me out. He’s the one that had me the most worried. His texts weren’t demanding information or begging me to talk to him. Instead, I received texts of ‘I don’t know what to do for you’ and ‘I feel lost, not knowing what’s going on’.

This is why I’m meeting him at the bar early. I know Chester will be pissed I used the bus system to get here, but Vance has keys to Sonority, and he pleaded with me to meet him. Not only so we could practice, but so he could see with his own eyes that I wasn’t gone. That I didn’t disappear on him.

Arriving at the bar, I try the front door and find it unlocked. My breath comes out in a whoosh of relief. Even though I’ve got my mind in the right place, I still wouldn’t have wanted to wait outside, exposed to onlookers.

Once I slip inside, I let my eyes adjust to the darker lighting, barely able to see anything inside. A shadow moves in front of the dim lights, and I see Vance walking toward me at a clipped pace. His eyes are locked on me, nostrils flaring, determined to get to me.

I drop my bag and throw myself at him, forcing him to take a step back as he collects my body into his arms.

“I need to know you’re okay, songbird,” he murmurs into my hair. His hands are running over my arms and back, before cupping my face to run his gaze over me. Analyzing me. There’s so much worry and concern behind his eyes that I feel overrun with guilt for putting it there.

“I’m okay, Vance,” I whisper. His eyes flash with heat at the sound of my voice. It’s so easy to let the words out around him. I was worried I’d never be able to unless it was my family.

“Keep talking to me,” he murmurs. Letting his lips trail over my skin, he drags them down to my lips, resting them there as he adds, “Don’t everstoptalking to me.”

His hands haven’t left my face, making me shiver when his thumbs graze my cheeks. It’s like he can’t stop touching me now that I’m standing in front of him.

Lifting the corner of my lip, I ask, “Songbird?”

He nods once and leans back to look into my eyes. “That’s how you speak to me. Through song and music. I want your words, but I’ll take your melody if I could only choose one.”

Pushing up on my toes, I press my mouth to his, more forcefully than when he simply brushed his against mine. He tastes minty when I swipe my tongue across my lower lip after lowering my heels back down, peering up at him.

“I want more from you. I lost my goddamn mind when you walked out the other day, not knowing what was happening. I thought you were gone, and it twisted me up.” He’s breathing heavily as he steps into my body, my chest pressing against his. His heart is beating hard, speeding mine up to match the tempo. “Will you give me more?”

Guilt makes me swallow hard, so I look down, unable to meet his pained eyes any longer. I wish I could tell him what happened, but I reinforce my stance that I need to keephimaway from all of them. No matter if it ends up hurting them in the end.

Vance grips my chin and lifts it to force me to look at him again. “I won’t insist you tell me now, but will you at some point?”

“Yes,” I tell him, barely leaving a pause between his question and my answer.

“You’re okay, though? Right now?” he asks, and I nod my head that I am. I can feel his relief as he melts against me, pulling me closer, hugging me to his body. I wrap my arms around his waist and let my fingers spread across his back, his muscles moving under them as he reacts to my touch.

Eventually, after the best hug I think I’ve ever received, he pulls away to drag me toward his piano. “I want to play you something,” he tells me, maybe a little embarrassed, but I smile because Iwantto hear him play for me.

When we make it to the bench, he lets me go to sit down. I stand to the side while he gets settled and then he looks at the space next to him, frowning. “I don’t want you over there.”

Giggling, I shrug, because where else am I supposed to go? He answers my question by grabbing me and pulling me onto his lap. Instead of facing the keyboard, he rearranges me so that I’m facing him with my legs around his waist. Shoving his face into my neck, he breathes in deeply before whispering, “This is where I want you.”

Vance threads his arms through mine to reach the piano, but not before pressing on my back to push me closer to him. My arms go around him, and I lay my head on his shoulder, turning it to watch him as glances down at the same time.

“Ready?” Placing a kiss on my forehead, I smile and close my eyes, absolutely ready to hear him. His head dips down to graze another soft kiss across my lips before he sits up to play.

The song he’s chosen is beautiful. It’s dark, but entrancing. Erotic. Filled with passion that makes me grip onto him tighter.

Our bodies move together in a sinuous grace as he reaches for the notes, and I cling to him. I can’t help but stroke my fingertips over his back and up through his hair the longer the song goes on. My breath kicks up when I feel his length grow between my legs.

I can tell when the song is coming to an end, so I press my lips against his ears, pleading with him. “Please… keep going.”

A soft groan escapes him, but he does as I ask, seamlessly transitioning into another song, equally as heated as the first. I roll my hips to get closer to him, my hands digging into his shoulders to feel the way they move.

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