The Sound of Us

Chapter Nineteen. “You Sexy Thing” by Hot Chocolate

CHAPTER NINETEEN

“You Sexy Thing” by Hot Chocolate

SKYE

Chad wanted to celebrate our new show assignments with a visit to the campus sports bar on Friday night. He made an announcement over the station intercom, and by the time Isla, Haley, and I arrived the bar, the WJPK team was out in force.

“Cheers to Skye’s new show.” Isla held up her drink and we all clinked glasses.

“All I can think about are all the things that could go wrong,” I said. “I’m not telling my mom about it or any of my friends back home. And you guys are not allowed to listen.”

“As if.” Isla snorted a laugh. “Haley already said I can come to the station when you’re on-air. You’re getting all the support in the world. Not just from Dante.”

I glanced over at the bar where Dante was sitting with two women and one of the metal DJs from the basketball game. As if he knew we were talking about him, Dante looked up from his conversation. His gaze dropped and then he made a slow, leisurely perusal of my body that left me feeling like I’d been stroked with soft velvet. I’d worn a pair of tight dark jeans, sparkly flats, and a silk top with spaghetti straps that was open down the back. Isla had refused to let me put my hair up in its usual ponytail and had smoothed and teased it into gentle waves that fell across my shoulders.

“Jesus,” Haley whispered. “I would die if a man looked at me like that. Why are you so afraid to talk to him about what happened in the closet?”

“What am I going to say? It was amazing, but it was just a one-time thing. A heat-of-passion moment. I don’t need to hear him say it. And this morning was perfect. He acted like it hadn’t happened and everything was the way it was before.” Except that he’d touched my pinky and set my body on fire.

“My inner psychologist is thinking a lot of thoughts,” Haley said. “Also, I’m not sure he thinks it’s a one-time thing. He’s looking at you like he wants to lick you all over.”

“He’s probably got those two women all lined up for an evening of fun.”

“Skye. Hey.” Ethan tapped me on the arm. He was tall and as gorgeous as ever in a blue polo shirt and jeans, his blond curls tamed into submission. “I saw you come in. Can I buy you and your friends a drink?”

I glanced over at Dante, who was still chatting with the DJ and the two women, one of whom now had a hand on his arm. “Yes, but no tequila. I had a bad experience at a frat party and that part of my life is now over.”

“Frat parties or tequila?”

“Both. That’s why we didn’t join you at the party the other week.”

“I was disappointed you weren’t there.” He casually brushed my hair back over my shoulder. Haley choked on her drink. Isla frowned. She knew all about Ethan’s apology but refused to accept he had changed.

“I’m going to play pool with Nick,” Isla said abruptly. She gave Ethan a curt nod and headed across the bar.

“We’re celebrating Skye’s new investigative reporting show,” Haley said into the awkward silence. “Do you know any juicy scandals involving the sports teams? Who’s hooking up with who? Who’s heading for the pros? Who got shitfaced at a party and went for a naked swim? She’s looking for a good story.”

“I’m the wrong guy to ask about gossip,” Ethan said. “But I’m sure one of the guys can spill some tea.” He gestured to the cluster of ballers at the back of the bar. “Why don’t you join us?”

My gaze slid back to Dante and his duo. “Sure,” I said to Ethan. “Let’s go.”

Haley and I were more than ready to dance when the band finally took to the stage later that night. We’d had a few drinks and a fun conversation with Ethan and his friends, one of whom had seemed enthused by the idea of digging up dirt on other sports teams. Isla was still over at the pool table with Nick, pretending she didn’t know how to play so she could hustle a few extra dollars from the overly cocky sports types. Dante and the two women had disappeared.

The band’s opening song, “Welcome to the Jungle,” hit like a ton of bricks and instantly whipped the crowd up into a frenzy. Musically and lyrically, it was the perfect song to set the mood.

“You’re being watched,” Haley shouted in my ear when the song transitioned into “Won’t Get Fooled Again.” I followed her gaze expecting to see Ethan, but instead I saw Dante, sprawled in a chair facing the dance floor, legs parted wide, his gaze fixed on me—carnal, intent. I hadn’t seen this side of him before, but it set my blood on fire.

When the band launched into “Let Me Entertain You,” Dante crooked his finger and beckoned me over. I’d never thought of myself as a sexual person, never flirted or played games, and although I liked the way I looked, I’d never considered myself pretty. But the way Dante’s eyes roved over me, as if there were no one else in the bar, made me feel like I was the sexiest woman in the whole damn world.

In that moment, I didn’t care about Ethan or the two women who had been flirting with Dante. I didn’t care if he’d slept with every woman on campus, or even if he was about to tell me our closet encounter was just a one-night stand. Dante made me feel things I’d never felt before. He made me want to take risks. He made me feel seen in the depths of my soul.

Taking a deep breath, I flipped my hair back and walked toward him, slow and sexy with a little sway of my hips. By the time I reached his chair, his hand was fisted on his thigh, and his lips were pressed tight together. He was wearing a bronze medallion around his neck and his jaw was rough with a five o’clock shadow. He gave off serious dark-and-dangerous vibes, and I could almost see the energy pulsing beneath his skin.

“Looking good, buttercup.”

“Feeling good.” I tried to force my lips into a sultry pout, but they decided to spread into a grin instead. “Are you going to dance?”

He lifted his chin in the direction of the ballers’ table. “Not wanting to start a fight.”

I looked back over my shoulder, following his gaze. “Ethan? That’s not going to happen.”

Dante gave a rumble of approval and drew me between his spread legs, his gentle touch on my hips sending lightning bolts of pleasure through my veins.

“You’ve been avoiding me,” he said, not unkindly.

It had been one week since our encounter and although we’d both been so busy our paths had only crossed that one time in the station, there was no point denying it.

“I was working on my story and I just… I didn’t know how things stood between us. The last time, you said it was a mistake, and I know you have some kind of one-night rule and I’m fine with that, but—”

“I do have a rule,” Dante said. “But that was definitely not a mistake. At least, not to me.”

“But you avoided me, too,” I pointed out.

“I was giving you space,” Dante said. “I was worried I’d pushed you too far, but when you reached out with that song…”

My cheeks flamed, and I groaned. “You knew it was me? I used Isla’s phone.”

“I know your music.” Dante chuckled. “It was like you’d picked up the phone and called me.”

“You’re different tonight,” I said, trying to distract myself from the throb of arousal between my thighs. “You seem…” I trailed off when I heard Isla shout, her voice barely audible over the music, but the tone made my heart skip a beat. “I have to go. Something’s wrong.”

I pushed my way through the crowd toward the sound of her voice, pulling up short when I saw her and Nick facing off with some rough-looking dudes near the pool table. They were heavily muscled, hair buzzed short, arms fully inked. One of them had spacers in his ears and tattoos on both cheeks.

“I’ve seen them here before,” Dante murmured in my ear. “They’re always causing trouble.”

“We won fair and square.” Nick pushed Isla behind him and held up a hand in a warding gesture.

“She’s a fucking ringer,” one of the guys shouted. “She said she didn’t know how to play.”

“I said it had been a long time.” Isla’s voice wavered the tiniest bit. “You’re just pissed because you thought you’d take advantage of me and now the tables have turned.”

“Isla’s been playing pool since she was three years old,” I told Dante. “She’s a bit of a hustler, although like she said, it’s not her problem if people make assumptions.”

“Look, we don’t want a fight.” Nick backed up a step, forcing Isla to retreat with him. “We’re leaving. The table is yours. Just chill out and have a good time.”

“This is not going to end well,” Dante muttered under his breath as they made their way to the door. “We’d better go with them. I’ll round everyone up and meet you outside.”

I followed Nick and Isla out into the cool night. Dante joined us a few minutes later with Chad, Haley, and Derek.

“We need to get out of here,” Dante said. “They’re not going to let this go.”

Too late. Before we even had a chance to process what was happening the three guys from the bar were blocking our path.

“Hey, man.” Nick held up his hands in a placatory gesture. “We don’t want any trouble.”

“I want my fucking money.” The tall guy grabbed Nick’s shirt. Nick responded with a punch that sent the guy reeling. Two of the dude’s friends grabbed Nick and held him while the tall guy positioned himself to return the blow.

Before he could swing, Dante moved to stand between them, all cool and casual like there wasn’t a storm brewing. “I don’t want to fight you,” he said.

“I got no beef with you,” the tall guy snarled.

“They’re my friends and that means their issues are my issues,” Dante said calmly. “And I repeat, I do not want to fight you. Just go back inside, have a drink, and—”

“Fuck you.” The dude threw a punch, clipping Dante’s jaw. Dante recovered quickly and slammed his fist into the guy’s stomach, sending him staggering backward. His friend with the spacers released Nick and joined in the fight. Dante dodged his punch effortlessly and countered with a swift right hook, knocking him to the ground. The impact reverberated through the air, drawing the third guy into the fight. He landed a solid punch that made Dante grunt, but Dante countered quickly, sweeping his assailant’s feet out from under him and jabbing an elbow into his back as he went down.

The first assailant came at him again with a left hook. Dante ducked the swing and drove his fist into the guy’s face. The sound of bones cracking echoed through the air as the dude crumpled to the ground, blood gushing from his nose.

“Behind you,” Nick yelled.

Without even a moment of hesitation, Dante whipped around and delivered a vicious back kick to the guy with the spacers, sending him flying into the street. Cradling one arm, the dude pushed to sit and spat out a mouthful of blood along with a string of curses.

Still wired with adrenaline, Dante spun a full circle, hands up and ready to fight as he glared at the three men sprawled on the ground around him. His eyes were pure black, his face taut, lips pulled back in a grimace. He looked feral, vicious, almost out of control. “Who’s next?” he shouted. “Who’s fucking next?”

“Dante.” I put a hand on his shoulder and spoke quietly in his ear. “They’re not getting up. No one wants to fight you.”

“Yeah, bro.” Nick gently tugged his arm. “Let’s go.”

“Skye,” Ethan shouted from the doorway. “Come back inside. You and your friends can join us. We’ll keep you safe.”

Dante and Nick had already gone ahead and were cresting the grassy hill that led back to campus. I hesitated for only the briefest second before I shook my head. “Thanks,” I called out. “We’re all good. Everything is under control.”