The Sound of Us

Chapter Twenty-Three. “Ho Hey” by the Lumineers

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

“Ho Hey” by the Lumineers

Skye

Of all the places I had expected Dante to take me to reveal his hidden secrets, the university’s engineering science building wasn’t even on the list.

“It’s after hours,” I pointed out as he took me around to the side entrance. “The doors will be locked.”

“That didn’t stop me when we played hide-and-seek.” He pulled a thin wire from his wallet and jimmied open the door.

“I see the whole ‘bad boy’ persona you’ve got going on isn’t for show.” I took a quick look around before walking inside. “You are, in fact, truly a bad boy.”

“When we get to where we’re going, I’ll show you just how bad I can be.” He pulled me into his arms as soon as the door slammed closed behind us, kissing me with a desperate hunger that left us both breathless and panting.

“Is this just a sex thing?” I wrapped my arms around his neck, every shred of my previous resolve gone the moment his lips touched mine. “I thought you were going to show me secrets I hadn’t seen before.”

“I am,” he said. “I just needed to get that out of my system.” He took my hand, and we walked through the quiet, empty corridors, occasionally stopping to look through the windows of the science labs.

“I was never good at science.” I peered into a lab filled with black tables and stools and shelves piled high with beakers and boxes and rubber tubing. “My brain doesn’t work that way. Too many protocols and methodologies to follow. Too many tests and theories and failed experiments. I wanted the whole story, something I could follow from beginning to end.”

“You’re a big-picture kind of person,” Dante offered.

“I don’t mind asking the hard questions, but when I ask them, I want definitive answers. You can’t tell a story when the facts are changing, or when a tiny mistake can have huge consequences. My tenth-grade chemistry teacher cut a stick of phosphorus on his desk instead of in water and set the entire lab on fire.”

“My eleventh-grade chem teacher blew off one of his fingers,” Dante said. “He liked to show us his half finger before every experiment as a warning to be careful.”

“Is that why you chose to major in finance?”

“Finance wasn’t a choice. It’s a means to an end.”

We left the labs and walked up the stairs, our footsteps echoing in the stairwell. Except for our hide-and-seek adventure, I’d never been in an empty building at night, but there was an intimacy in the darkness. No one could see us. No one could hear us. I could share my secrets, and no one would ever know.

“Basketball wasn’t a choice for me either,” I admitted. “My father made it to the NBA but he kept getting injured and he had to drop out after only one season. He wanted a son to live that dream for him and when my parents were told they couldn’t have children, they applied to adopt. He was bitterly disappointed I wasn’t a boy and wanted to send me back. I’d already been through several foster homes and was terrified of being rejected again. I played basketball to make him happy so he wouldn’t send me away. I thought if I made his dream come true maybe he would love me.”

“Jesus, Skye.” Dante wrapped his arm around my shoulder and gave me a hug. “I can’t even imagine how hard that must have been.”

“I wasn’t naturally athletic, so I had to work twice as hard to be half as good as everyone else,” I continued. “My dad was all in as a coach, but he was very tough to the point of being abusive.” I told Dante about Jonah and how devastated my father had become when he found out Jonah would never be able to do competitive sports. “My dad became unbearable. It was all about him. My failures were his failures. I was never good enough.”

“I know that feeling,” he said quietly.

“It’s not like I hated playing ball. I liked being part of a team and I enjoyed the competitions and pushing myself to be the best I could be. It really helped me grow as a person. It gave me strength. It’s just… I would have liked to feel I had a choice, that I wasn’t on the court simply because I was afraid of being sent away.”

We reached the end of the stairwell and Dante led me into a small engineering library. He jumped over the turnstile and held out a hand to help me.

Laughing, I hopped over the turnstile, unassisted. “I may not have wanted to be a baller, but I can still jump.”

We walked past the tall metal shelves, breathing in the slightly musty air as we headed into the reading room.

“Get ready to be amazed.” Dante pushed on a built-in bookcase on the back wall, and it swung open to reveal a hallway framed in dark wood. “This is one of the secret passages I was telling you about.”

“Oh my God. This is the coolest thing ever.” I turned on my phone light as Dante pulled the door closed.

“The latch to open it is here,” he said, pointing to a small handle. “I’ve explored all the secret passages from the previous station manager’s map, but this one is my favorite. It’s where I come when I need to get away.”

He led me up a worn wooden staircase to an outdoor balcony sheltered by a small roof. Beneath us the campus, and beyond, the city, spread out in a twinkle of lights.

“It’s magical.”

Dante grabbed a blanket from behind the door and spread it on the ground. We snuggled up against the wall and enjoyed the view in comfortable silence.

“Another ten out of ten,” I said, looking up at the night sky. “Highly recommend.”

Dante pulled me into a straddle over his lap. “What else is a ten out of ten?”

“Hmmm.” I kissed him softly on the lips. “Radio station sex is up there.”

“What about hidden passageway secret balcony sex?” His hand slid under my shirt, gently cupping my breast.

“Can anyone see us up here?”

“I doubt it,” he said. “This is the tallest building on campus. But even if they could, no one would be able to identify us… Would it matter?”

I felt a small thrill at the thought of being caught. Dante must have been able to read my mind because his voice dropped to a low growl. “She likes that idea.”

“She does indeed.” I flicked open the button at the top of his jeans and slid my hand beneath his fly. He sucked in a sharp breath, his erection growing impossibly hard beneath my palm.

“Fuck.” His head fell back, chest rising as I wrapped my hand around his cock and gave it a tight squeeze.

I’d never felt confident enough to lead before. I’d never felt secure enough to take what I wanted, but Dante was different. I could be myself with him. He listened. He heard. We connected.

“I owe you from the other night.” I lowered his zipper and eased him out. He was thick and hard, the skin of his shaft smooth and hot to the touch. Dropping down, I gave the head a little lick.

“Christ.” His hand fisted my hair, and he pulled me up. “If you’re going to put me in your mouth, you’d better kiss me first.”

As soon as our lips connected, his tongue dove deep, stroking over mine relentlessly until my hips were rocking against his shaft, my thighs trembling, my body taut with need.

“Take off your shirt.” His voice was rough and thick with desire.

I yanked my shirt and sports bra over my head. The cool air made me shudder and my nipples tightened.

Dante’s forehead creased in consternation. “Too cold?”

“Not if you heat me up.”

“With pleasure.” He yanked my hips forward, making my back arch and my breasts rise. His lips molded around my left nipple, and he drew it between his teeth while he fondled my breast. Hunger pulsed through my veins, and my clit throbbed as if begging for a touch.

“If you keep that up,” I panted, “I won’t be able to do what I wanted to do.”

He drew my other nipple into his mouth, sucking harder. I had planned to take control, but the edgy pain on the sensitive peak was so intense, his hand in my hair holding me so firm, his fingers so tight on my hip, I could barely think.

“What do you want to do to me?” he murmured against my mouth. “Tell me. Give me dirty. I want to hear you say the words.”

I pulled my bottom lip between my teeth. I’d never done dirty. There were words I thought, but never said. Books I read that made me blush. The idea of saying those words out loud was, at the same time, terrifying and powerfully erotic.

Loosening his grip on my hair, I slid down between his legs and wrapped my hand around his shaft. He was fully erect, hot and heavy in my hand. “I want to lick the head of your cock.” I flicked my tongue over the smooth tip and his body went rock hard beneath me. “I want to squeeze your dick so hard you can’t stay still.” I pumped my hand, feeling the heat of him against my skin as I dragged my fingers up and down until a drop of moisture beaded at the top. “I want to suck you dry.” I looked up. Dante was staring down at me, his jaw tense, eyes glazed. Arousal thickened the air. Skin and sweat and something darker.

I drew him into my mouth, taking him deep, struggling to encompass the sheer size of him. He groaned, fisted his hands in my hair, and held me tight. Making my tongue flat and stiff, I licked up and down, dragging my tongue along the seam of his head before diving deep again. He pulsed against my tongue, his body vibrating around me.

“Fuck me with that dirty mouth,” he moaned, urging me faster.

I released him, then doubled down, working him with my hand while I swirled and stroked with my tongue, tasting salt and sweat and the essence of him. He rocked his hips in time to my rhythm, his muscles taut and hard.

I’d never had a man at my mercy before, never imagined I’d get off on watching him fall apart. My breasts ached, and heat flushed my skin. I ground myself against his thigh as I brought him to the edge.

“Christ. No.” He released me abruptly, his hands dropping to my shoulders to push me away. His cock slid between my lips, and I sat up, confused.

“Did I do something wrong?”

“I can’t get off when you’re needing to get off.” In one swift motion he had me on my back. Moments later he’d stripped away the rest of my clothes. “You grinding against me is the fucking hottest thing I’ve ever seen.”

“You can take care of me after I take care of you.” My words seemed pointless now that he had me pinned to the ground.

“That’s not how it is with me.” He wasn’t even looking at my leg, my scars, the worst of me. His entire focus was down below, where I was wet and aching for his touch.

“Spread your legs for me, buttercup. Show me how wet you are, how much you need me.” His gaze lifted to my face as I slowly spread my legs apart. I licked my lips in anticipation of the words I needed to hear.

“Good girl.”

Heat washed over me, setting me on fire. This time I pushed away all the questions and misgivings and accepted it for what it was. It didn’t matter why. His praise gave me a deep erotic pleasure that made me feel hot and achy inside. It turned me on like nothing else, and damned if I wasn’t going to embrace it.

I let out a shuddering breath when Dante pumped two fingers inside me. I didn’t care if the whole university could see us now. I didn’t want him to stop.

“You aren’t fighting it this time.” He added a third finger and pressed them gently against the sensitive spot deep inside me, sending tingles down my spine.

“I like how it feels when you tell me I’m a good girl.” I rocked my hips against his fingers, unable to stay still. “I’ll deal with the why some other time.”

“Just like that,” he murmured. “Move like that.”

“I need… More.”

“Not yet.” He pulsed his fingers with enough pressure to take my breath away while slicking my wetness around my clit with his thumb. “Take it for me. I know you can.”

I felt a rush of heat between my thighs. My fingers tangled in his dark hair and I groaned my frustration as heat rose inside me. “No more teasing. Do me now.”

“I get off on giving what I know you can take,” he said lightly. “I had no control as a kid, and now I need it.” He leaned over to press a kiss to my lips, all while his fingers pulsed inside me, his thumb circling closer and closer to my clit. “I’m not going to deny myself the pleasure of tormenting you because of what happened in the past, and I’m not going to waste time trying to figure out the psychological complexities of why I get off on keeping you on the edge for as long as I can. I’m just going to enjoy it.”

“How about you enjoy it a little faster and a lot harder.” I grabbed his hand and pulled it closer.

“That’s not how this works.” His eyes twinkled in the darkness. “You need to be a good girl and take what I give you.”

My breath quickened, my pulse thudding in my ears. I reached out to grip his biceps, needing something to hold on to, spreading my legs wider as he continued the slow rhythmic pulsing that was driving me wild.

“Please…” I was so wound up, so tense that I thought my body was going to split apart.

Finally, he pressed his thumb over my clit and every nerve cell inside me fired at once. It was an effort to stifle my scream as my orgasm flamed through my body, then faded to a flicker, leaving me languid and spent.

Dante sheathed himself with a condom from his back pocket. Then he slid an arm around me and flipped me. “Over you go.”

“Is this another fantasy of yours,” I said over my shoulder as he positioned me on my hands and knees.

“Studio A.” He leaned over, his weight against my back, his hand gently squeezing one breast and then the other. “You were on all fours, plugging in a cable that had come out of its socket.”

“And you thought…”

He gave a deep rumble. “I thought you had one hell of a sexy ass.”

“It’s very hot that you wanted to do me on the filthy floor of the studio,” I said, amused.

“I would do you anywhere.” He grabbed my hair with one hand and pulled my head back, forcing my back to arch. “Very nice,” he murmured before he shoved his knees between my thighs, pushing my legs apart.

“I can’t move.” I tried to push back and take what I wanted but was held firm by the weight of his body as he leaned over me to run a finger through my wet folds.

“That’s the idea.” He positioned his cock at my entrance as his fingers moved over my clit, touching me in the way he knew would drive me crazy.

Just when I thought I couldn’t take any more, his grip on my hair tightened and he plunged into me as deep as he could go.

My breath caught in my throat and I let him take control, driving into me over and over. Everything inside me started to tighten. I braced myself, fingers curled into the blanket, hungering for the dark, dangerous thrill of him. Power rushed through me, electric and wild. We climbed together, naked but cloaked in darkness, exposed in body and soul.

“Fuck. Skye.” With one last savage thrust, he reached his peak, and I reached mine. We came apart together sheltered by a blanket of stars.

Dante’s heavy body collapsed over me. His fingers twined with my mine still clutching the blanket. He pressed soft kisses to my shoulder, his lips sliding to my nape, the light pressure making my nerve endings stir and tingle.

“You’re cold. Let’s get you dressed.” Dante rearranged the blankets while I pulled on my clothes. After we were dressed, I settled between his spread legs. His chest was warm against my back, thick arms keeping away the chill. For a long time, we just sat together, enjoying the silence, enjoying each other.

“I feel like I can see all of Chicago from here,” I said, staring out into the twinkle of lights. “Where does your family live?”

“I grew up in a house in River Forest. After my mother died, my dad bought a condo in The Loop and stayed there most of the week. Sasha and I had to fend for ourselves, although my grandmother would stop by occasionally to check on us or bring us a meal. I haven’t been back there since Sasha died. I don’t even know if he still has the house. He’s not a sentimental kind of guy.” His body tensed and his arms tightened around me. I could feel the rapid beat of his heart against my back, hear his breaths turn raw and ragged. I sensed the shift in the air around us even before a cool breeze sent goosebumps rippling across my skin.

“We’d better get going.” He released me and eased me forward to stand up. “My show starts soon and I need to get to the station.”

I felt that gentle push as a sting of rejection. What had I been thinking? I knew he was sensitive about his family, but the closer we got, the more I wanted to know about him. So much about Dante was still a mystery to me.

“I have to get going, too.” I jumped to my feet. “I… uh… I promised Isla I’d help her with an experiment.” Even though I knew it was irrational, I felt sick inside. Maybe this was why Dante didn’t get close to people. Maybe this was where he drew the line, and this night would be our last. Before I knew it, I was caught in a spiral of anxiety that tightened my lungs and stole my breath away.

Can we send her back?

Dante looked over at me, frowning. “You’re not going to come?”

“I didn’t think you’d want me there,” I admitted. “I know I shouldn’t have asked about your family.”

“I want you there,” he said softly.

I swallowed past the lump in my throat. “Then I’ll be there.”

“Skye?” He walked over to me and cupped my face in his hands, drawing me close.

“Yes?”

“I’m not them.”

“Who?”

“All the people who didn’t want you. Your dad and anyone else who didn’t love you for who you are.”

Emotion welled up in my throat and my eyes watered. I had that love from my mom and from my brother Jonah, but there was still a part of me that was broken from three years of foster fails and a childhood knowing my father never really wanted me and desperately trying to make him love me anyway.

“I think I’m allergic to something up here.” I dabbed at my eyes with my sleeve.

“I hope you’re not allergic to me because I’m not going anywhere.” He pressed a soft kiss to my forehead.

He wanted me. Not the idea of me—my baller boyfriends just wanted to flex about dating an NBA player’s daughter and my dad wanted a sports star—but the real me. Skye who loved music. Skye who felt happiest when she was chasing down stories. Skye who would have sex on a secret balcony under the stars.

“I am kinda hot for you,” I whispered, hoping he’d get the reference to the iconic Van Halen song. Technically, he wasn’t really my teacher—more a mentor or even a boss—but the song fit.

A smile spread across his face and he played on the words of the song. “Do you have it bad?” He kissed each of my cheeks and the tip of my nose, making my heart flutter.

“So bad,” I whispered. “So very, very bad.”