35. Noah - October
THIRTY-FIVE
Noah - October
WONDERING WHY - THE RED CLAY STRAYS
A smile tugged at my lips as I took in the scene from the edge of the dance floor. The gentle hum of conversation, the love that filled the air—it was all part of this place, all part of Woodstone Falls.
And then there was me.
The people of Woodstone were kind, and extremely welcoming, but I didn’t share the same history they did. I wasn’t rooted in this town, its traditions, or the quiet rhythms of life that seemed to come so naturally to them. My ties here were fragile—delicate strings connected to Dotty, to her family, and maybe to this job that was supposed to be my fresh start.
I couldn’t deny the effect this place had on me. It was more than the beauty of it, more than the simplicity of small-town life. Maybe it was because I wanted to belong here more than I’d admit.
I tried telling myself that there wasn’t anything truly keeping me here. Nothing I couldn’t walk away from if I wanted. But deep down, I knew that wasn’t true. There was more tethering me here, whether I was ready to admit it or not.
A throat cleared next to me, and I looked over to see Sawyer holding out his hand. “Care to join me for a spin on the floor before someone else steals your attention?”
“Of course,” I said.
I took Sawyer’s hand, letting him lead me to the dance floor as the music picked up, a soft melody filling the space. He spun me around dramatically, earning a laugh from me, and then pulled me closer with a grin.
“So, are you excited for the concert coming up?” Sawyer said.
“I am.” I paused as he moved me closer, his hand finding my waist gently. “I think it will be a good time. I can’t wait to see Gracie’s reaction most of all, though.”
Sawyer was tall, handsome, and a damn NFL star, and I was almost disappointed I felt nothing while dancing with him.
Not a spark.
Not a tingle.
Not a damn thing.
I wanted to believe that everything I felt with Dorian was due to his stupidly handsome face and how he pulled off the perfect balance of handsome and nerdy. And not how his kisses made me feel like I was transporting between universes. I wanted to think it was only because he was just that good-looking and nothing more.
But Sawyer dancing with me only proved that I was full of shit. Unfortunately.
“It’s going to be epic. I can’t wait to see her perform live,” he said.
My smile grew. “So, you really do have a crush on Ellie Miles then?”
Sawyer shrugged, unashamed. “What can I say? The heart wants what it wants, and mine wants Ellie Miles belting it out live and in person.”
I laughed, giving him a playful shove. “I never would’ve pegged you for a pop music guy. Do you have one of her albums stashed away in your truck?”
“Yup, I blast it. Full volume. Windows down,” he said, my dress flowing around as he spun me around. “Nothing like driving down the highway with Ellie on repeat.”
“Oh my God,” I giggled, shaking my head. “You’re ridiculous.”
“Very true,” he continued, unbothered by my teasing. “I’m happy G is into her music as much as I am.”
“She definitely is,” I teased, trying to imagine Sawyer and Gracie singing along at full volume.
“I didn’t know you were so deep into the Ellie Miles fan club. Doesn’t hurt she’s pretty too, huh?”
“That she is.” He smiled, pulling me a little closer, his brown eyes sparkling.
Before I could add anything more, a familiar voice interrupted.
“Mind if I cut in?” I looked up to see Dorian standing there, one hand casually tucked into his pocket, the other extended toward me.
His eyes locked on mine, and I could feel that familiar warmth crawling up my neck. Sawyer let out a dramatic sigh but stepped back with a grin.
“If you must,” he replied.
Dorian rolled his eyes but smiled. Sawyer gave me a wink before walking off, leaving me standing there in front of Dorian.
There was something about the way he was looking at me that made my heart skip a beat.
“Shall we?” he asked, as he took my hand.
I nodded, feeling that flutter in my stomach as we began to sway to the music, the world around us falling away for a moment.
“You alright?” he asked.
“Yeah, just… a lot on my mind.”
He tilted his head. “Care to share with the class?” He smirked, his gaze dropping to my lips.
“Everything. Seattle. Woodstone. You.”
The words felt heavy. His grip tightened at my waist, just enough for me to notice.
“Me?” His voice dropped even lower, sending a shiver through me. I finally glanced up, meeting his eyes, my pulse pounding.
“You.”
Dorian’s eyes darkened, and the air around us suddenly felt suffocating.
“Peach…”
I cut him off before he could say more. “This isn’t easy.”
He didn’t respond, but the way his hand slid a little lower on my waist, fingers brushing the curve of my hip.
I could feel the electric current running between us, like something was about to snap.
He groaned, and I let my head fall to his chest. “It’s too easy,” he breathed.
My jaw tightened, and he took a step closer until our bodies were almost flush. “What do you mean?” I asked.
“Being with you, it’s so easy just to be around you, to be myself with you. You make it hard to know what I want anymore.”
“What do you want, Dorian?” I asked.
My heart lurched as his hand grazed the exposed skin of my lower back. He leaned down, his breath hot on the shell of my ear.
“I want you. Now,” he whispered before pulling back to meet my gaze.
I couldn’t hold in the small gasp that escaped me, his eyes never leaving mine.
“Noah…” But it wasn’t a warning—it was a plea.
I answered it by closing the small gap between us, pressing my body against his.
His hand slid up my back, tugging me closer until there wasn’t a single space between us as we swayed to the music. My heart raced, every nerve in my body on fire.
The song ended, but Dorian didn’t let go. His hand stayed at my back, fingers pressing into the fabric of my dress. I could feel the heat between us. I didn’t pull away, nor did I want to.
“We can’t keep doing this,” I said.
“We can’t stop either,” he muttered, his lips brushing my ear, sending a shock through me just before he nipped at my skin.
“Then why do I feel like we’re playing with fire?” I asked.
He chuckled, the sound low and dangerous. “Because it feels really damn good to play with fire sometimes.” I smirked, my heart racing with both fear and exhilaration. “Especially when the fire is you.”
Before I could respond, he took my hand, tugging me through the crowd. His steps were urgent as he pulled me toward the bathroom.