Chapter 34 "Well, damn girl!" Cora exclaims before she sticks her fingers in her mouth and whistles. My cheeks-already red from exertion-grow warmer as I cross the dance floor to retrieve my water bottle from a table in the corner, taking long, slow inhales to catch my breath before taking a swig. "It needs work," I tell Cora. The two of us are currently at Golden Gate Grooves after hours. I've been here every night after work since deciding I'm going to audition for Expressions, practicing my routine relentlessly. My knees are basically two huge bruises, and my toes are a bleeding, taped-up mess, but I'm pushing as hard as I can until it's as perfect as I can make it. I'm frustrated with my lack of progress, though. I know my choreography is solid, showcasing my range as a dancer, but something about my routine is still not gelling the way I want it to. It's missing a feeling, and I wish I could put my finger on the pulse of exactly what that feeling is. "It's technically perfect," my friend says thoughtfully. "But I think it's possibly⁠-" "Lacking emotion," I fill in the blank for her, and she nods awkwardly. "If I absolutely had to give you a critique," she says, pinching her index finger and thumb together. "I'd say maybe a teensy bit?" I laugh, charmed by her reluctance to say anything negative about my performance. "Don't worry, I appreciate honesty, and I welcome your opinion." This makes Cora smile. "Good. Means we're real friends." "Exactly," I nod, then redirect the conversation, not wanting my dance to hog our whole evening. "You want to show me your piece now?" "For sure!" Cora's on her feet in an instant, and I sink into the chair she was just occupying. She decided to join me tonight for this very reason-so we could work on our audition pieces together and critique each other-and I'm glad for the company, especially as the boys have been gone for the past three days. Even though I've been holed up in the studio for most of each day, I've missed them all, eagerly reading every update they send in our group text conversation, but more than that, specifically awaiting Noah's direct texts for my eyes only. So many texts over the past few days, some checking in to see how I am and how my day was, some so flirty and playful they make my stomach spark with anticipation. His plane should be landing soon. The thought-Noah being back in the loft tonight-has my heart speeding up. Hopefully with his arms back around me as we sleep. I've missed the warmth of his body next to mine over the past few nights. So much so that the first night he left, I even snuck into his room and stole one of his hoodies to sleep in. It's huge, soft, and smells just like him...I'm never giving it back. But maybe even more than that, I've just missed him. Our late night talks that end with him sneaking into the kitchen at one in the morning to grab us snacks; his surprisingly sharp, understated wit that makes me smile; those brown eyes that watch me intently, really listening every time I speak. I smile to myself as I curl my legs up on the chair in front of me and watch Cora dance to her chosen song 'Confident'-her confidence seeping through in every move, confirming it's the perfect song for her. She manages to look simultaneously fierce and full of heart as she dances, and it brings me chills. She's amazing. When she finishes, I jump to my feet, applauding-even though my stomach is plummeting. I could feel her routine, sense the emotions she was trying to convey through her movements. It makes me even more insecure about mine. "The casting directors would be dumb not to offer you a role," I tell her. My words aren't even to amp her up, it's just the honest truth. "Right?" she responds with a laugh, doing an exaggerated hair flip before her face turns serious. "Now hit me with your feedback." I tell her about some footwork midway through the dance that could be sharpened up, but other than that I have nothing. We chat for a little longer before my phone pings next to me. I grab it with the speed of an Olympic sprinter. Noah Just landed. Are you at the loft? Noah You better be, or I might find you and drag you home. The deliciously playful threat has my stomach swooping. Beside me, Cora chuckles. "Is that your loverboy roommate?" "It's Noah," I confirm, her word choice making me smile. Noah hasn't made a single move on me since the first night we kissed, but he slept next to me every night until the day he left for Canada. I get the distinct feeling that he's holding off because he's trying to prove to me that I can trust him. Because Noah is that guy. A gentleman. The guy who would put my needs before his any day of the week. The thought warms me to the core, and after being away from him for the past three days, what I need more than anything right now is to be the one to show him what he means to me. Show him I trust him. That I care for him as much as he's made it clear he cares for me. Ally I'm at the studio...but not going to lie, I like the sound of that. Noah I'm already on my way. And holy hell, if that doesn't make my entire body break into prickles of anticipation. "That!" Cora suddenly exclaims, pointing an almost accusing finger at me. "What?" I tear my eyes from my phone screen. "That smirk." "Cora, I have no idea what you're talking about," I say with a laugh. "When Noah texted, you got this almost feral look on your face." She looks at me with a grin. "No offense." "None taken." I lift a brow. "Go on..." "You looked at your phone like you were hungry. Like there was endless possibility in whatever he texted you-spare me the gory details-and you were ready to leap right into wherever that possibility might take you." Her words land exactly where I need them to, a sudden understanding that I didn't see before settling over me. I used to pour every emotion into my dancing. Every part of myself. When I was a kid, I expressed my fears, my joy. In my teen years, my angsty frustrations. And as I grew into an adult, my femininity also became a part of how I danced. The part of me that felt confident in being a woman and expressing how strong and vibrant I felt. Embracing my body and channeling all of that passion into my creative outlet, same as I'd always done with everything else I felt. But Tyler's accusations that I was teasing him, using my body to make him want me when we danced together, now linger at the back of my mind. Logically, I know his accusations are false. Like Noah and I talked about, Tyler alone was responsible for Tyler's actions. But I think that sometimes, the human mind copes by overpowering logic, and for me, turning off the emotional connection between my brain and my body was a protective measure to keep myself safe. And when I started dancing again a few weeks ago, I allowed myself to start feeling again. Powerful. Fierce. Competent. Angry. Happy. But I haven't let myself feel sexy as I dance. Not once-except for the night Noah and I danced together during that stupid game, when that part of me came alive again as I moved. It's so clear to me now: for our Expressions auditions, we're meant to tell the story of ourselves. But the story I've been telling in my routine hasn't included how I feel about Noah. It's the missing piece. "Am I right or am I right?" Cora prompts me as I stand quietly, processing all of this. "You're right," I tell my friend, shaking my head. "You're one hundred percent right." "I know." She grins as she grabs her jacket and throws it on, zipping it up as she adds, "Not just a pretty face over here, you know." "I never doubted that." "Good." She bumps my hip with hers as she shimmies past me. "Find that emotion in your piece, and you'll be incredible. Mark my words." She raises her eyebrows. "Okay, I gotta bounce now, I have a date with a very hot bath." We say our goodbyes, and she heads out. But instead of getting ready to leave as well, I pace around impatiently, waiting for Noah. When the front door finally opens, I run before I can think. Noah catches me in his arms easily, pulling my body to his. He's wearing a soft turquoise Lions tee that molds to his upper body. I press my face into his warm, solid chest, inhaling his familiar, comforting smell, and the soft thud of his heartbeat. "Welcome home," I murmur. "I missed you," he tells me, pulling back slightly so he can look down at me, his hand moving to push a stray lock of hair off my forehead. "Same." My heart catches in my throat. "I'm so happy you're back." "Me too." He presses a feather soft kiss to my cheek and lowers his voice as he says, "Is this the part where I drag you home, so I get you all to myself for the next twelve hours?" "I like the sound of that." I run my fingertips down his chest, relishing the way he shudders under my touch. "But...but there's something I need to talk to you about first." "Of course." Noah's playful smirk suddenly turns serious. "I wasn't implying anything by having you all to myself, I just meant I want to spend time with you tonight, whatever that does-or doesn't-entail." "I want that, too." I suck in a nervous breath then blow it out. "But before we go home, I want to dance with you." One corner of his mouth ticks up. "Dance with me?" In a nervous rush, I hurriedly explain everything I just realized, about how I want to tap into my feelings for him to reignite something in me onstage. Feel that emotion again in my dancing. When I'm done, he says nothing for a moment, and my cheeks immediately redden...until Noah steps forward, his hand reaching for mine. "I'm all in." His voice is low, sexy as all hell. "Okay." I swallow. Nod. And then I flip on some music-not my audition music, but a sultry R&B song with a great bassline. Something we can move to together. "Just tell me what to do," Noah says as the intro starts. We stand facing each other, a few inches apart. "Just feel the music and let the rhythm lead you," I reply. "Whatever that might look like." My breath is already shallow and staccato, and his eyes spark to life as the tension between our bodies grows, crackling almost viscerally in the small space between us. Neither of us move, but stillness is powerful, giving time to let everything I'm feeling flow to the surface. We're two pieces of flint, anticipating the moment before we come together and ignite a fire. The beat picks up, and I feel it pulsing through me as I extend a hand to Noah. He mirrors my action, gently bringing his palm up so I can press mine against his. The point of contact as my hand slides against his sends shockwaves through me. He makes the next move, lifting his other hand. I immediately meet it, and his long fingers curl around mine. I suck in a sharp breath, and his pupils dilate, his eyes becoming heavy-lidded and seductive. The beat continues to crescendo, building in me, and I step towards him, closing the distance between us. Noah's hands move down the sides of my body as we begin to dance together, my body swaying under his touch as his fingers trace my ribs, my waist, my hips. "Is this okay?" he murmurs as my eyes flutter closed. "It's perfect," I respond shakily, letting my hands explore their own path over his body, working over his pecs, his shoulders, the corded muscles of his upper back. When I gently scratch my fingernails along the back of his neck, sinking my hands into his hair, he groans, and it's the sexiest sound I've ever heard. I could hear it a thousand-no, a million-more times, and it still wouldn't be enough. "Ally," he rasps, moving his hips in time with mine as his hands slide to the small of my back, pulling me flush against him. He leans down, the stubble on his jaw scraping along my chin as he nuzzles into my neck. My head falls back as I let myself fully experience the delicious sensation of the scratch against my sensitive skin, and then I gasp aloud when he kisses my neck directly on my pulse, which leaps under the touch of his lips. In response, he loosens his touch on my back, gently using his hands to spin me around so my back's against his chest, fingers splaying over my stomach as he holds me against him once again, and we continue to move to the beat together, lost in the moment, the music, each other. "You're so sexy. The most beautiful thing I've ever seen," he praises me, and I lean back against him, relishing the feel of his strong chest, torso, and thighs behind me. His heart slams in his ribcage, pulsing against my back. I raise my arms above my head as I dip my hips and continue to dance, letting my body take over, letting it feel again as it moves...and nothing has ever felt better. I'm on fire for him, in the best way, and I want to burn here forever. By the time the song ends, we're both sweaty and shaking. A shiver runs down my spine as he slides his hands off my stomach. Slowly, I spin to face him, staring up at his coal-dark eyes as I whisper, "That was⁠-" I don't get to finish my sentence because his mouth is already on mine, kissing me so thoroughly it's like he wants to devour me. "Noah," his name comes out like a prayer, like I'm begging the powers that be that this is real, that Noah is real. Because he almost seems too good to be true. His tongue traces my bottom lip as he oh-so-tenderly cups my face and proceeds to kiss me absolutely senseless until my legs are shaking. When we finally come up for air, we're both breathless, and the look of pure adoration on his face as he pulls back and looks at me makes my heart want to burst. "Was that what you had in mind?" he asks with a chuckle, the vibrations of the sound running through my body. "Better," I admit. Because whatever just happened between us as we danced has made something in me feel whole again. I've finally reclaimed my confidence in who I am in all areas of my life, and it feels amazing. "Ready to go home now?" he asks with a smile. I smile back. "Absolutely." Discover our latest featured short drama reel. Watch now and enjoy the story!