Page 40 of Noah

With that, Griffin turned and walked away, leaving me standing there feeling relieved.

His warning was clear, but Noah mattered to me more than I had allowed myself to admit.

Outside the bar, the cool night air was a welcome relief from the stifling tension inside. I found Noah leaning against a lamppost, his guitar case at his feet.

His face lit up when he saw me, and I felt a wave of relief wash over me.

“You made it,” he said, a hint of surprise in his voice.

“I wouldn’t miss it again,” I replied, stepping closer. “You were incredible.”

Noah’s smile was shy, but it didn’t hide the pleasure in his eyes.

“Thanks. It felt good tonight,” he said.

We fell into an easy conversation. The laughter came naturally, and for a while, it felt like we were the only two people in the world.

The chemistry between us crackled, each shared glance and accidental touch sending sparks through me.

I could see it in Noah’s eyes too—the connection, the mutual pull we couldn’t deny.

As the night stretched on, the idea struck me, and before I could overthink it, I voiced it. “How about we grab a bite? There’s a diner a few blocks from here.”

Noah hesitated only for a moment before nodding. “Sure. Why not?”

We walked through Pecan Pines’ quiet street. The diner was nearly empty, the perfect setting for an impromptu date. We slid into a booth and continued our talk.

I loved listening to him. There was an intimacy in the simplicity of our conversation, a closeness that neither of us had expected but both craved.

As we left the diner, I couldn’t help but steal glances at Noah. He smiled at me and my heart gave a little hopeless flutter.

I offered to walk him to his car, an excuse to extend our time together just a little longer.

He didn’t hesitate to say yes, and we made our way to his car parked a few blocks away.

The drive was quiet, filled with a comfortable silence that spoke louder than words.

Every so often, I stole a glance at him, the way his fingers tapped lightly on the steering wheel, his eyes focused on the road but softened by something unspoken.

My wolf stirred restlessly, sensing the tension that simmered just beneath the surface. I was drawn to him, more than I had ever been to anyone before.

When we pulled up in front of his apartment building, I stepped out, offering to walk him to his door.

He nodded, a shy smile tugging at his lips as we climbed the steps together.

The air between us was charged, the unspoken words hanging heavy as we reached his front door.

Noah turned to face me, his keys jingling softly in his hand.

“Thanks for walking me up,” he said, his voice soft, almost hesitant.

“Of course,” I replied, my voice lower than usual.

My heart was pounding, each beat echoing in my ears. I couldn’t let the moment slip away. Leaning in, I brushed my lips against his, testing the waters.

The kiss was soft, tentative at first, but when he didn’t pull away, I deepened it, my hands finding their way to his waist, pulling him closer.

His breath hitched, and for a moment, everything else faded away.

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