Page 50 of The Rhythm of their Souls

Danielle twirls me around several times, and when I regain my balance, I look towards the fire pit, catching a glimpse of something out of the corner of my eye. I sway back and forth to the music, keeping my eyes fixed on the fire and the people gathered around it.

A light breeze stirs my hair, giving me a feeling of déjà vu. I watch as the smoke from the fire wafts away, and there he stands—tall and beautiful.

I stop moving, never taking my eyes off him. His brows furrow as he gazes at me intensely. He strides toward me, his hands comfortably resting in the pockets of his slacks. Memories flood my mind from the first time we met; I remember feeling frozen as he approached, stealing the air from my lungs.

He still has that intoxicating effect on me, but this time, I surrender completely to it. Instead of the internal struggle I often face, I allow my longing soul to take control.

As his body slams into mine with a graceful force, I am acutely aware of the electric connection between us, as if our very souls are woven together in an intricate dance. His hands explore the delicate curve where my arched back meets my hips, his fingers tracing along my skin and igniting sparks of desire. With each movement, he pulls me closer, our bodies swaying rhythmically to the pulsating music around us, lost in the intoxicating moment that feels both exhilarating and utterly consuming.

I finally look around and realize that Danielle and Chase are gone. “Where did they go?” I ask.

Theo presses his lips together before answering, “Chase said they needed to get something from the truck. They scurried off pretty quickly.”

I shake my head, both of us aware of what they’re really up to. A part of me wishes it was Theo and me sneaking off instead. He looks at me with a smirk, almost like he can read my thoughts.

He then spins me around, grabbing my hips and pulling my backside into him. The memory of us under the pier flashes through my mind. I remember I had finally lost control at that moment. And damn, it felt so good. I focus back on Theo’s grasp on my hips, placing my hands over his. I slowly roll my hips to the beat of the music.

He brings his mouth to my left ear, brushing his lips on my lobe, causing goosebumps all over my body. “I’ve already thought of different places we could sneak off to,” he purrs.

Excitement runs through my veins, so much so that I show him just how turned on I am. I buck my ass back, grinding into him. I create a perfect motion with my hips, rubbing my ass in the right places. I feel a groan vibrate through his body.

Theo grips onto my hips harder, moving his body with mine.

His warm breath tickles my ear again. “Mmm. I could take you right here. But one thing about me, Olive, is that I don’t share what’s mine.”

My breathing has changed its pace. He plants a kiss right behind my ear, then another further down on my neck. My head falls back, resting on his chest. I close my eyes, letting music and pleasure roll through me.

“O-Olive?” a familiar, deep voice shakes my core. There’s no fucking way.

My eyes fly open, and so does my mouth. I feel Theo stiffen behind me. I stand frozen, catching gnats in my gaping mouth as I watch Noah and Chloe approach me. My hands fly to my sides, forming tight fists.

Adrenaline vibrates through me as my heartbeat picks up speed.

He has changed so much in a year. His onyx-colored hair is trimmed much shorter now than when I last saw it, and he has stubble along his jaw and chin. His face is more structured. I can tell his body has changed; he looks more like a man now.

I never once thought about how opposite he and Theo are besides their similar height.

My eyes move to Chloe, and instant heat builds inside me. I stare at her while she nervously hides behind Noah. She looks the same. Her long dark brown hair reaches to her stomach, and her brown eyes flick back and forth between Noah and me.

Noah’s eyes stay on me the entire time, and something changes when I look back up at him. I almost see guilt behind his hazel gaze. I feel pity for him for a split second, but then it’s quickly burned away and replaced by anger. Fuck both of them.

Noah steps towards me, and when he does, Theo removes his hands from my hips, quickly steps in front of me, and puts one hand on my thigh. I watch as Noah cuts his eyes at Theo. My stomach turns to lava. One thing about Noah is that he has a mouth on him. I can see the look he’s giving Theo, like, “Who the fuck is this guy?”

I peek around Theo’s arm, looking up at him. His expression is stone cold, fixed on Noah.

Noah brings his attention back to me. He reaches up, rubbing the back of his neck in a nervous manner. “I just wanted to say that I’m s—” his words are cut short when Theo sucker punches him in the nose.

Noah falls back, almost knocking Chloe down. A shriek leaves her dainty throat. My hands fly to my mouth, unable to comprehend what just happened.

Theo calmly walks over, towering above Noah, looking down at him as he wipes gushing blood from his nose. He then kneels down, grabbing the collar of Noah’s jacket.

“You’ve had a whole fucking year to apologize for not being able to keep your puny dick in your pants,” Theo growls. He twists his fist into Noah’s jacket, pulling him closer. “She doesn’t need your apology. She forgot your name the moment she started screaming mine.”

Holy shit… that was hot. My thighs rub together like an overworking cricket. Theo stands back up, nonchalantly swiping his slacks off and adjusting his long jacket.

Chloe hurriedly crouches down to check on Noah. She pauses for a moment, her eyes wide; I watch her mouth open to say something. But I step forward, cutting her off before she can speak. “Chloe, just keep your fucking mouth shut before I drag your ass like I did in the parking lot.”

Her mouth seals shut immediately, and her attention goes back to Noah.