Frequencies of Us Chapter 44: Hands and a Heat

Mateo POV

I’m standing outside St. Mark’s gate, my sneakers scuffing the gravel, the candy wrapper still in my hand from last night. Noah’s wave from the dorm window plays in my head, his grin soft and real, making my chest feel tight and warm. My heart’s still racing from spotting Caleb, my missing track teammate, ducking behind a wall in that St. Mark’s uniform. I yelled his name, banged the gate, my gut sinking fast because he’s supposed to be gone, not here. Noah climbed down, asking what’s up, and Caleb ran off, dropping a fake ID that said “Carlos Ruiz.” My head spins, my hands sweaty, because this doesn’t add up, and my throat’s dry, stuck with questions.

Noah’s with me now, his hand grabbing mine, his voice soft saying we’ll figure it out. I pull him close, my breath shaky, mixing with his, and I mutter, “Yeah, us,” feeling the heat between us, steamy and tense. My heart skips, fast and wild, because he’s here, solid, and my gut flips, flirty but messed up from Caleb’s ghost. I’m still reeling, my chest pounding, mad and confused, because Caleb’s been hiding, and I don’t know why. My legs itch to run, to chase him down, but Noah’s grip keeps me still, keeps me here.

The night’s dark, the gate humming low, and my hands squeeze Noah’s tighter, my skin buzzing where we touch. I want to ask Caleb why he’s here, why he’s wearing that uniform, but he’s gone, vanished into the shadows. My face burns, hot and sweaty, because he was my teammate, my friend, and now he’s a stranger with a fake name. Noah’s eyes stay on me, soft and steady, and my chest flutters, warm and real, because he’s not letting go, not letting me fall apart. I lean into him, my shoulder brushing his, and my gut twists, needing him close, needing us to stay strong.

We’re quiet for a bit, just standing there, my breath puffing fast, my heart thumping loud in my ears. I think back to yesterday, banging his door, yelling I knew the note wasn’t him. His hands grabbed mine then too, shaky and close, and my throat got tight, scared he’d leave with his dad’s horn blaring. Now he’s here, fighting with me, and my gut flips again, hot and fast, because it’s us against this mess. My fingers lace with his, rough and warm, and I feel him, really feel him, keeping me grounded.

I kick a rock, my sneaker scraping loud, and my chest tightens more, mad at Caleb, mad at myself for not seeing it sooner. Noah steps closer, his body heat hitting me, and my heart jumps, wild and quick, because he’s all I’ve got right now. I turn to him, my eyes locking on his, and my breath catches, stuck in my throat, because he’s looking at me like I’m enough, like we’re enough. My face burns hotter, and my hands shake, restless, wanting to pull him even closer, wanting to forget Caleb for a second.

He moves first, his hands sliding up my arms, slow and firm, and my gut twists, steamy and alive. I grab his waist, pulling him against me, and our chests press tight, his heartbeat slamming into mine. My lips find his, hungry and fast, and he kisses back, hard, his hands digging into my shoulders. My skin’s on fire, every touch electric, and I push him against the gate, the metal cold on my palms. His breath’s hot on my neck, quick and rough, and I groan, low and deep, my body shaking as I grind into him, feeling him hard against me.

I slide my hands under his shirt, fingers gripping his skin, smooth and warm, and he gasps, loud in my ear, making my gut clench tight. My lips move down his jaw, sucking hard, and he tilts his head back, letting me in, his hands tugging my hair. I press harder, my hips rocking slow, and he moans, soft and needy, sending a jolt straight through me. My heart’s pounding, wild and fast, and my breath’s ragged, lost in him, lost in us. I bite his neck, gentle but firm, and he shudders, his grip tightening, pulling me closer, making me ache for more.

We’re locked like that, bodies moving together, the gate rattling soft behind us. My hands roam lower, grabbing his hips, and I thrust slow, feeling him push back, hot and desperate. His lips crash into mine again, messy and wet, and I taste him, sweet and sharp, my head spinning fast. My gut’s burning, every move lighting me up, and I groan again, louder, my body trembling as we grind harder, chasing the heat, chasing each other. His hands slide down my back, nails digging in, and I feel it building, tight and wild, ready to explode.

A whistle shrieks, sharp and loud, and my heart jumps, slamming hard in my chest. I pull back, my breath heaving, my face burning red, and Noah’s eyes snap wide, dark and wild, his lips swollen from mine. Security’s coming, boots stomping somewhere close, and my gut twists, tense and fast, because we’re caught, maybe, but I don’t care. My hands stay on him, shaky and warm, and my chest flutters, steamy and alive, because it’s us, still us, even now. Caleb’s voice hisses from the dark, “Don’t tell!” low and scared, and my head spins, mad and confused again.

Noah grabs my arm, pulling me back, his breath fast and rough, and my heart thumps, loud and wild, because he’s here, fighting with me. My phone buzzes, sharp in my pocket, and I fumble it out, hands shaking bad, my gut flipping fast. It’s Sofia, three words: “He’s with me.” My chest locks, air gone, and my eyes dart to Noah, close and sweaty, his hand still in mine. My breath catches, stuck in my throat, and I grin, small and shaky, because Caleb’s out there, with her, and my heart slams, wild and hot, needing to know.

I look past the gate, my eyes squinting into the dark, and my gut twists, flirty and raw, because Noah’s still pressed against me, his heat keeping me here. My face burns hotter, and my hands shake, bad now, because it’s big, pulling us deeper, and my throat’s tight, words stuck, needing him to stay, needing us to chase this. Something rustles, soft and close, and my heart jumps, loud and fast. A candy wrapper floats down, old and sweet, landing by my sneaker, and my chest flutters, steamy and alive, leaving me waiting, raw and real, with Noah’s breath warm on my neck.