Page 41 of Noble Charms

“What?”

“I'd forgotten about sex.”

Noble moaned in put-upon despair. “Then I envy you even more.”

Aria bumped Noble’s shoulder with his own and smiled. “No, no, I mean, I'd forgotten that being unattached has left me needing to find new attachments. I've been caught up in everything else. I'm going to have to go to bed with a new man?” He’d never even thought of any man who wasn’t Ellor in five years. And they’d become trapped in routine at the end⁠—

What if sex was different now? Had people come up with something new? Aria could have fallen to his knees in despair.

Noble burst out another laugh. “You look agonized. Come now! Sex is probably the best part of dating.”

Aria groaned. “Maybe I can do without. It’s all too much work.”

“If that’s your sentiment, then I fear your lovers have not been doing it right,” said Noble, and his smirk was unmistakable.

“Don’t,” said Aria, raising a finger to wag.

“What? I said naught.”

“You smile in visible glee over what you perceive to be Ellor’s poor performance.”

Noble’s smirk turned to a grin. “All I mean is that you’ve clearly not had it good. If you had, well… You certainly wouldn’t utter the words ‘do without.’ I could never.”

Aria rolled his eyes. “That much is clear.”

Noble’s smile flagged as they continued to stroll. After a beat, he asked, “Does your bed not get cold at night? Does your home not seem horribly quiet?” Noble sighed. “I hate living alone.”

Aria opened his mouth to remark how he was surprised Noble hadn't yet slept with a woman, now that he was divorced. He thought better of it.

Noble eyed him for a second before a teasing grin made his black eyes flash like a storm. “You've matured a bit in your old age, Aria.”

Aria huffed. “My old age? I'm thirty-one.”

“You, at twenty-one, would have made a remark about how surprising it is I've not already brought someone to bed.”

Aria didn't miss a beat. “And you, at twenty-one, would have already brought someone to bed.”

Noble blinked a few times, like he hadn't considered the behavior of his younger self, and then—he laughed again. Another rumbling sound from his chest. The umbrella swayed above them, nearly falling off course.

And Aria couldn't believe how he enjoyed the sound. Noble was right—he was different from his younger self. “But I am sorry, Noble. That you've found yourself alone. What about your Morgan? Surely he’s around often enough.”

“He doesn't live with me.”

Aria smiled and said, “You could have him move in. Bachelors do it often enough in the city, from what I understand.”

“Oh, we went down that road long ago.” Noble straightened up and continued to walk. “He lives at the Guardianship dorms and has said he's going to leave for his spouse and his spouse alone.” Aria understood. The Guardianship represented soldiers, scientists, wizards, and anyone with former combat experience—fighters dedicated to their craft. Living with a friend would compromise their work.

“I didn’t realize he was untitled.”

“Many don’t.” Noble shrugged. “It’s one reason the gossip has been so…"

“Strange?”

“Off-putting. I’ve never been good at sitting on the fence of the nobility-peasant divide. Everyone is whispering about how I don’t care about my title, because I don’t. But my blase attitude has compromised my position within society. I may never get a wife, now, because I’m seen favoring peasants.”

“Well, us peasants aren’t exactly pleased to be called peasants, either.”

Noble sighed. “Morgan would have my head if I called him that, yes.”