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“I think so too,” Noah offered. “Thank you for the food. I’m going to go stay with Adriano for the night.”
Adam’s smirk was back. “At his rental by the café?”
“No.” Noah shook his head with a grin. “He rented out a beach cottage on the island, and he’ll be staying there until he…” He didn’t finish the sentence because he didn’t know how to. He didn’t know what Adriano was doing next, and he was still too afraid to wonder, let alone ask. “But you and Talia won’t run into me.”
“I…Thanks,” Adam said, sounding relieved.
Noah laughed. “Yeah. Trust me, I didn’t want that either.” He opened the door, then hesitated before dropping his hand on Adam’s shoulder. “Dinner soon?”
“Yes,” Adam agreed. “And I’ll look into the sign language thing.” It was Adam’s last promise before he walked out and the door shut behind him. Noah glanced at the clock and saw it was less than an hour before sunset. It was enough time to sit just a bit longer, to feel just a little more, and to do his best not to wonder what was coming next.
CHAPTER13
Noah carried his bag,and Adriano carried the rest of the stuff. They’d made a quick trip to the grocery store, and Noah knew Adriano had over shopped, but it was fun not to care. It had been years, far too many to count, since he’d done something like this. He didn’t sleep away from home, and he didn’t trust the day-to-day of Bubbe’s to anyone else. Not even Adam. But he had to trust his brother could handle things.
He knew Adam would keep Paxton in line. He also knew Talia would be around if Adam was spending the day with Paxton. There would be three people taking care of what was left for the short while it was still standing.
And Noah was giving himself this.
A small thrill rushed up his spine and spread warmth through his limbs as he crossed the threshold into the house. It was small and cozy, the air slightly chilled from the ocean breeze. It was surrounded by a sea of sand and very few neighbors, and it felt private, like their own personal island that no one in the world could find.
He knew this was more than just a vacation. He knew that under the cover of darkness, he was going to give Adriano his body for public consumption. He’d make money and pull himself out of the hole he’d dug—the one his bubbe had started and left him—and then…he didn’t know what. If he was lucky, he’d have something left after the sale of the building, and he didn’t think he’d need to sell the apartment, but part of him wanted to.
It would be like hacking off a limb, leaving that place, but it was time. His past felt infected, and there was no other cure but to remove its hold on him.
Swiping his hand over his forehead, Noah felt sweat in spite of the fact that it wasn’t hot. He was nervous. He heard Adriano in the kitchen, the heavy thud as he put things away, the way he walked hard on the floors. Adriano murmured sometimes, unconscious, quiet noises he probably didn’t realize he was making, but Noah loved them. They were a reminder that he was there, that he was comfortable enough with Noah to let himself relax.
Swallowing thickly, Noah explored the rest of the house and found one smaller bedroom with a blacked-out window, and he knew instantly what it was for. His heart hammered in his chest, but in spite of his nerves and fear, his cock was hard. He backed out, then found the primary bedroom, dropping his stuff in the corner near Adriano’s suitcase. As he stepped back, he felt a tug on his pant leg.
Jude was there, looking up with big, black doe eyes peeking through his tufts of fur. Noah picked him up and cuddled him close. “You are so much cuter than any other dog I have ever met.” The dog huffed against him, and Noah stroked fingers through his coat.
He made his way back to the kitchen and found Adriano at the sink filling a large pasta pot with water. Noah stood there in the doorway, holding the dog, watching his lover as he moved. Adriano was huge but had a grace about him that most people didn’t. He wondered if it was from filming, from being famous, from always being observed. But something about it was more natural than practiced.
He was smitten.
Adriano set the pot on the burner, then turned and smiled, and Noah realized Adriano knew he was there. He liked that. He liked that Adriano was aware of him. He felt his entire body soften—all but his dick—as Adriano crossed the room and put his hands to Noah’s waist. He glanced down at Jude, then leaned in and rubbed his nose along Noah’s, breathing in deep.
“Hi,” he said.
Noah didn’t respond with words or signs, but he turned his face up and initiated a kiss. Adriano groaned into it, took Noah’s waist, and pulled him forward, to the side, then back until he hit the wall. One big hand lifted Jude out of his arms and eased him down to the floor before surging back up and kissing him harder, deeper.
Noah’s hands went to Adriano’s hair, burying in the thick, dark locks. He could do this forever. He could exist in these arms, with this mouth on his, those fingers pressing bruising shapes into his skin, for the rest of his life. He wanted it more than he had ever wanted anything.
And it terrified him and elated him all at the same time.
When had he gotten brave enough to admit it?
Adriano pulled back when he felt Noah’s body poised on edge to let go, and he pressed his hand to Noah’s thigh. “Do you want to come?”
Noah swallowed thickly. He wouldn’t mind changing before dinner anyway, but he had a feeling the rental’s washer and dryer were going to get a workout. He bit his lip and shifted toward Adriano’s hand, nodding.
Adriano growled, then dragged his palm up, bypassing Noah’s dick. Noah let out a sharp whine, wanting to finally feel someone touch him there, but he didn’t need it. Adriano leaned in, dragging open lips just beneath his ear, and it was enough.
His body jerked with the orgasm, not as powerful as those first few but powerful enough. His hips thrust against open air, then he collapsed against Adriano’s chest and let the other man gather him close. They had done this so many times, and Adriano still hadn’t come. Noah’s unease crept in just under the bliss and euphoria, and it must have shown in his eyes when he pulled back.
‘What’s wrong?’ Adriano signed.
Noah bit his lip. ‘Can we talk about’—he waved his hand between him and Adriano—‘after we eat?’
