“We’re on the same page then.”
“Seems so.”
That was easy. Too easy.Kaj rolled on his side to face Noah fully. “I’m curious, though. What are you looking for?”
“I have a lot of shit going on, too. So, I guess I just need something to take my mind off of it, and sex with you is good enough to do that.”
“Good enough?” Kaj scoffed. “You came three times last night and nearly passed out on the last one.”
“I’m not gonna say you’re the best sex I’ve ever had, or your ego won’t fit through the door.”
Kaj quirked an eyebrow, basking in Noah’s implied admission. “So, no strings attached?”
“We both know it’s more complicated than that between us. But yeah, I’m not asking for a commitment. Though, we work together, so we need to set some ground rules. If this goes south, it could mess up the whole dynamic, and I’d rather avoid that.”
“Let’s hear those rules.”
“No jealousy. If either of us wants to hook up with someone else, we talk about it and see if it’s something we’re comfortable with when it happens. Safety always comes first.”
“So, non-exclusive?” Kaj asked, the sting in the back of his head already telling him he wouldn’t be too happy if he saw Noah with someone else.
He’d never had issues with sharing before. Why was it different with this man? Also, why was he mentioning this. Was there someone in his life?
“I probably won’t be fucking around, if that’s what you’re worried about, Larsen,” Noah sighed, sounding exasperated. “I’m not like that. But we keep the communication open. And if either of us wants to end this… arrangement, we do. No hard feelings.”
“Okay. What else?”
Noah’s eyes roamed Kaj’s face. “I’d like you to stop using me as a punching bag, too. If you’re having a bad day, talk to me or go kick a tree until you break your foot, but don’t take it out on me.”
“Fair enough.” Kaj chuckled. “What about... physical boundaries?”
“Hmm… I don’t mind being called derogatory names, but I don’t like being heavily humiliated. Praise is more than okay, and so is biting, spanking, choking, and anything that involves a little pain. I’m pretty open-minded. As long as we talk about it, if we both agree, I’m willing to try anything.” Noah’s mouth curved into a faint smirk.
“Can definitely work with that,” Kaj said nonchalantly, trying his best to hide his enthusiasm.
“Now, what about you? What areyour boundaries?” The way Noah emphasized the last question made Kaj think he was getting closer, slowly decoding the complex geometry of his mind.
The drummer took a deep breath, forcing himself to maintain eye contact, although the coward within wanted him to run for the hills. “I need space sometimes. If I pull away, it probably won’t be because of you. I just need to process things on my own.”
“Okay. What else?”
“I’m not great with... intimacy,” Kaj admitted. “Sex is fine, but everything else—cuddling, kissing outside of sex, and that kind of thing—it’s not easy or natural for me.”
Noah’s expression flickered for a second before he nodded. “Got it.”
Kaj was aware of the irony. But Noah hugging him or taking care of him after a nightmare was the exception that confirmed the rule.
“Hm… Since we want to keep this private, no marks where people can see them. Also, I’m not into anal, so that’s off the table.”
“Not even rimming or a finger?”
Kaj twisted his mouth. The only person he’d ever trusted enough to touch him like that was Mads, and it had happened only a handful of times. But something inside him kept wriggling with excitement whenever he thought about Noah eating him out. “We’ll see. Maybe, with time.”
Noah smirked.
And there goes my last brain cell.
“The last thing would be…” Kaj forced himself to continue, despite feeling like doing other things to avoid the extreme sense of vulnerability sinking in his chest. “If I ever ask you to stop, you stop. Immediately.”
