Benji sniffed. His eyes burned. “Fucking assholes. They don’t evenknowme.”
“They’ll get tired eventually,” Noah assured him. “Especially after your dramatic, drug-fueled lifestyle calms down.”
“Ha, ha,” Benji said weakly.
Noah stepped closer, watching him carefully. It took him a second too long to take Benji’s face, like he was second-guessing whether Benji would shove him off or not.
Benji relaxed into it. There was still that part of himself that hated himself for it, wanted Noah to fuck off and leave him to be a basket case in peace, but it got smaller with every second that Noah stroked his cheeks.
“Want to go back out there?” Noah asked softly. “They’re moving us to another table, near the back.”
“Yeah.” Benji sniffed, dragging his sleeve over his eyes before the tears could fall. “I just…”
He twisted away. To his surprise, Noah let him. Benji had been wanting him to pull his face back.
“I don’t know,” he admitted, watching his hands grip the sink in his reflection. “Even before they thought I was some money-hungry drug addict, I knew people were looking at me when we were together.” He gestured at his clothes: a crisp button-down, soft slacks, polished boots. “Doesn’t matter how much I dress up. People cantell. You know? Daphne says I hold myself like I’m waiting to fight off someone trying to steal my wallet.”
He risked a glance up in the mirror. Noah was staring down at him, his gaze so intense it stole his breath.
“If anyone has any problems seeing you with me,” Noah said fiercely, “That’s on them. I’m proud to be seen with you.”
Benji snorted, trying to twist away in earnest now. “Come on.”
This time, Noah pulled him back. “Why wouldn’t I be? My sweet, beautiful boy.”
Benji scoffed, tears clouding his eyes once more. But Noah kept going, leaning in so closely that Benji could feel his breath on his lips.
“I don’t like the way it came out,” Noah said. “Or what they think of you. But I like that everyone knows you’re mine. They should know I’m the only one who gets to have you. Who gets to give you what you need.”
A moan tumbled out of Benji’s mouth. He felt his cheeks go red, his hands flying to curl in Noah’s jacket. Like his body was acting without his brain. Responding to pleasure it hadn’t even received yet. A Pavlovian response to Noah talking to him all low and steady, a promise under his words.
Noah pulled him in closer by his chin. “Do you like that idea? Everyone seeing that you’re mine?”
Benji didn’t answer. He couldn’t stop thinking about the golden handprint Noah had branded on his chin, another around his neck. A gilded collar. It should’ve made Benji feel trapped. It didn’t. It made him feel owned. Safe. Taken care of. Like he didn’t have to worry about anything when Noah had him. The image of himself in the bedroom mirror still burned in his mind. He’d never seen anyone so debauched. So thoroughly ruined. Noah had looked at him like nothing else existed.
Benji glanced at the bathroom mirror, cock twitching in his boxers as a hundred possibilities raced through his head.
“I haven’t jerked off since you told me to,” he said as Noah swayed closer.
Noah hummed, fingers tightening on Benji’s chin. “You’ve been sick. Is that really worth rewarding?”
“Yeah,” Benji gasped, blood rushing to his cock so fast it left his head spinning. “I really wanted it the other day. Couldn’t stop thinking about it. I grinded on my bed.”
“Did you come?”
“No. I said I wouldn’t.” Benji nosed at Noah’s mouth hopefully. But Noah held him back, watching him with those damn caramel eyes.
Benji’s throat clicked. They were almost past the point of no return. If Noah took him any further and then they had to stop, Benji was going to get fucked up over it. Like with the changing rooms, starting to fall before Noah caught him.
“I said I wouldn’t,” Benji repeated. “And I… I didn’t. I was good. Right? I was good for you.”
He didn’t strain forward again. He just stood there, waiting. Wanting so badly, he could feel it in his bones. Noah didn’t even have to touch his cock. He just wanted to hear what Noah said next.
Finally, Noah leaned in.
“Youweregood,” he murmured, lips brushing Benji’s cheek.
Benji’s hips twitched, grinding against Noah’s side. “Good boys get what they want, right?”
