“About what?”
“About letting yourself have good things,” Daphne said gently.
Benji had a vague memory of Daphne bringing it up a few times, especially since Noah came into the picture.
“It’s not about that,” he tried, his stomach squirming uncomfortably. “It’s?—”
She cut him off. “Do youwantto marry him?”
Incredible excitement and spine-tingling fear rushed through Benji in equal measures. He had never let himself imagine a lifetime with Noah. Every time he tried, the inevitability of Noah leaving crashed into him like a tsunami.
“That’s not the point,” he started weakly.
A knock on the door made him jump.
“Benjamin,” Noah said. “Everything okay? You sound weird and hissy.”
“I don’t sound hissy,” Benji hissed. He cleared his throat. “Gotta go, Daph.”
“Oh,” Daphne said. “Uh, okay. Congrats on the almost-engagement?”
“Ha ha,” Benji said woodenly.
He hung up and stood, swinging open the door. It didn’t squeak. Nothing in this giant apartment squeaked, or groaned, or needed you to jiggle it before using it. Benji had never lived anywhere better, and he would never get used to it.
Noah was leaning on the doorframe, fully naked and effortlessly sexy as ever. Benji almost wanted to scoff at how stupidly perfect he looked, bare and rumpled with sleep. Even his soft cock made Benji want to fall to the floor in worship.
He swallowed a sudden gush of saliva. “I sound weird?”
Noah shrugged. “Just woke up. Can’t think of a better word. How about… husky?”
“Husky is hotter,” Benji agreed reluctantly.
Noah smiled and tucked a finger into Benji’s waistband, pulling him in for a kiss. Benji waited for it to get heated, but Noah’s finger never dipped any further.
“You okay?” Noah murmured against his mouth.
Benji nodded, hoping Noah hadn’t heard that rendition of last night’s events. “Fine. Just catching up with Daph. Her and Tia went to McDonald’s after the gallery last night.”
“I know. Tia sent me photos. From what I can tell, they stole a stop sign for Daphne’s next art installation.”
Benji snorted. “Sounds like drunk Daph. Pair her with the right person, and she can getwild.”
“Told you they’d be trouble.” Noah pulled his finger out of Benji’s waistband and slid his hands up Benji’s bare back, bringing him until Benji’s clothed crotch was pressed against his naked cock. “And Mrs. Presley texted me.”
Benji’s nerves, slightly calmed by Noah’s touch, came ratcheting back. “Oh?”
Noah nodded, watching him carefully. Seeing if he should continue, Benji realized. He was always watching Benji like that, checking if he should lean in or step back.
“She wants to buy it,” Noah said. “She wants you to set the price.”
Benji sagged with relief. “Okay. I was worried she was going to say some ridiculous number.”
Noah said nothing.
Benji narrowed his eyes. “Noah?”
“She also said she won’t accept any offer lower than ninety thousand.”
