“Only until you can’t take it,” Noah said, wiping a thumb over Benji’s spit-slick chin.
Benji groaned, biting Noah’s thumb. “I can take it.”
“And who gets to decide that?” Noah asked. He kissed the back of Benji’s neck and snapped his hips. Benji choked, a wail slamming out of him unimpeded for the first time since Noah stuck the dildo to the headboard.
“Who gets to decide what you take?” Noah repeated, grinding his hips. “Hmm?”
He pushed Benji into the sheets, rubbing his cheek against it.
“You,” Benji groaned, muffled into the sheets. He stared up at Noah with wet eyes, so close to losing himself to that deep space they both wanted him in. He’d never gotten there without Noah, and every time Noah remembered this, he was consumed by the idea of being not only Benji’s first, but his only.
Noah leaned down and plastered himself over Benji’s shaking back, locking his arms around his middle as he started fucking him in earnest.
Benji cried out. Every thrust made him yell until finally his cries started turning to whimpers.
Noah wiped Benji’s hair away from his face and was greeted with a transcendent sight: Benji blissed out and drooling, all his muscles slack. He had given himself over entirely.
Mine, Noah thought, feeling crazy with it.
He thrust one last time and came, thighs quaking, into Benji’s tight heat. Benji barely made a noise as Noah slipped out, only turning his head slightly to seek out more of Noah’s touch.
Noah gave it to him, gathering him in his arms. When Benji was this far down, he liked as much skin on skin as possible.
“So good for me,” Noah told him, knowing it would sink past Benji’s bliss and find him in that soft, warm darkness. He rubbed Benji’s trembling stomach, hand sliding down to grip Benji’s cock.
Benji jerked, like he was surprised. This far down, he didn’t even beg to come anymore.
Noah jerked him. Benji’s mouth fell open on a silent scream as he came, tears rolling down his cheeks.
Now was usually the time Noah cleaned him or carried him to a bath. But Noah couldn’t do anything but lie there with his arms around him, his head buried in Benji’s neck. Feeling Benji’s breathing slow until it matched his own, their chests rising and falling in unison.
Benji had once shared with him that this was sometimes his favorite part: the after. Endorphins fading, head in the clouds, all urgency gone. Just the deep, primal pleasure of being held and known and safe.
It was Noah’s favorite, too. There was nothing more rewarding than having Benji completely relaxed in his arms, all his prickly walls down. Of knowing that he had trusted Noah to take him there.
It could be like this forever, Noah thought.
He would make Benji say yes. He just had to be patient.
He called Tia to come over while Benji slept. She had a lot to catch up on, after all.
“Marryhim?” Tia repeated when he told her. “What the hell? Where did this come from? Why didn’t you tell me sooner?”
“It was a recent development,” Noah said.
Tia stared at him. There was an incredulous smile on her face, like Noah was a TV show throwing in a last-minute plot twist she wasn’t sure about.
“Honestly,” she said. “When you called me over, I thought you’d somehow heard about my new job.”
Noah perked up. “You have a job?”
“Yes!” Tia adjusted her glasses, uncharacteristically bashful. “You’re looking at Sleet Fox’s newest personal shopper. Remember, you introduced me at that gala a few years ago, and we got along? I mentioned I was out of a job and wanted something more fashion-oriented, and she offered me the job on the spot! She even says she might be able to get me a fashion designer job when I have more experience!”
Noah beamed. “Tia, that’s great! I’m so proud of you.”
“Right?” She flung her arms around him, and Noah accepted the hug gladly. They weren’t huge huggers since she started working for him, but he was more than happy to go back to their college roots.
She pulled back, clearing her throat. “But we can talk more about that after I actually start the job! Your week sounds like it’s been way more juicy. So, Dillion tried to sabotage Benji’s painting, andthenBenji’s estranged dad showed up, and then youproposed?”
