Benji swallowed. He hadn’t done shit to make these men look at him like this. But the idea that Noah had done everything for him and that he’d done it so thoroughly that it reduced these men to kneeling in front of him and begging for his forgiveness, it made something shaky and overwhelming bloom inside Benji. It felt a lot like triumph.
The silence stretched. Noah touched Benji’s cape, running his finger along the soft edge.
“Well?” he said. “What do you think, baby?”
Benji blinked. The triumph was rising, taking over his shock. Not triumph over these men who had hurt him—he was surprised to realize he didn’t give a fuck about them. The triumph was because of Noah, who had given him this power without Benji having to ask for it.
“I don’t forgive them,” Benji said hoarsely. “But Idowant them to fuck off and never come back.”
Noah gave Michael a look. Michael jolted into action, whirling on the kneeling men and clicking his fingers.
“Up,” he snapped. “Come on, you little shits. Faster!”
His knuckles were bruised, Benji noticed as Michael hustled the two men to their feet and shoved at them. Dark purple, just like Dillion’s cheek. Chet kept trying to look back, mumbling more apologies. Dillion, however, kept his head down and stalked out like he had the devil on his tail, not sparing Benji a word or even a glance. At this, Benji couldn’t help it: vicious satisfaction rushed through him in a red-hot tide.
Michael pushed the men into the hall and watched security take over, leading the men toward the back exit. Then his threatening demeanor turned uncertain. He traded another silent look with Noah that reminded Benji of how he and Max could communicate with a raised eyebrow or a lip twitch, and then Michael looked at Benji.
“Mazel tov,” Michael said quietly. “Or whatever.”
His jaw flexed. He was high-strung and fidgety, but he went still as he watched Benji. A curious expression passed over his face, like he was seeing Benji in an entirely new light. Like, he might not like Benji, but he might respect him, just a little.
Michael hesitated. Then he gave them a nod and walked out. No fanfare, no insults, no vows of vengeance. Just the doorknob clicking into place neatly behind him.
“What the fuck,” Benji repeated. He let out a hysterical laugh, staring at the closed door. Had that really happened?
Noah moved in front of him and cupped his face. “Was that okay? I thought you would like it.”
Benji laughed again, eyes burning. Noah sounded nervous, but not much. He knew when Benji was happy, even if it was lost in a muddle of other emotions. The main one, of course, being deep, overwhelming love.
He grabbed Noah and kissed him as messily as he dared. He was still tempted to safeword out and let Noah make him come right here in the dressing room. But he had promised he could last, and they had such a short time to wait. Noah had arrangedfor his two biggest enemies to kneel in contrition in front of him. Benji could hold to a damn chastity vow for another half hour.
He pulled back, sniffing wetly. “I want to say I can’t believe you’d do that for me, but I totally can. I love you so fucking much.”
“I love you too, baby,” Noah said softly. “Always.”
Benji pulled him into another kiss, unable to stop himself. Then he asked, “How’s my eyeliner?”
Noah wiped gently at his cheek. “Perfect.”
Benji wiped his eyes carefully. He could pass his red-rimmed eyes off as happiness. And, he realized as he caught his reflection in the changing room mirror, hedidlook happy. So happy he could hardly recognize himself. He’d come a long way since he met Noah: from an unhappy, untrusting college student who dreaded his future to a relaxed, content painter who couldn’t wait to see what lay ahead.
“Okay,” Benji whispered. “Let’s get married.”
CHAPTER 19
The cape was an excellent idea, Benji decided as he reached the doorway.
He didn’t like the idea of a veil. But the dark green cape looked amazing as he strode down the narrow carpet that led up to the small cluster of pews filled with the very few people who had been allowed to attend their wedding.
There was Max, of course. He was stupidly adorable in his little ringbearer outfit, even if he kept pretending like he was going to drop the rings. Loretta, Noah’s childhood maid. Riona, his driver, chattering to Loretta so fast she looked shellshocked. Tia, their officiant, who was so sparkly she was literally dripping glitter. And Daphne, who was picking Tia’s glitter out of her champagne and gasping over something Tia was showing her on her phone.
They all looked up as Benji entered with a bouquet clutched in his sweaty hands. Benji fought back the knee-jerk instinct to hide as they all grinned at him.
Then he looked straight ahead, and the instinct to hide fell away.
Noah waited for him at the end of the aisle. He looked at Benji with such awestruck love and pride that Benji couldn’tbring himself to care that he was tearing up in front of everyone he cared about. He couldn’t care that he was beaming like an idiot or that his steps were speeding up. He only cared about Noah and their life together that awaited them.
Benji reached the end of the aisle and let Max take his flowers, never taking his eyes off Noah. In turn, Noah’s gaze dropped to Benji’s neck.
