Instead, the underground platform led them through a cramped hallway before they found the exit and emerged in a bright piazza. There were buildings all around them, a traffic circle, and, ahead, a huge statue of Christopher Columbus.
No ocean in sight. No gull cries. No wind off the water.
It didn’t matter, though, because Ramin smiled at him, eyes sparkling. Then he hiked his backpack higher, turned—and flipped Columbus the bird.
Noah giggled—the embarrassing one he sometimes let out—but Ramin turned back and his smile only got brighter. The sky stretched high and blue above them, full of tall, puffy white clouds. It was cooler than Milan, but more humid. At least the breeze cooled Noah’s skin.
“Where to?” Ramin asked.
“The hotel’s not far,” Noah said.
“Hotel?”
Noah nodded. He didn’t have much experience traveling, especially internationally, but he hadn’tonlybeen researching how to be a dom. He’d looked up hotel reviews, too.
“You didn’t have to do that.”
“I wanted to,” Noah said. “Let me take care of you for once.”
“You’re always taking care of other people,” Ramin pointed out.
Noah grumbled. It wasn’t the same as taking care of Jake. This was… this was a partnership. They each took turns caring for the other. “You got the hotel in Como. I want to do this for you.”
“Okay. Thank you.”
Noah pulled out his phone and led the way.
Genoa reminded him of Bellagio: full of colorful buildings—some freshly painted, others faded by sun and salty air—narrow streets andsteep hills, tight alleyways and hidden staircases. All the windows were covered by forest-green shutters.
“Do you think it’s in, like, the HOA rules that they have to have those?” Noah asked.
“I don’t know. I like them, though.”
Noah checked his phone again and turned down a salita so steep, it probably should’ve been a staircase. The alleyway was gray and dim, like it had never seen the sun, and given how narrow it was, that might’ve been the actual truth.
“This kind of reminds me of Seattle,” Ramin said. “All hills and curves.”
“Yeah? I’ve never been.” Noah imagined visiting it with Ramin and Jake. Of traveling all around the States with the two of them. Having family adventures together.
The thought nearly made him lose his footing.
Family adventures.
Him and Ramin and Jake.
A family.
It was way, way,waytoo soon to be thinking thoughts like that. Wasn’t it?
He’d only known Ramin again for, what? Ten days? Or was today eleven? Was he even counting right?
You couldn’t decide to make a family with someone after ten days. Even if that someone was the most beautiful man you’d ever seen in your life. Not to mention the kindest.
And gave the most amazing blowjobs.
Noah gave his leg a step-shake to try to unstick himself from his inner thigh.
The alley opened onto a sunlit street that faced the old port. In the distance stood huge, colorful shipping containers, tall blue cranes, and enormous cruise ships in a row. One of them had, of all things, Bugs Bunny on it.
