Noah beeped them into their room on the hotel’s fifth floor, and Ramin sighed with relief. The air-conditioning felt like heaven against his sweaty skin. He rubbed at his tattoos; his wrists were warm, his pulse racing just beneath the skin.
The bell desk had indeed dropped their two backpacks off, and they rested on two armchairs in the corner, next to a bay window looking out toward the port. A pair of towel swans sat on the large bed, heads bowed toward each other to make a (slightly misshapen) heart.
“Oh, Noah,” Ramin sighed. “It’s perfect.”
“I’m glad you like it.” Noah leaned in and gave Ramin a swift peck on the lips. “I’ll be right back.”
Noah disappeared into the restroom as Ramin stepped up to the window to take in the view. It was nothing like the Lanterna—their view was more roofs and streets than port and sea—but still. Noah had done all this. Made this happen. All because he remembered Ramin saying he liked the water.
Had anyone ever truly done something like this for him before? If so, he couldn’t remember it.
He could get used to this. Even though he knew he shouldn’t.
His phone buzzed in his pocket, and he slid it out.
Farzan
Got Todd’s stuff all sorted
He’s 100% moved out
Arya
Until the next time he “remembers something”
Miss you dude
Ramin
Thanks for dealing with it
Miss you both
Love you
Ramin sighed. Today had been… perfect. Absolutely perfect. As far as dates went, he’d never had better. As far as blowjobs, he’d nevergivenbetter. And as far as men… Ramin had never been with better. Yeah, Noah was handsome (and extremely hot), but he was also kind, and silly, and thoughtful, and a good father.
So why couldn’t Ramin shake Todd out of his mind? Todd’s voice, calling him boring. Todd’s eyes, trailing over his stretch marks when he thought Ramin wasn’t looking. Constantly asking Ramin to go to the gym with him. Pestering him to join the kickball league.
Ramin felt the tsunami of self-loathing like a physical thing, crashing in from the sea, knocking aside all the cruise ships and boardwalk attractions and locals walking around with their slices of focaccia. He felt it and breathed through it and reminded himself his body was beautiful, his body was strong, his body was capable, his—
“Sorry,” Noah said, wrapping around Ramin from behind. He hadn’t even heard the bathroom door.
“It’s okay.” Ramin made sure to keep his voice even. He wasn’t goingto project his insecurities onto Noah. Insecurities weredefinitelyboring. “That was quick. I thought you were showering?”
“Why shower if we’re just going to get dirty again?” Noah rumbled in his ear.
Before Ramin knew it, Noah was dragging him away from the window, toward the bed. He knew Noah was strong, butdamn. Ramin felt his feet leave the floor as Noah heaved him onto the bed and climbed on top of him, framing him with his hands and knees.
“Hi.” Noah leaned down for a long, lingering kiss, claiming Ramin’s mouth, and Ramin let himself be claimed. His head rolled, his back arched. How could Noah turn him to putty with a single kiss?
“Hi,” he gasped back when Noah broke the kiss and he could think again. He managed to find enough strength in his neck muscles to actually look at Noah. “What was all that for?”
“I warned you I was going to have my way with you.”
“No you didn’t.” Ramin definitely would’ve remembered that. His ass would’ve been puckered all day.
He was definitely in favor of it, though.
