Ramin managed to pull himself up to sit on the edge of the bed. He watched as Noah scurried around the room, grabbing his things, slipping on his shoes, patting his pockets, tucking his cross into his shirt.
“Text me when you get back into town. Yeah? Or I’ll text you?”
Noah wanted them to text. Did Noah want to see him again? Or just sort out returning Ramin’s shirt? What did this mean? Had this been a one-time thing, a horny morning mistake? Did Noahlike himlike him, or had he just been a warm body and a talented (if he did say so himself) hand?
Everything had made perfect sense while they were having sex, but now, in the cold light of day, what the actual fuck had Ramin been thinking?
This wasn’t the plan.
Well… getting dick was definitely the plan. But not a familiar dick. He should’ve been waking up in some Italian stranger’s bed, taking a walk of shame. Getting over his breakup by getting under a revolving door of men. He was supposed to be rebounding!
Not watching Noah tie his shoes.
Noah swooped in for another kiss. Two.
A third, letting his lips linger, his forehead resting against Ramin’s.
Ramin leaned in.
Fuck. Whatever Noah was thinking, Ramin was along for the ride.
Noah hesitated at the door, looking back, giving Ramin one last, perfect smile.
“See you soon.”
The door swung shut.
Ramin let out a breath.
Had that really just happened? It had. He could feel his precum all sticky and cold in his underwear. The room smelled of sex and Noah.
Noah Bartlett had kissed him.
The tiniest of smiles dawned across Ramin’s face, soft and subtle, before exploding into a laugh.
Noah Bartlett had kissed him. He’d kissed Noah back.
He’d kissed Noah Bartlett. And he thought—he hoped—he might get to do it again.
twenty-two
Noah
You sleep okay?” Angela asked across the aisle as their coach sped back to Milan.
“Hm?” Noah shook himself. “Yeah. Why?”
“You seem a little out of it.”
“Sorry. Just enjoying the view.”
That wasn’t true. Noah hadn’t taken in a single mile of the drive.
He was too preoccupied with the tacky feeling in his shorts, where Ramin’s saliva had dried all over his skin. Too distracted by the full-body tingles that kept sweeping over him, like he was still back in that bed. Too overwhelmed by the glow in his heart.
“It’s gorgeous, huh?”
Noah nodded, but that wasn’t why he couldn’t stop smiling.
