And I need to disappear—fast.
3
ELIJAH
I guidethe SUV into the underground garage, switching off the wipers as I ease into my designated parking spot. The drive home had been unusually quiet—Alex withdrawn in a puzzling silence, while Noah fidgeted nervously, speaking mostly to me.
With my palm resting on Alex’s lower back, the three of us make our way to the elevator. I press my thumb to the print pad, unlocking access to the penthouse, while Noah leans in to key the code for his shared floor.
“Thanks for the ride,” he says quietly.
“Anytime.” I lean back against the far wall of the lift and cross my ankles. “How about joining us for a nightcap?” I offer, watching him weigh the idea.
A few strands of sandy-blond hair have slipped loose from his braid, falling across his cheek. Black polish coats only his pinky nails—the rest are bare. I think I catch the glint of a diamond stud in his left nostril, though I can’t be certain, and I don’t want to stare. There’s something disarmingly youthfulabout him… and unexpectedly refreshing. Which says a lot, considering twinks have never really been my thing.
Not that they are now, but…
His soft blue eyes drift over to Alex. “Umm… well, sure,” he mumbles. “If that’s alright with you?”
Alex bows his head, drawing in a slow breath before lifting his gaze to mine. His hands slide into his pockets, and he steps a little closer.
“Sure,” he says at last, squaring his shoulders. “Elijah and I have some bottles of wine from the vineyard. I guess it’s about time we opened one.”
“I love wine!” Noah says, his timid eyes brightening with a smile.
Once inside the penthouse, Alex quietly excuses himself, disappearing down the hall to our bedroom. Noah lingers near the floor-to-ceiling windows, pressing his palms to the glass as he looks out over the city.
“The view is beautiful from up here,” he murmurs, sweeping his eyes across the skyline. “Even in the rain.”
I step up beside him, my eyes following his out into the gray blur of buildings and mist. The view is muted, hushed by the weather—but his reflection in the glass is vivid.
Those bright-blue eyes glow like fog lights against the gloom, framed by wisps of sandy-blond hair. His skin is pale, cheeks flushed with color. He’s absolutely stunning.
“The rain quiets my thoughts,” I say softly, hoping to ease whatever tension still clings to him. “I find it calming.”
“Me too,” he whispers, trailing his fingers along the glass, following the raindrops as they slide down the pane.
He looks so vulnerable. So far away from me, even though he’s standing right beside me. Like a ghost inside his own body—present, but unreachable.
Chills run down my spine.
“Where’s the wine?”
Alex’s voice cuts through the quiet, pulling us both from our shared moment at the window. He steps into the room wearing dark-gray sweatpants and a black T-shirt, blending into the moody night—but he doesn’t fade. With his damp hair slicked back from what was clearly a quick run of his fingers, he looks effortlessly handsome.
He sinks into the smallest of the four sofas, draping an arm casually across the backrest.
“Red or white?” I ask, heading toward the kitchen, flicking on the fireplace as I pass.
“White, please,” Noah replies.
Alex will want the same, so I start scanning through the bottles we brought back from the vineyard, choosing one that feels right for the moment.
“You have a beautiful home,” Noah says, settling beside Alex on the sofa.
Alex’s eyes lift to mine as I pull a bottle from the wine fridge.
“It’s Elijah’s place,” he replies, voice calm and measured. “But thank you.”
