Page 44 of Noble Charms

Noble was big for a human. Ellor wasn't a small man by any stretch, but Noble rivaled orcs in size, which meant Aria's hand barely closed halfway around his biceps, and that fact alone had his better senses locked behind a wall of unabashed want.

Noble, oblivious to what was happening quite literally behind his back, fell under the effects of Aria's song, head lolling to the side. Aria squeezed one muscle after the next between his hands, and continued to hum, determined to do a good job even if he was consumed by foolish thoughts.

But then, terribly and beautifully, Noble moaned. A soft, deep sound that Aria experienced through his hands and his chest pressed to Noble's back. The sound pulsed deep into his heart, into his soul, and he had to stop the massage before he heard that again.

Fortunately, Soothe left Aria buzzed and light, and thank Elys for small miracles, because⁠—

Well, if Aria had touched Noble like this, and heard him make a sound like that, he would have an erection he could not hide in shorts this thin and white.

Mouth dry, body calm, Aria patted Noble's shoulderblades. “Better?”

“Much. You really ought to let me pay you for magic like that,” Noble said, his voice gravelly and soft.

Aria chuckled and sank down behind Noble. As relaxed as he was, it felt perfectly natural for him to place his forehead against Noble's spine like this, and breathe in the salty, sweaty scent of him. And Noble clearly agreed—he didn't move. After a moment where they both silently caught their breath⁠—

Aria made the mistake.

But it wasn't his fault. How else could he have interpreted all that happened in one day? “You could take me to dinner,” he said. “I wouldn't say no to your invitation.” How bold, he thought. The effects of Soothe kept him from shrinking away from it, though. Because yes—he would be amenable to Noble courting him. It was a shocking turn, and a stupid one, but Aria hadn't realized that yet.

“That's a good idea,” said Noble. He shifted, and Aria sat straight again while Noble stood up. He faced Aria perched in the middle of his new bed. “Let's go out tonight. To that new place that opened—the Timiere.”

Aria's heart skipped a beat, and he couldn't help his smile. It nearly strained his cheeks. “Really?” He thought, even with Soothe, that there might have been some hesitation. Noble hadn't dated a man before. Had, most likely, never taken one to bed. But maybe he felt the things Aria did in this moment and⁠—

“I can see if there are any ladies that catch my eye. You can tell me if there's someone in particular in attendance that might help with your career.” Noble beamed, clearly enthused by something different—nearly opposite—from Aria's many-jumbled thoughts. “There’s no time like the present for us to get started. If I play the season correctly, I may wind up a duke and not just an earl again.”

Aria had trained his masks well enough that he managed to grab one before he fell apart right before Noble's eyes. He swallowed down the humiliation mounting in his chest. “That sounds great. What should I wear?”

“Maybe your bardic robe. People will know exactly what you do. Unless you feel it's inappropriate for a restaurant?”

“No,” Aria said, almost too quickly. He'd never wear a bardic robe on a date, but this wasn't a date. “I'm keen on the plan. Bardic robe—great.”

“Then I'll see you downstairs at six?” Noble checked his watch, and Aria tried not to look at the shape of his muscles as they flexed right before him. How cruel a taunt.

Aria replied, voice airy, “Six is fine.”

Noble walked out of the room and paused in the doorway. “Ah, Aria.” He looked back, over his shoulder.

Aria, face still schooled to a perfectly impassive image, said, “Yes?”

“I suppose this means we're becoming friends, aren't we?”

Aria donned a grin that he didn't really feel. “You still want to be my friend, hm?”

“I suppose I do.” Noble grinned, waved, and walked away.

When Noble's footsteps retreated to silence, and he was sure he was alone, Aria sank into a pillow and muffled a scream of embarrassment.

And then got up to bathe. He had to get ready for dinner with his new dear friend.

6

A NEW LOVE

NOBLE

“It’s already begun to work,” Noble announced, marching into the kitchen where Aria sat sipping a hot mug of tea. “We’ve gone out twice, but already we’ve been noticed.” He lifted the newly arrived letter into the air. “My first invitation!"

Aria made a noise of acknowledgment into his cup, barely awake. The casual tunic he’d taken to wearing around the house was thin and beige and loose, pooling around his small frame and off his white shoulders more as a suggestion of clothing than the actual thing. Noble was struck yet again by the sight and nearly lost his footing against one of the tiles in the kitchen.