Page 69 of Love Spell

“No!”Noah flinched at his own volume and hugged himself, still walking.“I’m sorry,” he whispered.“That’s the problem.”

Timo pounced.“What’s the problem?”

“Stop giving me stuff.Stop trying to do everything — to buy me the world and gift wrap it.”

“Okay.”No gifts?That was all?Should be easy.What counted as a gift, though?Obviously the mountain bike was out.What about restaurant dinners and a shared mattress?Some of these things were tricky to call.

When Noah said nothing, Timo tried again.“Come upstairs.Eat, have ginger tea, try on your backpack.It’s the only birthday gift you’re getting.”

Noah choked on a laugh.“Promise?”

Timo pressed a hand to his heart.“I promise.”

By the time they were back to the penthouse, Noah was still rather pathetic, not saying anything.Timo warmed his dinner and plied him with a glass of wine.He sliced a mango, dusted it in seasoning salt and red pepper flakes, and joined Noah to share this delicacy.Noah tried a wedge but pulled a face.

The food and drink broke the ice until Timo felt he could try again.

What would the people advise who came up with those 36 love questions?What used to earn him points with Rhys?Noah was so sensitive, overreacting when Timo didn’t even know why, Timo must tread lightly to meet Noah at his level, e.g.cautious and unhurried.

“If you don’t want the fiancé visa, we don’t have to do it.But isn’t it worth thinking about?Take the weekend and consider it?Go in together for another appointment next week and get all the information?If we do want to go ahead, we can start the application process.If not, at least we both understand our options.”There.He sounded like a bloody mediator on the telly.

He didn’t bother to tell Noah that he’d already made the next appointment for Monday, Noah’s birthday.No, he was too good at this for mentioning such details right now.

He could have been a psychologist if only he’d had any interest in people and their problems.And if people weren’t mostly stupid and boring.And if it had been a profession that brought in at least a few million a year.Too bad the troubled, anxious, and insecure masses would never know what they were missing.

The troubled, anxious, and insecure individual before him did finally pause to appreciate Timo.

Noah nodded.“I know you’re right.I’m sorry I walked out on you.All you’re trying to do is help and figure out solutions while I sit on my hands.”

Timo preened, so chuffed with himself he felt an unaccustomed urge to give Noah a hug and say something like, “There, there.”Timo wasn’t a hugger, but it was a nice thought that affirmed what a delightful, selfless, doting lover he really was.

They still had ice cream to further improve Noah’s mood and, since Noah had the metabolism of a sixteen-year-old, he didn’t hold back.

Noah wondered about a movie, Timo proposed a cinema visit since that seemed the best way to get Noah further out of his head.So they went out, Timo a bit unsure if it was okay to get both tickets but Noah didn’t object.Gift: backpack.Not a gift: cinema ticket.

Timo put his arm around Noah’s shoulders after the trailers and, a bit to his surprise, Noah leaned against him.

Nice.Home and dry.There was no way Noah wasn’t going to that Monday appointment, no way the engagement wasn’t happening.

In bed that night, Timo was even more solicitous.Lights on or off?What did Noah think of the new mattress?What did he want?Timo tried to remember some of those love questions he’d not yet asked.He couldn’t be sure, though.Perhaps he’d asked and forgot so asking the same one would look bad.Better come up with his own.

“Talk to me.”Inside Noah, face to face, Timo kissed him.“What’s your favourite thing about Alaska?”He soon followed up with, “What about London?”Although disappointed when Noah didn’t at once say, “You.”Timo tried not to take it personally.

Talking their way through sex, mostly on unrelated topics, was both intimate and oddly exciting, perhaps because of the juxtaposition.

Later, Noah was properly relaxed, even laughing with Timo by the time they were approaching their second orgasm, meaning this one to be synced, helped by plenty of communication.

“Ever worn a cock ring?”Timo asked.

“You can’t put that on now.”

“For future reference.”

“Do you have a favourite sex toy?”

“You.”

Noah chuckled, which was a relief since it took Timo a few seconds of hindsight to discover such a comment could be taken the wrong way.

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