Page 29 of Sour Candy (Sour Candy #1)

There was a note on Benji’s pillow.

Benji stared at it blearily, still half asleep.

Memories were still trickling back from last night, enough to make him wince.

His moping at Daphne’s birthday party. That fucking creep Dillion, trying to start something with him.

Noah shoving Dillion up against the wall, voice colder than Benji had ever heard it.

Noah—pressing him into the bed. Calling him good, the words even more devastating than usual. Couldn’t he just let them have fun? Why did he have to make Benji believe it?

He swallowed, holding up the note.

Gone to work , it said. Will pick you up for the gala at six. Have a good day, baby. Treat yourself well.

Benji stroked the last line. If it just said treat yourself , he could’ve handled it.

But this made him want to grin, roll his eyes, and cry all at once.

He chewed his cheek to hold back on all three and checked his phone.

A three-hour video essay link from Max about funeral rites from other cultures, because his brother was a weirdo.

Six texts from Daphne, plus two missed calls.

“Shit,” he muttered. He’d pulled some stupid shit in their friendship, but he’d never walked out of her birthday party. He’d always stuck it out to the bitter end, even as she flitted around talking to her myriad of other friends.

sorry for leaving , he texted her. shit went down. tell you later. happy birthday sister from another mister.

To his surprise, she heart-reacted immediately. A message popped up: SO hungover. Coffee before class?? Ur treat.

Benji snorted. He sent a quick confirmation and then climbed out of bed. Taxi home to get changed, coffee with Daphne, then Noah at night. It was shaping up to be a pretty good day.

Max was on the couch when he walked into the apartment, a bowl of cereal perched on his knee as he watched TV.

“Did you see the video essay?” he asked as Benji pulled the door closed behind him.

“It’s three hours,” Benji complained. He eyed the cereal. “What happened to you eating fruit with breakfast?”

“Already ate a banana.” Max shoved another spoonful of sugary cereal into his mouth, eyes glued to the TV screen. “Could’ve watched it with you last night when you got home from the party. Were you with Noah?”

Benji paused. He’d been telling Max that he was sleeping over at Daphne’s place after study sessions. Did he let something slip? Or did Max figure it out himself?

“Uh,” he said. But Max was already talking over him.

“Is he actually your boyfriend? I told my friends about the movie, and they all said it’d be weird if he did that and he was just your boss.”

Benji thought about telling him to shut it. Maybe giving him a noogie for good measure. But Max had this strange look on his face, almost hopeful. He didn’t want to brush him off that much.

He gave Max a tight smile. “Not my boyfriend, Max. He’s just… a really good boss.”

Max narrowed his eyes. Benji readied himself for an argument, only for his phone to buzz in his pocket.

“One second,” he told Max, ducking into the hall before he could start in on whatever he obviously had planned. He checked his phone, shoving down a flood of butterflies.

It was Noah. Home yet? If so, go outside. I bought you something.

Benji frowned. Something outside? Was it so big it wouldn’t fit in the elevator?

He headed back into the living room, his mind whirring.

Max immediately launched back into it. “You’re being a dick!”

“Insult me later,” Benji told him, striding out the door.

There was nothing outside.

Not that Benji could see, anyway. He’d been expecting a box propped up outside the door. Maybe a delivery guy holding a clipboard that he needed to sign. But there was nothing.

He texted Noah. I don’t see anything?

The reply was immediate. I put a green bow on it.

Noah frowned. Looked out at the street, the familiar buildings, passersby wearing fewer layers than they had in months, enjoying the first properly warm morning of spring.

He was about to send another message when he spotted it: a car parked a few parking spots down from his building.

Benji didn’t know car types, but it was sleek and shiny and looked a lot like that car he’d commented on when they were watching Fast and Furious last week, half-asleep, head pillowed on Noah’s chest. A green bow sat on top of the windshield.

Noah answered on the second ring. “Hello?”

“You got me a CAR,” Benji yelled, so loud that passersby turned to look at him. He ignored them, a hysterical laugh bubbling up from his throat.

“It’s unlocked,” Noah said. “Keys in the front seat.”

Benji climbed in, still giggling. The seats were supple and smooth.

Noah asked, “Do you like it?”

“ Yeah ,” Benji blurted, a stupid grin stretching his cheeks.

There was still that stubborn guilt whispering that he didn’t deserve it, that Noah would take it back, but Noah had promised .

Everything that he bought Benji, he could keep.

Even if he dumped him tomorrow, Benji would be allowed to keep the car.

He didn’t even need Noah to reassure him. He believed Noah would keep his word.

Benji ran his hands along the steering wheel, feeling like his heart was a bubble rising beyond the roof.

A few months ago, he had no car, no job, no savings, and was one week away from dragging his little brother with him into homelessness.

Noah had given him so much. Money, sure.

Clothes so lovely that Benji sometimes opened his wardrobe just to look at them.

This fucking car . But he’d also unlocked something in Benji that would never go away.

If he were stubborn and had enough time, he might actually make Benji like himself.

“Holy shit, Noah,” Benji whispered, throat thick. “This is— I can’t accept this.”

“You can,” Noah replied easily. “And you will. Because I told you to.”

Benji swallowed. “Fuck. Okay.”

“Good boy.”

Benji shivered. Eyes damp, cock half-hard in his jeans as he leaned back against the driver's seat. “I wish you were here. I can’t thank you properly over the phone.”

Noah hummed, thoughtful and fond. “I have some ideas.”

“Oh?” Benji adjusted himself in his jeans. The windows were tinted, he noticed with a watery grin. Of course they were.

“I was thinking about how you’ve never been inside someone,” Noah said conversationally.

Benji heard himself groan. Noah ignored it, continuing, “I could tie you up and ride you. You’d come in me so fast, but I wouldn’t let you pull out.

I’d keep riding your soft cock until you got hard again.

How long do you think it’d take me to make you cry?

Would you last two orgasms, or would you start crying the first time I fuck myself on your softening cock? ”

Benji groaned, head thumping down against the steering wheel. “ Fuck . You’re killing me. I can’t do this right now; I have to go make things up to Daphne.”

“Of course,” Noah said, disappointment only coloring his tone for a second before the warmth seeped back in. “See you tonight. Can’t wait to see you in that suit again.”

“You’ll like what’s under it even more,” Benji said, excitement sparking under his skin. He already had plans for tonight, but he’d have to scale them up after this stunt. “Bye. I love?—”

He choked again, biting down on his tongue.

“Love the car,” he managed, then hung up. His ears rang. He’d just been about to say something deeply, deeply stupid. They weren’t even technically together . They’d only known each other for a few months .

Benji’s head thumped back into the steering wheel.

He was so fucked.