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Luca hated to say anything negative at this point, not when the euphoria of having his proposal accepted still hung in the air, but it wasn’t fair to Noe if he didn’t at least warn him. Which was why he pried his mouth open and put the words out there.

“When I said my parents don’t get along, I meant they can’t stand the sight of each other. They live in opposite wings of the house and don’t interact at all unless company is over. Then they put on company manners until people have left and immediately separate again.”

Noe winced. “Gods, to hate your own spouse so badly…”

“I understand my father used to get piss drunk before bedding my mother, and the second she was pregnant with me, he never did it again. The hatred is strong there. The only thing they can agree on is me needing to get married and produce heirs. I fear…” Luca sucked in a breath because the next part was hard to say. “I fear how they’ll react to you. I fear they’ll try and make your life hell all because I chose a man for a spouse.”

Noe didn’t dismiss the concern, but instead he thought on it, his fingers idly playing with the hair along Luca’s nape. It felt quite nice, his petting touch. Grounding, somehow, anchoring Luca to this moment.

“We’ll need to work out a plan for if it happens,” Noe finally said. “We can live in a separate house away from them or find some kind of common ground so we can all get along. I will not blame you for your parents’ attitudes, as clearly you don’t like it, but I will blame you for throwing me into the lion’s den and not having my back when I need you to.”

This. This was part of the reason why Luca got along so well with Noe. The man had no problem telling him to his face what he needed. It was also why Luca genuinely thought they had a good chance of having a sound marriage. Noe wasn’t leaving anything to guesswork.

“If my parents start in on you, we’ll not live in the fortress until they both pass. I refuse to subject you to their venom. But I wanted to make you aware of the possibility.”

“And I appreciate it. This is one of those things I want from you, to talk about potential problems and work together to find solutions.”

Oh, so Luca was doing the right thing already? Perfection. He felt better now. “I think we should come up with two different plans, just in case one of them doesn’t work out. Either way, I am set on marrying you.”

Grinning, Noe pressed a kiss against his mouth. “Damn straight. Anything else?”

“How do you want to handle children? I’m…not for having a surrogate.”

“I’m actually relieved to hear that,” Noe admitted, “because I want you to be perfectly faithful to me, and I’ve seen surrogate situations turn out quite badly. There’s so many war orphans that need a home, so I’d rather adopt.”

Luca felt another worry roll off his shoulders. “So we’re on the same page there, too? Good. I thought to perhaps adopt a few orphans from here before we return to Bhodhsa.”

Noe blinked at him. “Not adopt from your home country? Oh, right, you mentioned it’s difficult, culturally speaking.”

“Right. Damn near impossible, really. Unless you’d prefer to adopt from Scovia?”

“Mmm, there’d be more common ground between us and a child if we adopted a Scovian, and they’d have an easier time adapting culturally,” Noe said. “But, after meeting Sakura, I wouldn’t mind looking in Shiirei. She’s such a spunky, intelligent little girl. I want a daughter just like her.”

“Which brings me to a whole other subject. How many children? Boys, girls?”

Noe seemed to gauge his reaction as he spoke. “A mix would be best, I think. Three? Four?”

“Four seems a good number to me. Two boys, two girls, then?”

“Yes, I like that idea a lot. Uh, not babies, if we can help it. No child younger than two. They take more care, as well as a wet nurse.”

“Ah.” Luca blinked and felt like an idiot for a second because he hadn’t even thought of that. “Truth tell, I’ve not much experience with children. Do you?”

“Yes, very much. I’m the third child of six children, with twenty-something cousins, most of them younger than me. I was the default babysitter for a while there.”

“I’m relieved to hear it. At least you’ll know what you’re doing. I’ll be the one rapidly catching up.”

“After the fortress has been renovated?” Noe requested with a hopeful look. “Can we at least wait till then before we adopt? I want us on solid footing with each other before we bring kids into the mix. And let’s adopt siblings if we can.”

“Agreed.” See? They were an excellent team. It was so easy to speak of hopes and plans with this man. Luca damn near purred in satisfaction.

“Um.” Noe bit his lower lip, which Luca suspected was a nervous tic. “I want to introduce you to my family before we go home to the fortress.”

“Of course,” Luca assured him. “Let’s say we go to Scovia for our honeymoon? So they can meet me.”

“Now that’s a good idea. We’ll be due a honeymoon anyway.” Noe kissed him once, twice, beaming. “You’re so considerate. I don’t know why you’re worried about being a good husband to me. You’re already thoughtful of what I need.”

Luca didn’t know how to explain his deep-rooted fear of turning into his father and treating Noe terribly. He didn’t want to turn into a bitter old man who lashed out at everyone. All he could do was avoid those behaviors and be open with Noe, though. Perhaps the fears would die down as they lived together. Luca prayed for that to be so.

Noe’s brow abruptly furrowed. “Luca, you don’t think your parents will treat the children badly? Because they’re not blood?”

“I don’t…know.” Luca sighed heavily. “I really don’t. I think they’re so desperate for heirs at this point, they’ll accept the children. But if this ends up not being the case, we leave. We leave and stay gone until they’re dead, then come back to reclaim the children’s birthright. I won’t tolerate any sort of abuse, even harsh words.”

“Good. I won’t tolerate it either. On a lighter note, I know you’re the lord of a fortress, so this might need to be a big to-do, but wedding ceremony? Do you want something elaborate or simple?”

Luca shrugged. He had no strong opinions on the topic. “I’m not one for pomp and ceremony. A marriage with a priest and two witnesses is fine by me. Would you want a large wedding?”

“I want the party afterward.” Noe sounded quite sure of this. “A nice, big party for all our friends to celebrate with us.”

“That’s fine.” Luca didn’t care for all the fuss of a wedding, but a party afterward to celebrate was a nice idea. “I do want us to sit for a couple’s portrait.”

“Now that, I’m very happy to do. Oh, and a family portrait, after we adopt the children.”

“Of course. We’ll hang both in the main hall.”

Luca rubbed his hands along Noe’s back and ass, perhaps copping a squeeze because Noe’s ass was tempting and he had no restraint. “You feel warm to me.”

“I’m on the verge of being too hot.” Noe leaned in and kissed under his ear, nibbling on the column of Luca’s throat, clearly being a tease.

A damn effective tease. Luca’s body remembered all too well what making love with this man felt like and would like to do it again. Now, if you please.

“Are you starting something?” Luca murmured, slipping two fingers between Noe’s cheeks and stroking.

Noe shuddered, a thready gasp breathed along Luca’s skin. “I’m damn well trying. Can’t we get out, return to my room, and spend some time properly celebrating our engagement?”

“I’d like nothing better.” Actually, that brought up another question Luca needed to ask him. “Um, first though. Is it…uh. I have no idea how to ask this.”

Noe lifted his face and looked at Luca with patient eyes. “Just ask.”

Right, well, that would be possible if Luca had any idea of how to phrase things. “I don’t know how this goes between two men, generally speaking. Do you take turns bottoming?”

“Ah. Um, no? Depends on the couple?” Noe seemed to take the question seriously, at least, although he smiled, like Luca’s question made him adorable for some reason. “Some men are versatile in bed and like to take and be taken. Some are very distinct in their preferences and only prefer one or the other.”

Well, that made more sense to Luca.

“If you’re curious and want to try being on bottom, I don’t mind reversing,” Noe continued, as if that had been the actual question. “Personally speaking, I prefer being taken. Still, changing it up from time to time is fine with me.”

“I don’t…know if I’m keen on the idea of being taken,” Luca admitted slowly. He had no supporting logic—it was all gut feeling. Still, he didn’t like the idea of it. “I think I’d prefer to stay on top for a while. At least until I’m more comfortable with being intimate with you.”

“And that’s fine,” Noe promised him with a quick kiss. “In fact, if you never bottom, that’s fine too. Our roles in bed don’t define us as a couple. Whatever you want to try, I’m open to do at least once, and don’t feel obligated to offer me things you’re not comfortable with.”

“Then, can I take you now?”

“I’d be very disappointed if you didn’t.” Noe made a face at the room. “Not here, though. I’m seriously overheating. I’ve got snacks in my room. We can lay in bed, have lazy sex, and eat snacks the rest of the day.”

“That,” Luca said with growing delight, “sounds heavenly. Get up, dry off quickly. You need to teach me where every sensitive spot you have is.”

Noe laughed in delight and immediately got up, practically racing for the towels.

Luca was right behind him, admiring Noe’s fine ass and mentally planning how fast he could get into it.

A lazy day of making love with his fiancé while a storm raged outside? With snacks?

If this was a fever dream, don’t wake him. Luca was blissfully content living out the fantasy.