Page 6

Noe wasn’t sure, but he might not be on a date. He might be in an interview.

When Luca had sent a note via runner asking for dinner together, Noe had been thrilled. He’d immediately said yes and left work a little early to primp some. Mostly to sort out his windblown hair and switch to a nicer shirt. Luca had looked like he’d come straight from work—and likely had—but the man still looked ravishing in his deep blue shirt and grey coat.

It’d started as a date, at least. Gener— Luca had asked him out for dinner and drinks, with them rendezvousing at the restaurant. He’d chosen one of Noe’s favorite places; it offered amazing sushi and imported beers. The place wasn’t too crowded yet, either, with them coming in a bit early for dinner. It should have been a nice, relaxed atmosphere.

“I’d need you to take successor classes at some point. Is that okay?”

Except Luca kept asking things like that , which muddied the waters for Noe. Would you ask such a question on a first date?

Noe didn’t want to discourage Luca—he knew his date had a lot he was figuring out—but he had to reset this date before it completely drifted off to sea. Noe wasn’t sure why exactly they were in this interview process, but he suspected Luca had defaulted to it out of sheer nerves. “My take on it is I’ll do whatever I need to, but before we get into it, tell me more about your family. All I know is you’re an only child, and you’re not on good terms with your parents.”

Luca blinked and rubbed his jaw. “I was interviewing you, wasn’t I?”

“Just a little, yeah.”

“Sorry,” he said with a gusty sigh. “I told myself not to.”

Which clearly hadn’t helped. “Are you nervous?”

“A little. I don’t know…I don’t know how to approach this.”

Noe very much appreciated his honesty. It wasn’t like he was fine and dandy over here, being a touch nervous as well. “If it makes you feel any better, I don’t know how to approach this either.”

For some reason, his date looked surprised. “I would have thought you did?”

“I haven’t been on a true date before. Think about it. Before Warden Brahms came along and changed the royal family’s minds, anything same sex was frowned upon in my culture. I had friends with benefits, or casual one-night stands, but no one tried for an actual relationship . It was doomed to fail, or that was the general consensus. We just had some fun with each other and split ways the next morning. So being on an actual date? With the end goal a relationship? We, sir, are in uncharted territory for me.”

“Oh.” Luca blinked, those misty greys deep in thought for a moment as he absorbed this information. “I’m glad all over again Sho worked a miracle. He tends to do that.”

“So I understand. I’m forever thankful to him, as he’s opened up doorways for us. We just have to figure out how to walk through them.”

“Yes, quite so.” Luca took a breath and visibly tried to settle. Didn’t quite manage it, as he still fidgeted a bit, his fingers toying with the tankard. “You asked about my family. That’s sadly a good summary of the situation. My parents are not on good terms with each other, or me, or anyone, really. They’re not happy people. I do have uncles and aunts, as well as a couple of cousins, and I’m on very good terms with some of them. I don’t see them very often because they live in the capital, but I make a point to visit and write as much as possible. What of your family?”

“Well, I have a rather large one, as I’m a middle child out of six. Lots of aunts, uncles, cousins, and even two nephews since my elder siblings have gotten married and started having children. We get along all right.” Not entirely true, but also not entirely a lie. It had been drilled into Noe to not share family drama outside the family, so he found it hard to say more to a man he was just getting to know. If they did survive more than a few dates, then he’d pry his mouth open and tell Luca more honestly where he stood. Right now was not the ideal timing. “I don’t see them all that much, truth be told, as the job takes me everywhere. Here, for instance.”

“I imagine you have traveled a lot depending on what project you worked on.”

“Yes, very much so.”

“Do you like to travel, then?”

“I do. I like to see new places, experience new cultures and foods, all of that. I’ve rarely been in a place I’ve hated. I know you’ve traveled a lot. Do you like it?”

“I do enjoy it, but I don’t like to do it incessantly. War is hard on me because I miss being home after a while. Not to mention being in my own bed.”

Now that answer Noe hadn’t expected. “But didn’t you volunteer to come here?”

“I did. I did it for several reasons.” Luca knocked a bit of beer back and gave a rueful smile. “One, I’m very invested in this place after having sacrificed so much to keep it safe. I’m not about to let it fall. Not on my watch. If they need some support for a while to keep it safe again, I’ll do it. Second, I like Shiirei. They’ve been kind and hospitable to me. I’ve always felt comfortable in these lands, even if my knees meet their furniture far too often.”

“Ha. You’re on the tall side even for a Bhodhsan, so I bet you don’t quite fit here.”

“No, never have, but I’ve adapted. I also agreed to come because I knew Sho and Brahms were here. I keenly miss those two sometimes. They’re true friends, and I wanted to see them again. And also support what they were doing here. I knew they were relieved I came, as they needed my support, which made the decision all around easy to make.”

It was so like Luca to put the safety of others above his own convenience. Noe wasn’t the least bit surprised.

“Personally, I’m very glad I came now. I got to meet Sakura, which is a joy in and of itself. I get to spend time with friends I’ve missed sorely.” Luca bumped elbows with him a little, a smile playing around the corners of his mouth. “I met you. No matter what we become, I’m happy about that.”

Well now, that just put a spark right in Noe’s chest. “I’m very happy I met you, too. I hope you realize you don’t need to sell me on the idea of coming home with you. I already like you. It’s why I agreed to date.”

Those beautiful eyes softened. “Thank you. I think nerves were getting the better of me. But I must ask you, what do you want? You already know what it is I need.”

How telling that he’d be willing to hear Noe out on what he wanted, but for himself he’d only focused on his needs as a lord. What about what Luca the man wanted? Didn’t that play into this? It should.

Well, Noe would find a way to drag it out of him, one way or another.

“It’s not something ridiculously over the top. I just want a good relationship with my husband, a family, a happy place I can call home. Something as ordinary as that.”

“’Tis not so ordinary. Sometimes, that’s the hardest thing to achieve in life.”

Noe knew this all too well.

Luca’s lips pursed a little, brows drawing together as if he were thinking. “I daresay we get along very well. I enjoy your company immensely, so I think our home would be happy, if only because we’re not the contentious sort.”

Now that, Noe couldn’t let pass. It was heartening to hear Luca enjoyed spending time with him, since he felt the same way. He scooted sideways and gave the man a quick hug around the shoulders, too happy to do otherwise. “Thank you. I very much like your company too.”

That brief hug delighted Luca, and he relaxed even more, returning Noe’s smile. “I’m glad. But, um, what I was truly asking is what do you want from me as a husband? As a man?”

Ah, that was where his nerves stemmed from. Then again, that was to be expected. This was all new for Luca. Now, how to answer this?

“I do want physical affection and intimacy.” It didn’t do either of them any good if Noe downplayed his wants. “You said you liked kissing me?”

“I did.”

No hesitation there. Phew, good. “I liked it too. I like kissing, and cuddles, and hand holding. I think we should, well, try with each other to figure out how much you’re comfortable with in regard to sex. It’s not a firm deal-breaker, if we’re not fully compatible there. It just means we have to figure out what we’re comfortable offering each other and go from there.” It would be a damn shame, though. Noe absolutely wanted Luca’s hands all over him .

Luca slowly nodded. “I can work with that. Is it really okay with you, though?”

Noe had sympathy for him because he was trying so hard for both of their sakes. Noe could at least meet him halfway. “It is. I promise you it is. No relationship is a hundred percent perfect. You’re already offering most of my checklist, so if one aspect of our relationship isn’t perfect, then I can’t complain. Just don’t be impatient. It’ll take experimentation to figure out what you like, what’s not all right, and so on.”

“I promise I will.”

“Good. That’s all I need from you on that score.”

“As for kissing, and cuddling, and such—that sort of touch is a little odd for me, to be frank. I’ve never courted a woman to that point, where we were so comfortable with each other. It might take me a little time to find the right balance with you.”

“Which, again, is perfectly okay. I don’t want to press you into something you’re not comfortable with.”

“I appreciate it.” Luca looked wistful for a moment. “I don’t suppose you’d be willing to come home with me even if we don’t end up marrying?”

“Er...I have to ask…why?”

“I’m in dire need of a good structural engineer. Parts of my home are hundreds of years old, you see, and while there’s been patches done over time, it needs to be torn down in sections and given a true overhaul. Plus it needs expansion. It was built first as a fort, something sturdy to provide protection to the soldiers assigned there. It wasn’t meant to be lived in full time. Then a wing was added for the laird’s family, and then another wing was added to that, and it’s a jumbled mess of connecting rooms and hallways now. It needs a proper renovation and overhaul.”

“Ahhh. Well, it sounds like a fun project. I certainly won’t turn it down.” Noe pushed his glasses up a little. On impulse he turned, pulled his bag closer, then fished out a pencil, ruler, and two sheets of paper. “Here, draw it out for me. I want to see how your fort’s designed.”

“Well, now, I’m game for that.”

Luca took the materials, shoving his empty plate and beer to the side, and immediately started drawing things out. “Should I just draw what it’s like now, not how I wish it could be?”

“Start from reality. You can describe what you want to me and we can make changes, but I want to see structurally how it’s currently laid out.”

“Fair enough.”

They stayed bent over the pages, speaking of possibilities, of dreams and ambitions, for well over three hours. The easy conversations and relaxed atmosphere of the restaurant kept them in a comfortable bubble as they talked. It never slipped back into an interview atmosphere, instead becoming more like a fun dinner with a friend.

Noe, for one, was quite happy.