Strannick said nothing, his fingers tapping on the table, wondering if he should pour himself another glass. “Why are you here, Noah?” he finally asked, his voice low. “You passed training ten years ago. You could have easily found me any time after that but you didn’t.”

“You were in a relationship and I had a job to do,” Noah said simply, his own tone taking on an edge. “I knew you didn’t want me around so—”

“That’s crap.”

Noah’s eyes widened slightly. 

“Noah, I didn’t ignore you, I just couldn’t take feeling you anymore, knowing I might not see you again. You left.” He swallowed, his eyes going to the bottle. “You left me,” he added softly. “Of all people, why you?”

Noah watched him, saying nothing. His heart flipped, his core spinning. Being careful not to let it slip down the link, he had to admit he had been wrong to wait so long. He’d missed Kas like crazy, had wanted to be with him…but he did have a job to do, a Prince to serve. He had to stay away, he had to remain cold and distant, even when it hurt him to do so.

“I have to wonder,” he finally said, his voice taking on that teasing mockery Strannick remembered so well. “How exactly is your relationship with Evie?”

Strannick stared at him. “Fine,” he said quietly. “It’s fine.”

A small smile curled at the corner of his lips. “Is it?”

Strannick swallowed, his hand curling into a light fist on the table. 

“Because from what I can discern from our little link, you can barely get it up for her.”

Strannick gritted his teeth. “That’s not…I’ve…slept with her…”

“When your eyes are closed and you’re thinking of someone else.” He tilted his head. “You can’t even look at her, can you?”

Strannick’s blood began to heat up, his anger rising. Why did he think, even for a second, Noah wouldn’t do this to him? Strannick was just a toy, something to play with for his own amusement, and he had once again played directly into Noah’s hands. He’d let his guard down with the one person in the universe he shouldn’t.

“Stop,” he growled.

Noah placed a foot on the edge of Strannick’s chair and pushed, turning him away from the table as easily as if Strannick weighed nothing at all. He stood up and placed his hands on either side of Strannick, gripping the back of the chair, his face inches from Strannick’s, his body slithering over him.

“I have to wonder,” he said, his voice breathy. “Why you won’t just give in and fuck me.”

Strannic stiffened.

“It can’t be because of what’s between my legs,” he said, sitting in Strannick’s lap, pressing himself against Kas, one hand going between them, his fingers grazing Kas’ cock over his jeans. Kas responded, his growing hardness straining under those delicate fingers.

“Stop,” he breathed. “Noah, please, just stop.”

“Maybe,” Noah said, his other hand sliding up the back of his neck, his lips nearing his ear. “It’s because…I’m. Not. Him.”

Strannick’s eyes snapped open, his lips curling in a snarl as he grabbed Noah by his arms, forcing the angel to look at him. Noah’s grin was cruel, yet enticing. “How fucking dare you,” he growled.

Noah dipped his head, the tip of his tongue sliding along his bottom lip. “Have you been with a man, Kas? Or just your fake girlfriend? I must have missed that memo in our connection.”

Strannick’s hands were shaking. He wanted to throw Noah out, make him leave and never come back. And yet, he couldn’t. He couldn’t let him go, couldn’t make his arousal go away. This evil little bastard turned him on more than anyone else ever could, and he wanted him.

“I can teach you,” Noah said. “I’m sure you know what I’ve done, how many I’ve been with. You don’t even have to look at me, or even say my name.” He took Kas’ shirt between his fingers. “You can just fuck me and still think of him if you really want to.”

Strannick stood up quickly, pushing Noah up against the table. “Knock it off. Stop fucking with me, Noah!”

“Why?” Noah chuckled, the sound like ice in Kas’ veins. “Admit it, Kas.” He pulled on Kas’ shirt, bringing his face even closer to his own. “You still want Toji, don’t you?”

Strannick’s glare was like fire. 

“He’ll never want you,” Noah said, taking his earlobe between his teeth. “But I do.” His hot, sweet breath against his skin made Kas’ entire body shudder. “Give in, Kas,” he taunted, his voice sultry. “Take me. Fuck me. I’m right here.”

Kas’ breath was ragged as his hands moved to Noah’s hips. “Damn you, Noah Albright.”

Noah grinned, leaning back, opening his legs for Kas to press his thigh against his own rigid cock. “Don’t kiss me.”

Strannick picked Noah up, setting him down hard on the table, his mouth going to his throat, biting and sucking, his tongue dipping into the hollow at the base. Noah’s head went back and he inhaled deeply, his fingers digging into the back of Strannick’s head. Kas yanked Noah’s pants down, unzipping his own, releasing his throbbing cock. Noah’s head rocked forward, his hand wrapping around Kas, his eyes wide.

“If you don’t prepare me right, you’ll kill me with that thing.” He took Kas’ hand, taking two thick fingers into his mouth, sucking on them, his tongue twirling between and around them, getting them as wet as possible, his other hand stroking Kas, making the bigger man moan softly, biting his lip.

Noah guided Kas’ hand to his ass. “Put them in me, Kas. Open me up.” Kas did as he was told, slowly inserting one thick finger, Noah’s head arching back in response.

“Oh, fuck,” he whispered, his hips moving against Kas’ hand. When Kas inserted the second one, he bit down on his lip so hard he drew blood. Kas wanted to taste it, but he refrained. His mouth went to Noah’s neck instead, lifting his shirt, his fingers finding Noah’s nipple. He pinched gently, twirling it before moving his head down to flick it with his tongue, sucking it into his mouth.

Strannick spread his fingers within Noah, opening him, wanting him. His body felt so good in his hands, his skin delicious against his lips. He pulled one leg of Noah’s pants completely off, adjusting him so he could get better access. Noah took him in hand, placing him against himself the second Kas removed his fingers. 

“Close your eyes and fuck me, Lukas,” he whispered. 

Strannick did, pushing in slowly, feeling Noah stretch around him, his fingers digging into his back. 

“Not too deep!” Noah moaned. “You’re so big, it hurts.”

“I’ll stop.”

Noah shook his head. “No. Don’t stop. Just give it a second.” His breath was hot against Kas’ neck, his teeth grazing the skin as he finally conformed to Kas’ thick cock. He moved his hips, giving him permission to move.

Kas kept his head down, one hand resting firmly on the table, the other arm wrapped around Noah’s waist as he thrust into Noah, slowly at first and then faster, harder, deeper. He was so angry, so hurt, so irritated that he once again allowed this beautiful boy to get to him. He had no desire to be kind to him; he didn’t deserve it.

If he was honest with himself, he didn’t deserve it either. He was trash, cheating on Evie in their own home, on their table. He was disgusted with himself as memories of the worst day of his life came flooding back to him, unbidden, unwanted. He felt Noah’s legs wrap around him, his body shuddering with pleasure as Kas fucked him. He could hear Noah whisper his name, but not the name he gave him.

“Lukas,” he whimpered quietly. “Lukas, yes, that feels so fucking good. Don’t stop. Please, god, don’t stop.”

To Strannick’s growing disgust, it wasn’t Noah’s voice he heard, it wasn’t his body he was holding. No matter how badly he wanted it to be Noah, that wasn’t the face that came to his mind. When Noah’s head fell back, his cum spilling onto himself, Strannick’s own release fast upon him, it wasn’t Noah’s name he called out.

“Fuck, I’m gonna cum,” he whispered, his eyes squeezing tighter shut. “Toji!” He came hard, filling Noah, his body convulsing as his head fell to Noah’s shoulder, his breath heavy, his fingers digging into the tabletop. They stayed that way for several moments, neither one of them happy about what they had done.

Noah’s waves made it very clear how Kas had just made him feel, if not the tension in his body. He shoved at Strannick’s chest, the bigger man backing away, tucking himself back into his pants as he leaned against the counter, his hooded gaze on the floor.

Noah remained on the table, shaking, biting his lip. He wanted to cry, wanted to scream and slap Strannick. Too many years of learning to bury his emotions, however, came into play and he swallowed them down, his cold demeanor back in place as he redressed himself. 

“You’re disgusting, Lukas Franks,” he said, his voice like daggers stabbing directly into Strannick’s chest.

The bigger man gripped the counter, hearing the material splinter under his fingers. “Get out,” he whispered, his voice ragged. He dug into his side of the link, taking every emotion and truth of that moment and locking them away. “Just get the fuck out.”

Noah said nothing. He stormed through the door, slamming it on his way out, leaving Strannick alone to water the flower of self-loathing that had been growing within him for years.

-*-