Chapter 180: The First Rain
Alex set his glass on the side table, casting one last glance at the darkening sky before stepping back inside.
His voice wasn’t loud, yet it cut through the room’s chaos—smooth, steady, and impossible to ignore.
"Rain’s coming. Better leave before it traps us."
Jordan, halfway through a story that had Emily doubled over in laughter, glanced toward the balcony like he hadn’t even noticed the clouds. Lina groaned, already curling tighter against Emily’s shoulder.
"Do we have to? It feels like we just got here."
Emily tossed her hair dramatically. "Exactly. Which is why George should get us a teleportation device. George?" She raised her voice toward the phone propped on a soda can.
George’s voice crackled from the screen, dry as ever. "Let me finish dinner with my family in China, then I’ll get right on it."
Jordan downed the rest of his drink with a grin. "Teleportation or not, I call shotgun if we’re running in the rain."
"Not happening," Alex replied simply. He bent down, gathering snack wrappers with practiced ease. His calmness left no room for argument, yet it didn’t feel like a command—just inevitability.
Noel moved toward the couch, brushing a hand over the cat sprawled like royalty across the cushions. His gaze slid toward Luca, still leaning against the counter, arms crossed and jaw tight, like he was daring the night to end without him.
"They’re heading out," Noel said softly, almost just for him.
Luca’s eyes flicked to his, stubbornness flashing and fading in a breath. He sighed, pushing off the counter with a grumble that fooled no one. "Fine."
Emily caught it instantly, smirking as she slid to her feet. "Aw, look at you, sulky again. Like a kid forced to share his toys."
"Go home, Emily," Luca shot back, though there wasn’t much bite in it.
Lina giggled, tugging Emily toward the door. "Come on, it was fun. We’ll do it again when the rain’s not threatening to soak us."
Jordan was already slipping his shoes on, shaking his head with mock regret. "Next time, Luca, I expect better hospitality. At least a pizza."
"You’re lucky I didn’t throw you off the balcony," Luca muttered.
"Love you too, man," Jordan grinned, unbothered.
One by one, they filed out. Alex lingered for a moment, catching Noel’s gaze with a small, knowing nod—take care of him.
And then the door shut, muffling footsteps and laughter, leaving only silence.
The apartment felt bigger without them. The air held a charged stillness, waiting. Snack wrappers and half-finished cans littered the table, the last proof of their chaos.
Noel bent to gather them, quiet and methodical. Luca stayed by the counter, arms folded tight across his chest, his scowl aimed at nothing.
"You’re sulking," Noel said finally, not looking up as he stacked cans into the bag Alex left. His voice wasn’t sharp—just steady, as if stating the weather.
"I am not," Luca shot back too fast. He pushed off the counter, stepping close enough to snatch a wrapper from Noel’s hand. "I just—" He faltered, lips pressing thin. "They ruined our moment."
The faintest smile tugged at Noel’s mouth. He shook his head. "It’s not the end of the world."
"It felt like it," Luca muttered, tossing the wrapper into the bag. His shoulder brushed Noel’s as he leaned in, closer than necessary—like sulking required proximity.
"You’re impossible," Noel said quietly, finally meeting his eyes.
"You like it," Luca shot back, but the sulk in his tone was already softening, fraying at the edges under Noel’s calm steadiness.
A low rumble rolled through the distance, followed by the soft tap of rain against the balcony glass. Gentle at first, then heavier, steady, filling the silence with its rhythm.
Noel paused, gaze shifting to the pane. His voice dropped, thoughtful. "First rain."
Luca leaned against the counter again, but this time his arms weren’t crossed. His gaze followed the falling drops, then drifted back to Noel—softer now. "Guess it’s just us again."
Noel tied the trash bag with a sharp tug, his mouth curving despite himself. "Just us."
The rain filled in the rest.
Noel sank into the couch, the faintest sigh leaving him as he leaned back, shoulders easing at last. His gaze found Luca across the room, and for once he didn’t look away.
It wasn’t a sharp stare, nor a teasing one—just steady, quiet, almost unbearably gentle.
Luca froze mid-step, whatever sulk still lingered falling away under the weight of it. He didn’t move to sit, didn’t even speak. He just stood there, caught, melting into that look like it unraveled every defense he thought he had.
The rain pressed against the glass, steady and soft, filling the silence that stretched between them. And still, Noel’s eyes never left his.
The apartment was quiet except for the faint rain tapping against the windows.
Noel leaned back against the sofa, arms crossed, watching Luca pace restlessly across the room.
"Sit down," Noel said, voice calm but carrying that undertone of command Luca could never resist.
"I can’t," Luca replied, almost whining, his cheeks flushed. He finally stopped in front of Noel, eyes wide and pleading. "Not when you keep looking at me like that."
Noel raised an eyebrow. "Like what?"
"Like you already own me." Luca’s words tumbled out in a rush, and before Noel could answer, Luca slipped into his lap, arms wrapping tight around his neck.
He pressed himself close, desperate for reassurance, for contact.
Noel let out a low breath, his hand sliding naturally to Luca’s waist. "Clingy as ever," he muttered, though his grip was firm, grounding.
Luca tilted his head, brushing their lips together in a hesitant kiss that burned hotter by the second.
Noel deepened it, steady and controlled, one hand guiding Luca’s chin, the other pulling him tighter against his chest. Luca melted instantly, sighing into the kiss as if surrendering was the only thing he knew how to do.
The atmosphere shifted—the tension that had been circling them for weeks finally snapping. Luca’s fingers tangled in Noel’s shirt, tugging desperately, as though afraid Noel might slip away if he didn’t hold on hard enough.
Noel stood, carrying him easily toward the bed. Luca clung tighter, legs winding around his waist, breathless against his throat. "Don’t let go," he whispered.
Noel’s mouth curved, his voice a dangerous murmur at Luca’s ear. "If you’re going to cling, Luca, then don’t complain when I don’t let you breathe."
Luca shivered, but before Noel could revel in the reaction, Luca surprised him—fisting his shirt and yanking him closer into a rough, needy kiss. The sudden fire in it startled Noel for half a second, pulling a low sound from his chest.
"Who’s complaining?" Luca whispered against his lips, defiant even as his voice trembled.
A sharp spark lit Noel’s eyes. He crushed their mouths together once more, then laid Luca down on the mattress, pinning him with his weight.
Luca looked up at him with wide eyes full of heat and trust.
Noel brushed his lips over Luca’s temple, then his jaw, before pulling back just enough to look him in the eye.
"Say it," Noel demanded softly.
"I need you," Luca breathed, voice trembling but sure.
That was all the permission Noel needed.
His kiss, which had been demanding before, turned devastatingly tender.
It was a slow, thorough exploration that left Luca dizzy, as if Noel was memorizing the taste of him.
His hands, which had been gripping, began to move with a new purpose.
He didn’t tear or rush. His fingers worked the buttons of Luca’s shirt with a frustrating, exquisite slowness, each one popping free a small victory.
The pads of his thumbs brushed against the newly exposed skin of Luca’s stomach, feeling the muscles jump and quiver beneath his touch.
Luca arched into the contact, a broken sound catching in his throat.
"Noel... please."
"Shhh," Noel murmured against his lips, his own breath becoming less steady. "I’ve got you."
The rest of their clothes became a forgotten heap on the floor, not flung away in passion but shed out of necessity, a barrier removed.
Skin finally met skin, and Luca gasped at the shock of it—the smooth, solid heat of Noel’s chest against his, the contrast of his rough hands against the softness of Luca’s inner thigh.
The world narrowed to the feeling of Noel’s weight, a comfortable and claiming pressure that anchored Luca to the earth.
Noel’s mouth left a trail of fire—from his lips, down the column of his throat, to the frantic pulse at its base.
His hands mapped every dip and curve of Luca’s body, not with greed, but with a reverence that made Luca’s eyes sting.
This was more than possession; it was worship.
When they finally joined, it was with a shared, shuddering breath.
A silence fell, deeper than the quiet of the apartment, broken only by ragged breathing and the sound of rain.
It was a perfect, suspended moment where everything aligned—need, trust, and a feeling so vast it was terrifying.
The rhythm they found was not frantic, but deep and relentless, a tide pulling them under.
Luca’s pleas were no longer for more, but for the feeling to never end, whispered directly into Noel’s skin.
Noel’s commands softened into encouragements, his controlled composure fracturing into raw, gasped phrases that spoke only of Luca—how he felt, how he looked, how he was everything.
The climb was slow and exquisite, a coiling tension that built in the base of their spines until it became unbearable.
Luca fell first, crying out Noel’s name as a sob, his body seizing as waves of pleasure crashed over him.
The feeling of Luca unraveling beneath him was what finally broke Noel’s control.
He followed him over the edge with a low, guttural groan, burying his face in Luca’s neck, his entire body trembling with the force of his release.
When the storm finally eased, Luca was still wrapped around Noel like a second skin, refusing to let go.
His head rested against Noel’s chest, breath uneven but slowing.
Noel brushed damp strands of hair from his forehead, pressing a kiss there almost absentmindedly. "Clingy," he repeated, though softer now, almost fond.
"You love it," Luca murmured, half-asleep, still curled tight around him.
Noel didn’t argue. His arm stayed firm around Luca’s waist, holding him close as the rain outside faded into silence.
The room still hummed with the quiet aftermath of the storm, windows streaked with rain, their breaths mingling in the hush.
Luca lay half-curled into Noel, head resting against his shoulder, fingers drawing lazy circles against his bare chest.
Noel’s arm draped across him, loose and tender, as though the weight alone could keep Luca from drifting.
"You remember," Luca murmured, voice low and faintly amused, "you promised me something."
Noel’s lips curved, even with his eyes closed. "Promised what?"
"A date." Luca lifted his head just enough to look at him. "Don’t think I’ve forgotten. You practically blackmailed me with that cat."
A soft laugh slipped out of Noel, shoulders rising beneath Luca’s touch. "I wouldn’t call it blackmail. More like... negotiation."
"You said no date unless I agreed to let that furball stay," Luca pressed, narrowing his eyes like he was building a case. "And guess what—I caved. So now you owe me."
Noel finally opened his eyes, gazing at him with a quiet warmth that made Luca’s complaint lose some of its bite. "Fine," he said softly. "Tomorrow, we’ll go. Just you and me."
Luca perked up like a boy handed a long-awaited prize. "Tomorrow? You’re serious?"
"Mm." Noel brushed his thumb over Luca’s cheek, slow, deliberate. "I’ll take you to the beach. Fresh air, waves, no interruptions. You’ll get your date."
The grin that spread across Luca’s face was quick, unguarded.
He dipped forward and captured Noel’s mouth in a kiss that started gentle but lingered, deepened, until neither wanted to let go.
Noel’s fingers slid through Luca’s hair, and Luca’s hand pressed firmer against Noel’s chest, grounding himself in that closeness.
When they finally pulled apart, breath mingling, Noel whispered, "Good night, Luca."
Luca’s smile softened into something fragile and real. He pressed one last kiss to Noel’s temple, his voice hushed as he answered, "Good night."
Then, just as his eyes began to flutter shut, Luca muttered against Noel’s skin, half-teasing, half-earnest: "And don’t you dare back out. If you cancel, I’ll sulk so hard you’ll regret ever getting that cat."
Noel chuckled low in his chest, pressing him closer. "Noted."
They curled back into each other, the storm outside fading to a steady drizzle, the night settling warm around them.