Chapter 19

Chapter 19

There were several perks about going into work with his boyfriend. For one thing, Noel had made him breakfast. The blueberry muffins had been absolutely delicious and while he might not need them, he appreciated them. For another, he had Noel all to himself during the morning commute without distraction. It had made the Monday morning drive to work much more pleasant.

All of this brought the realization to Fernando's mind that he really, really wanted Noel to move in with him. He'd much prefer this morning's scene to be their normal routine. Was nine days of dating too short a time before asking him to move in? It probably was. Maybe he needed to wait a month.

Damn, that sounded like a long time.

Fernando was a reasonably intelligent being. Surely he could figure out a way to convince Noel to move in before the week was out.

As he pulled into the parking lot, Noel lightly slapped both of his cheeks. "Okay. Work mode on."

This action made zero sense to Fernando. "What?"

Noel looked at him as if he was being deliberately obtuse. "We're at work, so obviously I have to go into work mode."

Meaning…? Surely not. "You think that you have to switch from boyfriend mode to PA mode now that we're here?"

"It's an office. Of course I have to act professional."

While Fernando was sure other businesses and organizations ran like that, he had no intention of even trying. "I refuse."

Noel regarded him quizzically. "Eh?"

"I refuse. I'm not going to act like you're just another PA on the job. You're mine wherever we are. You said you'd struggle with not being obvious we were together. Time to follow through on your words."

For some reason, Noel looked at him like he was being oddly stubborn and was maybe even amused by Fernando's attitude. "Are you serious?"

"Yes." Fernando shrugged and got out of the car.

Noel got out and fell into step with him, still arguing. "But Fernando—"

"No buts."

"You're trying to run a business here," Noel protested. " Mr. Fernando ."

Fernando stopped dead, snagging him by the waist and hauling him in. Noel came with an oof , one hand on Fernando's chest as if trying to hold him at bay. He met those blue eyes levelly. "Call me that one more time. I dare you."

"Why are you like this?" Noel muttered.

The question sounded rhetorical, but he answered it anyway. "Why you're worried about it is my question. It's not like we have an actual HR here. Who would even file a complaint?"

"Uh…that's a good point." Noel didn't look all that upset. He looked to be fighting a smile as he acquiesced, "Fine. I suppose I should have expected this."

Having gotten his way, Fernando let go, but all he did was exchange the hold for Noel's hand instead. He twined his fingers with Noel's as he walked through the main doors. They got double takes from some of the men as they walked past, but Fernando had expected as much and ignored them.

Upon reaching Noel's desk, he gave the back of Noel's hand a quick kiss before letting go and continuing on to his own desk. The days of having coffee waiting for him were over, of course, but he'd much prefer having mornings with Noel over coffee waiting on his desk. He considered it well worth the trade. Besides, now he could have lunch with Noel without making up an excuse for it first. That was already a win.

Since this was the first time he'd been in his office for over a week, he went through the motions of booting up his computer and settling in behind his desk, ready to start his morning when the phone rang.

Of course Seb was calling. Fernando swiped Accept and tucked the phone between ear and shoulder. "What?"

" So. Brother mine ."

Fernando internally groaned. No conversation with those opening words ever went in his favor.

" I've heard all sorts of interesting things over the past week. Such as that you went on a legit date, which I believe is the first time in nearly a hundred years that that's happened. Then I heard that you sent someone to the Cleaners after messing with Noel. And just now, someone from your office posted in the company's chat that you and Noel walked in hand-in-hand. For some reason, I feel like all of these things connect. Do fill me in ."

Why was his younger brother so intuitive? It was damn inconvenient sometimes. Fernando sat back and resigned himself to not doing anything productive in the next fifteen minutes. "Noel is now my boyfriend."

Seb laughed outright. " I should have bet more money. I distinctly remember you saying, not even two weeks ago, that you wouldn't date him. That you'd ruin him if you tried ."

"I remember what I said. There's no need to rub it in."

" Squeak squeak ."

Fernando leaned back in his chair and glared at the ceiling. Seb's choice to call rather than talk about this in person prevented him from tackling his brother to the floor. He'd done that on purpose. "I have no willpower where Noel is concerned. Sue me."

" Hell no. I'm delighted someone actually got past that prickly guard of yours ."

Based on the happy note in his voice, he clearly meant it, too, which was why Fernando couldn't stay aggravated with him.

" So the cute Noel was willing to give you a go, eh ?" Seb mused when he didn't respond.

"It's more than that. And I caution you, this stays between us, along with Papa and Alessandro when I can update them."

" Oh ?"

Fernando trusted Sebastian with his life, which was no light phrase, as that trust had been put to the test multiple times. This revelation, though, this made him hesitate. Noel was that precious. "Noel's a true mate."

Dead silence.

Then Seb blew out a breath. " You're kidding, right ? Damn, you're not kidding. "

"Positive. He gets aroused during feeding, and he's completely immune to Mesmerize. I tested this a few nights ago and he didn't even realize I was using it."

" Ha ! Well, that's going to turn everything upside down. Protections ?"

"Doubled them immediately. It won't be obvious, but he'll have bodyguards at all times."

" Not obvious because he'll likely object ?"

"I'd rather not have the argument."

" Fair enough. He knows what this all means, I assume ."

"He does."

" I want to sit and get to know him better since he'll be part of the family. Set aside some time this week for dinner, okay ?"

"Fine."

" All right, my curiosity is satisfied. I suppose I can let you go back to work ."

"Good. No, wait." Fernando might as well ask. Seb had more dating experience than he did. "How long do people date before asking someone to move in with them?"

" Hmm. A year or so, generally speaking ."

A year ? Oh hell no.

" You're not thinking of moving Noel in with you already, are you ?"

Fernando stayed mutinously silent, still stuck on a year. No. That was way too long. He wasn't sure if a month was even possible.

" You haven't been dating that long ," Seb pointed out.

"I had him with me for a whole week. It was enough to show me what living with him would be like. I'm not waiting a year."

" Fernando, do you have any other speeds aside from dead stop and full speed ahead ?" Seb asked, exasperated. " Slow down, man ."

He growled a little in the back of his throat. "I'll talk with you later. Bye."

Hanging up, he put the phone on his desk. Waiting a year to wake up every day with Noel at his side? A year before he could turn whenever he wanted to talk with him, play music with him, snuggle in on the couch? That sounded terrible. He'd already waited many lifetimes just to find the man. Waiting even longer sounded like torture. He hadn't jested with Seb, either. The past week playing house with Noel had shown him what living together would be like. It felt like a cruel tease at this point, having that knowledge.

He'd try asking at the end of the week. If Noel said no, then he'd wait a month. A year was simply out of the question.