Grace's Bookstore

Chapter 8

Damien's penthouse. Sorry it's been so long <3

-AN

The enormous dining room, with its vaulted ceilings and wall of crystal-clear windows allowing the splendor of the setting sun in, was set for only two. The enormous oak table, with enough chairs and space to sit at least thirty, had only two plates. It seemed empty, small, and Noah couldn't imagine how insufferably lonely it must be for Damien to eat here alone every night.

Running nearly the entire length of the table was a crystal light fixture, bathing the room in brilliant light and illuminating every inch of the cavernous space. Noah glanced around the room, then at Damien. He smiled down at him, grin almost as bright as the light cascading from above.

The table had a runner of blue and gold, soft and gorgeous, that draped over the sides at odd angles and boasted vases of flowers upon it. There were also candlesticks, topped with flickering flames, and the plates and silverware shined with his wealth. Noah's heart fluttered again briefly. Romantic. A date.

"So," Damien said, drawing his hand tighter around the smaller brunette and leading him toward one end of the table. Noah allowed it, following, as Damien pulled back a seat to the immediate left of the head and Noah slipped in, gazing out over the splendid view of the city below, murmuring a thank you.

"So." Noah repeated, looking up at Damien as he slipped into the seat at the head of the table.

"Holden has made a four-course meal." Damien said as soon as he was seated, turning his gaze on Noah. The brunette's eyes widened. "They baked garlic bread, prepared a salad of fresh vegetables, made their ravioli and drenched it in a meat sauce, and topped it off with a chocolate pie."

Noah's mouth watered. If Damien had real food, not just the cheaper knockoff's or artificially grown such and such, he couldn't even imagine how good the food was going to be. "Ok." He whispered, gazing deep into Damien's eyes. The other boy stared right back, both of them absorbed in each other. Noah barely blinked, afraid of breaking the spell, and after a moment realized they were breathing in sync. Damien smiled, shy and hesitant and so much different from the truly blinding grin he could produce at a moment's notice. This one was tender and warm, unsure but still beautiful, much like the flickering dance of the candle flame.

Carefully, Damien set his hand upon the table and, carefully, Noah took it. They found themselves in a strange dance, the only music and tune to go off of their marching heartbeats and matching breaths.

"Hi." Noah managed. Damien's smile grew slightly, the curve of his dimple creasing into his cheek, his teeth shimmering in the dying lights of the sun as it sparkled off every building in the city and every drop of its golden light found its way into that dining room.

"Hi." Damien replied, holding Noah's hand gently in his own. "How was the shower?"

"It was so cool." Noah gushed, eyes widening as he thought of all the jets, the heat, the water pouring down. His skin felt so soft, and his hair was perfect. The drying tube had been a thing of wonder, the warm air ghosting over his skin and drying him off immediately. "I feel so incredibly clean it's crazy!"

"Really?" Damien said, sitting up straight as Ben walked in with the first tray. "Good. I'm glad."

"The first course." Benjamin said with a comically straight face. "Garlic bread."

Damien's lips quirked up in a smile that he struggled to keep down, watching as Noah's eyes widened again, rounding out like the full moon, and Benjamin set the bread upon the table like it was a fine roast set before a king. With a guest, Benjamin's training kicked in, and he was the perfect butler, back straight and face prim and proper.