Noah & Navid

Chapter 17- We Are Guests Here...

By dinnertime, Navid was a little drunk along with the rest of the crew besides me and Mike.

It was kind of funny to watch his inhibitions fade. 

We all settled into chairs wide enough for two arranged around a fire pit in the backyard that opened up to the beach and sunset. Navid slid an arm around me and I snuggled into his chest as Karim and Mike worked the grill.

"I'm so proud of you," He whispered to me.

"I helped clean up and the guys were nice to me. I want this to work out for you. They're cool guys," I said back in a low voice as the other guys were joking around about something.

"No, I mean. I am proud to have you with me. You here in my arms. I am sorry for earlier when I freak out. I know it damage your feelings. I feel so bad for that," Navid said as he held me under one arm and rubbed my leg with his other hand. "I don't deserve my Noah."

"I know you have to work through things, but um these guys would be more shocked at seeing you NOT be affectionate with me. They know we're together. It's ok here." I kissed his cheek quickly.

He brought a hand to my cheek and turned my face to his. He put his lips on mine and rubbed my face as his tongue slid inside.

We kissed for a few minutes and then noticed everyone was quiet. We stopped and turned to look at everyone eyeing us.

"Uhh, dinner's ready guys unless you need some alone time," Karim said with a laugh.

He then said something in his language which must have been funny because most of the guys laughed, including Navid. I laid my head against his shoulder as Navid yelled a reply that must have been an offensive joke judging from the laughs it got. He kept his arm around me.

"Do you two want your own plates this time or share one like you did on the dinner boat?" Mike asked as we all came over to the buffet he had set up.

Karim set down a big plate of meat, fresh from the grill.

"Just one, Noah doesn't eat so much," Navid said as he pulled me by the hand.

"You remember that?" I asked Mike with surprise as Navid took only one plate and nudged me towards the food.

He put a mix of things on the plate as he gently pushed me along by bumping his bulge against my butt while he hummed some Persian beat. He was happy.

"You two were so cute together! You were so happy in his lap, of course we all saw it," Mike was referring to Navid pulling me onto his lap during the fireworks show.

"Our boys have bonded," Karim noted to Navid as we settled in around the outdoor dining table.

"It is good, Noah can learn from yours," Navid said and set the plate between us.

He rubbed my hair playfully and went to get another drink.

"I've never seen him loosen up like this," I said to the two men as the other couples sat in the empty chairs.

"He has the weight of his culture, his religion upon him. He is drunk and so he forgets it. Mike here had the same thing." Karim put a supportive arm around his partner.

"You're from Iran?" I asked knowing that didn't sound right.

"Um no," Mike laughed. "I'm from Utah, very traditional Mormon family. I left home at 17 on a bus to Reno. My father believed that any sin could be beaten out of someone. I didn't stick around for more of it."

"Here in America? For real?" I asked.

"For real what, my Noah?" Navid showed up behind me with a drink for him and a juice for me.