The clock read a quarter till six as Riley stepped out of the warm embrace of his bath. He went to the dresser where he'd carefully put away his clothes earlier. Looking through everything, he was at a loss as to what to wear. He didn't have much and what he did have wasn't in the best of shape. He wasn't even sure how he was supposed to dress for Noah's big surprise. Casual? Fancy? Not that he really owned anything fancy. In fact, he'd never even owned a suit in his life. Even at his graduation he only wore jeans and a T-shit with his favorite band depicted on the front. Luckily, his graduation gown covered his poor choice in attire.
It's not like it mattered much anyway. He had no graduation party to attend afterward, no celebratory dinner. He had returned home and began his normal chores with no mention of the special day. He didn't even get a "congratulations" from his foster parents who hadn't even bothered to show up for his ceremony. He supposed he was lucky that they had even allowed him to go but still, a little recognition would have been nice. Alex, his foster brother and best friend, would have been there if he hadn't left for college the year before. He at least had sent Riley a card. He still had that card, tucked away in his diary. It was the only card he'd ever gotten since his parents had died.
After careful consideration, Riley decided on a crisp, white, dress shirt with well-worn jeans. He brushed his auburn locks back into a neat ponytail, the strands catching the light like threads of spun copper. If he'd owned any after shave or cologne, he would have used them but he didn't, so he would just have to rely on his deodorant alone to keep him smelling fresh and clean. The rose scented body wash and shampoo he'd found in the bathroom helped too. Thank God for Noah who had thought of all the little things that Riley himself might have over looked.
Now that he was dressed and properly groomed, Riley sat on the massive, four poster bed, as he anxiously awaited Noah's arrival. A few moments later and a soft knock at the door echoed throughout the room. Riley's heart quickened. Taking a deep breath, he slid off the bed and made his way to the door, stopping briefly to check his reflection in the full length mirror next to the wardrobe. Slowly, Riley opened the door and froze. A warm sense of excitement rushed through him. Noah stood, looking down at him, and the man was absolutely stunning.
Riley had only ever seen Noah in his casual wear. Even when they had chatted on cam, Noah had usually been in just a simple T-shirt and jeans. What he was wearing now put everything else he had ever worn to shame. He was dressed in a dark gray, tailored suit that seemed to accentuate every contour of his form. His suit was complimented by a pair of dark brown, leather oxfords, exquisitely polished to an eye-popping shine. Riley couldn't help but feel a pang of inadequacy as he took in Noah's elegance.
"Are you ready?" Noah asked, his eyes bright with anticipation.
"Yes." Riley managed, his voice barely above a whisper. "But. I think I may be under dressed."
"Don't worry about that." Noah told him. "This night is about us, not what you're wearing, and besides, you'd look beautiful even in a burlap sack."
Riley blushed. "I think you're exaggerating."
"No, I'm not. You're beautiful, Riley. Everything about you is beautiful. Your eyes, your hair, everything. The sooner you accept that, the better."
"Thank you." Riley raised up on his tip toes and kissed Noah's cheek.
"You're more than welcome." Noah said. He then offered his arm to Riley. "Shall we?"
Riley nodded and accepted Noah's arm graciously, feeling a rush of warmth at the contact. Together they walked down the hall then descended the stairs, Riley's heart fluttering like a trapped bird in his chest. Noah hadn't said where they were going but based on the way that Noah was dressed, Riley doubted it was back to the kitchen where they'd had their lunch. They weren't going in the direction of the family dinning room, or the formal dinning room either. It wasn't until they turned down a familiar corridor that Riley realized where it was that Noah was taking him, the music room.
They had visited the music room briefly on the tour of the mansion and Riley had mentioned how beautiful it was, with it's polished floors, heavy drapes, and the baby grand that was sat near a large bank of windows. Riley had remarked on how he loved the piano and had always wanted to learn to play. Next to the library, the music room was probably his second favorite room.
As they entered the music room, Riley's breath caught in his throat. The room was bathed in the soft glow of candle light. Shadows danced across the walls. In the center of the room sat a table for two, adorned with flickering candles. A single, red, rose graced the center of the table, it's petals unfurling in a delicate ballet.
"Oh, Noah." Riley's voice trailed off, overwhelmed by the beauty of what he saw before him. The room had been transformed into a scene of enchantment. Even the dulcet tones of instrumental music floated through the air, adding to the ambiance.
Riley's heart swelled with love as Noah guided him to his seat. In true gentlemanly fashion, Noah pulled out Riley's seat for him before taking his own. A moment later and Baxter appeared as if by magic. Tina and Maggie followed, pushing in an elegant, chrome, serving trolley that held a feast fit for royalty.
Tina placed a basket of rolls on the table then quickly went to stand next to her mother near the serving cart. Maggie stood with a huge smile on her face as she awaited her instructions. Tina, on the other hand, did not look as enthused as her mother. Again, Riley felt sorry for her. It was obvious she had a crush on Noah but her feelings for him were not reciprocated. First loves were always the hardest to get over. Riley knew that fact all to well. Watching Alex leave for college was the hardest thing Riley had ever had to do aside from saying goodbye to his parents but he barely even remembered that time of his life.
It had taken him time to get over Alex. He was, after all, the first person who had ever really shown Riley any measure of kindness. They'd kept in touch for a while but as time dragged on, their communications became less and less and then stopped all together. Riley didn't blame Alex. He had a life to live that just didn't involve Riley now. Riley just hoped that wherever he was, whatever he was doing, he was happy. As for Tina, Riley knew that she would eventually move on from her crush and hopefully find someone else. She was young still and had her entire life ahead of her. Noah wouldn't be the only crush she'd develop. Maybe, someday, she'd even fall in love.
Riley was brought out of his thoughts as Baxter stepped up to the table. "Good evening, gentlemen." He greeted them. "If it pleases you, allow me to present tonight's menu."
"Yes, please do." Noah said, giving Baxter an approving nod.
"Very good, Sir." Baxter nodded to the two women who were acting as the servers for the evening. Each picked up a plate of food and set it before Noah and Riley as Baxter explained the dish that had been been prepared. "To begin your night." Baxter said, beginning his presentation as if they were in an upscale and expensive restaurant instead of the music room in Noah's mansion. Riley appreciated the level of detail that was put into creating an authentic fine dinning experience. "You will enjoy a peppery arugula salad paired with creamy burrata cheese, thinly sliced prosciutto, roasted tomatoes, drizzled with a tangy balsamic glaze and finished with just a sprinkle of toasted pine nuts."
Riley barely understood any of the words that Baxter had used to describe the salad but looking at the dish before him made his mouth water in anticipation. When Riley thought of a salad he thought of bagged, ice burg lettuce, and few fixings. The plate before him though was a symphony of color mixed with the tangy, sweet, combination that was an explosion of flavor and refreshing to the palate. The very first mouthful had him moaning in pure bliss.
When they had finished with their salads, the women removed the empty bowls and then delivered the second course of the meal, the appetizers. Once again, Baxter gave a detailed description of the food that had been placed so elegantly upon the table.
"As an appetizer." Baxter began, "We are serving Oysters Rockefeller, topped with a luxurious mixture of spinach, shallots, butter, and Pernod, baked to perfection. For your wine, a crisp and refreshing Chardonnay with notes of green apples, citrus, and a hint of oak wood to complement the delicate flavor of the oysters."
