Page 32 of Sigh of Relief

Archer’s lips curved into a smile against his skin. “Safe words?”

“Red, yellow, green.”

“Easy enough.” Archer drew back, tangled their fingers, and tugged him further into the house, through the living room full of cozy furniture and low voices, gentle kisses and curious touches, casual conversations and getting-to-know-you play. Like the couple he’d spied from the doorway and the trio stretched out on the chaise they passed.

“Names?” Archer said, drawing Elton’s attention back to him. “You didn’t indicate on your NDA.”

He’d left that field blank on the form Archer had sent over for him to sign. He’d been holding onto that leftover fear then. He let it go and leaned into fulfillment instead. “Elton.”

Archer squeezed his hand. “Archer.”

He led them through the arched doorway into the kitchen where Noah and Ezra had made him feel so welcome on that drippy January day six months ago. A single inhale of the delicious aromas filling the air, a single glance at the spread of food on the kitchen island, and it was clear they were doing the same for everyone here tonight. Taking care of their community by opening their home and sharing their food and wine. Fresh snacks, like endive leaves stuffed with crab salad, radish and butter on toast points, cream cheese and dill on cucumber slices, and prosciutto wrapped melon. Savory bites like veggie sliders, mini beef Wellingtons, and mushroom tartlets. A cheese tray that Archer had to pull him away from and decanted bottles of red and white. “This all looks amazing.”

“We’re glad you could make it,” Ezra said, smile warm.

“Me too. I’m sorry I didn’t make it earlier.”

“More wine for you now,” Archer said, handing him a glass of—Elton took a sip—his favorite super tuscan.

“This what you’ve been doing all night?”

He looped an arm around Elton’s waist, fitting himself to his side. “Until you got here.”

Archer brushed his lips against his jaw, teasing again, but Elton wanted more, angling at the last moment to steal a real kiss, only to be foiled by Noah’s “Flatbreads coming through.”

They scooted out of the way of the chef, who came breezing in through the open patio doors, pizza stone held high between two welding mitts.

“Did someone say pizza?” came a brogue-laced voice from the other direction.

Then another, the accent the same. “I believe he said flatbreads, dear.”

Elton turned in time to see the taller of the two people, a dark-haired lumberjack of a man in nothing but a leather collar and tiny shorts, hip-check the shorter suited blond at his side. “I don’t believe there’s a difference, sir.”

Elton chuckled and their gazes swung toward him in perfect tandem. Married, if Elton had to guess. Their jaws dropped in unison too, and Archer laughed beside him.

The beefy one cocked a hip and aimed a pointed look at Archer. “Is this hunk of gorgeous why you haven’t come to any parties lately?”

“Rocky,” Archer said to him, then, “James” to the suited one, “this is Elton. Elton, James and Rocky.”

He extended his hand, shaking each of theirs. “Nice to meet you both.”

“You too, man,” Rocky said, grin big and guileless.

James’s smile wasn’t as huge, but it was no less earnest. “You’re a lucky man,” he said, not an ounce of envy or resentment in his voice, just kindness and admiration for the man at Elton’s side.

Elton shared the sentiment. “I know.” He curled an arm over Archer’s shoulder and across his chest, fingers dipping under the opposite collar of his shirt.

“This was a surprise,” Rocky said, and Elton shifted his gaze, opened his mouth to answer, then closed it when he realized the question had been directed at Ezra.

“We should have done it sooner,” Ezra replied. “But with Noah and me playing in private now, we didn’t immediately think about hosting. It was Archer’s idea.”

“Thanks to Elton.” He kissed the underside of his chin. “We all do what we can during these times.”

“Hear, hear,” Rocky said, lifting his flatbread slice.

“Our place next time,” James added with a lift of his.

“Looking forward to it,” Elton said, genuinely meaning the words. No fear left, just appreciation for the man in his arms and these other people in Archer’s life.