Page 31 of Sigh of Relief

“Not exactly,” Archer said. He inhaled deep, preparing for the truth he wasn’t sure how Elton would handle. “For the kink community here. You actually gave me the idea, when we talked about doing more.”

“A safe haven,” Elton said, then at Archer’s nod, added, “I’ll be there too.”

“Elton, you don’t have to,” he said. “I’m not planning to scene with anyone else. Just hosting.”

Elton made a frustrated noise, then leaned closer to his phone, his face filling Archer’s screen. “If I could reach through this phone and hug you right now, I would. Because this thing I’m working on, it’s about being out in the open. I’m tired of hiding parts of myself, including the one that wants to go to that party with you.” He looked away for a moment, took a deep breath, and when his gaze landed back on Archer, it was equal parts heat and contrition. “Not just watch you from across the room.”

That truth out in the open, spoken aloud finally, Archer wanted the answer to another question that had tormented him for months. “Did you remember me the night of the harvest party?”

Elton’s expression softened, and Archer wished he could put his hands on his cheeks and feel it. Especially the beautiful smile that split Elton’s handsome face in two. “You were the whole reason I was there.”

Chapter Twenty-One

Elton didn’t make it back in time for the parade. Between a ground stop in DC and weather delays in Dallas, the parade in San Francisco was well over before his second flight even took off.

So was the after-party at Under the Table, but he’d at least gotten to experience that virtually, Archer connecting him over video call just in time to watch Cam haul Helena up onto the bar top and whistle for everyone’s attention.

The ASAC had promised to make it brief, and they had, but their words—Helena’s “This celebration today, this parade, this month, every day that we go out and live our truth matters. We fight. For all of us here, for our family, and for those who don’t yet realize that if we lose, they lose too,” and Cam’s “We fight for everyone, because that’s what we do. And we’re going to keep doing it, because if there’s one thing this family’s good at, it’s making trouble,” and the crowd’s toast to “Good trouble”—hit different this year.

The present fight was like nothing Elton had ever experienced, and for the first time in his life, he was close to living his whole truth out loud. Could almost taste it. Could also remember the taste of Archer and imagine what it would be like to have that in his life every day.

A part of Elton still feared the future that was stitching itself together in his heart and head. He and Tanya had been wildly in love, but his ambition and the consequences of the way they loved—political enemies potentially using it as leverage against him—had destroyed their future together. But now, Elton was a decade older and those consequences seemed less and less important. He welcomed the renewed trickle of fulfillment that came after every call with Archer, after every recruitment meeting and planning session with Aidan and Nic. Was ready for that trickle to become a steady stream that filled his soul and the abyss between visits with Archer.

He was standing on the edge of that abyss tonight while standing on the porch of Noah and Ezra’s home. He’d missed the other party, but he wasn’t about to miss this one.

The first like it he’d been to in over a decade.

No fear.

No maybes.

Now.

He reached for the doorknob but before he could turn it, the door swung open, Archer standing there bright-eyed—and irresistible. Fitted slacks hugged his long legs, a sheer black shirt clung to his muscular arms, and a plunging open collar showed off his firm torso sprinkled with salt-and-pepper hair.

No one’s Daddy and not in need of a Daddy.

He wanted a partner. And he’d dressed the part.

As Elton’s.

A match to the charcoal slacks and navy dress shirt he’d changed into before heading here.

Fulfillment didn’t just trickle in; it flooded Elton’s veins, his heart, and his soul.

And his cock.

Archer grinned knowingly. “You okay there?”

“Can I take you to the cabin and fuck you now?”

He smiled wider. “Eventually.” He reached for his hand and drew him inside. “Speaking of, we need to talk ground rules. Like, do you want to fuck here in front of people or in private?”

“In private.” He glanced past Archer to the sunken living room, glimpsing a pair of women cuddled in one of the oversize chairs. The freedom, the care, the ease on display, stirred his confidence. “For now,” he added. He swung his gaze back to Archer and stepped closer. “The first time is just for us.”

He relished the shiver that snaked through Archer, then shivered himself when Archer ghosted his lips along the column of his throat. “And until then?”

“I’m at your mercy.”