Chapter 21
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.”
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.
And hope that maybe they’d be a part of his life too. Soon.