Short Stay Page 13

  She hugged him back. “I’m so happy for you, Elijah.” She kissed his cheek, and then she was gone, the next guests smiling at Elijah and offering their congratulations.

  For a half hour, all Elijah and Baz did was hug people and accept kisses and handshakes. Sometimes their guests addressed them together, sometimes one at a time. But all of them were thrilled to be included on the guest list, and those who hadn’t been at the rooftop ceremony didn’t seem offended at not being invited, not in the slightest. Moira and Deirdre hugged them both extra tight, making them promise to go out for brunch the next time they were in Chicago.

  The only difficult moment for Elijah was when Baz’s parents approached them. Elijah worried Gloria in particular would blame him for wrecking her plans for a big society wedding, even though this wild hair had been all Baz. But she only kissed and hugged him, tighter than usual in fact, and smiled at him with tears in her eyes as she whispered a heartfelt, “Welcome to the family.”

  When the receiving line died down, Ethan took the microphone and instructed everyone to be seated so the dinner could begin. Elijah and Baz were led to the head table, where Mina, Giles, Aaron, Lejla, Walter, and Kelly sat on one side, and Marius, Damien, Sid, Keeter, Brian, and Karen sat on the other. While they ate, a string quartet played off to the side, and Elijah was pretty sure they were from St. Timothy. Their meal was punctuated with the traditional, cheesy taps of silverware on glass, whereupon Baz and Elijah obliged the room with kisses.

  But there were also interludes where, by some hidden signal, the members of Salvo and the Ambassadors would stand and serenade the room with song. Some songs Elijah knew, some he didn’t. Sometimes on the songs Elijah didn’t know, Baz sang along, making Elijah suspect they were greatest hits from his days in the choir. But mostly the two of them sat and listened. Some of the songs had Aaron and Giles’s arrangement signature, and as the meal wound down and the singers wove around the room, enclosing it in a circle, the music a kind of mashup medley, it was clear Elijah’s former roommate and his boyfriend had been hard at work making one of their masterpieces. Giles, manning random instruments off to the side to accompany the singers, winked at Elijah when their gazes met.

  The performance ended with “Titanium,” making Elijah think of the performance many of these same musicians had given Baz and Elijah after the school shooting. Except where that one had been about reclaiming power, this version was pure celebration.

  The audience cheered, but beneath the table, Baz sought Elijah’s hand. They looked at each other, remembering. Replaying the time between the day in the parking lot and now. Acknowledging all they’d weathered, celebrating the knowledge they’d arrived at this moment together.

  Baz drew Elijah’s hand to his lips. “We won’t fall,” he whispered.

  Such a Baz thing to say, such an impossible promise. But Elijah accepted it, drew Baz’s knuckles to his lips, sealing the vow with his own kiss.

  Maybe they would fall, but they’d always fall together. And then they’d rise all over again.

  THE LAST TIME Baz had danced with Elijah at a wedding had been less than a year ago at Walter and Kelly’s reception, and a lot of these same people had been in attendance.

  At Walter and Kelly’s wedding, Baz had been weighted by the fear he’d been about to lose everyone, yet here they were, whisked in at the last minute to see him married. His hip didn’t hurt quite as bad as it had that day, but he’d taken proactive cannabis oil earlier, which was definitely helping his case. Mostly, though, he was high on life. He’d married Elijah. They were husband and husband now.

  Baz could dance forever, buoyed by the euphoria that truth brought him.

  He danced with everyone. With Elijah, with Walter and Kelly, with Giles and Aaron, with Marius and Damien, with Mina and Lejla. He laughed as Ethan and Randy made a manwich out of him, then drew Elijah in with them. He danced with Chenco, with Steve, with Elijah’s cousin Penny and her girlfriend. He danced with his mother, with Moira and Deirdre. He danced until sweat ran down his face and drenched his shirt. He danced, and he laughed, and he let his heart soar.

  They’d taken photos before the dancing began, several staged, a few with the lighting changed and Baz’s glasses on. But while he danced, his eyes were naked, and he loved it. It felt like driving the Tesla all over again. All these little things he’d never thought he’d be able to hope for, let alone actually enjoy.

  And of course, there was Elijah. Elijah Acker, Baz’s husband.

  He’d worried at first Elijah would freak out with so many people, but he did fine. He even managed to spend some time with his cousin, speaking earnestly with her in a quiet corner for almost half an hour. Baz tried to chat with her too, and Kara, but there were so many people vying for his attention, and that got lost in the whirlwind. Later, as the celebrations wound down and everyone was hugging and starting to depart for their hotel rooms, Elijah caught Baz up.

  “All this time I assumed she was bigoted like the rest of her family, but she wasn’t. She just didn’t know how to stand up to them and support me. And then her boyfriend turned out to be a girl. It’s hell for them there. I want to get them out. Move them to Minneapolis. But they’re not ready to leave yet.”

  “We’ll keep in touch with them. They don’t have to be in the same town for us to help.” Baz pressed a kiss to Elijah’s temple. “You know, you’re almost a better organizer of this stuff than I am.”

  Elijah leaned into Baz. “Maybe someday we can open our own center. Maybe we can open shelters and safe havens everywhere.”

  Baz drew him closer. “Maybe we can.”

  It was wonderful to be with their friends and family, but as the night turned into the wee hours of the morning, Baz became eager to have his husband alone. When Caryle signaled it was time to say goodbye to the newlyweds, Baz slipped his glasses on, waving as he steered Elijah to the exit and toward the elevator leading to their suite. Elijah hurried with him, grinning and squeezing his hand as they all but ran across the casino floor.

  “Oh my God, we did it.” Elijah laughed, his face lit with his happiness. “We actually got married. And it was perfect. Did you think so?”

  “Absolutely perfect.” The elevator opened, and Baz pulled Elijah inside with him.

  They kissed as they traveled up, up to their suite, but they were giddy, quiet kisses. Baz had imagined making passionate, celebratory love to Elijah all evening, but as they arrived at their door, he found he felt too soft and tender to lead the dance.

  Elijah, picking up on this, slid a quietly commanding hand down Baz’s cheek.

  Elijah undressed Baz in the main room of the suite, turning the lights to red so Baz could remove his glasses. He stroked Baz’s length, drawing his focus to his arousal, but before he took things too far, Elijah led Baz to the bathroom.

  “Time to get ready for bed.”

  Baz did, but it was distracting, the way Elijah strip-teased him in the doorway. He hurried to put his contacts away, to rinse his eyes, to take his battery of medication. He cleaned himself up a bit too, heart tripping in the knowledge of what games Elijah would want to play when he was in the mood.

  “Come lie on the bed.” Elijah was on it already, lying on his side, a space waiting beside him.

  Baz went to him, settling on the pillows, and looked up at Elijah. His eyes fluttered shut as Elijah skimmed a hand over his chest, across his belly and his pelvis, but Baz forced his eyes open, watching through the red light as his husband gently caressed his body.

  “I loved your vows.” Elijah placed a kiss on Baz’s solar plexus, lips trailing to his nipple. “I didn’t know you thought of me as your center. Your tether.”

  “You are.” Baz longed to touch Elijah back, but he lay still, focusing on his surrender instead. “You’re everything to me.” He shivered as Elijah’s hand grazed his groin, then took him gently in hand. “I loved your vows too.”

  “We’re a good match. You’re the shooting star, and I’m the planet k
eeping you in orbit.”

  “You’re a shooting star too. You just don’t want people to see.”

  Elijah kissed Baz’s belly and stroked his cock. “I don’t mind if you see.”

  Smiling, heart full, Baz gave in and touched Elijah’s hair. He shut his eyes and kept them closed, fingers tightening into Elijah’s hair as the mouth teasing Baz’s belly ghosted up his length before sucking his heat deep into his throat.

  Baz surrendered to Elijah’s mouth, to his fingers slicked and teasing at his entrance. As Elijah made love to him, Baz tripped out of his head, his mind replaying the dancing, the driving, the laughing, and the loving of the last few days. As Elijah carefully arranged pillows to protect his hips, then entered him, Baz soared high into the stars, riding the light with Elijah alongside him. As they settled in each other’s arms, Baz smiled, his heart full of wonder and peace.

  Ethan had been right. It wasn’t marriage that changed everything. It was letting love in—the love that had been beside him all along.

  Chapter Twelve

  IT WAS HARD to believe a week ago Elijah had been in Chicago, dreading a house party.

  Sunday morning was full of hugs and goodbyes, of promises to meet up again. Elijah had a bit more time with Penny and Kara, and a moment with Lejla too. He hugged her at the brunch Ethan had arranged in the hotel restaurant, catching up with her as she hurried through a quick meal before she had to fly home. She was leaving with Mina and Giles and Aaron—Elijah had barely seen them too. When he lamented this out loud, Giles poked him in the arm.

  “Then invite us on your adventure next time, all right?”

  They’d left shortly thereafter. Walter and Kelly weren’t on their flight, because they had to get to Chicago and collect their car. They were flying with Baz’s parents and fifteen of their personal guests in a private plane leaving at one. Gloria had invited Baz and Elijah to come along, assuring them she could have the Tesla shipped to arrive in Chicago by Monday afternoon.

  Baz turned to Elijah instead of answering. “I’d rather the two of us drive home. We’ll make it a casual honeymoon. Take lots of rests, so I don’t blow my body out.” He squeezed Elijah’s hand. “Would that be okay?”

  Elijah thought of the days it would take them to make it home, of the arguments they’d have over what route to take, how often to stop, of Baz’s bored attempts to alternately bait him and seduce him, all the way to Illinois. “Sounds good to me.”

  Pastor Schulz promised to let Elijah’s professors know he’d be missing the first few days of classes. Baz and Elijah hugged him goodbye, and the Ackers and their fellow travelers. They hugged Walter and Kelly before waving them all goodbye from beneath the awning.

  Then it was only Elijah and Baz who remained.

  Ethan and Randy stood beside them under the awning, watching the last of the cars pull away. Randy sighed and dusted his hands. “Well, this was something for the books. Herod’s has seen a lot of wild adventures in its time, but this has pretty much edged them all out as my favorite.” When Ethan thumped him with his hip, Randy laughed and put an arm around him. “Okay. It’s my second favorite.”

  Ethan laced his arm over top of Randy’s and turned to Baz and Elijah. “When will the two of you leave? Mitch and Sam and the others wanted to make sure they were able to come in time to say goodbye.”

  Elijah glanced at Baz. “We could go anytime, I suppose. What do you think? When do you want to start for home?”

  Baz wasn’t looking at them, but rather staring out into the distance, toward the mountains. “There’s no real hurry. I was thinking, actually, a drive out into the desert wouldn’t be a bad idea.”

  Randy grinned. “I’ll go make a call and have the passenger brake put back in.”

  “No need. I already know I’m going to be just fine.” Baz laced his fingers through Elijah’s and lifted them for a kiss as he smiled at his husband. “You ready, baby?”

  Elijah pushed his glasses higher and squared his shoulders with a satisfied sigh. “Let’s go.”

  Want to make sure you never miss any books by Heidi Cullinan? Sign up for the release-announcement-only newsletter.

  Want to know more about the characters you met in this book?

  Love Lessons Series

  Love Lessons (Walter and Kelly’s story)

  When virginial, shy Kelly arrives at college, he lands Walter, the charming gay campus Casanova, as his roommate. As Walter sets out to lure Kelly out of his shell, he discovers love is a crash course. To make the grade, he’ll have to overcome his own private fear that love was never meant to last.

  Fever Pitch (Giles and Aaron’s story)

  Giles can’t wait to get out of his homophobic hometown, but when his popular, straight-boy summer dalliance shows up on his college campus, memories of hazing threaten his haven. As the semester wears on, their attraction crescendos. But if controlling parents have their way, the music of their love could come to a shattering end.

  Lonely Hearts (Elijah and Baz’s story)

  As college ends, wealthy playboy Baz is at a standstill as his friends are moving on. With loneliness looming, he hooks up with fellow lonely soul Elijah. Elijah isn’t used to good things happening to him, but all signs seem to point toward happily ever after. At least, until the media hounds drag their pasts into the light, and they must find out if they’re stronger together, or apart.

  All titles also available in audio. Audio for Short Stay coming soon. More novels in this series coming in late 2016/early 2017.

  Don’t miss this free short story in this series, Frozen Heart, on Heidi’s website!

  Special Delivery Series

  Special Delivery (Sam and Mitch’s story)

  When long-haul trucker Mitch offers to take nursing student Sam out of his small town and on a road trip west, Sam jumps at the chance. Mitch is the star of Sam’s X-rated fantasies, but he’s also a real man, with real problems, and a seriously broken heart. Together they grapple with the of letting go, growing up, and with the meaning of love—and the truth that no matter how far they travel, eventually all paths lead home.

  Double Blind (Randy and Ethan)

  Down and out in a seedy Las Vegas casino, broken-hearted and disillusioned Ethan has no idea what he’ll do when his last dollar is gone—until poker player Randy whirls into his life with a heart-stealing smile and a piercing gaze that sees too much. Soon they’re both taking risks that not only play fast and loose with the law, but with the biggest prize of all: their hearts.

  Tough Love (Chenco and Steve)

  Chenco harbors fierce dreams of being a drag star on a glittering stage, but when leatherman Steve introduces him to the intoxicating world of sadomachism, he finds a strength in body and mind he’s never dreamed to seek—strength enough maybe to save his tortured Papi too.

  Special Delivery is also available in audio, and German. Audio for Double Blind and Tough Love coming soon.

  Two free novellas in this series, Hooch and Cake and The Twelve Days of Randy, on Heidi’s website!

  More Titles from Heidi Cullinan

  CLOCKWORK LOVE SERIES

  Clockwork Heart

  (more titles coming soon)

  THE ROOSEVELT SERIES

  Carry the Ocean

  Unleash the Earth (coming 2016)

  DANCING SERIES

  Dance With Me

  Enjoy the Dance (coming 2016)

  MINNESOTA CHRISTMAS SERIES

  Let It Snow

  Sleigh Ride

  Winter Wonderland

  TUCKER SPRINGS SERIES

  Second Hand (written with Marie Sexton)

  Dirty Laundry

  (more titles in this series by other authors)

  SINGLE TITLES

  Nowhere Ranch

  The Devil Will Do

  Hero

  Miles and the Magic Flute

  Family Man (written with Marie Sexton)

  A Private Gentleman

  Thank you for purchasing this title. Yo
ur support means a great deal to me, especially as an independent author. If you choose to recommend this to a friend or leave a review, thank you yet again, as this is the most sincere compliment you can give my work.

  About the Author

  Heidi Cullinan has always enjoyed a good love story, provided it has a happy ending. Proud to be from the first Midwestern state with full marriage equality, Heidi is a vocal advocate for LGBT rights. She writes positive-outcome romances for LGBT characters struggling against insurmountable odds because she believes there’s no such thing as too much happy ever after. When Heidi isn’t writing, she enjoys cooking, reading, playing with her cats, and watching television with her family. Find out more about Heidi and sign up for her newsletter at www.heidicullinan.com.