Their friends and family stood and clapped for them while they embraced and quietly spoke promises in each other’s ears. Promises of love and fidelity. Trust and honesty. Day believed every word God said. Knew he was safe with this man, always had been, and always would be.
As soon as their family members finished hugging and congratulating them, they were quickly seated for dinner at the beautifully decorated table placed in front of the tall windows at the back of the loft. The servers brought out the meal that Prescott had carefully constructed. The roast was succulent and tender, a favorite of both of theirs. Three sides of homemade macaroni and cheese, old-style mashed potatoes, and fresh green beans that melted in your mouth. Classic and simple, like them.
The champagne toast immediately followed, both his and God’s brothers saying a few words to their family. Jackson’s was more humorous, telling everyone about the trouble Day’s and his stunts used to get them into with their parents. Jackson told Day that if their parents were still here they would be proud of him and welcomed God to the family. Thankfully, he didn’t make Day weep too badly. But Genesis’ speech brought tears to everyone’s eyes.
“… My brother and I were separated for a long time. He was everything to me when I was young and I lost him for a while. I’m blessed to have him back in my life, fortunate to have such a wonderful man looking out for me. No one deserves happiness more than him and I know my new brother, Leo, will continue to give him that. Cashel is an inspiration to me… to all of us. I strive every day to be half the man he is. To my big brother and his husband.”
While the family clinked their glasses, God stood and hugged Genesis, Day following right behind him. No one else knew what Gen and God had been through when they were younger. No one but Day, and God’s mother. Their team didn’t have the details, but they knew it was something really bad.
When they were finished, the table was broken apart and the loft was set up for the guests arriving later for the reception as the wait staff piled hors d’oeuvres and finger foods onto black and chrome serving trays.
Steele
The reception wasn’t as rowdy as the bachelor party, everyone mingling with the newlyweds while Day’s jazz collection played quietly in the background. The crowd, however, looked similar, with a few women sprinkled in. Steele was full from the amazing dinner Prescott’s staff had prepared but he couldn’t help sampling some of the intricate foods that the reception attendees were indulging in. He was beginning to understand why Pres and his restaurants were so famous. The guy was a wizard in the kitchen. He wasn’t even cooking, only tasting and giving an instruction or two here and there.
Steele looked at his watch. It was going on five. He figured if he disappeared for a little while and popped back up before the cake cutting, no one would know. He had to do something to loosen the tightening in his slacks. Tech had the audacity to show up in a dark royal blue suit with velvet lapels – which appeared black in dim lighting – and matching blue suede loafers. And he’d be damned, Tech had on a goddamn bow tie made from the same material as the lapels. The pants stopped an inch above his ankles and Steele could see he wasn’t wearing socks. He took another swig of his drink and placed the glass back on the counter, one of the kitchen staff snatching it right up.
He walked over to Tech, not interrupting whatever he was talking about with Free and Furi. When they finished, Steele leaned into Tech’s back. “Come with me.”
Tech turned and looked behind him, giving Steele a skeptical look. Tech knew Steele’s voice. Knew when it was full of want. He took Steele’s hand and let him lead him up the stairs while most of the guests weren’t paying attention to the front of the loft. He really didn’t care if they were seen or not. Steele opened his bedroom door and hurried Tech inside. He closed and locked the door, then stepped back so he could look at his boyfriend. Steele had long ago shed his borrowed suit jacket and was rolling up his sleeves like he was about to do something serious to Tech.
Neither of them said anything while the sexual tension built around them and saturated the air. Tech leaned against the door, his hand drifting down to the front of his pants, rubbing himself there, like just looking at Steele made him hard. Steele stalked forward and brushed his hand over the bow tie, his eyes hooded, his dick rock hard. He wrapped one arm around Tech’s back, still caressing the fabric of his suit. “You look breathtaking, dressed up like this. I couldn’t keep my eyes off you,” Steele whispered. He methodically removed Tech’s suit jacket but didn’t touch his black dress shirt or that tie. He walked Tech to his bed, watching his eyes behind those frames cloud with lust.