The quiet sizzle of pancake batter forming round, fluffy disks in the pan, the crackle and pop of bacon… it always made Nic smile.

“Can I set the table?”

“Go ahead.” Nic didn’t take his eyes off the surface of the current pair of cooking pancakes. They were almost ready to flip. “I’m sure you can find things if you rummage,” he added, keeping his voice light and teasing.

Once he flipped the pancakes, he looked over at Kyle and grinned. Kyle was blushing, but had the good grace not to defend himself as he set out placemats, knives, and forks.

He didn’t really mind that Kyle had found his makeup stash, but he was also far from ready to wear that stuff for himself, let alone for other people. It still looked strange and artificial to him, no matter how much work he did on his own thoughts to remind himself that it was no more artificial than the masculinity the gym bros Kyle had referenced worked for.

“What do you want to drink? And what do you have to drink?” Kyle asked.

Nic laughed. “Juice, and… juice, water, milk, or booze.”

“A little early for the last one.” Kyle poured them both orange juice, eyeing the carton. “Are these free-range oranges?”

Grinning again, Nic shook his head. “I know, I know. I buy the organic stuff when I can. Whole Paycheck, etc. You can make fun of me now.”

“Okay, will do,” Kyle winked and sat at the table as Nic portioned out the pancakes and bacon onto their plates.

Nic could see himself doing this every morning.

He swallowed hard and pushed the thought away. Thank God he was able to work from home today, in case Kyle needed a place to stay. But reality sank in: he was going to need to go home at some point, surely.

An unfamiliar phone chime rang: It’s Raining Men.

“Seriously?” Nic stifled his laugh and looked at Kyle.

Kyle was bright red as he answered. “Hey, Kyle here.” Then, his suppressed embarrassment faded, his face going serious. “Seriously? How many? Jesus. No shit. Everyone’s okay?”

Nic set the plates on the table and eased himself into the chair by Kyle’s—but not opposite—as quietly as he could. He didn’t want to get lost in those beautiful blue eyes.

“Okay, let me just…” Kyle hit the speakerphone button on his phone. “Denver, I’m at Nic’s place.”

Denver’s voice crackled over the phone. “Oh, that’s perfect. Hey, Nic. A few other employees at the charity were targeted overnight. Everyone’s unharmed, but… someone burned a cross on the front lawn of one of the board members.”

A chill ran down Nic’s spine as his head jerked up and he met Kyle’s gaze. No way.

Kyle nodded slowly, his expression grim.

“Fuck. I’m… wow. I’m sorry,” Nic breathed out.

Denver sighed. “It’s all right. But, look, a couple of the others had their cars smashed. Someone was having a field day all night long.”

“Are you okay? You were in the hospital, right?” Nic asked.

“Yeah, I’m fine, I’m free to go. But I’ve been giving the police a statement about the guys—I caught them in the act and they jumped me. Long story. Anyway,” Denver brushed it off, “it’s obviously orchestrated, if they got away from this and got to those other places all in one night. I would prefer it, Kyle, if you had a place to stay.”

“My place, obviously,” Nic spoke up, raising his hand.

Kyle looked at him quickly and nodded, then licked his lips. “Okay, we’ll chat about that. Nic or River or Evie, someone’s place. I’ll be fine,” Kyle promised Denver.

Come on. Accept my help. Nic gave Kyle a look, but Kyle was staring at the phone.

“Okay. Good. I’ll call when we have more news—no work for now, obviously. Everything’s a mess. Insurance and cops and fire investigators…” Denver trailed off.

“Call if you need anything,” Kyle told Denver. “Anything at all.”

“I will, darling. Rest up. We have work to do.” Denver sounded tired, but there was a spark of fight in his voice. Even Nic recognized it. “Thanks for looking after him, Nic,” Denver added.

“Of course. No problem.” Once Kyle hung up, silence settled for a few moments before Nic nudged Kyle’s leg with his foot. “Eat up.”

They’d finished their breakfast before Kyle spoke up about it. “You really don’t mind if I stay here? I have other people who can help.”

“I don’t mind at all,” Nic assured Kyle firmly, straightening up in his chair as he arranged his cutlery in the twelve-o’clock position. “I don’t want you going home by yourself.”

Unspoken was the other thing hanging between them: he didn’t want to push Kyle away at all, let alone sometime like now when he was vulnerable. Nic wanted to be there for him, more than financially.

Whatever Kyle said about it, he felt like he had something to prove now.

“And there’s no strings attached,” Nic added quietly and caught Kyle’s gaze. Those long lashes fluttered as Kyle blinked a couple times, glancing between his eyes. God, he could look into Kyle’s eyes all day… but now wasn’t the moment to give him romantic eyes.

Kyle smiled, sighed slightly, and murmured, “We’re a little past that now.”

Nic hadn’t expected those words from him. He drew in a sharp breath, then nodded silently. It hadn’t just been a one-time thing, then, last night. Kyle was up for something more. But Nic didn’t want to fuck anything up by pushing harder, and now wasn’t the time.

He hoped Kyle would say yes to his offer, but for now, he just enjoyed the moment. It was a cozy domestic scene: the breakfast plates between them, both of them shirtless and leaning back to look at each other sideways.

“Do you have to go in to work today?” Kyle finally broke the silence and the gaze between them to murmur.

Nic shook his head. “Just work from home. Your program is nearly done. I can show you my progress, unless that counts as work for you… and you’re off…”

“I don’t mind,” Kyle smiled. “I’d like to see you at work.”

Nic blushed. “It’s kinda boring. A lot of typing gibberish and cursing.”

Kyle winked. “That sounds adorable. Go grab a shower and I’ll clean up the dishes.”

“Okay,” Nic chuckled.

This was cool. This was… really, really cool. His brain was failing at coming up with other adjectives except cool, maybe because Kyle was being such a considerate houseguest already.

Well, no. It was mainly from Kyle saying they had strings attached already, and… maybe he’d stay for longer. Nic desperately wanted to know, but was too afraid to ask yet: what strings?

So, for now, he showered and daydreamed about Kyle’s warm body wrapped around his own all night, every night.