Espresso in The Rain

Noah woke up to the scent of coffee.

For a moment, he was disoriented—warm sheets, a firm body beside him, the faint hum of the city outside. Then last night came rushing back.

The kisses. The whispered words. Elias above him, around him, inside him.

Noah stretched, wincing slightly at the delicious soreness in his muscles. He turned his head and found Elias lying on his side, watching him with that lazy, satisfied smirk.

"Morning," Elias murmured.

Noah groaned. "How are you already awake?"

Elias chuckled, reaching out to brush a stray strand of hair from Noah's face. "Habit. And I made coffee."

Noah sighed, shifting closer to nuzzle against Elias' chest. "Why are you perfect?"

"I'm not," Elias replied, pressing a kiss to Noah's forehead. "But I know how to keep my boyfriend happy."

Noah froze.

Boyfriend.

Elias must have felt his body stiffen because he pulled back slightly, searching Noah's face. "Too soon?"

Noah swallowed, his heart thudding. "No," he whispered. "I like the sound of that."

Elias grinned, a rare, boyish expression that made Noah's stomach flip.

"Good," Elias said. "Because I wasn't planning on letting you go."

Noah's cheeks burned, but he didn't look away. Instead, he reached up, pulling Elias down into a slow, lingering kiss.

For the first time in a long time, he wasn't afraid of what came next.

He was exactly where he was supposed to be.