Reacclimating (Kallisti House of Burlesque)

[Raffe]

Sage turned the offer down, and Raffe wasn’t of a mind to insist. He nodded and waved a farewell instead, then headed inside. The thump of the club’s music seeped through the walls as Raffe moved through the staff backrooms and headed for the stairs. His heart was drumming in his chest. He planned to take the steps two at a time, but Nox was already there at the top of the landing, and for a moment it stopped him dead. The relief drained him and lit him up all at the same time. Despite the texts, he’d never quite been able to let himself believe until his own eyes bore the proof. Five days haunted the back of his mind; the hard lesson that hope was just an illusion, and no one listened to prayers. He realised he’d been waiting for someone to pull that veil from his eyes, like the cops had when they’d told him his mother was dead.

He grinned. It was several seconds before he peeled his eyes away long enough to acknowledge that Nox had company, and it flushed his skin with a breath of embarrassment. “Hi,” he said as he headed up, more sedately paced than he’d planned. He realised he recognised the name after a beat, and his fingers rubbed his throat on reflex, but his welcome was warm. What she was beneath the contacts didn’t bother him. Kasun’s nature hadn’t either, even after the attack. And reconciliation could be no bad thing, which he assumed must have happened if she was interested in the club and Nox was happy with it. “Sorry,” he added. Mostly because he wouldn’t normally be so rude to someone on first introduction. Though probably she’d understand if she knew anything of the circumstances. He offered a somewhat apologetic grin anyway before he was swept into another orbit. The last few steps brought him closer. His palm found the back of Nox’s neck. Probably ought to wait until they were all the way up the stairs, but he didn’t. His forehead brushed close, and it was like remembering home. Then he kissed him.