Honey and Pepper — A.J. Demas

Newly freed from enslavement, Nikias is making a life for himself in the bustling city of Pheme, working at a snack stand, drinking with a group of anti-slavery radicals, and pining for the beautiful law clerk next door. When he sees his crush attacked in the street by an outraged ex-client, it seems it's finally Nikias's chance to be the hero. Kallion doesn't need a rescue. What he really needs is a skewer of octopus fritters (with extra sauce) and a friend. Nikias can supply both, and maybe, with the help of Nikias's skill in the kitchen and Kallion's excellent collection of wine, they can fight past their misunderstandings and the disasters of their pasts to something deeper. But when civil unrest roils the city and old threats resurface, the trust these two have built will be tested. And they'd both better hope that Kallion's vicious former master will just stay dead. Honey & Pepper is a standalone m/m romance and also the first book in the When in Pheme series set in an imaginary ancient world.