They got house with arms full of grocery bags. The home was quiet—Alice and Sienna weren't back yet.
Noah kicked the bedroom door shut behind them, dropped his bags on the floor. Atlas was still holding two, trying to set them down carefully when Noah grabbed his sweatshirt, yanked him close, and kissed him hard.
The bags hit the floor.
Atlas's hands gripped Noah's hips, pulled him flush against him. Noah's fingers slid under his shirt, traced up his ribs, across his shoulders, down his spine. Everywhere. Atlas made a sound low in his throat, deepened the kiss.
When they broke apart, both breathing hard, Noah's forehead rested against his.
"I missed you," Noah whispered.
Atlas smiled, arms tightening around him. "We were together all day."
"Still."
Atlas's chest shook with quiet laughter. He pressed his face into Noah's neck, breathed him in.
Noah pulled back slightly, expression innocent. "I'm hungry."
"Yeah?" Atlas's voice was rough. "Me too."
He kissed Noah's neck, teeth grazing skin. Noah's breath hitched.
"We should—" Noah laughed, tilting his head. "We should get something to eat."
"Should we?" Atlas bit down gently.
"I meant like..." Noah's hands found Atlas's chest, pushed lightly. "Food."
Atlas lifted his head, eyebrow raised. "Oh. Food."
"What did you think I meant?" Noah blinked, all fake innocence.
Atlas just looked at him. Noah grinned.
They changed out of their clothes—jeans swapped for sweats, shirts for something softer. As they headed toward the kitchen, Noah's hand dropped to Atlas's ass, squeezed.
Atlas laughed, caught his wrist, pulled Noah against his side. They walked down the hallway like that, pressed together, Noah's hand trapped between them.
---
The kitchen became a mess of activity. Noah unpacked groceries while Atlas pulled out pans. They moved around each other easily—Noah reaching for olive oil just as Atlas grabbed the cutting board, Atlas opening the fridge while Noah preheated the oven.
Sunny circled their feet, tail wagging. Luna sat on the counter, watching everything with her tail flicking.
"Down," Atlas told her.
She meowed, didn't move.
Noah scratched under her chin. She purred, leaned into his hand.
They made pasta from scratch, grilled steaks, tossed a salad. Noah chopped vegetables while Atlas worked on the dough, flour dusting his forearms.
"I've got meetings Monday and Wednesday," Atlas said, kneading. "Thursday's the presentation for the investors."
"Big one?"
"Could be." Atlas's his shoulders tensed slightly. "Charles is... pushing for expansion. I'm not sure yet."
Noah glanced at him. "What do you think?"
"I think—" Atlas paused, pressed his thumb into the dough. "I think we need to be careful."
Noah nodded, went back to chopping. "I'm meeting my mom Tuesday. And the project team Wednesday—figuring out the timeline."
"When you go out," Atlas said carefully, "security will follow you."
Noah's knife stilled. "What?"
"Just... when you're out." Atlas looked up, met his eyes. "Your father's unpredictable. I'd feel better if—"
"Oh." Noah set the knife down. His voice came out quieter. "Okay."
Atlas wiped his hands on a towel, crossed to him. His arms came around Noah from behind, chin hooking over his shoulder. He pressed a kiss to Noah's hair.
"I'm not ready to see him," Noah said. "If he shows up, I don't—"
Atlas held him tighter. Didn't say anything. Just held him.
---
The front door opened. Voices in the hallway.
Noah and Atlas stepped apart. Atlas grabbed the wine bottle, started opening it. Noah turned back to the stove, stirring the pasta sauce.
"Hey!" Sienna appeared first, Alice right behind her. "Something smells amazing."
"Hey," Noah said.
"You guys were really good today," Sienna said, dropping her bag on the counter. "Like, seriously. That last point was insane."
Atlas smiled slightly. Noah ducked his head, fighting his own grin.
"What's for dinner?" Alice asked, peering over Noah's shoulder.
"Pasta, roast, salad."
"Perfect." Alice pulled out plates. "I'm starving."
They set the table together—Atlas laying out silverware, Noah bringing over the food, Alice pouring water, Sienna lighting a candle in the center.
---
Dinner started easy. Sienna and Noah talked through the project timeline—deadlines, deliverables, potential roadblocks. Atlas and Alice listened, occasionally asking questions.
Atlas's phone buzzed. He glanced at it, jaw tightening. Charles.
He pushed his chair back. "I'll be right back."
Noah watched him leave, fork paused halfway to his mouth. What does Charles want now?
"So," Alice said, drawing his attention back. "You're going to need a good lawyer. For the project."
Noah blinked. "I—yeah. Probably."
"I know someone. I trust him. I'll set something up this week."
"That'd be great." Noah took a sip of water. "Thanks."
Alice leaned forward slightly. "Thomas might try to interfere. With you starting your own thing."
Noah's grip tightened on his glass. "I'm using my mom's last name."
Alice and Sienna exchanged a look. Sienna set her fork down carefully. "That's a big decision. You sure?"
Noah stared at his plate. The pasta suddenly looked unappetizing. He set his fork down, fingers drumming once against the table.
Then he looked up. Met their eyes. "Yeah. I'm sure."
Silence settled over the table. Sunny and Luna played in the corner—Sunny pouncing, Luna batting at his nose. Their little sounds filled the quiet.
Alice stood, grabbed the wine bottle from the counter, refilled everyone's glasses.
Noah stared at his glass. Where is he? What's taking so long?
"Maybe the team should work remotely," Sienna offered. "For the project. Give everyone flexibility."
Noah forced himself to focus. "Yeah. That could work."
But his mind was elsewhere. Why is Charles calling? Why does Atlas look like that when he talks to him?
"I'll be right back," Noah said, standing.
He found Atlas through the window—outside on the balcony, phone pressed to his ear. Even from here, Noah could see the tension in his shoulders, the tight line of his jaw.
He's arguing with him.
Noah almost went out there. Almost.
Instead, he turned back to the kitchen.
Alice had her hand on Sienna's shoulder, saying something quiet. Sienna was laughing softly.
Noah sat back down, tried to smile. "He's on the phone."
Alice nodded slowly. Knew better than to push.
A few minutes later, Atlas came back in. His face was neutral—carefully so. He came straight to Noah, hand settling on his thigh, and kissed his cheek.
Noah turned to look at him. Atlas smiled, but it didn't quite reach his eyes.
Noah's hand found Atlas's back, felt the knots of tension under his palm.
"We're heading to our room," Alice announced, grabbing her wine glass. Sienna followed suit. "Night, guys."
"Night."
The door clicked shut behind them.
Noah turned in his chair, arms going around Atlas's waist. "You okay?"
"I'm fine." Atlas's voice was steady. Convincing.
Liar.
They walked to their bedroom without talking. Atlas lay down on the bed, staring at the ceiling. Noah gave him a minute, then crawled up beside him, pressed a soft kiss to his cheek.
Atlas's hands found Noah's stomach, fingers tracing idle patterns over his shirt.
Ask him. Just ask.
But Noah didn't. Instead, he shifted closer.
Atlas turned suddenly, cupped Noah's face, and kissed him hard. Urgent. Like he was trying to forget something.
Noah responded immediately, hands sliding under Atlas's shirt, feeling warm skin and taut muscle. Atlas rolled them, pressing Noah into the mattress. Their legs tangled together.
When they broke apart, both breathing hard, they just looked at each other. Atlas's thumb traced Noah's jaw.
Noah leaned up, kissed Atlas's forehead. His nose. His cheek. His mouth.
Atlas's fingers slid into Noah's hair, gathering the longer strands that fell past his shoulders. "Want me to get you a hair tie?"
Noah laughed breathlessly. "You want me to cut it?"
"No." Atlas pulled him closer, until they were almost nose to nose. "Everything about you drives me crazy."
Noah's breath caught. Then he kissed Atlas again, harder this time. Demanding. Atlas groaned into his mouth, hands gripping his hips.
Atlas pulled back just long enough to strip off his shirt, then reached for Noah's. Noah lifted his arms, let Atlas pull it over his head. The fabric dropped somewhere beside the bed.
They came together again, skin against skin. Atlas's mouth found Noah's neck, worked down to his collarbone. Noah's fingers dug into his back, nails scraping lightly.
"Atlas," Noah breathed.
Atlas lifted his head, eyes dark. "Yeah?"
"Don't stop."
Atlas's smile was slow, devastating. "Wasn't planning to."
He kissed him again, deeper this time. Noah arched into him, hands roaming everywhere he could reach—shoulders, back, the sharp cut of his hipbones.
The world narrowed to this: Atlas's weight on him, the taste of him, the sound of their breathing mixing together. Noah's head tipped back against the pillow. Atlas's mouth traced down his throat, teeth grazing.
"I love you," Noah whispered.
Atlas went still. Then he lifted his head, looked at Noah with something raw and open in his expression.
"I love you too." His voice cracked on the words.
Noah pulled him down, kissed him soft this time. Slow. Atlas's hands framed his face, thumbs brushing his cheekbones.
When they finally broke apart, Atlas pressed his forehead to Noah's. Just breathed.
"Whatever's going on," Noah said quietly. "Whatever Charles said—"
"Later." Atlas kissed him again. "I'll tell you later. Right now I just—"
"Yeah." Noah understood. "Okay."
Atlas's hand slid down Noah's side, fingers tracing his ribs, his waist, lower. Noah's breath hitched. His hips lifted slightly, seeking more contact.
Atlas made a sound—something between a laugh and a groan. "You're—"
"What?" Noah's hands found the waistband of Atlas's sweats, fingers dipping just beneath. "What am I?"
"Everything." Atlas captured his mouth again, kissed him breathless. "You're everything."
Noah pulled him closer, deeper, losing himself in the heat between them. In the way Atlas touched him like he was something precious. In the way their bodies fit together, like they were made for this.
For each other.
Outside, the city hummed. Inside, there was only this—them, tangled together, the rest of the world falling away.
Luna meowed loudly from the foot of the bed. Sunny barked, pawing at Atlas's leg.
Noah dropped his head back against the pillow, laughing. "They have the worst timing."
Atlas groaned, face buried in Noah's neck. "The absolute worst."
Luna meowed again, more insistent.
"Okay, okay." Noah gently pushed at Atlas's shoulder. Atlas rolled off him with obvious reluctance. Noah sat up, running a hand through his hair. "Come on, you two. Out."
He scooped up Luna, who protested with a long meow. Atlas grabbed Sunny's collar, guiding him toward the door.
"You're both staying out here tonight," Atlas told them, opening the door. He set Sunny down in the hallway. Noah placed Luna beside him.
Luna looked up at him, tail flicking.
"Don't look at me like that," Noah said. "You'll survive."
Atlas closed the door. The lock clicked.
They turned to face each other.
Noah's pulse jumped.
Atlas crossed the space between them in two strides, hands framing Noah's face as he kissed him hard. Noah's back hit the door, Atlas pressing against him. His hands found Atlas's hips, pulled him closer.
"Where were we?" Atlas murmured against his mouth.
"I don't know." Noah's fingers dipped beneath the waistband of Atlas's sweats. "Remind me."
Atlas's breath hitched. His hands slid down Noah's sides, thumbs hooking into his own waistband. "Yeah. I can do that."
He walked Noah backward toward the bed. Noah's legs hit the mattress and he sat, pulling Atlas down with him. Atlas settled over him, one knee pressed between Noah's thighs.
Noah's head fell back, giving Atlas access to his throat. Atlas took the invitation, mouth hot against his skin. Teeth scraped. Noah's fingers dug into his shoulders.
"Atlas—"
"Yeah?" His voice was rough, wrecked already.
Noah pulled him up, kissed him deep. Poured everything into it—want, need, love. Atlas responded in kind, hands roaming, claiming.
Their remaining clothes disappeared piece by piece—Atlas's sweats kicked to the floor, Noah's following. The room felt too warm. Noah's skin burned everywhere Atlas touched.
"Tell me—" Atlas broke the kiss, breathing hard. His forehead pressed to Noah's. "Tell me what you want."
"You." Noah's voice came out raw. "Just you. "
Something in Atlas's expression cracked open. He kissed Noah again, softer this time but no less intense. His hand slid up Noah's thigh, fingers trailing patterns that made Noah's breath stutter.
"I've got you," Atlas whispered against his mouth. "I've got you."
Noah arched into his touch, hands fisted in the sheets. Atlas's mouth traveled down—jaw, throat, collarbone, lower. Every nerve in Noah's body felt like it was on fire.
"God, Atlas—" Noah's voice broke.
Atlas lifted his head, eyes dark and pupils blown wide. "I love you."
"I love you too." Noah pulled him back up, needed his mouth. "So much."
They moved together, finding rhythm, losing themselves in each other.
Noah's fingers tangled in Atlas's hair as waves of pleasure built higher and higher. Atlas's grip on his hip tightened, grounding him, anchoring him.
When they finally fell apart, it was together—Noah crying out, Atlas groaning against his shoulder.
---
After, they lay tangled in the sheets, catching their breath. Noah's head rested on Atlas's chest, listening to his heartbeat slowly return to normal. Atlas's fingers traced lazy patterns on his back.
"You okay?" Atlas asked softly.
"More than okay." Noah pressed a kiss to his chest. "That was—"
"Yeah." Atlas's arms tightened around him. "It was."
They lay quiet for a while. Noah felt himself drifting, warm and sated and safe.
"I should—" Atlas started. "I should tell you. About the call."
Noah lifted his head, propped himself on his elbow. "You don't have to right now."
"No, I—" Atlas's tension flickered across his face. "Charles wants me to meet with Thomas."
Everything stopped.
Noah went completely still. "What?"
"Maybe business deal. He thinks—" Atlas's hand came up, cupped Noah's face. "I told him no. Obviously. But he's pushing."
"Why?" Noah's voice came out smaller than he meant it to. "Why would he—"
Atlas's thumb traced his cheekbone. "The usual bullshit."
Noah sat up fully now, pulling the sheet around his waist. His mind raced. "He knows. About us."
Atlas sat up too, hand finding Noah's knee. "And I'm not meeting with Thomas. Not happening."
Noah stared at the wall. My father. He's reaching out to Atlas? Why now? What does he want?
"Noah." Atlas's voice pulled him back. "Look at me."
Noah did. Atlas's expression was fierce, protective.
"Nothing is going to touch you. You understand? I don't care what Charles wants or what business opportunity he's dangling. I'm not doing anything that puts you at risk."
Noah's throat felt tight. "What if Charles doesn't give you a choice?"
Atlas's jaw set. "Then I'll deal with Charles."
"Atlas—"
"Noah." His hand moved to the back of Noah's neck, pulled him closer until their foreheads touched. "I choose you. Over everything. Every time."
Noah's eyes burned. He kissed Atlas hard, trying to communicate everything he couldn't put into words.
When they broke apart, Noah whispered, "What are we going to do?"
Atlas was quiet for a long moment. Then: "I don't know yet."
Noah rested his head on his shoulder. Atlas's arm locked around him. The rest fell into silence—and for the first time, the silence didn't scare him.