“It’s not that much farther. We’re almost to Lane and Aiden’s.”
“Not that much—?” Declan choked out as he squinted past the modern glass and brick house at the end of the street. “How far are we running?” He demanded.
“I heard it’s about four miles from Lavender and Sage’s house to Lane and Aiden’s. Then, about another quarter mile to the lake,” Atlas said.
Declan sobbed as he scrubbed his face. “I’m going to kill him!”
“Come on. We’re almost there.” Atlas hooked his arm around Declan’s, towing him back to the road.
“What are we going to do when we get there? Build a house? There’s no way I’m making it back to Lavender’s.”
Atlas was in tears and was still laughing when they reached the path that led them past Aiden and Lane’s and down to the lake. The view was beautiful as the trees broke and the brooding, overcast sky was reflected on the lake’s choppy waters.
“This looks like a nice place to die,” Declan noted.
“What are you talking about? You made it,” Atlas said, throwing an arm around Declan’s neck. Declan forgot about his burning lungs and shaking legs as they trudged through the tall grass. It turned to sand as they came out onto the shore and Declan had to hold onto Atlas when the wind gusted.
“Made it? I can barely stand.” But it wasn’t the barbarity of the run that made Declan’s knees weak. Even after four miles, Atlas still smelled clean and soft and Declan wanted to lick the bead of sweat rolling down the side of his neck.
“Doesn’t matter,” Atlas stated. “You made it.And four miles is a lot for an inexperienced runner,” he added encouragingly. He had his phone out and was texting. “Just sent an SOS, but it looks like they made it back and Denver is already on the way.”
“Great. Denver to the rescue,” Declan said with a weak laugh. He had been joking about building a house, but now that he’d made it to the lake with Atlas, he didn’t want to leave. Ever.
“Not that I need rescuing,” Atlas announced abruptly.
“Thanks, but it’s alright.” Declan waved it off. “I wouldn’t want to be stranded all the way out here with me either. I’ve got to be the most boring man on this street,” he mused as he looked back in the direction they had run.
“Boring?” Atlas caught Declan’s chin and turned him. “I’m never bored when I’m with you and I don’t want to be rescued.”
Declan was a bit dizzy so he leaned into Atlas, bracing a hand on his chest. “You don’t?”
“I don’t.” Atlas’s head dipped and Declan stifled a moan as their lips brushed. Their tongues curled and lapped, tentatively at first. But Atlas groaned as his arm tightened around Declan and the kiss became hungry and urgent. Declan’s fingers dug into Atlas’s shoulders, silently inviting him to take whatever he wanted.
The soft honk of a car’s horn made them jump and Declan let out a strangled curse. “Thanks, Denver,” he whispered hoarsely.
Atlas made a gentle shushing sound as he pressed his lips against Declan’s. “It’s probably for the best. Getting caught being lewd and indecent with you could get me in a lot of trouble,” he teased, but Declan’s face fell.
“I can’t believe I forgot about that.”
“What?” Atlas asked, becoming serious as he offered Declan an arm.
“I kind of forgot about Mickey and Frank and who I am for a bit. But I guess it would be bad if the FBI found out that you were involved with the subject of one of your investigations.”
“No. Hold on.” Atlas turned Declan so he could find his eyes. “Look at me,” he ordered. “You were never the subject of any investigation and that’s not what I meant. I can’t get caught being indecent withanyone.”
“I get it,” Declan said, nodding quickly. But Atlas cupped his cheek and pinned him with a hard look.
“I mean it, Dec. You should forget about them because they don’t have anything to do with who you are now. And you were a victim, never an accomplice or an accessory. Don’t forget that you deserve a fresh start just as much as anyone else.”
“Thank you.” Declan stole a kiss and flashed Atlas his brightest smile. “We should get going, they’re probably waiting on us. But I had a lovely time, minus the running and feeling like I was going to die.”
“Me too.” Atlas put his arm around Declan again and they both seemed a touch sad to see Denver waiting in Ezra’s Subaru when they came around Aiden and Lane’s house.
“Speed says you might run the FBI academy or be director someday. You’d have to move to Virginia or Maryland if that happened, right?” Declan asked, his heart sinking. He would probably follow Atlas to the ends of the earth if he thought he had an actual chance and it could work. But the thought of moving back to the East Coast and living in his father’s shadow again made Declan’s stomach clench and grow sour.
“That’sifthey offered me one of those posts, but the chances…” Atlas shook his head.
“They have to, Atlas. You’re amazing and you—” Declan stopped and his face was hot as they approached the Subaru.