SUNDAY
Noah pushed through the door, adrenaline still humming under his skin from the drive back.
He dropped his bag by the entrance. The apartment was quiet except for the muted sound of the city through the windows.
"Atlas?"
No answer from the living room.
Then—a voice. Low. Steady. Coming from the study.
Noah walked down the hallway and stopped at the doorway, leaning against the frame.
Atlas sat at his desk, phone pressed to his ear, papers spread out in front of him. Dark shirt rolled up at the sleeves. Reading glasses perched on his nose.
So fucking hot.
Noah didn't say anything. Just stood there and smiled, blowing a kiss across the room.
Atlas looked up.
Their eyes met.
Something lit up in Atlas's expression—bright and immediate—and his mouth curved into a small smile. He gestured Noah inside with two fingers while continuing his conversation.
"—no, shift the Tokyo call to Wednesday. I'll be available then."
Noah crossed the room and came around the desk, wrapping his arms around Atlas from behind.
Atlas's hand came up to rest on Noah's arm, thumb brushing back and forth.
Noah leaned down and pressed his lips to Atlas's neck, breathing him in—cologne, skin, something darker underneath. He kissed the spot just below his ear.
Atlas's hand tightened on his arm.
"Yeah. Send me the revised projections by Tuesday." His voice stayed even, but Noah felt his pulse jump. "We'll reconvene then. Thanks."
He hung up.
Noah barely had time to say "Hey" before Atlas turned in the chair, grabbed his face, and kissed him hard.
Noah's breath punched out of his lungs. Atlas's mouth was demanding, hungry, stealing every coherent thought Noah had.
When they broke apart, both of them were flushed.
Noah grinned, stupid and wide, his dimples cutting deep into his cheeks.
"Did you miss me?" he asked, voice deliberately low and teasing.
Atlas's hands slid down to Noah's waist. "No."
"Not even a little?"
"Not even a little."
Noah was still in his arms, Atlas's hands now resting on his hips and one palm flat against his cheek. "You know you did."
Atlas pulled him closer. "I want to hear you say it."
Atlas kissed him again—slower this time but no less intense. Noah felt his knees go weak, and he gripped Atlas's shoulders harder, anchoring himself.
When Atlas pulled back, his mouth was swollen, his breathing unsteady.
"I missed you," he said. "Happy?"
Noah smiled, soft and genuine. "I missed you too."
He stepped back. "I need to shower. That weekend was a mess."
Atlas stood, his hands sliding down to catch Noah's wrists. "Wait."
Noah looked at him. "What?"
"Come here." Atlas pulled him back in, close enough that Noah could feel his heartbeat. "I'm sorry."
"For what?"
"For the distance. For—" He stopped. His thumb traced circles on Noah's wrist. "For making you feel like..."
Noah's chest tightened. "You were drinking."
"Yeah."
Atlas nodded. "Couldn't focus on anything. "
"I texted you."
"I know. " Atlas's mouth curved slightly.
"You didn't respond."
"I was trying not to be that guy. The one who ruins your time with your friends."
Noah studied his face. "You weren't ruining anything."
"Felt like I was."
"Well, you're an idiot."
Atlas laughed softly.
Noah leaned up and kissed him. Gentle this time. "Shower with me?"
Atlas's eyes darkened. "Yeah."
---
BATHROOM
Steam filled the room within seconds. Noah stepped under the water first, and Atlas followed, sliding in behind him.
The heat hit them both, and Noah tipped his head back, letting water run through his hair. Atlas's hands found his waist, pulling him back against his chest.
"You smell like campfire," Atlas murmured against his ear.
"S'mores."
"Did you burn them?"
"Obviously."
Atlas's laugh was low, felt more than heard. His hands moved up Noah's sides, slow and deliberate, spreading soap across his skin.
Noah's eyes closed. "That feels good."
"Yeah?"
"Don't stop."
Atlas's hands moved higher, across his shoulders, working out the knots there. His mouth pressed to Noah's neck, trailing kisses down to his shoulder.
Noah turned in his arms, facing him now. Water streamed between them.
"Hi," Noah said, his voice dropping lower, eyes dark.
"Hi."
Noah's hands came up, trailing down Atlas's chest deliberately, watching the way Atlas's breathing changed. "You were really drinking alone? Missing me?"
Atlas's hands tightened on his waist. "Yeah."
"Show me how much." Noah's mouth curved, teasing, as he pressed closer.
Atlas's eyes darkened. His hand slid up to the back of Noah's neck, pulling him in.
Their mouths met under the water—hot and demanding. Noah's back hit the tile wall, and Atlas pressed against him, all heat and slick skin and want.
Noah's hands explored—down Atlas's sides, his hips, lower—and Atlas groaned against his mouth.
"Noah—"
"What?" Noah's voice came out breathless, playful. His fingers traced patterns on Atlas's skin. "Two days is a long time."
"Too long," Atlas muttered, his mouth moving to Noah's neck, biting down gently.
Noah gasped, his head falling back. "Atlas—"
Atlas's hands were everywhere now—sliding down Noah's back, gripping his thighs. The water pounded around them, steam thick in the air.
Noah pulled Atlas's face back up, kissing him hard. "Bed," he breathed. "Now."
"Not yet." Atlas's voice was rough. His hand slid between them.
Noah's breath hitched. "Fuck—"
They moved together under the water, hands and mouths and desperate sounds echoing off tile. Everything narrowed down to sensation—heat and pressure and Atlas's name falling from Noah's lips.
When they finally stumbled out of the shower, both breathing hard, skin flushed and water-slicked, Atlas wrapped a towel around Noah's waist and pulled him close.
"Bedroom," Atlas said against his mouth. "Now."
---
BEDROOM
They barely made it out of the bathroom before Atlas pressed Noah against the wall, kissing him hard.
Noah's towel dropped. Atlas's followed.
"Bed," Noah gasped between kisses. "Now."
They made it to the bed—barely. Noah shoved Atlas down, and Atlas landed on his back, looking up at him with that crooked smile that made Noah's stomach flip.
"Come here."
Noah climbed over him, straddling his hips. Atlas's hands immediately found his thighs, sliding up, thumbs pressing into sensitive skin.
Noah leaned down and kissed him again—slower this time, savoring it. Taking his time. Two days apart felt like an eternity, and now he wanted to memorize every second.
His mouth traveled down Atlas's jaw, tracing the sharp line of it. Down his neck, where he could feel Atlas's pulse racing under his lips. He bit down gently, and Atlas's grip on his hips tightened.
They kissed again, deeper now, and Noah felt something shift between them—something opening up, something real.
Noah smiled against his skin and kept going. Down his chest, feeling the muscles flex under his mouth. His tongue traced the lines of Atlas's abs, and he felt more than heard the sharp intake of breath.
Lower.
Atlas's fingers tangled in Noah's hair, not pulling, just holding on like he needed something to anchor him.
Noah looked up through his lashes. Met Atlas's eyes.
"Relax," Noah whispered.
Atlas let out a breathless laugh. "Not fucking possible."
Noah kissed his hip bone. Then lower.
The sound Atlas made—low, wrecked, desperate—sent heat straight through Noah's body.
He took his time. Every touch deliberate. Every kiss purposeful. Learning what made Atlas's breathing hitch, what made his fingers tighten in Noah's hair, what made his control fracture.
"Fuck—" Atlas's voice came out rough, barely recognizable. "Noah—"
Noah hummed in response, and Atlas's hips jerked.
"Jesus Christ—" Atlas's head fell back against the pillow, his free hand fisting in the sheets. "You're going to—"
Noah pulled back slightly, just enough to look up at him. Atlas's chest was heaving, his face flushed, his eyes glazed.
"Going to what?"
"Kill me," Atlas managed. "You're going to fucking kill me."
Noah grinned. "Good."
He went back to what he was doing, and Atlas's entire body tensed. His breathing turned ragged, punctuated by broken curses and Noah's name falling from his lips like a prayer.
When Atlas's control finally shattered, his whole body went taut, and he gasped out something that sounded like "Oh my God—" mixed with words Noah couldn't quite make out.
Noah kissed his way back up slowly, giving Atlas time to breathe. When he reached his mouth, Atlas kissed him hard—messy and grateful and still hungry.
"Your turn," Atlas murmured against his lips.
Before Noah could respond, Atlas flipped them. Noah's back hit the mattress, and Atlas settled between his legs, his mouth already trailing down Noah's chest.
"Atlas—" Noah's voice cracked. "You don't have to—"
"I want to." Atlas looked up at him, eyes dark and sincere. "Let me."
Noah nodded, breathless.
And Atlas did.
Noah's hands found Atlas's shoulders, his hair, the sheets—anything to hold onto as Atlas took him apart piece by piece. Every touch was deliberate, every kiss purposeful, like Atlas was trying to make up for two days apart in one night.
Atlas's name fell from Noah's lips like a prayer, and Atlas looked up at him, their eyes meeting.
"I love you," Atlas said, voice rough.
Noah's vision blurred. "Atlas—"
Noah pulled him up, kissing him hard. "I love you too," he whispered against his mouth. "I love you too."
Atlas kissed him back, and this time it felt different—more open, more vulnerable, more real.
Noah's breathing turned ragged. His hips moved restlessly, and Atlas's hands held him steady, grounding him even as everything else spun out of control.
"Fuck—" Noah gasped. "Atlas, I—"
Atlas didn't stop. Didn't slow. Just kept going until Noah couldn't form words anymore, couldn't think, could only feel.
When Noah came apart, it hit him like a wave—sudden and overwhelming and perfect. His vision went white, and Atlas's name tore out of his throat.
Atlas kissed his way back up, slow and gentle now, and collapsed beside Noah on the bed.
For a long moment, neither of them moved. Just lay there breathing hard, sweat cooling on their skin, hearts still racing.
Noah turned his head to look at Atlas. Found him already watching.
"Hi," Noah said.
Atlas smiled. "Hi."
Noah reached over, and Atlas pulled him in immediately, wrapping his arms around him. Noah pressed his face against Atlas's neck, breathing him in.
"I really did miss you," Noah murmured.
Atlas's hand moved up and down his back in slow, soothing strokes. "I know."
"Two days felt like forever."
"Yeah." Atlas's voice was soft. "It did."
Noah lifted his head to look at him. "You taste like whiskey."
Atlas's mouth twitched. "You taste like expensive lotion."
Noah laughed, and Atlas pulled him back down, holding him tighter.
They stayed like that—tangled together, skin to skin, the city glowing beyond the windows but neither of them noticing.
Nothing existed except this. Except them.
Exactly where they wanted to be.