Allen blinked. He hadn’t expected Rick to say that. “Are you sure?”
Rick nodded. “I don’t know how to love the way other people do,” Rick added. “But I love you.”
Allen’s throat burned, and he blinked his eyes rapidly. “That isn’t reassuring.”
Rick’s mouth curved slightly. “It’s honest because I want to be honest with you.”
Allen stared at him, then nodded. “No lies.”
“No lies.”
Allen’s chest rose with a shaky breath. “And no innocents.”
Rick’s eyes held his. “No innocents.”
Allen looked away. “If I stay, I stay for real.”
“For real.”
Allen’s heart thudded as he looked back at Rick. “Then we can’t stay here.”
Rick’s eyes narrowed. “You want to leave.”
Allen nodded, throat tight. “I don’t want to be looking over my shoulder at who walks behind me or jump every time someone knocks on the door. I don’t want to wake up wondering if that’s the day the police come for you.”
Rick watched him for a minute, then nodded. “Okay.”
Allen blinked. “That’s it?”
Rick leaned in and whispered, “I already have places in mind.”
Allen snorted. “Of course you do.”
Rick’s hand slid down Allen’s neck to his shoulder. “I told you,” he murmured. “I don’t do things halfway.”
Allen let out a breath he hadn’t realized he’d been holding. Rick kissed him once more, and Allen leaned into him, his hands gripping Rick’s shirt. He moaned softly when Rick palmed his hard dick. “Rick,” he murmured.
“We leave soon.” Rick kissed him again. “Not tonight. We prepare, then go.”
Allen nodded. “We do it right.”
Rick’s eyes stayed on him. “And you come with me.”
Allen swallowed. He stared at Rick, then nodded. “Yeah.”
Rick’s hand slid back to Allen’s jaw, his thumb stroking over Allen’s skin. “Good,” Rick said again. “That’s what I want.”
Allen closed his eyes and kissed Rick, letting him take control. This was his life now. With Rick and whatever it brought.
Epilogue
As the driveway came into view, Rick indicated and turned into it. The house sat back from the road with a narrow strip of grass and a low fence that looked like it hadn’t been painted in years. Nothing about it stood out, and that was the point. He cut the engine and sat for a second with both hands on the wheel.
“We’re home,” Rick said.
Allen got out and grabbed the groceries from the back of the car as Rick headed to the front door and unlocked it. Inside, they worked together to put the items away, then went into the living room and sat next to each other on the couch.
They’d been living together for six months, and it had been strange and awkward at first, but they’d eventually found a rhythm. Allen always woke up to Rick making breakfast, then they spent a few hours working before they had the rest of the day to themselves. At night, Rick showed Allen how much he meant to him, leaving him sweaty and drained in a good way.
