Sebastian
Seb and Declanfinished their lunch at a little hamburger joint near the hotel. It was getting late in the afternoon, much later than Seb usually ate, but a long night in bed had turned into a long morning in bed as well.
Not that he was complaining. The orgasms Declan had given him were unlike anything he had ever experienced before, like fireworks beneath his skin and a million sunrises warming his body. He was surprised to learn that being penetrated meant he could come again and again and again, each release more explosive than the last.
Which was how he had ended up scarfing down a cheeseburger and two orders of fries at record speed.
“More milkshake?” Declan asked, holding up the empty glass mug.
Seb shook his head, then wiped his hands on the napkin. “I think I’m finally full.”
Declan grinned. “Good,” he said, looking satisfied.
Seb was stuffed enough that he could have sat there all day, but by the time the waiter finally brought along the bill, he at least felt able to move. It was another rainy gray day outside, with a crisp chill in the air, and as they exited the restaurant, Declan opened an umbrella for them each to walk under.
“How much longer do you think we’re going to stick around this town?” Declan asked. He held a hand in the air, then grunted. “Not that I’m trying to pry. I know you still need more time to figure out your plan.”
“Thanks,” Seb said quickly, then wrapped his arm around Declan’s side. “For your patience. Maybe a couple of days? I’m waiting to hear from my father.”
Whatever came next, Seb knew it would depend in part on how his father reacted. He was ready to think fast, and whenever he found a quiet moment, his brain started ticking through possibilities again, charting out different ways he might react to the news that the laboratory had burned down or to the police report, likely to find the fire had been started intentionally.
“I’m still not entirely sure what he’s going to do,” Seb said. “Or what I’ll do, for that matter.”
Declan chuckled. “At least I’m not the only one in the dark.” He held the umbrella a little higher as they crossed the street, then headed up the block back toward the hotel.
“You don’t mind that I dragged you out of town?” Seb asked.
“At least the burgers around here are decent,” Declan grunted. Now that Seb had figured out his gruff sense of humor, he realized the older man was actually being playful more often than not.
He bumped his hip against Declan’s. “I’d rather have the quiet, but yeah, those burgers were pretty stellar.”
Declan parted from Seb to avoid a puddle, stretching his arm to keep the umbrella over Seb’s head. “I can’t say this is the first time I’ve had to lay low,” he said. “Probably the most fun I’ve ever had doing it, though.”
“Yeah?” Seb asked, pulling them back together.
“Sure. Usually, I would just end up watching shitty cable in a motel and ordering cheap delivery for every meal. This time, not only do I have company, but I can even step outside without worrying someone will blow my head off.”
“That’s not really the best standard,” Seb said, scratching the back of his head. “But I’ll take it anyway.”
“Trust me. I’m happy to leave those days behind.”
Seb stepped over another puddle. The smell of rain was heavy in the air, and whenever a car passed, it splashed cold water toward the sidewalk. “I know it’s more complicated than that, but it still sounds kind of exciting to me. I’ve only ever known my father’s world, all these bubbles where rich people live with their own rules. Everyone was so uptight and boring. No one was honest. They always just cared about playing the game. When I was really young, I used to dream about finding my way out of it and toward something real, but eventually, I just kind of gave up. I felt like I was stuck there.”
They stopped, half a block from the hotel, and Declan glanced at a small pawn shop. “Just different kinds of criminals,” he said. “It was only once my family started exploiting innocent people that I had to turn against them. I understand what that feels like.” His voice was low, like he was confessing a secret, and Seb leaned forward to hear him better beneath the tapping of the rain. “I also know what you mean, about how hard it is to escape the world you’re born into.”
Seb shrugged, then pulled his jacket closer, a chill settling on his skin. “You’ve seen my world,” he said. “Pathetic as it might be. I just wish I could see yours.”
Declan turned his eyes to the pawn shop again. “You sure about that?”
Seb tilted his head. “Yeah, why?”
Declan nodded to the building. “Come on,” he said, then guided them toward the back. “Most people wouldn’t notice, but I’m trained to pay attention, so shit like this never slips me by.”
He stopped when they reached a big wooden door at the back of the property. There were a few old cars and a couple of very nice ones packed at the back of the lot, but mostly, it was filled with gravel and small, muddy puddles. Declan pulled his fist back, then pounded the door a couple of times.
After a moment, it popped open. An irritated man with a big mess of red hair and thick arms stood there, glaring down. “What?”
“Looking for a game,” Declan answered. He worked his jaw in a slow circle, like he was chewing something. “And some shelter from the storm.”
