Love is Always Write Anthology Volume 6

after a good dinner it made him feel good that he had accomplished that.
    "How about we relax on the couch for a bit?"
    Erik nodded at Teddy's suggestion. Loading the dishwasher could wait. He trailed behind Teddy, watching the muscles flex and stretch under the khakis Teddy wore to work. His cock thickened when Teddy bent to shuffle the throw pillows to one end for them to put their heads on. A benefit to the sofa was how deep the cushions were. It actually held both of them laying side by side without one of their asses hanging off the edge.
    "Enjoying that look you're having there?"
    Erik's gaze snapped up to meet Teddy's. Instead of being chagrined, he leered at him and then slapped him on the ass. "Enjoying the view, gonna enjoy a whole lot more in a few."
    Teddy's eyes darkened as his pupils dilated with desire. "A few? Not right now?"
    "Nope. I just want to relax after all that food."
    A tiny smile curved the corner of Teddy's full mouth. "That's a plan I can get on board with."
    It only took a few minutes to stretch out with Teddy spooned in front of him, a throw covering them against the chill creeping into the room with the dipping sun. Erik buried his nose in the silky, black hair brushing Teddy's neck, drawing in a deep breath of the spicy cologne he favored.
    Teddy tucked Erik's hand in his, and murmured something against the chenille pillow, but when Erik lifted his head to ask him to repeat it a soft snore rumbled his chest. Smiling, Erik snuggled back in and closed his eyes.
    ****
    It was dark out.
    Ted knew that just by cracking his eyes open. His muscles were relaxed and the headache he'd bordered on all day was long gone. Soft light filtered from the kitchen area and low clinking noises told Ted that Erik was loading the dishwasher. He drifted in and out of sleepy awareness for a bit before his attention focused on a smaller object now sitting by itself on the coffee table.
    He blinked away the last of the drowsiness and reached out to bring the smoky quartz skull closer. Perching it on the edge of the sofa near his face, he cradled it in one hand, running his thumb over the smooth crown of the souvenir from a vacation to Colorado. They'd been visiting Ben, an old college friend of Erik's who had just recently moved to a ranch there.
    The countryside was beautiful, inspiring and worth every minute of the ass-smacking ride on his first horse. He'd been sore by the time they'd made it up the mountain to a small plateau that overlooked Ben's property. Erik had hid his laughter as best he could while Ted limped around trying to help pitch the tent and roll out the sleeping bags. The only thing that had kept Ted from throwing Erik over the ledge was a whispered promise that Erik would make it all up to him when they got done.
    Ted's breath quickened just grazing the memory of what Erik had done that night. He stared at the small memento Erik had left on the table for him. Did it mean what he thought?
    "I see you're awake." Erik's voice was deep and rough, like a shot of good whiskey. Ted didn't have to see him to know his lover was turned on.
    Ted replaced the skull on the table and then rolled onto his stomach to look at his lover, trapping his cock against the cushion. He stifled a moan in his pillow but by the shine of Erik's eyes and the involuntary twitch of his hips, he'd heard. Ted groaned again when he caught sight of the thick column of flesh trapped inside Erik's jeans. God, he wanted that.
    He shifted slightly, gasping at the pressure, but tucked his arms under his head and remained on the couch. If this was going to be a walk down memory lane, the next move was Erik's.
    Ted didn't have to wait long.
    Erik pushed his slender frame away from the door jamb where he'd been leaning and swaggered– there was no other way to describe it– around the sofa to a place where Ted could no longer see him. But he heard Erik fishing in his pockets, then a small clunk as something was set on the other end of coffee table.
    Squirming a little, he turned his head to catch a glimpse of travel-sized lube. Nice. "You gonna let me suffer?"
    Erik grinned at the replay of Ted's words from that night four years ago. "Baby, I got your back."
    Yeah, that line was still cheesy. Ted snorted, then turned his face away to hide his smile. He hummed when strong hands smoothed over his back, massaging the muscles along his spine before moving to Ted's shoulders and sides, sure strokes easing the tension left in Ted's