Love is Always Write Anthology Volume 6

other tent. God, it had been a fuck fest that night. Ted's balls pulled up tight, his orgasm slamming into him as cum soaked the sofa beneath him.
    "We should visit them again." Erik's breathing was harsh in Ted's ear, but even against the clamping of Ted's ass around his cock, Erik continued the smooth strokes. "Maybe next time we'll all just fuck out in the open."
    Ted turned his head to see Erik's face tight with possessiveness and he shook his head, gasping as Erik's strokes grew harder, pushing him against the still heated mess of cum under him. "No. No sharing you."
    A gleam darkened Erik's gaze and he shoved Ted's leg higher along the couch, slamming into him, deep and thick. "Fuck no, we're not sharing." He arched back as he came, hot and hard.
    Ted tucked his face away from Erik, his heart breaking. This hadn't ended the way it was supposed to. Erik should have leaned down to whisper I love you. But those words weren't coming.
    ****
    Erik stretched, coming awake fast when his arm met cool sheets where Teddy's warm body should have been. He sat up in bed, straining his hearing to catch any sound that would tell him where his lover was. And unless Ted was sitting someplace doing absolutely nothing– a high improbability– then the man wasn't home.
    Taking a deep breath, Erik reminded himself that Teddy was a grown man and allowed to run errands if he wanted. He swung his legs over the edge of the bed and scooped his sweats from the floor then pulled them on. As he was leaving the bedroom, the metallic click of a key in the front door lock made him smile. He stopped at the end of the hallway where he could see the door swing open, revealing Teddy juggling a brown paper bag and two extra-large coffees.
    Teddy's back was to him so he cast a quick look at the coffee table, reassuring himself the change he'd made the previous night was yet to be discovered. The smoky quartz skull was back in its place on the shelf and an off-white skull decorated with thin black lines now sat on the glass-top table.
    He watched from the dim light of the hallway as Teddy walked into the living room, freezing halfway to set down his purchases. Uncertainty worked Erik's muscles into knots as Teddy's shoulders slumped and he crossed the last few feet to deposit his load beside the tiny treasure. He could see Teddy's hand trembling as he picked up the smooth skull, brushing his thumb over the swooping lines around the eyes.
    Teddy sank down on the couch, still cradling the knick-knack in his palm. He whispered something, but Erik couldn't quite make it out. He leaned against the wall, wondering what was going through his professor's mind. "Remember those days in Cancun?"
    "Holy sh–" Teddy jumped up from the couch, bumping into the table and spilling the coffees. Mild panic was the best way Erik could describe it. Ted dug into the small paper bag and pulled out a handful of napkins, trying to keep the drinks from ruining the rug. "Dammit, Erik."
    Erik snagged a towel from the kitchen and helped clean up the mess. He caught Teddy's hand before he could escape. "I didn't mean to startle you." Silence hung heavy as Erik waited for Teddy. Finally relenting, he lifted his hand and let Teddy slip away to find the garbage can. He watched the easy sway of Teddy's hips as he disappeared around the corner, then found his way to his beanbag chair, sinking down into the familiar cradle. What the hell just happened?
    Soft footsteps stopped short behind him and Erik could hear Teddy's breathing, harsh and stuttered in the uncomfortable silence between them. His nerves were frayed to ragged, and as Erik opened his mouth to say something he knew he would regret later, Teddy's low murmur saved him. "I remember."
    Erik turned his head to see his lover. "It rained the whole time we were there."
    One corner of Teddy's mouth curved up, bringing the sweet look Erik had missed over the last few months. "We passed the time well enough."
    This weekend had been Erik's way of getting back to that. The previous night had been good. Better than, actually. Then Teddy had grown sullen. "I don't think we left the bedroom of our flat the entire time except to answer the door for food."
    "Mm-hmm."
    Erik studied Teddy's face, catching a glimpse of sadness before the professor pasted a smile on his lips. The look, the non-answer... it was just enough to respond, but not really commit to the conversation. It was like when they were first dating and Teddy was afraid to