Love is Always Write Anthology Volume 6

say he loved Erik– just in case Erik wasn't feeling the same.
    Erik's heart thumped hard as he mentally checked himself.
    Had he told Teddy once this weekend he loved him? He wracked his mind, thinking and rethinking the entire time they'd been together. When Teddy had come home... last night... Erik clenched his teeth.
    Not once.
    He had to correct that.
    Immediately.
    A sense of relief at figuring out what needed to happen next coursed through Erik, loosening his muscles and easing the headache that had set in. He relaxed into the soft chair, kicking his bare feet out in front of him as the tiny beaded stuffing contoured around his body. "That was our second trip together."
    Teddy's gaze was riveted to Erik's feet. "Yes."
    "Turned out to be a pretty big deal."
    A slight blush colored Teddy's cheeks as his gaze snapped to meet Erik's. The hint of wariness lurking in those deep brown eyes crushed Erik and nearly had him leaping up to clutch his lover to him. Teddy sniffed once, then nodded.
    "It was the first time we told each other I love you."
    Teddy stood picking at the bottom of his shirt and staring anywhere but at Erik now. Another nod.
    "I still do."
    Teddy crossed his arms over his chest. "Me too."
    Erik slapped his hand on the hardwood floor beside him, causing Teddy to flinch. "Theodore."
    That earned him a glare.
    "Sit with me." Erik held his hand out and hoped like crazy that Teddy would relinquish.
    Long, slender fingers slid across his palm, tingling his skin. Erik smiled as his lover nestled close, with their arms looped together. He tipped Teddy's face toward him, willing him to see the truth. "I love you. Always."
    The self-deprecating tilt to Ted's lips told Erik more than the slight shake of his head that he wasn't hearing it.
    Gripping Teddy's chin, Erik forced him to hold still. "Even as you sit here and think of the million ways I'm going to leave, I'm going to tell you a million times that I won't. That I love you. Every. Eccentric. Piece. Of you."
    "Why?"
    It was a hard question to answer. Not because Erik didn't know why, but because once the words hit the air, he thought it might sound foolish. "Because I love the way you sigh when I've left a pillow crooked or the dishes in the sink." He gave Teddy a soft kiss to the left of his mouth.
    "Because you always run your hand over that bowl by the door and smile when you think of us." A kiss to the right.
    "Because you come home to me every day." A kiss to Teddy's chin.
    "Because when I see your generosity, I burst with pride that you're mine." A kiss to his lips. He ignored the liquid sheen of Teddy's eyes, choosing instead to brush his thumb over his lover's trembling mouth. "I love you because you're so easy to love."
    Teddy stared at him for several seconds, then leaned up slightly to gift Erik with a long, languid kiss. When he pulled away, he whispered, "I thought..."
    "You thought I'd forgotten." Erik's pride, his heart, stung with the accuracy of that statement. "Maybe it did fall to the side. We were busy and tired. But as long as we come back to each other, no distractions, just remind each other, we can do this."
    "I can–" Teddy wrapped his arm around Erik's neck, pulling him down to kiss him again. "–do that. We can."
    THE END
    Author bio: Em Woods—Not so long ago, I was an Army brat, which lends to my imagination (Oh, the places I have seen… lol) and I am the mother of two energetic little boys, which gives me my sense of humor. I should mention that I've been married to the most wonderful and understanding man for 14 years.
    I have lived everywhere thanks to the travel bug I inherited from my parents, but currently am push-pinned in southeast Michigan. A typical day is a little crazy but I always work in writing time (though sometimes I sacrifice sleep!)
    I am multi-published with Total-e-Bound Publishing as well as Breathless Press… and every week I am working hard on one blog story or another that I offer on my website each Monday as part of The Story Orgy.
    Contact Info:
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NO FAULT OF HIS OWN
    by Sara York

    Two guys lying in bed together. The bed has striped sheets, mostly tan with thin red stripes. One of the guys is in jeans, the other looks like he's wearing pj's.

    Dear Author
    He says he can't believe that I would fall in love with someone like him but I'm the one who is in awe every day that he loves me. I know we both have our