by K. Sterling
“Always.” Carter stated as he poured syrup over his pancakes. “I’ve come close to finishing a few times.” He said as he cut into them.
Reid silently prayed for strength and dug into his hash browns. Everything was delicious. The biscuit's ended up being Reid’s favorite part of the meal, he ate four in addition to half of his pancakes, his eggs, half of his hash browns and all of his bacon. He was ready to throw in the towel when the sound of a small tornado came from the doorway to the hardware store.
“Caaarrterrrr!” A small boy yelled as he sprinted down the aisle. Carter turned in his seat and scooped the boy up and swung him into his lap.
“You’re just in time. Help me finish my pancakes and bacon.” Carter kissed his hair and large, unblinking brown eyes met Reid’s. “Max, this Reid.” Carter said as he rolled up Max’s sleeves to keep them out of they syrup. “Reid, this is Max.” He gave Max a nudge and Max offered Reid his hand.
“It’s nice to meet you, sir.” Max said. Reid couldn’t help but smile as he took his hand.
“It’s very nice to meet you too.” He said. Max looked thoughtful for a moment before he looked at Carter and then turned back to Reid.
“Gramma May says that you’re Carter’s new boyfriend.” Max announced loudly. A laugh burst from Reid’s throat and Carter groaned. Reid saw a woman leaning in the doorway and her face was bright red as she rushed toward them. Reid winked at her before he turned his attention back to Max.
“Did she?” He asked in mock surprise and Max nodded.
“Yup. Mom asked about the flashy car out front and Gramma May said it’s yours and you’re a newer surgeon.” Max grabbed a piece of bacon and ate half of it in one bite. He chewed like a tiny savage as he stared at Reid. The woman, who was obviously Melissa, looked like she wanted to hide as she made her way to the counter to join them. Carter made the introductions as Max washed the bacon down with several large gulps of milk before his eyes narrowed. “Do you two kiss?” He asked. Loudly, again. Reid bit the inside of his cheek to keep from laughing. He looked at Carter and almost failed when he saw the horror in his eyes.
“Sometimes. And I’m a neurosurgeon.” Reid said softly, pronouncing “neurosurgeon” slowly and Max’s face scrunched up.
“That’s gross.” He decided as he stabbed at a piece of pancake. Reid kept his face passive and watched as Max chewed. “There’s this girl named Nicole in my class and she’s always trying to kiss me. But, kissing’s gross. I told her I’m going to push her down next time. If I were you, I wouldn’t kiss anyone but your mom because you’re a grown-up now and no one can make you kiss anyone. Except your mom.” Max was oblivious to Carter and Melissa’s distress and Reid just nodded in agreement. He couldn’t fault Max’s logic. Max grabbed another piece of bacon and waved it at Reid. “I think girls are the grossest things ever. Don’t you?” he asked and Reid laughed.
“I wouldn’t go that far but I’m not fond of kissing them either.” He saw Carter cringe and Melissa clapped a hand over her mouth. Max shrugged as he chewed.
“I think I’d rather kiss a boy than Nicole but even then, I don’t want to kiss anyone.” He was still chewing as he leaned close to Reid, his face suddenly very serious. Reid gave Max a very sober look as he leaned close and gave him his undivided attention. “I don’t even like kissing my mom but I do it make her happy.” He whispered and Reid nodded in agreement.
“Sometimes, a man has to make sacrifices.” He whispered back and Carter’s body started to shake with silent laughter. Max sighed wearily and Carter signaled for Melissa to leave.
“I know exactly what you mean.” Max said as he crammed a large bite of pancake in his mouth.
“If you two are done talking about girls…” Carter switched Max to his other knee so he could see Max’s face better. “I was thinking I’d take you fishing next weekend.” Carter grabbed a napkin and cleaned bacon grease off of Max’s hands. Reid was certain that if he had ovaries, they would have just exploded. Max’s face lit up and he started bouncing on Carter’s lap.
“Can we go to the lake with the beach and the ducks?” Max asked and Carter nodded.
“Yeah and we’ll bring lots of bread so you can feed them.” He grabbed Max’s chin and held it so Max would focus. “But only if you promise to do your homework after school and quit giving your mom a hard time.” Carter said sternly and Max’s lip stuck out and he grumbled.
“Do I have to read? I hate reading.” Max complained and Carter’s head pulled back and he gasped in exaggerated horror.
“Never, ever say those words again!” Carter exclaimed as he shook Max dramatically and Max giggled before Carter became serious. “Reading is the most important thing you’ll ever learn, Max. No matter who you are or what is happening in your life, you can go anywhere and see everything in books. If you can read, you can learn anything and become anything you want. Do you understand?” He asked and Max’s eyes were huge as he nodded. Carter kissed his forehead. “Maybe you’re just reading the wrong books. I’ll take you to the bookstore before we go fishing and we’ll get a bunch of different books. When you figure out what you like, I’ll buy you all the books you want.” He promised and Reid was so glad he was sitting down because his legs felt like they’d turned to liquid. Carter passed Max his milk and gestured for him to finish the glass. “But you have to stop being such a pain in the ass for your mom.” Carter said under his breath and Max giggled. “Promise me.” Carter demanded and Max nodded solemnly. Max finished his milk and Carter wiped his upper lip. “Done?” he asked and Max offered a loud burp and Carter laughed as he set him on the ground.
“Go wash up and you can help. Pop Pop Jim has two boxes of plastic worms that need to be put away. If you do a good job you can keep some for next weekend.” Carter said and Max jumped up and down before he made rocket sounds and launched toward the back of the pharmacy.
Carter laughed as he turned back to Reid and raised a brow, silently asking if Reid was finished eating. Reid nodded and Carter pulled his wallet out of his pocket. He tucked two twenties under his plate and got up. Reid stared in confusion as Carter grabbed his arm and dragged him back to the hardware store.
“Carter!” Dana yelled and he stuck his tongue out as he walked backwards out of the pharmacy.
“She never lets me pay so I have to hide the money and run.” Carter explained.
Chapter 10
“Come inside.” Reid knew he was being demanding but after watching Carter be completely adorable with Max and sweet to every elderly person in Northlake in between hefting boxes and large bags of dog food and different types of feed, Reid wasn’t ready to say goodnight. They ate dinner in the pharmacy before they left. The bacon cheeseburger Reid ordered was probably the best he’d ever eaten in his life and the chocolate milkshake they shared was heavenly. They’d flirted and Carter tortured Reid by licking the long spoon clean and sucking whipped cream off of his finger. “We’ll take a long shower and I can show you what I can do with my lips and tongue.” Reid murmured against Carter’s neck. Carter exhaled loudly as he pulled away from Reid and sat up straight in his seat. He tapped his fingers absently on the steering wheel as he chewed on his lip.
“I think I should go home.” Carter kept his eyes on the wheel. “If I come in, you’ll talk me into staying and I think we both need to come up for air.” When his eyes swung back to Reid’s they were searching and uncertain. Reid laughed as he pulled Carter’s face to his.
“I’m crazy about you, Carter.” Reid said as he brushed his lips against Carter’s. “We don’t need to come up for air, everything has been amazing. Tomorrow, I have to go back to work and I’ll be on call for five days. Aside from ducking out now and then, I’ll be stuck in the hospital. You can have all the air you want then.” Reid let his fingertips press into Carter’s thigh and drag as he teased Carter’s lip. “I won’t be able to spend a night with you for almost a week and I’ll miss you. Let me have tonight.” Reid begg
ed as he fisted his hand in Carter’s shirt and pulled him closer. He sucked on Carter’s lower lip and he felt Carter’s resistance crumbling. He grabbed Carter’s hand and pressed it against his erection and rocked his hips and Carter groaned softly.
“Fine.” He grumbled.
“Don’t look so miserable.” Reid teased against Carter’s lips before he released him and got out of the car. Carter pushed his hands deep in his pockets and his head hung as he followed Reid to the front door. Once inside, Reid tossed his jacket at the couch as Sadie pranced excitedly around the living room. “Hey. I’m going to take her out back for a few minutes. Make yourself comfortable.” He saw Carter nod as he went to the living room and looked out the window. Reid waited until he was in the backyard before he pulled out his phone and called Carter. It rang twice and Carter answered.
“What are you doing?” He asked and Reid grinned as he hurled Sadie’s ball.
“I promised I’d call you today.” Reid said. Sadie galloped toward him and skidded to a halt before she flung the ball. Reid caught it and whipped it back across the lawn and he heard Carter snort. “If I say I’ll call you or I’ll be there, I will. I want you to be able to trust me, Carter.” Reid caught the ball again and threw it as hard as he could and Sadie took off.
“How much longer are you going to be?” Carter asked and Reid smiled.
“I just want to throw the ball a couple more times. Give me a few minutes.” He heard Carter moving and he turned and looked through the kitchen windows and couldn’t see Carter. “What are you doing?” Reid asked.
“I’m upstairs, taking off my clothes. I’ll be in the shower.” Carter hung up and Reid looked in the direction of his bathroom as desire and anticipation swelled. Reid threw the ball until Sadie’s gallop turned into a slow trot and she was breathing hard. “Let’s see what daddy brought for you.” He said as he let her in the house. He pulled out a pig ear and she danced in circles before Reid tossed it to her. She took it to her bed and Reid locked the doors and shut off the lights before he gave into his excitement and ran up the stairs, taking them two at a time.
They took their time in the shower, teasing and laughing as they washed each other’s body and hair. When they fell into bed, they twisted and slid around each other, both trying to get to the other’s cock before they settled into the 69 position. Still not in the mood to rush, they sucked, licked and stroked lazily, slowly meandering toward a deeper, heavier urgency. They came within seconds of each other, greedily swallowing the other’s release before they crawled to the pillows and kissed and whispered until the day pulled them under and they fell asleep in a sated tangle of warm, loose limbs.
Chapter 11
Stroke
Breathe
Stroke
Breathe
Stroke
Breathe
Don’t think about his body. Don’t think about how good it felt, Carter begged and funneled his consciousness into the rhythm of his strokes, kicks and breaths as the jets of the pool tried to push him back.
Stroke
Breathe
Stroke
Breathe
Why couldn’t he stop seeing Reid, sprawled out, naked, his legs tangled in the sheets and his lips curved in a relaxed smile as he slept? Or, Reid naked and shaving as the soft light from the sunrise made the bathroom glow in warm shades of orange? Why couldn’t he get the taste of Reid out of his mouth? It had been two days since Reid started his shift at the hospital. That morning, they’d showered and Carter had pinned him against the wall and sucked his cock until he screamed and filled Carter’s mouth with his tart, clean tasting come. Even that had to be perfect. Carter couldn’t get enough of Reid’s body or the way he tasted. His mouth, his skin, his ass, his come…
You went four years without sex. Now, you’re strung out after a weekend. But it wasn’t just the sex. Reid was doing his best to get under Carter’s skin, to squeeze into that spot in Carter’s chest that kept trying to get warm and grow. Fuck him until your cock falls off, just don’t screw up and fall in love. The messages and phone calls weren’t helping.
Reid
I can’t stop thinking about you.
Reid
Your skin tastes like apples. Apples are my favorite.
Reid
I grabbed a nap in the lounge and dreamt about you. I swear I could taste you when I woke up.
Reid
This is the first time I’ve ever wished I wasn’t at work. I miss you.
Carter felt a little irritated with himself every time his phone buzzed and he saw a new message from Reid. That rush of giddiness and longing made him wary. Getting this wrapped up, this soon was a bad sign. He’d never connected with anyone so easily and completely as he had with Reid. He needed to find some way to keep all of that out. Every time he thought he was happy with someone and they were happy with him, it all fell apart. Every. Time.
It was always the same. It was like a code. He’d say something like “I think you’re really special and I’d like to spend more time with you.” Or, he’d ask if they wanted a key to his place and everything would crash. Best case scenario, there would be a vague response and within the next twenty-four hours he’d get a call or a text message. Carter lost count of how many times he got dumped right after sex. He wasn’t sure if it was pure selfishness on their part, like they wanted to get fucked one last time or they thought they were softening the blow. It sucked so hard. He’d feel used and cheap, pretty much completely worthless as he watched his new ex get dressed and make uncomfortable small talk. There was nothing wrong with him. Definitely not. He was wonderful. It was always them. They weren’t ready for something serious or they were too focused on whatever the fuck they thought they wanted to be when they grew up.
“You know… If you ever just want to hook up, you can give me a call. Whenever.”
That was the way they usually said goodbye. The only way it would have felt worse was if they’d tossed a wad of $20’s at him before they left. He never called. He deleted their contact information as soon as the door shut behind them. Carter had terrible luck with men and he could be horrifically stupid (example: the whole weekend with Reid) but he had a very healthy dose of self respect. Now and then, someone would drunk dial or message him.
Unavailable
Hey! I’m horny and need to get fucked. Want to come over?
He’d never taken them up on it. Would he be able to say no to Reid? Carter hated that he wasn’t sure. Somehow, Carter knew that Reid would never pull any of that. A Superhero wouldn’t call at 1 a.m., wasted and calling him Carl or Walter. Reid would find the kindest, classiest way to dump him. He’ll probably insist we sit and hold hands and he’ll have a soothing and reassuring speech prepared. Carter was optimistic that he wouldn’t feel gross and ashamed when Reid left. But it would hurt like hell because Reid wouldn’t leave Carter with the consolation of knowing that in the long run, it couldn’t have worked out, that he wasn’t really all that great to begin with. Reid wouldn’t end it in a way that would give Carter the comfort of hating him. No, Reid would ride out on his white horse and Carter would be a devastated, pathetic heap of emotional wreckage.
You’re smart enough not to fall into that trap again. Just enjoy this for what it is. Have sex with an impossibly beautiful man and enjoy his company for as long as it lasts. It was a solid plan. He wouldn’t let himself become emotionally attached. Carter would treat Reid like a friend. A friend he had really hot sex with. A lot of really hot sex. Then, when it was done, he’d do his best to act like a man and go back to not dating or saying hello to men in grocery stores.
The Universe might have been laughing at Carter. He saw his phone light up out of the corner of his eye and Carter stood and moved to the side of the pool. He dried his hands and chest before he reached for his phone. He scowled as his heart started to gallop and butterflies attacked his stomach when he saw the message from Reid. Carter cur
sed under his breath as he swiped at the screen and read.
Reid
I can get away for a little while. I want to see you. Can I come over?
Carter tamped down the swell of excitement and ignored the tickle of warmth in his chest. His cock twitched and heat flooded his crotch as it started to get hard. That. He focused on that and grinned wickedly as he started to type.
Carter
Sure. I might be in the pool. Let yourself in.
He set the phone down and went back to the middle of the pool and dove forward as he started to kick and stroke. And plan. Carter wasn’t in the mood for catching up. He might ask Reid about how things were going at the hospital after he’d sucked him dry and fucked him into next week. He wasn’t going to waste time making small talk if Reid wasn’t staying for long. After two days of craving Reid and missing the feel of his body in his arms, Carter couldn’t give a damn about what Reid had been up to. He had a feeling Reid wasn’t coming over to cuddle and discuss their feelings either. He probably needed a booty call as bad as Carter did. Which was just perfect.
Chapter 12
When Carter didn’t answer the door, Reid pushed it open and leaned in. He heard a soft hum and splashing from the back of the house and he followed it to a closed in patio behind the kitchen. Reid leaned against the door frame as he watched Carter gliding smoothly in place against an endless current in what Reid could only describe as a swimming treadmill. It was a long, narrow, built-in pool with strong jets pushing the water in one direction. Reid was fixated on Carter’s back and shoulders, the way the muscles stretched and bunched as he reached and pulled his body through the water. Then, he became fixated on Carter’s ass, wrapped in a tight, black, shiny lycra Speedo. Reid set his phone, wallet and keys on a table and went to the edge of the pool and squatted so that he was in Carter’s field of vision. Carter raised his head and smiled as he stood and leaned against the current.