The Middle Road

by K. G. Reuss

  “Fuck,” I hiss, my toes curling into the mattress as I find release. My whole body feels electric, the current of euphoria flowing through me. I’m breathing heavy, my vision still dotted from the incredible orgasm delivered by her hand.

  “I’ll be right back,” her voice is soft as her lips brush against mine. A moment later, my bed is empty except for me, her distance making me ache. Water flows in the bathroom for a moment before she pads back to me, her naked body crawling up the bed and her dark hair a wild mess around her.

  “You’re beautiful,” I whisper in awe of her. “Come here.”

  She does as I command, cuddling beneath the blanket, her warm, bare body curled up against mine. My arms wrap around her in a hold she’ll never be able to break away from.

  “That was fun,” she giggles softly, her head resting against my chest.

  “Most fun I’ve ever had,” I say, giving her a tender squeeze.

  She wiggles against me, making me bite back a groan. “Carter?”

  “Teddy?” I look down at her. Her hand moves to rest on my abdomen.

  “Did it help?”

  “Did what help, sweetheart?”

  “What we did, did it help with your stress?”

  I let out a soft chuckle and tilt her chin up so I can plant a sweet kiss on her lips.

  “It’s stressing me out to know that I want you even more if that’s possible—all of you.”

  “You can have me—”

  “And I will, Teddy Bear, but I want it to be perfect just like you.” I kiss her again.

  “Aw, are you saving yourself, Carter George?” she teases, grinning at me.

  I let out a soft laugh. “Baby, the best parts of me were meant for you.”

  “This sun is killing me,” I mutter, pushing my aviators onto my face. I’m sitting in the front of the Beastmaster with Derek as we drive to San Antonio, Texas—home of the Alamo. Teddy is resting, worn out from our morning tryst in my bed.

  “You take your meds?” Derek asks, glancing over at me.

  I nod, hating those fucking pills.

  We’re quiet for a moment before Derek talks again, “Have you considered experimental treatments, Carter? I was looking online last night and saw there’s a doctor in Baltimore who’s studying your disease. It sounds like he’s close to a breakthrough.

  Had he asked me that a few weeks ago, I’d have blown him off. Now my mind wanders to Teddy. I can’t leave her. On the other hand, I know our time is limited. I don’t want her to see me fucking wither away on my deathbed.

  “I don’t know,” I mutter, leaning my head back against the seat. “Doc says it’s a lost cause. Plus, doing it will take away from all of this.” I gesture to the open road. “What if I do it and die anyway? Then I’ll miss out on the last fucking trip I’ll ever take, unless you count the one down to hell.”

  Derek rolls his eyes at me. “You’re a dead man if you don’t. Trying it might buy you a little more time. Not only for your trip if you recover, but for her.”

  I snap my head in his direction, my eyes narrowing. “What are you talking about?”

  “Don’t play dumb with me, Carter. I know you and Teddy are messing around.” His head tilts as his lips twist and frown as he sees me open my mouth. “Don’t even try to deny that shit. I heard you. Why the hell do you think I took Molly out?”

  I smirk at him, knowing I’m caught. “Fine. You win. There’s something going on between us. And yeah, I want to stick around for her.” I swallow hard and let out a deep breath. “I think she’s the one, you know?”

  I let out a yip as Derek nearly drives off the road, his eyes wide with shock.

  “Don’t kill us, damnit!” I say, relaxing as he gets control of the Beastmaster.

  “Sorry, but are you saying you’ve fallen for her?”

  I let out a soft chuckle, shaking my head. “Yeah, guess I have or am. I don’t know. It’s my first time doing this shit.”

  “A little word of advice,” Derek says, glancing at me before continuing, “figure out what your plan is. If you’re just going to go back to New York to die in your high-rise, then you need to let her go before this really starts. If you plan on trying to fix this, then you need to let her know what’s going on. She’s been asking. She’s a smart girl. You won’t fool her for long.”

  “I tried to tell her during the car ride, but she didn’t believe me.” I snort. “Hell, I can’t even believe it, and the shit is inside me, ruining my life.” I grow quiet for a moment. “I’ll tell her. Just not yet. I want to enjoy being normal for a little bit.”

  “Fine. I get it.” Derek nods. “But don’t wait until the last minute to do something about this. And by this, I mean telling her and seeking out this possible treatment.”

  I don’t say anything. Instead, I pet Molly’s head as she sidles up next to me. She’s always there when I start to feel down.

  This might be the lowest I’ve felt in a long time though. There’s only one thing that’ll make it better, and she’s asleep in my bed.

  Twenty-Two

  Teddy

  “I love all this traveling, but this heat sucks,” I say as we step out into the near hundred-degree weather of San Antonio. We’ve done nothing but lounge around in the Beastmaster for the past twenty-four hours while we try to catch up on sleep.

  Carter smirks at me, his hand landing on my waist. “You could wear less clothes,” he murmurs in my ear. Despite the heat of the day, his words send a torrent of shivers through me.

  “So could you,” I say, planting a kiss on his cheek.

  He grins down at me, his eyes bright. Despite the dark circles around his eyes, he looks happy.

  “Hey, guys,” Derek calls out, jogging over to us.

  Carter doesn’t seem to care if Derek knows we’ve grown closer. He pulls me to him and presses a kiss to the top of my head.

  “What’s up?” Carter asks.

  “There’s going to be a flash music mob in the park down the street. I think we should go to it. Sounds like fun. Teddy can play her guitar and sing.”

  “That does sound like fun,” I say, looking to Carter, really hoping he’s on board with the idea.

  “I’m game.” He smiles down at me. “Get your guitar, Teddy Bear.”

  I spin to go back to the RV but stop and turn back to the guys. “I’ll only do it if you guys do it too.”

  Carter and Derek look at each other, eyebrows raised.

  “Baby, I can’t sing for shit,” Carter starts as Derek shakes his head.

  “So? Do it for the adventure,” I argue, challenging them. “When will you ever get a chance to do something like this again in your life?”

  Carter blows out a breath and nods. “You’re right. I might not ever get another chance like this again. I’m in. Derek?”

  “Damnit,” he groans as I plant a hand on my hip and tap my foot. “Fine. I’ll do it. If we get kicked out, you just remember it was your idea.” He points a finger at me for emphasis.

  I grin at him before flouncing away to the RV to grab my guitar.

  When I return, it’s to see Carter and Derek in deep discussion, both peering down at Derek’s phone. I figure Derek is just showing him our next adventure. When I reach them, Derek darkens his screen before stuffing it into his pocket.

  “Ready?” Carter asks.

  “Ready,” I say, suspicious of what they’re up to. If either of them takes notice, they make no mention of it. Instead, Carter wraps his arm promptly around my waist after he takes my guitar from me.

  “Have we thought any more about camping?” Derek asks as we make our way to the park.

  “Like in tents?” I wrinkle my nose at the thought.

  “Aw, does my princess not like the outdoors?” Carter teases me.

  I chuckle. “More like I hate mosquitoes.”

  Derek nods. “I hate them too, but it’s so much fun to be in the middle of nowhere.”

  “I like nowhere,” Carter says, squeezing my hip
with his fingers. “And didn’t you say you wanted to get lost, Teddy Bear? This seems like the perfect opportunity to do that.”

  “I did say that,” I muse, impressed with him remembering. “But I also don’t want to get eaten.”

  “No?” Carter gives me a wolfish grin that has me flushing.

  “You know what I mean.” I bump my hip against him, causing him to hold me closer.

  “I think we’re here,” Derek calls out.

  He’s right. There are hundreds of people gathered around with their instruments. My heart lurches in my chest like it does every time I prepare to perform. It’s the rush. The excitement.

  “You’re so beautiful when you smile,” Carter murmurs in my ear, pulling me out of my thoughts.

  His words only make me grin wider.

  “Here. I’ll go find who’s in charge.” He hands me my guitar before placing a kiss on my lips that makes the butterflies dance in my belly.

  “You really like him,” Derek says when Carter is out of sight.

  “I do,” I admit, biting my bottom lip. “He’s everything I’ve ever dream of, actually.”

  Derek nods thoughtfully. “Get him to talk, Teddy. He needs you. You’ll save him. I’m not supposed to talk to you about this stuff, but Carter needs someone to love. I can see he’s falling hard for you. I’m hoping you’re what he needs to help him get through the… stress he’s under.”

  “Save him?” My breath catches.

  “Yeah.” Derek swallows and gives me a sad smile. “He’s stressed and not well. He doesn’t listen to me. Maybe he’ll listen to you.”

  “I’ll see what I can do,” I murmur, worry setting in. It doesn’t take a genius to know Carter is going through something that he doesn’t talk about.

  He’ll tell me once he’s more comfortable.

  “We can set up over here,” Carter calls out, waving us over. I push my worries away, my heart skipping as I take in how happy he looks as he smiles at me. He doesn’t let his touch stray far from me. The moment I’m near him, his hands are touching me, holding me, letting me know I’m the only one he has eyes for, despite the women in the crowd eyeing him.

  I’ve never been with anyone quite like him. Deep in my heart, something tells me we might just save each other.

  Twenty-Three

  Carter

  Teddy’s grin is infectious. We’re in the middle of a hundred musicians, but she’s the only one I want to hear. When the music starts, she opens her mouth, belting out the lyrics to Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believing”.

  Derek sings along uncomfortably before backing up to snap some photos. I grin at him as I bellow into the mic. I’m not a terrible singer. I’m nowhere near Teddy or Luke in terms of pipes, but I can hold my own. My mom always wanted me to sing. She even had me take lessons until Dad found out.

  Teddy grins at me throughout the song. I sing like my life depends on it. I dance, causing Teddy to laugh, her fingers still strumming her guitar as her green eyes sparkle. Derek snaps photo after photo, smiling right along with us. It’s some of the most fun I’ve ever had.

  It’s just hundreds of people, enjoying the music. There are photographers from local stations snapping photos even. Usually, I shy away from the cameras, hating being in the papers. This time doesn’t feel like it’ll be so bad. At least it’s not a scandal or me tearing apart someone’s livelihood.

  Ten points awarded for my charisma, I guess.

  By the time the afternoon is over, we’ve sung and danced ourselves out.

  “Hungry?” I ask Teddy as she sags against me.

  “Mhmm,” she mumbles.

  I chuckle and nod to Derek. “Food?”

  “Hell yeah,” he says with a grin. “Let’s get some Mexican. I’ve been craving it since we hit Houston.”

  “Teddy Bear, Mexican good with you?”

  “Tacos are life.” She cuddles against me as we walk.

  I let out a contented sigh. This is what life is supposed to be like. I wish I’d have known sooner.

  When we make it back to the Beastmaster, Derek takes Molly out after she practically tackles us at the door in excitement over our return. Derek casts me a knowing smirk before he leaves me with Teddy.

  “You were incredible today,” I say, pulling her to me and kissing her gently. She smiles against my lips.

  “Thank you, but I was there. I heard you sing. You’ve been holding out on us, Mr. George.”

  “Mm, maybe a bit,” I murmur in a husky voice, my mouth finding hers again. “Teddy Bear, I want you.”

  “You have me,” she breathes out, her fingers tangling in my hair. Her head lolls to the side as I kiss her neck.

  “Do I?” My hot breath on her neck causes her to shiver against me.

  “Carter,” she moans, her hand rubbing my hard cock through my pants.

  “Tell me what you want,” I say as I move the strap of her tank top aside to kiss her collarbone.

  “I want you. Please,” she pleads, unzipping my pants.

  “Baby, we don’t have enough time before Derek comes back for me to do all the things to you that I want to do.” I chuckle. “But maybe I can help alleviate some pressure.”

  Without another word, I lift her up. Her legs wrap around me, and I walk her to my room where I slide the door closed and lay her on the bed. In moments, I have her skirt pulled up and her panties down.

  I trail my hands between her legs, pushing them apart to reveal her pretty, pink, glistening pussy to me.

  Eyes filled with wanting lock on mine as I move my face between her legs. I plant a chaste kiss on her moist lips before darting my tongue out to taste her. Her back arcs as she lets out a whimper.

  “Fuck, baby, you taste like my kind of heaven.” I plunge in, face first, like a man starving. She lets out the sexiest moan I’ve ever heard in my life as I flick my tongue over her hot center. Her fingers are in my hair, pulling my face closer. I grip her hips tight, devouring her.

  Her breathing kicks up as I work my tongue against her. My girl is about to burst. I insert a finger inside her, and she moans again. Deciding I want to go for more, I insert another finger, my mouth never leaving her sweetness.

  She bucks against my face, whimpering my name and calling out to God as her pussy tightens around me. I lick like a greedy bastard, not wanting to waste one drop of her. Only when her movements still and her breathing slows do I come up for air.

  “Carter,” she says, her voice hoarse. “Let me do you—”

  “No.” I shake my head at her. “We don’t have time, Teddy Bear. We can worry about me later.”

  She pulls me up to her, and I take her in my arms and hold her.

  “Are you sure? I don’t mind sucking your—”

  “Teddy, I swear if you finish that sentence, I’ll come undone right in my pants,” I growl, nipping her bottom lip. She giggles beneath me. The door to the Beastmaster opens with a creak.

  “Times up, beautiful.” I kiss the tip of her nose. “Let’s get some food then maybe when we get back you can help me relieve some stress.”

  Her eyes sparkle as she stares back at me.

  “OK,” she agrees.

  I move off the bed and slap her bare ass, leaving a handprint before I rub it gently and drop a kiss on the redness. She practically purrs beneath me.

  Oh, my sweet, sexy girl.

  “Don’t wear your panties,” I whisper in her ear before backing away from her. Her lips part, but judging by the look in her eyes, I know she won’t fight me on it.

  The little Mexican restaurant we find is divine. Derek and his Google abilities. He and Teddy could probably join forces and start a private investigation firm with their combined search skills.

  I ask for a booth in the back, and we’re escorted to a quaint table in the far corner, my hand sliding down to feel Teddy’s ass through her thin, floral skirt as we walk.

  “What would you like to drink?” the waitress asks in a thick Spanish accent.

  “Wat
er for me,” Derek says.

  “Same,” Teddy chimes in, “and a margarita.”

  “Same for me,” I say, winking at Teddy.

  The waitress nods and hands us menus before leaving.

  “This place smells fantastic,” Derek says, settling back in his seat, his eyes glued to the menu. “I want to eat everything. Oh shit, there’s even a salsa bar. I’m in.”

  “Me too,” I whisper in Teddy’s ear.

  She giggles for me, her hand resting high on my thigh. I’m grinning like a fool. I probably look like a maniac sitting there. I don’t think I’ve ever smiled so much in my entire life.

  “I think I’m going to have tacos,” Derek says, pulling me away from Teddy for a moment. “No, enchiladas.” He grows quiet for a moment. “Shit. I want a burrito too.”

  I laugh at him.

  “Get it all. We’ll take the leftovers with us.”

  Derek doesn’t need telling twice. I take a moment to eye my menu. I trail my fingers up Teddy’s bare thigh and beneath her skirt. She spreads her legs for me without me telling her to.

  Perfect.

  I skim my fingers against her silken pussy, feeling how wet she is. My eyes are still on the menu, but I chance a glance at her to see her biting her lip and her breathing growing heavier.

  “What’s wrong?” I ask, leaning in to speak into her ear, my finger skimming against her slick entrance.

  “N-nothing,” she stammers back.

  I smirk at her, enjoying the way she feels against my fingers. I tease her just enough to get her hot and bothered, knowing it’ll make our night that much more fun.

  I don’t stop when the waitress comes back with our drinks and asks for our order.

  Derek orders everything he talked about, including chimichangas. I go with enchiladas. Then the waitress turns to Teddy. Her cheeks are flushed.

  I grin at her.

  “She’ll take the taco dinner. Add an extra order of tacos on there as well as another order of enchiladas,” I say, my fingers still rubbing Teddy, not missing a beat. Derek looks at me questioningly for ordering for her before seeming to not care. He folds his menu and hands it back to the waitress with mine and Teddy’s.