Free Cherish & Blessed by Tere Michaels Page A

to chest.
    Evan bit and licked him until his lips hurt. Matt didn’t push back—he just let Evan have his way and take his pent-up anger and sadness and frustration and confusion out on his mouth. And when Matt pulled away for some desperately needed air, the fierce hunger on his lover’s face melted his spine.
    “I love you. And I’m not choosing.”
    Matt’s chest hurt; he guessed it was his heart trying to beat right out of his chest. He touched Evan’s face gently, just his fingers stroking the curve of his jaw. “I love you too.”
    They kissed again, easy and chaste.

Chapter 12

     
    H AND IN hand, Evan and Matt walked back into the kitchen. Matt muttered something about coffee. He gave Evan’s hand one more squeeze, then moved away to get warm. Evan watched him lovingly for a moment.
    The thought of him leaving…. Once upon a time, he might have said yes. Might have agreed to the separation to gain some control over the situation. But unlike that previous incarnation, Evan didn’t operate on fear anymore. And the idea of Matt not being there with him, with the family, made him sick to his stomach.
    He wasn’t choosing. But there had to be a better way to convey that to Miranda. Because just like he didn’t want to be forced to choose one over the other, he couldn’t let his daughter keep drifting away.
    The dining room was abuzz with conversation as he walked in. The younger kids were at the table with Shane, Helena, and Blake. A deck of colorful cards was set up in the center, with Elizabeth marking scores neatly on a legal pad.
    “Hi, Daddy.” She smiled up at him, tentative as she tried to gauge his mood.
    He didn’t hesitate to walk over. “Hi, sweetheart. Who’s winning?” Evan put his arm around Elizabeth, stroking her hair.
    “Blake.”
    “Congrats—they’re all ruthless card sharks at this game.” He gave the other man a nod.
    “I can see that.” Blake smiled, friendly and open—very different than the argument Evan had had with Cornelia. Who wasn’t anywhere to be found. “I’m holding on to a slim lead, I assure you.”
    Helena cracked the deck in her hand and shuffled it like a Vegas pro. “Undercover at an illegal gambling operation,” she said to Shane, who was giving her a strange look.
    “Wow.” Shane’s gaze went to full adoration.
    “Where’s everyone else?” Evan ventured.
    “Kent and Miranda are taking a walk,” Elizabeth reported, ever the family busybody.
    “Cornelia is taking a little nap,” Blake added, smooth and nonplussed.
    “Ah.” Evan guessed that meant her decision to leave had been overruled or at least put on a delay. Which meant this wasn’t over yet, not by a long shot. “Well, I’m going to get dessert on the counter. Matt’s making coffee.”
    “I love him. He’s my favorite,” Helena muttered, dealing the cards counterclockwise.
    Katie looked intently at each card tossed her way, then up at his face with too-wise eyes. “Need any help?”
    “Matt and I have it.” Evan winked at her. “But maybe later.”
    “’Kay.” She went back to her hand, and the round soon began, leaving Evan a spectator. Once again he was overwhelmed with his love for his kids. They were growing up so fast, and yet he could see with such clarity their faces at each age, each stage of life.
    Matt rumbled in behind him, and the moment was broken. “Coffee in ten,” he said, pressing up against Evan’s back. They were still in that moment of closeness, not quite ready to stay away from each other.
    “Is there tea?” Shane peeked up from behind his fan of cards.
    “No, sorry. We’re out of hot water.”
    Evan elbowed Matt.
    “Be nice to my boyfriend,” Helena warned, taking a card from the deck.
    “I was just pretending to be Vic for a moment,” Matt said sweetly. He dropped a kiss on Evan’s cheek. “Next I’m going to be your mom.”
    Shane shivered dramatically, which earned him an elbow in the side of his own.
    The front door slamming