Faith and Fidelity by Tere Michaels Read Free Book Online

pressed a kiss on her father's cheek. She reached and shook Matt's hand. “Glad you hung out with us today. It was fun.”
    “Thanks, Miranda.” He couldn't have possibly expressed his gratitude to this young woman. “Next time we'll do video games and pizza.” He gave her a wink. “I'm fairly sure I can kick your dad's butt at Area 51 .”
    At Evan's perplexed expression, Matt and Miranda shared a laugh. She gave both men a wave and headed up the stairs.
    Leaving Matt and Evan alone.
    Matt's stomach promptly dropped five or six stories.
    “So... ”
    “You must be exhausted. I'm used to staying up this late.”
    Busying himself with putting the DVD in its case, Matt shrugged. “You're the one who has to go to work. I'm just gonna hang out here and let your kids run wild.”
    Evan filled the dishwasher, his back to Matt.
    “Couch looks comfy.”
    “Uh, yeah.”
    “You sleep here don't you?”
    “Every fucking night for a year.”
    “I can take the floor... ”
    “No, no... I'll sleep upstairs.”
    Matt hated the resigned note in Evan's voice. The day had been such a joy, he didn't want it to end this way.

    * * * *

    Evan kept the lights off as he got undressed. He brushed his teeth with only the night-light on. In his shorts— and his USMC T-shirt he pretended still carried Sherri's scent— he crawled under the covers, shivering in terror. Scooting all the way over to the edge on “his” side, Evan buried his face into the pillow and prayed heartily that he would quickly fall asleep. He tried focusing on the day, the kids’ happiness. Matt. He liked having him there. Liked hearing him laugh and joke with the kids. Liked the fact that he knew Evan slept on the couch and didn't act like it was a big deal.
    He liked that someone understood him.

    * * * *

    Matt lay on the couch, listening to snowplows go by every twenty minutes. He was wide-awake. The clock over the kitchen sink read 5:00 a.m. It was still dark outside; he could barely make out a moon.
    He couldn't sleep because his body was humming and his mind raced miles ahead of his heart. He knew this feeling. It was a combination of lust and that giddy excitement you felt when a girl gave you her phone number and you just knew it was right and not a dry cleaner's on her block.
    He rubbed his face with both hands, sighing. Things were getting out of hand. Now he was fantasizing about Evan while awake. And sober.
    And then Matt heard the moaning. He held himself very still. It took only a second to realize it was a man's voice; it was Evan and the sound he was making...
    Matt jumped up and went upstairs, following the sound to a room at the end of the hall.
    He knocked softly, but got no response. Turning the handle he walked in, eyes adjusting to the pitch dark.
    “Evan?” Matt whispered, moving toward the bed. “Evan? It's Matt. Are you okay?”
    More moaning. Tossing and turning.
    Matt got to the edge of the bed, and, before he could stop himself, he reached out and touched Evan's shoulder.
    Cop's instinct worked even when one was asleep and Evan shot awake instantly, grabbing Matt's arm.
    “Easy.” Matt used the twenty or so pounds he had on the younger man to hold him steady. “You were just having a nightmare. Relax.”
    Evan was breathing heavily, and Matt felt the clamminess of his skin. Which he was feeling a lot of, suddenly realizing that he was holding Evan's forearms in his hands. And they were just inches from one another.
    “Oh God.” Evan was moaning now. He pulled away, wrapping his arms around his knees. “Oh God. Please make it stop.”
    Helplessly, Matt sat on the edge of the bed, tentatively reached for Evan's shoulder again.
    Stroked his arm. It was like his dream.
    “Don't leave me okay? I can't... I can't do this anymore,” Evan babbled. “I can't sleep. When I sleep I remember how much blood there was. She's there and I see the blood.”
    “Easy. I'll stay right here. Don't worry.”
    His hand moved rhythmically up