was pretty sure it wasn’t what he was reading that was important, but the fact that they were all together for the bedtime ritual.
All together. It had a great ring to it.
They had enjoyed a beautiful day, with the window-shopping, a long peaceful lunch, and pizza for supper. He’d forgotten how funny Kenn was, how clever and quick. It had been wonderful to be a family again.
He had to admit, though, right now he was ready for the kids to go to bed so he and Kenn could have some grown-up time. Whether they picked up where they’d left off that morning or just talked and held each other while they slept, he was ready. Though he had to admit, he wanted to feel Kenn’s mouth around his cock again. Please.
“Okay, you two. Bedtime.” Kenn sounded as if they were on the same page.
“Just one more, Da! Pleeeease.” Sarah was pretty good at wheedling. But tonight he didn’t have an empty bed to look forward to—he had Kenn.
“Sorry, sweetie. It’s time for bed. Tomorrow is Christmas Eve!”
“Yep, and we have lots to do,” Kenn told them. “Cookies. Supper. Cleaning your rooms.”
“Awww, Daddy!”
Chris had to bite back his laugh at the twin looks of dismay on the kids’ faces.
“Okay.” He made an attempt to corral them and hurry them along. “Come on. Last one in bed is a silly monkey.”
“Night, Dad.” Micah kissed Kenn’s cheek and crawled off the bed while Sarah wrapped her hands around Chris’s shoulders.
He gave her a hug. “Are you a silly monkey?”
“Ooo, ooo, ooo!”
He carried her to her room. The blanket was back to being the pink and purple one he remembered, and the toy box was filled. Suddenly the big house he’d been rattling around in was home again. He put her in bed and kissed her cheek before tucking the covers around her. “Good night, sweet girl.”
“Good night, Da.” She patted his cheeks. “It’s going to be good.”
From her mouth to God’s ears.
He nodded. “It is.”
“Tell Daddy to come too.”
“Kenn. Her Majesty needs a kiss good night.”
“You got it. Micah’s almost asleep already.”
“I’ll go give him a kiss. Good night, baby girl.” He turned his face and kissed her hand.
“Good night, Da.”
His husband was waiting for his kiss too. Kenn gave Sarah a kiss and they held hands as they went to Micah’s room, finding him already asleep. Which meant they could go to their room. They could have grown-up time. Yes.
Squeezing Kenn’s hand, he was proud of himself for not running down the hall.
“This is real, right?” Kenn asked.
“Yeah, but I think we need to really sink into each other for it to feel real.” And he meant that literally.
They got back to the bedroom, and he tugged Kenn in, his body thrumming with excitement. He locked the door behind them and stood there in front of the man he’d loved for years and almost lost. They just stared at each other for the longest time, like they were frozen right here.
“Still love you,” Kenn said quietly.
Chris nodded. “Yeah, I love you too.”
The words broke whatever it was that was holding them in place, and he bent to kiss Kenn. His gorgeous little hard-bodied lover. He let go of Kenn’s hand and slid his fingers along Kenn’s waist, exploring it. He loved the sexy little six-pack, the way the muscles moved for him. Kenn’s smooth skin jerked under his fingertips, so sensitive.
He pushed Kenn’s shirt up, touching all the way. His fingers were practically trembling. He couldn’t believe he was doing this, that they were at this point.
“I feel breathless.” Kenn sounded it too.
Chris understood. “Yeah. Like I can’t breathe, and like if I do, it’ll shatter everything.” Which maybe explained some of the frozen feeling.
“It won’t. We already broke everything. Now’s for gluing it back together.”
“Yeah. That’s a good analogy.” He took Kenn’s mouth for another kiss, stepping up so their bodies touched. He wasn’t sure if the resulting