Rejection and Redeemed

Chapter 45

CHAPTER 45

F ran woke up the next morning wrapped in Jacob’s arms. He lost count of the number of times they made love through the night, both of them well and truly mated.

He gently kissed Jacob’s chest and quietly sighed happily. The thought Jacob had put into their evening was lovely. They had both gotten up in the middle of the night to have their main course and, after making love again, they had dessert.

Fran honestly couldn’t remember ever being so happy.

He felt Jacob drop a kiss on his head. “Morning, sweetheart. Best morning ever.”

Fran rubbed his cheek on Jacob’s chest. “Morning, babe. Best morning ever? Even better than being allowed coffee and bacon?”

Jacob pretended to think about it. “I mean, pretty sure it tops coffee and bacon.”

Fran laughed and lifted his head to look at Jacob’s smiling face.

“So gorgeous,” Jacob said, pulling Fran down into a toe-curling kiss. He then rolled them so that Fran was under him.

“Didn’t you get enough of me during the night?” Fran asked him.

“No, sweetheart. I’ll never have enough of you. And just think how much better everything will get, the more we know each other.”

“I can’t wait. Now, make love to me, mate.”

“Always.”

It was hours later that Fran pulled up in front of his house.

After making love, they crawled out of bed to shower together. While they were washing each other, Clairmont had been in, collected the dinner things and dropped off breakfast. They shared breakfast and then Fran suggested they pop to his house so he could pick up some clothes and show Jacob his house.

Jacob made it down the stairs better than the other times and walked it to the car before he had to rest.

“Can you manage to come inside?”

Jacob nodded. “I can’t wait to see inside your house.”

“Stay there and I’ll come round and help you,” Fran said, taking the keys and jumping out of the car. He opened the door for Jacob and helped him out. “Do you want your walker?”

Jacob shook his head. “Nope, your arm is perfect.”

Fran laughed and slowly walked down the path to his front door.

“Your house looks like a village cottage,” Jacob remarked smiling, looking at it.

“That’s because it is. I call it a house, but yeah, it’s a cottage. It’s quite small inside.”

“Cottage size,” Jacob said.

“Yep,” Fran opened the front door and took a step back.

Jacob looked at him and grinned. “Shall I carry you over the threshold?”

Fran burst out laughing. “Not today, babe, let’s leave that for when we get married.”

Jacob grabbed Fran’s hand and pulled him forward, giving him a quick kiss. “Deal.”

“Fran, your place is stunning,” Jacob said, looking around. It was decorated in earth tones and the whole downstairs was relaxing. “Okay, so you get to pick the colours for our rooms.”

“We can both pick colours,” Fran told him.

“Sweetheart, I can tell by your decorating style, your taste is much better than mine. We can pick colours together, but you get the final say.”

Fran stood by Jacob and slipped an arm around his waist. “Okay, babe, just remember, they’re your rooms as well.”

“I remember. Now, I hate to be a party pooper, but you need clothes and time is getting on.”

Fran looked at the wall clock. “That’s true. Do you want to come up?”

“As much as I would love to, I won’t for two reasons. One, if I get you near a bed, I'm stripping you naked and making love to you until we both forget our names, and we don’t have time for that. And two, I’m not sure I have the energy to walk upstairs.”

“How about you promise to strip me naked after I get back from work later, and I’ll run upstairs and pack some clothes?” Fran suggested, kissing Jacob’s cheek.

“Sweetheart, I promise to always strip you naked after work. I promise to help you shower, to help you relax, and to make love to you for the rest of our lives.”

“I love you too, babe.”

“Of course you do. Now off you go and pack a bag.”

Fran burst out laughing and, with a quick kiss, ran upstairs.

Jacob walked slowly around the room looking at Fran’s trinkets and pictures.

They were all family pictures, everyone looking completely happy. He saw a picture of Frank with toddler Fran. Jacob smiled, Fran was a cute baby.

“No comments about my baby photo please,” Fran said, grinning as he reached the bottom of the stairs, carrying a bag.

“You were so cute.”

“Excuse me, mate of mine. I’m still cute, thank you very much.”

Jacob laughed. “Yep, you really are. How lucky am I?”

“Come on, nutter, let’s go back to the castle. By the time we get back, it’ll be lunchtime.”

“You’ll eat before you go to work?” Jacob asked him as they left the house.

“If I have time.”

“Fran.”

“I promise I will eat something either at home or at the hospital. Our hospital has good food,” Fran told him.

“When our kitchen is up and running, I can make you lunch every day,” Jacob said as they reached the car.

Fran stood in front of Jacob. “Babe, I can manage, I’ve been looking after myself for a long time.”

Jacob nodded, disappointed, and got into the car and settled while Fran threw his bag on the back seat, then got in the car and drove them back to the castle.