Francis Kennington Park Road
FRANCIS
Kennington Park Road
By the time I realise what I’ve just said, the words are already out of my mouth, and yet I don’t feel the slightest bit sorry.
I hadn’t even realised it myself until a few seconds ago but taking Jack to Cornwall is exactly what I want.
Even if, judging by the stunned look on his face, I’m not entirely sure it’s what he wants.
“Wh–why?” he stammers, bringing his hands to his throat, as if searching for his beloved scarf, which, oddly enough, he isn’t wearing right now.
I know it’s a bit like his security blanket, and even though we’ve never talked about it, I’ve come to understand that he uses it to soothe himself when he’s anxious or unsettled, something I really don’t want him to feel right now.
“Because I want to introduce you to my parents and my brothers as my boyfriend,” I murmur, gently brushing my hand across his cheek and letting my fingers linger over the freckles scattered adorably across his cheekbones.
“But only if you want to, Jack. Nothing would make me happier than bringing you home to them. I don’t know when I’ll next get the chance to go back to Cornwall… but if the idea makes you uncomfortable, or if you think it’s too soon, I’ll understand. Really…”
As he glances at me with that impossibly young, vulnerable look in his eyes, I find myself lost once again in those beautiful amber eyes of his, and I realise I’d probably do anything for him. But I also know he’d never take advantage of the strange hold he has over me.
“When I told you I’d follow your pace, I didn’t just mean when it comes to sex, Jack. I meant everything. You’re so important to me, I’d never risk hurting you. And you’re so young… Maybe you’re right. We only just got together and I’m already asking too much…”
“No, no, that’s not the problem…” he blurts out all of a sudden. “I want to come!” he adds, pouting slightly, just enough to make that upper lip curl in a way that absolutely drives me crazy.
I can’t help myself. As I gently trace a finger across those perfectly shaped lips, I ask him, “Then what is it that’s scaring you?
I can tell something’s bothering you. If you’re worried my parents might have an issue with the fact that I’m with a man, you’re way off.
You’ve met my mum, haven’t you? Emma’s her best friend for a reason.
For my parents, two things have always mattered above all else: that we’re happy, and that we grow into good people.
That’s it. For my family, it’s love. Just love.
Thankfully, they’ve never had any time for prejudice.
I’m absolutely certain they’d be over the moon to know we’re together.
And the same goes for my brothers and my sister. ”
Jack looks a little relieved, but not completely.
“What you just told me about your family does make me happy,” he says. “It’s definitely a good thing. But… that’s not what I’m worried about.”
“And then what is it about, exactly?” I ask, genuinely unable to figure out what he’s getting at.
“Well…” he begins, cautiously, “You’re a successful doctor, a paediatrician working in one of the oldest and most prestigious hospitals in London. You even graduated from Imperial College on a scholarship…”
“So?” I reply, puzzled. “Pretty sure I remember my academic record well enough. I might be older than you, but not that old…” I add, trying to lighten the mood with a joke. “Still not sure what any of that has to do with our trip to Cornwall.”
He looks at me then, and for the first time, there’s a flicker of hesitation.
“How do you think your parents are going to react when they find out you’re dating a broke contemporary dancer?”
I already know the little fox is going to be absolutely fuming, but I can’t help letting out one of my usual laughs, and sure enough, he’s already shooting daggers at me, so I hurry up and get to the point.
“How exactly do you think they’re supposed to take it?” I ask eventually.
“The fact that I’m seeing a talented, sweet, beautiful, and infuriating artist who’s fought tooth and nail to earn his place at one of the most prestigious academies in the world?
Well, I’m fairly certain they’ll be absolutely thrilled for me, don’t you think?
In fact, one or two of my brothers might even be a little jealous of my outrageous luck… ”
There it is. I’ve finally got him to melt against me again, as he mutters, half-exasperated, “You’re impossible, Starkey. What am I supposed to do with you?”
“You still have to kiss me…” I murmur, leaning in closer to him. “And then… you have to come to Cornwall with me…” I add, just before tasting him again, breathing him in, devouring him with everything I have.
When we finally break apart, breathless, he exhales a shaky sigh: “Alright, alright. I’ll come with you and Adele to Sennen Cove.”
I instantly throw my arms up in triumph, earning an eye roll and a dramatic huff, before Jack goes on: “But I still need to go home and pack. By the way… how long are you planning to stay?”
“Two days, tops. They haven’t assigned the rota for next week yet, but I’ll probably be back at work midweek… You, on the other hand, are on academic break until mid-January, right?”
“Exactly.” he confirms, while starting to gather his things to head home. “This way we’ll have enough time to manage the handover with the new babysitter properly, and if all goes well, I’ll start teaching introductory dance classes for kids right when the school reopens!”
The excitement in his voice tells me that, whatever’s going on between us personally, I did the right thing letting him go and allowing him to focus on what is, at least for now, his real job, because I’m certain it’s only a matter of time before he breaks into some prestigious international company.
So far, I’ve only seen him dance in videos, but that was enough to understand just how insanely talented he is. I honestly can’t wait to see him get the recognition he deserves.
But even if that didn’t happen, it wouldn’t change a single thing about how much I admire him, because my little fox is, without a doubt, the most incredible and surprising person I’ve ever met.
The only one who’s ever truly challenged me and held his ground.
With that unique way he has of facing the world… he never stops fascinating me.
More and more, every single day.
“Stay here tonight…” I ask, suddenly, without even thinking, overcome by the need to have him close, just a little longer.
“But… I can’t. I mean… what about my bag?”
He looks at me, puzzled at first, then hesitant, and when I see him blush all the way to the tips of his ears, I know exactly what’s holding him back.
“I said sleep, you suspicious little fox. And I meant just that, nothing else. I want… I want to hold you in my arms, if you’ll let me. Like I told you before, when you’re ready for something more, it’ll have to come from you. Until then, I’ll behave.”
I cross my heart as if I’m taking a solemn oath, but Jack shakes his head, laughing softly. “I don’t know if I trust you, Starkey…”
“Give me a chance…” I reply, giving him my best puppy eyes before adding, “And don’t worry about the bags, mine and Adele’s are already packed. Tomorrow morning, before we leave, we can swing by Broadwick Street and grab your things.”
“Okay...” he exhales, almost in a sigh, as he steps closer and wraps his arms around my neck.
“But what are we going to tell Ian and the others?”
“Whatever you like...” I murmur, my lips brushing against the side of his neck as I begin to kiss a slow path down towards his collarbone.
“If you’re not ready to tell them we’re together, we can just say you’re coming as a friend.”
“Uhm...” he whimpers as I trail my tongue along skin that tastes like sugar and honey, working my way back up to the hollow of his throat.
“I don’t think they’re going to buy that...”
“Well, that’s their problem,” I reply simply, lifting him off the floor in one smooth motion. With that dancer’s build of his, he’s as light as air.
As I carry him, rather inelegantly, I’ll admit, he lets out a scandalised little moan, clearly offended at being swept up so suddenly. But I ignore his noisy protests and just say,
“Text your brother and tell him you’re staying here tonight… in the guest room.”
I hear him sigh but he starts typing on his phone anyway, and by the time we finally make it to my bedroom, and I lay him down, gently, with as much grace as possible, on the double bed, a deep sense of satisfaction washes over me.
Jack already belongs to this house. He belongs to me, even if he doesn’t quite know it yet.
“I’m going to jump in the shower,” I tell him, unbuttoning my shirt as he watches me from where he’s perched on the duvet, legs crossed, eyes wide. “You should get ready for bed too…”
“The trip to Cornwall won’t take that long,” I go on, “but once we get there, I suspect my relatives will keep us busy.”
“What do you mean?” he asks, genuinely puzzled, with that typical Jack look, wide eyes and jaw hanging open.
I can’t help but chuckle, because all those little things that used to drive me mad about my little fox have somehow become exactly the things I find most endearing now.
“For the first time, they’ll get to meet my daughter and my boyfriend…” I smile instinctively at the thought. “They’ll want to know everything about you two, and I’m fairly certain they’ll try to drag us from one relative to the next. The Starkeys are… a handful.”
“I noticed!” he shoots back with a mischievous grin.
In response, I lean over him, eyes fixed on those lips I’m dying to devour again, but just when he’s expecting a kiss, I yank off one of his infamous fluffy socks and start tickling the sole of one of those adorable little feet.
Jack bursts out laughing, writhing and squealing until I finally take pity on him. Then, bringing the sole of his foot to my lips, I press a slow, deliberate kiss to it.
He stares at me, still out of breath, half surprised, half turned on, and just when things are about to peak, I let him go, saying only, “Help yourself to whatever you need, you already know where everything is.”
By the time I make it to the shower, my erection is so painfully hard I have no choice but to take care of myself right then and there, if I don’t want to risk doing something inappropriate tonight.
But I’m so worked up, it only takes a few strokes before I come hard, so hard I practically see stars.
Being close to Jack is the most powerful aphrodisiac I’ve ever experienced.
No one has ever had this effect on me before, but what I feel for him goes far, far beyond that.
And I fully intend to respect his boundaries for as long as it takes.
The fact that he’s agreed to be with me already feels like a miracle. I won’t do anything that might even slightly make him uncomfortable.
What we have might have started off rocky, but it’s become something so meaningful, so quickly, that I’m willing to put my whole life in his hands, risk everything, just to stay by his side.
When I get back to the bedroom, after checking in on Adele, I find him already asleep.
He’s curled up under the duvet, wearing one of my gym tracksuits that’s at least three sizes too big for him.
His hair is messy, falling across his forehead, and his mouth is slightly open as he breathes noisily through that tiny little fairy nose of his.
I don’t think he’s ever looked more beautiful. And as I lift the covers and slip in beside him, gently pulling him to my chest and hearing the soft, contented sound he makes in response, I’m suddenly overwhelmed by a feeling so warm, so intense, that my eyes sting with unexpected tears.
At first, I don’t even recognise the emotion, maybe because it’s something I’ve felt so rarely.
Then the realisation dawns.
It’s the most precious, and at the same time, the simplest thing in the world: pure happiness.