Page 54 of A Thirst for Franc

“You’re not failing. You’re human.” If he could only see himself through my eyes, see the devoted father who puts his son above everyone else. The man who scooped me in his arms and carried out of the rain. The man who was slowly restoring pieces of me that I had lost.

I traced my finger along the hard ridges of his abdomen and looked around the sparse room. “Can I ask you a question? And you don’t have to answer it.”

“What’s the question?”

“Why did you give Gio the main bedroom?”

He inhaled, my head rising and falling with the movement. “You’re not the only one who has said I’m overcompensating for the fact Gio’s mom left him. My mom says it all the time.”

It made perfect sense.

“And maybe that’s what it was at first, but I don’t really need much. Honestly, the only time I’m in my room is to sleep, yet Gio sleeps in his room, plays in it, and he has room for Sally’s setup. He wouldn’t have been able to have all that in a smaller room, and I’d have to give up one of the guest rooms. I love that little beardie, but I don’t think she deserves an entire room to herself.”

I laughed into his hard chest. “I’m sure she wouldn’t mind.”

“Oh, she wouldn’t mind at all. She’d be in her glory. But as it is, when we’re home, she already has free range of the house.” We laughed, both knowing if Sally could, she’d take over this entire house.

Our laughter faded, our bodies intertwining with each other, and we drifted into a peaceful slumber.

Sunlight filtered in through the window, and the smell of bacon wafted across my nose. My eyes popped open, and I searched for Franc’s handsome face and warm body, even though I already knew I wouldn’t find him. The spot where he’d been lying was still warm, and I cuddled into it, letting my body ease into the morning.

My muscles hurt from the several rounds of sex, and my mind felt like jelly splattered on the floor. I should get up and help Franc, and I would… in a few more minutes. I closed my eyes, and when I opened them, Franc was there.

“Morning,” he said, flashing the smile that was starting to be an asset to my day.

“Morning,” I hummed as I stretched my arms and legs beneath the blankets.

Franc placed a tray on the bed, and I sat up, salivating at the spread of bacon, pancakes, and a cup of steaming coffee. “Breakfast in bed?”

“Considering you always cook me dinner, I thought it was the least I could do.”

“I didn’t know you knew how to cook.”

“Don’t let my popcorn disaster fool you. I know my way around a kitchen.”

I picked up a piece of bacon and took a bite. The snap echoed through the room, and I sighed at the salty goodness. “Good bacon.”

“I get it from Carmine. He’s the butcher right off Main Street. He has the best meats this side of the state.”

Franc picked up a piece and took a bite. My mouth dropped open. “You stole my bacon.”

“Oh I see how it is,” he said.

I grabbed his shirt and pulled him to me, plucking a piece of bacon off the plate and feeding it to him. “I’m happy to share all my bacon with you.” I gave him a chaste kiss, then glanced down at the plate piled high with pancakes. “And my pancakes. There is no way I can eat all this. Eat with me.”

He sat beside me, and I cuddled into his side. “I only brought up one fork.”

“Lucky for you, we only need one.” I cut a sliver off and stabbed it, bringing the fork to Franc’s mouth. He shook his head but didn’t deny me.

“I do have to get downstairs. Laurent will be dropping Gio off in a half hour.”

My eyes widened, and I scurried to get out of the bed. The chink of silverware echoed through the room, the sheets tangled around me, and I fought for my life to free myself, almost knocking the tray over.

“Hey, calm down,” Franc said, helping me disentangle myself.

Hair stuck to my mouth, and I let out a breath, blowing the unruly strands out of the way. “How can I calm down? I am in nothing more than a sheet. If you want to keep this”—I waggled my finger between us—“then I need to get dressed and get out of here.”

“It is unfortunate you’ll have to put clothes on, but you don’t have to leave. Laurent already knows what happened last night. He knows you stayed here.”

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