In Loving Memory, Frank Warren

Chapter 21: Presents for Frank

"I'm home!" Dean's voice rang out, jolting Frank from the nicest dream. It had involved a remote beach, clear water, Dean and no clothing. Damn, Dean couldn't have worked out tonight? Dreams were the only action allowed until this weekend.

"Hey, Baby." Dean leaned over him to plant a lingering kiss to his forehead. "Stay right there while I change. I have a surprise for you."

Blinking sleep bleary eyes, Frank sat up and threw off his blanket. His mouth felt fuzzy and he ran his tongue over his teeth. Water. He needed water. Pushing up to his feet Dean's request to 'stay right there' returned. He sat to wait and wake up.

It was not too long before Dean exited the bedroom in shorts and a t-shirt which actually fit for a change. It was comfortably loose without being too big and dark green, which made Dean's eyes pop.

"Nice shirt," he approved. "I like it."

"You're welcome," Dean replied with a chuckle. "Honest, I thought t-shirts were supposed to be form fitting."

"If you want sluts hanging all over you," Frank agreed.

"Stop it," Dean warned, shoving the blanket out of his way in order to sit next to Frank. "Are you ready? For your surprise? Well, actually, I have two."

Dean's muscular body quivered with excitement. Frank did not feel awake enough for this and wished he could score a cup of coffee, but it was not allowed this late in the day. His brain could not fully function in the here and now, mainly because he was still thinking about the dream beach and what they had been doing in the surf.

Frank attempted to force his focus on the gorgeous man at his side, someone he no more deserved than, well, whatever, and his brain slid back into the surf. He could not think right now.

"Sure. What's my surprise?"

"First..." Dean paused to chew on his lower lip. "Which one first?" His eyes darted from side to side as he stared down at the floor. Then his gaze sprang up to Frank. "Just a sec. Let me get it."

Rubbing both hands over his face he desperately tried to dry out his thoughts. He needed to be here, all of him. If Dean acted this excited then there was a high likelihood he would need to react just as excited when presented with his surprise.

With a leap worthy of an olympian Dean sprang over the back of the couch to land with a bounce. Catching his love on the rebound, literally, Frank gave him a quick hug before releasing him.

"Here." Dean held out a flat rectangular box, his eyes shining and a beaming smile on his face. "I hope you like it."

"I will," Frank assured him. The box had some weight to it. Jewelry. Though he was not into wearing it himself, Frank had always appreciated a nice piece on other people. Take Dean's necklace for example, it looked fabulous on Dean. Then again, it might be Dean making it fabulous.

The same jewelry store name was embossed on the lid and Frank hoped not to open a matching choker. Gay guys who insisted on wearing matching jewelry were trying too hard. They should just...

After lifting the lid he stared at the contents, his mind processing and running the numbers which were adding up spectacularly. Inside rested a silver bracelet with thick hefty chains, very manly. But it was the engraved flat section which captured his imagination, his entire attention. There in bold capitals blazed the word 'MINE'.

Breath catching, Frank was almost afraid to touch it, it might vaporize into the surf. With great trepidation he ran one finger over the word, felt the depth of the engraved letters, tested the permanence of the writing. Growing bolder he took the bracelet from the box to gaze at the proclamation. The sound of the box tumbling to the floor reached his ears but his brain was too busy processing the treasure in his hands to take notice.