Aaron backed away, uncertain, what would Jackson do?, he'd heard him say sorry but did he mean it or was it just words, he couldn't believe that the builder had been so unfeeling towards him, Jackson was now on his feet there were tears in his eyes

"Please Aaron Please you've got to believe Me" the builder implored

"At the moment I don't have to believe anything you say" Aaron felt himself shake, his voice was raw and his eyes stung with unshed tears "Why? Jackson,"

"I don't know"

"C'mon, you can do better than that, do you want rid of Me?"

"NO, I love you Aaron"

"Felt like it with you either biting My lip or sticking your tongue down My throat, and oh yeah you made Me feel so good with your hands I never thought there would be a time when I didn't want your hands on My body, but I was wrong" the tears unbidden had started to fall the mechanic unaware didn't even try to wipe them away "Do you even know what love is?"

"I do, I feel it everyday with you, you make Me feel loved everyday, I just, I just" Jackson couldn't keep eye contact he was so ashamed

"Talk to Me Jackson" Aaron felt like his heart was about to split in two, this man was his very reason for breathing but he was losing him but he didn't know why or to whom so he didn't know how to fight back

"Aaron, please come and sit down"

The Mechanic walked in a sat on the single chair as far away from Jackson as he could be, well serves your self right the builder thought

"I saw Brett today" the builder waited for a reaction, there wasn't one "He's dealing with the sale of High Farm barn"

"But I thought he was in London" the mechanic was confused

"So did I, but there he was, if I'd have known I could have been better prepared but I just walked in to what felt like an ambush, he was saying allsorts of things, none of them very nice, I'm afraid he got to me and so I came home and took it out on you" even as he was saying the words he realised that he'd let Brett win and if he lost Aaron over it, then he would be the biggest fool, his tears too now started to fall

Aaron sat looking at his boyfriend, if it had been anyone else you wouldn't have seen the mechanic for dust, he'd walk away and never look back, but this was Jackson and he knew he couldn't do that, the builder was everything to him and although he didn't understand how Brett could have affected him this much he obviously had and now it was time to let him know that he didn't have to face him alone, he still had him, He got up and knelt in front of the builder

"I love you Jackson" the mechanic spoke clearly but quietly

"How can you?" the builder sniffed "After what I did to you?"

"I can love you and I do, now lets just forget the last half an hour ever happened okay?"

"But"

"No buts Jackson"

Aaron lent forward and placed his sore lips to those of his boyfriend, there was a moments hesitation before he started to move them, he felt a little pain but he ignored it, he needed to let the builder know that he was here and that everything was going to be okay

Jackson felt Aarons lips connect with his, after everything he'd done Aaron was still willing to be with him, he couldn't quite believe that he was still there and was willing to kiss him after the brutal attack he'd inflicted on his partner, he felt the mechanics lips start to move he couldn't resist, he gave a little whimper before he too gently started to kiss back, he broke away and gathered Aaron into his arms

"I'm Sorry, Please believe Me, I never meant to hurt you" he lifted a finger and ran it along the mechanics sore lips, the tears starting again

"Hey, Hey it's okay, I understand" to prove his point Aaron returned his lips to those of the builder and deepened the kiss

Aaron was aware that Jackson had kept his hands by his side and had made no attempt to touch him and he knew why, this had to stop, now, he took hold of Jackson's hand and placed it on his chest, he felt his boyfriend try to withdraw it but held it tightly against his shirt, he then pushed it down until it landed in his lap before guiding it to his groin, with his hand over that of the builder he pushed up against it, the first stirring of his penis evident against their palms

Jackson hand was on fire, he was scared what if he hurt Aaron again?, what if he rushed him? And then he heard it, Aaron groaned he was sure he had, he felt the mechanics hips rise again up to their still clasped palms, he heard him groan again and then the words, like sweet music to the builder

"Jackson, make love to Me"

And he did, it was slow and gentle expressing with his body what he'd thought he couldn't put into words, late into the night over and over he gave himself to Aaron, and when exhausted he again gathered the mechanic into his arms and silently thanked god that this amazing man chose to allow him to be a part of his life

When Jackson woke up the next morning he found himself alone in their bed, a feeling of panic rising up, had Aaron dressed secretly in the night and left him?, his heart was pounding, it was his fault all his fault!, then he heard it, louder now, a smile bursting across his features Aaron was in the kitchen and what's more he was singing away with the radio, he had to see him, just to make sure it wasn't his imagination, he pulled on his boxers and went in search of his boyfriend

Aaron was engrossed he was boiling eggs for breakfast 4 minutes and they'd be done, then arms were around him he knew it was Jackson so carried on what he was doing

"What time are you finishing college today" he asked never taking his eyes off the timer

Jackson was stumped, not the kind of conversation he was expecting to have "bout 4.30 why?"

"You'll be going to see the farmer " it was a statement not a question

Now he understood

"He shouldn't miss out just coz he chose a lousy firm of solicitors" he turned Aaron round "I'm hoping to close the deal privately" suddenly something occurred to the builder "How did the farmer know I was looking for a project?" Alarm bells were ringing in his head, these were interrupted by the timer going off

They sat at the table their breakfast untouched

"Brett knew I was here, he knew about college and the course I'm doing, what if"

"WHAT?" Aaron still didn't understand

"What if he arranged for the farmer to sell the barn, what if he suggested the flyers? What if there is more to this than meets the eye?" Jackson was beginning to piece it together "Aaron I don't think any of this is coincidence, I think Brett is here to cause trouble"

" He can try!"