Frankie—Unforgettable
Chapter One
“Still no luck?”
I set a cup of coffee in front of Aaron and stood across from him at the small kitchen counter. He’d come over to my place early and using my computer, had been job hunting for hours.
“No. I fucking can’t even see straight anymore. I need a break.” He rubbed his eyes before taking a sip and letting out a gusty sigh. “Thanks, babe. Hits the spot.”
That endearment sent a warm glow through me. One of the things Aaron and I discussed in our therapy sessions was how I never felt appreciated and how he hated showing affection. Since he’d been back he’d made the effort. It might not seem like much to outsiders but to me it meant he was making the effort.
“Something’ll turn up. What about that one at the new supermarket that opened last week on Cross Bay Blvd?” I tried to put my most positive face on for him.
He grimaced, his face darkening. “They said they didn’t have openings. But they still got the sign up in the window, ya know?”
I did know. And it worried me. Aaron had been out of jail for almost three months now and had yet to find anything. And much as I saw him trying to work through his anger issues, I worried he might slip and bring us back to that ugly place of last year.
“You want me to have Austin ask Rhoades? He’s got so many businesses I bet he can find you something.”
“No,” he responded with an angry snap. “Your friend hates me and I don’t need no favors from him. I’m gonna do this on my own.”
“Okay, okay. It was only a suggestion.”
He let out a gusty sigh and stood and God help me I couldn’t stop that involuntary jerk of my heart when he walked around the counter to stand in front of me. I hated seeing him defeated and sad.
“I know it was.” He reached out and cupped my jaw, his palm rough and warm against my face. I wished every one of the doubters could see these tender moments between us instead of remembering the old Aaron. “I’m not blaming you. My problems are my fault.”
I put my arms around him hugging him close. “We both were at fault. But now we can do better. I want to show everyone the person I know you are. Smart, funny and sexy.”
He palmed my ass, bringing me flush up against him so I could feel the hard ridge of his dick against my stomach. “Sexy huh? I’m only sexy for you, you know that right?”
“Mmm hmm.” He got me ready in nothing flat.
“What about you? You only sexy for me too? Or has one of those fancy suits been in your pants? You suck anyone’s dick lately?”
Ice cold shock hit me and my erection wilted as anger surged through me. “What?” I pushed away from him, my mouth hanging open, heart pounding. “The fuck? What the hell does that mean? You think I’m a whore? That I sell my ass to those guys in the club?”
“No.” His dark gaze dropped to the floor then back up to meet mine. “I dunno. I hear stuff…nasty shit about what goes on in those back rooms.” He rubbed his jaw. “And I seen how you flirt.”
“Fuck that.” Angry and hurt, my temper snapped. “Yeah I give private dances. Have I ever jerked a guy off in the back? Fuck yeah, for a big enough tip. I’m not gonna lie to you. And I’ve let him kiss and touch me too. But I ain’t had sex with no one since you. And I don’t suck anyone’s dick. Fucking hell, Aaron. I haven’t even been on a date since we broke up.”
Frustrated, I stormed out of the kitchen, brushing past him and slammed the bedroom door behind me. I stood in the center of the room, blinking back against the tears.
“Frankie, come on.” Aaron knocked at the door. “Don’t be like that. Come back out.”
It was on the tip of my tongue to tell him to go fuck himself and get out. The I realized this was how it used to be between us: argue, yell, not listen, on and on until it spiraled out of control. Aaron hadn’t barged into the bedroom demanding I talk to him. He was respecting my space. Now I needed to grow up and stop behaving like a child.
I opened the door to find an unhappy Aaron waiting, but I didn’t fear he’d push me or scream at me.
“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have run out. That’s not the way to solve problems.”
“I’m sorry too. I shouldn’t have said that shit to you. You had every right to do whatever you want when I was away. You still do.” He grimaced. “I hate the thought of anyone else touching you. That’s all.”
I pointed to the sofa. “Let’s sit.” Without waiting for him to respond, I crossed the room and sat, arms crossed, legs folded under me, my body language obvious I wasn’t into any cuddling or kissing. Without a word, Aaron followed and took a seat opposite me.
“When you went away I tried to forget you and dancing gave me that chance. I could lose myself in the music and the different men who paid me. Not gonna lie, I liked the attention. After all the times you’d tell me I was nothing special it made me feel good. And I was just angry enough to do some stupid things—things I might not too proud of.”
“Are you blaming me?” His brows pinched together and the line of his mouth thinned.
“Did I say I was?” I countered, my gaze never breaking his. In the past I’d be all apologetic and fearful of his anger. Things change. I’d changed and it was about time Aaron knew it.
He blinked. “Uh, no.”
“Right. So I’m owning up to my mistakes. Isn’t that what we’re supposed to be doing?” At his nod I continued. “Yeah, I let guys touch me. And I may have gone too far sometimes but not since we talked it out and decided to give this…us another try. I want to make it work and show everyone how you’ve changed. And that we’re good together.”
“I want that too. I’m trying, but you know how I was brought up. Fighting, not talking things out, was the normal. It’s gonna take time for me to break myself of that habit.”
Mostly close-mouthed about his childhood, Aaron did confide he’d grown up surrounded by violence. Yelling and screaming came naturally to him. It was all he knew.
“I get it. And I’ve respected your wishes to keep your past in the past, but you haveta understand people are gonna judge you.”
“I know.” He got up and stood in front of me. “Can I sit next to you?”
At my nod, he joined me on the sofa and slid an arm around my shoulders. “All I thought about when I was locked up was you, babe. How I fucked things up and if you gave me the chance again I’d get on my knees to make sure you knew how much I wanted you back.”
“I don’t need grand gestures. I need the everyday stuff. Not making me feel like I’m bothering you when I wanna talk about my day. Or treating me like my needs aren’t as important as yours.”
“I know. And I promise I’m gonna try harder.”
“I don’t want you to have to try. I want it to come naturally.”
“It will. I promise.” He jumped up. “I’m gonna get us a drink and you can tell me about the latest design you’re working on.”
I watched him walk to the kitchen, admiring his firm butt. Aaron possessed the finest butt I’d every seen gracing a pair of jeans. “You want water?” He bent to pull out the bottles in the refrigerator I had chilling when his phone rang. His face lit up and he ran over to the table where he’d left his phone and grabbed it.
“Hello?”
The way he chewed on his lip and held the back of his neck, I knew the call had to be about a job. I held my breath and listened.
“Yeah. Yeah I can come in later today. Sure. No problem. Thank you.” He clicked off and let out a whoop.
“Yes! They called me from gardening center in the Terminal Market. Want me to start today.”
The Brooklyn Terminal Market was the biggest gardening center in the city and knowing Aaron’s love for growing things, it would be the perfect job for him. I jumped up to give him a hug. “That’s fantastic.”
He pulled me close and spun me around. “I gotta take a shower and get dressed. I know it’s casual and stuff but I don’t wanna look like a slob, ya know?” He kept his arms around me and I lay my head on his chest.
“You could never. But I get it. I’ll help you pick out your clothes if you want. And help you take a shower, too. I’m really good at scrubbing backs.”
He cupped my ass and I sighed, feeling his dick stiffen. One thing I never worried about how much Aaron wanted me. He could go from zero to a hundred when it came to sex. And from the way he was rocking against me, I’d say we were at eighty already.
To Be Continued…..
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