CHAPTER 6
Frank looked a little surprised, but also pleased. He slowly moved back onto the bed, and the two moved to get the covers out from beneath their bodies. Once that was accomplished, the two laid down beside one another.
Frank turned onto his side and propped his head up in the palm of his hand, and looked over at Veronica. A smile played at the corner of his lips. Veronica smiled back at him, her brows meeting.
“What?” she asked him, mirroring his position to look back at him.
“Nothing,” he said. “You’re just so beautiful.”
Veronica smiled, and leaned forward to press a soft kiss to his lips.
“It’s been a while since I’ve done the pillow talk thing,” Veronica admitted, and Frank frowned a little.
“Really?” he asked, moving his hand to gently trace over her upper arm.
“Really,” Veronica softly confirmed. She knew she probably shouldn’t be talking about her relationship, but she was feeling strangely open and vulnerable, and she didn’t really feel like closing up just yet.
“I mean, it was rare enough that we had sex,” Veronica spilled out. “And I mean when we did he sort of just… went to sleep. I guess it gets that way after you’ve been together a while.”
Frank said nothing, but Veronica drew from his expression that he didn’t agree with her.
“What?” Veronica prodded, wanting him to bare all since she was doing the same.
“I mean nothing,” Frank shook his head. “I just didn’t have that experience, is all.”
It was veronica’s turn to be disbelieving.
“You mean for as long as you were married, things never got even a little stale?” Veronica raised her eyebrow. She knew it was bold to bring up his wife, but she was in a bit of a bold mood anyway.
Fortunately, Frank smiled and gave her a chuckle.
“No, it never did,” he said with a shrug. “I was just always amazed and interested in her. She was… magical to me, I guess.”
Veronica felt a chill, and a small pang of jealousy at the mention of his wife.
“I wish I could relate,” Veronica shrugged.
Frank was quiet for a moment, and he frowned.
“So…” he started. “I take it your relationship with Calvin isn’t exactly living up to your expectations.”
Veronica frowned and thought for a moment. There was a part of her that wanted to change the direction of this conversation. But there was another part of her that wanted to open up about her frustrations. In the end, the latter was the part of her that won out.
“I didn’t really have any expectations, exactly,” Veronica said quietly. “And in the beginning things really were great. He was smart, and he was going somewhere. He still is. So, I just always felt lucky to be with him.”
Frank listened quietly, his eyes locked on her.
“I think domestic life got to me,” Veronica speculated aloud. “Just the whole do dishes, wash laundry, go to work, repeat cycle. And I always tell myself that’s what life is about… but there’s a part of me that really thinks there is something that I’m missing.”
“Like what?” Frank asked, his voice barely more than a murmur.
Veronica suddenly felt very vulnerable, and she blushed a little.
“I don’t know…” Veronica whispered. “But I think I’m getting close to finding out…”
Veronica looked into Frank’s eyes, and he smiled. Again, she felt her heart fill with tenderness as she looked over at him. The tenderness, though, was immediately followed by a rush of guilt, and she cast her eyes down and frowned.
“What’s the matter?” Frank asked, and Ran his hand down to rest on her hip.
Veronica was silent for a moment before she looked back up at him.
“I’m cheating on my boyfriend,” she said with a dry laugh. Franks face fell a little slowly, and she could see his jaw clench.
“I definitely never imagined myself in this situation,” Veronica admitted, moving to lie down on her back, allowing her to look up at Frank.
“I have to say I never thought I’d be in this situation either,” Frank said softly, moving his hand to trace his fingertips over her stomach. “But then again, I never thought I’d feel about someone this way again…”
Veronica looked up at him, and gave him a smile.
“I never thought I could in the first place,” Veronica said softly. She reached up and ran her hand over Frank’s smooth jaw.
They were quiet for a good little while after that. Veronica scooted her body closer to his, and Frank laid down and wrapped his arm around her waist.
“I know this whole thing is unconventional,” Frank murmured softly. “But if it’s any consolation, I really do feel a connection with you.”
Veronica let out a sigh, and then laughed.
“This is crazy,” she shook her head. “But I feel it too. But I just can’t help but feel like it’s all happening so fast. Like this initial spark we feel is just going to fade, and I’ll be left with nothing.”
“Hey, hey,” Frank soothed her, cupping her palm in his hand. “You’re never going to be left with nothing. Even if nothing more happens between us, I’m not just going to leave you high and dry. I care about you.”
“Well that’s good to know,” Veronica said, though she was reluctant to believe him.
“And yeah, we did just meet,” Frank said softly. “So maybe we should just take some time and try to get to know each other a little more, okay? We can talk, and just be around each other. We’ll both work, and you can still have your own time in the afternoons if you ever want to go anywhere. We can take things as slow or fast as you want. I really think there might be something here between us. And I’m not willing to just lose the chance of ever finding out.”
Veronica was a little taken aback to find that he was so adamant and certain that there could be something between them.
“As for me, I just have to be honest,” Frank went on, his tone very serious. “I want you to be mine. I want you now and forever. I know what I like, and I know when my soul is connected to someone else’s. We’re connected Veronica. And I will do whatever it takes to make you mine.”
Veronica raised her brows. She certainly hadn’t expected him to speak so plainly and openly, and she hadn’t expected him to feel so strongly.
“You don’t have to respond right now,” Frank said softly, giving her a small smile. “I just want you to know.”
Veronica let out a soft laugh.
“I think you made all your feelings pretty clear,” she said. Frank smiled and pulled her closer.
“I’m a pretty open guy,” Frank smiled. “For a really long time I thought that holding in my emotions was going to make me stronger but… it really only made me hurt.”
Veronica looked up at him and gave him a soft smile and a kiss.
“I’m glad you figured it out,” she said to him.
“I went through a lot of therapy as soon as I had the money,” Frank said with a hint of humor, but Veronica knew he was likely not joking.
Veronica gave him a somewhat sad smile. Frank leaned forward and pressed his lips to hers, and Veronica kissed him back tenderly. Her hands pressed against his chest, and her body arched into him a little. She had never felt so physically connected to someone in her life. And in spite of how much she regretted cheating on Calvin, and her uncertainty of where this relationship with Frank would lead, in this very moment, she was happy.
They broke off from their kiss, and each of them gave the other a smile.
“We’d better get to sleep,” Veronica said softly. “We both have jobs to attend to.”
Frank chuckled and pulled her closer.
“You’re right, of course,” he murmured as he nuzzled into her hair. “I guess it’s goodnight then.”
“Goodnight then,” Veronica murmured back. “I’ll see you in the morning.”
“I’ll see you now,” Frank purred, and placed a kiss on her neck.
Veronica laughed. As she faded away into sleep, she basked in the feelings of contentedness that she was feeling after having gone so long without them.