19. Chapter 19 #2
Fingers closed around hers, and when she turned, the barest hint of a smile tugged at Evan’s mouth as they looked up at her.
“Ohmigod, that’s TMI, people.” Sloane shuddered, shouldered her bag, and gave them a little wave. “Night, you kinky shits.”
Frankie locked the door and closed the blinds before reluctantly letting go of Evan’s hand.
“You stood up for me.” Amazement colored her words.
Why would Evan do that? Was putting on an act for Sloane another piece of their long-term game?
Just how far would they take it? Frankie’s stomach dropped a little.
She turned away to check that the windows were still locked, a sizable lump in her throat that hadn’t been there a moment ago.
She saw Evan in the window’s reflection, checking they were locked as well.
There was finally an ease between them, as if they now shared an inside joke Sloane and everyone else wasn’t privy to.
Evan hadn’t gone past first base with her, let alone learned which respective terms she preferred.
Is their plan to make me crave their body, their mind, or their heart before they attempt to kill me?
“I was hoping to have that talk tonight, if it’s not too late,” Evan said, tugging on the final window to make sure it was secure.
Their build might have been small, but Evan packed a lot of lean muscle in their torso and arms. Frankie loved watching them at work throughout the day, lifting the trays of dishes, or when they helped carry cases of drinks to the bar.
“Frankie?”
She met Evan’s watchful gaze. “It is late, but if it’s important to you that we do it now, you’ve got my undivided attention, little thief.”
“Why do you call me that, ‘little thief’?” Evan swallowed, their resplendent gaze with those gorgeous long eyelashes lowering to Frankie’s mouth. “You used to be a cop. You should hate that about me.”
“If we’re to play that game, then you should also hate that I used to be a cop.
” Frankie stepped closer, reaching for Evan almost helplessly.
She brushed her fingertips lightly along their exquisite jawline.
Standing so close, sharing one breath, it was unfathomable that Evan was out to hurt her.
They appeared so soft, submissive in the way they responded to her. “Once a pig, always a pig, correct?”
Evan’s eyes fluttered closed from the touch, their breath growing ragged. “But I don’t hate you.”
“No.” But you want to, desperately . Frankie could see it plain as day now—the constant push and pull of desire versus expectation.
“My little thief, I don’t hate you either.
” Their mouths were a hairbreadth away from touching when Frankie got hold of herself.
She blinked, and then sighed, stepping away.
For a second, she’d forgotten her own decree.
No kissing Evan until they’d set some ground rules.
A gust of air left Evan, and they raked their nails through the fine hair on their scalp. Evan’s cheeks were rosy, and their blue and brown eyes glittered with the promise of that would-be kiss. Their pouty lips looked so tempting Frankie almost went back on her word. Almost.
“Let’s go upstairs. I’ll put on tea, and we’ll chat,” she forced out, not waiting for Evan to follow. Frankie shut the lights out in the dining area, then headed for the back staircase. Evan’s soft footsteps followed, and neither one spoke until they were locked inside the apartment.
“I don’t like tea.”
Frankie held in her smile, unstrapping her pumps before walking barefoot into her kitchen. “I remember you telling me that. What would you like instead? I could warm you up some milk.”
Frankie caught the flash of teeth Evan bared her way as she filled the kettle. “Maybe you are a Mommy Domme.”
“I was being serious.” Laughing, Frankie shrugged out of her blazer jacket, heading into her bedroom to drape it over her chaise chair.
She left the door open, raising her voice as she unbuttoned her blouse and tore off her bra.
The moment the cool air reached her bare skin, she moaned in contentment.
Ahhh. Much better. “I don’t like alcohol getting in the way of deep topics. ”
“Well, I never had warmed up milk. Sounds disgusting,” Evan replied from the doorway.
The typical sarcastic edge to their voice had shifted into something soft and husky.
Frankie turned fully to face them, fought the urge to grab her blouse again to cover herself, and allowed Evan to see her body.
No one had seen her half naked in a very long time.
There was never a good reason for it, at least no excuse she assumed others might have.
But being naked usually led to touching, and Frankie hadn’t dared go down that road.
She didn’t consider herself a service top for nothing.
“Fair play, I suppose. I’ve seen most of your body,” Frankie acknowledged, and the blatant desire that shone in Evan’s eyes made her breasts feel heavier and the nerves under her skin ripple in excitement.
It made her want to pull Evan to her and have them feast on her nipples, regardless that having them so close would no doubt bring up questions about the scar on her chest she wasn’t ready to answer.
If Evan saw it, Frankie couldn’t lie. Withholding information was significantly easier to live with than an outright lie.
“You’re fucking gorgeous.”
“Thank you, Evan. So are you.” Frankie ignored her body’s demand for Evan’s lingering gaze and went to her closet in search of a hoodie.
“I’m serious. You could be a model. I’d love to draw you sometime.”
Frankie smiled softly, pulling the material over her head. She worked hard for her body, trained it in and out of the gym, and loved how it was both curvy and strong. She gave up years ago trying to shape her body the way other, thinner girls were and embraced what she had to work with.
“Maybe one day I’ll let you. For tonight, though, I believe a conversation is overdue, don’t you agree?
” Frankie held her hand out to Evan and wanted to laugh at their crestfallen expression.
The idea of drawing her must have been right up there with how she’d wanted them to pleasure her breasts.
And that was an odd desire for her. She’d never let anyone near her breasts except for the few minutes it took for the body piercer to accessorize her nipples.
And Naz swore never to mention it to her friend McCoy.
Frankie led the way back into the kitchen area, directing Evan to the diner booth. “Have a seat, honey. Let me get my tea, and we can chat.”