Chapter 34
Everyone left, and it was just her and Keel. She needed to say something but wasn’t sure how to bring up the subject. The storm had interrupted her before, and that was for the best. Now, after working beside him to clean up the neighborhood, she saw him more clearly.
It was late, and they needed sleep, but she felt she had to say something before she lost the moment. Maybe they were rushing their relationship, and maybe she should just let it all go, but she wanted more with Keel, and if she didn’t have this conversation, she feared whatever they had would die.
“Hey, can we talk?”
Keel turned to face her, his expression unreadable. She wanted to tell him it would be okay, but she was unsure. The words were on her tongue, but with him staring at her, she lost confidence.
He moved closer and took her hands as the hardness on his face softened. “What is it?”
“Before, like before the storm, I was unsure. I’ve not made good decisions, and I felt off about everything.
But I know now that you aren’t like him, and that you weren’t manipulating me just to have sex.
I wanted to be with you, but in my mind, things got twisted.
I panicked because I don’t think I’m good enough. I don’t know how to trust myself.”
Keel pulled her closer and wrapped his arms around her. She could hear the slow thump of his heart and feel the vibration of his voice as he spoke. “Sweet Frankie, you deserve all the good things. I don’t know that I do.”
She pulled back and met his gaze with fierce determination. “You are an amazing man. You deserve great things.”
“But inside I have doubts. My ex did a number on me, just like yours did on you. Your situation involved more physical violence, but we both had bad experiences.”
She nodded. “We did. I think I was focused on my bad situation and wasn’t really thinking of yours.”
“It’s human nature. We both have things we’ve dealt with.
You had your things, and I’ve had mine. And honestly, I really never thought I would get into another relationship.
I didn’t want one. I think you coming into my life was more than just good timing, because with anyone else, I would have walked away.
I don’t know what it is, or how it works, but I have deep feelings for you. ”
His words were like salve on a wound. “Same. I have these really deep feelings for you.”
Keel drew in a deep breath and let it go slowly. “So the next question is, what do we do?”
“What do you mean?”
“I don’t want to screw this up. Before I met you, I really had no intentions of ever getting into a relationship again, but I can’t walk away from you.
I know you were pressured into staying with Forest, and I don’t want you to feel pressure.
So I guess what I mean is how do we build something that will last? ”
She shook her head. “I don’t know. I think I need therapy.”
“That’s a good place to start.”
“I also know that you turn me on, and I don’t want to not have sex. I think we would both feel feral if we cut each other off like that.”
Keel threw back his head, laughter spilling out. His laughter felt good, getting her in on the action. After a moment, he sobered and ran his hand down her back to her ass. She pressed against him, feeling his cock growing harder.
“I’m feeling a little feral now.”
She reached between them and squeezed his dick. “I can feel that.”
A low growl rose from his chest, and then his lips were on her, his tongue demanding entrance. She opened for him, allowing him to take what he wanted.
He ripped his mouth from hers and tore off his shirt. She did the same, shimmying out of her pants quickly. They were naked in the kitchen. She glanced around, thankful they’d closed the curtains.
“We need a condom, but don’t move.”
She raised her eyebrows and nodded. She would stay right here as he dashed off to get a condom.
There was more than just the physical part of sex with Keel.
The feelings rolling through her were unlike anything she’d ever felt.
It was like an invisible force drawing her to him, and she was glad he felt it, too.
Maybe they would be able to work through everything and come out on the other side with happiness still intact.
Keel couldn’t believe sex could be so explosive.
The combination of Frankie pressed up against him, and the feelings running through him took him to a different level of desire.
He never wanted to lose her. It wasn’t just that she was special.
She did wonderful things for him that would be hard to describe in any words other than love.
After he came, he held her, hoping they could get past whatever problems they were having. His past didn’t have to dictate his future. He didn’t have to swear off all women because he’d had a bad experience, and she didn’t have to walk away because of the bad things she’d gone through.
She leaned back, her eyes glassy as she studied him. “Inside, like right here,” she put his hand on her chest between her breasts, “there are things I feel.”
He nodded, understanding what she meant. “I never thought I would love again, but I think I can.”
A line developed between her eyebrows. “Are we rushing it?”
“I don’t think so.”
“How can we love each other so soon?”
He couldn’t answer that. “I don’t know. I know I don’t want to lose you. The feelings I have are big, like they won’t stay inside me. I need to tell you how I feel.”
Frankie leaned her forehead against his. “I can’t deny how I feel about you. It’s not infatuation or lust, it’s much more.”
He held onto her, not wanting her to slip away. “I love you. I hope that doesn’t scare you.”
“It does, but everything scares me. The fact that I’ve fallen in love with you scares me.”
He moved enough to brush his lips over hers. The kiss was slow, perfect in its simplicity and sweetness. “We should really talk about what we want for our future. I want to make sure your future is taken into account when we plan things.”
She blew out a breath. “I don’t know what I want for my future.”
“What about working?”
She jerked back, her eyes wide. “I didn’t tell you. We had sex, then the storm. I didn’t think it was time.”
“Tell me what?”
She shook her head, the disbelief still so strong. “The lawyer’s representative showed up and told me how much money there was in the account. I thought it would be a few thousand, maybe a hundred thousand at the most.”
“Yeah, sounds reasonable. So how much was it?” He worried that it wouldn’t be enough for her. He didn’t mind helping her get through the rough parts.
“It’s millions. Like so much money, I could never spend it.”
Shock coursed through him. “Really?”
She nodded. “Yes. I want to give some to a charity. I’ve been thinking about domestic violence shelters and programs. Something that would help women escape abusive relationships, giving them somewhere to go.”
“That’s great.”
“I need to investigate a few places and see what I can do.”
“I’m impressed.”
“What do you mean?”
“I could tell you were a good person from the moment I met you.”
She shook her head. “I don’t need that much money to survive.”
“True, but still, it’s impressive that you weren’t thinking of yourself only.”
“I mean, I did think it would be easier to live, easier to do things like get a car and be able to pay for things like food and clothes, but I want to help.”
“Thank you.”
“What are you thanking me for?”
“For giving to others. Not enough people are willing to give.”
Frankie stepped closer and wrapped her arms around his waist. He threw an arm around her shoulder and kissed the top of her head. Holding her felt right. He’d told her he loved her, and she hadn’t pulled away. She’d said those words to him, and it felt good.
The connection he had with Frankie was more than just feelings.
It was deeper. He could see them staying together.
Maybe things would change, and they wouldn’t feel love forever.
But he hoped they could work past anything that threatened to split them up and stay together.
Working on this relationship with her would be worth it.