Closer to Love 💚

Chapter 15

"Son. Come on. We should go. I don't think she's coming."

Richard groaned, looking back at his mother. He saw her look past him, pointing. He turned back around to see Francesca running towards him with her suitcase.

"Franny!" He met her halfway, lifting her off the ground.

"I'm so sorry I'm late Richie. I had to back to the apartment and then the cab was so fucking slow."

He laughed, shaking his head as he crashed his lips into hers.

She rested her head against his, "I love you Richard."

He smiled, "I know."

She laughed as she saw him look behind her, she turned back to see Alison approach them, "did you invite her?"

"No! Of course I didn't Franny." He motioned to the plane, "go. I'll take care of her."

Francesca hesitated but did as he said. She entered the plane, having her suitcase taken from her. She turned to see Richard's family watching her. She blushed, holding up her hand, "I'm Francesca."

Richard's mother Pat stood up, pulling her into a hug, "it's nice to finally meet you. I'm Pat." She pointed to his father, "this is Richard as well." Francesca smiled and nodded as she pointed out his sisters Cara and Lauren.

"Finally meet me? He's talked about me?"

Pat nodded, smiling, "oh yes."

Francesca laughed as she looked out the window to see Richard approaching the plane. When he entered, he grabbed her hand, sitting next to her. "Once we take off, I need to talk to you." She nodded as they both buckled their seatbelts and he leaned over to kiss her on the cheek. "I love you Franny. I'm so glad you're here. I was getting worried you went back to Nick."

She nodded, "I went to talk to him earlier. He wanted me to choose him. But I'm in love with you Richard. I'm sorry I couldn't admit it out loud. And I'm sorry I'm late."

He shook his head, "don't worry. Better late than never." He smirked as she nodded before resting her head on his shoulder. Once the plane was at altitude, he removed his seatbelt, holding his hand out to her, "we need to talk." She nodded, following him to a separate room in the back.

"What's the matter?"

He handed her his phone to display the picture Alison took of them on his bed in the trailer. "She tried to blackmail me. She wanted on the trip, and to continue to be seen out together. Otherwise she'll leak the photo."

Francesca groaned, "Rich.." Before she could finish she felt his lips on hers, making her moan. She heard him grunt as she pushed him back into a seat with her straddling him. She felt him hard under her as he trailed kisses down her neck to her shoulder as he felt her rubbing against him.

He groaned, "not here Franny. My parents are in the other room."

"Please Richard. I haven't felt you in so long."

He smirked, "I know. But last time was rushed. I don't want to rush it again. I want to take my time with you. Touch you. Taste you." He chuckled as he heard her moan before making her get off him. "Be a good girl Franny. The flight isn't that long. We'll get settled and have dinner and then go back to our room."

She sighed and nodded as he laughed at her pouting. "Fine. What are you going to say about the picture?"

He sighed, "I don't know."

She sat down as she watched him pace. "Well everyone thinks you were dating her, right?"

"Yeah."

She shrugged, "when was the last time you were seen out together?"

He stopped to look at her, "I don't know, your birthday?"

Francesca stood up, placing her hands on his chest, "well that was almost a month ago. You can release the picture to your team, so that they know. And you can release a statement that you guys have been done since that night and that you've moved on and are happy. You are happy aren't you Madden?"

He laughed, grabbing her waist, smirking when she squealed as he pulled her body to his, "very happy Franny."

She giggled, "well there you go then. Get out ahead of her and whatever story she plans on spinning."

He nodded, "you're good at this, maybe you should come work for my team."

She laughed, "yeah. I don't know Richie. Let's go back before I take you right here."

Richard laughed, "you can wait until we're alone."

She groaned as she followed him, "I'll try."

"Anything the matter?"

Richard sighed as he sat across from his parents and Francesca sat next to him, "PR stuff." He slid his phone to his mother so she could see the picture.

"Richie!"

He shrugged at Francesca, "you can't see anything love. Can't tell it's you. All you see is my ass and your cast."

She laughed as Pat handed Richard his phone back.

"You call him Richie? He hates that."

Francesca blushed as Richard spoke up for her, nudging her on the shoulder, "not when she says it. It's grown on me."

She rested her head on his shoulder, "you're growing on me." She heard him laugh as she closed her eyes.