And Playing the Role of Herself (Frankiana)

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

The sounds of a shower running along with quiet singing woke me the next morning, pulling me from dreams that I couldn't remember, but that left me slightly unsettled. I rolled onto my back and opened my eyes, blinking groggily at the unfamiliar room. My eyes fell on a pile of clothes on the floor, and I smiled slowly, remembering the night before and just who it was singing Lover, slightly off-key, in the next room.

I yawned and stretched, humming in satisfaction at the pull from muscles long unused. With any luck, I'd have many chances to whip those muscles back in shape. I tucked an arm behind my head, smiling at the thought. The shower turned off but the singing continued and I watched Franki exit the bathroom wearing a short, black robe - damn, that woman looked good in black - and toweling her hair dry.

"All's well that ends well to end up with you, Swear to be over-dramatic and true to my l..."

She stopped abruptly when she caught sight of me.

"Morning," I smiled. "I can't remember the last time I was serenaded in bed."

"Hi..." She looked around the room, anywhere but at me, obviously uncomfortable and at a loss for words. I fought back a stab of panic. She couldn't be done with me already, could she?

Not if I could fucking help it.

I pushed the covers off and threw my legs over the side of the bed, never losing eye contact. "Come here."

I think we were both surprised by the authority in my tone, and she blinked and dropped the towel to her shoulder, staring at me.

"Please," I added, holding out a hand to her.

She hesitated, obviously warring with herself over something, before finally draping the towel across the back of the chair and slowly approaching the bed. She stopped a few feet from me and I reached out to pull her forward the last few feet until she came to a stop standing between my legs.

I stared up into her face for a moment, looking for a hint of what we shared the night before. Come on; don't do this to me...

I untied the belt of her robe and spread the material, drinking in the sight of her. She did nothing as I slowly ran my hands up her thighs and over her stomach, but when I nuzzled the hair at the juncture of her thighs and placed a gentle kiss on small swell just about it, I felt a tremor run through her body and a shaky sigh escape her lips.

I wrapped my arms around her waist and laid my cheek against her stomach, squeezing tightly. "Please Franki," I whispered, "don't pull away from me. I don't think I could stand it."

She let out another shaky breath, and I felt a gentle hand on my head, stroking softly through my hair. "Oh, Dianer...you scare me, you know that don't you?"

"You scare me, too," I mumbled in response, and her hand paused briefly before resuming its stroking.

We stayed that way for a few minutes, and finally I looked up to find her gazing down at me with a tenderness that calmed my fears. She cupped my face with both hands and leaned down to kiss me. "I'm sorry. I'm not used to someone staying the night...I guess I freaked out just a little. Let's start again, okay?"

She kissed me again, this kiss much more involved, and when she finally pulled away, she was on top of me in a tangle of limbs, her robe discarded somewhere on the floor, and her breasts warm and supple in my hands.

She sighed and lifted off of me slightly. "Good morning." She gave me a gentle kiss. "I had a wonderful, wonderful time last night, thank you."

"I..." I didn't know how to begin telling her what last night had meant to me, and I was fairly certain we weren't ready for declarations of love, regardless of my nocturnal realizations. I settled for a heartfelt, "me too," satisfied for the moment with the pleased smile.