Vulnerable [Frollie]

Chapter 5

Frankie fidgeted nervously in her seat, playing with the crisp napkin in her lap. They were tucked away in a dim corner of a crowded restaurant, sitting across from each other, sipping red wine and dining on chicken with a white wine sauce.

Mollie observed Frankie’s squirming with a furrowed brow and a cocked head.

“Babe,” she began, “You’ve been acting weird all day. What’s up?”

Frankie grimaced; she had really hoped she was hiding her nerves well. She should have known though; Mollie could read her like an open book. She sighed, closing her eyes briefly.

“Are you okay, love?” Mollie pressed, reaching an arm across the table to take one of Frankie’s hands in her own, rubbing her thumb soothingly across Frankie’s knuckles.

“I want… I want to ask you something, but I’m nervous as to what your answer will be…’’ Frankie admitted, hanging her head.

“Franks,” Mollie murmured, “You know you can ask me anything. You don’t have to be nervous, baby,” she soothed, wrinkling her eyebrow.

“I know, I know, but it’s…it’s kind of big.” Frankie whispered, and Mollie had to lean closer to catch it.

Realization dawned on Mollie and she leaned back in her chair, closing her eyes for a second. She leaned forward again, though, as she wanted to hear Frankie say it herself. She nodded, urging her on gently.

“Molls,” She began, her hesitancy evident in her voice. She swallowed thickly, opening her mouth to continue, “Will you…when we get home…will you make love to me?”

Mollie felt her mouth drop open. She was expecting it, but to hear the words actually come from Frankie’s mouth took her by surprise. She lifted a hand and curled it around Frankie’s jaw gently, lifting her head so she would make eye contact with her.

“Look at me,” Mollie commanded softly, for Frankie had not once looked into her eyes during the whole exchange. Frankie lifted her eyes, locking them with Mollie’s and she sucked in a breath at the emotion she saw there. She could see something akin to elation, pride, relief, and maybe a little bit of fear.

“Are you sure?” Mollie asked, and Frankie had to close her eyes against the tenderness in her voice, and she knew in that one moment, that she would never be more ready.

“Yes,” she breathed, nodding. “I’m sure.’’

“Why tonight?”

“I’m just… I’m ready. I’m ready for you,’’ Frankie stressed, pausing nervously.

Mollie dropped Frankie’s hand, pushing her chair back and standing up, moving around the table to squish into the booth where Frankie was sitting. She cupped her face in both hands, bringing her forehead to rest against Frankie’s.

“I love you, you know that?” Mollie whispered, and Frankie nodded, leaning up to press her lips against her girlfriends in a soft kiss. After a moment she pulled away, nuzzling her nose into the side of Mollie’s face.

“I really do, babe. I do,’’ She whispered, leaning in to kiss her again. They kissed until they remembered where they were and pulled apart, and Mollie moved back to her seat and called for the bill.

~

They held hands as they walked home, and Mollie could feel the nerves pulsing in Frankie’s veins. She stopped them in the middle of the sidewalk and pulled Frankie in close by her jacket, wrapping her arms around her waist and kissing her passionately.

After a moment’s hesitation, Frankie began to kiss back, equally as passionately. She wrapped her arms around Mollie’s neck, clutching her closer to her body, playing with the hair at the nape of her neck. She pulled away when the need for air became prominent, resting her forehead on Mollie shoulder.

“Lets…let’s go home, Molls,” she said, her voice muffled by Mollie’s pea coat.

“Okay,” Mollie said, taking Frankie’s hand in her own again, “Okay,”

The rest of the walk home was spent in comfortable silence, walking hand in hand, watching their breath puff out in the chilly night. They approached the door of their flat, and as Mollie pulled out the key, she felt Frankie tense up. She turned around and placed a hand on her cheek, rubbing her thumb in soothing circles.

“You okay?” she murmured, pressing a kiss to Frankie’s temple, feeling her relax.

“Yes,” she whispered back, answering Mollie unasked question, “I’m sure I’m ready, Molls, don’t worry,” she reassured Mollie. Mollie nodded and pushed the key in the lock, nudging the door open with her hip and pulling Frankie in behind her.

-One hell of a discretion shot here-

Mollie wrapped one arm around Frankie’s shoulders, pulling her closer. She kissed her on top of the head and they just lay there, letting their breathing and their heart rates go back to normal.

Frankie sighed, pressing in closer. She moved her hand up to rest over Mollie’s heart, feeling it pulse under her palm.

“I didn’t know,” she whispered, almost inaudibly.

“You didn’t know what?” Mollie murmured.

“I didn’t know I was supposed to like it… sex, I mean,” she confessed.

“Do you know how much I love you, Franks?” Mollie asked, running her hand up and down Frankie’s back.

“I think you just showed me,” Frankie murmured in response.

“Please don’t ever forget, Frankie,” Mollie pleaded, carding her fingers through Frankie’s hair.

“Never,” Frankie promised, closing her eyes. She was tired, very, very tired. Her body felt like jelly, like if she tried to stand she would fall. She felt whole, she realized. She felt good, in a way she didn’t really know what to do with. So she just pressed herself closer to Mollie and let the gentle scratching of her fingers lull her to sleep. She would deal with this newfound wholeness in the morning, she decided. And by deal with it, she meant round two.