Chapter One
FRANKIE
“Still no luck?”
I set a cup of coffee in front of Aaron and stood across from him at the small kitchen counter. He’d come over to my place early to use my computer and had been job hunting for hours. When Aaron got out of jail, he’d wanted to move back in with me, but I said no. The past few months, I’d let him stay over more often than not, but he still had his own place. I was being careful.
“No, I fucking can’t even see straight anymore. I need a break.” He rubbed his eyes, then took a sip and let out a gusty sigh. “Thanks, babe. Hits the spot.”
The endearment sent a warm glow through me. In our joint therapy sessions, Aaron and I discussed his dislike for showing affection and how that made me feel unappreciated. Since he’d been back, he’d made the effort. It might not seem like much, but to me, it meant he listened and that my feelings were important to him.
I put on my most positive face for him. “Something’ll turn up. What about that one at the new supermarket that opened last week on Cross Bay Boulevard?”
He grimaced, his face darkening. “They said they didn’t have openings. But they still got the sign up in the window, ya know?”
I did know. And it worried me. Aaron had been out of jail for months now and had yet to find anything. And as much as I saw him trying to work through his anger issues, I worried he might slip and bring us back to that ugly place of last year.
“You want me to have Austin ask Rhoades? He’s got so many businesses, I bet he can find you something.”
“No,” he responded with an angry snap. “Your friend hates me. I don’t need no favors from him. I’m gonna do this on my own.”
“Okay, okay. It was only a suggestion.”
He stood, and God help me, I couldn’t stop that involuntary jerk of my heart when he walked around the counter to stand in front of me. I hated seeing him defeated and sad.
“I know it was.” He reached out and cupped my jaw, his palm rough and warm against my face. I wished every one of the doubters could see these tender moments between us instead of remembering the old Aaron. “I’m not blaming you. My problems are my fault.”
I put my arms around him, hugging him close. “We both were at fault. But now we can do better. I want to show everyone the person I remember from when we first met. Smart, funny, sexy.”
He palmed my ass, bringing me flush up against him so I could feel the hard ridge of his dick against my stomach. “Sexy, huh? I’m only sexy for you.…You know that, right?”
“Mmhmmm.” He got me ready in no time flat.
“What about you? You only sexy for me too? Or has one of those fancy suits been in your pants? You suck anyone’s dick lately?”
Ice-cold shock hit me, and my erection wilted as anger surged through me. “What?” I pushed away from him, my mouth hanging open, heart pounding. “The fuck? What the hell does that mean? You think I’m a whore? That I sell my ass to those guys in the club?”
“No.” His dark gaze dropped to the floor, then back up to meet mine. “I dunno. I hear stuff…nasty shit about what goes on in those back rooms.” He rubbed his jaw. “And I seen how you flirt.”
“Fuck that.” Anger and hurt surged through me, and my temper snapped. “Yeah, I give private dances. Have I ever jerked a guy off in the back? Fuck yeah, for a big enough tip. I’m not gonna lie to you. And I’ve let ’em kiss and touch me too. But I ain’t had sex with no one since you. Fuckinghell, Aaron. I haven’t even been on a date since we broke up.”
Frustrated, I stormed out of the kitchen, brushed past him, and slammed the bedroom door behind me. I stood in the center of the room, blinking back tears.
“Frankie, come on.” Aaron knocked on the door. “Don’t be like that. Come back out.”
It was on the tip of my tongue to tell him to go fuck himself and get out. Then I realized this was how it used to be between us: arguing, yelling, not listening, on and on until it spiraled out of control. Unlike before, Aaron hadn’t barged into the bedroom, demanding I talk to him. He was respecting my space. Now I needed to grow up and stop behaving like a child.
I opened the door to find an unhappy Aaron waiting, but I didn’t fear he’d get up in my face or scream at me.
“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have run out. That’s not the way to solve problems.”
“I’m sorry too. I shouldn’t have said that shit to you. You had every right to do whatever you wanted when I was away. You still do.” He grimaced. “It’s the thought of anyone else touching you—it drives me crazy. That’s all.”
I pointed to the sofa. “Let’s sit.” Without waiting for him to respond, I crossed the room and sat, arms crossed, legs folded under me, my body language making it obvious I wasn’t into any cuddling or kissing. Without a word, Aaron followed and took a seat opposite me.
“When you went away, I tried to forget you, and dancing gave me that chance. I could lose myself in the music and the different men who paid me. Not gonna lie, I liked the attention. After all the times you’d tell me I was nothing special, it made me feel good. And I was just angry enough to do some stupid things—things I might not be too proud of.”
“Are you blaming me?” His brows pinched together, the line of his mouth thinning.
