We’re inches apart now and I can feel the warmth coming off her.
“I won’t,” I murmur. “Jelly.”
She rolls her eyes but there’s a smile fighting its way through. “I regret this already.”
Relief hits me before I can stop it. I huff a small laugh but there’s still something we gotta address.
Why did she ask me here? Why now?
Why soften me up like this?
My guard is still halfway up.
“So,” I say, voice lower now, testing the air between us, “what game we playing?”
Her smile shifts again. And that’s when I realise I might not be the only one who was thinking I had the upper hand.
“Oh,” she says, stepping even closer. Her hands move to my trouser, tugging at it so it can give way.
“I see,” I grab her hands. “The game was a trap to lure me into this she-cave you call a room.”
Her head turns as she takes in my realization. “Wow. You’re only just now getting that?”
“I’m a straight talker. I don’t speak in code.”
“Okay well. I wanna fuck. You came over to fuck right? So let’s fuck. Lay down.” She points at the bed.
“No.” I’m surprised at myself.
Her face screws up. “No?”
“I wanna talk to you some more.”
“Why?”
“I want to do this with you for a while so I wanna talk about it.” I say honestly.
“Jabari—”
“And I want to know some things about you. You confuse me more and more every time we interact. What’s with this new look you got for yourself? Why’d you choose to act like you didn’t know me? Why’d you even sleep with me? Why’d you run out after? Why’d you invite me here if you’re so opposed? Why are you and Za?—”
I’m cut off by her pulling her hands out of my hold.
“Enough,” Frankie says simply. “I thought you came over here to hook up but if you want to play head doctor you can fuck off back to your hotel, yeah?”
“You could talk to me, you know?” I press. “I’m a good listener.”
“Yet you’re still here after I said to fuck off.”
“Let’s start with something simple. Why’d you fuck me that night?”
She looks at me with annoyance in those green eyes. But I see the pain behind it. She’s more sensitive than she cares to admit but it’s so obvious to someone who is paying attention.
“I could ask you the same question. Million girls in London begging for your attention as you love to point out. What do you get from hanging your briefs with me?”
“That’s simple. I find you very attractive, Frankie.”
She rolls her eyes. “Oh please. I haven’t said a kind thing to you since you got back. We fight more than anything and I’m the polar opposite of you in every way there is. What’s your attraction to me based on?”
