“Seeing you makes it better.”
She narrows her eyes suspiciously. “Are you having a laugh?”
“No, not at all,” I say, holding her gaze. “I’m glad you’re here. Seeing you actually made me decide to stay.”
“Jabari McKingsley,” she says slowly, like she’s trying the sound of it, “are you flirting with me?”
“Wasn’t it obvious?”
Her brow lifts. “No, not really.”
“Come off it,” I lower my balaclava just enough to expose my lips.
Which she notices.
“I don’t know what it is about you but you make my head spin in ways I don’t completely understand.”
“Same here,” I confess. “I don’t know if I want to kill you or kiss you half the time.”
She tips her head, teasing. “Oh, please. If you wanted to kiss me, you would’ve just done it already.”
She’s so different tonight.
The sharp edges I’m used to are gone, replaced by something soft, playful.
I drag my thumb along the condensation of my glass, eyes on her mouth.
“You’re right.”
Instinctively, I stretch my legs out.
It’s not even a conscious thing. When you’re a tall man such as myself, you take space where you can get it. Especially in atight, overstimulating environment like this awful club with low benches, cramped seating, nowhere to breathe.
Unfortunately , that means less room on this already tiny bench for Francine who is obviously staring at my crotch.
She doesn’t even care that I see her.
I summon her with two taps on my thigh.
“Hell no,” she shoots back instantly.
“Why not?” I say, raising a brow. “I promise you it’s more comfortable than this piece of shit bench.”
She scoffs. “Are you insane? You aresooff-limits for me the limit does not even exist. You’re not just forbidden fruit, you’re the whole damn tree. Do you know what Zaza would do to me if she evendreamt?—”
I roll my eyes and grab her before she can finish the sentence, lifting her easily and settling her into my lap.
“For Christ’s sake, Frankie,” I mutter. “You’re sitting on my lap, not on my face. Though, thatcouldbe arranged.”
A gasp escaped before she slaps my knee lightly which in turn makes me laugh.
She freezes for half a second… then, against all her earlier protest, she melts into me. Her body relaxes, fitting far too naturally against mine.
“…You’re annoyingly comfortable at least,” she admits.
“Told you.”
She shifts slightly, settling in. “You better not tell Za a thing.”
