Page 11 of Tempting Frankie (Lust & Luxury #1)

Francesca

I enter our shitty apartment, my head spinning from Alexander's kisses and the weight of what I'm about to tell Kat. The doors barely closed before she's on me like a fucking pit bull.

“Where the hell have you been?” Kat shrieks, her eyes wild.

“I've been calling and texting for hours! You never stay out this late for work. Christ, Frankie, I thought you were dead in a ditch somewhere! I even called Vivian’s answering machine to see what the entire fuck happened to you. Did you want me to fucking resurrect the goddamn Pinkertons?”

“I'm sorry, I'm sorry,” I say, holding up my hands in surrender. “It's been a crazy night. And day. And…fuck, I don't even know anymore.”

Kat's nostrils flare, her jaw clenching. “Spill. Now.”

I collapse onto our threadbare couch; the springs groaning in protest. “You might want to sit down for this, sis.”

She crosses her arms, glaring. “I'll stand, thanks.”

I take a deep breath, steeling myself. “Remember that mystery client I told you about? The one who booked me through the Infinity app the other night?”

Kat nods, her brow furrowing. “Yeah, the loaded guy who wanted the girlfriend experience. What about him?”

“Well, it was Alexander Steele.”

The silence that follows is deafening. Kat's mouth opens and closes like a fish out of water.

“He bought the night from the mystery client and then bought my time, exclusively for the next three fucking months.”

“Holy fucking shit.” Kat collapses onto the arm of the couch, her eyes wide. “Did you…I mean, did you guys...?”

“Fuck?” I finish for her, laughing humorlessly. “Yeah, we did. Multiple times. And let me tell you, that man knows how to use his tongue in ways that should be illegal.”

“Holy fucking shit, you damn daddy fucker,” Kat repeats, shaking her head. “Wait a fucking minute. Three months of your time exclusively? What does that even mean?”

I run a hand through my hair, feeling the weight of Alexander's territorial gaze even now. “It means everything, Kat. Anytime, anywhere. Whatever he wants whenever he wants it.”

Kat's eyes widen even further, if that's possible. “Jesus Christ, Frankie. You're basically his personal sex slave? I mean go off, I guess. Blink twice if you need me to pack up all our shit and we go into hiding.”

“It's not like that,” I snap, feeling defensive. “He's different. I don't know how to explain it. It's like he sees right through me, you know? Like he knows exactly what I need before I do.”

“Okay, but still. Three months is a long fucking time. So you just drop everything no matter what and run when he calls?”

I bite my lip, bracing for the explosion. “About that…I'll be living with him. At his place.”

“What the actual fuck?!” Kat jumps up, pacing the tiny living room. “You're moving in with Cameron's dad? Are you out of your goddamn mind?”

“Look, I know it sounds crazy?—”

“Crazy doesn't even begin to cover it, Frankie! This is next-level insanity!”

I stand up, grabbing her shoulders to stop her frantic movement. “Kat, listen to me. He's not just paying for my time. He's paid our rent for the entire fucking year.”

Kat freezes, her mouth hanging open. “He what?”

“You heard me. A whole year, paid in full. We don't have to worry about getting evicted or scraping together cash for bills. We can actually breathe for once.”

Kat sinks back onto the couch, her head in her hands. “I don't know whether to thank you or slap you.”

I sit next to her, wrapping an arm around her shoulders. “How about neither? Just try to understand. This could change everything for us.”

She looks up at me, her eyes shining with unshed tears. “I know I told you to fuck Daddy Warbucks. But like for fun. But this? What is the cost to you, Frankie? What if Cameron finds out?”

I swallow hard, pushing down the guilt that threatens to surface. “The cost is just my time. I don’t have to work any dead-end jobs. He’s paying for everything, way more than I’m worth. And as for Cameron…well, that bridge is already burned, isn't it? Might as well dance in the fucking ashes.”

She sighs, leaning into me. “So, what now? You just pack up and leave? I’m going to be left to my own devices, and you know I like trouble with a capital T.”

“I honestly don’t even need much from here.”

Kat's eyebrows shoot up. “Damn, he really is going all out, huh?”

“You have no idea,” I mutter, heat rising to my cheeks as I remember his hands on my body, his lips trailing fire across my skin.

Kat catches my blush and a wicked grin spreads across her face. “Oh my god, spill it, sis. How was the sex with Daddy Steele? And don't you dare skimp on the details.”

I groan, burying my face in my hands. “Jesus, Kat.”

“Come on,” she whines, poking me in the ribs. “I'm living vicariously here. Throw me a bone.”

“Fine,” I huff, peeking through my fingers. “It was, it was mind-blowing. Like, earth-shattering, see-God-and-speak-in-tongues good.”

Kat leans in, her eyes sparkling with mischief. “Go on.”

I take a deep breath; the memories flooding back in vivid detail. “His hands are fucking magical, Kat. He touched me like...like I was something precious, you know? But also like he wanted to devour me whole. And when he went down on me? Holy shit. I swear I blacked out for a second.”

“Damn,” Kat whispers, her cheeks flushed. “Who knew old dudes had it in them?”

I laugh, shaking my head. “Trust me, there's nothing 'old' about Alexander in bed. He's got the stamina of a fucking racehorse and the skills of a goddamn sex god.”

“Jesus,” Kat fans herself dramatically. “Maybe I need to find my own geriatric fuck. Sounds like I'm missing out.”

I snort, shoving her playfully. “Back off, bitch. This silver fox is all mine.”

Kat holds up her hands in surrender, laughing. “Alright, alright. No need to get territorial. But seriously, Frankie, are you sure about this? I mean, it's a lot to take in.”

I sigh, running a hand through my hair. “Honestly? I have no fucking clue what I'm doing. But I know that when I'm with him, I feel…I don't know, safe? Wanted? Like I'm actually worth a damn, you know?”

Kat's expression softens, and she pulls me into a tight hug. “You've always been worth a damn, you idiot. But if this is what you want, I've got your back. Just promise me you'll be careful, okay?”

“I promise, Kat. I'll be careful,” I say, squeezing her hand. “This isn't some fairy tale bullshit. I know what I'm getting into.”

Kat's brow furrows, her teeth worrying her bottom lip. “So does this mean I won't see you for three fucking months? You'll just disappear into Daddy Steele's sex dungeon or whatever?”

I snort, shoving her shoulder. “Shut up, bitch. I'd never let that happen. I'm not a fucking prisoner. Alexander might own my time, but he doesn't own me.”

A wicked grin spreads across Kat's face. “I don't know, sis. You might end up stuck on Daddy Steele's dick, unable to move. Like one of those nature documentaries where the animals get locked together during mating season.”

“Katarina!” I laugh, feeling my cheeks burn. “You're such a fucking weirdo.”

She cackles, dodging the pillow I chuck at her head. “Hey, I'm just saying! From the way you described it, his cock might have some kind of magical properties. Like a dick beam or something.”

I groan, burying my face in my hands. “I hate you so much right now.”

“Nah, you love me,” Kat says, grinning. “And admit it, you're totally picturing Alexander's magical dick beam right now.”

“Fuck off,” I mutter, but I can't help the smile tugging at my lips. Because yeah, I kind of am. Sue me.

“Seriously though,” Kat says, her tone sobering. “You'll still come around, right? I mean, I know you'll be living in the lap of lust and luxury, but don't forget about your peasant sister.”

I reach out, grabbing her hand. “Are you kidding me? Hell, I'll probably be seeing you more often than not now that I’m not working three jobs and wondering if I can sell plasma.”

Kat wiggles her eyebrows suggestively. “Oh really? And here I thought you'd be too busy getting railed six ways from Sunday to even think about little old me.”

“Trust me,” I say, rolling my eyes. “There will be plenty of railing. But I'm not about to ghost my sister for some sugar daddy dick, no matter how magical it might be.”

“Good,” Kat nods, then grins mischievously. “Besides, I need all the dirty details. It's my sisterly right to live vicariously through your sexcapades.”

I groan, flopping back on the couch. “You're worse than a teenage boy. What, you want a play-by-play of every time Alexander bends me over his desk?”

“Ooh, desk sex!”

“Oh my god, shut up,” I laugh, shoving Kat playfully.

“Hey, I'm just looking out for my big sister's sexual fulfillment,” Kat says with a wink. “Someone's gotta make sure you're getting properly dicked down.”

I roll my eyes. “Yeah, yeah. Like I said, anytime, anywhere. The man's got a fucking libido that puts teenagers to shame.”

Kat leans in, eyes wide. “What else? Come on, give me the juicy bits!”

“You're insatiable. You need to go get laid,” I laugh, but the memories flood back, hot and heavy.

“Fine. He's got this thing for my ass. Can't keep his hands off it.

And fuck, the way he grabs it when he's balls deep inside me?

It's like he's trying to leave his fingerprints permanently etched into my skin.”

“Damn,” Kat whispers, fanning herself. “Go on.”

I bite my lip, heat pooling low in my belly. “And his voice, Kat. Fuck. When he growls in my ear, telling me what a good girl I am, how perfectly I take his cock…I swear I could come just from that alone.”

“Well shit,” Kat breathes. “No wonder you agreed to this whole arrangement. I'd sell my left titty for dick that good.”

I snort, shoving her playfully. “Keep your titties.”

Just then, my phone buzzes. I glance down, seeing a notification from Vivian telling me my access to the Infinity app is suspended, and I notice the time.

“Shit,” I mutter, jumping up. “Alexander's been waiting downstairs this whole time. I gotta go.”

Kat's eyes widen. “What? He's here now? Fuck, Frankie, why didn't you say something?”

I shrug, grabbing my bag. “I wanted to explain everything to you first.”

Kat's eyebrows shoot up. “That man's got patience.”

“Yeah, well, I'm pretty sure he's gonna make me pay for keeping him waiting,” I say, heat rising to my cheeks as I imagine exactly how he might punish me.

“Ooh, kinky, well, can you at least take your fucking charger so I can get ahold of you, bitch?” Kat says, tossing the cord at me.

I catch it, stuffing it in my bag. “Yeah, yeah. I'll text you later, okay?”

Kat pulls me into a tight hug, her voice muffled against my shoulder. “You better. And if that silver fox daddy treats you wrong, I'll cut his balls off and feed them to him.”

I laugh, squeezing her back. “I know you will. Love you, sis.”

“Love you too, you crazy dickmatized bitch,” Kat says, pulling away. “Now go get that dick. And don't forget to call me!”

I grab a few more things. My favorite hoodie, a framed photo of me and Kat, my journal—before giving my sister one last hug.

With one last look at our small, cramped apartment, I head out the door and down to where Alexander is waiting.