Taken

by Mia Ford

  “You okay?” he asked her, his concerned eyes searching her face.

  “I’m wonderful,” Veronica smiled, and Frank visibly relaxed, smiling back.

  He left to return the rag to the bathroom and turn off the light. He made to get in bed with her but he hesitated. Veronica frowned.

  “What is it?” she asked.

  “I just didn’t know…” Frank gestured to the bed. “You know, if you wanted me to leave for the night.”

  Veronica blinked, remembering her refusal to share a bed with him the night before. She considered asking him to leave, but she was not at all surprised to find that her heart sank at the very idea.

  “You can stay,” Veronica said softly. “If you like…”

  Frank looked a little surprised, but also pleased. He slowly moved back onto the bed, and the two moved to get the covers out from beneath their bodies. Once that was accomplished, the two laid down beside one another.

  Frank turned onto his side and propped his head up in the palm of his hand, and looked over at Veronica. A smile played at the corner of his lips. Veronica smiled back at him, her brows meeting.

  “What?” she asked him, mirroring his position to look back at him.

  “Nothing,” he said. “You’re just so beautiful.”

  Veronica smiled, and leaned forward to press a soft kiss to his lips.

  “It’s been a while since I’ve done the pillow talk thing,” Veronica admitted, and Frank frowned a little.

  “Really?” he asked, moving his hand to gently trace over her upper arm.

  “Really,” Veronica softly confirmed. She knew she probably shouldn’t be talking about her relationship, but she was feeling strangely open and vulnerable, and she didn’t really feel like closing up just yet.

  “I mean, it was rare enough that we had sex,” Veronica spilled out. “And I mean when we did he sort of just… went to sleep. I guess it gets that way after you’ve been together a while.”

  Frank said nothing, but Veronica drew from his expression that he didn’t agree with her.

  “What?” Veronica prodded, wanting him to bare all since she was doing the same.

  “I mean nothing,” Frank shook his head. “I just didn’t have that experience, is all.”

  It was veronica’s turn to be disbelieving.

  “You mean for as long as you were married, things never got even a little stale?” Veronica raised her eyebrow. She knew it was bold to bring up his wife, but she was in a bit of a bold mood anyway.

  Fortunately, Frank smiled and gave her a chuckle.

  “No, it never did,” he said with a shrug. “I was just always amazed and interested in her. She was… magical to me, I guess.”

  Veronica felt a chill, and a small pang of jealousy at the mention of his wife.

  “I wish I could relate,” Veronica shrugged.

  Frank was quiet for a moment, and he frowned.

  “So…” he started. “I take it your relationship with Calvin isn’t exactly living up to your expectations.”

  Veronica frowned and thought for a moment. There was a part of her that wanted to change the direction of this conversation. But there was another part of her that wanted to open up about her frustrations. In the end, the latter was the part of her that won out.

  “I didn’t really have any expectations, exactly,” Veronica said quietly. “And in the beginning things really were great. He was smart, and he was going somewhere. He still is. So, I just always felt lucky to be with him.”

  Frank listened quietly, his eyes locked on her.

  “I think domestic life got to me,” Veronica speculated aloud. “Just the whole do dishes, wash laundry, go to work, repeat cycle. And I always tell myself that’s what life is about… but there’s a part of me that really thinks there is something that I’m missing.”

  “Like what?” Frank asked, his voice barely more than a murmur.

  Veronica suddenly felt very vulnerable, and she blushed a little.

  “I don’t know…” Veronica whispered. “But I think I’m getting close to finding out…”

  Veronica looked into Frank’s eyes, and he smiled. Again, she felt her heart fill with tenderness as she looked over at him. The tenderness, though, was immediately followed by a rush of guilt, and she cast her eyes down and frowned.

  “What’s the matter?” Frank asked, and Ran his hand down to rest on her hip.

  Veronica was silent for a moment before she looked back up at him.

  “I’m cheating on my boyfriend,” she said with a dry laugh. Franks face fell a little slowly, and she could see his jaw clench.

  “I definitely never imagined myself in this situation,” Veronica admitted, moving to lie down on her back, allowing her to look up at Frank.

  “I have to say I never thought I’d be in this situation either,” Frank said softly, moving his hand to trace his fingertips over her stomach. “But then again, I never thought I’d feel about someone this way again…”

  Veronica looked up at him, and gave him a smile.

  “I never thought I could in the first place,” Veronica said softly. She reached up and ran her hand over Frank’s smooth jaw.

  They were quiet for a good little while after that. Veronica scooted her body closer to his, and Frank laid down and wrapped his arm around her waist.

  “I know this whole thing is unconventional,” Frank murmured softly. “But if it’s any consolation, I really do feel a connection with you.”

  Veronica let out a sigh, and then laughed.

  “This is crazy,” she shook her head. “But I feel it too. But I just can’t help but feel like it’s all happening so fast. Like this initial spark we feel is just going to fade, and I’ll be left with nothing.”

  “Hey, hey,” Frank soothed her, cupping her palm in his hand. “You’re never going to be left with nothing. Even if nothing more happens between us, I’m not just going to leave you high and dry. I care about you.”

  “Well that’s good to know,” Veronica said, though she was reluctant to believe him.

  “And yeah, we did just meet,” Frank said softly. “So maybe we should just take some time and try to get to know each other a little more, okay? We can talk, and just be around each other. We’ll both work, and you can still have your own time in the afternoons if you ever want to go anywhere. We can take things as slow or fast as you want. I really think there might be something here between us. And I’m not willing to just lose the chance of ever finding out.”

  Veronica was a little taken aback to find that he was so adamant and certain that there could be something between them.

  “As for me, I just have to be honest,” Frank went on, his tone very serious. “I want you to be mine. I want you now and forever. I know what I like, and I know when my soul is connected to someone else’s. We’re connected Veronica. And I will do whatever it takes to make you mine.”

  Veronica raised her brows. She certainly hadn’t expected him to speak so plainly and openly, and she hadn’t expected him to feel so strongly.

  “You don’t have to respond right now,” Frank said softly, giving her a small smile. “I just want you to know.”

  Veronica let out a soft laugh.

  “I think you made all your feelings pretty clear,” she said. Frank smiled and pulled her closer.

  “I’m a pretty open guy,” Frank smiled. “For a really long time I thought that holding in my emotions was going to make me stronger but… it really only made me hurt.”

  Veronica looked up at him and gave him a soft smile and a kiss.

  “I’m glad you figured it out,” she said to him.

  “I went through a lot of therapy as soon as I had the money,” Frank said with a hint of humor, but Veronica knew he was likely not joking.

  Veronica gave him a somewhat sad smile. Frank leaned forward and pressed his lips to hers, and Veronica kissed him back tenderly. Her hands pressed against his chest, and her body arched into him a little. She had never felt
so physically connected to someone in her life. And in spite of how much she regretted cheating on Calvin, and her uncertainty of where this relationship with Frank would lead, in this very moment, she was happy.

  They broke off from their kiss, and each of them gave the other a smile.

  “We’d better get to sleep,” Veronica said softly. “We both have jobs to attend to.”

  Frank chuckled and pulled her closer.

  “You’re right, of course,” he murmured as he nuzzled into her hair. “I guess it’s goodnight then.”

  “Goodnight then,” Veronica murmured back. “I’ll see you in the morning.”

  “I’ll see you now,” Frank purred, and placed a kiss on her neck.

  Veronica laughed. As she faded away into sleep, she basked in the feelings of contentedness that she was feeling after having gone so long without them.

  For the next several weeks, Veronica’s life at Franks estate went much like the first several days. In the morning, the each worked out and then met for a rendezvous in the kitchen before the girls arose, and then they went their separate ways, Frank to his office and Veronica remaining at home to take care of the girls.

  For her part, Veronica grew to feel like this was the home, and practically the family she had always wanted. When she was a little girl, she had always imagined what her life would be like as an adult, and this was very close if you subtracted the mansion-like home.

  Every now and then, of course, she had her moments of doubt. She remembered that she was no more than an employee here, and in spite of Frank’s assurances that he had feelings for her and that his intentions were to win her over, the cynical part of her mind insisted that she was just a way for him to pass the time until the next nanny got there.

  It was in these moments that Veronica felt exceedingly guilty for ever even entertaining the thought of cheating on Calvin. In spite of the fact that their relationship was less than thrilling, there had been nothing truly wrong with it. And up until recently, they had both been faithful to one another.

  It certainly didn’t help that while she was delving into a potential relationship with Frank, Calvin was still trying hard to save theirs. It seemed that he had actually listened when she voiced her complaints about their relationship, and was actively seeking to build her up more. Unfortunately, he was only serving to fuel her guilt for being constantly unfaithful to him.

  They spoke on the phone every day, though, and one day, Calvin suggested that she take an afternoon off and go see him. Veronica had no idea what to say.

  “Just one afternoon,” Calvin pressed, his tone hopeful. “It doesn’t go against the terms of your contract. Davenport should be home at that time, right?”

  “Yes, of course,” Veronica said. She didn’t know how to tell him how much the terms of their contract had changed in the time she had been there.

  “Great!” Calvin said. “So that’s a yes?”

  Veronica sighed, and ran her hand over her face.

  “I can’t say,” Veronica said. “Davenport is my boss; I have to run it by him.”

  “But I mean it shouldn’t be a problem, right?” Calvin said easily. “I mean he said he would allow you time off.”

  “Yeah, of course, you’re right,” Veronica said a little snappishly, her emotional turmoil starting to rise to the surface.

  “I mean, if it’s too much trouble for you, you can just forget about it,” Calvin said kindly, but Veronica could hear the disappointment in his voice.

  “No, no,” veronica insisted. “Of course I want to go, baby. I just have to ask first, okay?”

  “Okay,” Calvin answered, and his voice was filled with relief.

  “I’ll talk to him about it tonight and I’ll tell you what he said tomorrow,” Veronica said. “And if it all goes well maybe we can set a date and time.”

  “Great!” Calvin said, excitement evident in his voice. “I’ll talk to you tomorrow then. I love you.”

  “I love you too,” Veronica said, her heart heavy. “Goodbye.”

  “Goodbye,” she heard Calvin say, and she immediately hung up the phone.

  Veronica let out a long sigh and leaned back against the wall, shoving her phone roughly into her pocket. This whole thing was really starting to wear on her, and she didn’t know how much longer she could effectively keep it up.

  “Calvin, I assume?” Veronica turned to see the familiar figure of Frank in the doorway.

  Veronica nodded, and took in his appearance. He wore a pair of dark wash jeans and a grey cable knit sweater. He stood with his arms crossed and his brow raised, a somewhat cold look on his face.

  “Please don’t look at me that way,” Veronica said to him.

  “Fine,” Frank said, raising his hands, and then putting them into his pocket. “So are you going to ask me or what?”

  Veronica’s brows met and she cocked her head at him, annoyed.

  “So did you just eavesdrop on my whole conversation, or what?” Veronica asked.

  “Well I couldn’t help but hear,” Calvin said, his voice very calm and measured.

  “Well since you asked,” Veronica said, irritated. “Calvin wants to know if I can take an afternoon off to go on a date with him soon.”

  Frank raised both eyebrows.

  “Would that be agreeable with you?” Veronica asked. “My contract states that I am not absolutely required to be here if you are present with the girls, and it assures me some time off as well.”

  “I am not opposed to abiding by your contract,” Frank said, his voice as a calm and cool as ever. Somehow, that made her even more furious than if he had raged at her.

  “Fine then,” Veronica snapped at him. “I’ll be calling him back tomorrow so I can set a time and a date.”

  Frank said nothing, merely looking back at her.

  “Say something!” Veronica hissed at him.

  “What do you want me to say?” Frank bit back. “That I don’t want you to go? You’re a grown woman Veronica. That’s your relationship. You have a right to do what you want with him. I can’t stop you. As you’ve already pointed out, you’re well within the limits of your contract to take an afternoon off and spend it with him. To be honest I’m a little surprised you haven’t already done so.”

  “That’s not what I wanted to hear,” Veronica said, her voice now betraying her conflicted emotions.

  “Well then here’s something else,” Frank said, his voice incredibly low and deadly cold. “I don’t want you to go. I don’t want you to speak with him. I don’t want you to ever see him again. The truth? I’m horribly jealous. I want you to myself Veronica. I don’t want to take you to bed every night knowing that there’s another man out there with a claim on you. If you were any other woman in the world, there is no way on earth that I would ever put myself through what I am going through now.”

  Veronica could have sworn her heart stopped at his words. She could feel the sincerity of his words resounding in her bones, and she knew that he meant everything he said. She felt numb in the face of such raw truth.

  Silence stretched between them for a long moment, and the only communication that occurred between them was solely between their eyes.

  “I don’t want you to go,” Frank said.

  Veronica stayed still as he pushed off the wall behind him and began to move toward her. He came to stand in front of her, and she covered his hands with her own as he cupped her face. He lowered his head and kissed her softly. Then, he pulled back and rested his forehead against hers.

  “I want you all to myself,” Frank said softly. “And for a while I thought that you wanted me too. But right now, … I get the feeling that you don’t even know what you want.”

  Veronica said nothing, and lowered her eyes. If she was completely honest, Frank was really right. She stayed silent, and she heard Frank release a long sigh through his nose. His hands moved down to rest on her hips, and his fingertips slipped beneath the hem of her shirt.

  Veronica’s eyes
flicked up to Franks, and she saw darkness and lust swirling there. She felt his hands move higher up inside of her shirt, and she gasped as he easily undid the clasp of her bra.

  “Frank, we’re in the kitchen,” she protested in a hushed whisper, but she couldn’t deny the heat that had started to build up in her core.

  “Very observant,” Frank growled into her ear as his hand moved back to her waist and roughly jerked her into his body. He unabashedly rolled his hips into her, and she bit her lip to keep from crying out.

  “I want you,” Frank growled, and Veronica couldn’t help but gasp as he roughly bit down on the juncture of her neck and shoulder.

  “But you have to be quiet or we’ll wake the girls,” he warned her with a dark whisper, his lips brushing against the shell of her ear. “We wouldn’t want them to walk in on something like this, now would we?”

  Veronica panted and shook her head. Frank forced his knee between her legs and rubbed it against her sex, nearly causing her knees to buckle. She knew there was no way she could resist, and deep downs he knew she didn’t want to.

  Frank reached up to the collar of Veronica’s shirt and tore downwards, ripping off all the buttons and baring her upper body to him. He quickly swiped off the bra as well, and dipped his head to take a nipple into his mouth.

  Veronica struggled to keep quiet and she dug her fingers into his shoulders as he tortured her breasts. By the time he finally pulled back, they were exceedingly tender, and even the cool air of the room brushing against them was serving to excite her.

  He moved lower and took hold of the waistband of her yoga pants and roughly dragged them down her legs. He wasted no time and immediately brought his hand between her legs. She was not shocked at all that his fingers slid easily through the wetness at her slit, sending her head spinning.

  Frank looked up at her with a dark smirk just before he sank two fingers deep inside her. Veronica ground her teeth and shuddered as he began to rhythmically pump into her, brushing his thumb against her clit.

  It didn’t take long for Veronica to dissolve into a quivering mess under his touch, and she soon found that she could not remain on her feet. She began to slide down the wall, Frank’s fingers still buried inside of her. When she finally hit the floor, Frank did not hesitate to pounce and capture her lips between his own, nipping at her lower lip with his teeth.