Liliana hated to be vulnerable, and in a sense, the logic in her mind which persuaded her to walk away overpowered her heart and feelings, so taking the chance and looking back at Frantz, Liliana shook her head as she said, "this was a bad idea, I shouldn't have come here. I'm sorry." With those words, Liliana attempted to make a run for it, but Frantz didn't give her the chance. He took a step back and blocked her path as he sent a firm glare her way and asked, "what do you want Liliana?"
And with a half sincere tone, Liliana replied, "I don't know."
"I don't believe you." Frantz replied, right after, and Liliana frowned as she said, "What? you can read minds now?" Then with those words she stepped away from him, and crossed her arms as she asked, "let me pass."
"Not until you tell me what you want. Just like in Rome, you came here for a reason, and I'm tired of you coming and going, and acting like you can do anything you want to me and get away with it. I've tried to play the patience game, but my patience has run out Liliana." Frantz declared, and Liliana looked away with a scowl.
"You can't do this." Liliana tried to put on a brave front, "Okay love, go ahead, tell me what I else I can't do, stall as long as you want, I have all night." Frantz snapped back, his tone strong and daring. He was over the game. How else did Liliana want him to prove that he was in love with her?
Frantz for a while avoided playing the rough hand card, but he had tried the gentle approach. He appealed to all that Liliana respected. He played it safe, but maybe that was just the thing.
"We are not having this conversation." Liliana shook her head, snapping Frantz back from his thoughts.
Frantz drew in a steady breath through his nostrils, and closed his eyes. When he opened them, his lips parted, "What do you want Liliana?" Frantz asked, again, as he crossed his arms, his glare making Liliana fidgety once again. She gulped, her dry throat scratching as she attempted to swallow her nerves. Meanwhile her palms were as moist as ever.
"Stop asking me that." Liliana frowned, and Frantz raised an eyebrow as he asked, again, "What do you want Liliana?"
"Nothing-"
"What. Do. You. Want?" Frantz asked, as he suddenly closed the space between their bodies. Liliana had no chance to step back as he stared up at the man who singlehandedly proved to her just how indecisive she could be.
"Frantz-"
"What do you want from me Lili?" Frantz pushed again, needing to hear the truth from her lips, even if it mean forcing it out of her, "You don't want me close, you don't want to go on a date with me, and yet you show up to my place ready to throw a stink. I don't know what you want." Frantz explained, and Liliana closed her eyes as she released a breath before she opened them and said, "What I want? I want you to act like a man who actually wants to be with me. Kiss me, take my breath away, heck do something Possessive, don't just try to pass a rule, then soften up, stay true to your words." Liliana declared, and Frantz shook his head and blinked.
Was that it?
Frantz didn't want to believe it. Her words felt more a like a trap, a test of sorts, yet Frantz was willing to play. There was no way Liliana would escape him this time. She could try every tactic in the book, Frantz would get her to talk.
Shaking his head a scoffing, Frantz pinched the bridge of his nose, and looked up at his ceiling before washing a hand over his face in exasperation.
"I'm sorry Lili, but you made me give up that right a while back, when you made it clear that you couldn't take me seriously, and you weren't willing to give us a chance at a relationship." Frantz fired back making sure his tone came out firm, but not angry, and Liliana shook her head as she said, "see, that's what I mean. If you were the boss man you pretended to be, you wouldn't give me the chance to even think about taking that right away, so what are you going to do now to stop me from walking out of that door Mr. Cavalier?" Liliana dared, suddenly feeling like a thrill seeker, because she was sure that Frantz wouldn't do anything to catch her attention.
She knew that he held back from showing her his true colors, and she wondered why? So she pushed him, she wanted to see that side of Frantz, but he always stopped himself from going there.
Frantz stared down at the brunette beauty standing before him. He had spent months walking around in pain and in discomfort, because he didn't want to force his dominance upon her, and now here she was, telling him that he could do exactly that. He saw her as soft and fragile, so he played at being soft and fragile, yet Liliana was demanded the opposite.
Frantz wiped a hand over his lips and chin as he studied Liliana then shook his head as he said, "You don't know what you're asking for Liliana." And with a scoff which translated into an 'I told you so', Liliana stepped away from Frantz and began making her way to the door as she said, "I knew it, this was a waste of my time."
Liliana's hand had just met the cool metal of the door handle, when Frantz's large hand landed on hers. Liliana froze as she felt Frantz's heated body standing behind her. He breathe softly against her skin, causing enticing goosebumps to sprinkle and dot her skin. Frantz took a moment to calm his breath and his racing heart, then he spoke carefully, "you can't expect to constantly push me around and to get away with it Liliana." The way he said, her name suddenly melted her brave front like an ice cube in the sun, "now how about you step away from the door, and you go have a seat on the couch." Frantz instructed, wanting to see what her response was going to be.
"You can't tell me what to do." Liliana tried to say, but the quavering of her vocal cords told Frantz what he wanted to know.
"And yet I am. You can either sit on your own will, or I can make you. I don't think you'll like the latter." Frantz replied, keeping his tone cool and calm.
Liliana took a long and quiet breath through her nostrils. She could attempt to leave, but the subtle grip on which warmed her hand against the doorknob almost dared her to do so. Finally, Liliana decided to play along and see just how far Frantz was willing to push her. So shaking her hand from his hold, she stepped away from the door, and obediently headed to the sitting area, where she sunk into the couch, her eyes on Frantz who had turned to watch her.
Frantz leaned against the door and crossed his arms. He said, nothing. He allowed his eyes to do the talking.
Meanwhile, the silence was slowly drowning Liliana's mind in anxiety. Why was Frantz simply staring at her? Why wasn't he talking?
His heavy gaze weighed on her shoulders like an elephant on her back. Liliana gulped and looked away, unable to hold the eye contact for long. Every time she chanced a look towards him, his cool gaze remained on her face. Gulping once again, Liliana felt her stomach fill with butterflies, while the beating of her heart tremored in her throat, and in the pit of her stomach.
When Frantz decided to move from the door, his action caused Liliana to jump absentmindedly. Frantz pretended not to see it, and simply sat down facing her, as he cupped his hands together, resting his elbows on his knees, his dark eyes drilling holes into Lili's skull.
Frantz wanted to make her uneasy. He didn't want her to get comfortable again to the point where she could trifle with his feelings.
She just gave him consent. Now he could do as he pleased with her.
When Frantz allowed Liliana to squirm enough with uncertainty, he drew in a deep breath, catching her attention, and holding on to it, then he showed her just how well he knew that he affected her.
"Your mother is lovely." Frantz spelled out, catching Liliana off guard. She blinked confused for she did not expect those words to spill from his lips, and when she hesitated to reply, he raised an eyebrow indicated that he expected a reply, and with a slow nod, Liliana replied, "That she is...".
Frantz smiled and nodded his handsome head at her response, then he threw another curve ball, "can I have a kiss?"
And Liliana felt her heart plummet to the floor.
"Um... I-I- I don't know." She stuttered out, and Frantz clarified "it is a simple yes or no question Liliana. Can I have a kiss?"
"Um... Uhh..." Liliana trailed off, her mouth running dry as Frantz stood up, and repositioned himself on the coffee table, leaving just a few breaths between their bodies.
Frantz looked into Liliana's eyes, as his left hand touched her lower leg. The instance she felt his warm palm running upwards over her skin, Liliana tensed, her spine straight and erect.
Frantz made a show of his eyes following his hand as he caressed his palm over her knee, then her lower thigh, and slightly brushing her upper thigh, drawing Lili's breath from her lungs with his actions, until he intertwined his fingers with hers, which were resting on her leg.
When his fingers joined hers, he looked back in her eyes, and smiled. She blinked softly, her uneven breath failing to provide her body with enough oxygen, as her lips parted expectantly.
He licked his bottom lip and caught it in between his lips between he released it,
"Come here." He called out, and Liliana swallowed once more before she leaned closer. Frantz released her hand, only to caress up her arm, over her shoulder, to her neck, and finally her bruised cheek. He brought himself as close as he could to the tip of the table, his warm lips kissing her battered cheek, his actions shunning away any physical pain, and in its wake, ignited a longing fire which burned from Liliana's head to her curled toes, then back to her lower abdomen and womanhood.
Frantz hovered his lips over the skin of her neck, as Liliana drew in a shallow breath. He felt her heart tremble in her neck, and he was pleased. He kissed along the line formed between her shoulder and her ear, then he whispered, "I am going to kiss you now." And with a quick nod and a breathy and rushed "okay" Liliana's heart anticipated the sweet satisfaction she hoped to get when his lips met hers.
Frantz brought his lips above her mouth, he drew in a sigh through his nose, his eyes piecing hers. He licked his lips once more, then allowed Liliana to feel the warm shadow of his lips on hers. His thumb caressed her bottom lip and chin, and Liliana parted her lips just slightly.
Frantz softly nipped her bottom lip in between his, then pulled away with a tug so soft, it drew Liliana in. His seductive cupping of her face didn't allow her the freedom to kiss him on her own will.
When Frantz was sure he head her undivided attention, he decided to make something clear.
"I'm not going to try and control you Liliana. If you're not mature enough to be in a relationship with me, then you're wasting both of our times."
And with that, Frantz stood and walked away, Leaving Liliana speechless, hot, bothered, somewhat confused, yet for once, knowing exactly what she wanted.