Narrator-
Over the next 6 months, life for Frantz and Liliana would change drastically. The night of the proposal, upon noticing Frantz's display of affection, one of the main developers from Madrid, Spain was part of the audience. As soon as the congratulations dissipated at the party, Frantz was approached by the developer, Mr. Cardenas, who offered Frantz a contract to build a new hotel in Madrid, the capital of Spain.
Upon hearing this offer, Frantz was struck silent. It had always been Frantz's dream to have a hotel in Madrid, except, he never wanted to do it himself. When someone invested in his company, it created more profit and revenue, versus when Frantz started from scratch in a new city. Frantz had called his father over, and the three men began speaking over the contract.
While the men were busy spreading to new avenues, Mariella and Mrs. Chavez assured Frantz that the wedding, and Liliana would be taken care of. Frantz found himself constantly flying to and from Spain. His time with Liliana had become extremely limited, and the sudden distance was beginning to take an emotional toll on their relationship.
"How long are you staying this time?" Lili asked, as she held the phone close to her lips, and spoke in a hushed tone, while laying down in her own hotel suite. While Frantz had to focus on the new hotel, Liliana was back to flying with her regular clients. She was currently spending the night in New York. She had flown the Dunns this morning and would be returning with them to Florida the next day.
"Well," Frantz sighed, and Liliana could tell that he was physically tired, "I have to stay until next week because our contract was just approved by the government. We start meeting with the engineers and discussing the basics tomorrow. Then we have to go scout for the best merchandise, and meet with vendors, and so on, and so forth." He concluded, then yawned.
Liliana nodded, blinking quickly. She had not seen Frantz for the past three weeks, and it had been a month since they had been engaged. Liliana looked down at her ring, and before she knew it, tears had blurred her vision. Liliana shook her head softly, closing her lids, letting he tears escape quietly over her cheeks, like a culprit trying to sneak away from the police.
Frantz noticed that Liliana had gone real quiet, and he sighed pressing his palm against his forehead as he closed his eyes and gulped back a lump which suddenly formed in his throat. He missed her so much and could only guess that her silence was a reflection of the heart wrenching pain he was feeling sue to their distance. Frantz couldn't remember the last time he kissed her and held her body against his. He wanted to go home to Liliana and have her by his side at all times.
"Lili babe, are you okay?" Frantz decided to ask quietly. Liliana on the other end of the line blinked and swallowed back the rest of her salty tears, as she sniffled and nodded before realizing that he couldn't see her, "yeah, I'm alright, just a little tired is all. And I miss you." She added in the last second. Liliana figured she could be as honest with Frantz as possible. They were engaged to be married anyway. There was no point in being shy with him at this point in their relationship.
"I miss you more." Frantz mused, and Liliana chuckled as she replied, "no I miss you more."
"Do you really want to turn this into a competition?" Frantz challenged, and Liliana giggled as she added, "Oh you're on mister."
"Well I miss you so much, that my heart constricts with every syllable you speak." Frantz explained, and Liliana felt her heart flutter as she pushed back, "well I miss you so much that I can barely blink without seeing you standing in front of me."
"I miss you so much, that my fingers tingle at the memory of your soft skin." Frantz hummed, and Liliana placed a cool palm against her hot cheek, unable to stop smiling, but not ready to let Frantz have the last word, "And I miss you so much, that I can practically feel your arms around me."
Liliana heard Frantz release an audible breath through his nostrils, and she could easily picture his jaw ticking as he slowly grinded his teeth. Something he did when the tension between them got under his skin. And she loved when that happened.
"Ready to give up yet?" Liliana dared, making sure her voice dropped a few octaves. Over the days of dating Frantz, Liliana picked up on a few tricks on how to tease Frantz so much, to the point where his knees would go weak, and he was ready to pull his hair out. A trick she used whenever she wanted to get back at him for teasing her.
Frantz released another slow breath before he asked, "Do you really want to go there Liliana?"
"Sounds like you're scared." Liliana decided to push back, and Frantz released a dark chuckle which caused Liliana to feel a tremble run through her lower abdomen, in a manner which made her breath falter for a moment, and she absentmindedly crossed her legs, squeezing her thighs together, hoping to ease the pressure of the tingles forming in between her legs.
Liliana licked her lips, and swallowed a gulp, waiting for Frantz's next tease bullet.
"Oh I am not scared my love, but you on the other should not get so comfortable. I miss you so much that in this very moment, I want nothing more than to pin you against the wall and kiss you so hard, you'd have to beg for me to stop." Frantz spelled out, and Liliana could hear his European accent clearer than the light of day. So Frantz was really aroused. Liliana blinked quickly and gulped again, as she drew in a breath, attempting to build her strength.
She knew that playing this game with Frantz was really dangerous, and slightly unfair given her abstinent promise, and his celibate state. The sexual tension could be felt across the phone line. Liliana's palm moistened around the phone's beige exterior, and Frantz gripped his so tight, his fingers may soon smash the plastic object.
"Well I missed you so much, that I'd want your fingers to dig into my skin and squeeze my thighs so hard, that I'd bruise and remember you every time I see the marks." Liliana fired back, and Frantz felt his excitement jump in his trousers. Liliana was giving him a run for his money.
"I see you like playing dirty Ms. Chavez." He remarked, his teeth squeezing and nipping at his bottom lip, while he imagined it to be Liliana's skin.
"Only when I am provoked Mr. Cavalier." Liliana was not going to back down, though the stirring in her loins was begging her to not push past her limit. Liliana hated that Frantz always won these sessions. He always knew how to get her to stop pushing him. But not this time. He always won the teasing sessions, but Liliana was not ready to give up so fast.
"You talk the talk, but can you keep your word?" Frantz dared, and Liliana closed her eyes. He actually went there.
Liliana hissed, then she blinked and pouted. Yep, he had won. Over the phone, Lili was braver than a lion, but as soon as she came face to face with Frantz's dark chocolatey eyes, it was game over. Whenever his form towered over hers, his warmth caging her in, his intoxicating scent entering her nostrils, Liliana would become as mousy as a prey facing a hungry predator. Face to face, Frantz had all the control.
"You don't play fair." Liliana finally submitted.
"As you like to remind me every time I stop you from throwing me over the edge." Frantz noted with a smile, and Liliana sighed as she closed her eyes, suddenly feeling really sleepy, but in love all at once. Taking Frantz on over the phone proved to be rather tiring. Between the waves of tremors in her lower abdomen, and the squeezing of her thighs together to help ease the tension which had grown over the last few minutes, Liliana was suddenly feeling really sleepy. Frantz on the other hand was simply excited.
"Babe?" Frantz called out, and Liliana hummed a response, though her eyes were closed, and she had begun drifting off to sleep.
"You know that you're a blessing to me right?" Frantz asked, softly, and Liliana smiled softly, "and I thank God for you every day. I love you so much. I know right now with the new contract things are a little difficult. I miss you so much. I wish I could call you my wife already and take you with me everywhere I go. I don't want to spend another moment away from you, but I am doing this for you. Our future, and hopefully the future of our children. Now you sleep my love, and I will see you soon."
Liliana was serenaded to sleep by Frantz's lullaby, and when she didn't reply, Frantz registered a soft snoring across the line, and with a tired smile of his own, he made a smooching sound with his lips before ending the call.
The next few months following that exchange, Frantz and Liliana would only get to spend a few hours together in between flights and business trips. Liliana tried to not let the stress of their distance get to her, and instead tried to focus on the wedding. When things did feel too heavy on her mind, Liliana would turn to her gospel music, and allow that to clear her mind. Whenever they were apart, Liliana found herself praying more and more often for Frantz. She often prayed that his flights were safe and without any mishaps or turbulence, and Liliana found that she couldn't breathe easy until he called her to let her know that he had landed.
Liliana-
The past few months flew by quicker than I could blink. And now the wedding was only a few days away.
"Lili, are you alright my love?" my mom asked, me, as I sat in a daze, my eyes blank, my mind even less interesting. The closer the wedding day got, the more anxious I felt. And it was beginning to show.
"It's just the pre-wedding jitters, I am sure." Mariella added, and I blinked before I forced a smile on my face, as the driver pulled up to the wedding dress shop. I had picked my dress weeks ago but had to get it tailored to fit me more comfortably. Today was the day to try it on before the wedding. Frantz's suit, along with my dad's and his father's were ready. Chamille's dress as my maid of honor was also prepared. Frantz and I had agreed on a small wedding, of only a few guests, including my regular clients, and some of the employees.
Frantz had only one special request for me, and that was for me to allow Priest John, to bless the wedding. Apparently, this was the same priest who had spoken to Frantz the day after Carlos had assaulted me. Frantz recognized that the Priest's advice helped boost his patience, which led to our relationship solidifying. Frantz was grateful, and so it was settled that out wedding would be blessed by Priest John.
Mariella and my mom had worked like a well-oiled machine over the past few months. Booking the church, preparing the venues, and every little detail needed to make the wedding a success. All Frantz and I had to do, was show up to certain appointments in time. Whether it was at the tailor's shop, or at a menu tasting event, our mothers took care of everything, and for that I was grateful.
I realized that the closer the wedding got, the more nervous and dumb I became. My heart was constantly trembling. My lungs were just not functioning properly. I was always zoning out, and I could barely stomach any real food, except for cake and thin crust pizzas.
"Dear God, she's looking as pale as a ghost. Maybe way worse than me around the time I was getting ready to be married to her father." I heard my mom remark, and I blinked shaking my head as I reassured, "mom, I'm fine really. It's just six months ago, the day seemed so far away, but now, it's only less than three days away. I'm not ready. I don't have my vows, who knows if my dress will fit, since I've been stuffing my face with thin crust pizza and cake and M&Ms, and-"
"Liliana." My mom called out, stopping me from ranting on and on, "it's alright," she coached, as she caught my eyes, and breathed along with me.
"I'm scared. Mom, I don't know how to be a wife. What I am supposed to do? How am I supposed to live with him? I-" I could barely finish the sentence without choking up. I thought I had more time to prepare. Six months was not as much time as I thought it would be.