Chapter 9
Twilight had given away to darkness. Will and Frankie still stood in the lightroom, neither wanting the night to end.
Will was the first to speak.
"I suppose we should contact Jai before he sends out the cavalry."
Frankie groaned. She wasn't ready to face the team yet. Couldn't she and Will just stay here forever?
"Sorry hun, as tempting as it is, we can't stay here forever."
Frankie froze. Did he just…? Her eyes went wide and she giggled.
"Was it something I said?" Will asked, totally confused.
"Actually yeah, it was," Frankie laughed.
Will looked down at her.
"Were you just…"
Frankie nodded.
"Well hell, I guess you're not the only one doing weird shit now."
"See, I'm not the only weird one."
Frankie crossed her eyes and stuck her tongue out at him.
Will chuckled and kissed her tongue. Oh boy, if he only knew what that did to her.
"Ok, enough," Will said, "We really need to get to the car now."
They walked hand in hand down the stairs, Will going first so she didn't stumble and fall in the dark stairwell.
"Get your coat on. I'll go start the car."
Frankie fake swooned.
"My hero…" she sighed.
Will opened the door and froze.
"Ummmm Frankie? Where's the car?"
Frankie walked over to him and stared out into a sea of white. Neither of them had bothered to look out the front of the lighthouse all day. The storm had dumped a lot more snow than they'd thought. Frankie squinted into the dim light from the moon.
"Is it that bump over there?" she said pointing into the distance.
"Maybe?"
"Why don't you hit the remote start and see what happens?"
"That's my girl! Always thinking." Will kissed her cheek while he dug in his coat pocket for the key. He pointed the fob into the abyss and hit the button. Nothing happened. He tried again. Still nothing.
"Maybe if I step out onto the porch."
Will took a few steps out the door and promptly slid on his ass.
"Are you ok?"
"Yeah, just bruised my ego a bit."
"Is that even possible?" Frankie deadpanned.
Will shot her a look that could take down a small building.
"Well don't just stand there. Help me up!"
Frankie should've known better. She reached out and felt his hand grasp hers. He yanked. Frankie flew face first into the mound of snow just beyond the edge of the porch. Will's face froze somewhere between shock and abject fear.
Frankie sprung up and spun on him.
"WILLIAM STODDARD CHASE! I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU JUST DID THAT!"
Will just stared at her, afraid to move.
"Hey, you called me by my real name."
Frankie growled at him through the snow covering her face. She reached up and swiped at it, flicking it in his direction. Oh it was SO on! Frankie stalked the few steps it took to reach him. Not taking her eyes off him she reached down next to his head and grabbed a fist of snow promptly smashing it into his face. Will sputtered and swept her legs out from under her with his arm. She landed on his chest. Not about to let him off Frankie grabbed another heap of snow but before she could let it fly he hit the back of her head with a snowball. She screeched. Will rolled her over, another handful of snow poised above her face. Frankie thrust her hands up to block him and missed. She hit him square in the jaw. Will's head snapped back. He possibly saw stars for a second before he blacked out. He flopped on his back and didn't move.
"Will? Will?" Frankie poked him, thinking it was an act. She shook his shoulder. He didn't move.
"GREAT! Now what the hell do I do?" Frankie huffed.
"You could kiss it and make it better."
Frankie looked at Will. His eyes were still closed but he was smiling.
"You ass! I thought I really…"
"You actually did. Lucky for you I recover quickly."
Frankie froze. Did she honestly knock him out?
"Will, I'm so…."
"Just shut up and kiss me ok?"
Frankie gingerly leaned over him and pecked him on his chin.
Will sighed.
"Do I have to do everything?"
He grabbed her face and dragged her mouth to his. They broke apart panting.
"You happy now?"
"Blissfully," Will grinned
"Ok grandpa, up you go."
Frankie helped Will stand. He waivered a bit then got his footing. Frankie swore she'd never hit him again.
They stumbled their way back into the lighthouse and sat on the couch.
"Now what?"
"Well," Will sighed, "We can sit here and wait for them to come get us or we can try to find something to use to dig our way to the car."
"I'm down with just waiting for them."
"But they'll worry about us."
"But it's really cold and there's like a thousand feet of snow out there."
Will squinted at Frankie.
"Are you really that much of a wimp? It's only snow!"
"It's cold and it's wet and I'm NOT digging through it."
There was that pout again. Sexy as hell but it still shocked Will to see her like that.
"Fine, then I guess we'll wait. I'm not digging all that snow by myself."
They sat in pensive silence side by side on the couch. Frankie started to shiver. Her clothes were wet and she had nothing else to put on. Will contemplated letting her suffer until he heard her teeth chatter.
"We should really get out of these wet clothes."
"And put on what?" Frankie bit out.
"A blanket? At least it would be dry. And warm."
He knew he'd said the magic word – warm.
Frankie sat stubbornly shivering.
"Come on, I'll help."
Will reached down and unlaced her boots. He pulled her up and slid her wet shirt over her head. Frankie's skin was like ice. He wrapped a blanket around her. She wiggled out of her wet pants and pulled the blanket tight around her. She flopped on the end of the couch as far away from Will as she could get.
"Oh come on boo…"
"Still angry," Frankie huffed.
Will held up his hands in surrender.
"Fine, I'm getting out of my wet clothes then."
Frankie tried to avoid watching him but her eyes kept slipping back to the skin he was slowly revealing. He knew she was watching him so he took his time. Piece by piece he tossed his clothes on the floor near the fire. He walked into the bedroom to get a blanket off the bed. He didn't hear her follow him. When he turned she was standing in front of him. Without a word she dropped the blanket. He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close. She held on tight.
"Make love to me Will," she whispered.
He kissed her forehead and lifted her onto the bed.
Their shadows moved on the wall above the bed as he gave her every last piece of himself.
