Happy Halloween!
Every year the gated community that Francie, and now Kendall, lived in had a trunk-or-treat in front of the clubhouse and party inside. There were crafts, games, music, and refreshments - both adult and kid-friendly. It was a safe environment for residents and their friends to enjoy Halloween.
With the festivities over, and the girls tucked in bed, the adults gathered around the TV for a good, old-fashioned, scare-a-thon. Francie popped some popcorn and Kendall popped the tops off four beers.
"Let's start with the 'Amityville Horror'." Francie held up a DVD from her own personal collection.
Nikki clapped her hands. "Oooooh, good call, Fay!"
"Original or remake?" Logan asked.
"Freckles, tell me it's not the remake with Ryan Reynolds." Kendall's eyebrow rose.
Francie walk to the couch and sat Indian style, taking her beer from Kendall's hand, and pouted, "What's wrong with the Ryan Reynolds version? I like it."
"Yeah," Nikki backed her sister.
Kendall flashed a dimpled smile at Francie and shook his head. "Okay, fine. You win."
Francie and Nikki clinked their bottles together in victory as the movie began. Ryan Reynolds was steaming up the screen and the sisters enjoyed every delicious moment of it.
"What is it with this guy that gets you girls all riled up?" Logan had to know.
"Um, Baby, just LOOK at him." Nikki pointed to the TV, "the man is hot!"
"And funny," Francie added. "But the hottness doesn't hurt either." She giggled.
As the credits rolled, Kendal asked, "Who needs another beer?" He took a swallow, emptying his bottle.
"I'll get them." Francie hopped up and lost her balance. Kendall quickly brought his hands up to steady her but Francie was sprawled in his lap before he knew what happened.
She giggled up at Kendall and breathed out an apology. "Sorry, Dimples. Maybe I don't need another beer." His hands held tightly to the woman in his lap while his eyes roamed over her décolletage. Trying to sit up and master some sort of coordination, she unintentionally grinded her ass on Kendall's crotch. In her tipsy state, she didn't realize the effect of her movement.
Kendall drew in a sharp breath at the sweet sensation of Francie's derrière on his sensitive manhood. The only thing stopping him from throwing her down on the couch and ravaging her body were Nikki and Logan.
Thank God they're here. Otherwise...
Patting her sisters leg, Nikki laughed, "Maybe I'd better get them."
"No, I'm good. I'll get 'em." Francie stood with some unwilling help from Kendall. He would have preferred staying there with Francie in his lap all night.
"I'll help her, Nikki, you pick the next movie." Kendall stood and placed his hands on Francie's hips to stabilize and guide her into the kitchen...or so everyone believed.
"Okay, the wig comes off." She removed it and the hair net with one swift motion and worked the bobby pins out of her hair, letting her dark locks flow over her shoulders and down her back.
Kendall could smell the coconut scent of Francie's shampoo as her hair brushed under his nose. He had an overwhelming urge to run his hands through her waves but couldn't bring himself to let go of her hips.
Maybe I've had too much to drink, too.
Francie tossed the wig on the counter. She began walking, a bit unsteadily, to the fridge.
"These shoes have to go, too." Francie stopped abruptly, bending down to remove her confining high-heeled boots. The sudden stop caused Kendall to bump his groin against her bottom. He bit his lip, but didn't back up. Every movement Francie made to get her shoes off caused a shock of electricity to course through his body.
He looked down at Francie, bent over in front of him, with her ass pressed against his growing erection. He moved one hand from her hips and ran it, lightly, from her neck down to her lower back. The arousing image in front of him was almost too much to bear.
What I wouldn't give right now for one more night with her. Stop it! I've got to quit thinking like this! Oh God, I can't...damn, I've drank way too much!
"There." Francie kicked her last boot off. She stood up, leaning back against Kendall, and raised her face to look at him. Her hand caressed his cheek and she slurred slightly as she spoke.
"Thanks for the help, Dimples. You're a hell of a man." Francie turned on wobbly legs and threw her arms around his neck. Kendall wrapped his arms around her and stroked her low on her back. It felt so good to have Francie in his arms. He lifted her up and she wrapped her legs around his waist.
Kendall carried her to the kitchen counter and sat her down. "Freckles, I've got to tell you something." He pulled away and gazed into her brown eyes but he couldn't find the courage to say the words.
He screamed in his head the words he couldn't form with his lips. I want you, Francie, I need you! I want to make love to you! Forget James...if he's messing around, he doesn't deserve you! I want you back! We can be happy again...like we used to be...
"I got to tell you something too, Ken-Doll." She poked him in the chest. "You're my bestest buddy, EVER." She threw herself at him, squeezing him tightly.
Kendall's heart broke. He knew down deep that her feelings for him weren't the same as he had for her. She loved James, and that's all there was to it.
They held each other for a moment then, when Kendall couldn't take it anymore, he let her go.
"Come on, let's get the beer." He helped Francie down from the counter, retrieved the drinks, and went back to watch 'Halloween', Nikki's movie of choice.
Kendall felt Francie before he saw her. They were laying on the couch, her head on his bare chest, her hair tickling his chin. The room was dark and Francie's body was warm. It took him a moment before piecing together the fuzzy recollection of how they wound up entwined on the couch.
After 'Halloween', Logan picked 'Poltergeist' to watch next. Francie had always had a hard time with that movie. One of Kendall's fondest memories of their time together happened because of that film.
A terrified Francie spent nearly the entire time on Kendall's lap in his protective embrace. The close contact prompted their first time making love with each other. The sweet release was preceded by loving, gentle touches, real emotion-filled love-making, not wild teenage sex. The awe they held for each other's bodies was pure and untainted. It wasn't the first time for either of them, but to Kendall it was even more special because he truly loved Francie.
Now, eight years later, the movie still got to Francie, and Francie still got to Kendall. While watching the movie tonight, Francie's hands covered her face and Kendall threw a comforting arm around her. She snuggled in tight, as she had done all those years ago, but tonight the outcome was different.
Logan and Nikki relocated to the other sofa to stretch out, and make out a little, too, leaving this couch for Francie and Kendall. Drinking always elevated Kendall's body heat. He unfastened the top of his Spiderman costume and pulled it down around his waist. The alcohol took its toll on Francie, too, and as she and Kendall got comfortable on the couch, she fell asleep in his arms.
Now, as he felt Francie softly breathing, he stroked her hair, feeling the thick, soft strands run through his fingers. His eyes adjusted to the darkness, and the moonlight put off enough of a glow, so Kendall could watch Francie as she slept.
I know these feelings are wrong, I shouldn't be having them. Am I simply on the rebound from Tiff or was she right? Am I not over Francie? If I'm not, will I ever be?
Francie sees me as a friend, and as long as James is around, that's all I'll ever be. What if James really is just preoccupied with work? When he gets back, all of this will be gone. Maybe it's better that he does come back...if he's been faithful. With him here, maybe I can put some distance between me and Francie again but, God knows, I don't want to lose this.
Francie stirred in her sleep, her head moved up to rest at Kendall's shoulder and her body turned exposing her cleavage above her daring neckline. Her delicate fingers made slow, soft circles on Kendall's bare chest and her lips found his neck where she began placing small kisses. Kendall bit his lip and held his breath afraid of breaking the magical spell.
Francie whispered something Kendall couldn't make out and, quiet frankly, he didn't care. He lowered his mouth to Francie's and licked at her lower lip, begging to be granted entrance. She obliged.
The sweet taste, he remembered, was the same, but laced with alcohol. The gentle stroking of Francie's tongue on Kendall's made his heart race and his head spin. Kendall moved his hand slowly up Francie's body, from her waist to her breast. His fingers tickled the exposed skin Kendall had admired all night, dying to touch. His hand cupped and softly massaged her breast, causing Francie to softly moan into Kendall's mouth.
Francie pressed her body against Kendall's and her hand started to slide down his chest. Kendall peppered kisses from her jaw to her neck. He was swept away in the moment, not caring that Logan and Nikki were sleeping on the couch a few feet away. Kendall would make love to Francie right here, right now, if need be, he didn't care who was sleeping where.
Francie sighed another soft moan. "James..."
James?!
Kendall felt like he'd been hit by a truck, he abruptly stopped everything he was doing. The agony from that one word was excruciating. He looked at Francie and could tell that she was somewhere in dreamland with her love.
She's dreaming of James. She has no idea that it's me. None.
She snuggled against Kendall and murmured, "I love you, James." Another dagger pierced Kendall's heart.
He pulled Francie close to him, and kissed the side of her head. Kendall decided that Francie's well-being was more important than his aching heart, so he spoke the words she needed to hear from James.
"I love you, too, Sweetness."
Kendall fell asleep on the couch holding Francie and swearing that he would find some way to get her out of his heart.
The bright sunlight shining in her eyes began pulling Francie from her slumber. Still teetering on the edge of sleep, and with her eyes closed, she snuggled into the warm body next to her.
"Mmmm, James."
Again with the James thing. Seriously?
Disheartened, Kendall tried to keep the irritation out of his voice when he answered her. "No, Freckles, it's me."
Francie's eyes fluttered open and she was looking into Kendall's beautiful green orbs.
"Oh, Kendall? Sorry."
She looked around trying to get her bearings, and noticed Kendall's exposed chest. "What are we doing here? What happened last night? Ouch," Francie's hand went directly to her for head, "and why does my head hurt?"
"Too much beer."
"See? This is why I don't drink."
"But you're so entertaining when you do. Cute, too." Kendall laughed causing his chest to shake and bouncing Francie's head around.
"Ouch! Quit. It. Kendall."
"Sorry, Freckles, I can't help it."
Kendall got his laughter under control and filled Francie in on the events that she was unable to remember. Kendall took care to leave out the more awkward moments.
"...and then you got drunk and pretty much molested me. I feel so cheap and used." Kendall grinned mischievously, "But I'll survive." Francie punched him in the arm.
"Ohhh, I like it a little rough."
She glanced down to make sure she was still properly covered. After adjusting her top she got to her feet. Francie raised her hands high above her head and stretched.
"You know, Kendall, you're pretty good at being an ass."
Kendall sat up behind her and watched every movement she made.
"Yeah, Freckles, and you just have a pretty good ass."
Francie turned around with her hands on her hips and mouth agape. "Kendall Francis Schmidt, don't you get fresh with me!" She teased Kendall with a grin.
He raised his hands in a gesture of surrender. "My bad."
"I don't remember much, but I do remember I had a dream…about James."
Yeah, don't I know it. "Well, that makes sense," Kendall shrugged, "you miss him. He's on your mind." Lucky bastard.
Francie broke into a large grin. "Yeah, he is...and he'll be home soon."
Nikki walked into the front room. "Good, you guys are up. Let's make some breakfast, I'm starving."
Francie held her hand out to Kendall and pulled him off the couch. They joined Logan and Nikki in the kitchen and started breakfast.
