Linzer Tarts
“Frank, this place…. Is tragic.” I announced, spinning in a slow circle to take in the entirety of the miniscule apartment I was standing in.
“Yeah, I know.” Frank said in a muffled voice from where he was deep in the tiny closet in the corner.
“Do you even have a radiator?” I asked in disbelief, blowing out a breath to see the puff of white that formed in the frigid air.
“Nah, that’s why it’s so cheap. No heat.” Frank sounded utterly unconcerned and I gaped at his back.
“Are you insane?”
“Quite possibly.” He turned around, holding a duffel bag stuffed with clothes and threw it on the bed.
“And is that a twin bed?”
“Yes ma’am,” he said, gingerly pulling Matt’s t-shirt up and over his head. My cheeks immediately heated up at the sight of his naked torso, but I forced myself to stay focused.
“Do you even fit on a twin bed?” I asked, noticing that the bandages on his side were completely clear of blood. Did he have super-healing powers or something?
“Ella, a twin bed is three feet wide. I am not three feet wide.” Frank’s head popped out the top of the flannel he was pulling on and stared at me disapprovingly. Next to go were the sweats and I pointedly looked away as he changed into his own boxers and jeans.
“Alright, alright,” I muttered. “Lola, leave it!” Lola looked back at me from where she was intently snuffling at something in the corner.
“Ah, she’s probably found the mice nest.” Frank said casually.
“MICE?!” I shrieked. “That is IT, you’re staying with me until you find another place to live.”
“If I try to argue with you, are you gonna yell at me again?” Frank was trying so hard not to smile.
“Yes.” I said defiantly, crossing my arms.
“Then I’ll save that argument for another day.” Frank said simply, pulling on a heavy olive-green jacket and picking up the duffel bag. I tried to hide my surprise, but must have done a poor job. He closed the distance between us in one stride. “Truth is, I’d rather stay with you.” He whispered, threading his right fingers through mine.
“And why is that?” I whispered back, trying to keep my voice from shaking.
“Because I can do things like this whenever I want.” He leaned in and kissed me sweetly. I opened my mouth to him and he licked behind my teeth once, making me moan, before pulling back and kissing me on the nose.
“Fair point, well made.” I gasped and he laughed, his eyes dancing.
“Coffee?” He said, gesturing grandly to the splintering front door.
“Yes please.” I responded, whistling to Lola so that she followed us out into the hallway. We carefully navigated down the crumbling stairs and out into the blinding sun and cold. Just as Frank pointed to a coffee shop on the corner, my phone started buzzing in my pocket.
“Shit, sorry, work.” I said, pressing accept. Frank nodded and motioned for me to wait outside while he went in.
“Hello?”
“Hey, E, it’s Jen.” My favorite coworker’s bubbly voice crackled through my speaker.
“Hey, Jen, what’s up?”
“Listen, I hate to do this, but could you come in tonight? I know you don’t work the night of the show, but we’ve got Post Malone on tonight and he’s being a total nightmare, demanding re-writes of his sketch.” I could practically hear Jen’s eye roll through the phone and laughed.
“Yeah, that’s fine.” I checked the time quickly and pressed the phone back to my ear. “I can be there in like 2 hours?”
“That would be fantastic. Drinks on me once we’re done dealing with his childish ass.” We both laughed and I said goodbye and hung up, shortening Lola’s leash as I walked into the coffee shop.
Frank was at the counter, coffee already in both hands, laughing and talking with the older woman behind the counter. I sidled up to him and bumped him with my hip and he turned his head, smiling.
“Hey sweetheart. Mae, this is my,” he paused for a second, “my friend Ella.”
“Hi, Mae!” I said brightly, holding out my hand. “Pleasure to meet you.”
The gray haired woman’s face lit up and she grabbed my hand with both of hers.
“Hi lovey! It’s so nice to meet you, you know I was wondering when Frankie would meet a nice girl and look at you, just absolutely gorgeous,” I was blushing like a maniac and Frank was looking at the floor.
“Aw, Hell Mae, lay off.” He grumbled, but he was smiling. Mae winked at me, then leaned over the counter and cooed, “Oh and who’s this cutie?”
“This is Lola,” I said proudly. “Lola say hi!”
Lola raised her right paw and barked once. Mae clapped her hands in delight and produced a treat out of nowhere.
“May I?” She asked, coming around from behind the counter.
“Of course, she’ll love you forever.” I laughed and Lola gobbled down the treat and gave Mae’s outstretched hand a good lick.
“Well, I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but I’ve got to go into work in a bit, so I need to get home and shower.” I said apologetically, tilting my head towards the door.
“Oh, well before you go here, take these.” Mae bustled back behind the counter and held out a white paper bag. “Linzer Tarts, Frankie’s favorite.”
“No way!” I exclaimed before I could stop myself. “They’re my favorite too.”
“Mae’s are the best in the city.” Frank said, putting down one of the coffees and pulling out a $20 from his pocket.
“No, no, no, get that out of here. You just come on back soon and bring Miss Ella back too.” Mae flapped her hands and Frank pulled the bill back, but when she turned around, he quietly slid it into the otherwise empty tip jar.
“So lovely to meet you, Mae.” I waved and stepped out.
“Take care of yourself and I’ll back in a few days to fix that stove, alright?” I heard Frank say and then the door was tinkling shut and he was beside me on the sidewalk, taking a sip of his coffee, which I knew was black.
“She’s so sweet!” I said, tapping my foot so Lola would sit and grabbing my own coffee.
“Yeah, Mae, she’s, she’s a damn firecracker,” Frank laughed and shook his head. “Known her since I was a punk kid.”
“Mm,” I hummed, handing him my cup so we could start walking. “Sorry to cut the visit short, but a coworker just called and they need me at the studio ASAP.”
“Duty calls.” Frank smirked. “Want me to take Lola to the park or something while you’re gone?”
“Unfortunately it’s gonna be more like a four hour teeth pulling session than a quick re-write,” I groaned.
“Oh, uh, should I head back to my place then?” Frank was gnawing on his lower lip.
“No!” We halted for a red light and I turned to face him. “I was serious about you staying with me. I would say you could come with me, but tragically I don’t have the ‘clearance’ to make that call.” I attempted to make air quotes, but succeeded only in hitting myself in the head with the bag of pastries. Frank smiled and tossed his empty cup in the trash, handing me mine, which I downed in two gulps.
“I know! Why don’t you fix my damn window?” I tossed my cup as well and then pursed my lips and stared at him.
“Yes ma’am.” Frank winked at me and we crossed the street. For the rest of the walk home, he regaled me with stories of times Mae offered both solace and sternness during his teenage years and into his 20s, even mentioning the first time he brought Maria and then the kids to the bakery. His voice got a little rougher during those stories, but I was surprised to see that he stayed clear-eyed and even smiled.
We climbed the stairs to my apartment and when I went to unlock the door, Frank pushed himself up on me from behind and kissed me behind the ear.
“Frank,” I hissed, my keys almost slipping out of my hands.
“You smell so damn good.” He growled in my ear. “All the time, when I leave it’s all over my clothes, I smell you in my sleep.” He mouthed at the skin under my jaw and I closed my eyes.
“Okay, okay.” I said breathlessly. “I gotta open the door.”
Frank put his hand over mine and helped me guide the key into the lock. I marveled at how easily his hand engulfed mine and the second we were inside and Lola’s leash was out of my hands as she ran down the hall, Frank had both my wrists in one of his giant hands and pinned them against the wall. The bag of tarts dropped to the floor, forgotten.
“Fuck,” I whispered as he used his other hand to unzip my coat enough to expose my collarbones and dipped his head down to taste my skin. His teeth nibbled at the thin skin at the base of my throat and I shuddered. He kissed his way up my neck to my mouth and covered his whole body with mine, releasing my hands so I could wrap my arms around his neck. One of his hands crept up my torso to wrap its way lightly around my throat and I moaned into the kiss.
“Those fuckin noises you make.” Frank growled, pulling back and biting my ear. “Make a man weak.”
I ground my hips into him and he retaliated, picking up my left leg and winding it around his waist.
“Frank, Frank, I need to shower and get ready,” I gasped, clutching desperately at the front of his shirt as he thrust his hips forward.
“Mmm,” He hummed against my neck. “Guess we could continue this while you’re wet.” He pulled back and winked, releasing his grip on my thigh so that my leg fell back to Earth. Without another word, heart pounding, I kicked off my shoes and socks and started walking to the bathroom, hearing the thud of his boots landing in the hallway corner as well.
I beat him to the bathroom and had managed to yank my sweater over my head before he was all over me again, hands exploring the newly exposed flesh of my stomach and chest. I fumbled with the button on my jeans, biting his shoulder as he undid the clasp on my bra.
I pushed him back and breathed “take off your shirt,” as I reached behind him to turn on the water in the shower.
He acquiesced and his jeans followed quickly. We stood in front of each other, each in our underwear and panting.
“You first, sweetheart.”
I took a deep breath and pulled my thong down, stepping out of it and resisting the urge to cover myself with my hands. Frank swore and devoured me with his eyes.
“Your turn.” I whispered, steam starting to fill the room. Frank pulled his boxers off without hesitation and reached out for me. I stepped closer and let him run his hands up and down my body, inhaling sharply when his fingers ghosted over my clit.
“Get in.” His voice was lower than I’d ever heard it and I stepped past him to get into the shower and he closed the door behind him as he followed me. He walked me back under the spray and I tilted my head back, letting the water soak my hair. Frank leaned down, cupping my breasts with both hands and licked the water droplets that were lying on them. I hissed and instinctively rolled my hips. He chuckled and stood up straight, reaching over my head for my shampoo. I stared at his body, finally seeing it all for the first time. He was truly as impressive as I’d hoped, thick ropey muscles beneath his skin shifting with every moment and when I dared to let my eyes drift downwards, I bit my lip.
“Like what you see?” Frank laughed and I snapped my eyes up to his. He was pouring shampoo into his hands and motioned for me to turn around. I did and immediately his fingers were in my hair, massaging the suds through my tangled locks. I sighed and tilted my head back, letting my hands ghost up my own chest to my nipples.
“Fuck, sweetheart.” Frank growled in my ear, pulling on my hair just enough that I gasped. He spun me around again and I rinsed the shampoo from my hair while he watched.
“C’mere,” Frank said once I was done, gently backing me up against the wall, out of the spray. I reached for him and pulled his mouth to mine, biting his lower lip. He smiled against my lips and started kissing and licking his way down my neck, lowering himself onto his knees in front of me. I looked down at him through my eyelashes, my chest heaving.
“Shh, shh, shh.” Frank leaned in and kissed my hipbone, tracing the scar with his tongue and I cried out.
“Good girl,” Frank praised, gently pushing my legs apart with his right hand. Before I could blink, he had two fingers inside me and his thumb was rubbing circles on my clit.
“Oh fuck, oh fuck.” I whimpered, my hands instinctively going into my hair and clutching at the wet strands.
“Yeah, girl? That feel good?” Frank was grinning wickedly and shrugged my right leg up onto his shoulder, working me open with his fingers.
“So fucking good Frank, don’t stop.” I said almost panicked.
“Never.” Frank promised, sliding his fingers out of me. I gasped in protest, but he soon replaced them with his tongue and I cried out his name. He licked a flat stripe up my pussy and sucked on my clit, his fingers coming back to stroke my G-spot at a pace that made my eyes roll back into my head. I dropped a hand to his shoulder and let my nails bite into his flesh, which only seemed to spur him on as he sucked and fucked me with his fingers even faster.
“Frank, I’m gonna...” The pressure coiling in my stomach was so intense I was shaking, grabbing onto him and the wall behind me for support as he worked me impossibly closer to the edge.
“Come on sweetheart,” he said, removing his mouth from my clit and looking up at me with hooded eyes. “Come for me, Ella.”
It was hearing him say my name that did it - I fell apart with a scream, my eyes slamming shut and my pussy clamping down on his fingers as he continued to stroke my most sensitive parts. I saw white sparks flash behind my eyes and sobbed with release. When I finally came down, Frank was standing in front of me, kissing my face and neck whispering praise into my skin. I slumped against him, my face in his shoulder and just let him hold me. When I was mostly recovered, I realized I could feel him, hard and pressed into my stomach, and started to move my hand downwards.
“Uh-uh sweetheart, you gotta get ready for work.” Frank teased, grabbing my wrist. I whined and glared at him, trying to get my arm free, but it was like Goliath wrestling with a kitten.
“Later.” Frank promised, kissing my eyebrows, eyelids, nose. I sighed and watched reluctantly as he got out of the shower before hastily conditioning my hair & washing my body.
When I came out into the kitchen fully dressed, Frank was standing at the counter eating a Linzer Tart, Lola at his feet. He was wearing a pair of black sweatpants that hung low on his hips and no shirt.
“That’s not fair.” I frowned. “You can’t not have sex with me and then wear that.”
Frank laughed, powdered sugar on his lips. “I thought you had to go?”
“I do, I do.” I sighed, picking up my purse and keys. “Listen, I think we’ll be going out for drinks once the nightmare is over. I’ll text you where we end up?”
“Yeah, maybe.” Frank shifted from foot to foot.
“Either way, I’ll see you later.” I gave him a kiss, licking the powdered sugar off his lips and then gave Lola a pat on the head and ran out the front door.