Chapter Text
It was nearly 9pm and it was typically quiet for a Tuesday night. A couple of regulars cluttered the bar area and one larger group were getting hammered in the corner but nothing eventful.
Franky cleared the far end of the bar of dirty glasses then wiped it clean. She'd often thought about closing down early on week nights but honestly it gave her something to do. She had nothing or nobody to go home to and the nights got a little lonely.
She'd owned 'The Black Cat lounge' for a little over a year. She'd transformed the place from a dated pub to a modern popular gay bar, she did well. Weekends were her real money maker. She would throw all sorts of elaborate events and gigs, it was always jammed. There's no denying she was proud of herself and happy with her life but there was always something missing. Someone missing.
Franky had ended things with her ex just before she'd bought the place. It was her dream and Erica just couldn't get her head around that. In a strange way she always looked down on Franky and ultimately it had ended them. She never felt good enough for the woman, she couldn't live up to her expectations, in the end she got sick of living like that.
It would be easy to assume as a gay bar owner there'd be no shortage on women keeping her bed warm but Franky had soon tired of the lifestyle. A few months in she'd ended up alienating half her female customers and causing her fair share of drama, that was it she was done. True to her word she'd kept to her 'no dating punters' rule. Women would hit on her and she'd entertain them but that was it, it never went any further. Honestly, she liked the attention but she wasn't about to risk her business reputation again any time soon.
Franky was bored, the night was dragging, leaning back on the opposite side of the bar she folded her arms and sighed. Was there more to life than this?
"Hey... a large pino please.. when you get a sec"
She hadn't noticed someone come in and approach the bar from her left.
"Oh crap.. Hi sorry.. I was miles away. A pino? Coming right up"
Franky made eyes with the blonde leaning on the bar and smiled. She couldn't help but notice she was attractive, extremely so. Her form fitting black leather jacket snaked her body in all the right places. Jeeeez. She looked strangely sullen, there was something indecipherable behind her eyes.
Free pouring from the bottle Franky filled the glass almost right to the top and slid it over the bar.
"First ones on the house, I reckon you need it"
She flashed the blonde her winning smile.
"You didn't have to do that.. thank you. You're right, I could really do with it"
She took the glass and took an unreasonably large drink.
"Yikes it's like that is it? Feel free to bend my ear. That's what bartenders are for right?"
Franky lent forward on the bar, maybe a bit too close. She couldn't help but flirt a little. The woman was stunning where was the harm in that?
"Ah you know. I've just had one of those days... those weeks really"
"I feel that"
Franky shot back followed by a cheeky little smirk.
"What's your name?"
"Bridget"
"You waiting on someone or?"
"No, just me tonight"
"Righto well, if you need anything..I'm Franky I'll be on all night"
Stepping back from the blonde Franky smiled and gave her some room. She made her a little nervous, an unfamilar feeling. Pushing the thought from her mind she went to clear some tables by the door. She could feel Bridgets eyes on her. Things picked up for a hour or so and Franky busied herself with work stealing the occasional glance over at the blonde who had swiftly moved onto her fourth glass. She longed to know what was on her mind but it really was none of her business.
"Franky"
"Yep!"
She fired back over enthusiastically "What can I do for ya?"
She liked the way her name sounded on Bridgets lips.
"Will you have a drink with me? Just one. I feel a little tragic drinking by myself, if you've got the time?" Bridget was feeling rather bold, she wanted the brunettes attention.
"Course!"
Franky lent down and grabbed herself a bottle of bud from the fridge. Flicking the lid expertly across the room into the trash she placed the bottle down and poured Bridget another pino.
"Here"
she pushed the glass over to her and clinked her bottle off it.
"Cheers! To... not drinking alone and to getting through shitty weeks"
Bridget laughed and it lit up the room. She was clearly getting pretty tipsy now but who was Franky to judge? The woman was ridiculously sexy. There was something about the way she carried herself as if she knew the answer to everything. Franky struggled to keep her eyes off her.
"So.. what brings you to my bar on a week night Bridget? I've never seen you here before"
She tried making some polite conversation, the blonde obviously wanted her to hang around.
"Its your bar? I love what you've done with it since it reopened, it's gorgeous"
Franky resisted the urge to say 'You're gorgeous' instead she smiled.
"Yeah yeah thanks! It's been a lot of work but it's my passion project"
She noticed Bridget avoided her question so she wasn't going to push her.
"Its amazing Franky"
Bridget shot her a genuine smile as if she knew what the place meant to her.
"To answer your question.. I'm drowning my sorrows in your fancy wine because I.. uh got dumped. Well I guess I sort of did the dumping whatever, its a mess"
Franky was surprised at the admission, the wine must have been beginning to loosen her up.
"Ah fuck Bridget I'm sorry that's... crap"
She didn't really know what to say. She was always a little awkward in these type of situations.
"It is what it is eh, 7 years of my life I won't get back but sometimes you're better off without"
"I don't know much about it but whatever the situation, she was obviously a fool to lose you"
Bridgets face went red at that comment, Franky was flirting with her. She'd wondered before if she was just being friendly or if it was something more. She was out of practice she certainly didn't flirt with women in bars, not anymore.
"Sorry I didn't mean to pry, you don't need to tell me" Franky awkwardly laughed and stepped back a little.
"Its okay. You're not. You deserve to know why I'm propping up your bar and making you commiserate with me"
The pair laughed, it seemed easy between them. Bridget downed the rest of her glass quickly, clicking it a little too forcefully on the bar and requested another.
Franky was conscious of how fast Bridget was drinking her wine. She felt oddly protective of her, she really didn't want to have to cut her off. Obviously she was having a shity day maybe she needed to not feel anything anymore. Maybe that was okay.
"Well I'm glad you're here"
The chatted casually for a bit and Franky flirted a little. Mid way through her next glass Bridget suddenly filled a silence.
"She cheated on me. After 7 years together, she was fucking her high school best friend"
"Christ that's messed up Bridget, I'm sorry. She's a fucking idiot"
"Yeah... well I should have seen it coming. She was always away for work, staying in hotels. She was never interested in me. I'm the idiot really"
"Nah fuck that no way. You didn't deserve that, no matter what, don't think that"
"Thanks Franky" She shot her a somber smile.
"I mean it.. its none of my business but that's not on you. That's her shitty decision, nobody deserves that"
"I guess you're right. Thank you"
They were interrupted by a group of girls beckoning Franky over.
"Excuse me, I'll be back" she whispered to Bridget placing her beer down next to her glass.
"Right guys what can I get ya"
Bridget watched Franky interact with the women. Her wine impaired judgement made her feel almost jealous. She wanted Franky to be talking to her, flirting with her. She liked the attention, there was something about it that gave her a rush.
The brunette got caught up with a few groups and had to run off to grab some more stock. When she returned an older woman was chatting up Bridget, leaning against the bar boxing her in. She'd slid her a shot Franky had served her group a few minutes ago. Keeping her distance she watched the pair chatting. Bridgets eyes briefly flickered to Frankys, she got caught spying on them. Crap.
Busying herself she tried not to look over again. She felt a little uncomfortable about the woman setting her sights on an increasingly drunk Bridget but it wasn't really any of her business. Next time she looked back around the woman was beckoning Franky over.
"2 tequilas and 2 scotchs"
Reluctantly she fetched the drinks and handed them over. Eyeing Bridget she could tell she really didn't need them. She'd gone 0 to 100 really quickly, she didn't like this. The older woman encouraged her, shotting the tequila and chasing it with scotch. Franky kept just out of ear shot of their conversation, she didn't really want to hear it.
The rest of the night passed with nothing noteable happening. At around 10 minutes to closing time Franky eyed Bridgets new companion helping her up from her chair. The blonde was stumbling all over the place. Franky wasn't having it. She shot around the front of the bar and up next to them.
"You alright Bridget? Where ya off to?"
"Franky! HI!" She threw her arms around her neck, draping off her.
"I don't know.. I'm off with Carol "
"Alright, are you okay do you want to go with her?"
"I wanna stay with you"
"Hey love, why don't you leave us to it, we were just leaving" Carol interrupted, unexpectedly politely
"She's gonna stay here with me alright, I'll deal with her, head on home"
Franky gestured to the door and the woman grumbled something under her breath reluctantly heading out.
Practically carrying Bridget, Franly ushered her over to a booth and helped her sit down. "Will you get me a drink Franky"
"Yeah yeah sure you stay there alright? I'll get rid of everyone and we'll get you home OK?"
"OK but I can have a drink first" Franky laughed she could barely say it let alone drink it.
"I'll get you one, stay there!"
Franky shot off to clear the last remaining customers out.
"Thanks very much guys, catch you later on, cheers"
Slamming and locking the door behind them she sighed. It was always such a peaceful moment when the last customer left but tonight she had more on her mind.
Bringing a glass of lemonade over to the blonde Franky sat down next to her .
"You alright Bridget, lets get you home yeah?"
"I don't want to go home"
"I know but you can't stay here all night"
The pair made eye contact and Franky couldn't help but smile at her.
"Whats your address I'll drive you? My cars out back, come on"
she stood up taking Bridgets hand
"You're so hot Franky"
Franky laughed
"Thank you, so are you"
"Can I come back to yours?.. I'll do whatever you like, whatever youre in to"
"Jesus Bridget... I don't think that's a good idea, you've had a bit to drink.. you should go home sleep it off....I'm happy to get to get to know you, sober"
Franky couldn't believe her ears, she knew she was drunk and it really shouldn't but Bridgets comment fired her up. The woman was insanely attractive and all but throwing herself at her but that is not how things were about to go down.
Bridget stumbled into her, pushing her up against her bar, pushing her body on Frankys
"I want you to get to know me now. I've not had sex in a long time Franky, I want you to touch me"
Fucking hell. Frankys arousal lit like a match. She'd felt it too earlier, she really liked the spunky blonde, they obviously had chemistry, it was torture.
Honestly she wanted nothing more than to take the woman upstairs and make her feel wanted again but not like this.
"Hey hey Bridget hold up.. look I like you too okay? I really do but let's get you home and we can talk alright"
"I dont want to go home, take me upstairs and we'll talk. I'm not going home"
God damn this woman was stubborn. It wouldn't do any harm letting her stay over , it would certainly be a lot easier. Franky surveyed all her available options and it seemed to make the most sense.
"Alright fine, come on let's go upstairs"
Franky gently pushed Bridgets body off her keeping ahold of her hand. She steadily guided her through the back and up the stairs to her flat. It was like navigating a maze, trying to keep Bridget from bashing into various objects was a full time job.
Finally they flopped on the sofa.
"What a night, you certainly make things more interesting you're some woman"
Franky laughed trying to lighten the vibe.
"Why wont you fuck me then?"
"Bridget come on, we talked about this, it's not right okay? Not tonight"
"I'm not that drunk , If you don't want me either just fucking say so"
Franky knew exactly where that comment was coming from. Her shitty ex had left her feeling undesirable and unwanted, that was the last thing Franky wanted to do too but there were no right answers in this situation. She did want her, truthfully she was slowly killing her, just not like this.
"Its not that Bridget" she sighed. "You're feeling shitty and vulnerable, I don't wanna take advantage of that okay?"
Bridget leaned in closer climbing on Frankys lap.
"I want you to take advantage of me"
Fucking hell. She couldn't take much more. Time stood still, Franky almost cracked. She breathed heavily enjoying the feeling of Bridget on top of her. Jesus. Enough was enough. She stood up, pushing the blonde up to standing position.
"Please Bridget come on, you can have my bed, I'll come show you and I'll sleep through here. If you still want me in the morning we can talk ok?"
Bridget relented.
"Fine" she allowed Franky to guide her through to her room.
"Please can you stay with me? I don't want to be alone"
Franky sighed, she wasn't sure what to do. She tried to decipher the blonds intentions, scanning her face. In that moment she looked genuine.
"Eh yeah yeah sure I'll stay but no funny business"
"Okay"
Bridget smiled and started stripping off with purpose.
"Fucking hell give a girl some warning. Here have some of my pjs"
she tossed some out the drawer over to her, deliberately averting her eyes. Bridget just watched them land on the floor and climbed into bed in just her underwear, eyeing Franky all the while.
Fuck this woman was difficult. Franky didn't know what to do. There was a naked woman in her bed for the first time in a long time. She got changed, grabbed Bridget a large glass of water and hesitantly climbed in next to her.
"No funny business remember"
"Yeah yeah you're so boring" Franky laughed.
Laying back she tried to compose herself.
"Will you hold me?.... please "
She felt sorry for her in the moment. She could tell she just wanted some comfort. How could she deny her that. Relenting her mental 'no touching rule' she scooted in and pulled Bridget close.
She was practically naked and the feel of her against her own body was a bit too much.
"There, you alright?"
"Yeah.. thank you Franky"
"My pleasure, get some sleep"
Bridget backed her arse up into Frankys crotch feigning to get comfortable. A sharp intake of breath was Frankys only response. This woman was driving her mad. A couple of seconds passed and she did it again, and again this time with deliberate intent.
"Bridget please, get some sleep"
she pulled her harshy closer, flush against her and held her tight. "I'm here okay" Frankys body was on fire. It had been a long time since she'd been this close to anyone. Least of all a stunning stranger that was very clearly into her. How the fuck was she going to get any sleep.