Chapter 38

                                    

                                          
The pain in my side became unbearable and I looked down to see Cerulean gripping it. She was trembling and small frightened sounds were escaping her throat. I tried to move her only for her to hold on tighter, nails beginning to break skin. "Cerulean..."
                          
I stroked her face and hair, shaking her gently when that did nothing. She nearly leaped out of bed as she woke up, and I caught her waist and pulled her into my lap, rocking gently. "It's okay... relax, Cerulean."
                          
I watched as terrified eyes glanced around the room, my heart breaking. Eventually, she relaxed and looked at her hands. "Sorry..."
                          
I shook my head in her hair. "Don't apologize." She shifted to straddle me and buried her face in my chest as I kissed her head. It wasn't long before she was sleeping again and I carefully laid back so she didn't wake. I didn't know how else to help her, Dr. Zaveed convinced her to see a counselor after the attack, but I wasn't sure if it was helping or not.
                          
She sighed, snuggling into me before falling still again. I smiled softly, considering I made her mad because I stole some of her ice cream while we half watched Marvel movies and told me to stop touching her, she was perfectly content right now. I shook my head watching her, for now she looked peaceful her hair carelessly scattered curls around her. I began to play with a strand and she frowned in her sleep when I may have tugged too hard.
                          
I stopped she needed to rest last night was a lot, coupled with her everyday comings and goings too much. I yawned and closed my eyes, hoping she'd stay this way the rest of the night.
                          
***
                          
Keeping Daniel too busy to go outside was no simple task after noon. He wanted to go out and take me to lunch since I had already cooked breakfast. We came to the conclusion he was allowed no where near a hot surface after he attempted to cook twice since the first incident. I liked cooking, he knew this, but insisted we ate out every so often so he could contribute to my weight gain.
                          
When he walked out, he froze. "What the fuck, Cerulean?"
                          
I grimaced. "Surprise?"
                          
He turned to me wide eyed. "What the fuck, Cerulean?"
                          
I hid behind the door. "Uh... sur... prise? Don't kill me."
                          
He turned back to his car, now a very nice shade of hunter green. Other than the fact it was a very unattractive shade of blue before, any evidence of last night's vandalism was gone. "Ho-... Yo-..." He turned back to me, still in shock. "What. The. Fuck. Cerulean."
                          
I bit my lip, he didn't sound mad, just very much surprised. "I didn't want you to have to see it any longer than necessary."
                          
He glanced back and stalked into the house closing the door behind him. He smothered me with his mouth pushing me against the wall roughly. I blinked in surprise before giving in, sighing as I opened up to him. His tongue tasted every inch of my mouth before he pulled back, both of us panting. "Fuck, I love you. How did yo-"
                          
I smiled. "So, you like it?"
                          
He kissed me, hungrily. "Yes, it's amazing. Is this why I got to stay the night?"
                          
I shook my head. "Didn't matter where the car was, they would have gotten to it."
                          
He furrowed his brow. "But how?"
                          
I shrugged. "Somethings I don't question, keeps me innocent looking."
                          
He smiled. "What if I agreed to the cartoons?"
                          
I frowned. "Anime are not cartoons."
                          
He pursed his lips. "Are."
                          
I pushed him off me. "Are not."
                          
I ducked under his arms when he tried to grab me again. "Yes they are."
                          
I giggled as I ran up the stairs. "Are not! Cartoons are different!"
                          
He tackled me to the bed and started pulling at me clothes. "Are not!"
                          
I laughed, trying to toss him off. "No. Adult animation. Get off of me!"
                          
He chuckled. "So... adult cartoons."
                          
I gasped when his teeth sunk into my chest. "You're wrong and keep it up. I'll ask for them to be added!"
                          
He paused then pecked my lips. "I'd love it either way."
                          
I smiled against his lips. "Don't tempt me, Daniel."
                          
He trailed his lips along my jaw then nibbled my ear. "That's the fun part."
                          
***
                          
Watching Cerulean watch the people around us was one of the things I enjoyed while we were out. It gave me a chance to enjoy looking at her and she wouldn't complain. The breeze lifted a few of the shorter curls around her face and I caught one. She glanced at me. "Really?"
                          
I smiled. "It was reaching for me." I pulled it until it was straight and let it bounce back into place.
                          
She rolled her eyes. "I'm going to cut it."
                          
I shrugged. "You'll be beautiful either way."
                          
She pursed her lips. "I'll get it like yours."
                          
I bit mine. "Can that wait until later? I want the chance to pull it first."
                          
Her eyes widened as her cheeks tinted red. "I'm done talking to you."
                          
I laughed. "I mean... after, go for it, but I at least want the experience."
                          
She threw a chip at me. "Shut up." I tried to catch her hand, but she dodged me. "Don't touch me."
                          
I sighed. "You weren't saying that earlier... in fact..."
                          
She gaped. "Can you not right now?"
                          
Her embarrassment was always cute, especially when she blushed. "Is there a better time? I can pick back up then."
                          
She narrowed her eyes. "Yeah, when you go home."
                          
"Are you kicking me out, Cerulean?"
                          
She side-eyed me. "I'd never do that." I smiled softly and let her attention drift back to the people around us. When my phone started ringing, I was surprised. No one ever called me that I was still in communication with. I didn't recognize the number and ignored it only for it to ring again.
                          
Cerulean tilted her head as I answered. "Hello?"
                          
"Why are you avoiding me, Daniel?"
                          
I ended the call and it started ringing again. I groaned and Cerulean took my hand. "Going to have to change my number again, Babe." She only nodded, concern clear in her eyes. Rarely did she comment on my wife or parents, I know it hurt her when stuff like this happened. Even still she'd work to get me in a better mood and support me through whatever it was.
                          
I was grateful for her, she never complained about any of it. When I started my new job, I knew I'd work longer hours, leaving the company came with its own problems as they tried to tarnish my reputation. Since my dad publicly tried to humiliate Cerulean, saying she broke up my marriage, I let the fact that they were under investigation leak along with what occurred in the office.
                          
That squashed any thought of letting me go due to bad press. Diedra had a restraining order out on her thanks to Lolo, I actually understood why he wanted her to move. Where she was now... literally no one could get near without him knowing if she was at home. If anyone tried to hurt her, it would be dealt with.
                          
I turned my phone off, hopefully, by the time I turned it back on Diedra would give up. Right now, I just wanted to enjoy the girl across from me. She'd return to work tomorrow afternoon and I wouldn't be able to see her again until she finished school Monday. I hated not coming home to her or vice versa. I'd prefer to see her in between, but for now that wasn't possible, not when people were hell bent on destroying her.