Delphine blew out a long stream of air, her fingers digging into the pillow she was resting her chin on. "Merde." The word slipped out as soft lips brushed over the small of her back. It was late in the morning and they had yet to fully emerge from the bedroom for anything except the need of the bathroom. Cosima was currently straddling her thighs, tracing patterns across her naked back.
"You know..." Lips smiled against her back. "You slip back into French during sex."
Delphine felt her cheeks burning. "No I don't." She tried to think about the night before. Surely she hadn't reverted back into French.
"Mmmhmmm." Cosima laughed. "I mean it's totally hot, but I had no idea what you were saying last night."
Delphine felt hands slipping over her back, gently massaging the muscles there in what was an odd combination of relaxing and arousing. "I did not notice I was doing it." She smiled. "I must have had my mind on other things."
Slipping off her thighs, Cosima laughed, laying beside her on the bed. "That you did." She had a grin that lit up her face. "I'm finding it quite surreal that I get to see you naked." As if to prove her point, she lifted up the sheet, wiggling her eyebrows with a smirk.
Surreal indeed. Delphine laughed at that. "You and anyone that's seen some of my earlier French films."
"Ha ha." Cosima propped her head up on her elbow, a completely adorable look on her face. "True, but you are a far lovelier creature now."
Delphine gave her a curious look, biting her bottom lip. The way Cosima was looking at her, it was hard to concentrate. "Rita Hayworth used to say:'They go to bed with Gilda, they wake up with me.'" She reached out and intertwined her fingers with Cosima's. "Men went to bed with the dream, and woke up with the reality and didn't like what they saw." She brushed her lips across the woman's knuckles. "Do you feel that way?"
Cosima smiled, wrinkling her nose. "You are far more beautiful this morning, than you have ever been."
The answer was perfect. Everything about this moment was perfect. She wanted to live forever in this moment, in this perfection that seemed untouched by the outside world. "What am I doing with you?" She reached out, caressing the length of her neck, her thumb tracing the line of her jaw.
That smile that seemed to light up her face and the entire room never wavered. "Anything you want."
There was just something about that smile. "I'll be right back." Slipping out of bed, she tried to not let the lingering gaze distract her as she grabbed the robe from the back of the door, slipping out of the room and heading to the kitchen. She wasn't really the domestic type, but she could make coffee and toast. She located some wheat bread easily, dropping 2 slices in the toaster as she found some jam. She was in the process of mixing Cosima's coffee when arms slipped around her waist. "Cosima, I was going to bring it to you."
"You are so cute." Cosima chuckled, slipping around the tall frame and coming between her and the table. "Uh oh." Her hands slipped up to trace the purplish bruise on the blonde's neck. "Sorry."
Delphine smirked, her own hand coming up to trace a path of tiny red bites from the bottom of one ear and disappearing into the large t-shirt she wore. "I think I did worse to you." She pulled her close for a soft kiss, enjoying the light leisurely pace until there was a knock on the door. "Mmm, I'll finish making the toast, you get the door?"
"Ok."
Watching the brunette disappear down the hall, Delphine smiled, tending to the toast. She sipped the cup of coffee she'd poured for herself, thinking back on the previous night. It had been silly, impulsive, and beyond anything she thought possible. She felt as though she'd been turned inside out, her entire body subject to the shopkeeper's meticulous attentions. The front door slammed shut and she rose an eyebrow, looking down the hallway. Cosima was leaning against the wall, a strange look on her face. "What's going on?" She received no response from the surprised brunette and reached for the door.
"Delphine no!"
It was too late. When the door opened, Delphine was blinded by flashes, her ears assaulted by the yells of the huge crowd of reporters and cameras. All too late she slammed the door shut. "Mon Dieu." She was still in shock, not sure what just happened and she could feel her world crumbling down. There was a tightness in her chest making it impossible to breathe.
"Delphine."
Cosima's hand landed on her arm and it was like a hot iron. Delphine pulled away, instincts suddenly taking over. "Non! I...I have to get out of here." She ran back up the stairs, leaving the brunette behind her. She found her bag near the bed, her phone blinking with missed calls. The call to Aldous was quick. He knew better than to berate her or question her considering every other word out of her mouth was French. She was pulling her clothes on when Cosima came in the room.
"Delphine, where are you going?"
"Don't." She couldn't even look at Cosima. Any attachment she felt was washed away by the fear and dread she suddenly felt. One night and she had let her entire career go down the drain. "I have to get out of here."
"Delphine, it's going to be alright."
All Delphine could think was that they had gotten pictures. Cosima was standing there in just a t-shirt that was barely keeping her modest, bite marks evident against her tanned skin. She herself had just been in a robe, no doubt her skin in the same condition. "Merde." She tugged on her boots, the anger filling her. She made her way down the stairs, aware of the woman following her. "I can't do this. I'm straight. I have a boyfriend."
"What?"
With a shake of her head, Delphine ran a hand through her hair. "As far as they know." She didn't have time to explain her life or the supposed boyfriend that Aldous had set her up with. The one who she never saw, who she would never let touch her unless they were on a red carpet somewhere. Now she just looked like a cheater. A gay cheater. Her entire life was a lie and everyone was going to know it now.
"Delphine." Cosima grabbed her on arm, stopping her. "It's not that bad."
"Not that bad? Not that bad? It's easy for you to say, Cosima." Delphine could feel the her blood begin to boil. This woman who had no idea about the life she lived, she couldn't even imagine what she was going through. "This will probably be a benefit for you. Buy a boring book about parasites from the girl who fucked that famous French actress."
Cosima pulled back. "Don't be a bitch, Delphine. It's just fucking news. No one's even going to care tomorrow. It will blow over."
"Blow over?" Delphine slipped on her coat. "This is going to follow me for the rest of my life, Cosima. Anyone that searches my name will find this story." She saw Cosima take a step back but she was on a roll now. "Anytime I go in for an audition they will weigh whether this scandal will alter the public's perception of me as the lead female or not. This will affect me for the rest of my life. I will regret this for the rest of my life" The minute the words came from her mouth, she regretted it. All things considering, she didn't regret the night. She saw the look on Cosima's face and knew it was a mistake.
"You know what...you're right. I don't know the first thing about your life, but go ahead. Go back to your manager, and your movies and your busy life." Cosima shook her head. "You're right about that. You're a big star with a Summer home in Beverly Hills. I'm just some silly sales clerk from Telegraph Hill. We just don't mix, but forgive me if I don't spend the rest of my life regretting this." Her eyes seemed to shake with emotions, tears welling. "Have a nice life with your fake boyfriend pretending to be someone you're not." Cosima spun on her heels, running up the stairs and away from her.
Cosima's name froze on her lips as there was another knock on the door.
"Delphine it's me." Aldous's voice came through the door.
Casting a final look up the stairs, Delphine shook her head and turned her back on the apartment and the brunette that was already upstairs and in the confines of her bedroom. She should just leave. She needed to somehow fix her own life. She had been fine, living an uncomplicated life. She was lonely, but she kept busy and it didn't matter. Now there was no going back. She wouldn't be able to fix this. She wouldn't be able to fix anything.
As she opened the door a second time, Aldous was standing there and he quickly gathered her in his arms. Cameras flashed and microphones were shoved in her direction as her security made a path for the two of them. She couldn't even make out the questions there were so many. She couldn't hear any of them in the dark hole she could feel herself sinking into. Slipping into the waiting car, she didn't dare look at Aldous. She didn't want to see his disapproving look, not when the tears were so close to falling.
"Airport please." Aldous spoke in a business-like tone. "I have all of your bags. I think it's best if we just get out of California for a little bit."
Delphine didn't respond. She watched out the window as they passed the bookstore and then Alison's apartment, both soon joining Cosima's apartment in the rear view mirror as she was taken far away from the best and worst decision of her life.
