Chapter 3: Even a Hot-Head Can be Romantic (Raph/Cheryl)

Cheryl's P.O.V.:

"Yes, Mom, I'll be at home tonight." I say to my mother on the phone as I watch some customers browse around the store.

"Hmmm, I would've thought your boyfriend would be taking you out somewhere for Valentine's Day." She said as I hear something beep on the other line, probably the oven.

"Please, I can spend the entire night with him in a dumpster for all I care just as long as we're together. Am I right?"

"Yes, you are right." She laughs out and clears her throat, "You must really love him to say that, Sweetie."

I nod and smile, "Yes I do. I don't know what else I can say about him, Mom, Raph's just… perfect."

"As long as you are happy with him, Sweetie, that's all that matters to me and your father." She clears her throat again, "Well, I should let you get back to work."

"Okay. I'll see you and Pop on Sunday then. Bye Mom."

"Bye, Sweetie. I love you."

"I love you too, Mom." I tell her and she hangs up and I put the phone back on the holder.

Out of all the days in the entire year, I would have to get a bunch of customers on Valentine's Day. Normally on this day I wouldn't really give a flying crap about it cause I thought it was stupid, but then once I started dating my hot turtle boyfriend, Raphael, I actually realize there are ways people show love to their significant other. Even if it means they blow up their wallets on a bunch of flowers and candy. Right as I'm helping a customer pay for Richard Marx and Marvin Gaye CD's, I start to think about Raph and I smile and chuckle. Man, Raph is so strong, has a very muscular body, funny, protective, and best of all he's so passionate in everything he does. I mean sure he's got a temper, but since we have been together Raph has calmed down a bit. Which is good for his brothers if you know what I mean.

Soon as the store is dead the phone starts to ring and I pick it up, "NYC Beats, Cheryl speaking."

"Yeah hi, I would like ta place an order for some Italian food. And can ya make sure it's hot and spicy cause that's the way I like it." A familiar Brooklyn accent says over the phone.

Raph's P.O.V.:

"Very funny, Red." Cheryl says on the other line as I work on the Shell Cycle.

"I know, I'm a riot. How's it goin' at work, Babe?"

"Well it's keeping me busy if that is what you mean. Other than that not too bad, but I am just counting down the minutes for you to get here."

"Figures. Ya can't get enough of me, huh?" I ask her tightening up the handles.

She laughs, "Yes, Raph, I would even go so far as to ditch work just to see you." She says in a smart aleck tone.

"No I wouldn't want you ta do that for me, Babe. I rather just have ya wait until I get there."

"So that's it? You're going to have me wait here desperate?"

"Pretty much. I mean what, we've got two more hours ta kill before tonight. I think you can make it."

"I don't know, Red, I can get pretty lonely without you." Her voice sounds low and seductive, makin' me shiver.

"Geez, Cheryl, I'm not even there and you're already drivin' me nuts." I tell her as I wipe my forehead.

"What can I say, Raph, you bring out the best of me." She said her voice still low and teasin' me. I hear a bell ring and someone grettin' her, "I better go."

"Yeah, wouldn't want ta make your customers wait. I'll see ya later, Babe."

"Sure thing. Oh, and Raph?"

"Yeah?"

"I love you."

I smile and take a deep breath, "I love you too."

"Bye." She hangs up.

I put my Shell Cell on the ground and lean my back against the wall, lettin' the dirty cloth in my hand land next ta my feet. Man, Cheryl really knows how ta get under my shell in a good way. She's strong, smart, very caring, and so hot; I would even go so far calling her beautiful. I even remember the first time I saw her all I can think of was she's drop-dead gorgeous, and even though we got off ta an odd start we finally chose to be together in the end. This woman brings out a softer side ta me that I didn't even think I can show to other people because I choose to be tough, but Cheryl is definitely changin' me for the better. I love my girl.

Cheryl told me she wanted ta spend Valentine's Day at her apartment after work, and I feel bad since I can't take her out anywhere otherwise people will scream at me and call me a freak. So since my brothers don't think I can be romantic for Cheryl I decided to prove them wrong with a special surprise for her at her apartment. I have a fellin' she'll like it.

Later in the Evening…

Cheryl's P.O.V.:

I closed the shop about an hour ago and since then I've been getting myself ready for my date with Raph, and as I look at the clock I finish with just five minutes to spare. As I spray on some perfume I look at my outfit for this evening, a strapless red dress that goes above my knees, and black platform heels. My hair looks so big and my curls are just right, not too large but big enough to give my hair volume. I hear a knock at the door and get confused for a second and remember that it's probably Raph, so I turn off my bedroom light and walk to the door. When I open it, there's no one there. I look all around and walk out the door, feeling something weird on my shoe and as I look down I see there's a trail of rose petals leading to the stairs instead of the elevator. I literally rush down the stairs and stop at the second floor with the petals stopping in front of the door of the dance studio. Why here? My studio hasn't been in use because of the guys repainting the walls for me. Now this is starting to get weird.

I turn the nob on the door and open it slowly. As I walk in I see a table with a white table cloth, two long candles lit, two plates of lasagna, and two wine glasses. I am so speechless and confused until I see my boyfriend walk out of the shadows with a bouquet of red roses in his hands and his charming smile showing.

"Oh. My. Gods." That's all I can say and Raph walks to me and I smile at him, "Raph."

"Happy Valentine's Day, Babe." He said and gives me a hug, handing me the roses. "Do you like your surprise?"

I nod, "Are you kidding, I love it. Oh, Raph, this is so romantic. Thank you." I said and give him a firm kiss on the lips.

"Hey, anythin' for you, Cheryl." He said and takes my hand, leading us to the table. "Hold on, let me get that." He pulls out my chair and I sit down as he pushes me in.

"Thanks." I smile at him and look at the food, "Wow, this lasagna looks so good, Raph. You know I have a new bottle of red wine that'll go perfectly with the food." I said as I try to get up Raph sits me back down.

"You just sit tight and relax, I'll get it." He said and leaves the studio.

I look all around the entire studio and try to think about how I didn't see this coming. Raph really surprised me. It all must have taken him so long to plan and put together, but then again nothing is impossible for my Raphael. I wonder if he has something else planned? Right as I start to think, Raph comes back in with the wine bottle already opened.

"I see you found it okay." I said as he pours the wine into the glasses.

"Well it's kind of easy ta remember where everythin' is." He says and sits down holding his glass out to me.

I extend my glass out to his, "So, what are we toasting to?"

Raph smirks, "To us, and how I am so lucky to have a great girlfriend like you in my life."

"And I am so lucky to have a strong, wonderful boyfriend like you in my life." I say and we touch the glasses together and drink.

During our dinner Raph and I were asking each other how our day went and what was going on with the others and our families. You know just normal dinner conversations like with any couple, and sometimes we would flirt here and there for fun. I even tell him that the lasagna was so delicious for his first time attempting it, and it even taste like the one I make for him. When we finish our meal I hear the radio go on and "You and Me" by Lifehouse plays.

"What the…" I get confused until I see Raph stand up, walk to me, and holds his hand out.

"May I have this dance?" He asks and smiles at me.

"Dance?!" I can't believe he is asking me for a dance, and I smile and take his hand as I stand up, "Yes you may."

He walks me over to the middle of the studio and holds me close to him in a waltz position, leading the entire time to the song. I still can't believe he is dancing! And he's moving with the song so perfectly. I rest my head on his shoulder and he puts his head on top of mine, breathing deeply into my hair and pulling me closer to his muscular body as I relax in his arms. Close to the end of the song we look into each other's eyes and kiss passionately as we finish the dance, feeling like we're dancing on air. The song ends and we pull away slowly, smiling at each other and we hug.

Raph turns off the radio and wraps his arm around my waist, "Want ta head upstairs?"

"Sure." I said and we blow out the candles and leave the studio, saving the table for tomorrow.

We get to my door and as I open it I see a bunch of rose petals on the floor with a few candles lit on the coffee table. He surprised me again.

I laugh, "Oh my Gods! Raph, this is so pretty!"

"I had a feelin' ya would like it." He says in a low tone in my ear and locks my door, walking me over to the petals.

I wrap my arms around his neck, "How did you do this?"

"When I came in here ta get the wine I had ta do somethin' with the left over petals and candles, so I came up with this." He says as he wraps his arms around my waist.

"Gods, I love you." I whisper near his lips.

"I love you too, Babe." He said and kisses me deeply.

Now this is the side of Raph many people do not get to see, his more romantic and passionate side that I love so much. He's so moving, and every now and then when we make-out he gets a little rough which is kind of attractive for someone so strong and tough as Raph. It fits him perfectly. Raph kisses become more rapid and forced as he squeezes me closer to him, making my knees buckle and go weak from his hold. I feel us being lowered to the floor as the petals and carpet touch my back and legs, my boyfriend's body being pressed against me with the right amount of pressure. He lowers a hand down to my thigh and roughly squeezes it, causing me to moan in his mouth and arch my back. I press my tongue on his lips and he opens up letting my tongue slip in to play with his, turning it into a game of pinning the other down with the wet muscle; he won this round.

Raph kisses down to my neck, licking my skin until I am wet from his saliva and even biting me on my pulse as I moan and my breathing quickens. He kisses the bite mark and moves down kissing the tops of my breasts deeply and caresses my body in his hands as he goes lower, even kissing my stomach and thighs. I can never get enough of him touching my entire body like that, so hard until I feel like my skin is on fire. When it comes to how we show our love for each other, the two of us absolutely like to spice things up. Raph kisses back up to my lips, resting his body between my legs as his plastron digs into me as I pant from the sensation. I feel his hands cup my thighs and squeeze them again as his kisses make my lips swell up, turning red.

I push him off of me and press him on his shell to the floor straddling his body, panting as I catch my breath for a moment and ram my lips to his in an intense kiss. I move my lips down to his neck and press heated kisses on his hot skin, feeling his hands cup my hips on instinct as my legs move closer to his sides. I find his sweet spot near the center and bite down into it gently, hearing him moan and dig his fingers into my hips enjoying this more than I am. I lick and suck on the spot before I move down to his chest and nip at the skin and his moans get lower, sliding his hands up and down on my sides. My lips touch his plastron and kiss all over it gently, teasing him as he groans from the soft kisses. The next thing I know before I can kiss him again, he flips us over where I am on the floor and he's on top of me and my legs wrap around his waist.

He kisses me with so much passion and force that makes us both pant heavily from the intense, heated kissing. Our skin sweating and feeling hot against each other's as we hold on tight to one another. The burning desire for air stops us and we pull away, panting like we just had a long workout and from what we did the whole time we might as well have. Raph caresses my cheek in his hand and kisses my forehead gently and slowly gets off of me and helps me stand up. I hug him and hear his heartbeat still beating fast, but starting to slow down.

I laugh lightly and smile at him, "Wow, I never thought this day would make us get aggressive with each other."

"No kiddin', but I liked it." He said walking over to the bedroom with me.

"Me too." I grab my pj's and open my bathroom door. "I'll be right back."

Raph's P.O.V.:

I'm waiting for Cheryl ta get out of the bathroom as she changes into her pj's ta call it a night. This has been a great night for us, and better yet I even prove everyone wrong and showed Cheryl just how romantic I can be. It even felt good. And the making-out… unbelievable. Right as I climb into bed I see Cheryl come out of the bathroom wearing a white t-shirt and black shorts, smiling at me and climbing into bed. She puts her head on my shoulder and yawns quietly as I hold her in my arms looking down at her.

"Thanks for everything tonight, Red." She says and looks up at me, "You really know how to show a girl a great time."

"No problem, Babe. I love you."

"I love you too." Cheryl kisses me and lays back down, "Goodnight, Raph."

"Goodnight, Cheryl." I whisper ta her and close my eyes to sleep.

This whole evening has been the best nights of my life so far and it'll only get better now with my lovely girlfriend here with me. I adore My Feisty Italian, Cheryl.