*A/N: This is a Valentine's Day chapter, therefore sweet and spicy content is in this chapter. Spice is mainly at the end while the whole chapter is sweet*
XV - Lover (Red's POV)
For my whole life I've hated Valentine's Day. In Wonderland the holiday was celebrated a bit differently than it was in Auradon. Instead of using the day to show your partner how much you love them, it was a day that lovers hid in their homes from my mother. I never grew up with a father so I didn't know what love was supposed to look like. Every year when Valentine's Day rolled around, she was even more livid than she was the year before. The only thing I can remember from my childhood was that Valentine's Day was spent as an execution day, or "cleaning house" as my mother would call it. Anyone who was in prison on Valentine's Day didn't live long enough to see the sun set that night.
Chloe seemed determined to make today a happy day for me. The holiday fell on a Saturday this year, so we had the whole day to be together. She hadn't told me what she had planned for today. Instead she said she wanted to keep it a surprise, even though they made me more nervous than anything.
I tried sleeping in my own bed last night, and I definitely felt Chloe's absence. She had a big test coming up that she wanted to study for, so I went to bed early. I tossed and turned, and when I finally fell asleep I didn't want to get out of bed. I didn't know how long Chloe had stayed up last night, and I woke up first around eleven in the morning. I was still sleepy when I got up and wandered into Chloe's bed, pulling her into me. She was a lighter sleeper than I was, and no matter how gentle I was I still managed to wake her up.
"Red, what are you doing?" Chloe asked, sleep heavy in her voice.
"I missed you," I said. She pulls away from me, laying on her back and I prop myself up onto an elbow. I release a breath before I speak again, "Are you finally gonna tell me what we're doing today?"
"No!" she exclaimed, earning a dramatic eye roll from me. "It's a surprise, you're gonna love it."
"Please, bluey," I begged, drawing out my favorite pet name for her. "Please tell me you didn't go overboard."
"No," Chloe said, shaking her head. "It's small, something just for us."
"Good, because I don't want to see all those cheesy other couples," I said.
"Wait, what time is it?" she asked. We both glance over at the alarm clock; nearly eleven-thirty. "We should probably get up, we have somewhere to be later."
"Where are we going?" I asked excitedly as she got up.
"Nice try, princess," she said, laughing at my poor attempt to find out where we're going. I get up and go over to the closet, but Chloe stops me. "Uh uh, I already picked out what you're wearing today."
"Really? You don't even trust me to dress myself?" I said, teasing her as I rolled my eyes. I crossed my arms over my chest as she picked out a stack of clothes from the closet and handed them to me.
"Red, just put on the damn clothes," Chloe said, growing exasperated with my teasing. I felt my face change into a shocked expression, she had cursed and I didn't expect it. I did as she said, taking the clothes from her as she went to shower.
It was a tight red leather skirt with fishnet tights and a black sweater. I threw my leather jacket with embroidered roses on, too. It was perfect, but it wasn't something I would've come up with for myself. I left my hair down, and quickly did my makeup. Soon after Chloe emerged from the bathroom, this time she was wearing something different from what I was expecting.
She was wearing a navy dress pants and a matching blazer with an ivory button up. This was new for her, normally she didn't want to stand out, but she did today. It was a more masculine look, and I couldn't help but feel drawn to her.
"This is a new look for you," I said when she walked over to me, grabbing my hips and planting a firm kiss on my lips. My stomach did flips and I wanted her to take me right here, right now.
"I thought I should wear something I like and feel comfortable in," she said when we broke apart. "This is more me anyway. I only wore dresses because I thought I had to." Of course she did. Of course that was the reason why she was more feminine when we first met. She had been hiding herself then, and now she was free, even if it was just clothing. "You look ravishing, my love," her gaze falls down my body, a hungry look in her eye, and I can feel the heat in my core growing.
"Chloe," I begged.
"Later, princess. I promise," she said, her voice low and husky. "But right now we have a lunch date."
She takes my hand and guides me through downtown Auradon. It was still chilly and snow piles lingered in corners and on the edges of the sidewalk. The sun was shining brightly overhead, and feeling the warmth of its rays soothed me. Eventually we stop outside a quaint cafe and Chloe opens the door for me.
Inside the cafe reminded me of home. Paintings of playing cards, chess pieces, and checkerboards adorned the walls. The tables and chairs were all metal. There was something going on in every corner of the small room, and I couldn't stop staring.
"Do you like it?" Chloe asked quietly when she appeared at my side.
"Yes," I said, grabbing her hand. "I didn't even know this was here. It's like a small part of my home is in Auradon."
"Good, I was hoping you would like it," she said. "Let's sit down, yeah?" Chloe guides me to a table by one of the windows, and soon enough a waiter presents us both with a cup of tea, swirls of pink and blue inside the cup. A plate of scones and small sandwiches is set between us.
"This is new," I said, picking up the tea cup and sniffing the liquid inside. It reminded me of green tea when I tasted it. "What's it made from?"
"This is butterfly pea flower tea," Chloe said, picking up her cup and taking a sip. "It's made from the clitoria ternatea flower." I feel my eyes widen in surprise.
"You gave me tea from a flower that looks like female body parts?" I asked her.
"What? I thought it was fitting," she said, and I can't deny that she was kind of right. It was fitting, especially for us.
"You did research about this, didn't you?" I asked, raising an eyebrow at her.
"Maybe," she said, squirming in her seat. "I wanted to make sure you would like it."
"I do," I said, smiling. "This is the perfect way to spend today."
"Oh, this isn't all we're doing today. I'm taking you somewhere after this, too," she said. "It's a public place but we don't have to interact with anyone."
"You know I really appreciate you doing this," I said, biting my lip. "But I don't have anything for you."
Chloe lets out a quiet laugh, leaning across the table to me, "Don't worry love, just having you is enough. Besides, you'll give me what I want later." My eyes widen again and my face flushes. Chloe just laughs even more at my reaction to her words.
When we finish our tea date, Chloe pays and we begin walking into the city. Auradon was well-populated and once you got to the city parts everything was practically squished on top of each other. Her arm rests around my waist as we walk, keeping me close to her. To my surprise, the city isn't as busy as I expected. It was late afternoon, but surely once it was nightfall the city would be bursting at the seams with couples enjoying the holiday. We stop in front of a large white building that looks like a warehouse.
"Chloe, what is this?" I asked, confused.
"Just wait and see," she said, guiding me through the revolving doors. There's a large desk in front of us and a woman dressed in a suit sits in front of the computer. She glances up when she hears our footsteps on the tile.
"Princess Chloe," the woman smiles. "How are you? I've been excited to see you."
"I'm wonderful," Chloe beams, her hand resting on my lower back. Everyone she spoke to seemed to be endowed by her charm. Somehow she always made people feel like they were the only person in the world when she talked to them. "Je suis là avec mon amour, tout est prêt?"
"Oui, tout est là et prêt pour vous," the woman said, sliding two slips of paper over to Chloe. "Vous êtes beaux tous les deux ensemble."
"Merci. Nous reviendrons plus tard, n'est-ce pas?" Chloe said, taking the papers into her free hand and guiding me past the desk into a slender hallway.
"I didn't know you could speak French," I said, eyeing her as she walked beside me.
"It never came up in conversation," she said simply, keeping her pace. "I didn't think it was relevant."
"What is this place?" I asked as we made our way to the end of the hall, walking into a large open art gallery. Numerous large statues carved from marble and other types of stone were strategically placed around the room. Chloe's hand leaves my back as she walks forward, turning around to face me.
"This," she started, gesturing to the room around us. "This is Auradon's finest art museum. It has pieces dating back to before our grandparents were even born."
"Shouldn't there be more people here? Like aren't these places open to the public?" I asked.
"Normally, yes. But not today. Today it's just for us," Chloe said.
"What do you mean?" I asked, confused. She walks over to me, putting her fingers underneath my chin and kissing me softly.
"I know how much you love art, and how much you hate large crowds, so I bought out the art gallery for the day."
My heart drops to my stomach. No, she did not. I know this girl did not buy out an entire art gallery just for me. There was no way. That had to cost so much…too much for my liking. "You…what?"
"I bought out the art gallery for you," she said, and I can feel her smile as she kisses me again. My heart skipped a beat. I couldn't believe it, but sure enough, there was no one else here but us. The only sound aside from the heartbeat in my ears was classical music quietly playing in the background.
"Well, pave the way princess," Chloe said, ushering me forward.
The rest of the afternoon was spent wandering through the gallery, admiring the works that hung on the walls. Fine pottery made centuries ago. Skeletons of creatures long extinct. Statues made of stone, suits of armor and swords. Relics from our own personal histories were there, too. In front of each piece was a paragraph of information about it. It combined mine and Chloe's favorite things—art and history—into one, and with no hordes of people around it was heaven. We spent hours there together, and when we emerged back onto the sidewalk afterward it was dark outside.
"How expensive was that?" I asked her as I held her arm walking down the sidewalk.
"Money's not a problem, princess," she said matter-of-factly. "If you want something, consider it yours. If you want to stay in all day, we stay in. You want sex? We'll have sex. You're hungry? All you have to do is tell me what you want and I'll get it for you. You deserve the world, princess."
I let out a quiet laugh in disbelief, "You really are a romantic, you know. Somehow you've managed to exceed my expectations and yet I didn't even know what love was supposed to look like."
"Good," she said, stopping on the sidewalk and taking my throat in her hand, kissing me passionately. "We're not going home tonight. My parents have a penthouse here." She grabs my hand, pulling me into the building we were standing in front of and into an elevator, pressing the button for the top floor. We've been close all day, but as we go up the elevator her hand teases the waistband of my skirt. The air between us feels tense, charged, but not in a bad way. The elevator doors open and I'm faced with a lavish apartment with floor to ceiling windows overlooking the city. The apartment is sleek and modern, a kitchen on the right that extends into a living room to my left. There's a fire burning in the massive fireplace. I couldn't help but notice the large bundle of red, white, and pink roses sitting on the kitchen counter.
"Oh my God," I breathed as I walked around the apartment. I linger in front of the windows at the back of the room. The city lights around us glitter like Christmas lights, the tiny people moving around below remind me of ants. Auradon was different at night, it was like a computer chip hidden deep inside a larger machine. "It's beautiful," I said when Chloe appeared at my side.
"No, love, that's you," she said, kissing my cheek as her arms snaked around my waist. I lean back into her. She peppers kisses along my cheek, my jaw, my neck.
"Thank you for today," I said.
"You're welcome princess," she said quietly. I turn around, wrapping my arms around her neck, and she holds my waist. I've underestimated her strength so many times it shouldn't surprise me when she picks me up, throwing me over her shoulder, but it does.
"Chloe!" I exclaimed, trying to fight her and failing. "What are you doing?" She throws me down on a bed, and it nearly takes the breath out of me, capturing my lips in a kiss. She pulls me down to the edge of the bed, standing between my legs. Her hands slide up beneath my sweater as she kisses me, my hands finding the back of her head and burying themselves in her blue curls.
"Whatever you want, love. All you have to do is use your words. Do you want this?" her voice is low with desire.
"Yes."
My body was spent, and it was hard for me to stay awake as I laid on top of Chloe. My muscles ached, and I probably wouldn't be able to walk right in the morning, but I didn't care about that right now. All I cared about was how Chloe made me feel in all aspects. She made me feel things I never thought were possible, she made me see stars.
"How are you feeling, love?" she asked sweetly, tracing gentle circles on my bare back. Even with my scars she was gentle, remembering our first date in Tangletown together when she saw them for the first time. I always thought they were ugly, but she made me feel beautiful.
"Good, but tired," I said, nuzzling my face further into the crook of her neck. "I feel gross with all this sweat all over me."
"Let's take a shower then, yeah?" she said, getting up and walking into the bathroom. I follow her and she turns the water on, steam soon filling the room. She steps in first, wetting her hair under the rainfall shower head. I step in after her, and the warm water only adds to my sleepiness. I feel like I can barely stand up straight without nearly falling over. Chloe grabs my hips, pulling me into her so that I lean back on her. The shower head beats down at me, adding to the electric sensation, the arousal growing again. Her hands linger on my hips before trailing, slowly, painfully slowly, up my stomach. She moves my hair out of the way before whispering, "Let me take care of you, princess."
I swallow back any doubt or hesitance, letting her take the lead. Chloe plants a kiss close to my ear, her left hand moving to my throat, and the right dipping between my legs, making me moan in pleasure. Her fingers work on my clit, softly, slowly, rhythmically. This was a different pace for us than what we just did. This time was different, slow and deliberate, careful.
Chloe moves her fingers from my clit, gently pushing them inside me. I let out a moan, leaning back into her. I feel her hand release my throat, moving down to cup one of my breasts in her hand. She rolls the nipple between her fingers, and the feeling makes me shudder. "Shh, let me," she whispered.
Her fingers curl inside me, and my breath hitches in my throat when she finds a spot that makes me see stars, all while her thumb rubs circles around my clit. Chloe kissed my cheek, and she's supporting my entire body weight. My legs feel like they've gone numb. I'm so close to orgasm, I just need one thing to push me over…
"Come for me, darling," she whispered, but her voice didn't match her body. She was soft and gentle with me, but her voice was harsh and demanding. That one command was enough to push me over the edge. My body tightened and released around her fingers, my come making a mess on her hand. My legs were jelly, my breathing fast and labored. "That's my girl," Chloe said, taking her fingers into her mouth, sucking them clean of my mess. "You know I can never get enough of you. You're like my own personal drug, princess."
It never ceases to amaze me when she turns from being sweet to hearing the filth that came from her mouth sometimes. The sweetness from a minute ago is now gone as she shoves me back onto the shower wall, planting a fervid kiss on my lips before trailing down my neck, making sure she left marks. She didn't like when there weren't any marks to show how she ravaged me. She thought it made people know I was off limits, that I already belonged to someone.
The only person I wanted to belong to was Chloe. Not my mother, or anyone else. She was the only one who could command me, who could make me say or do things I would normally hesitate on. If it meant that it would make her happy, I did it. I wanted to please her. If anyone had told me a year ago I would be doing this I would've thought they were crazy. If you had told me Chloe Charming would be my girlfriend, I would've called you too many awful names to count. But here we were, Chloe taking me out on dates and finger fucking me in the shower…
I feel like I've run a marathon, my body won't go anymore. "I can't," I breathe out. "I can't go anymore."
"Okay, baby," Chloe said, kissing my forehead. "I'll clean you up, and we'll be done." The shower passes by in a haze, my eyes almost too heavy to stay open. Chloe washes my hair and scrubs down my body, and it's moments like these that I realize I don't deserve her. I should be able to do something as simple as clean myself, but here she is, doing it for me, with not so much as a single complaint…
When we were done with our shower, Chloe shut off the water, wrapping me in a towel and sitting me on the toilet with the lid closed. I fought to keep my eyes awake, but they felt so heavy. Chloe wraps herself in a towel, her blue curls dripping pearls of water on the floor as she picks up a hairbrush, gently raking it through my hair. She starts at the bottom, working her way up, so much different than my mother did. I could almost fall asleep right then and there.
"You're so beautiful, my love."
Chloe was different from what I was used to, even after all this time of knowing her. It was coming up on nearly eight months that we knew each other, and it took me half that time to even trust her. I used to think that I was just some notch in her belt, that I would be one more person she could add to her list of fixing. But I learned I was wrong, she didn't want to fix me and it's not that I thought she was a bad person, because I knew she wasn't, it was just that I'd never had someone be interested in me. Back home everyone practically ignored me because they knew if they interacted with me it was almost surely a death sentence. She wanted to show me that even with these scars I was still deserving of love. Chloe was different, though. She never strayed away from me, instead she acted as if I were her own personal sun, and she just revolved around me. The way Chloe loved me was something entirely new to me. She didn't care if I was perfect or not. She didn't care if I was nice, or pretty, or happy. All she wanted was me, in all my realness. Her actions alone were proof of that, and yet she'd still gone and bought me a ring, she still did more than I ever could've expected from someone who loved me.
"What do you want to eat, love?" she asked as she started working on her hair.
"Can I have pizza?" I asked, knowing my answer was childish, but instead of laughing at me, she just smiled.
"Of course, love. Whatever you want," she said, leaving the bathroom to grab her phone to order the food. Every time we were intimate she did this, she would make sure I was clean and feed me, hell sometimes she made me drink two bottles of water afterwards. Once I'd asked her if she thought I was just a pet to look after, and she'd looked at me like I'd just slapped her.
"Red, you are not 'just a pet' for me to look after. You are my girlfriend, and I take care of what's mine, so yes, after I make love to you I'm going to clean you up and feed you," is what she'd told me. I knew she was serious because she used my real name and not just a term of endearment.
I already knew what she would order, just a regular cheese pizza. Nothing overwhelming, no weird textures or flavors. I didn't have much experience with food back home, so we had to start slowly, work my way up to new things.
"Come here," she said, moving over to where I still sat on top of the toilet, scooping me up into her arms. I nuzzle my face into her neck, taking in the scent of her. Sugar and coconut was her scent, it always was. I plant a tired kiss on her neck, and she pulls me tighter to her.
"Thank you," I whisper, my voice coated with tiredness.
"For what?" a confused look on her face as she sets me down on the bed, quickly sliding in beside me. Somewhere between the shower and now she had managed to change the sheets. I lay in between her legs, my head on her chest and she wraps her arms around me.
"For taking care of me. For loving me. For everything," I said, nearly drifting off into sleep. My tiredness had me saying things I normally wouldn't.
"Baby girl, you are not hard to love," she said, putting her fingers under my chin so I looked up at her. "You are everything to me, so you get nothing but the best, my love." She kisses the top of my head, and I snuggle deeper into her. I didn't know what I'd done to earn her affection, her love. I mean sure, we time traveled to save her mom, but she could have easily left it at that. She could have easily pretended I didn't exist, and moved on with her life. If that were the case she probably wouldn't be dating a girl. Instead she'd probably be suffering underneath some ragged teenage boy who thinks he's the greatest thing since sliced bread.
We laid together in silence until the pizza was delivered. I had almost fallen asleep, my face abruptly hitting the mattress when she got up. We spent the rest of the night there, laying in bed, eating pizza and watching shitty rom-coms. "It's Valentine's Day, we have to watch at least one," Chloe said. I just rolled my eyes and bit back my sarcastic comment.
I gave her a quick kiss, "I love you, bluey."
"I love you more, Red."