Penguin - 5. Chapter 5

Daniel

I was digging out a flowerbed, lost in thought, when I felt a hand clamp down on my shoulder. I jumped and swung my shovel. It’s a good thing Robbie has quick reflexes.

“What the fuck, dude? You almost beaned me with that thing!”

“What the fuck, yourself! Why are you sneaking up on me like that?” I wiped the sweat off my brow with my shirt and stood there panting. I was pissed.

“I do shit like that to you all the time and you’ve never flipped out on me! Well, except when you were dating…” His eyes got wide, and then he narrowed his gaze at me and clenched his hands into fists. “Oh my god... Dan… is Sean… is he beating you? You’ve been so on edge lately and now you’re trying to kill me. I’ll kill the son-of-a-bitch, I swear!”

“Robbie, no! Sean would never do that! I’m fine, ok? The only thing wrong with me is assholes like you sneaking up on me like that! Now let me get back to work!” I barged through him and walked off to work in another flowerbed. Whenever I got jumpy or in a bad mood, the first thing that fucker always thought was that I was being beaten. Just because Trevor… I shuddered and stopped that train of thought. Trevor may have hit me a few times, but he never beat me. Well, except that once.

The nice thing about having such a physical job is that it is very useful for getting out frustration and aggression. I had been back on the job for two weeks and my body was still adjusting to the physical stress. Every night I would go home, take a shower, and collapse into bed. Three months off with just running as exercise wasn’t enough to keep me in shape for work.

I hadn’t seen Sean since I went back to work. I talked to him on the phone every night and we texted each other throughout the day, so it’s not like we didn’t have any contact. I was simply too beat to do anything else.

I was still pissed at Robbie when I got home that night. At least the little shit had enough sense to stay the hell away from me after the incident at the job site. I had just finished showering when I heard someone knocking on my door. I wrapped a towel loosely around my hips and went to answer it, figuring it was Robbie trying to apologize. I flung the door open. “What the fuck do you want, asshole?”

Sean arched an eyebrow at me. “You really need to think of another term of endearment for me. Especially since I brought you dinner.”

As he moved past me I noticed that he had Penguin on his shoulder, paper take-out bags in one hand, and flowers in the other hand. Sean moved over toward the couch and Penguin jumped off his shoulder and went over to visit Timmy. I took the food from Sean and went into the kitchen. He followed me and set the flowers down.

“Do you always answer the door half-naked?” He smirked at me.

“Only if it’s you.” I smirked back.

“Liar. You thought I was Robbie.”

I shrugged. “Maybe.”

Sean looked at me levelly.

“Ok, yes. I thought you were Robbie. We had a bit of a fight today and I figured he was coming over to apologize.”

Sean walked over to me and took me in his arms. I melted into his embrace. Two weeks without seeing him was way too long.

“I’m sorry you had such a bad day.” He spoke into my hair.

I looked up into his gorgeous hazel eyes and kissed him. Dinner was cold by the time we got around to eating it.

*****

Sean was scheduled for the night shift the following week, so we wouldn’t see each other until Monday, my day off. I was in a really good mood, though since I was feeling better physically and Sean had sent me a rather graphic text message about what to expect when I saw him on Monday. Why did the week have to be so damn long?

I had just put some leftover pizza in the oven when someone knocked on my door. Since Sean was working, I figured it was Robbie.

“Door’s open, babe!”

“Babe? Expecting your little slut, huh?”

The deep, silky voice made my blood turn to ice. I spun around.

“What the fuck are you doing here, Trevor? You aren’t supposed to be anywhere near me!”

He smiled coldly. “Oh, I know you didn’t really mean it when you got that restraining order. I’m prepared to forgive you for all those horrible lies you said about me at the trial, too.” He started walking toward me and I backed up until I hit the wall. Trevor pressed himself up against me and spoke with his mouth hovering over mine.

“We can be together again, Danny. I’ve stopped drinking so I don’t get as angry as I used to. I missed you so much, baby.” He nuzzled into my neck and kissed my shoulder.

I pushed him away. “We’re through, Trevor. I’m seeing someone else now.”

“Who? That blonde that’s been coming over? Well, it has been over a year so I guess you needed someone to fuck, huh? Lord knows I fucked plenty of guys in prison, so I guess I can’t fault you too much for that.” He pulled me back to him roughly and grabbed my ass while grinding into me. I could feel his hard dick as he pressed into me and I wanted to throw up.

I shoved him away again. “Sean’s much more than just a fuck. I love him. You need to leave, now. We’re through, Trevor. Don’t come back here again.” I started walking toward the door.

It was just registering that I had told Trevor I loved Sean, when he grabbed my arm, spun me around, and slapped me across the face. I stood there in shock, staring at him.

Trevor ran his fingers through his hair. “See what you made me do? I come here to tell you we’re back together… and you tell me that you love this slut that’s been banging you? What the fuck’s wrong with you, Danny?” He stepped closer to me and I flinched. “You’re mine!” He shouted and pushed me down on the couch.

I got up and backed away before he could get on top of me. I was trying unsuccessfully to stop shaking.

Trevor took a deep breath and sat on the arm of the couch. The look he gave me chilled me to the bone. “So just how much do you love your slut?”

“His name is Sean.”

“Ok. So just how much do you love your slut, Sean?”

I bristled. “More than I ever loved you.”

“Ouch, Danny boy. Well, then I guess the question should be would you rather be with me or would you rather have Sean meet with an unfortunate accident?”

I turned white as all the blood left my face. “What do you mean?” I whispered, even though I knew exactly what he meant.

He chuckled mirthlessly. “You know exactly what I mean. You’re mine, Danny. No one else can have you.” He walked up to me, pulled me to him, and kissed me deeply. Then he let me go and walked toward the door. “Don’t think about it too long, Danny. You know what I’m capable of. Ask yourself what I’d do to someone I don’t love.” Then he walked out the door.

The minute he left I ran into the bathroom and promptly threw up.