J A C K S O N

~ ~ ~

I hesitantly stepped into the apartment, absolutely mortified of the wrath of Nerida.

Nerida hasn't learned to process rage properly, it's one of the reasons she still goes to therapy every Saturday. Anger just wasn't something she was exposed to a lot and I quickly learned that when she got angry, she got really angry.

To make a long story short, Nerida threw one hell of a tantrum.

So I wasn't that surprised when I walked in and found my clothes scattered all throughout the apartment. I put my hand over my mouth to stop the laugh from coming out, less she hears me and think that I'm not taking her seriously.

I followed the sound of clanging and ended up in the kitchen. I found her there, unpacking all of our groceries and every last bit of tableware we owned.

This was going to be harder than I thought.

"Nerida," I began and didn't even receive a nod of acknowledgment. "What are you doing?"

When she still didn't answer me, I decided to utilize some of the techniques her therapist told me. I was supposed to engage her anger and get her to 'talk' it all out. In most cases, scream it all out. Then, I have to pacify her and let her see reason.

"Nerida, don't you think you owe me an apology for the way you acted at my place of work today?"

Her hand and the plate in it froze mid air as she slowly looked up at me.

In the morning sun, her eyes were green and when she gazed at me in the dark of the night, they were a captivating brown. However, I've never seen her eyes glow like fire before. It actually looked... orange.

I didn't have time to appreciate it, though, because the plate in her hand flew right at me. I ducked as it shattered above my head and rained down on me.

"Apologize? FOR WHAT?" I ducked again as a glass came right after.

She stormed out of the kitchen and I followed right behind her.

"You know what Jackson?" She stopped abruptly and walked right up to me. "You are a very bad man!" She started hitting me everywhere she could and I tried to subdue her but she was relentless.

"You don't appreciate nothing that I do. I make you lunch! I dress cute! I travel there all by myself! AND FOR WHAT?"

She screamed and ran and I tried to go after her but she was as fast as she was tiny. Plus, I may have taken a dive whilst running as I slipped on some of my clothes on the floor.

She ran in the direction of the bedrooms and I wasn't sure which one. Wherever she was, I knew she was probably hiding.

I called out to her but received no reply. I first checked what was supposed to be her bedroom. Ever since that first night when Nerida had a nightmare, she has never slept here.

When Juliette first got New York, she lived with us for a few months and this was her bedroom. So now, all of Nerida's things are in my bedroom, our bedroom.

I looked under the bed and in the closet but no sign of my girl. I was about to move on to looking in our bedroom when I heard a tiny little sniff coming from the closet.

I took a seat by the door and listened to her soft sniffles.

My heart fell.

"Nerida, tell me why you're angry."

"No! Go away!"

"Not until you tell me what's wrong," I asserted.

Only her sniffling could be heard for a little bit before she groaned and blew up.

"You're my problem! You didn't defend me in front of that mean old hag!"

So this is what this is about? She was blowing this way out of proportion.

"Just go away Jackson! You're only making it worse. I don't want to see you right now!"

It wouldn't make sense speaking to her at the moment. I had to wait until she calmed down.

"Nerida, I'm going to leave now but when you're ready to talk, I'll be right outside.

I spent the next few hours repacking all of my clothing, the groceries and the dishes. I also cleaned up all the broken glass which took a little longer than anticipated because it literally sprayed everywhere.

Nerida was a psycho little thing, but I wouldn't have it any other way.

When the apartment was in order again, I went to the couch and turned on the TV. I ended up falling asleep during an episode of this stupid show Nerida has me hooked on.

When I woke up, I wasn't shocked to find a tiny body lying on my chest under the blanket.

I held her close, basking in the warmth she offered. She poked her head out from the blanket and my face fell at her puffy, red eyes.

I cupped her face in my hands and began kissing all over her face.

"I'm really sorry that I threw a plate and a glass at you Jackie." I knew she was putting on her extra cute voice to suck me in, and I also knew that it was working. "I'm also sorry that I strategically spread all your clothes throughout the apartment and also that I unpacked all of our groceries and dishes."

She started crying again and moved so that she was lying in the crook of my neck.

"I'm a bad girl Jackie. I don't deserve you," she sobbed, wetting my skin with her tears.

"Aw baby," I hugged her closer and patted her back to calm her. "You're not a bad girl Nerida. A little crazy, yes, but you're not bad."

My words didn't help the situation at all and she started outright bawling.

"Is that why you didn't stick up for me? Because I'm a little crazy?"

I had to laugh. I tried to keep it in but Nerida was too much. Too adorable, too unstable, too cute and yes, too crazy.

I rolled us over so that she lay under me. I laid down on her body, knowing she wouldn't mind because she once confessed that she likes the feeling of being crushed and smothered by me. Something about it makes her feel warmer.

I wiped the tears from her eyes and kissed her cheeks but as fast as I wiped, they kept coming.

"Nerida, I'm very sorry that I didn't defend you today. It's just that the situation escalated so quickly and I didn't want you to get arrested for kicking a detective in the throat. I was focused on keeping you calm and safe but then you ran off. After you left I did defend you."

"That's not the point!" She groaned and I felt like I was at a loss here.

"So then what is the matter Nerida. You tell me."

"The problem is that you keep treating me like I'm your little sister or your daughter or something. You never treat me like an adult!"

Her outburst shocked me but it was as if I'd pressed play and there was no pause button.

"I try to dress like a big girl. I go to work. I cook for you. We always cuddle. I wear bras so you won't be uncomfortable. But yet still, you don't look at me the way I want you to look at me. I want you to look at me like I'm a woman. I want you to touch me like I'm a woman, not a girl."

Her breathing was rapid and with every heavy breath, her chest pressed against mine. My eyes searched hers as my internal restraint unraveled.

I kissed her.

I felt as though everything that was weighing down on me just melted away as her succulent lips molded with mine. They felt just as supple and soft as they looked and immediately, I was addicted.

This was why I resisted for so long. I knew that as soon as I had a taste, there was no stopping me. I wanted to make sure she was ready for all that I would bring to the table.

Thank fuck the day had finally arrived.

When I leaned up, her eyes were dazed and her lips were slightly parted.

She was in shock.

"Still feel like a little girl?"

When she didn't answer, I leaned back in, more intense in my ministrations now. She parted her lips for me and I wasted no time in exploring the cavern of her mouth.

Her lack of response bothered me and I slid my hands up her waist, eliciting the softest of sighs.

I caressed her side with my thumb as I sucked on her tongue as if it were my favourite candy.

"How about now?" I probed, moving to suck on her neck, wanting to leave as many marks as possible. "Do you still feel like my sister?" All I received was a wanton whine as her hands rubbed against my torso, trying to remove my t-shirt.

Obeying her request, I sat back on my knees and pulled the confining thing over my head. I looked down at her squirming body, now seeing what she was wearing. The silk, pale pink nightie had ridden up and above her thigh, exposing the teensy black lace that hid her arousal from me. The nightgown was low cut and the swell of her breast moved with every heavy breath she took.

She looked like a vixen. A little garden fae who pretended to be all sweet and innocent, but I knew the enchantress that lied beneath.

And she was all mine.

I placed my hands on the side of her face as I leaned over her once more. My hands trailed down to the side of her neck, over the dark purple bruise and across her décolletage.

Her eyes darkened with lust as I lightly gripped her neck. I leaned down and sucked her bottom lip into my mouth, nibbling on the pink flesh.

"You have never been like a sister to me. You may have been my foster child for a week but you have never been like a daughter to me," I clarified. "In the beginning, I tried to suppress my feelings for you because I felt as though I was taking advantage of your circumstances. But Nerida, as the months went by, I couldn't stop myself."

"You're a light in my life. You're my only source of joy and I live for you. You saw my protective nature and thought that you were like a sister to me but in reality, I'm protective of you because I would die if any harm came to you. Nerida, I've repeatedly told you that I loved you but you need to know that I'm in love with you, and I have been for a very long time."

Her eyes reddened and tears welled up in them. I immediately wiped them away and kissed her slowly, savouring this precious moment. Her arms wound their way around my neck and her legs crossed at my lower back.

"I'm in love with you too Jackie," she whispered against my lips.

A part of me guessed she had but to hear it from her did me over. I didn't expect it to have such an effect on me. So when I felt my eyes sting, I kissed her harder. Expressing my thanks for loving me, expressing my undying love for her, expressing a promise to never hurt her.

She was it for me, and that's all I needed.

~ ~ ~

THE END