Chapter 12 Pink peonies
Lily
I climb into bed with a sigh. Eli fell asleep surprisingly fast tonight.
He’s been in such a good mood lately. With a pang of guilt, I realize that it’s probably because I’ve been home for the past week, spending all of my time with him.
I’m not sure if my mom is really the best caretaker.
She came by tonight because the cable at the senior’s residence was down and she wanted to watch Divorce Court (which she loves, despite how much she’s railing against my divorce).
Eli barely even looked at her when she came in.
It’s been nice to get to spend so much time with Eli.
Renata made me take a week off after I was attacked by those intruders on the holding floor.
I insisted that I was perfectly fine, which I am.
Actually, I’m more than fine. In the week since consuming Renata’s blood, I’ve felt healthier than I have in my entire life.
I took Eli to Serenity Park, and the zoo, and I actually did a whole YouTube yoga class, instead of getting bored like I usually do and switching to videos about rescue puppies.
Anyway, it’s been a good week, but I’m looking forward to going back into the office in a few days.
I can’t help dwelling on what Renata said about how drinking my blood would make me feel “strange” around her.
Even before the incident between us, I’ve been having strong feelings about her.
I guess part of me knew it was more than admiration, but I never wanted to admit it to myself.
It’s complicated having a crush on your boss, but it’s a hundred times more complicated when your boss is a super-powerful vampire CEO who saved your life by giving you her delicious, magical healing blood.
There’s a warm ache in my stomach as I think about it.
She seemed so worried about me. When she looked down at me, I wondered if there was something more for her, too.
I wonder what she was going to ask me before she stopped herself…
I’ve turned the moment over a thousand times in my mind this past week.
Part of me keeps telling myself that it was all totally professional.
That she was concerned about an injured employee, nothing more.
But another part of me can’t stop thinking about how she gave me her handkerchief, how angry she was when she thought I might die…
I glance over at my bedroom door. The lock’s broken, but it’s shut tight. I can hear the faint sound of Divorce Court from the living room.
My mom won’t come to bed for another hour or so, probably.
Taking a deep breath, I reach down under the covers, under the worn T-shirt I love to wear to bed.
My fingers find my nipples, erect and sensitive.
I close my eyes and gently play with them, imagining what it might be like to feel her touch.
It’s just a harmless fantasy…what could it hurt to indulge in it?
Her fingers were cold, thrilling…what would they be like over my body? Dylan was always so rough, so impatient…but I think she would be different. Her movements smooth. Her fingers controlled and capable.
I reach down under my light blue panties, and find my clit already swollen and slick. I sigh pleasurably as I tease it, allowing myself to fully enjoy this peaceful moment of alone time. It’s been so long since I let myself have this sort of release…
And usually it takes me a bit longer, but there’s a sort of dirty pleasure in thinking about someone I’m not supposed to. I imagine her standing over me, her assertive gaze exploring my body boldly. I bet she would know exactly how to do it. I bet she would teach me…
Wonderful tension builds up inside of me and a throaty moan escapes my lips. My fingers move more quickly, apply more pressure as I start to peak…
I know it’s wrong, but it feels so good…
Then the door to my bedroom opens with a slam.
“Lily,” says my mother sternly.
My face flushes bright red and I pull my hands away from myself, sitting up in bed.
“Mom! Knock first!”
She tsks. “I’m not your butler, Lily.” I’m too flustered to remind her that she showed up, uninvited, at my apartment to watch TV. “And anyway, you need to get out of bed and put some proper clothes on. There’s a very intimidating woman here, wearing pumps. Do people still call them pumps?”
“There’s a…” My heart flies into my throat. “Oh my god, mom, is Ms. Espina here?”
“I think that was it, I don’t know.”
I jump out of bed, throwing my blanket onto the floor. I scramble to my dresser to pull out a bra and some real pants. My heart is still hammering and I can smell myself on my hands.
“She came in right at the verdict!” my mother continues. “Now I’m not going to know what the judge said, and it was a very good episode…”
“I’m sure it’s online somewhere, mom,” I sigh, pulling on a pair of worn slippers. It feels strange approaching my boss in bare feet. What is she doing here? She’s never come to my apartment before. I didn’t even know she knew where I lived!
I do my best to smooth down my hair. I wish there was a bathroom in my bedroom where I could brush my hair and wash my hands, but the only bathroom in our small apartment is beside Eli’s room.
I take a deep inhale, then I push past my mother into the living room.
Renata is standing in my kitchen. She wears a soft, velvet blazer, and shimmering ruby studs in each ear. Her arms are crossed, as she surveys my apartment with an expression of distaste.
“Is this where you live, Lily?” she asks curtly. “Should we be paying you a higher salary?”
“I…no, no!” I reply, flustered. “It’s enough, it’s just…”
“Yes, you should give her a raise!” my mother says, coming out of my bedroom and putting a hand on her hip. “Lily is a smart girl, and a hard worker. And she’s got her son and a dependent mother to care for.”
“Mom,” I hiss out of the corner of my mouth. Then I turn back to Renata. “I’m so sorry, Ms. Espina, I wasn’t expecting you.”
Her expression softens slightly as she looks at me.
For just a moment, the perfect balance of professional to personal slides just a little toward personal.
I hold my breath. “I’m sorry, Lily, I should have warned you I was coming.
I wanted to check in on you, to make sure you’re healing all right. ”
I nod vigorously. “Yes, I’m perfectly all right. More than all right.”
She takes a step toward me. “I can arrange additional time off, if you need it. Fully compensated. You just say the word.”
“No, no,” I tell her, earnestly. “Actually, I’ve been looking forward to coming back. I miss the office.”
Her lip tilts upward, and her eyes brighten. “We’ve missed you too. Nothing runs as smoothly without you. Lexi spent over fifty grand on a statue.”
“One statue?” I gasp.
“Of a flamingo.” Renata rolls her eyes.
I chuckle. “I’m sorry. I usually check her AMEX statements every night.”
Renata nods. “I know. You do a lot, Lily. I wanted to let you know how important you are to our team.”
My heart flutters again, and Renata’s head cocks slightly to the side, her lips parted slightly.
I know she can tell how delighted her words make me.
She told me that she could hear my heartbeat, but now…
now I feel strangely connected to her, too.
Like I can pick up on her slightest movements, the tiny expressions of interest, of concern, in her eyes and on her lips.
Am I making it up? Painting a fantasy because of my own (extremely inappropriate) desires?
Or could it be that we have a connection now? A…blood bond, or something? Is that a thing that can happen with vampires? I make a mental note to google it later.
Behind us, my mother coughs loudly.
“Well, thank you for visiting Lily so late,” she says. I groan inwardly. “I’m sure you’re a very busy lady.”
Renata’s lip twitches into a slight grimace, but she gives my mother a polite nod. “Good evening, Mrs. Harper. I won’t take up any more of your time.”
Then she looks back to me. “Rest well, Lily.”
“T-Thanks,” I stammer awkwardly.
She leaves, moving quietly like a shadow. But I feel her absence in the apartment after she goes.
“Well, that was odd!” my mother says, dropping down onto the couch again. “She must really appreciate you if she showed up all the way out here, Lily. You should take advantage and ask her for that raise. You know they’ve got newly renovated, two-bedroom suites in the senior’s home now?”
“We can’t afford a two-bedroom suite for you, mom,” I sigh.
She grumbles something, and goes back to watching her show.
I return to the bedroom, and slip back underneath the covers.
My mind is filled of images of Renata. The sound of her voice, her calm presence. She came all the way out here just to check in on me! Even if her feelings are just professional, it’s nice to know that she appreciates what I do, and that she wanted to make sure I’m all right.
I’m never going to get any sleep now.
To my disappointment, my first day back at work is a daytime shift, with only a few nighttime hours at the end of my workday. I feed Eli some lunch (peanut butter toast with fruit loops on it. Don’t ask me why, I’m not a five-year-old boy).
As I’m brushing my hair, I hear my mom come into the apartment.
“Lily, I’m here!” she calls. I stick my head out of the bathroom and see she’s carrying an enormous bouquet of fresh flowers.
And not just any flower…pink peonies.
“These came for you,” she says, setting them on the kitchen counter. “I intercepted the delivery person. Do you have a secret admirer you haven’t told me about, Lily?”
I hurry to the counter and look through the flowers for a card. They smell wonderful.
Who would know that pink peonies are my favourite?
Not Dylan, that’s for sure. Or even if he knew, he wouldn’t retain the information for any meaningful length of time.
He can recite property case law and basketball statistics like it’s nothing, but the favourite flower of his wife of five years? Nope. They’re definitely not from him.
My fingers find a little card inside the bouquet. The paper is high-quality, and I recognize it immediately. It’s from the hotel’s calligrapher, printed on the Thornblade stationary. There’s an embossed rose on the thick, creamy paper.
To Lily Harper,
We hope you had a smooth recovery. We look forward to your return.
With warm regards,
The Staff of the Respite Hotel
I’m enveloped by a wonderful, warm, tingly feeling. The flowers are gorgeous. Bathed in their sweet scent, I suddenly remember the last time I saw them.
It was the Chiu wedding, last autumn. Peonies were out of season, but the bride loved them, and the entire south banquet hall was covered in them. I was so happy, taking frequent breaks to stop and smell them, to run my fingers along their velvety petals.
Renata noticed. “You seem even more cheerful than usual today, Lily.”
I beamed at her. “I love peonies. Especially pink ones. They’re my favourite flower.”
She had smiled, and didn’t say anything else.
That was so long ago. I’d almost forgotten the interaction. Surely she didn’t remember. She deals with so many details every day.
But I don’t think I told anyone else.
Does it mean that she arranged to have them sent to me? I can’t imagine it could have been Mel, or anyone else at the office.
“Well, who are they from?” my mother snaps.
“Just the office, mom,” I reply, tucking the card gently into my pocket. I want to keep it close to me. Even though it’s not the most personal message, the thought that it could have been from her…
“Oh, I thought maybe you had a beau,” my mother frowns. “If you’re not going to get back together with Dylan, then you should really be looking for someone else, Lily. At your age, most women are married, or still married. If you want Eli to have any sisters or bothers…”
“I have to get to work, mom,” I say, grabbing my purse and keys. “I’ll be home before midnight.” I give Eli a kiss on the top of his head. “Be good for grandma!”
And I’m off to work.
I wish I didn’t have the daytime shift.