CHAPTER 18
The sound of rain pelting the window awakens Victoria. She was deeply asleep, cozy and content, so she stays still, trying to locate the origin of the sound. Seconds later, thunder accompanies the curtain of water, and she thinks about how much she loves rainy days at home. But then, a fleeting memory flashes through her mind like a streak of lightning, revealing scenes of her and Micaela devouring each other the night before. Her pulse quickens, and a thrill of pleasure courses through her as if it were the last echo of their passionate night.
Victoria”s eyes snap open so wide you could slot a two-euro coin between her eyelids. She becomes acutely aware of her surroundings. Realizing she”s naked, and feeling the weight of Micaela”s leg and arm draped over her, she knows Micaela is naked too.
Her mind jams in a strange way, struggling to process what happened. Gently, very gently, she moves Micaela”s arm and slips out of bed, her gaze sweeping over the clothes scattered around the room. For a second, she freezes, staring out the window—they forgot to lower the blinds in their rush last night. Standing there, she hopes watching the rain might calm her as it often does, but her heart continues to race, and she can”t shake the feeling that she”s made a huge mistake. She grabs some clean clothes and heads to the bathroom to dress.
Afterward, she descends to the kitchen and starts making coffee, her thoughts racing almost as fast as her heartbeat. ”What a mess,” she mutters to herself. Micaela and she have always had a rocky relationship, snapping at each other over the smallest things, and last night”s escapade is just another reason for tension.
”Good morning,” Micaela chirps, her voice bright as she covers herself with only a t-shirt. She strides toward Victoria, intention clear in her smile, and presses a light kiss on her lips—mistakenly believing Victoria is on the same euphoric page.
Victoria had been roused from sleep by the clumsy shuffle of her own feet as she tried to leave the room quietly. Micaela, fully awake from the moment she heard the door click, had seen Victoria”s bare, sensuous back. The image had seared itself into her mind.
Micaela had never felt such a connection with anyone before, and she”s shocked it”s Victoria—of all people—a woman she sometimes clashed with fiercely. Yet, last night, as their lips met, all their conflicts had melted away, and it felt like destiny. Despite the long list of lovers in her past, Micaela had always felt like she was performing a role. None had ever given her the comfort or trust—she doesn”t even know what to call it—that made her feel genuinely herself. But with Victoria, everything was different. The pleasure was deeper, the climaxes more intense.
But as Victoria pulls away from the kiss with a scowl, Micaela realizes she needs to switch gears. The last thing she wants is for Victoria to bolt.
”Sorry, got carried away,” Micaela says, brushing off the awkward moment.
Inside, a knot of distress tightens in her chest, a wave of disappointment crashing over her. Outwardly, she shrugs it off and moves past Victoria to the kitchen. She grabs a mug and pours herself coffee.
”Rainy day, huh?” she comments, glancing out the window. Talking about the weather—always a safe bet to break the ice.
”Yeah, looks like it”s set in,” Victoria replies after a beat, her voice cool.
Micaela turns back to her, leaning casually against the counter. ”Everything okay?” she asks, sipping her coffee.
Victoria”s eyes flicker with uncertainty. She needs to convince her that last night was something special, but she holds back, waiting for Victoria to share her true feelings.
”We made a mistake, Micaela,” Victoria stammers, unable to tear her gaze from Micaela”s form.
Her heart races, torn between the repercussions of last night and a sudden, overwhelming desire. Micaela suddenly seems like the most irresistible woman she”s ever seen.
”Didn”t you enjoy it?” Micaela probes, her tone casual, trying to show that nothing has to change.
Victoria clenches her jaw, lips pressed tightly together. She can”t answer—that would either feed Micaela”s already substantial ego or lie about her own feelings, which are far too complex and conflicted right now.
”I think we should call Javier and explain the situation,” Victoria concludes, her voice a mix of determination and weariness. ”He”ll understand and find a way to get us out of here.”
Micaela feels a surge of panic at the thought. She knows that if Victoria sets her mind to it, she can easily persuade their editor that they no longer need to remain secluded in this remote cabin, that they can just as effectively work from the comfort of their homes, connected by the internet. Although Micaela is equally persuasive and could counter every one of Victoria”s arguments, she doesn”t want to risk it. She decides to go on the offensive.
”What”s with you? Every time something happens, do you have to run to Javier?” she snaps, her voice laced with frustration. ”You parade around like you”re the adult and I”m just some child, but you”re proving just the opposite.”
Victoria”s eyes widen in shock at her words.
”How dare you?” she retorts. ”I don”t need Javier—or anyone else for that matter. I can handle things perfectly on my own. But this is a complicated situation, and if I want us to be pulled out of here, I need to give him a reasonable motive.”
”Can”t you just have a fling without making it a big deal?” Micaela retorts loudly.
Victoria stares at her, unblinking, the question hitting her like a splash of cold water as she realizes how little Micaela seems to value what happened between them.
”Of course, I can. What do you think I do with Vicente?”
”Vicente,” Micaela repeats, each syllable dripping with a bitter jealousy that courses through her veins.
Now she understands Victoria”s past flare-ups—when she caught her in bed with that redhead or saw the flirtatious exchanges with the bartender. Micaela had never been in this position before, but the thought of Victoria in the arms of anyone else makes her blood boil.
”Yes, Vicente,” Victoria insists, sensing the edge of anger in Micaela”s tone, pleased to turn the tables.
”Let”s get one thing straight—Vicente doesn”t stand a chance against me. You might as well admit it,” Micaela declares arrogantly. ”At the end of the day, we”re two adults who got carried away last night. Can”t you just move on?”
”Of course, I can,” Victoria snaps back.
”Then prove it and stop with the calls to Javier. You know we make a great team, we”ve found a workflow that”s comfortable and efficient, and breaking that up now, when we”re making such progress, would be foolish,” Micaela argues, her voice softening.
Victoria opens her mouth to protest, but Micaela cuts her off.
”Please, let”s not let a fling mess up our work,” she pleads, her voice now tender, her expression vulnerable. ”If we fail, you might survive at the publishing house, but it”ll be the end for me, and you know it. If you really hate what happened last night that much, it doesn”t have to happen again. We can act like it never did. Can you do that?”
In that moment, Micaela looks so fragile that Victoria feels an overwhelming urge to embrace her, and yes, even kiss her. The thought brings a mix of frustration and anger, especially since Micaela just implied that for her, Victoria was just another notch on her belt. Yet, despite feeling foolish for falling into her trap, Victoria finds herself caring for Micaela in a way that surprises her. She decides she won”t abandon her.
”Alright, let”s just forget it and move on,” Victoria concedes, her gaze locking intensely with Micaela”s.
”Great, thank you,” Micaela replies, a playful smile spreading across her face.
She downs her coffee in one gulp, setting the mug aside to be washed later. Together, they head to the living room and settle in front of the laptop, ready to pick up where they left off yesterday. However, a nagging doubt gnaws at Micaela, and despite the risk of reigniting Victoria”s temper, she knows she must voice it or lose her focus.
”Hey, now that we”ve cleared the air, I need to ask you something,” she starts casually, eyes fixed on the screen as if to downplay the significance of her question.
”Surprise me,” Victoria responds, giving her a sidelong glance.
”Was it really that bad... sleeping with me?” Micaela ventures, her voice a mix of curiosity and mischief.
That same rush of excitement from this morning floods through her again. Victoria swings from dread over their recent turmoil to irritation with herself upon realizing that it wasn”t just ”not bad”—she”s actually eager to experience it again.
”It wasn”t bad,” Victoria admits reluctantly, and a sly smile curls on Micaela’s lips.
”Yeah... You weren”t too bad yourself,” she replies, her gaze still averted.
Victoria also allows a small smile to escape.