CHAPTER 31
”Don”t screw this up, Vicky,” Javier warns, wagging a finger at her, his voice low and intense. ”Micaela won”t give you any more chances.”
The interview with the authors unfolds better than anticipated. Both Javier and the interviewer emerge satisfied. After a brief intermission, the women sync perfectly, detailing the writing process of their book destined to top the sales charts. The journalist digs into their daily lives in that secluded village, sparking curiosity. Despite his guess at their reconciliation, Javier turns pale when both women share a secretive smile, a silent testament to their strong bond.
”Stay strong, Micaela. If you need anything, call me. I”ll be right there,” Valeria says as she switches her perpetually silent phone to sound mode, after Micaela recounts the bathroom incident. ”This time, I won”t hesitate to put her in her place.”
Ignacia wraps her arms around the writer with Italian heritage while Valeria shoots warning glances at Victoria. The trio parts ways, and Micaela rejoins her colleague and the editor, who”s also been briefed about her conversation with Victoria.
”The interview was fantastic, ladies. I”ll keep you posted and send the schedule by email for your reference,” the editor says, locking eyes with them. ”And for the love of God, sort out this sexual tension once and for all.”
Their laughter explodes, so loud that a passing secretary, nearing retirement, clutches her chest, startled nearly to a heart attack.
Victoria and Micaela bid farewell to Javier and head to the older woman”s car. Their nerves are so frayed they can barely hold each other”s gaze, resembling teenagers skiving off school, hearts pounding with the thrill and fear of being discovered.
”Are you okay? You seem flushed,” Victoria asks, noticing Micaela”s red cheeks and her constant fanning.
”It”s nothing,” Micaela lies, her voice tight, unwilling to admit how unnerved she is. ”First interviews always get to me a bit.”
Victoria isn”t convinced by the evasive reply but suspects the real cause; it”s the same thing that affects her. She smiles warmly at Micaela and reverses the car out of the parking space.
”Wow, what luck. It”s my second time here, and I found a parking spot right in front of your house again,” Victoria says, trying to ease Micaela”s tension. The entire ride she”s been as stiff as a board, a first for Victoria to witness.
”This street is usually a mess, not often you get a spot because people park so badly,” Micaela replies, stepping out to rummage through her absurdly large purse for her house keys.
They approach the front door, Micaela unlocking it and stepping aside to let Victoria in. What happens next is almost an exact replay of their last visit, except this time, it”s Victoria who unintentionally bumps into Micaela with her body. The writer from Toledo knows she needs to relax Micaela if their conversation is to flow as she desires.
Micaela hesitates for a fraction of a second, but when she reacts, it”s as if she awakens from a stupor that had enveloped her since they left the publisher. She guides Victoria to the dining table, their lips crashing together with the ferocity of starved beasts. Micaela slips behind the woman from Toledo, kissing her neck while deftly unbuttoning her jeans and sliding them down to her knees.
”Is this what you”re after?” Micaela whispers, her voice a sultry husk as she nudges Victoria”s underwear aside and traces a slow, deliberate path across her intimacy.
A raw moan escapes Victoria”s throat, a sound so primal that it sends a shiver through Micaela. Without hesitation, she moistens her fingers with her mouth and then plunges them into Victoria, who gasps at the contact.
They collapse onto the luxurious Italian carpet, their hearts thundering like locomotives. They turn to face each other, their gazes locking, smiles spreading easily across their faces, the air between them charged yet comfortable.
”How about a shower followed by a chat on the couch?” Micaela suggests, still riding the tailwinds of their passion.
”With a glass of wine?” Victoria asks, pulling herself closer to Micaela”s body.
”As many as you like. Come on, let”s go. I”m a mess.”
In the shower, Micaela has to be the more restrained one, stopping Victoria”s wandering hands. Victoria, usually so composed, finds herself unraveling with Micaela. She could lose hours, days even, reveling in the comfort of her bed, and it still wouldn”t be enough.
Dressed in Micaela”s pajamas, they wander into the kitchen for that bottle of wine they both favor.
”Are you going to tell me about that sneaky plan with Javier?” Victoria inquires after a generous sip.
”I was desperate,” Micaela admits, her voice tinged with frustration and a bit of anger. ”I knew you wanted to be with me, and something was holding you back. But you wouldn”t talk to me, so I didn”t know what I was up against.”
She explains how the idea of the photo came about, how Javier had assured her it would catch Victoria”s attention, and how she had thrown out the bait without a second thought.
”You guys are jerks, but yes, I acted like an idiot and chose to run. I was scared, unsure how to handle this.”
”And what is ”this”?” Micaela presses, her eyes searching Victoria”s.
”I don”t know what to call it, but I can”t stop thinking about you. I miss you at night, and even though you toss and turn and wake me up, I”ve grown accustomed to feeling your breath on my neck as you sleep. I”ve never felt this way about a woman who, at first, I didn”t even like.”
Micaela”s smile is gentle, touched by the raw honesty of the confession. It”s not the most romantic declaration she”s ever received, but for her, it”s perfect. She”s not looking for an idealized love with Victoria, just affection and respect—a journey of mutual understanding and companionship.
She draws closer, her hand caressing Victoria”s cheek tenderly.
”I want to try this with you, Victoria. I really like you, and even though you”re the most infuriating person I know,” Micaela laughs, dodging a playful swipe from Victoria, ”I feel good with you. We make a great team, both as writers and maybe as partners too.”
Suddenly, Victoria stops listening to Micaela. Her mind is a parade of the erotic novelist”s past conquests—the endless lines of women crazed for an autograph and, if they were lucky, a night of passion. Jealousy rears its ugly head with a vengeance, especially when it comes to Micaela. Victoria struggles to tame it, knowing deep down she”s terrified of losing her.
”What about all those groupies chasing after you? Don”t expect me to be okay with the nonsense you pulled at those signings,” Victoria snaps, her brow furrowed and arms crossed in defiance.
”Look at that, a lioness from the safari has appeared,” Micaela tries to joke, but seeing Victoria”s scowl deepen, she straightens up and addresses her seriously. ”I did that when I was single. Now, we”re together, or at least we”re trying to be. I”m not interested in anyone else. And you? What about that guy you were seeing?”
”Vicente?”
”Is there another?”
”No,” Victoria replies, ”it”s been just him, but it was only sex. Don”t worry about Vicente. We had an understanding that if either of us found someone else, our thing would end, no explanations needed.”
”For me, that”s enough. So, are you okay with everything we”ve talked about?” Micaela asks, her left leg twitching with impatience.
”Yes, completely.”
”Well then, Victoria Rivas, start shedding those cumbersome clothes. I”m going to make love to you until you can”t take anymore. Let”s celebrate two damn good writers starting their journey together.”