Fallen Royals

Chapter 13

It was hard for Petra to get out of bed and begin her day. She was wailing in self-pity for the last couple of days. Her past was destroying her present. Present doesn't feel like a present, a gift. It's more like a curse. I've moved far away, changed my name, and am doing a good decent job. Yet, the horrors I did still haunt me. Is there an escape for me? Is this my destiny? To run from my nightmares and never settle? How can I repent for my sins and move on?

A knock on the door stopped her train of thoughts.

Marina leaned on the door frame. - "This" - Marina pointed at Petra - "doesn't suit you. Yeah, the date didn't end so well but staying in bed won't help with what happened."

Petra ignored her and kept staring at the ceiling.

"Ok, suit yourself but I'm kicking you out of bed after lunch. There are chores to do around the house. No freeloading."

Marina closed the door with a thump.

Petra searched for her phone lost in the sheets. She opened it up. Two messages from Toma were still unanswered. She didn't know what to tell him. She didn't want him to know her past and the mess she left behind. This was her new start, and she didn't want to taint it with events long gone. How can she spin this and explain it to him without blatantly lying to him?

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Marina really did come later and evicted her from the bed and room. After she was done with cleaning the bathroom and making a plum jam, she left to visit Toma. She figured that coming in person is much better than sending messages.

It was late afternoon, the autumn brought the chillness to the air. She wore a winter dress and long coat. She always preferred hot to cold, she'd easily freeze. She wondered how it'd be to have a man to keep her warm. Could Toma be that man although she has made a scene and rejected his advances?

In the rehearsal hall she was met with her friends, they were all concerned with her sudden absence. Filip and others reminded her that she was a part of the troupe and always welcome. She was too ashamed to explain to them what happened and why she hasn't come since the big premier.

Petra was coming towards Toma's office and she could hear a woman's laugh behind the closed doors. She politely knocked on the door.

"Come in!"

A small brunette was sitting on Toma's desk. The room smelled of paper, Toma's perfume and... sex!? A feeling of dread spread through Petra's body. Her stomach shriveled in the black stone of hurt. She put on her emotionless face. It might not be as it seems to be. Toma spared her a glance and then asked the brunette to leave.

"Snow! I was so worried about you!" Toma circled around his desk to meet her with a gentle peck on her cheek.

"I'm sorry. I'm not very experienced and got cold feet. Can you forgive me?"

"No, no. It's my fault. I've pushed you. I didn't want to make you uncomfortable. You're so sweet and innocent. Just like snow."

If you only knew...

"Can we have a reset? Forget about how the date ended?"

"Yes, I missed you a lot. Your sweetness, your touch." Toma kissed her again, at the corner of her lips. His next kiss was on her lips, the gentleness turning into hunger. She moaned as he pressed their bodies together. He was cold, she was hot. The insecurities of past and current events were forgotten. Her whole mind was drowning in their passion. She couldn't get enough of his touch. She wanted more. The red drug only he could give to her. He lifted her up, taking them to a couch. He sat them down, Petra straddling him with her snowwhite thighs. His hands were going up her legs, searching for an entrance to her skin. He squeezed her thighs under the dress, her tights a barricade between their skin.