While you were Sleeping

35. Perfect little boxes

Juliana was exhausted as she made her way home along the muggy street. Getting up for work this morning had been difficult. The not-so-relaxing weekend away had taken more out of her than she realised.

She wondered how the Carvajal's were feeling today, specifically Valentina. Val had sent her usual good morning message before she went to work but the message Juliana had sent her during her break had gone unanswered. She assumed Valentina was busy running interference between Eva, Mateo, and Eric. And as much as it annoyed her, Valentina was now involved in her sister's indiscretion. Juliana just hoped it wouldn't end up blasted all over the gossip magazines.

She kicked off her shoes as soon as she was through the door. Going straight to her room, she stripped out of her black trousers and shirt. She was hot, tired, and hungry. She groaned as she lay back on to the cool sheets of her bed. She was too tired to make or eat anything right now. Closing her eyes for a short nap seemed way more appealing.

Juliana groaned, the buzzing of her phone pulling her from her sleep. She felt like she had just closed her eyes as she blindly ran her hand over the mattress trying to locate the offending noise. The phone vibrated in her hand as she opened one eye to read the display. Valentina calling...

"Val?" Juliana murmured sleepily as she answered her phone.

"Hey Juls. Are you at home?"

Juliana glanced to the window; it was still bright outside. "Um... yeah... why?" she rasped; her throat dry. "What time is it?" she asked, her hand coming up to rub her face.

"It's just after four, I got out of work early. Can I come in?"

Juliana sat up quickly. "What? Where are you?"

"I'm outside."

Juliana could hear the light tapping on the front door. "Oh! Okay," she got to her feet in a daze and quickly made her way from her room with the phone still pressed to her ear. "I'm coming." She stumbled over her shoes, kicking them to the side as she made it to the door.

"Hey!" Valentina greeted, pocketing her phone as the door opened. Valentina paused, her eyes widening as her jaw suddenly dropped open.

"Hey... are you okay?" Juliana asked.

Valentina visibly swallowed as she nodded. Her gaze lingering over Juliana's body before meeting her gaze. "Uh-huh! You?"

"Yeah, sorry I didn't hear you knocking, I fell asleep," Juliana yawned. "I did not want to get up at five this morning! I went back to bed when I came home," she shrugged. "What are you doing here?"

"Oh, I um... wanted to see you..." her gaze dropped to roam Juliana's body again. "But... I um... wasn't expecting to see so much," she grinned cheekily as she took a step forward. "Do you normally sleep like this?" she asked, gesturing to Juliana's underwear.

Juliana glanced down, her eyes widening when she realised she was standing in her underwear. "Shit!" she screamed, grabbing Valentina's hand, and pulling her inside to close the door. "Sorry! I'm still half asleep!" she groaned.

"And looking very sexy!" Valentina added, stepping closer to her. "I know I've seen you in a bathing suit, and without," Juliana's skin tingled with awareness as memories of their night replayed in her mind, "but this is new," she reached out to touch her bra strap.

"Val!" Juliana flushed red, embarrassed by her almost naked body, but secretly pleased her underwear matched. Her knees trembled as Valentina's fingers slid down the silky strap before gliding along the edge of the cup.

"You're gorgeous, Juls." Valentina leaned forward to join their lips. "Feel free to greet me like this anytime you want," she grinned, her hands now sliding around Juliana's waist.