Page 23 of Petals for Vicious Secrets

Even with her looking to the wall in front of her, precisely the opposite direction to where he was, the amount of self-control and focus Lenna would need to go to sleep would be considerable. She felt his weight as he laid down on the other side of the mattress and she felt some relief at him not going under the duvet. Thank each and every single Cardinal, because she didn’t trust herself to keep her hands to herself and it was too damn late. She took a deep breath and closed her eyes, hoping a kind Cardinal would send sleep her way so she wouldn’t collapse in the middle of her damned Fifth Ceremony.

Lenna woke up and found an interesting smile on Theon’s relaxed face. As his head leaned on his hand with a propped elbow, and only wore his dark trousers, she regretted being thankful for him not being under the duvet. It was a great morning view, but maybe too motivating. The light coming from the windows and the glass balcony doors showed it was probably an acceptable hour to be awake.

“I must admit,” Theon started with a sideways smile, “that after your request of me coming, I was not expecting such a… snoring welcome.”

“Asshole. I didn’t think you would come, you know.”

He used a hand to comb his brown hair, a more unconscious movement than an actual attempt at straightening his rebel ear-long strands. “I had my doubts, believe me,” he said. He put a hand in his pocket and the movement marked every single muscle on his arm and his abdominal wall of steel. “But then I remembered…” Theon took out a small box from his pocket and gave it to her with a smile. “Happy birthday, Lenna”.

Lenna couldn’t find any words as her stomach tightened, and she sat down on the bed, crossing her legs on top of the duvet as she picked the small white box Theon was handing her. With all the fuss about the Ceremony she hadn’t even remembered that today she turned twenty-five. Twenty-five was a sacred number in Thyria, marking the first quarter of a century and its closeness to the Cardinals. That Theon had remembered filled her heart with something very similar to joy. Even if the occasion was more intimate than she could have imagined.

She undid the elegant lace that held the box together and gasped at the precious golden blade with a rose carved on its side. It looked like it was made centuries ago.

“This blade gives strength to souls that crave it,” Theon said.

Lenna managed to get her eyes off the beautiful piece and looked at him. He was sitting next to her, their knees inches from each other. It didn't look like something you'd find in Thyria.

“Where is it from?” Her voice almost broken from all the emotions.

“It's from Beyond,” he said, confirming her suspicions that it was something foreign.

Lenna turned it around and admired it once more. Even if a part of her was dying to know how had he obtained such a thing, there would be many opportunities to talk. As there would be opportunities to talk about all the Raoul situation. Everything seemed less relevant right now. As if the world was on hold for them. For this.

“Thank you, Theon. It's beautiful.”

Theon looked at her and put a slack of her red hair behind her ear. “My pleasure,” his voice was low and his eyes so intense Lenna felt they could piece her bit by bit. The skin on her back felt tight.

She stopped his hand in the air and put it on top of her thigh. It felt warm and familiar. As if it belonged there.

A part of her wanted to get her lips on his, to explore all of him with absolutely no rush. Another part of her hesitated that whatever that would mean would change their relationship forever. She wasn't sure she was ready to even consider losing a true friendship over some... High temperature closeness? Whatever this was. Theon squeezed his hand on her thigh and Lenna felt the nerves in different parts of her go crazy at the touch.

How long had they been staring at each other? The green eyes of him were so profound on the golden of hers. So damn profound. Someone knocked on her door and it felt like she had been slapped and taken back to reality. Theon quickly removed his hand from her thigh and stood up, looking for his shirt. It was only after the second, more insistent knock that Lenna realized she hadn't replied.

"Yes?" she shouted, not bothering to keep the annoyance from her voice.

"Miss Lenna, we should start getting you ready for your special day," said Irina with a begging tone. Lenna couldn't blame her, though. She had always refused her help to get dressed, but today's attire was complex to put on without help.

Theon was heading to the balcony, picking his black jacket from the table on his way and hanging it over his shoulder. He smiled at the recognition of Irina's voice and whispered, “Is that your towel lady?” he smirked. “Need someone to get your clothes off?" His wink and that sideways smile made Lenna's inside twist.

“I can very much do that myself,” Lenna chuckled as she stood up, still holding the golden blade in her fist. She took some steps to cut the distance between them and added with a hand on her hip. “Unless you'd be up to help?”

Theon's eyes darkened, and his chin moved slightly upwards, considering the challenge. “It would be about time,” he chuckled, taking a step closer. “To finally have some fun,” his voice was low and damn all the Cardinals if this wasn't the sexiest guy. It wasn't just Lenna's heart tightening. He lifted a finger to her ear and slowly, very slowly, moved it down her shoulder, making her yellow sedan strap drop as it moved along.

“Miss Lenna?” Irina insisted with another knock. Theon's finger stopped on her skin. Lenna closed her eyes. It had to be very damn late for Irina to be insisting like that. She didn't even want to look at the clock on her wall. She didn't even want to open her eyes and see exactly what she was about to be missing out on.

Lenna felt Theon's soft hair brushing her cheek as he inclined his head and placed his lips at the end of her collarbone, where he landed a warm kiss. Her knees wanted to give up. Her hands wanted to rip his clothes off. “I'll see you soon,” he said in a low, soft voice. Lenna opened her eyes in time to see him leaving the bedroom through the big balcony and jumping above the railing.

Another insistent knock followed by a pleading, “Miss Lenna, please.”

Lenna took a deep breath. She'd need more than one to get her to cool the fuck down. To stop her insides from melting at all the thoughts she was having. That squeeze on her thigh. That warm kiss on her collarbone. For Cardinals’ sake, how was she meant to concentrate on anything else?

She walked towards the door and she found an almost teary Irina holding a full rack with her attire and accessories and hairstyling and Fifth knew what else.

Irina exhaled deeply; the definition of relief written in every single feature of her gentle face. “Thank you, miss Lenna. We must hurry.”

14

Lenna

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