Pulled to the Dark (The Siriena Series) Read online

  She told me about her new guy. He sounded pretty good. So far, he was treating her right, and that was the important part.

  She asked me about my dream lover. I sighed.

  * * *

  Friday night, when Dream Petra began tickling my feet, I was able to pull them away from her. She clapped her hands in joy then rewarded me with some pretty serious kissing.

  "Please don't stop," I told her.

  "Soon," she whispered in my ear as I woke up.

  * * *

  Saturday morning I looked at my map. It was a chilly autumn day, and I had a time limit. But it was beautiful, and I wanted to go for a walk somewhere interesting. There was a beautiful state park an hour north out of town, and they had fabulous hiking trails.

  I showered and dressed in jeans, a warm denim shirt, and my hiking shoes. I pulled my long, red hair into a pony tail. I wore a hat and gloves. I brought a backpack with food, water and my camera.

  It was a lovely drive with no traffic. There were a few people at the park, but it felt like I had it to myself.

  I picked a four-hour loop to a good lookout point and set out. It felt great. The trail started in a lowland meadow, then proceeded into a large grove of trees before it began climbing up to the ridge over the St. Croix river. I attacked the upward slope with gusto and was soon breathing hard, but pushed through it.

  My two-hour hike consumed an hour. I took a bunch of pictures, ate my lunch anyway, and took more pictures.

  I did some yoga stretches before beginning the second half of the loop. It went even faster than the first half did. I checked the trails map and decided I had time for another loop with an estimated duration of two hours. I spent an hour and a half, including a significant amount of time photographing a field of autumn flowers.

  I had never felt so amazing.

  I drove home and took the elevator up to Petra's floor. I knocked on her door and waited.

  Karen opened it. "You're early," she said. "And what are you wearing?"

  "I just wanted fifteen seconds with Petra, if she's not too busy."

  "Come on in," Karen said. "She's in the kitchen." She raised her voice. "Petra, it's Felicia."

  "Kitchen, Felicia," I heard her say.

  When I stepped into the kitchen, Petra had her hands in a sink of dishes. She looked over her shoulder at me. "Is everything all right?"

  "Yes!" I said, bouncing over to her. "I just came by to say Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!"

  She laughed. "You're welcome. What did I do?"

  "I spent the day in a state park, and I never felt so amazing. Normally I walk along those trails, plod along them, really. I didn't plod today. I felt great!"

  She and Karen both laughed. "I know what you mean," Karen said. "I used to be the same way."

  "You both are welcome, then," Petra said. "Of course, if you were really thankful, you could wash these dishes for me."

  "I'd love to," I said.

  She laughed again. "I was teasing."

  "Move it, boss-lady," I told her. "I can't do your cooking for you, but I can wash some dishes. I promise not to break more than two or three."

  She relinquished the kitchen, draping a towel over my shoulder.

  "Is there anything sharp hiding in this water?" I asked.

  "No," she said. "That's a bad habit that we don't do in my kitchen."

  "Good," I said. I plunged my hands into the water and began washing. "Who is coming tonight and what do you want me to do?"

  "The party is for some of our more prestigious clients," Petra said. "There are always a few no-shows, but I expect eight to twelve clients, most of them bringing a spouse or date. All the company directors will be here, most with a spouse, date or escort of some nature or other."

  "So just a casual event then," I said with a grin over my shoulder at her.

  "Right," she said. "I would like both of you to help host. Take coats, fill wine glasses, that sort of thing. That should help get things going. Felicia, I also would like you to be my date for tonight, just like you were for Andrea at the charity event."

  My body tingled at the idea of being Petra's date. I was hoping it wasn't quite like my time with Andrea however.

  "So there's a guest you want me to beat up?"

  "I don't believe you'll have a similar opportunity," she said.

  "I sort of thought if you wanted an escort, it would be Karen," I told her.

  "I have another job," Karen said. "Mary Noreen tends to drink too much. I get to babysit."

  I almost asked her what she was being punished for, but decided that might be going too far with the banter. "That sounds like a tricky responsibility," I said instead.

  "It's not too bad," she said. "I like Mary, and she isn't an alcoholic. Basically she starts talking. You know how some people talk with their hands?" I nodded. "She talks with her glass. I give her ginger ale instead of champagne."

  Petra set a knife and cutting board on the counter to my right. "I need that back right away," she said. I finished what I was currently washing, then did the knife and cutting board and dried them right away. "Thank you," she said when I returned them to the counter in front of her.

  I finished the dishes. "Is there more I can do, or would the two of you prefer I got out of your way?"

  "You're more than welcome to stay and help," Petra said. She glanced at the clock. "We have forty more minutes then it's time to get dressed, no matter how much is left to do."

  For the next forty minutes, I did whatever she asked. Halfway through I said, "I'm a little surprised you don't bring in a catering service."

  "Anyone can hire caterers," Petra said. "There is nothing special when you do that. Doing it yourself is something else entirely." She paused. "And honestly, I love it, as long as I have company getting ready. Both of you, thank you."

  With ten minutes to go in our self-imposed deadline, Petra began a tour of the apartment, eying everything critically. Karen and I each adjusted a few things for her, and Petra declared the place as close to ready as it was going to get.

  "All right," she said. "Both of you please go get ready and please arrive fashionably early. That means get your tails back here, but don't rush your preparations."

  * * *

  The party was a great success. I met the clients in attendance, all of whom seemed pleasant. I alternated between seeing to guests' needs and attending to Petra.

  As the party began to wind down, I moved through the apartment, finding discarded wine glasses and the other accoutrements of an expired party and brought them all into the kitchen. Forty minutes later, I nearly had the kitchen cleaned up and all the dishes washed when Petra walked in.

  She shrieked, which startled me to no end, so I echoed her and almost dropped the glass I was drying.

  "Don't do that!" I said when my heart rate settled back down.

  "I thought you had left," she said. "To be honest, I was a little disappointed you hadn't said good night."

  "And so you come in here to scare the daylights out of me. There's a thank you for you." I grinned at her. "You'll just have to kiss me goodnight to make up for it."

  She smiled but didn't respond.

  She looked around the kitchen. "You didn't have to do all this." But she began putting everything away, much of which went back out in the cabinet in the dining room. She returned with a few more glasses and plates.

  She came back in with a wine bottle, eying the contents. "There's just enough left in this bottle for two glasses. I want to unwind a little. Care to join me in the living room?"

  "Yes," I said.

  She poured two glasses and handed one to me. We moved back to the living room and sat down on opposite ends of the sofa. She kicked her shoes off and sighed. I'd been barefoot for thirty minutes; my shoes were in the corner of the kitchen.

  "Feet tired?" I asked. She nodded. "If they appeared in my lap, they might like the attention they got," I said.

  "I think rubbing my feet is above and beyond the
call of duty," she said with a smile.

  "Who said anything about duty?" I asked.

  She shifted on the sofa and set her feet in my lap. I began massaging them for her. As soon as I started, she began moaning in pleasure. I smiled but didn't say anything. We sat there for a goodly while, Petra sinking lower and lower into the sofa as I massaged her feet, one at a time.

  Then she sat up. "All right, as good as that feels, if I keep letting you do that, I'm going to fall asleep here. Time to send you home."

  She pulled her feet away and we both got up. She took my glass from me and set it aside then walked me to the door. I reached for the doorknob, but she put her hand on my shoulder. "Felicia?"

  I turned around. "Thank you for your help tonight," she said. Then she stepped up to me, and I found myself looking up into those amazing eyes, the eyes from my dreams. She was going to do it! She was really going to kiss me! My heart began pounding.

  She leaned down, past my mouth, and kissed my cheek. "Your good night kiss," she said quietly.

  She stepped past me and opened the door for me. I stepped through. "Good night," I told her.

  * * *

  Dream Petra tried to kiss me. I didn't kiss her back. She pulled away and looked hurt.

  "I'm mad at you," I told her. "A kiss on the cheek? I throw myself at you, and I get a kiss on the cheek?"

  Dream Petra didn't say anything, but she moved down to my feet and began massaging them for me. It felt good. I was tempted to pull them from her petulantly, but her hands were experts, and my feet hurt.

  In my dream I started to cry. "What's wrong with me that the only love I get is in my dreams?"

  She moved up me immediately and moved her lips to my ear. "You are perfect," she said.

  "Please kiss me before I wake up," I told her.

  And she did.

  * * *

  I used Sunday for cleaning and errand day. I started by trying on my Halloween costume. It included a corset, which no longer fit. I was pleased and disappointed at the same time. It had been an expensive corset. I sighed, took fresh measurements, and ordered a new one.

  It was Erika's week to pick everything, so I used her shopping list for what we'd be making for dinner. I cleaned the apartment, hit the grocery store, and then kicked myself that I didn't have wine for my two guests. Wine wasn't available for sale in Minnesota on Sunday, so they would simply have to suffer with tea, coffee and water.

  There was a knock at my door. I opened it expecting Karen or Petra, and Andrea was there. "Andrea!" I said.

  She could tell I was surprised to see her. "I'm sorry," she said. "You said I was invited any time. I should have warned you."

  "No, no, come in," I told her. "I'm happy to have you."

  She stepped in. I took her coat and hung it up. She handed me a bottle of wine. "Oh perfect," I told her. I explained how I'd goofed and not gotten any ahead of time.

  She laughed. "As if Petra has ever shown up anywhere without at least one bottle. Can I help cook?"

  "Probably," I said. "But we have to wait for Erika. This may not be quite what you're expecting. We're quite silly."

  "I'm in a good mood for silly," she said. "Laughter is good for the soul."

  "That doesn't sound like the high powered businesswoman talking," I commented.

  "Maybe not at other companies," she said. "But part of the reason we're as good at Renea as we are is because we value the human spirit. Don't ever let that go, Felicia."

  We moved deeper into the apartment. "Is this something we can open now?" I asked, looking at the wine. "Or something that should wait for dinner?"

  "You aren't one of those people who refuses to drink while she cooks, are you?"

  "I'm sure I'm not," I said quite seriously. "Am I?" I handed the bottle back to her. Would you care to serve as sommelier tonight?"

  "I would be delighted," she replied. She stepped to the buffet cabinet, took out four wine glasses and the opener, and opened the wine. She poured us each a glass.

  Karen and Petra arrived together. Karen had flowers for me, which were lovely. Petra had a second bottle of wine. Andrea caught my eye and winked. Andrea poured wine for both of them. I found a vase for the flowers, and my computer started to ring. Erika was online.

  "Can someone answer that?" I asked. "It must be Erika."

  Karen stepped over to my laptop sitting on the dining room table. She stared at it for a second, then clicked accept on the Skype invite. "Hey! Erika," she said.

  "Hi, Karen," I heard Erika's voice. "I'm so glad you could come again this week."

  "We have a party here," Karen said. "I hope you don't mind."

  "Not at all," she said. "As long as no one gets serious."

  I finished with the flowers and carried them to the table. Then I leaned over Karen's shoulder. "Heya, girlfriend," I said.

  "There you are," she replied. "Who else is there?"

  I reached over and picked up the laptop. "Well, first you must see the gorgeous flowers Karen brought me." I pointed the laptop at the flowers.

  "Very nice," Erika said.

  "And here we have Petra, who you met last week."

  "Hello, Petra," Erika said. "Did your party last night go well?"

  "Very well, thank you," she replied.

  Then I pointed the computer to Andrea. "Erika, this is Andrea, the best boss I've ever had."

  "You are suck a suck up," Erika said. "Hello, Andrea, it's nice to meet you."

  "And you," Andrea said. "This is wonderful. Two good friends, thousands of miles apart, yet part of each other's lives."

  "I love modern technology," Erika said. "When it works."

  We moved into the kitchen. Andrea carried in my wine and handed it to me once I'd put the laptop down on the counter.

  "What is that?" Erika asked.

  "Andrea and Petra both brought wine," I said.

  "Where's my glass?" she asked.

  "At your place at the table," Karen said.

  "Well, that's okay then," she said, giggling. "Felicia, I have a confession. I cheated."

  "Cheated?"

  "You warned me you were going to have help, so I already did most of my prep."

  "You little cheater!" I said. "Just for that, I'm going to drink your wine."

  The banter back and forth continued, like it always did, while we were cooking. The pasta was going and the chicken was ready to toss into the sauce we'd made. Very simple, nothing gourmet. Petra tasted it.

  "Are guests allowed to make suggestions?" she asked.

  "Only good ones," Erika said. "Suggestions," she added. "The guests can be as naughty as they want."

  "Do you have any rosemary?"

  Erika disappeared from view for a moment then came back. "Yes! Fresh even. Or dried."

  "I don't have either," I said.

  "I do," said Karen. She ran from the room and was back a minute later. She gave the rosemary to Petra and I watched while Petra and Erika both added rosemary to the sauce.

  "Smell," Petra said, holding the rosemary out towards me. I stepped closer, sniffed, and smiled.

  "Rosemary is my favorite," Erika said. "I should have made her buy some. I didn't think of it."

  Erika and Petra finished the dinner. Karen teased Erika and got teased in return. Andrea got in on the teasing as well, which started a flurry of boss jokes. I stood back and watched, pleased my guests were getting along so well with Erika.

  Sometimes Erika and I eat while watching the movie. Other times we eat first. Tonight, we ate first. We sat at my dining room table with Petra and Karen on one side, Andrea on the other, the laptop on one end facing the rest of us, and me opposite the laptop. Erika couldn't see all of us very well, but it was still interactive, and we could all see her.

  We finished dinner and cleared the table, putting the leftovers away. I left the cleanup for later.

  "What are we watching tonight, Erika?" I asked once we'd gotten to the living room.

  "In honor of you, Felicia," s
he said, "We're watching 'Earth Girls are Easy'."

  I avoided looking at Petra, but I still blushed.

  "I love that movie!" said Karen.

  "It's not too late to eat and run," I warned Andrea and Petra. "It's a very campy movie."

  Neither Petra nor Andrea sang Julie Brown's song, "Cause I'm a Blonde" with us, but they laughed at all the right parts and appeared to have a good time.

  Once the movie was over, Erika asked, "Is everyone coming next week?"

  Petra asked, "Are we still invited even if we don't know the words to the songs?"

  Erika laughed. "Everyone is welcome who promises to have a good time and not get all stuffy because we sometimes pick silly movies."

  "Last week wasn't silly," Karen said. "I loved that movie!"

  Erika tossed a few more jibes at Petra and Andrea then signed off.

  They helped me clean up. Andrea said. "I really had fun tonight and would love to come again, but I don't want to interfere with your tradition with Erika."

  "Erika and I have talked about this in the past," I said. "Anyone is welcome who doesn't try to change what we're doing. I had a boyfriend who got angry with us because we were heckling a movie he really wanted to watch. He wasn't invited back."

  The three of them left together a few minutes later. I breathed a sigh of relief. I hadn't made a fool of myself.

  * * *

  Dream Petra was humming and stroking me. I opened my eyes and immediately focused on her. She smiled and kissed me. It was sweet. I reached up with my hand and held her by the back of her neck, encouraging the kiss to last.

  She pulled away, looked into my eyes, then kissed me again, her tongue invading my mouth. I moaned into the kiss.

  She pulled away, smiled, and her hands reached up and played with my hair for a moment, rearranging it about my head. She looked at me, and her smile turned into a playful grin. I knew that look.

  "Oh no!" I said. "Don't you dare."

  She pulled away from my grasping arms. Then her fingers dashed to my ribs and started a very one-sided tickle fight. I began giggling immediately while trying to escape her playful, clever fingers. Over the weeks she'd learned all my tickle spots, and she was exploiting them exceedingly well.