Weather the Storm

Sorry for the wait! I was out yesterday and I’m babysitting right now. Soooooo here we go! Chapter 5 of Weather the Storm! No real warnings here, just a makeout session with a teensy bit of NSFW. 

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Chapter 5

Tom had taken me to his penthouse apartment in a super fancy hotel I couldn’t even pronounce the name of. It was gorgeous. All white, big and roomy, with a huge window and balcony that had a great view of Los Angeles. The carpet was white, really soft, and there was even a fireplace. I widened my eyes at that one—I’d never seen a fireplace in a hotel before. Then again, the last hotel I was at was with my parents in a log cabin three years ago. It seemed like a whole different world to me. It was warm in the apartment. It was then I realized how soaked I was thanks to the rain. My clothes were stuck to me, and my hair was clinging to my face. I let out another sneeze after Tom closed the door and locked it behind us.

“The bedroom is to your right,” Tom rested a hand on my back as he guided me across the room. I winced upon hearing my shoes squick-squick-squick on the floor with every step I took. Tom opened the bedroom door, and I was greeted by a huge king-sized bed. It was then I realized Tom’s hand was on my back and I was alone with Tom, period. I tried very hard not to let my mind wander.

I wanted desperately to sit down but I didn’t want to soak anything. I bit my lower lip and turned to Tom, who was already searching for clothes in a drawer. When he turned to me, he handed me a towel and a shirt. He spoke quietly,

“I’m sorry. This is all I really have for you. But I’ll leave you to dry off and change. There is also a bathroom in here if you want to shower. You can leave your wet clothes in there to dry.”

I nodded, suddenly incredibly shy, “Thank you.”

When Tom left me alone, I slowly began peeling off my clothes, wincing at how they clung to me. My green pullover jacket was off, as was my black tee and my blue jeans. My socks and shoes came off next, and as I hung them in the bathroom I studied myself in the mirror. All I had to take off now was my bra and my underwear. I felt my cheeks heat up. I wasn’t sure if I wanted to go commando in Tom’s presence. Meanwhile, my hair was still soaked. After a brief moment of debate, I finally decided to take a brief shower, just to freshen up. Once I finished my shower I ultimately decided to leave my undergarments off (not because I was hoping anything was going to happen, I simply didn’t want to be uncomfortable in wet underwear). 

As I wrapped my hair in a towel, I held up the shirt Tom lent me. It was so big on me it covered my body completely, so I was ultimately relieved at that. It was red and blue plaid. After I finished buttoning it, I studied my reflection one last time in the mirror. I liked the shirt. It looked kind of nice. And it smelled like him. I smiled to myself. You are crushing way too hard on this guy, Katerina. Calm yourself down. He’s just being nice.

I mentally prepared myself for whatever interrogation I would probably get as I left the bedroom to find Tom sitting by the fireplace, two cups on the small table. I quietly studied him before making my presence known. He still had his button-down white shirt on with two top buttons unbuttoned, his tie undone around his neck. He still wore the pants and his shoes as he rested his chin on one fist while watching the fire. I couldn’t ignore the blush creeping up on my cheeks again. He looked ridiculously handsome.

I cleared my throat, and Tom turned immediately to face me. He gestured for me to sit and I complied, sitting close enough to reach for him but far enough to not seem creepy and obsessed. He picked up a cup and handed it to me, replying,

“I made tea to warm you up.”

I gratefully took the cup, “Thank you.” When I took a sip, I could feel Tom’s eyes on me. Was he checking me out? I couldn’t be sure.

Just as I put the cup down, Tom hit me with the question that he was probably dying to ask, because despite me being dry and safe under a roof now, he still looked incredibly worried,

“Why were you out there in that weather, Katerina?”

I bit my lower lip again, and began fiddling with my fingers in my lap. 

“Katerina?” He raised an expectant eyebrow.

I lifted my left hand, began nibbling at my thumbnail as I debated whether or not to lie or to tell him the truth. 

Tom sighed, “Katerina,” and he reached over, grabbing my left hand from my mouth. I could only watch him now, wide-eyed as he said,

“Katerina, darling, I know we haven’t known each other for very long, but I want you to understand that you can trust me. I mean, apart from your grandfather living here and your parents supporting your decision to come here…I know little to nothing about you.”

“That’s not true.” I blurted out at last. My mind was screaming not to tell the truth, but my heart made me blurt it out. That look in Tom’s eyes stirred the truth within me. I couldn’t lie anymore.

Tom took his hand away from mine, raised an eyebrow in confusion as he sat back, “What are you talking about?”

I took a shuddering breath. I knew he wasn’t going to be happy with what I was about to tell him, but nevertheless I continued,

“My grandfather doesn’t live here. He’s…he’s in Florida. My parents are in New Jersey, wondering where I am after I wrote them a letter before coming here. They—they didn’t want me to be an actress. You see…they wanted me to be a lawyer, and work in my father’s law firm. For years they set up a life plan for me…I never—I never wanted it.

“So when I turned twenty-four I dropped out of law school. I started working instead, telling my parents I was going to school when in reality I was working in an office during the day and a diner at night. I saved up cash and I ended up here. The only one who really supports me is my Grandfather. He doesn’t know I’m running out of cash to stay in hotels…I…I wanted to go on my own, to live my life, because my parents never let me.”

I didn’t realize I was crying until my vision blurred and my voice cracked,

“I wanted to follow my dreams, Tom, but I…I’ve never been more scared in my life. My parents will be furious, and I know I’ve disappointed them. I can’t keep relying on my grandpa to help me, he’s in Florida enjoying his retirement. But I can’t survive on my own. I’m so scared. This city feels like a circular hole and I’m a square peg. I just feel like this place is too big for me. But I don’t want to just give up and run back home. Because I want to be happy, but I’m so scared.” I wiped my eyes with his sleeve, and instantly felt guilty for doing so, “Now you know about me, Tom. Katerina McAllister—a big, fat, lying coward.”

“No,” Tom’s voice was soft as he leaned in again, gently grasping both my hands and making me look into his eyes. I swallowed the lump in my throat as he replied firmly,

“No, Katerina. You’re not a coward. Not at all. Do you want to know why I think that?”

I nodded, more tears falling down my cheeks.

Tom reached up, wiped my tears away, and continued,

“I think you’re very brave to stand up for yourself and make it this far on your own. Your parents will eventually forgive you, and they will always love you and be proud of you. But you can’t keep going like this, love. You can’t keep living in the streets, trying to disappear. I can’t even begin to imagine what might have happened to you had I not found you tonight.”

I sniffled. I knew he was right. I couldn’t keep living in alleyways and twenty-four hour diners. I would have to call my grandfather in the morning, whether I liked it or not. I sighed and nodded again to show him I understood.

Tom smiled, and I nearly fainted yet again, “You’re more than welcome to stay with me as long as you wish until you find a place to live.”

I widened my eyes, “T—Tom, I couldn’t—!”

“—you can, darling. And you will. I’m not leaving you to fend for yourself in the streets. I won’t take no for an answer.”

I giggled at his teasing jab, and nodded, “Thank you so much.” I had never been more grateful to someone. And Tom was being so wonderful. My heart leapt when he leaned in a bit further, planting a gentle kiss on my forehead. I liked the feeling of Tom kissing me a bit too much. Just as he was pulling away, I stupidly blurted out,

“Tom?”

“Yes, darling?”

“…Will you kiss me again?” 

He grew curious now, uncertain, but he leaned forward, slowly kissed my forehead again. I pulled my hands from his, grabbed his face, and lifted mine up so my lips met his. My mind was screaming as I parted my lips just a little. Katerina Anne McAllister, what the hell do you think you’re doing?!?!?! You can’t just kiss your co-star like that!!! It’s wrong!

I didn’t know what surprised me more at that moment: the fact that I had been brazen enough to plant one on my friend and co-star, or the fact that he was kissing me back, letting out a small moan that I thought was incredibly sexy. I took it that he didn’t want me to stop, so I continued, getting up on my knees and wrapping my arms around his neck. Sweet Mother Mary, what the hell was I doing?! 

Any doubts in my mind flew out the window when Tom’s arms wrapped around my waist, pulling me closer, and his hands ran down my back, clinging to the fabric of the shirt he’d lent me. My lips parted more and I searched for his tongue with mine. He moaned again as we continued kissing without breaking to breathe, our tongues dancing. There was a fire growing once again inside of me, and if we continued kissing like this I knew the only way to douse the fire would involve him taking me to bed. 

Just as my hands began to wander to his chest, I felt Tom pull away suddenly, and he lowered his gaze to the floor, his expression unreadable. I felt horribly stupid and rejected as I bit my lip and pulled away from his body, already missing his touch. I swallowed and whispered,

“Tom? What’s wrong?”

Tom shook his head, looked up at me, and said seriously, “I don’t think this…” he gestured to himself and to me, “…is a very good idea right now.”

“Why not?” I asked, feeling a bit hurt as he turned his back to me.

When Tom didn’t answer right away, idiot me asked, “You don’t…like me?”

He turned back to me just as quickly as he’d pulled away, “No, Katerina. I do like you. I like you very much.”

“Then why did you stop?” I whispered.

Tom sighed, ran a hand through his hair, “Katerina, it’s just not…not a good time. You’re in my shirt—you look damn bloody attractive, but—you’re vulnerable right now, and I’m….” he paused, shook his head, and concluded, “…I can’t take advantage of you like that…it’s just not a good time right now. I’m sorry.”

Maybe I’d thrown myself at him too much? I nodded though, replying, “Okay.”

He rested his hands on my shoulders and said, “It’s getting late, and we have rehearsal tomorrow. You can sleep in the bedroom, get some rest and I’ll sleep on the couch.”

A part of me wanted to ask why we couldn’t share the bed. I knew better though, and instead I replied,

“Okay.”

~*~

Dr. Sommers was nodding when I concluded my story. “Did you want to explore a physical relationship with Tom that night, Katerina?”

I sighed and nodded, “Yes, Doctor. I’d never wanted anyone so much in my life at the time.”

Dr. Sommers checked the clock, and sighed sadly, “Your appointment is done. Same time tomorrow?”

“Yes,” I nodded, getting up and putting on my jacket.

“Tomorrow, I wish for us to explore when you and Tom first became physical. You said that was when your emotions became unstable. Are you all right with that?”

I froze. Shame already began flooding me. However, I nodded again, quickly saying good afternoon and leaving the office. A part of me was now dreading tomorrow.

Now we were getting to the difficult part.