Chapter Text
Fina's heart hammered in her chest, ripping her from her daydream. All afternoon she had been distracted. Thankfully it was a slow day in the shop and Claudia was there to help manage customers because she kept getting a rush of adrenaline whenever she thought about spending the night in Madrid with Marta. It felt like an eternity since they had been alone together.
The last time they recklessly flirted they were almost caught so it seemed normal enough that Marta had been absent for the past week, but it had left Fina a little unnerved.
Though it pained her terribly, she had forced herself to stop entertaining the idea of a future with Marta just a short time ago. She hadn't been able to imagine a world either of them would have been satisfied with.
Had she set her expectations too high when Marta told her about her agreement with Jamie? Was all of this going to slip away into secrets and shadows? She had been harboring so many mixed emotions the past few month that landing on happiness felt precarious--naive even.
Still, Fina couldn’t help but feel intoxicated by the idea of sharing a bed with Marta, away from prying eyes and the constant buzz of the colony.
Her mind began to wander again. She was going to be able to kiss Marta unabashedly...unzip the back of her dress and draw constellations with her freckles...graze her lips on the soft valley between her hipbones...
A warm blush crept up her neck, blooming on her cheeks as she looked around the store to make sure she hadn’t given herself away. There was nowhere to hide. God, she hated that they had to hide. She shook her head trying to brush aside the sinking feeling in her stomach. She was going to be with Marta tonight and for now that’s all that mattered.
***
As soon as she could, Fina closed up the shop. She and Claudia walked back to the room together gossiping about a particular customer from the afternoon who wanted a full make over but kept taking the makeup out of Fina’s hand to do it herself.
“So, what are you doing tonight?” Claudia asked, starting to change out of her uniform.
Fina swiveled away to grab a small suitcase.
"I think I’ll visit my dad, maybe sleep there actually.”
She could have just said she was going to Madrid to look at displays like she always did, but she had a creeping feeling that Claudia was getting vaguely suspicious. She knew it was probably all in her head, but it was too late to change her story now.
Fina glanced up. Claudia had stopped mid skirt swap and was standing in her slip staring at her
“Is everything okay? He’s not sick again is he?”
She could see the concern on Claudia’s face and started to regret her choices.
“No, no,” Fina waved her hand, “nothing like that. I’m just really glad he’s doing okay and don’t want to take that for granted."
She was overwhelmingly grateful that her father was feeling better so padding the lie with the truth felt slightly more tolerable.
For good measure she added, “In the morning I’m going with Doña Marta to Madrid to get ideas for the store."
The mental gymnastics it took to love someone in secret was truly a burden. How much energy is wasted burying joy?
Fina flattened her skirt and kept packing. “You’ll be with Marta soon. You’ll be with Marta soon. You’ll be with Marta soon,” she repeated it over and over in her head like a mantra.
The warmth she had most of the afternoon started to spread through her again, calming her nerves, but she could hardly wait to be in Marta's arms.
***
Fina had barely stepped outside when the De la Reina’s car pulled up. She ducked her head to look in the backseat for Marta, but found it completely empty.
Shaking her head in confusion, she straightened back up, but before she had time to fully process, the driver door opened and Marta stepped out--as flawless and elegant as ever.
Under her black coat she wore a knee length, midnight blue dress with black velvet trim. The neckline dipped below her collar bones revealing just enough skin to take Fina's breath away.
She hadn’t seen the dress before and it caught her off guard. How could someone be so dazzling? It made her light headed and almost forget she was also surprised that Marta was the one driving.
Marta's deep ocean blue eyes met her wandering gaze and Fina blushed, realizing her mouth had dropped open as she tried to settle the yearning pull in her stomach.
Marta smirked, motioning to the car.
“Your chariot awaits you, my Queen."
She was grinning from ear to ear trying not to laugh at herself, but the sincerity in her eyes made Fina swoon. She loved when Marta let her guard down, even the littlest bit, and Fina could tell that she was excited to be driving them to Madrid. They were going to be truly alone. Together. Finally.
“Wow, Doña Marta look at you!” Fina teased--though it did very much turn her on to have Marta driving them to their not-so-secret apartment for the first time.
"Fina," Marta whispered, her voice laced with playful scolding, "you know I hate when you call me that."
She opened the car door, lightly spanking Fina as she placed her suitcase on the backseat.
Fina swallowed her blush and looked around to make sure no one had seen, but it was dark and they were alone.
“Well, you are la reina, no?” she joked, throwing a coy glance over her shoulder.
Marta rolled her eyes, but the smile stayed on her face.
Fina sauntered around to the passenger side of the car and felt the butterflies in her stomach kick up as Marta slid into the driver seat next to her. She laid her hand on the space between them, palm up, expectantly. Marta didn't wait to weave their fingers together, squeezing gently to grab Fina's attention.
“Ready?” Marta smiled, eyes twinkling before softening to match Fina’s.
Fina's heart fluttered then settled into a steady rhythm as she kissed the back of Marta's hand. “Always have been, my love.”