AN - I am back... kind of. Basically uni is being a time h00r and doesn't want to let me have time to do things I want to do. Nightswimming as you may have guessed is on hiatus until holidays when hopefully I will be able to write some more on it.
This story is dedicated to chartreuseian, to whom I lost a bet based on this same leadership challenege as the story. She has been remarkably patient (kind of - only the occasional death threat) waiting for this. All my love to her.
Most of this story is written and as such I hope to bring you weekly updates to make up for my horrible absence with the others. Forgive me? *hands out chocolate*
It was nearly 10am on a Thursday and Helen had a cup of tea in her hand, leg tucked under her and a cushion pulled close to her chest with her other leg bent so her head could rest on her knee. She knew from an outside perspective it wouldn't look comfortable, but Lord all mighty, she was sure she'd never been more comfortable in her life. She supposed that was part of the reason that when Nikola sauntered into the home theatre room, grimacing at the channel she was watching, and sat down a little too close to her she didn't move. It had been close to six months since that kiss and neither of them had spoken about it. They'd fallen back into a routine that neither of them wanted but neither of them had the courage to break.
She could almost count down the seconds and as she hit one, Nikola spoke. "What on earth are you watching? And how is this worth telling the entire staff that you're taking a lax day?"
"I was somewhat hoping my lax day would be without you. It's not like I'm needed every day now that the New Sanctuary is running smoothly… but seeing as you're here… this is Kevin Rudd."
Nikola turned to look at her as though she'd gone absolutely insane. She'd always been a little bit nuts but… "Who?"
Helen sighed. "Really Nikola, please leave me alone to watch the drama that is the Australian Labor Party in peace."
Nikola couldn't suppress a laugh as he finally figured out what she was watching. "Helen, love. Why on earth are you watching a speech from… who?"
"Oh for… The man pictured in the corner is Kevin Rudd, Foreign Affairs Minister for Australia. Well, ex Foreign Affairs… he just announced he was stepping down."
Nikola shook his head. Nothing she was saying was making the situation any clearer to him. Call him crazy, but he'd never had any interest in politics, so it was a stretch that he'd know anything about Australian politics. "Okay, so Kev here has stepped down. Why is that of international interest?"
Helen put her legs down and went to stand. "I'm sure it's not. It's of personal interest. Since I'm not going to be able to actually watch this here, I'm going to my room. I'm going to lock the door. I have my gun. Don't even think about it," she said before he could finish the thought of simply breaking into her room.
"I'm not being deliberately obtuse. Well, a little bit. But I really just want to know what's happening." Nikola reached out a hand to hold her down by her leg before thinking better and placing it one her shoulder instead. Helen sat back against the couch, entirely unsure why she didn't flinch away when Nikola moved his arm to lie over her shoulders, holding her against him as they watched the large screen.
"In recent days, Minister Crean and a number of other faceless men have publicly attacked my integrity…"
"Why do they hate him?" Nikola asked curiously, his interest starting to peak.
Helen found herself smiling at how domestic the current situation was, needing to remind herself that he was nothing but her best friend. She was trying to very hard to focus on the speech rather than his distracting proximity and the fact she was almost positive that she could see a bulge in his pants out of the corner of her eye. "He lost office as Prime Minister after the current Prime Minister challenged his leadership. That was over a year ago now, and the Caucus dislike Rudd. Personally I like him."
"You've met him?" Nikola asked incredulously.
"Nikola. I ran a global Sanctuary network when he was Prime Minister. Of course I've met him. I've also met her," Helen said as she nodded toward the TV.
A redheaded woman appeared on the screen. "For far too long we have seen squabbling within the Labor Party."
"That voice, it's so… grating…" Nikola shivered dramatically and Helen fought back a small laugh.
"That is the Australian Prime Minister."
"Oh wow, does she have Uluru stuck to her behind?" he twisted his head to see if he could get a better angle of the image.
Helen lifted her leg, trying to kick him in the stomach, the awkward position let her down and Nikola grabbed her ankles, spinning her body so that her legs now lay over his lap. Her calf brushed over the aforementioned bulge and Helen couldn't hold in a small gasp. A shiver of arousal ran through her as she desperately tried to keep her attention on the television.
Nikola smirked at her. "You're not the only one who can brandish a weapon, Helen." Helen tensed, knowing she should slap him and walk away, but a small yet surprisingly strong part of her betrayed her better sense and she shuffled closer to him, her leg deliberately resting on top of it. "Would you like to inspect?" Nikola's voice has dropped dangerously low, and Helen could see he was struggling to keep control.
"I am an expert at personal weapons…" she murmured, all previous thoughts about politics out the window.
Nikola's eyes darkened and Helen let out a small squeak as he grabbed hips, landing her straddling his lap. She couldn't bring herself to consider the consequences as his lips crushed against hers, her fingers tangled through his untamed hair, and she rocked against him trying to create some form of friction through their garments. As her hands made their way to undo his shirt, a knock on the door brought her to her senses. She vaulted off Nikola, shooting him a quick glare before walking to the door.
"Sorry, Magnus. I know you said to not disturb you but…"
"Is it an emergency?" Nikola shot coolly from the couch, ready to kill his favourite of the children as Henry talked.
"Well, no. But I do need permission to use the business credit account…"
"You disturbed her for that?" Nikola knew he was being harsh, but he was now sitting here, left with a problem he knew that Helen wasn't going to help him with now they'd been interrupted. She so rarely lost control of herself… He'd have to formulate a new plan. Not to say that's all he wanted from her. It'd be a good start though.
"Nikola, shut up before I shoot you," Helen snapped.
Henry looked between the two nervously, unsure exactly what he'd interrupted but Magnus looked truly ready to shot him. He had only seen that look on her twice despite how often she threatened it. When he'd turned the trust fund kids into baby vampires, and when he'd joined SCIU. Both of those equated to possible friendship ending situations and yet he was more terrified of Magnus now than either of those times.
"Um… it can wait. We need new stationary."
"Ignore Tesla; he's being an utter bastard today."
"Last name basis, excellent," Nikola muttered under his breath as he stood.
Helen rolled her eyes. "Write me a list. I'll go to the surface and buy it myself. I could use some time away from here."
A small piece of Nikola filled with hope as he noticed her heart rate increased as she looked at him. Her eyes were still filled with lust.
"Sure… I'll um… Gimme two minutes." Henry glanced between the two of them confused before turning and making his way from the room.
Helen and Nikola stood silently, anger and lust filling the air between them.
"Helen…" Nikola started. He didn't know what he wanted to say but the way her hand was resting on her gun was disconcerting.
"I hate you," she said angrily. "Why would you do that?"
Nikola scoffed. "Yeah, that was all me," sarcasm filled his voice as a fresh anger began to surface.
Helen shook her head in exasperation. "Don't even think about kissing me again. I know I can't kill you with this, but I take a whole lot of pleasure in shooting you."
Nikola grimaced. "Too late." Helen removed her gun from the holster, flicked safety off and aimed at Nikola's chest but before she could pull the trigger he spoke again. "Wait, I have an idea. A bet, of sorts."
Helen narrowed her eyes, finger still on the trigger.
"Before you get all trigger happy," he smirked at the underlying sexual tone to his comment, "how about we make a deal. A little bet on this silly little political thing you're so interested in."
Helen lowered the gun slightly, curious to hear his proposal but still oh so ready to shoot him. "Continue…"
"Well. Since annoying voice woman has opened up the leadership for challenge, and Kev has accepted. I say we bet on it. I think annoying voice will win, and if I'm right… I get free reign over your body for 24 hours. It's not like it's not something we don't both want," he paused daring her to deny it.
She didn't, instead saying "And if you're wrong. If Kevin Rudd wins… what do I get?"
"Free reign over my body?"
"I get to shoot you as many times as I want in 24 hours?" Helen couldn't help but grin at her accidental double meaning. She knew she shouldn't be thinking about it but… oh gosh she wanted him.
Nikola smirked. "Oh Helen, you're so dirty."
"You have no idea…" she muttered before nodding. "Fine, deal.
Nikola grinned like the Cheshire cat. "So, we're going stationary shopping?"
Helen rolled her eyes, knowing there was no point in trying to go without him. He was in one of his "Annoy Helen as much as possible" moods.
AN - So... what do you think so far? Drop me a line! LOVES. xx
