Pulling into the coffee shop Myka told me about, I was nervous. While I didn't believe she would ambush me, I was still cautious. When I saw her leaning against her car, I smiled inwardly. Parking, I got out and was greeted with a wide smile. "Hey."
"Hello darling. How are you?" I couldn't help but look the curly haired agent over. She wore a pair of tight jeans and a button down dress shirt un-tucked. "Dressing casually for once in your life?"
"Well, it is my day off, so yes. And don't worry. No one will bother us unless it's short of the world ending. Everyone knows that if I go out of town it means don't bother me under any circumstances. And, Claudia is keeping Pete occupied if anything does come up."
My brow rose. "So she knows you're sneaking around with me?"
"I'm not sneaking around with you." A slight blush graced Myka's cheeks.
"Well, technically you are. We're just not sleeping together." The coy grin I had made her cheeks turn redder. "Let's get some coffee."
"Yes. Let's." Myka followed me inside and was greeted quickly.
"Hello Myka. It's been awhile." The young barista was happy to see her. "Your regular, I suppose?"
"Yes, please. And whatever my friend wants." Myka took a seat in a corner table as I ordered.
"So, you come here often?" I took a seat in the empty chair across from the younger woman.
"Mostly on my days off. I come here when I want to be left alone."
"It's your secret hideout?" I leaned on my elbows and studied the woman before me. Myka seemed so relaxed even though she was breaking a vast amount of rules.
"Of sorts, yes." The young man brought our drinks and we thanked him. "So, your grappler is under my bed. I couldn't very well give it to Artie. He'd want to keep it in the H.G. Wells section."
My head tilted slightly. "Why would you not want it to be in the warehouse?"
"It's special to you. If it was in the warehouse, it would just collect dust. And, to be honest, I kind of want to use it eventually."
I couldn't help but chuckle. "You'd be scared for your life."
"Tue." Myka sipped her coffee. "Will you teach me?"
I smiled softly. "Of course. What else do you do on your days off?" I was genuinely curious.
"There's a bookstore a few miles away. Would you be interested in joining me? They have an entire section dedicated to you." The young agent wiggled her eyebrows.
"Now who's flirting with whom?" My eyes narrowed causing another blush. She does that a lot around me. "But yes, I would enjoy seeing a whole section dedicated to my brilliance. Although, I'm sure your bookshelf is better."
"Oh it is." Myka paused and noticed my grin. "Oh shut up."
Once we finished our coffee, I rode with her to the bookstore. "Ah, Griffin. My favorite invisible customer. How are you?" Myka must be liked by everyone she meets; unless she's arresting them. "And you brought your girlfriend? She must be very important if you brought her here."
Myka's cheeks turned red once more. "She's not my girlfriend." Clearing her throat, Myka continued. "But yeah…" The younger woman rubbed the back of her neck. She tried desperately to not look in my direction.
"Oh, I'm sorry. My mistake." He smiled apologetically. "I have that first edition copy of The Time Machine for you." The older man reached under the counter. Myka stole a glance towards me. All I could do was grin. "I'll keep it up here until you're ready to go."
"Thanks."
I followed the brunette with a pep in my step. "Griffin, huh? And you tracked down a first edition copy of my book? I'm quite flattered."
"I had forgotten about that. Otherwise, I wouldn't have brought you here. Your ego is big enough." Myka smirked. "And the Griffin comment is a joke."
"From The Invisible Man, I know." Myka turned a corner. "Oh come now. As he said, I'm special to you." I paused, "Why does he think you're interested in women?"
"Because I've never brought a guy here. Although, that doesn't really answer the question either since I've never brought anyone here." Myka's brow creased.
"Well, either way, I'm still flattered." I let my fingertips glide across the leather bound spines. I could feel Myka's eyes lingering on my hand. "You're battling with yourself again."
"Will you stop that?" The brunette huffed and walked to a different isle.
"Stop what?" I pulled out a book to look through the shelf.
"Stop psychoanalyzing me. I'm not thinking about us as a couple even though we've..." Myka stopped herself and looked at me. Her green eyes were vulnerable.
A soft smile tugged at my lips. "Is that what you want?" That warmth filled my chest again at the thought.
Biting her bottom lip, she thought. "I…I don't know." Myka's voice was small. "And don't say, "I don't know" means that you do know you just don't want to answer the question."
"I wasn't going to."
Myka sighed and rejoined me. "Honestly, I don't know. While yes, I like you and it's more than hero worship, it goes against what I should do." She ran a frustrated hand through her curly hair. "I should turn you into the Regents but I don't want to. You wanted to be bronzed because of your daughter. You were grief stricken. I can't blame you for that. You're brilliant and I believe you're a good person. You saved me and Claudia when you didn't have to."
"What does your gut say? Not taking into consideration your logic."
Myka looked at me a moment before quickly lacing her fingers in my hair and crashing her lips against mine. I couldn't help but reciprocate the kiss. The younger woman put so much passion into each kiss that it couldn't be ignored. A small moan escaped her lips as I pulled us together. Breaking for air, Myka let her forehead rest against mine. "That's what my gut is telling me."
"Being completely honest with you darling, I've never been kissed like that before. And that says something since many people fancied me." My voice was breathless and my thoughts were foggy.
"Please never bring up your past lovers. It's quite a turn off." Myka kept her hands on my neck and I left mine on her hips.
"I won't. But I never realize you felt that way about me. I had a feeling you enjoyed my company but…"
A chuckle escaped the younger woman's throat. "Really? Even after we had phone sex?"
"Point taken. Especially, since you're not the type for just phone sex." Myka leaned back enough to look me in the eyes. "I overheard you and Claudia talking."
"How often do you stalk me?" She couldn't help but laugh as she took a step back.
"It's become a rather entertaining past time of mine. But not often."
Shaking her head, Myka pulled a book from the shelf. "Let's get out of here before I buy more than two books. I still have a stack of them to read at the B&B."
As we checked out, the man smiled knowingly. "Not your girlfriend, huh? Oh yes, I kiss all of my female friends like that." Myka's face turned red. "It's fine. It is the 21st century after all. People are more open about that sort of thing. All that matters is that you're happy."
"Thanks Matt." We drove in silence. I wasn't quite sure where Myka was taking us but I trusted her. That kiss. My body has never reacted to a kiss like that before. And what's this warmth in my chest every time she looks at me a certain way? I have the feeling she's falling for me but am I for her? I can't let that happen. Not if I'm going to go through with my plans for this wrenched world. "You alright?" Myka's voice cut through my thoughts.
Looking over, I smiled. "Yes, I'm fine. I just wanted to give you time to think in peace." I shifted in the seat. "Where are you taking us?"
"To grab a bite to eat. I haven't eaten since breakfast and I'm sure you're sick of hotel food."
"Yes, quite sick of it." I paused, "What have you concluded?"
"I'm about 80/20 about the idea of an 'us'. Eighty being the for."
"The twenty being because I'm deemed as the bad guy that you're supposed to turn in?"
"Something like that." Myka pulled into a small diner. "This place has the best cheeseburgers." I couldn't help but smirk. "Yes, I eat unhealthy on occasion. I am human after all."
"Oh and I'm not?" I closed the car door and started towards the diner.
"It's debatable." Myka grinned as she held the door open. We took a seat in the back and waited. "What American dishes have you had?"
Glancing over the menu, I answered. "Well, I've had a cheeseburger and grilled cheese before but I want to try something new. What's this barbeque platter?"
"It's pretty good. The barbeque sauce they use is delicious. You might like it."
"Since our tastes are similar, I'll take your word for it." The waitress came to take our orders. Myka ordered a bacon cheese burger while I ordered the platter. The woman smiled and walked away. "Do you always come here after the coffee shop and bookstore?"
"Most of the time, yes. After this, I normally go to the park and read. It's a nice five hour break from reality."
"That gives us about three hours left then? What would you like to do?"
Myka thought a moment. "Maybe go somewhere private to talk?"
"That sounds nice." As we ate, we talked about 19th century literature. It was nice having an intellectual conversation with someone for once. I told Myka about my teacher at warehouse 12 and how he was a lot like Claudia. She hung onto every word I said.
Xxx
"Wow, Myka Bering breaking into an abandoned, what did you call this place? A roller-skating rink I believe?"
"Yes, I'm not sure if there are any skates left but it's a private place to talk. I doubt you'd want to take me back to your hotel room since…" Myka paused. "Oh wipe that smug look off your face. I meant so you don't run the risk of someone finding out where you're staying."
"Mmhmm I'm sure that's the reason." Acting before I could stop myself, I wrapped my arms around Myka from behind and let my chin rest on her shoulder. "I think you just don't want to see exactly where I was when we talked on the phone." My voice dipped into a seductive purr as I whispered in the young agent's ear. I quite enjoyed the shiver that coursed through her body and the whimper she tried to hide.
"How do you do that?" Myka's head tilted to the side begging me to kiss her neck.
"Do what darling?" My lips brushed the warm skin as I spoke.
"Make my body react in ways it's never done before." Myka shivered as I ghosted my lips over her pulse point.
"Are you sure you want this, Myka?" I whispered in the woman's ear and gained a whimper.
"Yes…" Myka drew out the word and I placed a soft kiss below her ear. A throaty groan erupted as I took an earlobe between my teeth. The young woman sighed as I trailed featherlike kisses down her neck. Myka turned in my arms and met my gaze. Her eyes were dark with passion that ignited a fire deep in the pit of my stomach. "There's a couch in the other room. I want you to take me." That was all she needed to say. Crashing my lips against hers, I walked us to the other room. Clothes were shed quickly and I kissed each newly exposed inch of skin. Myka tasted sweet with a citrusy smell of the body wash she used.
"You can touch me, I won't break." My voice was husky in the younger woman's ear as I made myself comfortable on top of her. Myka set my skin on fire with each light brush of her fingertips. I craved more from the woman beneath me but I knew this was unchartered territory. Each little moan and gasp excited me knowing she had never felt this before. I wanted to make this memorable for the young agent. I wanted to make sure she never forgot about this day.
We redressed in a comfortable silence. This wasn't the way I planned today going but I'm not ashamed of it. I need to figure out something to do for Myka. Something romantic. What am I saying? I can't get too involved with her. My plans. Stay focused, Helena. "Are you alright darling?"
"Yeah. I'm good." Myka finished buttoning her shirt. I was careful not to leave any marks that couldn't be covered by clothing. "You? I hope you won't be sore because of that uncomfortable couch."
"I'll be fine darling. I might be over a hundred and forty years old but my body was bronzed when I was in my thirties. So, I feel as old as you would think."
Myka smiled as she wrapped her arms around my neck. "This wasn't how I had today planned. I had no intension of making love to you. But," her eyes drifted to my lips a moment. "I don't regret it by any means."
I smiled and kissed Myka quickly. "Neither do I. But, I believe you need to get back soon. Otherwise they might come looking for you."
"Yes, I better." Myka drove us back to the coffee shop in silence. Before I got out, she locked the doors. "Helena," I turned towards the brunette slightly worried. She wouldn't. Not now. "Sorry. I didn't mean to frighten you. I just," Myka's voice trailed off. "Thank you for coming with me today."
"You're welcome." Leaning forward, I placed a gentle kiss on the younger woman's lips. Before it progressed too far, I moved away and cleared my throat. "You better go. We'll talk on your run tomorrow."