Myka found HG in the little library of the B&B when she returned from the Warehouse. The room was dimly lit by a warm yellow bulb from the lamp next to the overstuffed couch. HG sat on the couch, dressed in jeans and a loose blue collared shirt. She looked up from her book only when Myka came to stand directly in front of her.
"Did you have a good day at work, darling?" HG asked, smiling inquisitively. Myka didn't return the gesture– she just sat down next to HG on the couch and took a deep breath. Her eyes were troubled.
"Helena, I came here to do something and I need you to not talk until I do it because I'm this close to loosing my nerve."
HG nodded, holding back her questions. She watched Myka take another deep breath and fix her gaze to the floor while trying to still her shaking hands. At last, she looked into HG's eyes.
"I came here to ask you to kiss me."
HG set her book down on the table next to the couch and fixed Myka with a serious stare. "You're quite sure, Myka?"
"Just do it, Helena." The words came so forcefully from Myka's mouth that HG dared not delay any longer. In an instant her hands rested on Myka's face and neck, and she brought their lips together in a deep but gentle kiss. Myka was at first stiff, but slowly she began to respond to HG's touch. When they broke apart, HG's hands cradled Myka's face.
"I thought you would never ask, darling," she said softly. Myka remained quiet, her head bowed and her breathing deep.
"Are you alright?" HG asked, tipping Myka's chin up and making eye contact.
"I'm incredible," Myka answered breathlessly after a moment. "You're incredible."
HG just smiled in response, caressing Myka's hair and face. "That's certainly lovely to hear… But I want to know what you feel, Myka."
Myka was silent, but her eyes roved over the planes of HG's face. She seemed to drink her in, memorizing every detail of the moment before she finally spoke with a voice shaking in a mixture of terror and passion.
"I want you, Helena," Myka whispered. "I'm just sorry it took me this long to figure it out."
"But darling," HG said, moving her face so close to Myka's that she could feel her breath hot on her neck, "we have all the time in the world."
"Can I kiss you again?" Myka's voice was scarcely audible. HG exhaled, stroking the back of Myka's hand.
"I think I shall go mad if you don't," she answered. As soon as the words were out of her mouth, Myka's lips were once again on Helena's. The kiss was short and almost innocent, but it left both women with butterflies.
Nothing had felt so right in a very long time.
"What do we tell the others, then?" Myka asked nervously. She and Helena were lying face-to-face on Helena's bed.
"Well, why should we have to tell them a thing?" Helena answered in response. "It could be our secret."
Myka laughed. "I have to admit that I like that idea. It seems so much easier." She sighed and stroked Helena's jaw. "I think I'm still kind of adjusting to this. It's unbelievable."
"What's unbelievable about it, darling?" HG asked, nestling closer to Myka on the bed. Myka's eyes roved over Helena's face, and her fingers traced every detail of Helena's delicate features.
"It's unbelievable that it's really happening," she said in wonder. "I can't believe that you didn't reject me, that I'm allowed to touch you and kiss you…" She brought their lips together once more for emphasis before breaking away with an awestruck sigh. "How is it possible that you picked me?"
"Myka…" Helena smiled, bewildered. "You musn't underestimate yourself. I honestly cannot imagine a way I could have resisted you. Especially when you sauntered up to me so authoritatively, demanding to be kissed. You were positively adorable."
Myka blushed with a combination of embarrassment and pride. HG laughed, pulling Myka closer by the waist so their bodies were flush against each other.
"You are so lovely," she whispered next to Myka's ear, a faraway smile on her face. Helena snaked her arm up Myka's back until her hand came to rest in the beautiful curls she loved so much. "From the moment I saw you, I had such a great desire for you… Please believe me when I say that I am truly the lucky one to have been chosen by you."
They allowed silence to envelop them, content with simply existing together. The minutes passed unnoticed as the sunlight waned and night took over. By the time Leena called everyone down for dinner, Myka and Helena were blissfully asleep in each other's arms.
