Chapter Eleven
Myka awoke to the glow of the rising sun, urging from beyond her eyelids. She was greeted again by the scent of apples and the soft snoring that came from her partner. Her face was nestled into Helena's hair and her arm was still draped over her waist. She let herself revel in the comfort of Helena's body, eyes still closed, feeling that there was no space between them except for the barrier caused by their clothing.
Helena stirred in her sleep and pulled Myka's arm close up under her chin. Feeling a strong desire to see her partner in such a position, Myka finally opened her eyes. The light from the sun was already blinding as it reflected off the bright white of the snow and illuminated her partner. How she was sleeping through this much light, Myka did not know, but she was glad to have another chance at watching the smaller woman under the thrall of sleep.
Myka shifted her weight to relieve the pressure of her shoulder against the hard floor. Helena stirred again, but this time it was enough to wake her. Her head tilted more into Myka's space as she let out a yawn. Myka felt gloved fingers as they stroked over the exposed skin on her wrist and she couldn't even try to hold back the smile on her face.
Myka missed the direct warmth against her as Helena turned over, but it was worth it to see her partner's sleepy expression of contentedness. They faced each other, still closely snuggled under the protection of the space blanket.
Helena reached out to adjust a stray curl of hair and Myka felt the lingering graze of fingertips as that hand came to a rest on her cheek. She instinctively leaned into the touch and her eyes fluttered shut. Her own hand twitched, arm still draped lazily over Helena's small waist. She wanted to reach up to run her fingers through the silky strands of raven hair and pull Helena in for a kiss.
Myka opened her eyes to find Helena studying her. It was as if the artificer was reading straight through her thoughts and it left Myka feeling vulnerable.
"You don't need to be afraid," Helena whispered, not pushing for anything more, but not backing off either.
Myka exhaled softly to calm her nerves. She started to withdraw her arm from its position over Helena's waist and slipped her hand slightly higher up her torso. She leaned forward, letting her forehead rest against Helena's.
"Everything about the way you make me feel is terrifying," she muttered, not meeting Helena's eyes.
"Darling, I'm not always as fearless as I may seem about you," the smaller woman confessed.
Myka glanced up to meet her partner's eyes, "well then you hide it a lot better than I do."
"I was born in a time when a woman with my skills and proclivities had to keep herself hidden because it was not proper. When one does it for long enough, it comes second nature. I don't consciously hide any part of myself from you, Myka, and I can assure you that I will continue working toward being as transparent as possible for you," she finished with candor.
Myka didn't need to hear another word. She pulled back long enough to look Helena in the eyes and slowly leaned forward again until their lips connected. The kiss was soft and sweet, but short lived as Myka retracted to see her partner's response. Helena's eyes were closed and her lips were slightly parted.
Feeling bold, Myka slid her hand up Helena's back while grabbing her other hand onto her coat and pulling her in close; pressing their lips together again with more force. Helena gasped at the contact and Myka took the other woman's bottom lip between her own. She was spurred on as Helena's hand slipped behind her head and grasped at the curly locks. She grazed her teeth over the Brit's lip, applying just enough pressure to elicit a small moan from the artificer.
"Darling," Helena barely forced out, "I'm not going to take you out here in the woods. As romantic as that may seem, we'll both be worse for wear if I have my way with you on this rigid surface."
Myka's insides lurched at Helena's forward statement. She wasn't sure if she cared about the possibility of some scrapes and bruises. She had been curious about this from the first moment she laid eyes on Helena; hair pulled up, loose tendrils hanging down to frame her face. She was snarky and brilliant, and yeah, a bit evil at the time, but Myka was drawn to her regardless. Now, after all they've been through, they were finally sharing the intimate touches that Myka so desperately wanted.
"Please," she breathed into another kiss. Her body yearned to feel Helena's skin against every part of her.
"I can't...think straight...with your lips...on mine," she managed through Myka's assault on her lips.
"Then don't think. Just kiss me."
Myka saw the flare of desire in Helena's eyes as she swiftly did exactly that and maneuvered the taller woman onto her back. Myka was abruptly reminded of how hard the floor was when her elbow slammed into it.
"Ow ow ow," Myka groaned.
"I'm so sorry! I knew this was going to happen. I really didn't want you to get hurt!"
Myka laughed at Helena's excessive concern. "It was just a little bump, I'll be fine," she assured with a soft kiss, "but I guess you're right. I don't think we'll have enough control over ourselves to do this safely."
Helena's eyebrows perked up as she settled her weight on Myka. "Admitting that you are going to lose control over yourself? I may have created a monster out of you."
Myka laughed because she couldn't even disagree. What is this woman doing to me, she wondered.
Myka didn't want their closeness to cease, but like a broken record, she once again told Helena that they ought to get back to the road to continue their trek.
"Of course, darling," Helena agreed, as usual. "It is rather cozy in here with this brilliantly constructed space blanket, but I still think I'd much prefer to get moving. The sooner we arrive back at the cabin, the sooner I can ravish you," she added with a smirk and a slight wiggle on Myka's body.
After a few moments of regaining her composure, Myka nudged her partner. "You're going to have to move off me if you want that to happen."
"Yes, yes, I am aware. Just basking in this feeling to last until then."
A few more moments passed before Helena finally rolled over with a sigh and Myka could regain her bearings. Sitting up, she wondered what time it was. Her body protested the movement, muscles stiff from sleeping on the hard floor. She made her way to the edge of the shelter to get a good look at the sun's position and estimated that it was probably a bit past 8:00 am.
Helena groaned as she, too, realized how sore her body had become during the night. She scooted over and stood next to Myka.
"Well, at least the sun is shining and the wind died down," Myka shrugged as they looked at the snow covered path they needed to walk back to the road.
The sunlight didn't make the snow any less exhausting to trudge through, but it helped keep them warm as it beat down on their backs, already growing strong despite the early hour.
They arrived back on the road to find that a plow must have come through during the morning. There was still a layer of snow and ice covering the road, but it was far easier to walk along.
"Hopefully the plow comes back through soon and we can just hitch a ride into town," Myka said. "That would make this a whole lot simpler, but until then, let's keep aiming for the gas station."
"Indeed, I am in need of sustenance and perhaps they have alcohol," Helena added. "I could use a stiff glass of whisky after the lot of this."
"Ah, you're not going to find whisky at a gas station. Maybe cheap beer with low alcohol content, but not hard liquor, and certainly nothing up to your standards."
"Well that's bollocks."
"We'll have ourselves a good drink when we get back. Maybe find some fancy champagne to celebrate not freezing to death."
Helena made a face. "I am not particularly fond of champagne. You, however, are more than welcome to it while I enjoy my whisky."
"Champagne is no fun if you're drinking it alone," Myka pouted.
"I'll still be drinking with you, just not the same thing as you."
"Right, but that negates the point of the champagne. I might as well just have beer."
"Either way, it's clear that we need a night of alcohol and debauchery after this is all over," Helena concluded with a satisfied grin.
[AN - This chapter just sort of took off on its own and I rolled with it, because honestly, would any of us be able to keep our hands off Helena after spending the night that close to her...?]
[Also, I do apologize in advance for the delay that is likely to come for the next chapter. I've had four days off work because of the blizzard, but I have to resume my normal schedule starting tonight.]
