Nikola felt a rushing surge as the blank spaces filled up. Fire burned inside him as he remembered every kiss he shared with Helen. Nikola held her close, warm, comfortable, serene Helen.
He recalled how he was the one she always came to. Her frustrations as the Oxford woman whom nobody took seriously. Her fanciful dreams of happily ever after. The tears of a broken heart when Happily ever after ended. Her joys, hopes and heartache were all poured out to him. Secrets she could never tell Watson or Griffin. Dreams she could never share with Druitt. Nikola had suspected once or twice she loved him. But whenever she found her way to his arms, it was for comfort.. her last defense against being alone. She used him, and he was so in love he let her-
Nikola's train of thought broke with the kiss. Helen stood before him, gasping for air. Her cheeks were red but her sapphire eyes were clear and trusting.
"Well?" Helen already guessed the answer by the familiar light in his slate blue eyes. "Did it work?"
Nikola wrapped his arms around Helen's waist, his long clever fingers digging into her ribs. "If I say no, "He asked, realizing he was still catching his breath as well. "Can we try kissing againe?"
Helen rolled her eyes.