The Fashion Institute of Technology is a real college.

And thank you for indulging one more play on the Twizzlers.

How Sweet

Myka finished up and said good night to Millie. Then she hailed a cab and got out three blocks from her apartment because one of the best bakeries in the City- Balthazar's -was on Spring Street. Myka thought it only right that she bring dessert since Helena was hosting the dinner. She stood in the long line, inhaling the delicious bouquet of freshly baked pastries, breads, and cakes, trying to decide what to bring. Myka bit her lower lip and played with a stand of a curly hair as she moved closer and closer up the line.

"Everything looks good, doesn't it?" the male voice said behind her.

"Yes it does," Myka said without thinking.

"Makes it hard to choose," the same voice said.

"Sure does," Myka said looking at the display case and then realized she was in a conversation. She slowly turned around and was met with eyes that matched her turquoise jacket.

"I've seen you before. I think we're neighbors," he said and introduced himself. "I'm Jack Gore; I live on the third floor."

"Myka Bering," Myka said and shook his hand.

"Having company?" he asked as they moved along the line. Myka suddenly realized he might be flirting.

"Oh, no – dinner at my boss'," she said bit her lip. She should have said friend. Why didn't she say friend.

"Oh that sounds rough," Jack said and Myka wanted to disagree but…..

"NEXT!" the woman yelled behind the counter and Myka realized she hadn't decided.

Myka quickly chose two mini cheesecakes covered in hard white shells and decorated with a pencil thin swirl of chocolate on the top.

"Good choice," Jack said and noticed she only picked two.

"I hope she likes it," Myka said without thinking and then smiled at him.

Jack was pleased that Myka was so friendly, so he didn't push the conversation. "See you around …. I hope," he said as Myka took the bag and left.

"Nice to meet you," Myka said back because that's what you said when someone was nice.

Myka walked leisurely down the block making her way home. Once upstairs, she pulled four outfits out of her thickly packed closet before deciding on black skirt and blue printed blouse. It didn't go unnoticed that it was very similar to what she took off moments before. Even when she bought colorful blouses, they tended to be the same shades of blue and green. She brushed out her hair and let the curls flow down over her shoulder. She wanted to have a relaxing dinner with Helena. Since last week, when she told Helena that she wanted to get to know her better, it seemed it was all Myka thought about. She might be asking her about business at dinner, but Myka knew this dinner was also getting to know Helena on a personal level too. It was a week later and she could still feel the effects of when she kissed Helena in her hallway.

Helena could think of nothing else after Myka agreed to dinner. She knew this dinner was a way for Myka to let her guard down a little. Having agreed to keep things professional at work, having dinner here was a way for Helena to loosen things up a little. A lot – if Helena worked hard.

Helena came in the door of her townhouse in her usual manner – dropping clothes at various places. It wasn't that she wanted to be messy, but rather she was just too busy looking over recipes for the evening dinner. No sooner had a shoe hit the floor than a college aged guy picked it up. It didn't even startle Helena that there was a stranger in her house. He stood there waiting for the other shoe to drop – literally. Helena pushed off the shoe and watched as he retrieved it and ran up the flight of stairs to place them in the newly ordered walk in closet that was larger than his apartment.

"You do know…," Helena said to Leena who assured her she did.

"Yes, they're from Fashion Institute of Technology," Leena said.

"What sort of technology is there to coordinating clothes?" Helena mused because technology had a very different meaning to her. "Can you have this prepared for dinner at eight?"

Leena looked down at the chicken dish. "I believe so. Having guests?"

"One guest, yes. And I'd like it to be a quiet dinner, so if your technology staff could be gone by then…?" Helena asked.

"They're not …..no, no problem," Leena said, taking the easier way out of the conversation.

Helena went upstairs to get ready for what she hoped would be a step closer to having the relationship with Myka that she wanted. She didn't regret her promise to Myka to take things slowly, but she was wondering just how long it would take Myka to realize what they could have. As Helena chose her clothes, she had just that question in mind. She pulled up the Palermo Hudson Jodhpur riding pants in soft camel that clung to her shape perfectly in skin tight fashion. She wore an equestrian inspired white blouse with barrel cuffs that hugged her wrists. She pulled on Belstaff Kerridge leather and suede brown boots that strapped across her ankle.

A half hour later, Myka checked the mirror one more time, grabbed her IPad and headed off to dinner. She was looking forward to spending time with Helena. For Myka, she was like no one else she had ever known. Yet, there was something familiar about her boss – as if she had known her for a very long time. How could that be? Preoccupied with that thought, Myka rushed out of the elevator car and smack into her neighbor from the bakery.

"Oh I am so sorry," Jack said holding onto her arms to steady her. The two of them had dropped all their packages and now in the flurry to get out of the way, bumped heads when they both went for them. There was another round of apologies and Myka could feel the swelling begin on her forehead. "No, no it was my fault," she said grabbing her package and assuring him she was okay. She was tempted to go back upstairs and put ice on the bump, but hoped it would not bulge out too badly.

A half hour later, Myka's cab had made its way through the traffic jam and up to Central Park West. She took the steps up to the door and pressed the bell. She could hear the muffled sound of cathedral bells ringing. Even Helena's door bell was classy.

Myka pushed up on her toes of her black flats as she waited. In spite of seeing Helena every day since her return, Myka missed being with her alone. She realized she felt butterflies in her stomach in anticipation of having this time with Helena. It was a great feeling. The door opened and Myka expected to see someone else, but there was Helena – a sight to behold in skin tight pants and billowy blouse.

"It is so good to see you again, Myka," Helena said in what was becoming Myka's favorite voice in the world.

"Thank you," Myka said stepping into the hallway.

There in the light of the hallway, and under the careful eye of her admirer, Myka's bruise was evident.

"Myka, what happened?" Helena asked as she gently pushed the hair off of Myka's brow.

"Oh that?" Myka said having forgotten about it.

"I bumped into a neighbor of mine - head on," Myka laughed. She felt embarrassed, but wasn't sure if it was because of the bump or because she was just standing there, letting Helena make a fuss.

"I will get you ice immediately," Helena said and was gone before Myka could tell her not to bother.

Myka watched Helena disappear and marveled at how she always looked like she was coming from a fashion shoot. Suddenly embarrassed at feeling underdressed, Myka remembered what she was holding.

"Oh I bought these," Myka said offering the bag to Helena when she returned with the ice wrapped in a cloth. Helena smiled and looked inside and then back at Myka.

"Are there enough? I wasn't sure if anyone else was coming. I should have gotten more," Myka worried.

"No, not at all, there's plenty and no," Helena said looking up at Myka, "…no one is joining us."

Leena came in and Helena introduced her. The last time Myka was there, she woke up to coffee and scones, but never saw the woman who brought it in. Helena asked Leena to bring them wine spritzers. This dining out all the time was taking its toll on Myka's weight, but it never seemed to be an issue for Helena.

"Ms. Bering brought these," Helena said handing the dessert to Leena. "Would you …. Put them on a tray?" Helena asked and Leena looked in the bag.

"OK, sure," Leena said unsure of just show she would do that.

"Now let's see to that bruise," Helena said leading Myka to the living room.

Helena sat down on the large leather couch with her booted leg under her and leaned into Myka, placing the cool cloth covered ice on her head. Myka smiled at how gentle Helena's touch was as she held Myka's hair out of the way while placing the chilled cloth on her injury.

"I'm sure it will be fine," Myka said embarrassed by all the attention, yet wanting it all the same. For what seemed like an hour, she sat there while her host attended to her bruise, taking the ice off and inspecting it.

"Well, that should hold it off for a bit," Helena said taking the ice away.

"Thank you," Myka said and sipped her wine Leena had brought in. "How have you been?" she asked because the busy week at work had not afforded them any time alone. Myka had a lot of things to attend to when she got back to Wells Corp especially with all the complaints, and Helena had scheduled dinners and appearances at functions.

"I have missed you," Helena said truthfully. No one ever said they missed Myka so sincerely.

"Oh me, too," Myka said relieved she didn't say it first this time.

"This was a very good idea then," Helena said reaching out to grab Myka's hand for a moment.

"This was your idea," Myka said giving credit where credit was due.

"Yes, I know," Helena smiled devilishly because she took credit when credit was due.

Myka admired Helena's self-confidence and loved that she was so good at expressing it.

"Oh so would you like to take care of business first?" Myka asked taking out her tablet.

"Yes I would," Helena said into her glass as she sipped her drink, staring at Myka.

"I've prepared the paperwork and just need your signature here," Myka said handing Helena her device so she could affix her digital signature. "They did ask me what you actually needed all that electricity for and I gave them the answer Mrs. Frederic gave me," Myka said smiling and hoping Helena would volunteer something. She didn't.

"Was it really a machine to help with back problems?" Myka asked. "I mean, what kind of machine takes all that juice to work?"

"I'll tell you what, Counselor," Helena said putting her glass down and moving in a little closer to Myka. "Why don't I show you my magnificent machine after dinner?"

Myka was pleased that Helena wanted her to see what she was working on. It would surely help her deal with the mound of complaints and inquires over the incident if she understood what Helena was doing when she procured all that electricity.

"I would like that," Myka said. Myka would have said that if Helena had wanted to show her…well, anything.

Leena told Helena that dinner was ready and the two women walked into the dinner room.

Sitting across from one another, they started with fresh salad with raspberry vinaigrette dressing, red bell pepper soup, and then finally chicken masala.

"Oh my God, did Leena prepare this?" Myka asked as she savored another bite of the delicious meat.

"Either that or she's hired students from the culinary school as well," Helena said and Myka didn't quite understand her.

"I hope you enjoy dessert as much as I am enjoying this," Myka said.

'Helena behave!' the Brit screamed in her own head as she smiled back at her guest, biting the inside of her cheek to refrain from saying anything. Helena thought dinner would never end as the two engaged in polite conversation.

"I'm so glad Eileen has decided to stay in her current position," Myka said, finishing her last bite.

"Oh yes, it is not easy to find someone who can make a good cup of tea," Helena said wiping her mouth with the linen napkin.

"Well, I personally owe her a debt of gratitude for talking some sense into me," Myka said.

"And if it were not for the wisdom of a woman barely out of college, you would not be here?" Helena asked.

Before Eileen's call, Myka had already discovered that she wanted to return, but the woman's enthusiasm didn't hurt.

"No, I was on my way back, Helena. I knew this was right once I came to my senses," Myka said.

"Yes, this does make sense," Helena said slowly and smiled across the table.

When dinner was over, Helena asked Leena if she would bring dessert into the living room and the two women went back to the living room. Twinkling lights from Central Park across the street could be seen now through the bay window. Helena lit the fire in the fireplace and as sparks crackled, Myka leaned back on the couch. The fire threw off just enough heat in the room to make Myka feel warm. She sat sideways on the couch facing Helena.

"So counselor, are there any other business items you need to discuss with me?" Helena asked and there was no business tone in her voice.

Myka hesitated. She remembered the book that she had brought back as her peace offering. That could wait. No, most of what Myka was dealing with was the mystery surrounding the blackout in Brooklyn. Just then there was a light tap at the door.

"Dessert," Helena said - and she went to retrieve the tray. She opened the door and Leena passed it to her.

"I didn't know how else to do it," she said as she shrugged her shoulders.

"I'm sure that's fine," Helena said.

"I'm going to go out if you don't need me," Leena said and Helena assured her they would be fine.

Myka smiled as Helena brought the tray over and placed it down in front of Myka. This was the perfect dessert Myka thought – until she looked down to see what was on the tray.

"What is this?" Myka asked laughing a little.

"Dessert?" Helena asked.

"But ….how did you know?" Myka asked confused.

"Know what?" Helena inquired.

"That these are my favorite," Myka said.

"You brought them. I thought you said it was dessert," Helena said now equally confused.

"I brought cheesecake," Myka said.

"But this is what was in the bag you gave me," Helena said looking down at the Twizzlers that lay out on a plate with two napkins because Leena had no idea how to actually serve the candy.

Myka had to think for a minute. "Oh….," she said and started to laugh at the expression on Helena's face. "You thought this was …," Myka asked unable to control herself.

"I thought ….maybe it was American," Helena said sincerely, but this only make Myka laugh harder.

"That neighbor I ran into on the way out? We dropped our packages, and I must have picked up one of his," Myka said still laughing over the confused, but earnest look on Helena's face.

Helena frowned trying to understand all of this. She did think it was very odd that someone would bring strands of red candy in a bag as dessert.

"Well, I guess we will have to make the best of it," Helena said, picking up one of the red twisted candies and looking at it. "Does one just bite it?" she asked.

Myka's love for the sweet had been practically elevated into an art form. "Well you don't want to lick it," Myka said and Helena's eyes shot up to stare at her.

"Oh well, the best laid plans of guests," she said as she took one of them and placed it in her mouth.

Helena watched intently as Myka bit off a piece and twirled her tongue around it, softening it up in her mouth. The piece suddenly poked out between Myka's lips.

"I think I bit off more than I can chew," she laughed and suddenly Helena's eyes started to burn with the molten arousal that Myka's mastication was causing.

Myka felt the temperature in the room escalate, even though the flames in the fireplace had settled down. No, the cause was the heavy pull of Helena's stare, and Myka could feel her body parts rushing to give themselves over to that power. Her breathing quickened as she tried to slow things down, but Helena was sitting down on the couch, a little closer than before.

Myka swallowed hard, trying to get the candy down and her courage up.

"It tastes….," she said, but she was looking directly at Helena's lips. "…..Delicious," she said as Helena slowly leaned into her mouth. The sweet taste of cherry and the slippery feel of lip gloss greeted Helena as she closed her lips around Myka's lower lip and softly pulled.

"Indeed," Helena said quietly of the aroma. Slow and steady wins the race.

"Did you ….want…to show me….. your machine?" Myka said and cringed at how her voice cracked.

Helena pulled back and smiled. There were a great many things she wanted to show Myka. She would start there.

Helena smiled devilishly. "Yes, I would." She slowly stood up and led Myka up the stairs.

Myka followed Helena and remembered her last time on that landing. She remembered being in the guest room, on the large bed with cool satin sheets and the sensation of being slowly and expertly undressed and how her body felt alive with electricity and ached in places she never had before and ...

"Myka?" Helena called her again.

Myka realized Helena had stopped at a door several feet away from her.

Myka was standing in front of the guest bedroom door.

Hope this portrays Myka's real feelings better.

Many thanks for your patience.