Disclaimer: I still don't own any part of Warehouse 13 and honestly, I really don't want to. It's much more fun to play with the toys and put them back to play with later.
"So, this is La Palma? I think I like it," Myka uttered in awe at the view in front of them. Helena dropped their few belongings on the way to the balcony where she wrapped her arms around Myka, laying her cheek against her moist back, absorbing every molecule of her essence before looking at the view.
"I liked it the minute I looked through that envelope you dropped in my lap. Claudia should enjoy the room to herself for a few nights. I dread to think what kind of trouble those two will get into left alone. Steve is not so much our quiet little companion on this trip." Myka could feel her smile against her shoulder. "I'm rather enjoying this side of him."
"I was right then, he was responsible for that bikini of yours. I knew it. That little rat fink."
"Responsible…no. Helpful…very. Really Myka, can you honestly tell me you are not pleased with that particular item now?" She already knew the answer to this.
"Well…no. I guess I could get used to it," she reluctantly admitted, recalling the morning before. It was one thing to have a hot girlfriend; it was another thing to have a hot girlfriend in a skimpy bikini. Oh, my god, I'm spending too much time with Pete, Myka thought to herself.
"No heart attacks?" She chuckled at Myka's flushed face.
"I can't promise you that. You do present a pretty heart stopping sight." Myka was still shocked at the sight burned into her memory of Helena pulling herself out of the pool in the wet, crimson bikini.
"As is this island. It was a good choice, darling. It seems very quiet and peaceful. I am looking forward to this time alone. What would you like to do?"
Myka turned from the view and started to push Helena backwards towards the bed, stopping when the back of her knees hit the edge. Helena lost her balance and fell back, landing exactly as Myka had planned. She continued with the momentum, hovering above the older woman, now noticeably affected by her sudden assertive move. With both arms on either side of her, Myka looked down into her deep, darkening, brown eyes. "What would I like to do, or what do I have planned to do?"
Helena swallowed deeply, momentarily averting her eyes. "Is there a difference?" she asked quietly.
Staring down at the woman, surprised by her behavior, Myka placed a light kiss on the nose beneath her and whispered into her ear, "HG Wells, are you actually nervous?"
"Very, and don't call me that." She exhaled.
Myka gazed down at her intently, evaluating the truth of that statement. Pushing off with her arms, she landed on her back beside Helena, gingerly taking the woman's hand in her own, locking their fingers together. She turned her head, watching the face beside her as it examined a microscopic spot on the ceiling.
"Huh. All this time, I thought that was going to be my stance. Helena, look at me, please." An anxious face turned at the soft request, still avoiding eye contact. "I said I have no expectations and I mean that. I'm happy just laying here holding your hand. However, this is La Palma. What I had planned was buying some fruit and cheese, and other various local pleasures…you do like figs and almonds, right?" With Helena's affirmative nod, she continued, "Good. I am taking advantage of all the trails on this beautiful day with someone I care very much about. I can hold hands with her and wrap my arms around her out there as well as I can in here, but the atmosphere is much nicer out there."
Helena sat up, displaying a rare shy smile, finally making eye contact. "You must think me silly."
"Not at all. What I think," Myka continued, grabbing her hand, "Is that we need to start exploring this island. Come on, Champ."
Myka had arranged transportation earlier and was finalizing the transaction, leaving Helena to collect the food stuffs. Their driver dropped them off at the nature preserve for the day, agreeing to pick them up when the park closed.
They spent their day wandering through the trails at a leisurely pace, enjoying the views and the many varieties of plants. Helena was most interested in the dragon trees. Its various shapes and sizes fascinated her. She told Myka that each tree had a story it was trying to tell. She'd even come up with a story for one particular tree that especially caught her interest that they had stopped to eat under. Myka laid her head in her lap, feeling the vibrations course through Helena's body as she recited the words forming in her head.
Keeping a vague track of time they just managed to barely meet the driver at the gate on time. They arranged another trip for the next day further down the island when they had more time.
They arrived back at the room and showered the grunge of the day off. With no expectations, they rested before their stomachs decided to search for dinner exactly as Myka was happy doing; laying in each other's arms holding hands.
"Is that really rabbit stew you are eating?" Myka was surprised by the vigor in which Helena attacked the meal before her.
"Mmm, yes. It's wonderful. I used to sneak down to the game keeper's at my cousins' when I was a child and he would pour me a bowl. My mother would have had a fit if she'd known. Would you like some?"
"I think I'll stick with this. What is it again?" Myka asked skeptically.
"I believe it is a pork dish. Are you enjoying it?"
"Well, yeah…why?"
"Good, that's all you need to know. It's really the only way to experience something new. There are many times I eat things handed to me without question. It's probably best that way." She smiled around a spoonful of stew, and washed it down with some red wine.
"Is there something else in this I need to know about?"
"Like what, darling? This is La Palma. The food is not quite as exotic as you are making it out to be just because I happen to like rabbit stew."
They ate in silence, enjoying the good food and wine after the day of exploring the nature reserve, watching the few people pass by.
"Helena, why are you so nervous at the thought of having sex with me?" Myka blurted out across the table.
Helena, shocked by the question, nearly spit out the wine in her mouth, coughing instead. "Myka, you may want to reconsider your timing regarding such questions in the future, even of me." She continued to cough as the misdirected wine settled down.
"You're evading. Of all people, why are you so nervous? Have you been with anyone since you were debronzed?"
Helena looked away, again, watching the few people wandering by. "I'm not evading. I'm trying not to choke to death. Besides, that is a rather personal question, isn't it? I might very well ought ask you a similar question." She sighed resigned to this conversation. "The answer is, no. I have not sought out any sexual relations in this century."
"Why not?"
"For no other reason than lack of desire! Myka, I was not lying when I said I have never felt anything beyond what I have for you. It certainly has not been for a lack of opportunity. It just lacked any true appeal, shall we say." She was not boasting. It was entirely true. She had been propositioned on several occasions, but for the first time in her memory, she had no interest in pursuing.
"Are you telling me you've been waiting for me this whole time?" Myka asked in disbelief.
"So it would seem!" Helena responded more agitated.
"Then explain to me why you are so anxious? Are you afraid the bronzing, um… affected you?"
"Oh, I assure you, everything is 100% functional," she said into her napkin.
"Wait, what are you saying?" Myka was trying to get a grasp of the situation and failing miserably.
"Let's just say modern technology does have its advantages, not to mention one's own personal approach when required." Helena looked into perplexed eyes. "Must I be more specific? I said I did not wish to take advantage of such offers. I did not say I did not have any personal...physical needs requiring attention."
Myka started to laugh. "Helena Wells, you have a…"
"And you can sit there and tell me you don't?" she asked adamantly. "When is the last time you sought another for such services? This hardly seems to be an appropriate time or place to be discussing this," she hissed.
"Since when are you concerned with what is appropriate?"
"Since you became involved!" Helena lowered her voice realizing she had attracted the attention of the nearby patrons. "Myka, darling, I am anxious because you are the first person I've ever had any interest in beyond a momentary satisfaction of such physical desires. Do not misunderstand me, Myka. I have very strong desires for you and am embarrassed to say I have dreamed of them far more often than I care to admit. However, this goes far beyond my selfish needs. My feelings for you drive deep into my soul and I do not wish to...screw things up by allowing you to put yourself in a position that you may not be prepared for." She tossed back the last of her wine, refilling her glass.
Myka sat dumbstruck and stared at her for some time arranging her thoughts. Once clear, she started sternly and quietly. "Helena, let me make this very clear to you. I do not want or need an honorable protector. I want a partner to share my life with, good and bad, if that is where this is to lead. I am very capable of making my own decisions, including those about who and when I want to sleep with or am ready for. You may be a woman, but I am very certain in what I want. If you are not ready, fine. I'm okay with that and will never push you into something you're not 100% ready for. I told you I have no expectations. But, don't say no because you think I'm not. If you are finished with your meal, I suggest we go for a walk on the beach. I'll just take care of the check." Myka stood defiantly and walked away without another look back.
Helena sat thinking about what had just occurred. Finishing off the last glass of wine in one gulp, she smiled to herself. One of the reasons she loved that woman so much was because she never failed at putting her in her place. She got up from the table. Myka met her at the door with a lopsided grin as Helena took the outstretched hand walking out towards the beach in the comfortable silence between them.
They stopped at the edge of the beach to take their shoes off before continuing down the beach. Myka had let go of Helena's hand to bury her own in the back pocket of Helena's shorts as they strolled down the length of the sand close to each other in silence, watching the moon rise in the horizon. The tide was coming in quickly, shortening the edge to the water with each wave grazing their feet. The occasional wave merged half way up Myka's calves and wetting the hems of Helena's shorts. Legs tired from the day's walk in the preserve, they wandered up to one of the palm trees, Myka leaning her back against it. Helena relaxed into the waiting embrace, head resting back against Myka's shoulder. Closing her eyes, she sighed, breathing in the clean, salty air.
"I never doubted you, Myka. I doubt myself. These feeling are so foreign to me."
Myka leaned forward kissing the soft spot behind her ear. "I wish you would stop doing that. It takes two of us, and I think we've doubted ourselves far too long already." She continued kissing down the neck, tongue tracing the edge of her ear on its return trip.
Helena leaned her head forward moaning at the touch. Taking advantage of her height Myka pulled the dark hair aside, nuzzling the back of Helena's neck. "Oh God. Do you have any idea what that does to me?" Myka could feel the woman melting in her arms.
"Until just now, no, but I think I'm getting a clear picture. Care to elaborate?" Myka chuckled into the back of her neck before tracing circles with her tongue, causing the woman to shudder.
"Myka," Helena managed to utter, "I think we should be getting back to our room."
"Whatever for? It's a beautiful night, the moon is rising…" Myka smiled against the neck before turning the woman in her arms around. She quickly clasped onto her lips before Helena could answer, her tongue exploring the sweetness of the mouth so freely given. Sneaking her hand under Helena's shirt, she traced an intricate, invisible tattoo of her own on the warm, soft skin of her back.
Once her mouth was released, Helena, head still bent back and eyes closed, managed to clear her throat. "Because, I have no doubt in my mind that you know exactly what you want and exactly how to get it. I have every intention of fulfilling your every desire and more." Without waiting for an answer, Helena grabbed Myka's hand and led the way back to the room.
"I can feel you staring," Helena mumbled with her eyes still closed. She lay on her stomach, arms above her head clutching her pillow.
"How do you know?" Myka smiled, staring at her from the pillow she'd scrunched up into a ball, trying to get an advantage of looking down at her lover.
"I just do."
"I know."
"I know you do." Helena smiled at this conversation that never seemed to go away. She secretly enjoyed it, as did Myka she was sure. It was a continued affirmation of their connection.
She slowly opened her eyes, adjusting to the dim light the moon provided through the windows, momentarily protecting the world from darkness. Rolling onto her back, she stretched and yawned, leaving her heavy arms limp above her head and shut her eyes. Myka wiggled closer to her body, laying a hand on her abdomen, feeling the strong pulse beneath. "What time is it?" she asked Myka sleepily, absorbing the contact.
"I don't know, and honestly I don't care. I like touching you."
"Yes. I discovered that rather quickly. I rather enjoy that you like touching me." Her voice was still thick with sleep. She leaned her head back with a moan, greeting the back of the hand running up the length of her torso. Opening her eyes, she turned her head to watch the changing facial expressions on Myka's face, whose hand now explored the contours of her face. She rested her head back, relaxing into the tender touch of the long fingers.
Helena stretched out her arm, pulling Myka on top of her, drawing lazy circles on her back once she settled between her legs. "Myka," she hesitated for a moment, taking a deep breath, "I've never made love to anyone before you." At Myka's confused look she continued, "There is an extraordinary difference between making love to someone and having sex. I prefer the former where you are concerned."
"Were you still nervous?" Myka was now resting her head on Helena's shoulder, listening patiently.
"Until I realized there was a difference, absolutely."
"And how long did that take?"
Laughing, Helena replied, "About as long as it took for you to get my clothes off between that door and this bed. You have very nimble and determined hands."
"So, I'm not such a slow learner after all?"
"I never once thought you'd need to learn anything. Practice, however, is always encouraged." She chuckled.
Myka raised her head to look down at her. "Ah-ha. So I need practice do I?"
Pulling Myka's head back down to her shoulder, Helena rectified her statement, whispering into her ear. "I did not say that you needed the practice, love. It's just more fun." Helena quickly flipped her over, leaning in for a deep, heated kiss. "I for one, could use the practice. Shall I demonstrate?"
"I thought we were going to the other side of the island," Myka managed to get out between feverish kisses before getting slammed against the back of the door.
"Is that what you'd rather be doing right now?" Helena leaned into her, hands wandering beneath the tee shirt.
"Not at all, but we need to cancel with the driver." Myka found herself topless, not clear exactly how that had happened, but too preoccupied to care.
"I did that before breakfast." Helena dropped her own shorts before pushing Myka backwards towards the bed.
"Damn, you are good." Myka bit down on the pale shoulder she'd been nibbling on, now completely divested of all clothing, falling back onto the bed.
Helena gasped at the bite. "That's what you said last night….or was that this morning?" She scrambled on top of the bed, now straddling Myka's waist.
"Helena, please," Myka begged, grabbing at the bottom edge of the woman's thin shirt, desperately trying to pull it off. "Off with that shirt, now!" Helena started roaring with laughter, lifting her arms up to help with the removal of her shirt.
"What's so funny?" Myka demanded, embarrassed.
"Oh, darling, nothing." She quickly kissed the pouting lips below her. "Nothing more than a memory of something Dr. Calder said in that very subtle way of hers that she so enjoys to toy me with. She very recently said something to the effect of my desiring someone else to say, in her exact words, 'off with the shirt, please.' She was right, though at the time my head was a bit befuddled with fever."
"Do you think we could keep her out of our bed, please?" Myka begged.
"Gladly. However, I do believe she is due some credit for our present situation." Helena reminded her of the doctor's incessant observations.
"I don't care right now." With a move Myka would file away for future use, Helena let out a scream of surprise, formerly only credited to Emily Lake, to find herself under the full weight of the taller woman, no longer interested in conversation.