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Three “This is Helen Stewart.” “Mmm…good morning, Ms. Stewart,” came a sultry voice on the other end of the phone line. Helen felt her mouth turn up into a smile. Nikki must have just woken up. “Afternoon, more like. Are you just getting out of bed?” “I work nights, you know.” “That you do,” Helen responded. “And some mornings.” Helen had heard Nikki come in around 1:30 last night. She faintly remembered hearing the shower come on, and remembered Nikki slipping naked into bed a few minutes later. Nikki smelled so good and felt so warm, that Helen had nestled into her and fallen immediately back asleep. An hour before her alarm clock was set to go off, Helen had woken to Nikki kissing her way up the inside of her thigh. As if sharing in her memory, Nikki yawned, “What’re you wearing?” “Nothin’,” Helen answered playfully. “Oh yeah? You must be a big hit at the office today.” “I am, actually, now you mention it. Can’t figure out why, though…keep getting offered favors and such. I don’t really see what the big deal is.” “Hmm… more research is required to determine what the big deal is about your naked body. I’ll make a note.” “All right,” Helen said. “I’ve got plenty of work to be getting on with, without you putting a bunch of images in my head.” “What are you really wearing?” “Nikki…” Helen warned. “Let me guess: a… white blouse, modest skirt, matching jacket, stockings, and… some old lady shoes.” “Cheeky sod. I don’t have a job where I can dress to pick-up women. People judge me on the practicality of my clothes.” “Good thing they can’t see what you’re wearing underneath them, then.” Helen felt her face flush. Despite her teasing, Helen knew Nikki loved, what she called, Helen’s ‘lingerie obsession.’ “I’ve got to get to work,” Helen said, “What time are you going in to the club?” “’Round noon, I think. I have some paperwork to do, and some deliveries to accept. Do you want to meet up near Piccadilly this afternoon? They’re having a wedding show over there. We can look at cakes and caterers; it’s been four days since Claire gave you that list. She’ll be checking up on you soon.” “She already has.” Nikki chuckled. “I’ll drive you to Monica’s thing afterwards, and then we can get your car.” “Shit!” “You forgot?” “Yeah, sorry. Remind me again?” “It’s at her house, a planning dinner for the Christmas charity event. All the board members will be there, and their significant others. Plus you and me, and some other volunteers. Starts at 7:00.” “Okay.” Helen shuffled some papers around on her desk and sighed. She was up to her ears, and she had to finish this project up before Christmas, because she and Nikki were taking two weeks off after the wedding for their honeymoon. She pulled her watch out from under a stack of statistical data, and rubbed her eyes. “If you can’t do Piccadilly, it’s okay, Darling. We’ll work something else out.” “No, no. It’s fine. I’ll just work through lunch. Can you meet me outside the Piccadilly Tube Station at, say, 4:00?” “Yep. Just be on the lookout for a tall, striking woman with gorgeous brown eyes.” “Always am,” Helen answered. “Helen?” “Yeah?” “What are you wearing under your boring work clothes?” “I’ve gotta go, Nikki.” Nikki made a petulant little noise in her throat. “Go on, just give me a hint.” “I’m hanging up now.” “What color is it?” Helen sighed and shook her head. “Black,” she said, as she put the receiver back into the cradle. Up to her ears, and absolutely in over her head. --- As promised, Nikki was waiting for Helen outside the Underground at 4:00. Helen made her way through the crowd, and Nikki handed her a pack of biscuits and bottled water that she’d picked up from a street vendor. “Since you skipped lunch and all.” Helen devoured the biscuits, so Nikki also bought her a sausage roll, some pickle crisps, and a package of Jelly Tots. Despite her initial hesitation, Helen was glad they’d decided to come to the wedding show. Nikki led her through the booths, pointing out flowers that she thought Helen might like, and noting the vendors she and Trish had worked with in the past. They tasted cake, and Nikki got into several tedious discussions with DJs about the latest sound equipment. It was all over Helen’s head, and each time Nikki stopped to run her hand over a base or a subwoofer, Helen doubled back for an extra cake sample. Helen would have never guessed that planning a wedding could actually be fun, but then most things about being with Nikki Wade had surprised her. She’d known from the moment that Sean Parr had moved into her flat that their relationship was doomed. When he’d proposed, she’d felt as if she would suffocate under the weight of the commitment. And every time he’d mentioned planning for the wedding, Helen could feel her world closing in around her. Helen had never really been comfortable with the possessive attributes of love. She wasn’t a jealous person by nature, nor had she felt the need to make public professions of adoration to the previous men in her life. But with Nikki… sometimes Helen would see a woman at the club flirting with Nikki, and her heart would begin racing so fast that it felt like her entire chest was on fire. She trusted Nikki implicitly, but she didn’t ever want another woman’s hands near Nikki’s body. It was silly and childish, she knew, but sometimes she wanted Nikki’s looks and Nikki’s laughter and Nikki’s deep sighs all to herself. She ached to be married to Nikki. There was a sense of freedom about the whole thing. “That bloke didn’t even know the difference between thermal and magnetic non-linearities.” Nikki said disdainfully when she found Helen at the Delightful Decadence booth. “Seriously?” Helen said. “What an idiot.” “I know,” Nikki responded in earnest. “And he has the audacity to call himself a DJ!” “You’re telling me. I would never book him.” Helen let out an exasperated breath. “Me neither. I wish they’d make him leave the show.” “Are you taking the piss?” Nikki asked, stepping back to eye Helen. “No,” Helen said, reaching up on her tiptoes to kiss Nikki’s nose. “I think your little speaker obsession is cute.” “Subwoofers, Helen. It’s completely a different thing.” “Right. Are you ready to go? I’m stuffed, and we need to be at Monica’s in half an hour.” Nikki reached down and clasped Helen’s hand. “As long as you’re well-fed, I’m ready. Feeding you is a top priority.” “Because I get stroppy otherwise?” “Exactly.” --- Over the last five years Monica Lindsey had managed to form one of the more successful charities in London. She worked specifically with recovering prisoners, and Helen knew, more than anything, her passion was fueled by the time she’d spent in Larkhall herself. When she’d contacted Helen and Nikki to help her organize a charity Christmas dinner, they’d both readily agreed. It was a cause near to both of their hearts. Monica’s home was beautiful. A brownstone in a less traveled part of London, the hedges were pristine, and the leaves had been raked into a tidy pile near the edge of the fence lining the sidewalk. Helen’s nerves were rattled as they stood outside the front door of Monica’s house, and Nikki rang the doorbell. Helen loved Nikki, and adored being escorted by her to dinners and parties, but the idea of seeing someone who knew them both in Larkhall made Helen uneasy. There were so many painful memories in that place; she and Nikki had worked hard to erase them. She didn’t want anything to upset Nikki, not this close to their wedding. She leaned into Nikki’s side, and hoped seeing Monica wouldn’t open up too many of Nikki’s old wounds. “Helen!” Monica said when she opened the door. “Nikki! Oh, it is so good to see you. It has been too long. Please, come in. Let me take your coats.” Helen helped Nikki out of her coat, and then shrugged off her own. She followed Monica out of the foyer and into a nice-sized coat closet. Placing her coat on a hanger, Helen quickly brought Nikki’s to her face and inhaled deeply. She was pathetic, she knew, but sometimes she felt she couldn’t help it. “Many of the guests have already arrived,” Monica said, ushering Helen back out into the foyer. “There are snacks in the dining room, a bar in the parlor, and I’m sure you’ll have no trouble mingling. We’ll catch up in a bit.” She hugged Nikki and Helen, and hurried off in the direction of the aforementioned dinning room. “So?” Nikki said, raising an eyebrow at Helen. “Snacks?” Helen followed Nikki into the dining room, where they introduced themselves to Monica’s friends and various members of her board. It was a stuffy group, really: rich men and women trying to upstage each other with charitable giving. Nikki had no trouble joining in on conversations, offering insight and anecdotes where needed. It always amazed Helen how at ease Nikki was in whatever crowd she was in. Last night she’d been at the club, serving a bunch of rowdy 20 year-olds, who drank Vodka and Red Bull, while dancing to some rapper Helen was sure she’d never heard of. And tonight she was charming the socks off of a group of men and women who probably had no idea that three years ago, Nikki had been one of the very convicts their money was going to help. Helen quickly decided that she was going to need alcohol to make it through this evening. “Can I get you something to drink?” she asked Nikki. “Just white wine will be fine, thank you.” So Helen made her way to the bar, fully intending to get something stronger than wine out of the bartender, even if she had to turn on her own form of charm to do it. Nikki could talk for hours about the Tory party, and Helen could get free booze. Both were gifts in their own right. Helen stepped to the bar behind a man with a familiar set of shoulders, and was nearly knocked over when he turned around and revealed himself. “Helen Stewart, as I live and breath,” he exclaimed. She didn’t have time to register all the questions firing in the synapses of her brain. Of course she wondered what he was doing here, how he’d come to be at the same place as her and Nikki, whether or not he’d known Nikki was out of Larkhall, whether or not he’d heard they were together. There were others, too, perhaps hundreds of questions, but all Helen could think was that she needed to get Nikki and get out of here. Helen swallowed hard, and tried to smile. “Hello, Sean.” Before she could come up with an exit strategy, there was hand on her waist, and Nikki was beside her. “Oh,” she said, when she noticed Sean. “Hello.” Nikki’s voice was cordial, but tight. Sean’s eyes darkened, and Helen knew immediately that he remembered Nikki. “Hi,” he said stiffly. Nikki turned to face Helen, and said, “Darling, is everything okay?” Sean sloshed his gin and tonic down the front of his shirt and repeated Nikki with incredulity. “Darling!” Nikki regarded him with forced casualty. “It’s a term of endearment.” “I know what it is,” Sean said through gritted teeth. “You’re a bloody genius then,” Nikki responded. “And you’re a predator,” Sean whispered angrily at Nikki, as he moved out from in front of the bar to make room for the other guests. “Excuse me?” Sean’s face was starting to glow red, and Helen wasn’t sure who was going to lose it first: him or Nikki. “Helen told me how you dragged her into your cell when you were at Larkhall, how you tried to make a parse at her,” Sean spat. “She was repulsed! Did you know that? I don’t know what kind of brainwashing you did on her to be here calling her darling, but you make me sick!” Nikki looked as if she’d been slapped. She straightened up, and seemed to grow six inches before Helen’s eyes. “Excuse me,” she said, and turned and walked off. Helen watched Nikki go, and then turned back to the bar to find Sean looking rather pleased with himself. She wanted to throttle him, to literally grab hold of him around the neck and choke the life out of him. But she didn’t have the time; she had to go after Nikki and make her understand. She spared one look of loathing at Sean before turning on her heel and storming away. Nikki was in the kitchen when Helen found her, turning a wine glass around idly in her hands. “Nikki…” Helen began, striding across the room, and coming to stand directly in front of her. “Dragged you into my cell?” Nikki asked, without meeting Helen’s eyes. “Is that what you told him?” “Yes,” Helen answered honestly. Nikki seemed surprised to hear her response, and it was perhaps that more than her desire to do so, that caused her to look up at Helen. “Really?” “Nikki, I was so confused. My mind was coming apart with thoughts of you. I was already so in love with you by then, and I hadn’t a clue. I felt like I should say it – that we kissed – somehow, some way, and just get it out of my head. If there was more room in my mind, I thought I could make sense of things.” Nikki’s face was stoic, so Helen rushed on. “I could still taste you on my lips and feel the heat from your body, and my helpless pleas were trapped in my head. I was undone and afraid. Nikki, I am so sorry.” “You came into my cell,” Nikki said. “I know.” “And you nearly sat in my lap.” “I know.” “And you wanted me, Helen.” “I did want you,” Helen confirmed desperately. “I do. I do want you. Nikki, please forgive me.” “There is a difference between being dragged somewhere and choosing to go somewhere of your own volition. Do you understand that?” “Yes.” “Just as there is a difference between speakers and subwoofers. It’s subtle, but it’s there.” Helen felt her jaw tighten as she narrowed her eyes. “Nikki Wade, are you having me on?” To Helen’s great relief, Nikki began laughing. “Helen, Sean Parr is ancient history. I don’t care what you told him. You left him; you’re with me. We’re getting married! He can sod off.” Helen threw herself into Nikki’s arms. “I love you so much,” she breathed into Nikki’s neck. Nikki pulled away to look at Helen. “How much?” Helen considered Nikki for a moment before grinning and grabbing her by the arm. “This much,” she said, as she pulled Nikki out of the kitchen, through the hallway, and back into the parlor, where Sean was standing with three other men. Helen marched directly up to him, clutching Nikki’s hand tightly. “Sean,” she said, interrupting the conversation he was having, much to his obvious chagrin. “Nikki did not have to drag me anywhere. I went to her because I wanted comfort. I kissed her, and I’m not sorry.” The men standing near Sean exchanged startled looks with one another. “And I just… thought you should know,” Helen added inconsequentially. Sean cleared his throat uncomfortably, and smiled weakly at his companions. “Excuse us,” he said. Sean glanced around the room, and, after ensuring that no one else had overheard Helen, walked into the hallway. Helen followed him, dragging Nikki in her wake. When the crowded parlor was out of ear shot, Sean rounded on Helen. “What are you playing at?” he asked in an angry whisper. “I want you to apologize to Nikki,” Helen said. “I will not apologize to that bitch.” “Her name is Nikki!” “I don’t care. I will not apologize.” “You will apologize, Sean; you had no right.” “I had every right, Helen. You embarrassed me with that little scene. And God knows what other humiliation I’ve endured behind my back. My fiancé, prancing around in a little lesbian tryst with an ex-convict! ” “Yeah, you’d know all about making a scene, wouldn’t you?” Helen said, her entire body rigid with anger now. “You cheated on me!” Sean said, his voice rising. “With a dyke! How do you want me to react?” “I never cheated on you, Sean. We were broken up by the time Nikki and I got together. I am sorry I hurt you, which I told you at the time, and stand by now. I should have ended things much sooner. For both of our sakes.” “You’re apologizing to me? What do you want, some sort of absolution for being a whore? Well you won’t get it from me, Helen. Maybe you should go to your father if you want forgiveness; I’m sure he’s very proud of what you’ve become.” Helen was rather close to slapping Sean when Nikki’s spoke up. “First of all, Sean, Helen did not cheat on you, though that has more to do with her character than your worth, I assure “Fuck you,” Sean said, his fists clenched at his side, but Nikki didn’t falter. “Second of all, if you’re embarrassed, it should be because of that little stunt you pulled at Larkhall lighting your wedding suit on fire. You’re lucky Helen didn’t sue you for defamation of character.” “Nikki…” Helen said, but she could tell Nikki wasn’t going to be quiet. Sean looked like he might attack her at any moment, and Nikki seemed completely unperturbed at the thought. “And thirdly, that you called this a ‘tryst’ is entirely inaccurate, as Helen and I are due to be married next month.” The color drained completely from Sean’s face. “They let you do that now, do they? Bloody brilliant government we’ve installed. Well, good luck getting her down the aisle. It’s sure as fuck not a place I could get her to go.” Nikki grinned. “Oh, I’ve taken Helen to lots of places you apparently had trouble getting her to go.” Sean narrowed his eyes, and Nikki stepped menacingly toward him. “You’re a hypocrite,” she whispered. Helen realized that she was suddenly and inappropriately aroused. Nikki seemed taller in this moment somehow, larger than life. Her pupils were dilated, her body stiff. Helen tried to shove down her salacious thoughts, but Nikki’s next words did her in. “You’re standing there pretending to be disgusted with Helen and me, when really, right now, in that tiny brain of yours, you’re picturing the two of us together: naked, writhing around. You’re wondering what it’s like to make love, really make love to Helen. You’re remembering what it’s like to fuck her.” “I…” Sean stammered, but Nikki would not let him speak. “You know what it’s like when she gets turned on, don’t you? How warm her skin gets… how slick. She’s amazing when she’s like that, don’t you think? Her head thrown back, and that whimper." Nikki closed her eyes. "My God, that whimper.” When Niki opened her eyes again, Helen shivered involuntarily. Nikki continued speaking. “Well let me tell you something, Sean Parr: whatever you’re picturing in your pornographic little fantasy is nothing compared to how hot it really is. When you take your disdain home tonight, and lay down with it in your bed, I want you to know that my mouth is on Helen’s clit, that she is coming harder than you ever thought possible. And the name on her lips…” she leaned forward to Sean’s ear. “It’s Nikki.” --- Sean stormed out of the room and Helen stood slack-jawed as her disbelief warred with her lust. She shook her head, as if trying to clear water from her ears. “Nikki,” she said. “That was…” But before her mind could find the words to say exactly what it was, she crushed herself against Nikki and thrust her tongue into Nikki’s mouth. “Jesus, Nikki. I’m not sure if I’ve ever wanted you this much.” Nikki grinned against Helen’s lips. “This has been the most bizarre night.” Helen put her hands on Nikki’s bum and pulled their hips together, trying to assuage the throbbing between her legs. “I mean fancy meeting Sean Parr here at Monica’s of all places,” Nikki said undistractedly, as Helen’s lips moved to her neck. “It just seems so surr–” “Nikki, I swear to God, stop talking and fuck me.” “What, here?” Helen grabbed Nikki and shoved her into the coat closet she’d been in earlier. She made quick work of unbuttoning Nikki’s trousers, and slamming her into the back wall of the closet. She was sure she was going to actually begin growling at any minute – so desperate and primitive was her desire. “Wait…” Nikki said, as Helen shoved her hand down Nikki’s pants. “Helen?” “What?” Helen said, almost unkindly. Nikki put her hand on top of Helen’s to still her. “Are you listening to me?” “Barely.” “Will you do something for me?” “Yes, anything,” Helen promised, her teeth scraping along Nikki’s neck. “When you get drunk and tell this story to Claire, will you please try to remember which one of us did the dragging?” |
