Page 94 of Love and Lies

“I’m wide awake,” I muttered softly.

“Good,” she murmured, smiling. “Me, too.”

I put my hand at her nape and kissed her, slow and gentle, but all the more intense for it. Helena let out a sigh, her body flush with mine, and in that moment I knew I would walk through fire for this girl. And if I played it right, we’d go up in flames together.

Like right now.

It was after nine when I woke again. I didn’t need a watch to tell—I’d spent so much time on the beach in the mornings that I had an almost infallible feel for the time of day. Although it had been a long time since I’d woken up feeling as content as I did today.

Helena had hardly moved during those few hours of sleep. She was still lying next to me, her dark hair fanned out on the pillow, sleeping deeply. But when I moved even just a tiny bit, she stirred and finally woke. It took a minute for her to get her bearings, remember what she was doing here. We looked at each other for a moment without saying a word, and I saw doubt in her eyes. Because of last night, or waking up together afterward? I wasn’t sure.

“Good morning,” I said at last, softly, giving her a smile.

“Morning.” She smiled back, but she still looked worried, and it grew more intense when she turned away and saw the alarm clock on the bedside. And then I understood. It wasn’t about us being in bed together. It was about what would happen when we left it.

“It’s still early,” I said, trying to reassure her. “At least for a New York City Sunday. We can still pretend the outside world doesn’t exist for a while.”

Helena exhaled, looking up at me. “Is it that obvious?” Her smile was a little half-hearted, and it hurt to see that the high spirits of last night hadn’t even survived until this morning.

“Just a lucky guess.” I reached out and gently stroked her arm. Helena sighed very softly and closed her eyes, enjoying my touch. I was relieved, but I needed to voice what was on my mind. I had to be certain, even with her. No, especially with her.

“Do you regret what happened?”

She opened her eyes abruptly, looking shocked. “Oh, God, no, not at all! Please don’t think that. The total opposite. I just don’t know… I don’t know how we—” She broke off.

I couldn’t bear to see her so concerned, so I leaned in, covering her mouth with a kiss, to try to take her mind off it. It worked. She responded, her body softening into mine, and when I pulled away, she no longer looked so troubled.

“We’re still here,” I whispered softly in her ear, “and we don’t have to worry about anything—except, that is, one question.”

“What’s that?” She gazed at me.

I grinned. “How in the hell is it possible that such an enchanting creature as yourself snores like that?”

She gasped. “I do not snore!” she insisted indignantly, laughing, and I was glad that I’d managed to distract her with my shameless lie.

“How would you know?”

“I’m sure of it. Someone would have told me.” Helena raised an eyebrow.

I stuck to my story. “Yes—me, just now.”

“Someone before you.”

“They were lying.” I shrugged and gave her a commiserating look. “Sorry, Fair Helen. I know… the truth hurts sometimes.”

She went to throw me a playful punch, but something seemed to occur to her and she stopped short, grinning broadly instead.

“What is it?” I asked, amused.

“You called me an enchanting creature.” Suddenly, her eyes narrowed. “Or wait, was that a lie as well?”

“No, that was the truth.” I put my arm around her and pulled her as close as I could. I leaned in to give her a kiss, just a quick one, but she nuzzled in and deepened it, pressing herself to me, and I realized we were headed toward forgetting everything else. But then, just like last night on the roof terrace, we were interrupted by the hearty sound of a rumbling belly—or two.

Helena pulled back and put her hand to her stomach. “I think it’s time for one of your famous breakfasts.”

“At your service, ma’am,” I replied, kissing her again and getting out of bed to put some clothes on.

Helena followed, searching for her underwear, before pulling on my T-shirt and heading downstairs. As I was getting the coffee machine going, she nodded to my Belgian waffle iron.