Chapter
15
The following morning Helen stood at Nikki’s bedroom door and
smiled when she saw the two dark heads pressed close together, fast asleep. Her
son had obviously woken up during the night and got in with Nikki. If only she
had the courage to do the same thing. As she turned to leave Nikki stirred and
opened her eyes.
“Helen, don’t go,” she murmured softly.
“I’m sorry about this, Nikki,” Helen said quietly as she came into
the room.
Nikki grinned sleepily. “It doesn’t matter. He said you were
asleep so he came in to me.”
“He didn’t wake you up, did he?” she asked apologetically.
“I told you, it doesn’t matter.” She struggled to a sitting
position as Helen sat down on the bottom of the bed. “How long are you staying
for?”
“We’ll go today, if that’s what you want.” Helen looked at her,
hoping to see some evidence of the love she was sure Nikki still felt for her.
“Please yourself,” she replied disinterestedly. “This is Barbara’s
home, you’re free to stay as long as you like.”
“But if it’s making you uncomfortable…”
“Helen, it’s not,” Nikki assured her. “Look, why don’t I take
Nicky off your hands for a few hours today? I’ll take him to the park and you
can go shopping with Barbara.”
This wasn’t what she wanted. She wanted to spend time with Nikki,
not with Barbara. “Alright, if you’re sure you don’t mind,” she heard herself
agreeing.
Over the next couple of days, Helen tried in vain to get Nikki on
her own so she could talk to her but as soon as they were left alone, Nikki
made some excuse and left the room. Each night she went to bed with Nicholas
and each morning she woke up alone. Even her son was spending more time alone
with Nikki than she was!
Barbara looked up from the book she was desperately trying to read
but Nikki was annoying her by pointing the remote at the television and idly
flicking through the channels. “Nikki, find something you want to watch and
stick to it!” she exclaimed.
“Nothing on,” Nikki replied absently.
Helen came back into the room from putting Nicholas to bed. She
looked at the back of Nikki’s head and sighed audibly. She was the most
stubborn, infuriating, bloody loveable woman she had ever met but if something
didn’t give soon she was going to have to get back for work. The new term
started in a few days.
Barbara heard the sigh and saw the loving look Helen was giving
Nikki. “Helen, why don’t you and Nikki go down to the pub?” she suggested as
she snatched the remote from Nikki’s hand and turned the television off. “I’ll
babysit.”
“We’re not going out and leaving you on your own,” Helen
protested.
“I won’t be on my own. Anyway, it will give me a chance to catch
up on my reading,” she replied, looking pointedly at Nikki.
Helen turned to Nikki questioningly. “Yeah, if Barbara doesn’t
mind we can go for an hour. If you want to, that is.”
“Ok, I’ll get my jacket.”
They leisurely walked the half-mile to the pub making occasional
small talk. “My round. What are you going to have?” Helen asked as they entered
the public bar.
“I’ll just have a mineral water, thanks.”
“Have something stronger,” she urged. “You’re not driving.”
“Alright. I’ll have a vodka and Coke.” She found a seat at an
empty table whilst Helen bought the drinks and smiled as she saw her flirting
with the barman. “You’re a tart, Helen Stewart,” Nikki grinned as Helen placed
her drink in front of her. “I saw you making eyes at the barman.”
Helen looked at her in surprise as she sat down. How often had
Nikki gone ape-shit in the past at the mere thought she might have competition?
Then again, if she didn’t care she wouldn’t see them as competition now. “Just
making sure I haven’t lost my touch,” she said light-heartedly.
“Don’t worry, you haven’t,” Nikki said simply as she raised her
glass to her lips. She took a long swallow then placed the glass on the table.
“So, what do you want to do tomorrow then?”
“I’m easy.”
“I know you are but what do you want to do tomorrow?” Nikki tried
to suppress her smile but her eyes were shining mischievously.
“You cheeky sod!” Helen exclaimed with a laugh. “You’re in a good
mood.”
“I’m enjoying being here with you and Barbara and Nicky. He’s a
great kid.”
“He thinks the world of you,” Helen said before she could stop
herself. “I mean, when you’re around, I could almost be redundant.”
“No one will ever take your place, Helen…with Nicky I mean,” she
added as an afterthought. “Same again?”
“Please. Vodka and tonic.” Helen watched as Nikki went to the bar.
She smiled at something the barman said. He obviously made a point of chatting
up all his female customers.
“Have you never wanted kids, Nikki?” Helen asked when Nikki came
back with the drinks.
“Me?” Nikki was just taking a swallow from her newly filled glass
and almost choked. She sat and looked at Helen for several moments before
replying. “ Yeah, I guess I did, with the right woman but neither Trish nor
Claire wanted kids, well, not with me anyway. What about you, wouldn’t you like
a little brother or sister for Nicky?”
Helen grimaced. “I don’t know if I could face all that morning
sickness again.”
“He might miss out on a lot if he’s an only child. Look what you
and Anna have.”
Was Nikki an only child? Helen suddenly realised how little she
knew about the woman she loved. She voiced her unspoken thought.
For a long while Nikki didn’t answer, preferring instead to fiddle
with a beer mat. “No, I have a younger brother and sister. Richard, my brother,
was almost ten when I last saw him and my sister, Sarah, was about four.”
“I’m sorry. I didn’t know,” Helen said softly.
“Why would you? It was something I’ve never talked about.” She
drained her glass before continuing. “When I was about sixteen, my dad threw me
out, well as good as and he wouldn’t let me see them, my own brother and
sister,” she said bitterly. “The last memory I have of Sarah is of her sobbing
hysterically and trying to get to me with my dad holding her back.”
“Have they ever tried to contact you?”
She shook her head. “No. He obviously did a good job on them. They
knew where to find me if they wanted to. Both the case and my release were well
publicised.”
Helen touched her hand briefly. “I’ll get us another drink.”
“Are you trying to get me drunk?” she demanded, suddenly back to
the old Nikki.
“Might be interesting,” Helen smiled.
“Nikki Wade falling down drunk is anything but interesting, I can
assure you. It’s your own fault if you have to carry me back.”
“I’ll take my chances.” As she stood at the bar Helen looked
across at Nikki who was staring thoughtfully into space. Maybe this was why
Nikki was so jealously possessive when she loved someone. She was afraid they
would be taken away from her.
They arrived back at the bungalow to find Barbara had already gone
to bed. “Do you want a coffee or anything to eat?” Helen asked quietly as she
looked up at Nikki in the dim light of the hallway.
“No, thanks. I think I’ll turn in,” Nikki replied abruptly. ‘Night,
Helen.”
“Yeah. ‘Night, Nikki.” Helen looked at Nikki’s retreating back.
‘Shit!’ she muttered to herself. She had Nikki to herself for the first time in
days but her courage had failed her. She couldn’t just jump on her and tell her
how she felt. Could she?
As had become the custom the past few nights Nikki was roused by
Helen’s son climbing into bed with her. “Come on then, sweetheart,” she said
softly as, still half-asleep, she flung back the duvet and moved over in the
bed. A pair of soft lips covered hers and she felt hands fumbling with her
pyjama jacket buttons. She grabbed hold of the hands and jerked her lips free.
“What the fu…?”
A hand clamped itself over her mouth and a soft Scottish voice
whispered in her ear. “Shhh, you’ll wake Barbara.”
She reached out and switched on the bedside lamp to find a naked
Helen in bed beside her. “What the hell are you playing at, Helen?” Nikki
demanded, desire building up inside her at the sight of Helen’s full breasts.
“I’m trying to get into your bed before my son does and I’m not
playing, Nikki, I’m deadly serious.” She pressed her mouth against Nikki’s in a
burning kiss then drew back and looked at her lovingly. “Oh, Nikki, don’t you
know by now how much I love you?”
“How was I supposed to know? You never were one for giving much
away,” Nikki said accusingly.
“Then I guess I’m going to have to change. I’m in love with you,
Nikki Wade, and I’ve never loved anyone as much as I love you, apart from
Nicholas, of course.” Helen smiled, desire showing in her eyes. “And once and
for all, I am going to tear down every last barrier of doubt you have about my
feelings for you and there isn’t a thing you can do about it.”
“Oh, no?” Nikki grinned.
“No,” Helen laughed as she pushed her down onto the bed.
“You do realise I’m no good for you,” Nikki said softly.
“You are the best thing that has ever happened to me,” Helen said
sincerely. “And I don’t ever want to hear you talk like that again. We’ve
managed to get over every obstacle that has been thrown at us. I’ve even told
my mum and dad. My dad wasn’t very pleased but mum will talk him round,” she
added confidently.
“But…” she was silenced by Helen’s lips. They drew apart and Nikki
looked up at her. “You are beautiful,” she murmured.
“Even with my sagging boobs?”
Nikki laughed. “If I’d wanted firm young breasts, I wouldn’t have
gone for you in the first place.” Helen slapped her arm playfully and Nikki
looked at her, suddenly serious. “Do you know how much I still love you?”
“Why don’t you get out of these passion killers, “ she indicated
Nikki’s pyjama’s. “And show me.”
Nikki stripped off her jacket and then raised her legs so Helen
could pull off the bottoms. As Helen turned and dropped the pyjamas
unceremoniously onto the floor, Nikki grabbed hold of her and she squealed with
delight. “Shhh, you’ll wake Barbara,” Nikki hissed. She pulled Helen beneath
her and drew the duvet over them.
Helen rolled her over and lay looking down at her. “I love you so
much,” she said softly as she bent her head and placed her mouth on Nikki’s.
Her lips parted and she felt Nikki’s warm soft tongue invade her mouth. She
pulled her mouth away and dropped light kisses on Nikki’s face and throat as
her hand started moving downwards, lingering to caress Nikki’s breasts before
continuing on its way. She slid her hand between Nikki’s legs, marvelling at
the softness then, as her fingers stroked and caressed, she felt Nikki grasp
her head and she kissed her hungrily. “I have missed you so much,” Nikki said
softly against Helen’s lips. “I won’t ever let you go again.”
“I have no intention of going anywhere without you,” Helen assured
her. She brushed her lips across Nikki’s then started to kiss her way down
Nikki’s body. She lingered over her breasts suckling each erect nipple in turn.
Nikki moaned softly as Helen’s tongue circled her navel and traced a line
downwards. She removed her hand and ran her fingertips up the inside of Nikki’s
thighs then repeated the caress with her lips, her mouth kissing and pulling at
the soft flesh.
Nikki felt Helen’s fingers parting her and then her tongue pushing
its way inside her. She gasped as Helen’s mouth and tongue sucked and stroked
her. She pushed her hips up to Helen’s face urging her on until she couldn’t
hold back any longer and she murmured Helen’s name over and over as she
climaxed.
Helen moved slowly back up Nikki’s body her hands and lips
caressing and soothing. “Well!” she said with a triumphant little smile as she
gazed into Nikki’s eyes.
“If you’re asking after my health, I feel bloody fantastic,” Nikki
murmured wrapping her arms around her. As her breathing returned to normal, she
felt Helen take her hand and slide it between her legs. She raised herself on
one elbow and smiled at the concentration on Helen’s face as she pushed two of
Nikki’s fingers deep inside her own wetness. Nikki rolled over until she was
partly lying across her. She eased her knee between Helen’s legs and heard her
gasp as the action forced her fingers deeper. “Oh, Nikki!” she said harshly. “I
love you.”
“I know you do. I love you too.” She started to move her fingers
faster then she felt Helen tremble beneath her and she came with a shuddering
cry.
Nikki’s arms enfolded her, her hand stroked Helen’s hair and their
lips met in a long kiss.
“Well, are there still any doubts in that thick skull of yours?”
Helen said softly.
Nikki shook her head. “No more doubts but just to make sure…” She
bent and took Helen’s nipple between her lips as the door was flung rudely
open.
“Mum…mee!” Nicholas cried in delight at having found her.
“Much as I love your son,” Nikki groaned. “He has lousy timing.”
She reached out of bed, snatched up her pyjama jacket and slipped it on as
Nicholas climbed into bed between them and snuggled down.
“You do realise we’ve got this until he gets married,” Helen
laughed impishly.
Nikki raised her eyebrows. “You mean he’ll be getting into bed
with us for the next twenty years,” she joked.
“You know what they say, Nikki, a child is for life, not just for
Christmas.” She reached out and stroked Nikki’s cheek, her face suddenly
becoming serious. “You don’t mind, do you? Having a ready-made family, I mean.”
Nikki pushed herself up onto one elbow and looked down at the now
sleeping child then at his mother. “Helen, I’ve never been happier than I am at
this minute.”
“I want…We want you to
come and live with us. If you want to that is,” Helen added, nervously awaiting
her answer.
“Well, Miss Stewart, I guess this is one life sentence I’ll be
happy to serve every day of,” she replied with a grin. “And no chance of an
appeal.”
Helen stroked her cheek then pulled her close until their lips
were almost touching. “Oh, you appeal to me very much, Ms Wade. Now, why don’t
we leave him here and go and get into my bed.”
“Helen, you’re terrible!” Nikki exclaimed, pretending to be
shocked. She got out of bed and waited until Helen climbed gingerly over her
son, trying not to wake him. Nikki took her hand and they started to go out of
the bedroom. “Shit!” she said softly as she heard Barbara’s bedroom door open.
She pushed Helen behind the door as Barbara walked past her on her way to the
bathroom. “I…I was just going to get a drink,” she stammered.
“Well, don’t catch your death,” Barbara smirked. Nikki glanced
down and realised she was only wearing her pyjama jacket, which was gaping
open. She flushed and started to fasten it. “’Night, Helen.”
“’Night, Barbara,” Helen replied without thinking. She collapsed
into fits of giggles when she realised what she had done. Nikki shot her an
angry look, which changed to a leer when she saw what was happening to Helen’s
breasts. She leaned against her, pressing her back against the wall. “Do you
know your boobs jiggle about when you laugh?”
“So, what do you propose to do about that then?” Helen drawled
sexily.
Nikki raised her eyebrows. “Buy a joke book then I can read to you
in bed!” She looked down at Helen, all the love she felt for her mirrored in
the beautiful Scot’s eyes. There were no more barriers between them, no more
doubts. “I love you, you gorgeous, beautiful woman,” she whispered as she bent
her head.
Helen slid her arms around Nikki’s neck and threaded her fingers
in her hair. “Ditto,” she murmured as their lips met.
Helen looked up from the pile of Christmas cards she was writing.
“I was wondering, Nikki, do you mind if we have mum and dad for Christmas?” she
asked apprehensively.
“Can’t we have turkey like everyone else?” Nikki quipped, not
looking up from her book.
“Nikki, be serious!” Helen said impatiently.
“I want to make lo…”
“Forget I said that,” Helen quickly interrupted with a smile.
“Anyway, been there, done that. So, what do you think?”
“About what?” Nikki muttered annoyingly.
Helen tutted. “About mum and dad coming here for Christmas. Nicky
and I usually go up there but Anna’s spending Christmas with Dave’s family and
I don’t like the thought of mum and dad being on their own. We could invite
Barbara as well.”
Nikki closed her book. Helen was obviously in a talkative mood.
“Helen, darlin’, it’s our first Christmas together, we’ll do whatever makes you
happy,” she told her lovingly. “Why don’t you ask the boss?”
Helen knelt down beside her son who was playing on the floor.
“Nicky, do you want granny and grandpa to come for Christmas?”
“No, I want turkey, like Nikki!” he exclaimed.
Nikki choked and spluttered as she tried to stop herself from
laughing. Helen wagged a finger at her. “You, lady, are a bad influence on our
son!” she admonished her. Nikki’s face became serious and her eyes filled with
tears. Helen stood up and went over to her. “What is it? What’s the matter?”
she asked, her voice filled with concern as she sat down and held Nikki’s hand.
“It was just, you saying that about…our son,” she said tearfully.
“Sweetheart, as far as I’m concerned he is ours. You’re a great
parent to Nicky, even though you do spoil him rotten and you have the patience
of a saint with him, more so than I have.” She laid her hand on Nikki’s cheek
and ran her thumb across her lips. “What you started to say earlier,” she
whispered softly. “Do you fancy putting your money where your mouth is and
making it third time lucky?”
“Another all-nighter?” Nikki mused. “You are insatiable, Helen
Stewart!”
“And aren’t you just glad about that, Nikki Wade!”
THE
END