Page 25 of In Bed with the Ice Queen

“Were you able to get your own room tonight?” Sloane asked, trying to keep her tone light.

Helena raised an eyebrow, a smirk touching her lips. “I did,” she said, not offering more.

“Oh. Good,” Sloane replied, feeling a pinch of disappointment. “I’m glad you have your space.”

“Why? You wanted to share again?” Helena’s voice was teasing, but Sloane sensed an edge beneath her words.

“I mean, it’s just…comfortable,” Sloane stammered, unsure of how to navigate this conversation. “Being together, I mean.”

Helena looked at her, the firelight dancing in her deep eyes, making it hard for Sloane to breathe. “It’s a business trip, Sloane,” she said, her tone slightly firmer. “We need to keep things professional.” There was something in her voice—an invitation, a challenge—but it felt just out of reach.

“Right, of course,” Sloane said quickly, pulling her gaze away, stifling her disappointment. “Let's just focus on the merger.” She tried to meet Helena’s gaze again, but it felt heavy and loaded.

Just then, Jake called out from the group. “Hey, you two! Are you coming? We’re taking a picture for the merger!”

“Coming!” Sloane shouted back, standing up and brushing sand off her outfit. She turned to Helena, who was already rising with a sly smile. “Let’s act like the business professionals we are.”

As they approached the group, Sloane felt Helena’s eyes on her. It was as if Helena could see through the carefully erected walls around Sloane’s heart. They joined the circle where everyone was laughing and talking about their plans for the next day.

“Tomorrow, we’re going out on a yacht!” Jake announced, pouring liquor into shot glasses. “It’ll be fun!”

Sloane nodded, her excitement dampened by the absence of Helena next to her in their shared room. She could feel that ache again, the longing to be close to Helena, to see that smile up close and personal.

Helena raised her glass, and Sloane held hers up, too, but the connection felt strained, as if they were on different pages of the same story.

“To the merger!” everyone cheered, and the shots went down, hot and strong.

As laughter erupted around her, Sloane tried to smile and join in on the cheerfulness, but her thoughts drifted back to the fire on the beach, the way Helena had looked at her, and the space that suddenly felt too wide between them.

After the night’s celebration was over, Sloane watched as Helena walked confidently inside the resort.

“I should head up to my room,” Sloane murmured more to herself than anyone else. Even as she turned away, her curiosity lingered. Where was Helena’s new room?

As Sloane made her way back to room 301, she replayed their earlier conversation in her mind. Sloane opened the door to her room, ready to unwind after a long day. To her utter surprise, there was Helena, lounging comfortably in a silk nightgown that shimmered like moonlight. The sight was mesmerizing.

“I thought you found another room,” Sloane exclaimed, her heart racing.

Helena looked up, a sly grin spreading across her face. “Not only lawyers can lie,” she teased, her voice soft yet playful.

Sloane's brow furrowed. “What do you mean by that?”

Helena sat up, her eyes sparkling with mischief. “I knew changing rooms would cause a stir, especially with all the corporate people around. I didn't want to admit that we shared a room.” She paused, her expression turning more serious. “I worry what people might think and don't want to become gossip.”

Sloane felt a rush of warmth on her face. “I understand. It’s a bit tricky in our world, isn’t it?”

Helena stood up gracefully, the silk clinging to her body in an alluring way. “It was kind of fun, wasn’t it?” she said, her voice dropping to a whisper. “Seeing the clear disappointment on your face when I told you I changed rooms. It made me think you actually wanted me here.”

Sloane's heart raced at the implication. “Maybe I do,” she admitted, taking a step closer, the space between them crackling with tension.

“Well…” Sloane moved forward, her lips curling into a teasing smirk. “So, what do we do about that?”

Helena swallowed hard, every muscle in her body on edge. The air felt thick with anticipation. “Maybe we can...talk about it?” she suggested, her voice barely above a whisper.

Sloane realized that Helena needed a moment. Sloane casually organized her things and turned away, giving her space.

"Hey, did you have a good day socializing at the luau?" Sloane asked, her voice a gentle nudge to reconnect as Helena crawled in bed.

Helena sighed and leaned back against the headboard. “It was fun, but it was also a lot of pressure,” she admitted, her tone revealing the weight she carried on her shoulders. “But it’s not like I’m not used to it.”

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