Page 15 of In Bed with the Ice Queen

“Oh, come on, Helena, lighten up. I hit on you. You shut me down. End of story. No big deal.”

“I’m not even…”

Sloane raised an eyebrow.

“Not even what, Helena?” said Sloane with a look that suggested that she knew damn well that Helena was. She fixed her gaze on Helena’s big brown eyes.

“Not even…” Helena’s voice was quiet and then petered out. “OK, well maybe I am a bit. But, nobody knows. How on earth would you presume to know?”

“I’ve seen you look at me,” Sloane countered, clearly not backing down from the challenge.

Helena flared up instantly, “I certainly have NOT looked at you. This is beyond a joke now. You need to back off.”

Sloane put her hands up, “Ok, ok. Calm down. I’m not doing anything. You can be gay or straight or bi or in the closet or whatever, nothing to do with me.”

Helena knew she had issues with her sexuality, and it seemed that Sloane was regretting bringing it up now.

Helena crossed her arms, her brows furrowing. “This whole thing is just ridiculous, Sloane. Why would you even say that?”

“I didn’t mean to upset you.” Sloane’s voice was softer now, more sincere. “I just mean that sexuality can be fluid. You get to choose whatever you want to be. And you also have no obligation to share it. If it makes you feel any more comfortable, I’m also…” She trailed off, her eyes darting to the floor.

“Also what?” Helena asked, her temper still simmering, but curiosity piquing through her annoyance.

“Also a lesbian,” Sloane admitted, running a hand through her wavy hair, appearing increasingly awkward.

“I am certainlyNOTa lesbian,” Helena flared again, her eyes blazing in defence.

Helena didn’t know what she was calling her sexuality, she wasn’t into men, never had been. But she had still never been comfortable with branding herself as a lesbian. So her defence had come out faster than she wanted to. But she wasn’t about to explain any of that to Sloane.

“I just thought we were on the same level, you know? So it wouldn’t be weird for either of us. But clearly, I misjudged.” She sighed, shaking her head. “I shouldn’t have brought it up. I’m sorry.”

As Sloane went back to unpacking with a slight flush on her cheeks, Helena felt a bit of her anger melt away. She sighed, rubbing her temples. “Can I just…have a moment in the bathroom to change and get ready for bed? It’s been a long day.”

“Of course,” Sloane replied quickly, relief washing over her face. “Take your time.”

Helena stood up, grabbing her clothes. “Thanks.” As she headed toward the bathroom, she couldn’t shake the feeling of unease.

She stood in the small, dimly lit bathroom as she waited for the water to heat up for her shower.. As steam filled the room, she looked at her reflection in the mirror, taking a deep breath.Her brow furrowed as she thought everything that led her to this moment.

“What a day,” she muttered to herself, brushing a loose strand of hair behind her ear. It had been a long flight, and Sloane had been seated right near her. They’d exchanged awkward glances and made small talk. Just when Helena thought she would have a peaceful escape from the world, they’d both ended up checking into the same hotel—and the most baffling part, the same room.

“I can’t believe my life right now.” She sighed, her irritation bubbling beneath the surface.

Sloane was nice enough, but the whole situation felt so inappropriately intimate.

Which it probably wouldn’t have done had Helena not found Sloane so painfully attractive.

And now, Helena was wrestling with a whole new layer of frustration after the unexpected revelation that they both were attracted to women.

It shouldn’t have been unexpected, Helena rationalized. But, somehow, it still was, for her at least. Not, as it seemed, for Sloane.

Her mind wandered to the navy jumpsuit that Sloane had worn. It looked comfortable and form-fitting, yet classy. Helena shook her head, trying to push the thoughts away. “Focus, Helena. Just take a shower.”

She stepped in, closing the curtain behind her, and felt the hot water wash over her, cleansing not just her skin but her swirling thoughts. As the steam enveloped her, she could still feel Sloane’s soft presence from the other room, and it made Helena’s heart race.

Why does she have to be so…everywhere? What if all this is some kind of master plan? A trap? Helena thought. Her heart began to pound at the thought. Sloane was charming. She couldeasily lure someone in. What if this was part of a master scheme to control the outcome of the merger? “Calm down, Hel,” she whispered to herself, shaking her head as she rinsed off the soap. “You’re being ridiculous.”

But for a moment, she imagined what it would be like to face Sloane with no makeup on, her skin bare and vulnerable. Sloane was so naturally beautiful. The paranoia started to melt away, replaced by an odd sense of relief. If Sloane was also a woman who loved women, maybe this situation wasn’t as inappropriate as she thought.

---