Page 17 of In Bed with the Ice Queen

Sloane definitely noticed, but pretended not to.

With a resigned sigh, Sloane climbed into bed next to Helena. “Just know that if you snore, I’m out of here.”

“Deal,” Helena replied, trying to sound confident but feeling slightly breathless.

As they settled in, the room wrapped them in a comfortable darkness. The only sound was the gentle hum from the TV, andthe warmth from Sloane’s presence sent a whole new set of alarms buzzing in Helena’s head. They stayed that way for nearly an hour, and Helena barely heard Sloane’s soft voice pierce the silence that, to Helena, seemed so loud.

“Hey, Helena? I just wanted to say you’re not as uptight as I thought.”

Helena smiled, a mix of emotions washing over her. “Thanks, I guess. You’re not so bad either.”

They both fell silent again, but this time it felt different. The world outside their hotel room faded, and Helena felt a buzz between them.

8

SLOANE

Sloane lay in bed, the soft glow of the Hawaiian sunset spilling through the hotel room window. The warm breeze brushed the curtains, a gentle reminder that she was far from home. But it wasn’t just the beauty of Hawaii that had her mind whirling. It was the woman beside her.

Helena Wolfe, a woman she barely knew, was turned away from her in the bed. In the dim light, Helena’s red hair shone. Sloane tried to keep her distance and give Helena her space, and she kept her body stiff as she laid flat on her back. The sheets felt cool against her skin, but her thoughts were anything but calm. She mentally replayed everything that led them up to sharing a bed together: the flight, the hotel mix-up, the shared night of watching TV.Helena wore a soft satin matching pajama set that looked luxurious. Sloane’s old PJ pants and tank top felt even more tired beside it. She risked a glance at Helena's profile, the way her bare shoulder peeked out from under the covers. Sloane felt a blush rise to her cheeks. Why was she entertaining these thoughts?

Sloane’s eyes darted to Helena’s back, and she wondered if she were asleep. It was quiet, but Sloane couldn’t shake thefeeling of a charged tension lingering between them. The air felt thick, almost electric. Just a few hours ago, Helena had asked if Sloane had orchestrated this whole hotel room mix-up. Sloane understood the jab, but it struck a chord. Was she still feeling the sting of that accusation?

Sloane shook her head, trying to free herself from those thoughts. She stared at the ceiling, counting the little patterns in the tiles. It was easy to get lost in her head, but that didn’t help the situation. The more she thought about Helena, the more she felt crazy. “Get a grip, Sloane,” she whispered softly to herself.

But it was hard to ignore the wild thoughts fluttering around in her mind. What if they got intimate? She bit her lip, a mix of irritation and temptation swirled inside her. The idea made her stomach flip. Why did she even find Helena attractive? Maybe it was the confidence she projected or the fire in her eyes. Or the intense vulnerability to her when she avoided talking about her sexuality. Whatever it was, Sloane couldn't deny it anymore.

“Hey,” Sloane finally said, breaking the silence that hung between them like a thick fog. Her voice was softer than she intended, and she felt the heat of embarrassment creeping up her neck.

“Hmm,” came Helena’s quiet reply, but she didn’t turn to face Sloane.

“Are you mad at me?” Sloane asked, a hint of nervousness creeping in. It seemed absurd to think that sharing a room could cause such tension, but here they were.

“No, just tired,” Helena said, her voice still distant. Sloane wished she could see Helena's expression, wished she could read what was happening in her mind, but the way Helena’s back was turned left everything feeling uncertain.

Sloane took a deep breath, feeling overwhelmed by so many emotions. “I really didn’t plan for us to end up here together,”she said, her voice more steady this time. “It was just a mix-up. I promise.”

Helena sighed softly, and for a moment, Sloane thought she heard a hint of laughter in it. “I’m trying to believe you.” Helena’s voice was teasing now, but there was also something serious in her tone.

Sloane frowned, irritation sparking within her. “You think I wanted to be in the same room as you? I mean, I don’t mean it like that, just that I didn’t plan it, Helena. It just happened.”

“Right.” Helena shifted slightly, and Sloane felt her heart race. “But you didn’t mind, though, did you? You were excited to share the room.”

“No, I wasn’t!” Sloane exclaimed a little too quickly. “It was just...unexpected, that’s all.” The truth hit her like a wave. Deep down, the idea of sharing the space with Helena felt thrilling and scary all at once.

“Sure.” Helena’s voice held a knowing tone that made Sloane’s cheeks heat up again.

Sloane scoffed playfully, trying to fight back a grin. “Maybe you just don’t trust anybody, not just lawyers.”

They both fell silent again, the air filled with unspoken words. Sloane stared at the ceiling once more, feeling turmoil inside. She wanted to know if Helena felt the same strange pull she did. “What are you thinking?” she finally asked, breaking the silence again.

Helena turned slightly, giving Sloane a glimpse of her profile. “How maybe I have a little bit of a hard time trusting people. I’m supposed to always be on top in my family. It’s a lonely place to be, wondering who is pining for your downfall. You did call me out on my trust issues pretty quickly.”

Sloane chuckled nervously. “I just said that...thinking how you probably think I’m some sort of manipulative lawyer. Ipromise I’m not. It says a lot about you to even admit you struggle trusting people.”

Helena’s mouth curved into a small smirk, and Sloane felt a smile creep across her own face. “Believe me, I have my reasons.”

“I bet,” Sloane said, her heart pounding. Maybe, just maybe, this surreal night wouldn’t lead to anything bad. The unexpected was often where the best stories began, and for Sloane, the night was just getting started.

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