In Bed with the Ice Queen (The Ice Queen #4)

14. Sloane

14

SLOANE

S loane adjusted her sunglasses as she walked down the path from the hotel. The warm Hawaiian sun was gone, but a breeze carried the scent of ocean salt. Sloane wasn’t overly girly, but she was growing an affinity for the tropical flowers. Despite the beauty around her, she felt uneasy. Not long ago, she had received a text from Helena. She wanted to meet up, but Sloane was still processing their last conversation, the fight that had pushed them apart.

"Why does she want to see me?" Sloane mumbled to herself. Her heart raced as she thought about how their last encounter had gone. As Sloane walked, her mind kept racing. What if she’s just worried about our business partnership? Is she afraid I might tell everyone what happened? Sloane shook her head, trying to clear her thoughts.

She stepped into the dimly lit café. The air felt cool, and the sound of soft music played in the background. She took a deep breath and glanced around, her eyes landing on a familiar figure.

Helena sat at a small table in the corner. Her short red bob gleamed under the low lights, and her eyes were focused on her phone. Sloane's stomach flipped. It was strange to see the usually confident CEO looking so...vulnerable… outside of the bedroom anyway. Sloane's heart softened a little, despite the anger and disappointment still swirling inside her.

Helena looked up as Sloane walked in. The moment their eyes met, time seemed to pause. Sloane took a step closer, feeling a mix of determination and uncertainty. She could see lines of stress around Helena's eyes, and for a second, Sloane felt a pang of sympathy.

"Hey," Helena said, her voice hesitant. She set her phone down and sat back in her chair, crossing her arms. “Thanks for coming.”

“I didn’t think you wanted to talk after…you know.” Sloane tried to keep her tone steady, but she could hear the slight tremor in her own voice.

Helena sighed and ran a hand through her hair. “I didn’t either. But I can’t stop thinking about what happened. We need to address it.”

Sloane crossed her arms, matching Helena’s posture. “Address it? As in what?”

Helena looked down, taking a deep breath. “I didn’t mean to push you away. I just—” She paused, searching for the right words. “I have a lot of responsibility. Wolfe Enterprises needs me to stay focused.”

“Is that all I am to you? Just a distraction?” Sloane asked, trying to keep her anger in check.

Helena’s face flushed slightly. “It’s not like that. You know it’s complicated. We’re on opposite sides of a merger. I can’t lose sight of that.”

Sloane felt her heart sink. “So this was just a fling? Just something you can forget?”

Helena shook her head, frustration flaring in her eyes. “It wasn’t just a fling. But I can’t let it mess up what we’ve built.”

Sloane took a step closer, searching Helena’s face for hints of sincerity. “Then what do you want? Why call me here if you’re just going to push me away again?”

Helena uncrossed her arms, leaning forward. “Because I miss you, Sloane. I miss what we had. But this—”—she waved her hand between them—“this is dangerous.”

Sloane felt a rush of emotions: hope, hurt, anger. “Dangerous or not, it’s real. Or at least it was real for me.”

Silence hung between them. The soft music played on, but it felt far away.

“I just am so afraid,” Helena finally admitted, her voice softer now.

Sloane considered her words. “And I don’t want to get hurt or be a secret,” she confessed.

They stared at each other for a moment. The air shifted around them, charged with unspoken feelings.

“I don’t know how to do this,” Helena said slowly, looking away.

“Maybe we can figure it out together?” Sloane suggested, her chest tightening with hope.

Helena looked back at Sloane, and Sloane could see the conflict still brewing within her.

They both knew what they had to do next. Either they would take a step forward or a step back. Sloane held her breath, waiting for Helena's answer.

“I’ve messed up,” Helena said, her voice barely above a whisper. “I have been a total bitch to everyone, including you.” She took a deep breath, and Sloane noticed tears welling up in Helena’s eyes. “I can’t keep doing this, Sloane. I am so tired of pretending I have it all together.”

Sloane’s heart broke a little at the sight of Helena, usually so commanding and confident, now vulnerable and emotional. “What do you mean?” she asked, her voice softening.

“I feel like I don’t have any real support. Everyone around me just wants something from me or wants to make their own lives better,” Helena explained. “It’s hard being in charge. All these people clock out at 5 p.m., but I’m still here, alone.”

“Helena, you’re the CEO. It’s your job to lead,” Sloane said, trying to understand.

“I know,” Helena said, wiping a tear from her cheek. “But it doesn’t feel good. I haven’t had anyone to really lean on for years. And, honestly, Ive never had a girlfriend. I just push women away. And then, when you…when we…happened, I got scared.”

Sloane felt her breath hitch. “Scared of what?”

“Scared of what it could mean. Scared of getting hurt. Scared of technicalities and motivations. Scared of coming out. Scared of losing you,” Helena admitted, looking straight into Sloane's eyes. “I felt like I had to push you away because I couldn’t admit that I actually have feelings for you. I hate how I reacted, and I’m honestly in more pain than I’m used to handling.”

Sloane looked at Helena, seeing the seriousness in her eyes. “You want me to believe that?” she asked, her heart fluttering with a mix of hope and hesitation.

“I do,” Helena said, her voice thick with emotion. “I could not let you go to bed not knowing how I felt. I’m sorry for everything. I feel awful about how I pushed you away.”

Sloane nodded slowly, taking in Helena's honest pain. “You hurt me, Helena. I thought we had something real.”

“We do,” Helena insisted, leaning forward. “I know I’ve been difficult. I’ve been like this for so long. But you…you make me feel different. You make me feel like I’m not just a CEO or a warrior in a suit. When I’m with you, I feel…more.”

Sloane felt the warmth of Helena’s words wrap around her, making her hesitate just a little less.

“What do you want, Helena?” Sloane finally asked.

“I want to start over. I want to be honest with you. I want to try,” Helena said, wiping her tears and meeting Sloane's gaze with sincerity. “I need you in my life, Sloane. I don’t want to lose you. I think I’m falling in love with you.”

"I can’t believe you apologized," Sloane said, her voice steady but soft. She had always found it hard to get through to Helena. “I didn't expect that.”

Helena took a deep breath. “I’m really sorry, Sloane. I know I’ve been closed off. With the merger and everything, I got so wrapped up in work. It has felt easier to push everyone away.”

Sloane set her cup down and leaned in closer. “Do you really think you needed to do that with me? I mean, with us?”

Helena looked down at her coffee again. “Maybe I thought I had to be strong. But now I realize I don’t want to be strong all the time, especially not around you. Hiding how I feel clearly just makes me less relatable and doesn’t help in the long-run. My admission on the yacht was the first time I’ve felt like I could be myself in a professional setting in so long. It took me off guard.”

A flutter of excitement raced through Sloane. “So, you’re saying you want me to be part of your life even with everything else going on?”

“Yes,” Helena replied, meeting Sloane’s gaze. “I was afraid you wouldn’t understand. But I do care about you. More than I thought I would.”

Sloane could feel a warmth spreading through her. “You don’t need me, Helena. Maybe you just want me. And that’s okay.”

Helena’s eyes widened slightly. “You’re okay with that?”

Sloane smiled a little. “Yeah, I think I am.” She paused for a moment, feeling a mix of emotions. “But now…? What do we do next? We each have our own rooms.”

“I don’t want to confuse you. I know I’ve been distant. But I really want to be close to you.”

Sloane took a breath, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. “I want to be close to you too. It’s just I’ve been guarding myself after seeing how harsh you’ve been to people close to you. So I’m really surprised you said all this. It must have been hard for you, with the merger and everything on the line.”

Helena nodded, her fingers tapping lightly on the table. “Honestly, it is. I was scared to mess everything up at work. But I think I messed up more by pushing you away.”

Sloane watched her, feeling a softening in her chest. “I accept your apology, Helena.” She hesitated, wondering if now was the right moment to confess her own feelings. “And I’m willing to forgive you for being closed off. Just know that I want to move forward, but I also want to be careful and not risk any exposure that would make people question the legitimacy of the merger.”

“I understand,” Helena replied, her expression earnest. “I promise to be open with you from now on.”

Sloane felt a rush of relief. “That sounds perfect.” She noticed how her cheeks felt warm.

“You’ll tell me if I’m ever pushing you away again, right?” Helena asked, her voice low and serious.

“Definitely. But I think we’re in a good place now,” Sloane said, feeling her defenses start to crumble. “We just need time for this deal to be completed, and I think a lot of the conflict you are feeling will resolve itself.”

“Time is what we have,” Helena said with a reassuring smile. “Let’s take it slow. The last thing I want is to lose you.”

Sloane nodded, feeling a mix of hope and apprehension. “Okay. Slow sounds good. I also really want to be with you, Helena.”

And as they sat there, sharing glances and smiles, Sloane knew they were on the brink of something new. The waves continued to crash outside, and inside the café, a real connection was crashing over them too. She reached across the table, her palm out and open as on offer. Helena slowly reached and clasped her fingers with hers.

The dim light from a nearby lamp made the shadows dance on the walls, but Sloane felt a warmth between them now. She could see relief in Helena’s eyes, and a small smile crept onto Sloane’s face.

“I’m really sorry about earlier,” Helena said, biting her lip. “I didn’t mean to upset you.”

Sloane shook her head. “It’s okay, Helena. We both said some things we didn’t mean. I’m just glad we could talk it out.”

Helena looked down at her drink. “Do you think… Can I see your hotel room?”

Sloane raised her eyebrows and nodded. “Sure! It’s not far. Let’s go!”

They stood up and walked out of the café and through the colorful lobby. The hotel was quiet as they took the stairs to Sloane’s hotel room. She felt excited to show Helena her new space. Sloane opened the door, and they stepped inside.

“Wow!” Helena exclaimed, looking around. “It really is nice!”

Sloane grinned. The room had two big beds instead of one. “Yeah, this was the only room available when I checked in. It’s pretty cool.”

Helena wandered over to one of the beds and bounced lightly on it. “Can we sleep in here together? I’m so used to being alone before you… but now…”

Sloane nodded again. “You don’t have to explain anymore. Of course you can stay. It’s way more comfortable than the other bed.”

They both climbed onto the larger bed, sitting close to each other. Sloane looked at Helena’s shy expression. “You know, I’m glad we made up.”

Helena smiled softly. “Me too, Sloane. I don’t like being a bitch all the time anymore.”

They shared a quiet moment looking into each other’s eyes. Then, without thinking, Sloane leaned in and kissed Helena gently. The kiss felt sweet and warm, as if they were wrapping each other in a cozy blanket.

“Can I kiss you again?” Sloane whispered, her voice barely above a breath.

“Yes,” Helena replied, closing her eyes.

Sloane kissed her again, this time deeper. The world outside faded away, and all that mattered was the two of them in the soft glow of the hotel room. They leaned back onto the bed, and Sloane felt the sheets cool against her skin as they continued to kiss.

As they cuddled, Sloane took Helena’s hand, intertwining their fingers. “I want to do this every time I see you,” Sloane said softly.

“Me too,” Helena said, biting her lip again, her cheeks turning a light shade of pink.

Slowly, they began to remove their clothes, helping each other until they were both naked. Sloane felt giddy and free, her heart racing with excitement. She pressed her body against Helena’s, their skin touching, making her feel even more alive.

Helena’s breath hitched as Sloane trailed her fingers down Helena’s body, bringing a rush of warmth. “You feel amazing,” Sloane said, looking deeply into Helena’s eyes.

Helena smiled back, then her hands explored Sloane’s body, sending shivers down Sloane’s spine. They were lost in their own world, forgetting everything but each other. The air was filled with soft giggles and whispers.

“I think we should be a little more adventurous,” Helena said, her eyes sparkling with mischief.

“What do you mean?” Sloane asked.

“I want to be inside you.” She moved closer, her hands lingering over Sloane's hips.

Sloane felt herself swoon at the words.

Helena paused and looked up at Sloane, waiting. Sloane nodded, and Helena smiled as she moved her hand from Sloane’s hips down her legs then back up, hovering over Sloane’s aching pussy.

Sloane’s breath hitched as Helena slid a finger inside then a second. As Helena pumped her fingers, Sloane arched her back so Helena’s fingers hit the perfect spot that made her moan. With expert precision, Helena slid her other hand down and pressed on Sloane’s clit in circles as she curled her fingers inside Sloane. Minutes went by as the pleasure built up until Sloane couldn’t take it anymore, and she cried out in ecstasy. She squeezed her eyes shut, sparks still shooting behind her eyelids as she lost control.

When she finally regained her breath, Sloane opened her eyes to see Helena still sitting in the same spot, a satisfied grin on her face.

“That was a much better apology,” Sloane said, laughing.

“Then maybe you should show me how much you appreciate my apology.”

Sloane leaned up and tucked her legs under her, sitting on her knees in front of Helena at eye level.

Wordlessly, she leaned in and kissed Helena deeply, then guided her to where she had just been lying down. With a gentle push, she pushed Helena down, then traced her kisses from her lips down her neck, down her chest, lavishing each nipple as she sucked and nipped.

Sloane felt Helena’s body tighten underneath her as she nipped on her nipple and moved her hand down to her waist.

Helena leaned back and moaned, “More.”

Sloane brought both hands up to cup her breasts as she squeezed them harder than she normally would have.

“That’s for letting me walk out,” she said playfully as she flicked Helena’s nipple with her tongue.

“If that’s my punishment, then I need to walk out more often.”

Sloane’s silent response was to nip down a little harder while squeezing Helena’s breast with one hand as she snaked her other hand down to trace her curves, eliciting a sound that was between a yelp and a moan from Helena.

“Fine, fine. No more walking out,” Helena acquiesced.

“Better,” Sloane purred as she cupped Helena’s soaking pussy, then moved her thumb up to rest on top of her clit. “Much better.”

She started moving her thumb in tight circles, and Helena’s body slackened and her breathing became more ragged in response. She dropped her thumb and ran her fingers down her pussy. Helena was wet and ready. Good.

Sloane leaned all the way down til she was on her stomach in between Helena’s legs and teased Helena with her tongue, little movements that made Helena’s body twitch at first but then long strokes that elicited deeper moans.

“You’re amazing,” Helena panted in between strokes, and Sloane moved her hand up to brace against her stomach, silencing her.

Sloane kept swirling her tongue then moved up to the clit to suck on it, pulling it into her mouth and massaging it with her tongue which made Helena cry out in pleasure.

“Keep going. I’m so close,” Helena said as she tangled her fingers in Sloane’s curly hair.

Sloane kept the pace with her tongue, and she inserted two fingers inside Helena and pushed into her. She alternated licking and sucking while pumping her curled fingers, and Sloane could feel Helena’s body completely tighten before her orgasm crashed through her body and she screamed Sloane’s name while arching her back and neck.

Sloane slipped her fingers out and curled up next to Helena, facing her. “Liked that?”

“Let’s just say I won’t be walking out again. Ever.”