Things got pretty awkward after those words.

It was that weird limbo where neither of us knew what should be said. Or so it seemed from my perspective. As for what Helen was actually thinking about, I had no idea whatsoever.

Well, judging by the fact that my darling focused on her makeup, I guess the date was still a thing. Not the worst possible outcome.

***

The elevator ride ended, and we found ourselves in the parking lot.

As I was contemplating if I should say something or give Helen some more space to think, she spoke first:

“I’m sorry.” My darling apologized.

“What for?” I genuinely couldn’t understand.

Helen wasn’t in the wrong, nor did her words hurt me in any way.

“For letting my emotions get the better of me,” she actually sounded a bit guilty.

“You are forgiven,” I said with a smile, “even though I think you did nothing wrong.”

“Darling!” Helen exclaimed in a happy tone.

I gave up trying to wrap my head around this situation and decided to just go with the flow. After some consideration, I offered my elbow to the lady I was currently escorting, and she took it with zero hesitation, leaning into my side.

***

I was driving the car, the same one we came here in, through the late-evening cityscape.

Helen ambushed me with facts and logic: I knew where we were going; she felt a bit tired after everything I did to her through the day; she called ‘not it’ first.

The odd gleam in her eyes, as well as that ‘up to no good’ smile on her pretty face, made it obvious enough that my darling had something else on her mind. I still decided to play along in an attempt to atone for my earlier sins.

I also felt curious about what exactly that mischief was that she planned to cause.

The dainty hand landing on my leg was the answer I got shortly after. Young Lady Smith felt like taking revenge for my earlier transgressions.

I glanced at my darling, and she met my gaze with a playful smile as her hand creeped upward. How devious!

***

The ride was quite pleasant, as the traffic had died down for the most part by now, and I deliberately chose a longer route towards our destination.

My eyes were focused on the road, even though these side and back streets were almost empty, with only a few cars bringing their passengers to wherever their destination was.

“Helen,” I called out to the beauty in the passenger seat.

“Yes?” Helen replied with a hint of playfulness in her voice.

“I wanted to ask, what are you trying to do here?” I actually did wonder what her endgame was.

She had done her best to rile me up, with the tent in my pants being the obvious indication of her success.

“Nothing~” That bit of playfulness hasn’t gone anywhere.

Her hand hasn’t stopped, either.

“If you say so.” I shrugged, forcing myself to calm down.

After the marathon we went through earlier, my self-control was back, so it wasn’t all that hard to accomplish. No matter how beautiful Helen was, her methods were nowhere near Bella’s. Even the younger version.

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I glanced in the rearview mirror, noticing the slight panic in Helen’s expression as she watched her efforts become undone.

“Hey!” My darling protested with a cute pout.

I caught her hand with mine and brought it to my lips to give it a light kiss on the knuckles. This little gesture placated my not-anymore-ex-girlfriend, eliciting a round of giggling. Well, I was glad she seemed to be in a good mood.

***

The guy manning the post at the entrance to Bella’s personal parking recognized me and opened the gates. Knowing her, she left the instructions beforehand, so it was well within my expectations.

I left the car and opened the door for my date, who gave me a deathly stare but still took my offered hand.

I had overdone it again.

Well, in my defense, I couldn’t really help myself, since watching how the mask of Young Lady Smith slowly crumbled into a flustered mess of passion and lust under my attacks was simply too entertaining.

I helped Helen out of the vehicle, and she leaned into me, whispering into my ear:

“I will definitely pay you back for this.”

By some chance, were her words intended as a threat?

“I certainly am looking forward to you trying.” I smiled in response, hugging her waist.

She let out a cute snort, actually leaning more of her weight onto my side, and let me lead her towards my personal lounge.

Two flights of stairs and a short walk later, for the whole duration of which I had fought against the temptation, we finally arrived at our destination.

The room met us with a familiar red and black interior. The audio system was working, letting the club music inside the otherwise soundproof room, adding to the atmosphere.

As soon as the door behind me closed, Helen all but threw herself at me, dragging me into a passionate kiss. Which I obviously didn’t shy away from.

I still had to break it off about two minutes later, since it came to a point where I had to make a very hard decision.

“Helen, darling,” I called out, once more feeling how she shivered after hearing that word. “Should we order something to eat first? Or should I rather eat you instead?”

She dragged me towards the table, not bothering to verbalize her answer. Only to stop a few steps before it and put her hand on my chest in a coquettish manner, making me stop in my tracks.

Huh, so my guess about her answer was a bit off. If that lust in her eyes was something to go by. My darling kept looking into my eyes and took a step back, followed by another two, stopping just before the table.

Without breaking eye contact, Helen raised both of her hands, slowly dragging her dress up, showing more and more of her skin. Must I add that she did it in a tantalizingly slow manner, following the rhythm of the music?

The process stopped after the hem of her dress reached her waist, showing off a small triangle of violet silk held by two ties on the side of her hips.

Despite everything—years of experience and previous exposure—the picturesque scene in front of my eyes still managed to thoroughly mesmerize me. So unfair.

This fact hasn’t escaped her notice, either.

And she loved it.

With a very pleased smile on her perfect face, Helen continued her little performance, this time moving her hands down her immaculate curves with deliberate slowness.

Caught in this hypnotic dance, my eyes followed her every motion, as if glued. All the way until her fingers finally reached the ties on her hips.

Taking a hint, I raised my gaze to look into my darling’s eyes again. Helen met my stare with a playful smile.

“Darling,” I heard her calling me. “So, should we order something to eat? Or would you rather…”

She lowered her eyes, not even bothering to finish the question, fully assured that this round was her complete and total win. I shook my head at her antics, but she was right, as I was ready to pounce on her already.

Though, you know, the two could play this game, right?

I gave her the best roguish smile of mine, something I knew was a huge weakness of hers, and enjoyed that short instant of realization in her eyes. And a moment later, the untied piece of silk slipped onto the ground.

Right at that very moment, the door into the lounge opened, letting a familiar figure in.

“Has he told you about having other women already?” Bella’s assistant, Lyta, if I recall correctly, asked a question entering the room.

Time slowed down to a crawl as my mind raced, calculating if the satisfaction from killing her would be worth pacifying a thoroughly pissed-off Bella.

Then I looked at how both girls' expressions went from being lost for Helen and righteous fury for Lyta to recognition and about the same state of shock.

Huh, were they acquainted before?

“Helen/Lyta?” Two girls chorused.

So, they knew each other, indeed.

“Why are you here/with him?” And again.

I felt a pang of headache, anticipating the long talk that was waiting for me.