Most students go to the beach and party when spring break comes around. I am not one of those people. On my spring break, I go home and help my father at his bookstore. No wonder I don't have many friends. I couldn't help but sigh as I shelved the new inventory that arrived this morning. Placing the last book on the shelf, I heard the bell on the door ring signaling a customer. "Welcome to Bering and Sons." Turning, I was stunned. There stood a shorter woman, with dark brown eyes and long, dark brunette hair pulled back in a bun. She wore an outfit that looked straight out of the 1800s. Under a black wool coat, she wore a white dress shirt, under a gray vest, with black slacks, and a pocket watch.

"Thank you." Her smile was charming and the English accent made her seem dashing. I could tell by the way she stood that she was independent.

"Can I help you find something?"

"Yes you can actually. I'm from out of town and looking for a certain book. Do you have any H.G. Wells by chance?"

I couldn't help but smile at the name. H.G. Wells was one of my favorite authors. "Yes, we have quite a few of his books. Follow me." The British woman followed closely to the back corner of the store. "Here we are. If you need anything else, let me know."

"I will. Thank you…"

"Myka." I could feel this woman's eyes scanning me. It felt like they could look straight into my soul.

"Thank you, Myka." There was a knowing grin on the woman's face. She knew the effect she had an on me.

"Welcome." With that, I made my way back to the front. Oh my God. What the hell was that? My heart sped when she looked at me. It's nothing Myka. It's just because she likes H.G. Wells too. It had been two hours since the woman came in and I was starting to wonder what exactly she was doing. When I found her, she was sitting on the floor with a stack of engineering books spread around her. "You're an engineer?"

"An inventor of sorts." Placing the book down, she picked up a new one. "Do you only sell older books or do you have newer ones as well?"

"We only have up to the late 1900s. Which, in my opinion, is perfectly fine. Is there anything in particular you're looking for?"

"Not particularly. So you like old fashioned things?" Dark eyes met mine. What are those eyes doing to me? "I'm Helena."

"That's an older name. It suits you. Anyway, I just wanted to check in on you. Normally people don't spend over two hours here."

"Unless they're like you?" My brows knitted. "I can tell you love books. I'm sure you've spent many years here Myka Bering."

"How did…"

"You work here and it looks like a family owned business." Helena stood gracefully and picked up the books. "I'll put these back. Sadly, my wallet was nicked by a young man before I came here."

"Neanderthal. I'm sorry about that." Before I could stop myself, I continued. "Are you staying in town? If you are, there's a back room you can stay in since you have no cash on you."

"I'm a perfect stranger Myka, and you're offering me a place to stay?"

I followed as Helena placed the books back in their proper places. "Not totally. If you take the room, you'd have to help me in the store. But you're not a total stranger. You like H.G. Wells and Shakespeare. Anyone who likes them is a little trustworthy."

"Thank you for your kindness Myka."

"You're welcome. It's time to close, would you like to grab a bite of eat before I lock you away in here?"

"That would be lovely." There was something strange about this woman. When we arrived at the bar and grill she looked at the menu like it was in a different language.

"What can I get you ladies?" Mark, a childhood friend, walked up with a pen and note pad.

"It's been a long day so I'll take the chicken finger platter and a coke."

"You know Myka, after a long day most people have a beer or a drink." Mark grinned flirtatiously towards Helena. "And for you Miss.?"

"I'll have the grilled chicken salad and water." Once Mark was gone, Helena spoke. "He's quite a flirt. Are the two of you…?"

"No. No. Not us. I tutored him in chemistry when we were in high school. He was the captain of the football team and I was the bookworm."

"Ah. Being well read is a good thing; especially for a woman like yourself."

A soft blush crossed my cheeks. "Yes when I'm home I normally live in my father's bookstore."

"Where else do you go?" Mark brought our drinks and left.

"I go to college. Pre-med and I dabble in pre-law. I can't keep occupied. I want to do something that's different. Do something new every day."

"There's always something new to learn."

"Exactly." Helena and I talked about books while we ate. She didn't talk about herself much but for some reason I trusted her.

Once we got back to the store, I showed Helena to the backroom. There was a cot and a few blankets. "Thank you Myka."

"You're welcome. Get some sleep. I'll come wake you up at seven so you can shower and get ready for work. I'll have breakfast waiting for us at home."

"You as well."

Xxx

"Helena?" I knocked on the door lightly. "Helena?"

"Good morning darling." Helena's sultry purr in my ear caused me to jump. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to startle you."

It took me a moment to gather my bearings. Not only did she scare me, she made me feel something I had never felt before. "Yeah, sure you didn't. Ready for breakfast?"

"Lead the way." Helena followed me to the apartments near the bookstore. "You grew up close to your parents' bookstore. No wonder you like them so much."

"Yeah. My father read me H.G. Wells when I was a kid." Opening the door, I allowed Helena to pass. "Mom, Dad, we have a guest." Leading her into the dining room, I introduced her to my parents. "This is Helena. The woman I told you about."

"Hello. Will you be joining us for breakfast?" My mother called from the kitchen.

"If that's alright with you." Helena stood with her hands clasped behind her back.

"Any friend of Myka's is welcome. It's nice to see her with a friend."

Pinching the bridge of my nose, I sighed. "Mom, really?" All I could do was shake my head. "Let me get you a change of clothes and let you shower before breakfast." I led Helena to my room to get a change of clothes. "These should fit. I'll get you a towel. The bathroom is down the hall. There's an extra toothbrush in the top left drawer." Once Helena was squared away, I rejoined my parents in the dining room.

"She seems like a nice girl." I knew that tone. Mom was insinuating again. "Are the two of you…?"

"No. Mother. We're not…No." Thank God Helena's in the shower and can't hear this. "Why do you always think that?"

"It's just because we've never seen you with a boy…"

"Can we not talk about this? Just because I haven't met a guy who doesn't act like a child doesn't mean I'm gay."

My father just continued reading the paper. "You know Myka, your sexual orientation doesn't matter to your mother and I."

"Not you too." I looked between my parents. "Really?"

"Is everything alright?" Jumping again, I hid my face in my hands. "I didn't mean to frighten you, again."

"It's alright. I just didn't hear the shower turn off." As Helena took a seat, I couldn't help but notice how different she looked in my clothes. And apparently she noticed.

"Thank you for the clothes."

"You're welcome." I could feel a light blush creeping up my neck. Helena's chest was bigger than mine so the shirt was a bit snug. We ate in a comfortable silence. Once everything was cleaned up, we went to open the store.

For the most part, it was rather slow. The occasional customer would come in and buy a book or two. "You know, many of my lovers were men." The sound of my book hitting the floor echoed through the store. Oh God. How much did she hear? "There's nothing wrong with fancying women Myka." Helena watched me from the corner of her eye as I picked up the book.

"I know. It's just…"

"You've never thought about it before. Which is understandable. It's quite different than being with a man. More gentle in many ways."

This is way too private of a conversation to have with someone who I've known less than twenty-four hours. Why is she bringing it up? "I'm sure it's different. I mean, another woman knows your body better than a man would."

"Exactly. But seeing that this conversation is making you rather uncomfortable, let's change the subject."

"Yes, please. How did you sleep last night?"

Helena chuckled softly as she opened another box of books. "Well. I woke up early and read some before you came to gather me."

"I wondered why you weren't in the backroom."

It was nearly lunch time when Mom brought us food. "Hello Myka, how's business going?"

"We've had a few customers. About the usual."

"Where's your friend?" Mom looked around quickly.

"She's in the restroom. Why?" I un-wrapped the sandwich and took a bite.

"Why don't you let her stay in the apartment? Your bed is big enough for two people. It's rude to let a friend sleep on a cot when there's a perfectly nice bed…"

"Mom," I warned. "I'll…"

"Oh hello Mrs. Bering. How are you?" I prayed Helena didn't hear our conversation. Not that I didn't want her in the apartment. It's just odd having someone else in my bed.

"I'm well. Myka and I were just talking and we would like you to stay in the apartment. It's much nicer than the backroom and Myka's bed is big enough for two."

"Are you sure?" Helena's eyes fell on me. All I could do was nod. Thankfully, I had a mouth full of food that kept me from speaking.

"Well, it's set then. I brought lunch. No need for you to take turns going for lunch." With that, my mother left and the silence in the store was deafening.

That night, once I was done with my nightly routine, I walked into my room to see Helena leaning against the headboard reading. "I hope you don't mind I borrowed a book to read." Helena's eyes lingered a moment and I suddenly became quite aware that my shorts and tank top wasn't covering much.

"N-no not at all." Climbing into bed, I laid facing the door. Even if my back was to Helena, I could still feel her dark eyes on me.

"I hope this arrangement isn't making you uncomfortable." Helena closed the book and placed it on the nightstand.

"No. It's not that." I turned on my back. "I'm just…," a deep blush covered my face. "I like to snuggle apparently."

Helena chuckled softly as she got comfortable under the covers. "That's nothing to be embarrassed over." Somehow, her smile put me at ease. "Goodnight."

"Night."

Xxx

The next morning, I woke feeling the slow rise and fall of my head. Groaning, I moved my hand around only to stop when I felt a soft pillow-like substance in my palm. "Good morning to you as well." Quickly, I moved to my side of the bed and slid off. "Are you alright?"

I lay on the floor staring up at Helena. "I am so sorry." My face must have been a deep shade of red because Helena laughed once she realized I was okay. "I didn't mean to…"

"It's quite alright. You warned me that you liked to snuggle. You looked so peaceful I didn't want to wake you." Helena's eyes were soft.

Standing, I stretched. "I swear, I didn't mean to feel you up. I'm sorry." There was nothing she could say that would take this embarrassment away. I just felt up a woman. And apparently slept on her chest most of the night!

"I'm not an innocent Myka." Helena grinned knowing my reaction.

"Oh my God."

Xxx

Over the next week, Helena and I grew closer. She didn't mind waking up each morning with me wrapped around her. And on the few occasions I woke up in the middle of the night with her arm draped over my hip, I didn't mind. Helena made me feel safe and slowly I grew to like her. Any time a male customer tried to flirt with me, she would be there to save me. One night before bed, I could tell something was on Helena's mind. "Hey, what's wrong?" I took a seat on the bed.

Placing the book on the nightstand, she met my gaze. "I'm leaving tomorrow." My stomach dropped. I didn't want her to leave. "I got word from my family and I need to return to London."

A lump formed quickly in my throat. "Oh."

"Myka," gently, Helena cupped my cheek. "I'm sorry."

Leaning into the soft touch I answered, "Its okay. Your family needs you."

Slowly, Helena got off the bed and went to her coat. "I want you to have this." Pulling out her pocket watch, she gave it to me. "Something to remember me by."

"Thank you, Helena." I let my fingertips trace the engravings in the cold metal.

"You're welcome." There was such sorrow in Helena's brown eyes. Without thinking, I leaned forward and kissed her. Instantly, Helena kissed back and laced a hand in my hair. I sighed into her mouth as she deepened the kiss. Leaning me back, she hovered and gazed down at me. "Are you sure you want this? If not, I won't think any different of you."

Smiling up at the woman, I answered. "I do want this. I want you if only for one night." Helena dipped her head to capture my lips with hers. Things felt so right with her. My hips bucked into Helena's when she nibbled at my ear and traced its shell with her tongue. A fire was building between my legs and I needed her to extinguish it. "Helena, please…"

Helena trailed kisses down my neck and along my collar bone. I loved the feeling of her hands on my skin. They were strong but gentle as she raked her nails slowly down my sides. Our clothes pooled into a pile on the floor. I was vulnerable but felt safe when Helena looked at me. "You're beautiful Myka Bering."

"So are you Helena." I pulled the older woman down for a passionate kiss. I moaned when I felt slender fingers between my folds. Each whimper and moan drove her. I had never come like that in my life. As I caught my breath, I laid in a boneless heap in her strong arms. "Can I…?"

"Of course you can." That night I made love to a woman. Helena guided me when I was unsure. The moans and sighs that escaped her throat made me want to please her even more. I laid with my head on her bare chest. "Helena, I…"

"Shhh." Helena tilted my chin upwards, "I know." Dipping her head, she captured my lips once again. The last thing I remember was falling asleep in her arms.