When Helen awoke to a pair of lips against her collar bone, her initial reaction was to reach for her gun but when a hand caught hers long before she could wrap her fingers around cold metal, she opened her eyes and rethought the course of action.

"Don't shoot," Nikola whispered, nipping his way towards her neck. "I can promise this will become far less enjoyable if I have to deal with a gaping wound."

Helen merely groaned, shifting beneath his hands until his lips were sliding across her cheek.

"Ew," she croaked, pushing him away. "Morning breath."

"It's not morning," Nikola tried, sliding up behind her.

"Yet you still have the breath."

"You're very horrible when I wake you up with the promise of sex."

"I'm tired," she said with a yawn. "Just... let me sleep, please?"

"While I'd love the chance to watch you sleep, we have a date."

"Later."

"Now is later," he said, one finger tracing her cheekbone. "Six hours later to be exact."

She bolted upright at that.

"Oh. Really? Are you sure?"

"Certain," he said simply, eyes drifting down from her face to where the sheet was pooling around her hips before skating back up to somewhere in between. "Just as I am certain that I no longer care."

His hands closed around her waist firmly, rolling them until she was straddling his waist.

"This is better," he said with a lazy grin, reaching a hand up to pull her down for a kiss but Helen put her hands on his chest and pushed up.

"Halitosis is not a sure-fire way to turn me on," she told him sternly, using one hand to haul her matted hair out of her eyes.

"We don't have to kiss?" Nikola suggested darkly, placing his hands on her hips before slowly dragging them up her sides.

Helen rolled her eyes and captured his hands before they could make their way to her bare breasts.

"Later," she promised, bring his hands to her lips and kissing the knuckles gently. "Let us get this done before we worry about morning etiquette."

Nikola almost pouted but made no protest when she slid from the bed, stretching as she went.

"Are you sure this will work?" he asked casually, rolling onto his side and propping up his head with a hand. "It isn't some elaborate trap?"

"I trust Ranna," Helen said as she shrugged into her silk robe.

"Ranna?" Nikola echoed, raising an eyebrow.

"Another discussion for later," she assured him before offering a hand. Nikola moved slowly but deliberately, allowing her ample chance to stare as he climbed from the bed. And she did stare. He was beautiful, all long and lean with the kinds of muscles Helen wanted to test out properly. She'd seen him naked before but this time it was so... different. He was unashamed of his state and she was unashamed of seeing him like this. The candle light from before was gone, now replaced by the sheen of the moon as it streamed through the windows and it made him look other-worldly, like some fantastic creature who had materialised to do wicked things with her during the night.

It made her ache to be closer to him again, lest he slip out the window and leave her all alone.

"Later is not my friend," he said darkly and Helen licked her lips. Smiling, she took his hand and pulled him towards the bathroom.

"I'm sure, once we get to later, all animosity will be forgotten," she promised, toeing away the towel from the bottom of the bathroom door before they opened the door.

Nikola followed her eagerly, coming to wrap his arms around her waist as she stood before the vanity where their solution was supposedly ready. The saline solution was no longer clear, the vial having turned it a brilliant blue.

"The colour of your eyes," Nikola whispered, nuzzling against her cheek. "So, what do we do with it?"

"Got a needle?" Helen asked, turning slightly in his embrace. The feel of his erection against her arse was more than a little distracting, if she was honest.

He smirked, obviously coming up with some ridiculous innuendo she ought to shoot down but, before he could say anything, she pressed a hand to his lips. He narrowed his eyes at her but stepped back as she pushed at him. He even managed to wait patiently as she went rifling through the emergency kit they'd used earlier for the saline.

Only when she straightened and placed the needle on the bench did he take her by the waist again.

"You are a trying woman," he said. "And shall be the death of me."

"The death of your snark is not the same as the death of you," Helen said with a smirk. "Your innuendo is more trying than I can ever explain."

"But now I've seen you naked, properly naked, how do you expect me to ever keep it in check?"

"You are such a drama queen," Helen said with a sigh, fighting out of his grip. "And your breath still smells."

Nikola followed her as she moved towards the bench again but she shrugged him off.

"Run a bath," she said over her shoulder. "And light a candle or two."

"Yes ma'am," Nikola replied saucily, turning on the faucet before disappearing from the room and giving Helen a few seconds to try and calm herself.

She felt like a child around him, a school girl who wore a blush every time she even looked at the boy she was sweet on only this was so much worse. She couldn't stop thinking about his hands on her skin, the taste of his sweat on her lips, the way he muttered if she shifted her hips just so. It was all... overwhelming.

"I come bearing candle," he announced grandly, re-entering the bathroom with a flourish. He set the small candles around the palatial bathtub Helen had never actually shared with anyone before and she watched as he carefully lit each one. And still he was perfectly nude.

Biting her lip, Helen flicked her gaze back to the syringe she was preparing and tried to concentrate. With only a minimum of fumbling hands and shaking fingers, she had the syringe filled and ready to go. She tapped it lightly to get rid of the last of the air bubbles.

The water in the tub was slowly starting to rise, steaming softly as Nikola tested the water with his fingers. He fiddled with the taps for a moment before turning towards Helen, perched on the edge of the bath.

"Is it to my lady's liking?" he asked cockily.

"Oh would you just get in the bath already?" she asked, shaking her head.

"You first."

"Please, Nikola?"

"It's not fair," he half whined. "Why don't I get to see you naked and all wet?"

"Who says you won't?" she asked, unable to help herself. She watched as a grin spread across Nikola's face before he shifted and lowered himself into the tub. Helen knelt by the side for a moment, waiting for the water to rise that little bit higher before she leaned over and turned the water off.

"This is divine," Nikola said softly, voice echoing in the silence as he reclined and looked at Helen through heavy eyelids. "I can think of only one way in which it could be improved. Care to join me?"

Helen chuckled and reached into the hot water for his hand.

"In a moment, I promise. But first, we have to ensure that neither you or your innuendo dies."

His eyes snapped open at that but he allowed her to draw his arm from the bath.

"Are you sure about this?"

Helen looked up, startled at the tumultuous note in his voice.

"No," she answered honestly. "But I don't think there is any other way to... to..."

"To what?" he asked softly, fingers curling around hers. Helen looked down at their hands and smiled.

"To keep you with me for the rest of my life," she finished, not looking up. Nikola made a soft humming noise before the water sloshed and his free hand was cupping her face.

"Nothing, would give me greater pleasure, than to be by your side from now until the end of eternity" he said softly, eyes shining in the candle light. And then, bad breath and all, he was kissing her so sweetly that Helen felt her heart trill out a funny tune. Their lips lingered against one another's for a moment after the kiss opened, both unwilling to open their eyes but the gentle weight of the syringe in Helen's hand brought her back to reality.

Slowly, eyes trained on his arm, Helen brought the needle up, placing the tip against the crook of his arm.

"This is all very familiar," he said softly. At that she looked up.

"The start of another journey," she told him with a small smile. And then, with her heart in her throat, Helen pressed the needle into his skin and released the fluid.

It took half a second for Nikola to react. He gasped softly, eyes flying wide open as he sat bolt upright in the bath. Tossing the empty syringe across the room, Helen tore her robe away before slipping into the bath behind him, arms wrapped around his waist as she pulled him back against her chest.

"Just breathe," she said softly, feeling his racing heartbeat against hers. "In and out, Nikola. I've got you."

His entire body tensed as his arms began to shake, a strangled moan slipping from his lips. Helen's heart was beating almost as erratically as his as she held him firmly, continuing to whisper soft noises of encouragement against his shoulder. One of his arms flew up to land across hers, his grip ferocious.

"Helen," he choked out, body now jerking against hers. "Helen, don't... don't let go."

"Never," she promised, placing a palm flat against his stomach. "Never. I'm here."

The next hour passed in a blur for Helen. Nikola alternated between moaning and gasping, back arching before he slumped back into her arms before once again violently thrashing. Bit by bit though, the fits became less and less violent until, with a whimper, Nikola fell back against her chest for the last time.

She soothed his brow gently, stroking at his cheek before reaching over to add more hot water to the bath.

Nikola moaned at the fresh stream of water, rolling onto his side to avoid it.

"Thas... thas nasty," he breathed. "Not 'gain, please."

"Not if I can help it," Helen promised with a weak chuckle. The worse of it was over now and all that was left was to see what had actually happened to him.

"Thanks, though," he said, voice a little stronger. "Didn't hurt you?"

"No, of course not," she said, tightening her grip on him. An elbow to the ribs was a small price to pay to have him alive and in her arms.

Slowly, Nikola pushed himself over until he was looking Helen in the face. He looked exhausted, dark shadows under his still beautiful eyes aging him.

"Suddenly," he said, raising one startlingly steady hand to brush her cheek, "I feel rather inclined to make love to my wife."

Helen couldn't help but laugh as she pushed him to sit upright, following easily.

"Don't tell me there's another woman you haven't told me of?" she asked, arching an eyebrow.

"She's a stunning brunette. Legs to die for and a heart of gold, I think you'll have met her before."

"And what will you introduce me to her as?" Helen teased, willing to play the game.

He paused, cocking his head.

"I don't know, I think it'd be a rather uncomfortable conversation," he admitted. "We'd both have to be beyond crazy for it to work. I really don't talk to myself all that often and I'd hope you don't either."

"I'm not your wife, Nikola," she reminded him, shaking her head. "Just because I yell at you and we don't have much sex..."

"But we said vows!" he replied. Helen arched an eyebrow. "I promised to stay with you until the end of eternity."

"That doesn't count," she said, shaking her head.

"It does to me," Nikola said adamantly. "I meant every word of it. And I mean a whole lot more. Like the honouring and treasuring thing. And the sickness bit too."

Helen tried to laugh off but there was something about his words that made her heart seize up and think it wasn't all nonsense.

"How are you feeling?" she asked suddenly, trying to navigate to safer waters.

"Fit as a fiddle," he confirmed. "Trust me, I'm as surprised as you but there is one little thing that I know would help me feel on top of the world again."

He grabbed her by the waist at that, pulling her towards him with a slosh as she giggled.

"Nikola!" she cried in alarm, half-heartedly fighting him off.

"Please?" he asked softly. "Please let me make love to my wife?"

She shuddered at his words, back arching as his lips found purchase on her throat.

"Not here," she managed to gasp out.

"Why not?"

"Sex in the bath is never as fun as it sounds," she whispered back. "And I think it's about to overflow."

Nikola shifted her so that he could hold her with one hand while the other moved to the tap.

"Better?"

"We still aren't having sex in the water."

Nikola sighed before standing, pulling Helen to her feet with him. The cold night air played havoc with her senses as it rolled across her wet body but Nikola's body pressed against her provided more warmth than the bath ever could.

"A-are you sure you feel all right?" Helen tried, her logical brain putting up something that she supposed was meant to be a fight.

"Shut up and let me ravish you," Nikola said as he swept her from the bathtub. Together, with hands and legs entangled, they somehow managed to make it across the bedroom to fall down onto his bed.

Helen crawled backwards on the bed as Nikola followed, neither caring about the water no doubt soaking through his sheets. As he covered her body with his, Helen could focus on nothing more than the way he managed to use his entire body to set hers on fire with arousal.

His hands skimmed down her curves, teasing and pinching before coming to a stop between her legs. One single swipe around her clit had Helen crying out for him, hips leaping up to meet his hand properly.

"Now, Nikola," she cried, nails digging into his shoulders.

He didn't need telling twice.

One hand cupping her cheek, the other on her hip, Nikola brought himself forward. Helen's hand wrapped around his cock eagerly, stroking him roughly for a second before she guiding him to her centre. They both shuddered as he brushed against her but, by mutual consensus, it wasn't enough.

"My wife," Nikola breathed before he plunged into her in one, smooth movement. Helen opened her mouth in silent scream, her body already alarmingly close to orgasm. As Nikola began to move, she realised he was just as close.

"Nikola," she moaned. There was something she had to tell him, something important but as his cock moved hard and fast inside her, all her thoughts became incoherent. All that mattered was the friction, the heat, the punishing pace that was getting faster and faster and faster until Helen's vision swam, her body exploding in pleasure.

Nikola was merely seconds behind her, slumping over her sweaty body with a soft groan while she was still trying to ride out the aftershocks of her orgasm.

"Love you," she whispered, pressing a kiss to his cheek. "My husband."

Nikola groaned again but this time Helen felt his cock begin to harden inside her. Apparently Praxian men were gifted more than just longevity of life...

"Say that again" he whispered hoarsely, pulling himself up to rest on his elbows.

"Say what?"

"What you called me."

Helen smiled up at him and, despite the exhaustion that had swept through her, rolled her hips.

"Make me," she whispered darkly, shivering as Nikola's face darkened with lust.

"It would be my pleasure."

And with that, we are finished! Next up is Awakening which won't be too far away, I'm 4000 words into it

Hugs to those who've stuck with me on this rather epic and long-winded journey, can't believe I finally finished the Hollow Earth Arc! I thought it'd never end!

xx