4 comments/ 6980 views/ 4 favorites Unintentional Advances By: xantedeschia Rain plastered the soldier's dark hair to his head as he watched the waitress coming out of the sushi bar. He'd been in there minutes earlier but decided he wanted to be away from his fellow soldiers when he asked her more about herself. The others had a tendency to give him a hard time whenever he made an attempt at talking to the opposite sex and it was hard enough getting the courage up as it was without their jeers and boisterous catcalls resounding in the background. He stepped out from beneath the inadequate shelter of the bus stop and made his presence known so as not to startle her. Even so, she looked up gasping fearfully before a wave of recognition washed across her face, though the narrow eyed look of suspicion wasn't completely gone. "Hi, lovely weather huh?" He opened, not sure of what else to say. "I guess..." She trailed off. "Are you waiting on the bus too?" "Um, no. I'm kind of a nervous person." He mumbled a bit before taking a deep breath. "Would you like to go out sometime?" He said clearly, his direct gaze looking nervously down at the much smaller woman. "Maybe... it depends." She looked up smiling. "What's your name?" "John, John Michaelsson." He answered smiling back. "What's yours?" "Helena Moore." She said, offering her hand for a handshake. She blushed a bit when John accepted her offer and both smiled as they held on slightly longer than was normal for a friendly handshake. "So-" John faltered, not sure of how to continue the conversation. "Hmm?" Helena looked up quizzically as she regarded the tall soldier standing next to her in the drenching downpour. "I'm not sure what to say now." John admitted bashfully. "I don't normally ask women out like this. My friends usually set me up on blind dates." "Well, would you like to just sit for a bit?" She asked, trying to hide the hopeful look in her eyes. "The bus doesn't come for another twenty minutes." "Alright." John said smiling. "Would you like to wait somewhere else or is here okay?" He said, hunching his shoulders against the weather. "Well, do you have a car we could sit in?" Helena asked. "Yeah, I didn't want to suggest it though, I thought you might get put off if I did." John admitted sheepishly. "No, I'm okay." She said softly. "You don't seem like a psycho to me, so I'll take my chances today and trust you." John smiled, flashing two rows of perfect white teeth as he motioned in the direction of the waiting jeep. After opened the passenger side door for Helena, John maneuvered his tall frame into the drivers side and briskly rubbed his hands together. Turning his key, he cut on the ignition and turned the heat up in an attempt to get dry and keep them both warm while they sat in silence. "So what made you decide to ask me out?" Helena asked, looking over at her companion. She smiled reassuringly as he blushed heavily at the question. "I-I-I don't know. I liked you, I guess." John stammered softly as he looked down at the steering wheel in a vain attempt at hiding his now beet red face. Helena could see how nervous he really was about approaching her and slid her hand under his. He smiled a bit at the kind gesture but continued to look down. Helena could feel his hand growing clammy and felt as he trembled almost imperceptibly but thought that it was from the cold. In an attempt to warm him, she turned the car's A/C vents directly at him to allow the heat to blow more directly on his wet frame. "Thanks, Helena." John said appreciatively. "Would you hate me if I was forward about something?" "That's a very open ended question, John." She said pondering. "I guess it would depend on what it was." "It's nothing bad, at least I don't think it could be considered bad." He said, thinking carefully on the words he said. "No, it's not bad." He finished off decidedly. "Okay, I trust you." Helena just managed to say before John leaned in and kissed her softly on the lips. Her first response was shock at the speed of the act, the second hot anger at the audacity of it, but finally, she settled down to somewhere between a blushing vulnerability she hadn't felt in a very long time and lust. His kiss wasn't harsh or filled with devious intentions. Instead it was innocent, yet passionately hungry like a drowning man longing for a gulp of air or a parched landscape longing for a rainstorm. John broke the kiss after a few moments. He looked nervously down at Helena, hoping she wouldn't either slap him or leave. As the seconds passed and as she regained her coherence from the kiss, he grew less and less nervous guessing that if she'd been angry at him, she would have left by now. "Um..." Helena tried to form the spoken response to the deep tenderness of Johns kiss. "More?" He asked softly and leaned in for a second round as he saw her barely perceptible nod in agreement. Both were more comfortable with each other than from the first kiss and for her part, Helena did more to reciprocate the attention John was giving her even though he was way more knowledgeable than her. "Want to come back to my place?" Helena said breathlessly before she could even think on her words. She closed her eyes in embarrassment at the realization of what she intimated. "Sorry, I didn't mean-" She started before John interrupted her. "I'd like to but we can't go further than this, okay?" He said firmly. He watched Helena's shocked face register what he had said and gave her another kiss before the question could form on her lips. He felt her nod softly against his hand and only then did he relinquish the third kiss. "So, to the bus?" He asked. "Sure, John." Helena smiled and waited as John walked around to the passenger side to open the door for her. "Could you give me a chance to let my friends know I'm going to be staying here a while longer?" John asked. "I'll wait at the bus stop." Helena smiled and stood under the bus shelter to get out of the heavy downpour. She watched as John disappeared inside the restaurant's doors and walked over to a table with five other soldiers either sitting or standing around eating their food. A few moments into the conversation, quite a few heads turned towards the darkness that hid her as if to see what or who could keep their friend from coming with them on their free night of wild reverie. She watched as John shook his head and walked away from them and back towards her. ********************************** "God, they're so nosy." He sighed as he walked out of the doors toward the shelter. "Still there, Helena?" "Yeah, I'm here." She said smiling. "Hi, Helena." He said before leaning down to give a fourth kiss. "Oh, the bus is coming." He said as he escorted her onto the bus and paid both of their fares. "So, how far is it?" John asked as he sat next to Helena and wrapped his long strong arms around her shoulders. "A few blocks," She said. "I just don't like walking in the dark and the rain." "Understandable." He said, smiling as he gently pulled her head to his chest to rest. "Did you have a good day?" He asked softly in an attempt to keep the exhausted woman in his arms awake. "Yeah, I guess." Helena said with a stifled yawn. "Sorry about that. I pulled a double shift today and I guess I'm a bit sleepy." "It's okay." John said smiling down at Helena. "This is my stop coming up now." She said and made a move to pull the signal wire but John's longer arm got there before she could. Standing up, he helped her out of her seat and off of the bus before following her lead to her place. Helena smiled as she held John's hand and guided him to a small house by a dilapidated white fence surrounding it. She opened the gate and walked up to the door. Putting her key in the locks, she stepped inside and invited John to do the same. "Welcome to my place." She said as she stripped her coat, hat, and scarf off before walking them into the laundry room to dry. "Oh." She said suddenly. "What's wrong, Helena?" John said, dripping wet with neither a change of clothes or a way to get one nearby. "Come with me, John." She said as she led him back towards her bedroom. She felt as John paused slightly, unsure of her intentions. "Trust me please?" She said and felt as his hand relaxed in hers. "I want to dry your clothes but I'm afraid I don't have much that can fit you." She explained. "There's rather a lot of you to cover." Helena said blushing. "I think this will fit but I'm not sure if you'll like it." Helena finished as she pulled a long pink nightgown from the back of her closet. John pursed his lips before snorting a laugh and smiling again, showing his teeth in a wide grin. "That's fine, Helena." He said as he began unbuttoning his shirt. "What are you doing?" Helena asked as she watched his stripping with a look of trepidation. "Believe me, I'm not doing it all in front of you. Scoot!" He ordered playfully as he ushered Helena out of her own room much to her own chagrin. Stripping down to nothing, his nude body glistened with the water left on it and it was only then that he realized he needed a towel. "Er, Helena?" He asked, parting the door just enough to poke his head out. "Yes, John?" She asked as she came out of the steam filled bathroom wrapped warmly in a dark robe. "Would it be possible to get a towel?" He asked shyly. "No." She said bashfully. "Huh?" He looked at her, his face a mask of confusion. "I'm just kidding, John." She smiled. "Would you like to take a shower to warm up first?" She said as she headed to the linen closet in the hall. "Yeah, that would be nice." He said, smiling. "I'll go into the kitchen and make us something warm while you do your thing. Just come out when you're ready to be seen." Helena said as she headed back towards the front of the house. John shivered slightly as he walked into the bathroom, the cold tile even more chilly on his feet than the rain was on his body earlier. He stepped into the shower and turned on the taps quickly to keep from either burning or freezing himself and enjoyed the steady stream of steaming water hitting his body. Unlike at the base, the shower was adjustable and he was able to move around relatively comfortably inside the bath. He washed his hair and body with the shampoo and soap he found before standing a moment in the stream of water to just relax his sore muscles. Once his shower was over, John dried off with the towel and stepped out onto the tile floor. It was not nearly as cold as it had been before due to his feet being desensitized by the heat of the water. He slipped the nightgown on and smiled as he looked at his reflection in the mirror. The garment was carnation pink with a pattern of hearts and teddy bears printed all over it. It wasn't the sort of thing he imagined Helena buying for herself and guessed that it was either a gift from someone or belonged to someone she knew who stayed sometimes. He gathered his wet clothing from the bathroom sink and walked through the house to the kitchen before announcing his presence. He sniffed the air and smelled the scent of sausage, egg, and toast wafting towards his nose. He felt bad with what he'd have to do next but clenched his jaw and braced himself for the confrontation. "Hi, is that sausage, Helena?" He asked softly. "No, it's analog." She answered without looking up. "I'm Vegetarian. You don't mind, do you?" She asked with a concerned glance. "No, I'm good. It's just that it smells like sausage and I don't eat pork." He said softly, knowing that the questions would come from that statement. "I'll remember that but it's not likely you'll find me cooking anything with meat in it, so you don't have to worry." Helena said as she transferred the food to the plate. "Nothing on this plate is from an animal." She said as he looked at the meal of sausage and egg like foodstuffs. "What is it?" He said as he tasted the food skeptically. "It tastes like sausage." "Come here, John." Helena said, guiding him over to the counter. "Read this." She handed him a plastic package and watched as he read the ingredients with raised eyebrows. "Wow, and this is really all just soy beans and spices?" He asked unbelieving. "Yeah, it really is." Helena answered. "Are you going to sit there scientifically examining it or are you going to eat it before it's stone cold?" She scolded playfully as she poked him in the ribs. "I love you." John said suddenly, so low that he thought she didn't hear it. He watched in embarrassed horror as her head looked up suddenly. "John?" Helena said, asking the unspoken question with his name as a replacement. "Sorry, let's just eat?" John said disarmingly and stood at the table while he waited for Helena to sit down. He blushed a bit when Helena looked at him suspiciously for a moment before carefully sitting down to her meal. "Just for the record, I heard what you said." She said before eating a bite of food. "Oh, alright. Are you angry?" He asked, toying with the food on his plate. "I will be if you don't eat." Helena said coyly. John looked up in surprise at the woman sitting across the table from him. He had thought his chances were over once he'd uttered those three words from his mouth. In truth, he knew that he liked Helena and that he felt drawn to her. Whether or not it really was love seemed to be something that was too early to tell at this point. At least, that's what he told himself as he began eating his food with a furrowed brow. "Don't you like the food, John?" Helena asked. "You seem troubled." "The food's great, Helena." He replied with a sigh. "I was just thinking about something, that's all." "About what you said?" She quizzed, probing his eyes for an idea of what he was thinking. "Yeah. I just want to let you know that I don't normally do that." John admitted. "I don't know what's happening to me but I just know that I like you and feel drawn to you. It's alright if you don't feel the same way. It's probably just me being silly, I guess." He said with another sigh. "John, I like you too. You wouldn't be in my home if I didn't like and trust you." Helena replied softly. "I don't know why but I'm feeling-" She paused. "a compulsion about you as well." Helena looked down shyly at her nearly finished plate of food and then to Johns. "Would you like some more food?" "No, I'm good." He said, stopping her in her tracks. "The food was delicious." "Thanks, John." She said, before picking up each dish and rinsing them before placing them in the dishwasher. "What would you like to do now?" She asked, unsure of what to do with her guest next. "Come here, Helena." He said. "What are you comfortable with doing tonight? I have another whole day of leave, so I'm yours until I have to go back to base." "Really?" Helena said deviously before blushing at her own racy ideas. "What's running through that head of yours? Hm?" John said as he noticed the flickering change of facial expressions flashing across her face. Having an idea of what she had in mind, he began playfully tickling her to get her to loosen up. "Whatever you do, I hope it doesn't involve corrupting me. I'm an innocent." He said with an angelic look on his face. "You are?" She said in genuine surprise. "No, not really!" He grinned before pulling Helena to his lap and mercilessly tickling her everywhere she couldn't block in time. Soon they were breathless from their romantic tumbling and, once again, John lazily met his lips to Helena's. Helena, without breaking the kiss, maneuvered around to straddle John on the sofa before wrapping her arms around his broad shoulders in a warm embrace. She gasped in surprise when John suddenly broke the kiss and moved back a bit. "Helena, slow down, please?" He cautioned. "I like you but I don't want to. Not now, okay?" "Why not, John?" Helena said, her hands reaching for him in a futile grasp for his body but she was prevented from doing so by his strong hands that had her hovering inches over his body. "A few reasons, hon. I like you and I don't want to rush this." He began. "I also can't. It's just something I want to be special for us. It's not because I don't want to because, believe me, I really want to right now. It's just-" He trailed off with a sigh. Hugging Helena close to him, he began stroking her thick dark hair. He took in the heady scent of her shampoo as he squeezed her tightly in his arms, feeling her squirming in an attempt at getting more. "John, what is it?" She asked. "You don't really like me?" Helena questioned, trying to pull back as she said it. "No, that certainly isn't it." John said firmly. "I just want to wait, okay?" Helena probed Johns eyes carefully to see whether or not he was lying to her in some way but could find no hint of misleading in his clear blue eyes. She reluctantly nodded agreement and relaxed back into his chest. Soon, their lips met again and John felt himself losing control again. "Hmmm-" He moaned before pulling back again. "Let me hold off a minute, honey?" Helena felt what he was pulling back from this time and understood why he was trying to be so careful. He didn't want to get so carried away that he lost all control of himself and went back on his conditions for coming to her place. She felt as he slowly calmed down again and when he was more relaxed, he kissed her again. This time though, she was determined not to let him stop. She kept telling herself that nothing would happen but the kisses were so wonderful, that she didn't want them to end whatever the consequences. For the third time, John began getting excited but when he tried to pull back, Helena pursued his lips and he found that despite his will, he couldn't stop himself from kissing her. Gently, he picked her up from the couch and carried her back to her bedroom. Placing her down on the bed, he slipped off the pink nightgown and let it drop to the floor, discarded. Slipping off her robe, he smiled reassuringly as he climbed into bed with her before pulling her into his arms. Feathering light kisses up and down her body, John felt himself go rigid but fought the urge and instead focused on pleasing the woman before him. He watched as Helena writhed under him in a desperate attempt to fully take what he was doing but it was no use. She wasn't used to this much pleasure all at once and he could see her body responding and calling out for him to release her from her torment. Determined, he looked into her eyes as he kissed a trail down her abdomen until he reached the area between her legs. Holding her hand, he began by gently kissing and then flicking her with his tongue. Helena let out a guttural sound somewhere between a wild moan and a crying scream as he increased the intensity his tongue was delivering. He felt her squeezing his hand to try to gain some control over her own body to no effect. She was his and they both knew it. "Helena, do you want me to stop?" He managed to say before diving back to his gentle attentions. His question was met with another wild groan which he took as a no as he probed his tongue as deeply inside Helena as he could. Slowly, he slipped first one long finger and then the second inside her and, on finding her tight, began massaging her softly to loosen her up. A part of him kept screaming not to but he was lost in his own passion and, yes he could feel it, an innate love for Helena. "Helena, do you want this? Think about it. Is this something you really want to do?" He asked, poised to either plunge into her or jump off and force himself to cool off. He smiled as she nodded eagerly and began gently flicking his tongue and kissing his way back up her abdomen until he reached the soft fullness of her lips as he gently entered her. He felt her arch up to meet his entering her before whimpering and falling back to the bed in submission to his strength over her. Unintentional Advances Both lovers soon became one entity locked into a passionate rhythm of gentle kisses, caresses, and the safety of each others arms while each met the other in a exhausting grinding and pounding motion. After a few moments, both felt themselves and each other tremble and held each other close while first Helena and then John found release within each other. "Helena?" John whispered softly in the ear of the woman wrapped in his arms. "Yes, John?" Helena replied, her voice pale and satiated. "I don't want this to end." He pleaded softly. "Please, don't end this?" "I won't, John." She promised before John claimed her lips again for his own. Soon both were burning again with fevered passion and claimed each other repeatedly the rest of the morning. *********************************************** It was late in the afternoon before either of them had either the energy or the will to get up from the bed. John reluctantly got up and, picking Helena up, walked into the bath. Drawing a hot, relaxing bath, he gently slipped Helena in before maneuvering in behind the exhausted woman to keep her from slipping under. Slowly, he massaged her sore, swollen parts and smiled when she reciprocated before he just held her in his arms in the cooling water. "I love you." He whispered softly, wondering if she heard him. "I love you too, John" Helena said softly between bouts of drifting off to sleep on his chest. John smiled as he serenely kissed Helena's back, neck, temples, and all the other parts of her body he had direct access to before rinsing her and himself off. He then got out of the tub and carried her out before wrapping her in a thick towel and taking her back to the bedroom to rest. Crawling back into bed with her, he smiled when she moaned out his name a few times and wondered what she was dreaming about that involved his name being called out in such a lusty manner. He spent the better part of two hours just looking down at Helena as she slept and, when she began to stir, he stroked her hair and inquired about her well being. "How was your nap, honey?" John said with a kiss to her brow. "It was great, John." Helena moaned. "How long was I out?" "About two hours." He answered. "Feel rested?" "Yeah, I do." She smiled. "This is the most rested I've felt in years." "Me too." John admitted. "Want to learn more about each other?" He chuckled. "Mm hmmm." She sounded as she snuggled into his chest. "Ok hon, I just have to do my prayers first, okay?" He said shyly. Helena looked up at him with a puzzled look but didn't recoil. She watched as he went into the bath and began washing his arms, feet, face, and other parts before coming back out into the room. Facing east, he knelt down and began praying towards the eastern wall. She looked on, not in fear or anxiety but in genuine interest at he committed his daily prayers. Once he was done, he crawled back into bed with a look of trepidation on his face. She knew then that he was expecting that she'd reject him on finding out about his religion. Wrapping her arms around him, she pulled him close and gave him a soft kiss on the lips to let him know that it wasn't an issue. John's heart flipped with joy on being accepted. He licked his lips as he worked up the courage to ask the next difficult question formulating in his mind. "Helena-" He began. "Yes, John?" She looked up at him. "I want to marry you." He said, before contemplating the sheet covering her arm. "If that's alright with you." Helena thought about it for a moment before nodding. It was strange thinking about getting married to someone in less than a day of knowing them but the situation with John was a strange one to begin with. "I promise I'll do everything in my power to make you happy, okay?" He said firmly. "John, you don't have to. No one can do that." Helena said softly as she stroked his chest softly. "I want to do my best to try." John countered. Helena sighed as she buried herself more deeply into the comfort of John's chest. "Alright, when are we doing this?" Helena asked. "I think the wait here is forty-eight hours plus blood tests to get a license." "We'll go to Vegas. Fly in, get married, and fly back in a few hours." John grinned. "You're crazy, John." Helena smiled. "I love you though." John stroked Helena's face softly. She had said the words he longed to hear from her lucidly. He reached over for his cellphone and called the airport to arrange for two e-tickets for them for a round trip to Las Vegas and smiled when Helena did her best to make him lose composure on the telephone. Once the travel plans were arranged, John got out of bed and physically dragged Helena with him to get dressed. Grabbing their things out of the dryer, he effortlessly slipped his clothes on as was his military training to do so. Helena for her part was also quick, but not nearly as efficient as John. Both were soon ready and, thanks to John's early call, the cab from the airport had arrived in short time. Both were soon on their way to Las Vegas and their date with destiny. Once on the plane, both talked about a lot of minor things such as likes, dislikes, hobbies, and more deep and personal things like their childhoods, their outlooks on life, and other things. "So what church do you go to?" John asked, curious. "I don't go to a church, John." Helena said, looking up at him. "Is that going to be a problem?" "I don't know." He pondered. "So, what are you?" "Atheist." Helena said simply as the plane took off. "Hm, okay." John said softly. "I love you, Helena. This might be difficult though. I am going to marry you but unless you convert, it's not going to count with my mosque." "I know." She said with a sigh. "It's usually like that. I'm willing to try though. For you." "Shh. No, it can't be for or because of me that you do it." John lectured. "You have to do it because you have a genuine calling to it. Never do it to please me, okay?" "Okay, John." Helena said quietly. "So, where do I learn?" "Well, you can go to my mosque. The Imam is really cool and understanding." John advised. "Okay, I'll go. To learn, and not necessarily for you." She smiled. "That's my girl!" John said before pulling Helena into a warm embrace. ************************** A few hours later, the plane touched down in Las Vegas and they raced to the nearest chapel to get married. With two witnesses and a chaplain dressed in a space suit, they got married in a civil ceremony that bordered on the insane. After getting their pictures taken and racing back to the airport, they flew back home and spent their first few hours as a married couple passionately embraced in each others arms. "I don't want to go but I have to or they're going to consider me AWOL." John said after their sixth time resting after making love that night. "Want me to give you a ride?" Helena offered with a gentle kiss. "I don't want to tire you out. I think I've already done quite a bit of that." He said laughing. "Let me see if my hooligan friends are still in town." He picked up his cellphone and swiped the screen. "Yeah, hello, Martin." John said. "Are you still in town or have you guys gone back to base yet?" Hearing only half of the conversation, Helena watched as John arranged his travel plans. "Okay, could you come to this address then?" He gave out her address to whoever Martin was with remarkable accuracy for someone who barely had time to see it. A few minutes later, he had disconnected his cell phone and came back to paying attention to his newly claimed wife. "Hey, give me your number before I leave and I'll give you mine." John said. "I'm not losing you now that I've got you." Helena smiled as she wrote down the number and laughed when John programmed it into his cell phone. For her part, she both wrote it down and programmed it into her own. "Woman, come here!" He growled as he playfully dragged Helena across the bed and moved over her seductively. "They're going to be about an hour, so I figure that gives us enough time to give you another proper filling before they come." "Alright, John." Helena giggled while blushing hard. She whimpered when he gently slid into her sore opening but soon was lost in the pleasure and rhythm of his steady cadence. Calling out his name repeatedly, she grabbed at his arms, his hair, and anything else she could to try to steady herself but again to no avail. John's relentless pounding sapped her of her will to fight his passionate drive. "Helena!" He called her name out loud over and over again and was met by his own name from her lips. Both lovers hips met each others repeatedly until, with a grunt and a whimper, both exploded again into each other. Laying there for a moment, enjoying each others company, John explained that they would have to fill some paperwork out now that they were married. He watched as Helena nodded and whimpered a bit as she tried to sit up. John scooped her up and helped her into the shower where they both cleaned themselves and dried off before slipping their clothing back on and heading out the door to wait for John's friends. As they hit the street, they spotted the jeep almost immediately with five other soldiers hanging out of it in various stages of curiosity about where their friend had gone off to. The appearance of a woman at his side initially caused sly looks at one another until they saw that he was escorting her over to their location. From there, they were all puzzled by what was happening and waited for their friend to answer the unspoken questions written across their faces. "Hi, guys. This is my wife, Helena." John introduced them. "Helena, this is Martin, Greg, Paul, Michael, and Steve. Helena shook hands with them all in turn. "Helena, I'll be back in a few days if I can talk my C.O. into letting me come see you. If not, then I'll see about getting you on base, okay?" He said as he feathered another kiss on her lips which became deeper and more passionate. A few of his friends jaws dropped at the sight of their normally shy friend being so open about his emotions with a woman that, as far as they knew, he'd just met. When John could finally manage to tear himself away from Helena's lips, he playfully instructed her to go home and hugged her before whispering in her ear to think about those moments they spent together in each others arms. He smiled when he got the reaction he was hoping for when Helena's face turned beet red beneath its chocolate brown color. "Now go home, hon." John said with one more kiss to Helena's forehead. John watched as Helena headed back into her house and called her number until he got an answer from her on the telephone. "I love you." He whispered softly. The men piled into the jeep and sat in silence for most of the ride with John grinning widely about his recent marriage. The others were still reeling that their normally shy friend had actually not only met a woman but married her in less than a day. Eventually a few of them managed to congratulate him on his marriage and before long all were asking one question or another about how they'd met and how they got married so fast as well as other more mundane things. John answered all their questions openly and honestly and before long, they were back at base. John raced to the commanding officer's office and waited while he saw another soldier for a private consultation. Once the soldier had left, he was called back and explained his situation. The C.O. registered the same amount of surprise that John's friends had but handed him the paperwork and a pass for his new wife to come to the base. He dismissed John and watched as he raced out of the building to call his wife. "Helena?" John said softly. "Hi, John." She answered the telephone groggily. "How are you?" "I'm good, how are you, sweetheart?" He asked. "Are you too tired to come to the base?" "Could you give me a few hours rest?" Helena said playfully. "Um...no." John said smugly. "Oh, alright. I'll take the express route and show up in six hours then?" She laughed, making a joke about not getting up for several hours. "It's just that I have the paperwork here." John said anxiously. "I can send a cab for you if you're that tired. I just need you to come here and sign something and then you can go right back to bed?" "Okay, John, I can't refuse you anything." Helena said softly. "I'll get ready right now." "Sweetheart, I'm calling the cab now. It should be there in twenty minutes." John advised. "Shall I wear something low cut and slutty?" She said playfully. "If you want to, Helena." He said, his voice cracking slightly. She could tell that the thought of that had had an effect, and a good one at that. "Alright, John, I'll see you in a few then. I love you." Helena said. "I love you too." John replied with a long kissing sound over the telephone. ********************************** A few minutes later, the cab arrived and Helena climbed into the back seat. She greeted the driver and, for the most part, watched as the scenery changed from the urban landscape she was used to into a more rural area sparsely populated with more trees than buildings. It was the first time she'd been outside of the city and Helena smiled as she smelled the heady scent of newly fallen autumn leaves still wet from the previous morning's rain. Soon the base came into view and Helena felt the cab slowing while the driver drove up to the checkpoint. Rolling down the window, Helena drew the attention of the guard. "Hi, I'm here to see John Michaelsson." She explained. "He called me earlier and asked me to come." "Yes, Ma'am. I just need to confirm your story." The guard said. "Please wait here a moment while I call my superior." He said before walking back into his booth to use the telephone. He came back out soon after and explained that the pass she required was on its way and to wait there. Helena sat back and sighed softly as she waited and before long, saw a lone figure running in the direction of the checkpoint. She smiled as she recognized him even from a distance and got out of the cab as quickly as she could to meet him. Helena blushed when, on seeing her again, John gave her a long hungry kiss. Seemingly from far away, they both heard the sound of someone clearing their throat and laughed as they realized that it was the cab driver's way of demanding payment, though he was smiling at the sight of the two so obviously happy to see each other. Once John paid him the full fare and a nice tip, the cab driver bid them farewell and drove off into the dreary afternoon. "I'm sorry I interrupted your sleep, Helena, but we've got to get this paperwork done as soon as possible." John explained as he guided Helena towards the C.O.'s office. "I've filled it all out and all that you need to do is review it and sign on the line. Then my C.O. is going to want to meet you to make sure you're not a security risk." "Alright." Helena said softly with a stifled yawn. "Then can I go to sleep?" She asked. "Yes, I'll take you to my room if you like." He replied, kissing her brow gently after both sat down in the office waiting area. "I think it would be alright once the C.O. clears you." "Okay, John." She said sleepily as her head drooped slowly in the direction of his arm. John gently leaned her head over to his chest and smiled when she snuggled into the warmth of his arm. Stroking her face, he kissed first her forehead and then her lips tenderly which brought a sleepy smile to Helena's face. "John, you're evil." She accused playfully, as she lifted her head and opened her eyes reluctantly. "Come on, you've got to stay awake for this." He replied, tickling her gently. "You can sleep later, either in my room or in my car, but for right now you have to be awake." "Okay! I give in then." Helena smiled, lifting and shaking her head to clear it of the groggy feeling overcoming it. Just then, the receptionist called John's name and he stood and helped Helena from her chair before guiding her into the C.O.'s office for the meeting. The commanding officer greeted her warmly and congratulated them both on their recent nuptials before offering both of them the seats opposite his. Once all were seated, the C.O. asked a series of questions and Helena answered all truthfully with no conflict from the C.O. that he spoke of. When the questions were done, he handed her the paper. She read through everything and when she was done, she signed her signature on the line. "Alright, woman, get out of here." John joked. "I thought you said I could sleep?" Helena said, poking her lip out pleadingly. "Oh, right! Sir, would it be alright if my wife slept in my room for a while?" John asked. "I woke her to get her out here and she's very tired." He finished just as Helena made a vain attempt to stifle a yawn. "No, sorry. Until this paperwork is processed, she can't stay here." The C.O. replied. "It should take about a week to come back. Until then, you can visit her but she can't come on base unless it's an emergency." "Okay sir, thanks." John said wistfully. "You can visit her though now that you're married without need of a pass." The C.O. offered. "You just have to be back in time for your duties but your status as a married man gives you leave to be off base during your off time." "Really, sir?" John said, smiling as he squeezed Helena's hand. He smiled as he looked over to find that Helena had drifted off to sleep unintentionally while they were talking. Gently, he shook her awake. "Helena, we're going home now." "Home? Okay, John." Helena mumbled before drifting off again. John saluted his C.O. as he was dismissed before scooping up Helena and carrying her to his car. He carefully placed her in the passenger seat and buckled her in before walking around to the driver side and putting his own seat belt on. He was soon on the road and driving towards what would seem to be his new off base home for the present. To give Helena more comfort, he had plans to buy a much bigger place but wanted to talk it over with her before he did anything. Soon, evidence of the city began to come back into view with the buildings getting more and more densely packed as well as the population seeming to grow more as they drew closer to Helena's home. When they were at her house, John shook her softly and kissed her forehead until she woke up. Smiling at her grumpy expression at being woken, he explained that they were back home before exiting the car and helping her out of her side. "Helena, give me your keys please so that I can open the door?" He asked as Helena groggily handed him the set of keys around her neck. John escorted her to the door and held her up with one hand while opening the door with the other. Once both were inside, he then locked the door and carried her into her bedroom where he stripped her of her clothes before doing the same with his own. He smiled when she mumbled his name before turning into the pillow as though it were his chest. Again climbing into bed with her, he draped his arm around her waist as he pulled her back to his chest and smiled when she snuggled into his warmth. ********************************** A few hours later, Helena awoke to the smell of something delicious cooking in the kitchen. She wasn't sure what it was but her nose and the growing pangs of hunger attacking her stomach prompted her to investigate. Suddenly, it occurred to her that she was back in her own bedroom but couldn't remember either driving or taking a taxi back. The last thing she remembered was drifting in and out in John's commanding officer's office before everything went black in the depths of her sleep. On walking into her kitchen fully naked, she smiled as she saw the now familiar back of her husband. Walking up to him, she wrapped her arms lovingly around his waist and smiled when he drew one of her hands up to his lips for a kiss. She watched as he turned away from the stove and drew her into a tight embrace before walking her around to stand next to him at the stove while he cooked. Unintentional Advances "I picked this recipe up when I was stationed in the Philippines. It's pretty spicy but I think you'll like it." He explained. "I know for certain that it's all vegetarian but I can't remember what it's called." "It smells wonderful, John. Could I have a taste?" She asked shyly. "No." He said, before caving at the shocked and disappointed look on her face. "I'm just joking! Here, see if you like it." Helena accepted the spoonful of food he offered and smiled as the savory flavor of the rice dish met her tongue. Whatever it was, it was delicious with just the right mix of ingredients. She could just make out chili peppers, coconut milk, and other flavors as well as the visible vegetables which also added their own texture and taste to the dish. "Wow, what else can you cook?" Helena asked, licking her lips. "A lot, but it's mostly meat. I picked it up mainly from my wife before she died." He said, looking down at the pot as he stirred. "I have to learn a whole new menu for you." "Your wife died?" Helena said comfortingly. "Oh John, I'm so sorry." Her arms wrapped around his waist in a comforting hug. "It's alright, Helena, it was years ago." He smiled reassuringly. "We were both young and at the time I took her loss very hard but I've had a chance to come to terms with it over the past ten years." He looked down at Helena suddenly. "That reminds me, how old are you anyway?" He asked. "Twelve." Helena said straight faced before giggling at the playful spanking John began giving her for the obvious lie she'd just told him. "Hey! I'm sensitive, cut it out, John!" She pleaded. "That was for fibbing. Now, I'm going to ask again, how old are you?" He said grinning. "If you lie again, I'm going to tan your hide." "Okay then, I'm two." Helena grinned before racing out of the kitchen to hide. John turned off the food before walking out of the kitchen in the direction he saw Helena run to. He guessed that she either went into the bedroom or the bath and as the bath was too small to hide anyone, he headed for the bedroom and locked the door before beginning his search. Looking under the bed and in the closet yielded no results and John was almost ready to consider checking the bath before he heard the sound of someone trying very hard not to be heard breathing and giggling coming from somewhere in the room. Following the sound with his eyes, he was soon led to the far corner of the room and a chair that didn't seem big enough to hide anything but for the quilt sitting over it. He smiled though when he saw the chair move almost imperceptibly and quietly crept across the room before reaching around it and grabbing Helena's arm. "Ow! Let go, you're hurting me!" She squealed, between breathless giggles. "No, you've lied and now you have to pay." He said firmly. "There's no sense in fighting this, Helena, you know you've done wrong. Now get across my knees." "Huh?" Helena looked at him, somewhere between amusement and shock. He couldn't be serious about the spanking. "If I have to tell you again, it's going to be worse." He said. "Now, across my lap, young lady." "No." Helena said, stubborn to the last. "Have it your way then." John said as he physically lifted her with one hand over his lap and held her down with one strong arm. "Are you sorry for lying to me?" He asked, giving her a chance to recant. "No!" She giggled. "Alright, I warned you, Helena." He said before the first hard spank landed firmly on her left cheek. Helena's body squirmed to avoid the punishment but a part of her was getting very turned on and as he continued his relentless payback, she found that her inner thoughts were starting to show physically. "John, please-" Helena began before being silenced by John's commanding voice. "You will not talk unless it's to apologize and recant the lies you told me." He said before going back to spanking her mercilessly. He noted that she was starting to get very wet and that her nipples were getting hard against his thighs. "You like this, don't you." He asked. "You're meant to be getting a punishment and you're enjoying it. Since that's the case, I think I'd better turn up the heat on this a bit." "No, John please please please." She said repeatedly, her voice a mixture of a pleading for sensual release and an end to the spanking which was getting her so worked up in the first place. Her pleas were met by even harder spankings. "You know that this is hurting me a lot more than it's hurting you." He said sternly. "I don't want to punish you but lying isn't a good thing to do, Helena, and you know it." "Yes, John." Helena whined as she continued squirming against his vise like grip. "Are you trying to escape? That's an extra ten spankings for being obstructive." He cautioned, and Helena stopped fighting once she realized he'd not stop until she did. "That's better. That's my girl." He said comfortingly. Soon John's cadence of spankings slowed and with one final spank, which was harder than any before, he finished his assault on Helena's buttocks. Both were sore and beet red from his hands relentless whacking and it took everything Helena had to stand before John without support. "Now, is there anything you'd like to say to me?" John said sternly. "I'm sorry I lied to you." Helena said with a whimper of acquiescence. "Good girl." He said reassuringly. "Now, come here." Johns turned Helena around before enfolding her in his strong arms. Laying back on the bed he slipped her over his now rock hard member and let out a sigh as he felt her tighten around him in response to his entering her at such an angle. "Trust me, Helena." He whispered softly as he slid his hands up to her shoulders where he then pushed her as far down as she could go onto him. Once he had her securely held, he began driving up into her and was satisfied by the sound of her moans and choked screams at each upstroke. "Now, tell me how old you are Helena and this time don't lie to me." He asked again, grunting between each word as he thrust his hips in rhythm with his sentence. "Twenty-three." Helena whimpered as her hands sought to grab at anything for support but he had her held too tightly about the shoulders to reach anything solid. A steady trickle of tears began streaming down her face at the overwhelming strength John was pushing into her body. Her whimpers soon became sobs and John felt as her body began to tremble before Helena started to collapse. Just in time, John slid his hands down to her waist but without stopping to even give her a moments break from his relentless lovemaking. Over and over, he drove into her, calling out her name with each thrust and smiling as she managed to weakly cry out his name when she could catch her breath. All at once, John felt her go completely rigid before he felt her nails digging and clawing into the parts of his arms she could reach. "John!" Helena screamed just before he felt a large gush and her body went limp in his arms. Leaning her back onto his chest, John slowly slid his member out of Helena and sighed with relief that she was just passed out. He lovingly caressed her thick wavy hair as he planted kiss after kiss on her lips in an attempt to wake her. "Helena? Dear, wake up." He whispered softly in her ear before nuzzling her neck. "I need you and I haven't finished yet love. Please wake up." Helena trembled slightly as her eyes fluttered to the sound of John's voice. Slowly, she came out of unconsciousness and gave her husband a tearful unfocused stare. "John?" Helena whimpered before breaking out into outright sobs. "Shh, it's alright." He said, pulling her close to him in a protective hug. "It's going to be alright, Helena. Calm down, honey." "It was so much-" She began before John interrupted her. "Sweetheart, it's not over. I'm not finished yet." He cautioned. "If you're not up to it, please let me know now. I can be more gentle but if you're too sore, I can take it into the bathroom." "I'm okay, John, I just can't move much." Helena replied meekly. "It feels like my whole body is jelly." "It's okay, I'll take care of everything for you." John comforted her. "All you have to do is lay there and let me pleasure you." He watched as Helena nodded her agreement before moving over her on the bed with a deep gentle kiss. Helena was so swept away by the heat in his kiss that, despite the weakness, she almost didn't notice when he slipped back inside her. True to his word, he was as gentle a lover as he promised he'd be and, though she could barely move, she felt her body trying to involuntarily respond to his ministrations. John kissed her as he felt her constricting around him tightly and slowed his thrusts to allow her some control over the speed at which they were going. Helena whimpered again as indication that she was close to another explosion and looked up at John, her deep brown eyes pleading for release from the sensual bondage that held her in his grasp. John smiled warmly as his thrusts and breathing became more forceful and ragged as a result of him beginning to lose control himself. With a kiss, he gave unspoken warning that he was ready and smiled as he felt Helena's hips thrusting up to meet his own. "John!" Helena screamed out, her eyes wild with passionate lust and fear over the feelings she couldn't control. "Helena!" John bellowed as he felt her gush against him which triggered his own equal response. His entire body went rigid as he came before he gently collapsed over her in an exhausted heap, his body glistening with sweat. Lovingly, he reached for her hands and shifted his weight so as not to crush her with his large frame and both remained in that position until they could recover themselves. ************************************ John got up first, and on seeing how exhausted Helena was, went into the kitchen and poured her a glass of cold water as well as one for himself. He made his way back to the bedroom and reached the door just as Helena was attempting to get up. "Hey now, lay back down. We've done too much for you to be flying all over the place." He chided as he put both glasses of water down on the nightstand before gently pushing her back into bed. "I'm supposed to do that for you, John." Helena said weakly as she struggled against his firm hand. "Why don't you let me take care of you, hm?" He replied with a kiss before decreasing the pressure he used to keep Helena on the bed. "What time is it?" She asked, looking at the rain darkened sky for some indication of the time of day. "It's three o'clock. Only three. We've got all day to spend together, Helena." He cooed with a series of kisses that trailed across her throat. "John please!" Helena playfully admonished as she pulled her husband closer to her on the bed. "Vixen, what kind of control do you have over me?" John growled as he slid his hands up to her abdomen before surprising her by tickling her ribs mercilessly. "No fair! You didn't give a warning!" Helena giggled as she made a reach for John's frame before he pinned her arms against the pillow effortlessly with one hand. "Well, you didn't ask, did you?" He smirked. "All is fair in love and war my dear." They spent the better part of twenty minutes playfully wrestling and tickling one another on the bed before, out of sheer exhaustion, they agreed to a truce. Scooping Helena up in his arms, John carried her into the kitchen and sat her carefully on one of the chairs. Turning the stove back on, he finished the meal he was preparing and served it to the woman he loved. "Good?" He asked, waiting while Helena tasted her first bite of the finished food. "Oh my goodness, this is great John!" She exclaimed. John smiled bashfully at the compliment before taking a bite of his own. Both ate in silence, staring dreamily into one another's eyes as they finish the food on their plates. Once their lunch was over, John stood and walked Helena into the shower to cool their passionately inflamed bodies and clean themselves from their lovemaking. After, John then walked her into the living room where he pulled Helena into his arms before wrapping them both in a quilt. "So, we can't just keep making love all day. What else would you like to do?" John whispered as he nuzzled Helena's neck with his nose. "Well, we just ate and I don't know about you but I'm too tired to go out." Helena answered with a blush. "Want to talk, watch a movie, or something?" "That sounds good to me." He replied as he sniffed her hair like a starved man smelling a great feast. "What sounds good, John? The movie, the talking, or the something?" Helena laughed as John moved to lightly nibbling her ear. "The movie and talking. We can do both, right?" John asked. "Yeah, I suppose. What would you like to watch? I have a bunch of movies over there on the bookcase." Helena said, indicating the bookcase across the room, next to the television. "Hm, I don't know. I feel a bit tired to walk so far." John said, feigning exhaustion. "Oh please!" Helena looked on incredulously before making a move to put a movie in. John grabbed her around her waist and pulled her back into the protective embrace of his arms, laughing as she squirmed. "I think you're too tired as well. Want to just talk instead?" He smiled as he hugged her closer. He felt as Helena shivered from the coolness of the room and spread the blanket more fully over her body to ward off the chill of the air. "Okay, what would you like to discuss?" She said, turning her head to look into his eyes. "Oh, discuss!" He emphasized. "That sounds so business-like, Helena. Suppose we just talk casually instead?" "Alright, John, we can 'just talk' if you like." Helena said softly as she got lost in the crystal blue of his eyes for a moment before shaking her head clear. "So, what's a beautiful girl doing in a city like this?" He asked, raising his eyebrows in a goofy gesture which made Helena snort with laughter. "I was born further inside the city and moved here once I had enough money to buy a house. It's not much but it's mine. I wanted to have a yard so I could grow my own food instead of buying it." Helena explained softly as she stroked the arm John had encircled around her waist. "Where in the city were you born?" John probed, sensing already that her answer was going to be one she was uncomfortable with. "In Baker Plaza." She said before sighing. "I was actually born in the building I was raised in and lived there until I left at sixteen. I just couldn't take it anymore and with nearly everyone I knew and loved involved in the life there, I didn't really have anything holding me back from leaving." John took a sharp intake of breath before squeezing Helena tightly in his arms to let her know that she was safe. He'd heard about Baker Plaza by reputation. A lot of the recruits from the city were survivors of the housing project who'd escaped the cycle of drug abuse, poverty, and crime in the hopes of finding something better in life. That Helena not only lived there but managed to make it out told him a lot more about the level of her tenacity than any lengthy conversation could ever have done. "Okay, my turn." Helena announced as John anticipated her question. "When and how did you become Muslim?" She asked as she pulled on his arms to signal that she wanted to be held tighter. "Well, my father converted when he was in college and then he married my mother. She never converted but I was raised in Dad's faith once I got old enough to understand." John explained as he remembered how loving and understanding his parents were with him as a child. "Once I learned enough, I went to the mosque and made my public declaration and that's pretty much it." "Were you nervous when you did it?" Helena probed. "Was it hard learning so much?" "No, I didn't get nervous. I had grown up with most of the people there and it wasn't hard at all." He said, kissing Helena's temple. "I'm kind of nervous." Helena said. "I never really had any formal religious upbringing. My family were all over the map religiously but none of them really seemed to take it seriously. It just seemed like they wanted to top each other in who had the better church. The only person in my family who wasn't like that was my uncle." "Is your uncle an Atheist too?" John asked. "No, he's more agnostic than Atheist. All the same, my family couldn't stand him because he wouldn't fall for their baiting." She explained. "I've always admired that about him. His ability to keep cool in just about every situation presented to him." "Do you think he'd like to come to the mosque too?" John asked suddenly. "I'd like to meet him even if he doesn't want to. He sounds like quite a good man from what you've told me." "He died when I was sixteen." Helena sighed. "It was one of the things that prompted me to move when I did. He told me that I was too intelligent to stay in a place like that trying to rescue people who didn't really want saving. He also left me enough money to buy this house and live comfortably for a while if I didn't work. I thought it better to get a job though and just leave the remainder of the money in the bank for emergencies." "That was a very wise course of action, Helena." Her husband replied. "I'm sorry for your loss and really wish I could have met him. I feel honored to know him through you." "Thanks, John." Helena said suddenly. "What for, hon?" John asked, puzzled. "For listening and being here." She replied as she poked him gently in the ribs with her elbow. "Would you like to ask any more questions or are you up for that movie now?" "Just one more question." John paused. "Yes, John?" She asked. "Do you love me?" He whispered softly in her ear. Helena turned around on the sofa and looked squarely into John's direct blue eyes with her deep brown ones before placing a gentle kiss on his lips. "Yes, I do love you, John." She whispered softly before wrapping her arms around his shoulders in a tender embrace. ********************************************* The two spent the rest of the afternoon and evening watching movie after movie in between repeated make out sessions on the couch during the credits. John was impressed by the range of movies Helena had and smiled when she looked up suddenly with a puzzled expression. He guessed the question she had in her mind but waited for her to ask it. After all, he'd gotten her age so it was only fair that she got his. "Um, John?" She began. "Yes dear?" He said, trying to contain his amusement behind a facade of curiosity. "How old are you?" Helena asked, remembering what lying about her age had cost her. "I'm twenty-nine years old." He answered as he anticipated the next question as being one about his marriage. "Er, John?" She paused before continuing. "I don't mean to pry-" "You're wondering how I was married at such a young age?" John finished her unasked question. He watched as she nodded before explaining. "Well, I may be Muslim but I'm not a saint. We were both young and in love. I was sixteen and she was seventeen when we lost our heads and had sex. Without listening to either of our families, we got married and for a while everything was going well." He continued. "My family came to accept her but hers didn't like the idea that she married a Muslim guy or that she'd converted. After we were married two years, she got pregnant and we were both so happy. Everything in the pregnancy went perfectly up until the last few weeks when the doctors picked up some abnormalities in a routine test. The doctors admitted her to hospital from there and decided on a C-section in the hopes of saving at least one of them." "My wife was adamant that we should save our son but despite that, I couldn't bear the thought of losing her. The doctors performed the surgery and I pretty much wore a hole in the floor walking between the NICU and my wife's room trying to track both of their health statuses." John went on as he held Helena close to him like a life preserver. Unintentional Advances "Our son died first due to complications from his heart. He had a stroke because of a blood clot that traveled through a hole in his heart that the doctors didn't find until the last tests. Then my wife went septic and, despite the doctors doing everything they could to save her, she went into shock and died." John finished with a choked sob and tears in his eyes. "John, I'm so sorry." Helena cried as she held him close to her in comfort. "I'm sorry for bringing it up and causing you so much pain." "No, this is good, Helena." He admonished softly. "I haven't talked about this with anyone since it happened. I just feel comfortable talking about it with you. I'm glad you asked me about it." "I'm sorry you've had so much pain in your life, John." Helena said softly as she stroked his face comfortingly. "I've had the love of two women who mean more to me than anything in the world and two chances at happiness." John said. "I count myself as blessed because most people don't have even one chance or don't recognize the good things in their lives when they have them. Don't worry about it, okay?" He said softly. "Alright, John." Helena said as she practically squeezed the air out of him in a bear hug that had both laughing. "Can I finish my story or is it too much for you right now?" John asked. "No, I can listen. I can always listen, John." She replied gently. John composed himself. "After my wife died, her family came around to see me and quite frankly, I was a mess. I'd just lost my lover and best friend as well as my first born child all at the same time. For once, not one of them had a mean thing to say about me and we reached a sort of uneasy truce while I made the funeral preparations. My father was probably the most supportive out of all of the family and we spent a lot of time talking about Meagan's childhood and all the silly things she used to do. It was nice not having to be on guard constantly against the personal attacks I had come to expect." John sighed before continuing. "When the day of the funeral came, everyone crowded into the mosque. Her family, my family, all of our friends and co-workers. It was the first time her family had even been in a mosque and I guess there was a bit of culture shock. Her Dad was handling it much better than her mother and sisters, not only out of respect, but because he and Meagan weren't really cut from the same cloth as the others." He smiled when Helena snuggled closer to him on the sofa. "We got through the funeral and burial before everyone went their separate ways. A few weeks later, I got a call from my Father asking me questions about Islam and religion in general. Knowing that I wasn't an expert, I asked if he'd like to meet the Imam and he said he would. I couldn't believe my ears when he told the Imam that he'd had thoughts of converting and knew that his wife would blow a gasket once she found out." "That sounds like quite an explosive recipe." Helena said, contemplating the scene in her head. "Tell me about it." he replied before continuing. "A few days after the meeting, I get an earful from my Mother-in-Law chewing me out for influencing her family to join 'my evil cult' before she started cursing me out. I just let it roll around me as I mourned the loss of my family. Not too long after, my Father-in-Law joined the mosque and began attending services on a regular basis. His wife blew a fuse and divorced him on the spot which seems to have done him more good than harm. We're good friends now." John planted a gentle kiss on Helena nose as he continued his narration. "After a few months, I was still mourning Meagan and decided on joining the Army to get away from the painful memories surrounding me. My family and Father-in-Law were all supportive, understanding that I needed to get away. So, I sold my house and most of our belongings before packing my bags and going into basic. I passed with flying colors and eventually worked my way up to my current rank. I don't know if I'm going to stay in for the full run though. Recent events have made me reconsider my options." He finished with a kiss to Helena's lips. "What recent events?" Helena asked, not grasping that he meant her. John smiled. "I'll give you a clue." He said as he lifted her by her waist and held her in mid-air as he kissed her. "Do you know now?" He asked softly. "Um, I think I might need another lesson." Helena grinned. "Corrupter. I was innocent before I met you." John said as he playfully spanked Helena's still sore bottom. "Ow!" She exclaimed. "You told me that you weren't an innocent." "True. Your memory is good." He said before stroking her buttocks. "Are you still sore?" "Yes, very sore." Helena whimpered into John's chest. "So, little sore girl, are you hungry?" John asked, kissing Helena's forehead. Helena shook her head but pulled him into the kitchen anyway before reaching into the freezer and pulling out what looked like a carton of ice cream. She smiled as she pulled two spoons out of the drawer and invited John to sit in one of the chairs while she sat in the other. "What's this?" He asked. "More of your soy stuff?" "Yup." She said simply. "Soy ice cream?" John asked, disbelieving. "There can't be that much stuff made with soy." "Want to try some, John?" Helena asked, handing him the spoon. John took the spoon and with a skeptical look on his face, took a spoonful into his mouth. The expression on his face at tasting the chocolate substance was one of a dreamy blissful daze. "This is ice cream. This is not soy." Said John. "This is eggs, milk, cream." "No, John, it's soy." She said softly as she handed him the carton to examine the label. John looked in disbelief as he read the ingredients and, much to Helena's amusement, began eating spoonful after spoonful of the substance manically. "Hey! Save some for me please!" Helena giggled. "No, Helena." He said firmly. "You got me hooked on this stuff and now you're going to have to suffer the consequences of temptation." "I-but-you-" She faltered as she watched him eat every spoonful of the carton. Undaunted, she went back to the freezer and pulled out another carton, only this flavor was butter pecan. "Wow, that looks delicious!" John exclaimed as he made a move for the heavily guarded carton. "No! This is mine, John." Helena said playfully as she made a feint for the kitchen entrance. John smiled before calling a truce by extending his hand. Grudgingly, Helena reached out to accept but before she could have time to react, he grabbed her and pulled her into the protective warmth of his arms. "I love you, Helena." He said softly as he kissed the top of her head. "I love you too, John, but you're still not getting this soy cream." She replied as she ate a spoonful. Helena laughed as John got down on his knees and began begging as a dog would for food, whimpering and all. His height was so great, that he was nearly as tall as her on his knees and Helena smiled deviously to finally have him at eye level. Taking a spoonful of soy cream, she made a move like she was going to relent and give him some of her share but snatched it back at the last possible second with a giggle. John's eyes turned from gentle to equally devious as he grabbed her by her waist before pulling her down on the floor with him. Snatching the carton from her, he took a spoonful out himself but instead of eating it as she thought he would, he began circling her already hard nipples with the freezing cold substance. He took special delight in watching Helena squirm under his ministrations and took a portion on his tongue before making a movement down between her legs. He felt Helena's struggles and smiled dangerously before touching his soy cream covered tongue to Helena's weakest spot. "John, no! Please, not that! Please!" Helena pleaded frantically, as she tried to squirm away from his evil intentions. All that came from John in reply was a deep rumbling growl that shook her more than the icy coldness of the dessert against her. He smiled as she finally calmed down enough to stop trembling and grinned when she grabbed his head to push him deeper inside of her. "You like that?" John asked softly as he fed her a spoonful of the dessert. "Mmm, yeah." Helena whimpered, hoping he'd go back to doing more of what he'd started. "You know, I think I just want to lay here for a bit." He said suddenly. "This floor looks really comfortable." "John!" She exclaimed loudly, not believing he'd really leave her in such a state. "Yes, love?" John asked innocently, his eyes betraying the saintly mask his face tried so hard to portray. "Please?" Helena whined, moving his hand between her legs before John stopped her. "Helena! I for one am shocked at your addiction to such things." He said in mock disbelief. He almost caved when he saw the deflated look on Helena's face but managed to hold his composure longer. "Alright, John, as you wish." She said softly as she got up from the floor and walked back to the embracing warmth of the shower. Turning on the tap and stepping inside, she failed to hear John's careful footfalls as he crept into the bath and slid open the curtain enough to get in. Helena was completely unaware that he was standing just behind her as she washed the soy cream from her body and let the waters hot steady stream fall against her face. "Boo!" John exclaimed loudly. Helena jumped in genuine surprise and rounded on him immediately. "John Michaelsson, how dare you!" She screamed. "You frightened the life out of me!" "You look pretty alive to me. In fact, you look pretty all by yourself." John said, soothing the shaken woman with a strong hug. He felt her hands slip around his most sensitive part and took a sharp intake of breath as she shyly played with him. The steady stream of the water allowed for plenty of lubrication as she went first up and then down along his stiffness with her hand. He stifled the urge to ask where she'd learned how to do what she was doing but saw that she was just curiously exploring him and didn't really know the full extent of what she was doing. Helena jumped in shock as he went from just erect to positively rigid in her hands and looked up questioningly at John for some sort of explanation. "John-?" Helena asked before John stopped her question with a kiss. Picking her up and pushing her against the wall, John began thrusting up into her with wild abandon. He found that the more he tried to hold off and give her a chance to get used to him, the deeper and faster his body wanted to go inside her. It took all his strength to keep him from pounding her through the wall and into the next room. "John!" She managed before he took it to a whole new level by gently turning her to face the wall. "Trust me?" He asked, his breathing ragged from his exertions. He saw the nod of acquiescence and slid deep inside her from behind, eliciting a pleasured moan from Helena's throat. John watched as she tried to claw the walls, the curtain, and anything for some sense of balance but could find no ally against his relentless onslaught. He breathed her name like a prayer repeatedly as he drove inside her. "John." Helena said weakly. "I know honey, I know. It's almost over." He replied soothingly as he sped up his thrusts which caused Helena's breasts to slap against the shower wall. All at once, John felt himself go more rigid than he'd ever done before inside Helena and before he could warn her, he came hard. Gently, he let her down until her unsteady feet were once again on the floor of the shower. She tried to stand but all the strength had been sapped out of her from their hours together and this session in the shower was final blow that had taken Helena's strength completely. "John?" She called out before fainting into his waiting arms. "It will be alright, Helena. Everything will be fine." He reassured her. "I'll take care of everything." John finished rinsing Helena before drying her and carrying her back to the bedroom. He then dried himself and crawled into bed with her as gently as he could so as not to wake the already exhausted woman. He again watched as she slept off the results of his hunger and smiled when she called out his name again, only more innocently as she snuggled into the protection of his strong arms even in her sleep. He thought to himself of how lucky he was that he'd somehow found a woman he could love again after so many years and how she felt the same about him as he did about her. Grinning from ear to ear, he thought of how his family would finally celebrate that he'd come to terms with Meagan's death and found a new wife to spend his life with. In thinking of Meagan, he sighed softly and thought of how his deceased wife would have thought of Helena. He was sure that she'd have loved her as much as he did and that the two would have been great friends and as close as sisters.