Helena's eyes popped open. She had been in such a deep sleep they made a clicking sound. She was freezing. It felt like cold water was running through her veins. Helena sat up on the bed and held her arms out in front of her, almost as if she expected to see light traveling through her body. The feeling vanished and Helena was left with a vague memory of the cold.
"What?" Brooks asked. "What's wrong?"
The stars were beginning to vanish and the blackness of the night was turning blue, waiting for the upcoming dawn. Helena turned around to see him starting to sit up. His eyes were half closed and his mop of black hair had fluffed out. He rubbed his eyes. Helena felt like she had never seen him before, not like this. Brooks blinked a few times and put his hand on her arm.
"Did you have a bad dream?" Brooks asked. "Or something worse?"
Helena's lips were parted, her eyes were dancing all over his face. Brooks was the most handsome man she had ever seen. She always knew he was attractive, but this was different. Helena felt like she was looking into him. She could feel his kindness, loyalty, honor, strength, and love. It was radiating off of him. Helena wanted to soak it all in.
"I can't help you if you don't tell me what happened," Brooks said.
Helena pounced on him. She caught him off guard and he let out a grunt when he landed on the bed. She didn't give him the opportunity to speak again and immediately affixed her mouth on his. His arms encircled her and Helena deepened her kiss, she felt like there was no way she could get close enough to him. She could feel him trying to slow her down, closing his mouth and attempting to stop her, but she refused to cease.
He started to turn his head. Helena tried to move with him, but she couldn't twist herself fast enough with his arms around her. Their mouths were separated and Helena realized she was breathing heavily. Brooks took the opportunity and repositioned them, flipping over so Helena was on her back.
She looked up at him, he brushed her hair away from her face. She saw a lock of his hair fall forward, covering his forehead. Her heart lurched forward and she tried to rise up to kiss him again.
"Calm down," Brooks said. "You're almost hyperventilating."
"I...I...I," Helena was having a hard time forming her words.
"You're safe," Brooks said. "Try to relax."
Helena nodded her head and closed her eyes. She focused on her breathing and soon the rhythm started to get steadier.
"Can you sit up?" Brooks asked.
Helena opened her eyes again. His eyes were focused on hers and they were filled with worry. That was last thing Helena wanted to cause him. She nodded her head and started to scoot back on the bed. Brooks turned around so he was sitting across from her.
"I got really cold," Helena said.
"We are outside," Brooks said. "By the pool. Remember? We can go in, I can carry you if you don't think you can walk."
"No," Helena said. "That's not it."
She started examining Brooks again. She couldn't help it. Everything about him was amazing. He raised a corner of his mouth and Helena felt like her heart was going to burst again. She started to move closer towards him, but he reached out and put his hands on her shoulders. Helena knew he wanted her to talk, but she didn't want that. They had talked enough, she wanted him.
"I think my soul is back," Helena said.
Brooks' eyes widened. Helena couldn't tell if he was happy or not. His expression just read shocked.
"Why?" Brooks asked. "How?"
"I don't know," Helena said. "I just...I can't put it in words."
She had to look away from Brooks. The longer she stared at him the higher her desire grew.
"What are you feeling right now?" Brooks asked.
Helena closed her eyes and turned her head back towards Brooks. When she opened them she took him in again. She could feel her pulse quicken. Every time she saw him something new spoke to her. She could feel his passion.
"You," Helena said.