"So there's nobody that interests you at all?" Aimee asked.

  "There's no one Aimee. If there was I would definitely tell you"

  Aimee sighed and flopped on her back.

  "I just want you to be happy."

  Katherine understood why Aimee was so eager for Katherine to start dating again. Ever since she'd lost Melissa she had lost a part of herself that she knew she wouldn't ever get back. She knew she wasn't the same as before and she understood that it made Aimee worry. However, she couldn't force herself to feel what she didn't.

  "I'm alright, Aimee. Don't worry too much about me."

  Aimee nodded her head and let the conversation end but Katherine knew they'd revisit this topic the next time they spoke.

  "I NEED GOOD COFFEE, or I'll collapse and die," Jenna said dropping herself into a chair in the cafeteria.

  "There's co ee right there.” Sophia said pointing her head in the direction of the pot of co ee that was brewing.

  The look Jenna shot her made her chuckle. The co ee in the hospital was terrible. Jenna and Sara had said that it tasted like dirt and despair.

  "Just go to the co ee shop. It's your lunch break anyway.

  I'm sure if you hurry no one will notice you're gone."

  Jenna groaned. "I can't go. Dr. Davis has me doing scut work for three nurses as punishment for coming in late this morning."

  Sophia understood Jenna's frustration. It was bad enough doing scut work for one person not to mention three.

  Scut work was basically all the work that no one else liked to do. It was all the menial, unfinished tasks that the professionals left for the medical students. Things like drawing stat labs, delivering reports, running errands and putting in orders for the nurses.

  "Why were you late? You were awake when Sara and I left."

  Jenna shot her a sheepish smile.

  “I stopped for a co ee run on my way here. There was a long line but I didn't leave."

  Sophia shook her head and Jenna thudded her head on the table.

  "Jenna, I need you on the third floor."

  It was a nurse Sophia didn't recognise. She was pretty.

  Sophia could tell she was older than them and that she was tired. She had dark circles around her eyes. She looked like she was one yawn away from falling asleep.

  "I'll be right there, Claire."

  Jenna shot Sophia a pleading look and Sophia sighed.

  "Alright, I'll go get co ee. You guys look like you really need it."

  Claire smiled at her and the skin beside her eyes crinkled.

  Sophia walked out of the cafeteria with them and they split up.

  The walk to the co ee shop was short. Sophia opened the door and the little bell at the top of the door jingled. The smell of freshly ground co ee and milk surrounded her.

  Thankfully, there weren't many people in line. She would be back at the hospital in ten minutes at the most.

  She joined the queue and pulled out her phone to keep herself occupied. She scrolled through the applications on her phone trying to decide between playing a game and replying her texts. Her phone dinged then with a notification from the dating app. She had a new match. She hadn't checked the app in weeks. Not since she and Katherine ended things.

  She touched the notification and the loading page popped up on her screen. For some reason, she was hesitant to check who she had matched with.

  If she had to guess, she'd say it was probably because she wasn't ready for another relationship. Purely sexual or

  otherwise. She barely had time for herself and she didn't need the added burden a relationship would bring. She didn’t think she would find someone again who would bring the fire to body her like Katherine had.

  But she checked the match anyway. She had been matched with Andrea, 32. A pretty thirty two year old banker with hazel eyes and long, wavy brunette hair. She had written on her profile that she wasn't looking for anything serious and that she enjoys reading and watching the sun set.A banker would definitely understand how busy she was so she wouldn't be too demanding and she wasn't looking for anything serious. She was beautiful and closer to Sophia in age. She was a good fit for Sophia, but still she hesitated.

  Her finger hovered over the message icon. To text her or not?

  The lady she had been standing behind left the line, a cup of freshly brewed co ee in her hand. Sophia was next. She put her phone away and focused on placing her order. She had to be out of here in five minutes. She would debate texting Andrea later.

  "Sophia. Hi.” Sophia looked up and there was Katherine.

  Honeyed hair perfect, grey eyes glinting dangerously.

  Sophia was used to seeing her in the hospital but they rarely spoke and were never alone together. She was just getting used to that, yet here was Katherine, smiling at her, a bright look in her eye. Sophia wasn't sure what it was about, this woman that commanded all of her attention. Sophia returned her smile.

  "How are you?" Sophia asked.

  "I'm alright. Just on a quick co ee break. I just got out of surgery. As you know, I can’t drink that awful co ee at the hospital.”

  Sophia wanted to ask why she seemed so excited. She wanted to know what had caused the bright look in Katherine's eyes. She wanted to buy Katherine a co ee, listen to her talk and then go home with her and take all of her clothes o . But she couldn't do any of that.

  "That's great. I can tell it went well. I'd love to stay and catch up, but I have to go. My lunch break is almost over."

  Katherine nodded her head in understanding. “We’ll catch up some other time then.”

  Sophia shot her one last smile and left. The thought of texting Andrea already forgotten.

  ON MOST DAYS, Katherine didn't pay much attention to her phone. Ever since Melissa died, she didn't have much use for it. She had social media but rarely used it or interacted with anyone. She didn't play games or take pictures. Her phone was mostly for calls and text messages. And yet, here she was, sitting alone on her bed, staring at her mobile phone.

  She hadn't been able to stop thinking about Sophia since they ran into each other at the co ee shop. The interns would be cleared to leave work in an hour or two. She could invite Sophia to her house. Not even to have sex, but just to talk. Katherine knew that that wasn't the nature of their relationship. They hadn't agreed to be friends after they'd ended things. They barely even spoke to each other. They had agreed to be friends with benefits but while their deal lasted it had been more of benefits than the actual friendship. But now that deal was o so maybe they could come to another agreement?

  Earlier today Katherine had wanted to sit down with Sophia, have a cup or two of co ee and talk to her. She had been so happy earlier because she had successfully

  completed an aortic dissection repair on an eighteen year old girl. The girl had had multiple heart problems since birth.

  But this one could easily have killed her. And after six hours, give or take a couple of minutes, they'd completed the surgery and it had been successful. Just the thought brought a smile to Katherine's lips.

  If Melissa were still alive, they'd celebrate. First with a dinner date at their favourite restaurant, then they'd come home with a bottle of red wine. Then they would fuck. A good surgery high always made Katherine want sex. It used to, and now Sophia had awoken it in her again.

  Katherine's smile was bittersweet now. What was she doing? She couldn’t actually be just friends with Sophia and she knew that. They were too attracted to each other. It wouldn't work. She threw her phone so it landed on the right side of the bed. Loneliness was clouding her judgement. She rubbed her eyes with her hands and lay down. It was a little early for her to sleep but if she stayed awake she might cave and text Sophia, and besides, she needed the rest.

  Her doorbell was ringing. The consistent sound of it roused her from her sleep. Confused, Katherine searched for her phone under the blankets. When she found it she checked the time. It was a little after midnight. Who was at her door? She knew it wasn't Aimee. Aimee would've called beforehand.

  She flung the duvet o and walked out of her room, into the hallway, down the stairs and to the door.

  She was still half asleep but she remembered to check the peephole. She didn't have lights on the porch so she had to rely on the lighting from the moon. She squinted trying to see the face of the person standing outside her door. Just then the person looked in her direction. Sophia? That woke her up fast. Sophia was at her door.

  She unlocked the door and pulled it open.

  “What are you doing here? It's past midnight.”

  At first Katherine assumed something was wrong but Sophia didn't look like something has happened to her. She had a wanting look in her eye that sent delicious shivers down Katherine's spine.

  5

  Katherine was going to ask why Sophia was at her doorstep again but she couldn't because Sophia was kissing her. Her thoughts faded away, pushed to a faraway place in her mind that she couldn't access.

  They stumbled further into the house and she swung the door shut.

  Sophia tangled her fingers in Katherine's hair and she moaned into their kiss. She knew they shouldn't be doing this but she couldn't bring herself to stop. She didn't realise till she had Sophia in her arms again just how much she had yearned to touch her again.

  “Please. I want you. I need you.” Sophia gasped breathily.

  Katherine's hands were exploring Sophia's body under her top. She trailed her fingers up and down her slender back, tangled them in her hair and teased her nipples with her thumbs. Sophia moaned into the kiss pulling herself even closer to Katherine.

  Sophia broke the kiss and trailed her tongue down Katherine's neck. Sucking lightly on the skin just above her collarbone. Katherine couldn't stop the moan that slipped from her lips. Sophia held Katherine against the wall and continued to nip and suck the skin on her neck while

  pushing the straps of her flimsy nightgown down over her shoulders.

  When Katherine's breasts were bare Sophia went straight to her nipples and sucked them one by one into her mouth.

  Katherine's reaction was instinctive. She moaned her approval and her eyes slid shut. She was still half asleep and happy to be in this dream world. Her fingers found Sophia's hair and she pulled it eliciting a moan from Sophia's lips.

  Sophia kissed her. Her mouth, her neck, her shoulders, her breasts. Sophia fell to her knees and kissed her stomach, the curve of her hips.

  Katherine had missed this. The feeling of being so desired.

  "I want you so much.” Sophia’s face was to her pubic mound. The thin silk of her nightdress was the only thing between Sophia’s mouth and her burning core. She breathed the words through the silk. The words sent vibrations running right through her body.

  "We shouldn't be doing this" Katherine breathed back.

  Even as she said it, she knew nothing could stop them from being together tonight.

  “So, stop me then. Safe word.” Sophia said as she pushed the silk nightdress up around her hips.

  They were still in the hallway. The tiles were cold under Sophia’s knees. She didn’t care.

  Sophia put her mouth to Katherine’s sex. Licking, lapping, sucking. Worshipping at her alter. The moan that escaped Katherine's lips was gratifying.

  It was what Sophia had been wanting to hear when she had decided to pay Katherine a visit. During the drive she'd considered the possibility that Katherine would turn her away. That the attraction she was feeling was one sided. But judging by the wetness coating her mouth that clearly wasn't the case.

  "You're overdressed" Katherine said and Sophia smirked a little before pulling her shirt over her head leaving her half naked as she hadn't bothered to wear a bra.

  With Katherine's help she pulled o her jeans and threw them to the side.

  Katherine leaned against the end the couch and Sophia knelt before her. Katherine's thighs parted on their own accord.

  “Show me with your pretty mouth, exactly how much you want me.” Sophia felt electricity run through her with Katherine’s request. Demand. Request. Either way she was desperate to pleasure her.

  Sophia ran her mouth up the inside of Katherine’s thigh.

  Slightly teasing her with her tongue and teeth as she licked and nipped the skin. She had planned to tease her some more but the smell of her arousal made Sophia impatient. The smell of Katherine's wetness was intoxicating her leaving her heady with lust. Unable to resist, she darted out her tongue and lapped again at Katherine's wetness. The taste on her tongue was made sweeter by Katherine's moans and groans of approval.

  “Fuck." Katherine growled as she grabbed Sophia's head and pulled it closer.

  Sophia made her tongue work faster. Licking. Sucking.

  Wanting. Needing..

  Katherine’s hips thrust forwards as she held her head so she could grind into Sophia's face. It was at times like these that Sophia found it hard to believe this woman who was filled with so much passion was the same stoic surgeon who rarely smiled real smiles or spoke to anybody.

  Katherine’s breathing quickened and her hands held on tightly to Sophia's hair. Loud moans left her lips as she orgasmed, coating Sophia's face with her release.

  Sophia straddled Katherine and kissed her, letting her taste her own arousal. Katherine moaned and her eyes slid shut.

  “Wow,” said Katherine. “I think I need a drink. Will you join me?” She lifted Sophia from her and stood up, naked and on slightly wobbly legs and headed to a wine rack. She chose a Rioja and passed it to Sophia. “There is a bottle opener and glasses in the kitchen. Would you?”

  Sophia returned shortly with two glasses of red. She only had her panties on. Her pert little breasts were alert in the air. Katherine was lounging, naked, on the sofa with her eyes closed. So beautiful in repose, Sophia thought. She wished she could photograph her exactly like that. Katherine sat up as she heard Sophia.

  “A lovely Rioja, Dr. Ross. Can I get you anything else?”

  Sophia served the wine to her as though she was working in a classy cocktail bar. Aside from the fact she was in a state of undress.

  Katherine smiled at this amazing girl before her. She couldn’t quite believe what was happening. “Why, thank you, Ms Sophia. Please take a seat and enjoy your wine with me.”

  Sophia sat next to her and took the wine glass. There was a fruity acidity to it as she put it to her lips.

  “I had a distal aortic dissection repair today on an 18 year old girl. It was the worst tear I have seen.”

  “God, did she survive?” Sophia knew the girl’s chance of survival wasn’t good.

  “Yes! I did a beautiful repair. I wish you had seen it. She had lost a lot of blood. She nearly died in the ambulance.

  Then again, we nearly lost her as soon as I got her on the table. But I controlled it. I got her back. I did the perfect surgery. It was beautiful. You would have loved it.”

  Katherine’s eyes lit up as she spoke about her brilliance.

  Surgery was the love of her life. Surgery was what she lived for. The power of holding a human heart in your hands.

  Being god. Being the di erence between life and death.

  Sophia wanted that for herself. She would be an exceptional surgeon like Katherine one day.

  “Wow. I wish I had been there. I can’t wait to get on my cardio rotation and learn from you. She was lucky to have you today. To have your hands working on her. The girl. A lesser surgeon and she would have died. Now she has her whole life ahead of her.” Katherine watched Sophia’s adoration and it made her feel warm.

  “Yes. There will be some recovery. And she may not be without further issue as she gets older. But for now, she is alive. She has every chance.”

  “What is it like? Honestly? To be that powerful. To literally hold life in your hands.” Sophia was a curious student and Katherine loved to teach.

  “It is incredible, Sophia. It is a rush like nothing else. An honour. To be able to save a life is an honour.”

  “What is it like when you don’t save them? When you try everything, but they just don’t survive?”

  “It is the deepest pain that there is. Some deaths a ect me more than others, but I am always aware that as long as I hold life in my hands, I also hold death.”

  “What do you do with the pain?”

  “Oh, Sophia.” Katherine smiled wryly. “I push it into the darkness and I work harder. I become a better surgeon. I work to increase my survival rates and save more people.”

  Sophia sipped her wine thoughtfully.

  “I want to be like you. One day.”

  “Oh Sophia, you only think that you do. Where’s the use in being like me? I save people, yes. And then I come home, alone to my big house. I can’t even get a dog because I work too much. There is an emptiness in being me.”

  Katherine looked thoughtful for a moment.

  “But, if you want to be a great surgeon, work hard and learn. Then go back and work harder. You are smart, Sophia.

  I see that. Take the opportunities presented to you. There are some great surgeons for you to learn from at Forest Vale.”

  “I will. I promise, I will. I want to be the best. I am the hardest worker.” Sophia’s face lit up.

  Katherine looked to her. She wanted her. She reached her hand across to her. She ran her hand up Sophia’s thigh, to her waist, pulling her in.

  She leaned in to her. She kissed her deeply using her hand to pull Sophia's head closer.

  Katherine trailed her fingers down Sophia's body stopping between her legs. She ran her fingers under the red lace of Sophia’s panties and through her slickness, enjoying the way Sophia's moans slid into her mouth.

  The smell of arousal permeated the room. Katherine felt intoxicated by it. Intoxicated by her. Katherine slightly teased the sensitive flesh between Sophia's thighs, trailing her fingers through Sophia's folds before she thrust her fingers into her.

  "Fuck. Katherine. Fuck me. Please. I need it, so badly.”

  Sophia moaned, she threw her head back and flexed her hips, leaning back on the arm of the sofa. Katherine slid in another finger. Sophia's was dripping down her fingers. The faster she thrust, the wetter Sophia became.