Katherine grabbed a box of tissues from the table. Sophia collected it from her and mumbled a small thank you. She felt like a child.

  Sophia blew her nose and cleaned up her tears. She was sure her eyes were swollen and her nose was red, but maybe

  she didn't look that bad because Katherine was staring at her with so much heat in her eyes.

  Katherine had been the one to put an end to their relationship. She'd made herself very clear with the note she'd left behind. So, what was this now?

  Why was she looking at her like that?

  She moved to get o her legs but Katherine held on to her.Sophia could see what she wanted in her eyes and she was sure her eyes mirrored the same request.

  Suddenly, they were kissing. Katherine was kissing her tears away. Kissing her pain away. Their tongues tangled as they kissed. Sophia couldn't prevent her hips from moving.

  She moved her hips against Katherine's legs and moaned.

  They lost themselves in each other. They lost their pain in each other.

  10

  Sophia sat up on the chair. She was spent. Her body was slick with sweat and she could barely feel her legs. She was grateful to Katherine. She felt much better than she had before. She could close her eyes and not see a sea of blood threatening to drown her.

  "You're not going to fall asleep on me this time, right?"

  Katherine asked and Sophia shook her head. She'd been wondering what would happen after the sex. Sophia had been naive to think that this meant that they were going to be together. Clearly, it had just been another hookup to Katherine. She blamed herself for this. She was weak and couldn't control herself. She'd known somewhere inside her that this changed nothing. She'd allowed herself be used by Katherine. Sophia wanted to blame it on the emotional state she'd been in but she knew the truth; if Katherine made a pass at her she would agree regardless of her emotional state. She eyed her clothes scattered on the floor and decided it would be better to leave before Katherine told her to "see herself out" she made a move to get up but Katherine's hand on her arm stopped her.

  "Don't leave"

  The sincerity in her eyes was staggering.

  "I don't want you to leave." Katherine said again.

  "You're going to want more sex tonight?" Sophia asked.

  Katherine laughed and Sophia's brows furrowed

  "I guess I deserve that,” she sighed, "I'm not asking you to stay because I want sex. I'm asking you to stay because I like you. I want to talk to you. I want to be around you. I want to look after you.”

  Sophia was stunned into silence. What was going on? Was this some sort of joke?

  “I honestly won't touch you if you don't want me to. I just want to have you here. I want you to stay.”

  “But what about the note you left me, and our jobs? What happened to being professional? I’m just so confused.” That note still pissed Sophia o whenever she remembered it.

  "I can deny it for as long as I want to, but the connection between us is magnetic. There is magic between us.”

  "But... you've been so cold. I thought I was the only one who had developed feelings.” Sophia was seriously stunned.

  She hadn't been expecting this at all. After the way Katherine had treated her and the way she was in public, she would never have imagined that Katherine would be saying these things to her.

  “I’m so sorry about that note and the way I've been acting too. The truth is it was never just about being professional, that was just what I told myself because I wanted an excuse to push you away."

  “What does this mean for us now?"

  “Well, it means that we have a relationship now. If you'll have me if course. I won’t push for any kind of commitment.

  I just want to be with you.” Katherine lowered her eyes and Sophia could tell she was nervous and maybe a little bit embarrassed.

  Sophia climbed onto her and captured Katherine's lips with her own. Neither of them tried to slip their tongues into

  each other's mouth. The kiss was sweet and tender. It was the beginning of their relationship.

  Katherine smiled. ”Let's go and take a shower,” she said after they broke the kiss. Sophia nodded her head.

  They walked up the stairs, still naked and into the big beautiful bedroom. Katherine's home was beautiful. Sophia loved the modern decor. It was all so smart. Katherine had put up album covers from her favourite musicians. She had a bookcase too. Upon further inspection Sophia realised that the books were contemporary romance and crime novels. It made her happy to know that Katherine's whole life didn't revolve around surgeries and the hospital. Of course there were also a couple of science books arranged neatly on her table. It would've been weird if there weren't any. She realised they didn’t know each other at all. She wanted with all her heart to know Katherine.

  A photo frame of a beautiful woman with a delicate face and wild red hair on Katherine's nightstand caught Sophia's attention.

  She moved towards it and picked it up.

  "She was my wife.” Katherine said before Sophia could ask.Sophia knew Katherine had been married. But Katherine didn't wear a ring so she'd guessed they were divorced but now she was having second thoughts. Why would Katherine keep a picture of her divorced wife on her nightstand? It was possible that she hadn't been the one who filed for a divorce and she was still in love with the woman but if that was the case then what was Katherine doing with her?

  “She died during surgery.”

  “Oh god. I’m so sorry.” Sophia said and Katherine waved her condolence away. “She was so beautiful.”

  “She was amazing. We were so happy.”

  “She had been in a car accident. She'd been rescued and rushed to Forest Vale. She'd needed surgery, it was a left subclavian artery tear, and they wouldn’t let me operate on her. She died on the table for Jackson Myers. He just wasn’t good enough. If I had been the one to operate on her I’m so sure I could have saved her. I feel so so guilty that I didn’t try harder to get in that O.R.”

  She replaced the frame and stood up. She could see that it had taken a lot for Katherine to say what she just did. Sophia didn't want to point out that there was a possibility that she wouldn't have been able to save her either and if she'd died while Katherine had been operating on her then her death would've been even more tragic because Katherine would blame herself even more.

  She moved closer to Katherine and held her. Katherine buried her face in Sophia's shoulder.

  “She is why I was pushing you away." Katherine whispered. “I felt guilty because it felt like I was trying to replace her."

  “I’m not going to replace her, Katherine. There's no way I can."

  They held each other for a few more minutes and then Katherine broke the silence.

  "It's kind of weird that we are just standing here hugging while we're both naked" Sophia laughed and let go of her.

  “Let’s go and shower then."

  Katherine's bathroom was just as beautiful as the rest of the house. Sophia liked the way everything looked under the blue light. Including them.

  Katherine stepped into the shower and twisted the knob for hot water.

  The water cascaded down her body, flattening her hair and dripping o her fingertips.

  Sophia wouldn't have been able to take her eyes o Kathrine if she'd tried. The woman was a sight to behold. Her body swayed as she turned to pick a body wash. She squeezed the body wash onto a wash cloth and gently scrubbed Sophia’s body. She washed her neck first. Then her chest, her breasts, stomach, arms, legs. It was the most sensual thing she had ever felt.

  They switched and Sophia scrubbed Katherine's back with the wash cloth. She took her time with it. She bent down and washed her ass as well. She used her fingers to knead her ass as she did it. Katherine moaned a little and Sophia moved on.

  She washed her legs carefully. Her arms. Her breasts. Her stomach.

  Katherine squeezed shampoo in her hands and washed Sophia’s hair as though she was a child. Her gifted fingers massaging shampoo into Sophia’s scalp felt blissful. They took their time. They kissed. They held each other under the water. It was the most intimate time of Sophia’s life.

  “I HAVE GRANDMA FINGERS,” Sophia said, wiggling her pruney fingers.

  Katherine laughed and tossed her a large shirt.

  "You're so silly. Just get dressed and come cuddle with me." Katherine said as she slid under the covers

  "So you wouldn't cuddle with me if I was naked?" Sophia asked and Katherine shot her a look that made her chuckle.

  “I wouldn’t be able to keep my hands o you if you were naked.”

  "Alright, alright.” Sophia threw on the shirt which was big and loose and reached midway to her knees and climbed into bed too.

  She laid her head on Katherine's breast and listened to her heartbeat. She couldn't help but fear that tomorrow this Katherine would be gone and she'd be left with the stoic one that didn't care about her. She feared that she'd wake up and be all alone again.

  "Stop thinking so hard. You're chasing my good night sleep away."

  Katherine held on to her tighter and used one hand to play with her wet hair.

  Maybe everything would be alright after all. Maybe she'd wake up and this Katherine would still be here holding on to her just like this.

  SOPHIA WOKE up to the sound of an alarm clock ringing. She stuck her hand out and tried to turn it o but it wasn't in the usual spot. Did someone move her alarm clock? She'd have to tell Jenna and Sara to stop moving her things.

  The alarm clock turned o and then she felt someone kiss her neck. Her eyes shot open and she came face to face with a sleepy Katherine. Then she remembered, the patient, the co ee shop, the sofa, Katherine's wife, the shower and most importantly, the fact that they were in a relationship now.

  "Good morning,” Katherine said, placing another kiss on her collar bone.

  "I really don't want to leave this bed." Katherine said and she placed her head on Sophia's chest.

  "Sophia, could you call in sick? I can call and say I have a personal errand to run but I'm available for an emergencies."

  Sophia couldn't believe what she was hearing. Where was the professional surgeon? It wasn't like the change was a bad thing but she'd changed so quickly. Sophia couldn't see any

  traits of the woman that she knew from the hospital. Was Katherine that good at pretending?

  "Oh shoot. We can't call in sick. We need to check up on our patient from yesterday."

  “I guess we'll just have to leave then." Sophia said but even as she said it she tightened her grip on Katherine.

  Katherine wiggled and Sophia unwillingly let her go. She took o her shirt that she'd put on after their shower the night before leaving her stark naked. Katherine went about selecting clothes. When she was done she turned around like she knew Sophia would be watching her. Sophia watched her dress slowly and carefully. It was erotic.

  Sophia found herself chuckling alone in the room.

  Katherine totally had been putting on a show. Sophia tossed the covers o her body and took o her shirt. She hoped with everything in her that this Katherine wouldn't leave.

  11

  Getting to work hadn't been an issue. Katherine had driven them both. She'd been planning to drive into the garage so they could go their separate ways there but Sophia had reasoned that a lot of other people would be there too so Katherine had dropped her two blocks away.

  Katherine had kissed her before she'd left the vehicle and when she was standing on the side walk she blew her a kiss before driving o .

  Sophia felt reassured that Katherine wasn't going to go back to being unemotional and distant. She knew that they would obviously have to maintain a professional relationship at work so they wouldn't stir up any questions but outside work was where she got to see the real Katherine. The one with real emotions and beautiful smiles. She smiled to herself as she walked down the street to the hospital. Scenes from the night before flashed through her head. Katherine apparently was a sleep talker. Sophia had heard her mumbling some things about scalpels and surgery. Ever the doctor.

  She could see the hospital now, so she walked faster.

  She was curious and kind of scared to see what the day would be like. She was interning in the pediatric department

  that week and the week after that was the general surgery department, the week after that was neurology department and then cosmetic. She wouldn't get to see Katherine unless they met up during her lunch break or after work. Katherine could request for her specifically but if she did it more than twice in a row it would be suspicious and Sophia wouldn't learn as much as she should from the other departments.

  She hospital doors slid open and she walked in. The smell of medicines and antiseptic floor cleaners hit her almost immediately and she smiled to herself a little breathing in the air. She knew at least that this would always be consistent.

  KATHERINE WAS HAPPY. She'd been in and out of surgeries all day, her back and feet were killing her but she was happy.

  She couldn't stop thinking about Sophia. She couldn't stop remembering their time together. She hadn't realised how much she'd missed being cuddled till she had woken up with Sophia's warm arms around her.

  If she had the option of staying in bed with her the whole day she would've taken it.

  The day was almost over and Katherine still hadn't seen Sophia. They hadn't been able to text or meet up because of how busy they both were.

  It was nine o'clock now. Katherine guessed the interns didn't have much to do anymore so they'd leave by 10. She picked up her bag and fished out her phone.

  She had three texts from Sophia. The first one was a text asking her if she was free for co ee. She had apparently asked around and realised that Katherine had been in surgery at that time because her second text read "just found out you're in surgery. Good luck!" Katherine smiled at the message and checked the third.

  "Is it normal for me to miss you as much as I do?"

  Katherine didn't know if it was normal but she knew she missed her too. It was funny how much she did because they'd been together just that morning.

  Katherine texted her back.

  "I'll be free for co ee tomorrow if I don't have any emergencies."

  “Thank you! The surgery was a success and the patient is in recovery"

  “I don't think it's normal but if it's any consolation, I miss you too. So, will you come over to my house tonight?"

  Katherine knew that she could've just replied the last text but it irked her when she texted three things and only got one reply. She was right about the interns not having much to do because the three dots that showed Sophia was texting her back popped up on her phone screen.

  "Text me if you're free. I'll bring the co ee to your o ce.

  Maybe I'll even seduce you while I'm there.” Katherine chuckled at Sophia's reply. She'd never done anything that wasn't work related at the hospital and yet here she was considering having sex in her o ce. Sophia was clearly a bad influence.

  Sophia agreed to come to her house and then they texted back and forth till it was almost ten. Katherine stood up and stretched. She felt the tightness in her back and her knees ached.

  According to their plan. Sophia had left first. Sophia was going to walk till she got to the front of the building where Katherine had dropped her o in the morning and Katherine would pick her up from there and take them both to her house.

  During the drive, Katherine told Sophia about the surgeries, the procedures and the risks. For every risk, she

  gave Sophia gave a solution or prevention and Katherine had pulled over to kiss her.

  "What was that for?" She had asked when she had continued driving.

  "Your intelligence is attractive,” she replied and she could've sworn she saw Sophia blush.

  When they got to the house they both trotted up the stairs. Katherine fell face first into her bed and groaned. She really was tired.

  Sophia laid down beside her and their eyes met. They did nothing but look at each other. Katherine was thinking about how pretty Sophia's eyes were and how much she needed a massage and a bath. Sophia was thinking of taking a bath too. It kind of surprised her how quickly they'd gotten used to each other. They didn't argue over their schedules and neither of them were annoyed with the other for not being able to see each other earlier today.

  “Do you want to share a bath?” Katherine said and Sophia nodded, but neither of them made a move to get up.

  "I really, really like you. You make me happy,” Sophia said.

  Katherine smiled weakly at her,

  "You make me believe that I can love again."

  12

  The first few months of their relationship could only be described as blissful. Sophia had been so happy that she could've burst. After the first couple of weeks they settled into a routine. In the morning, they'd get ready for work. Sometimes if they woke up early enough, they had sex.

  Then they'd bathe or shower and Katherine would drive them to work. Instead of blocks away from the hospital, Katherine started dropping her at the co ee shop. Sophia would order co ees for them both then take it back to the hospital. She'd go straight to Katherine's o ce and they would spend what time they could drinking co ee and talking.

  By the time they were done, a lot of other interns would have arrived, so Sophia would kiss her and they'd make plans to meet later in the day before she left.

  Whenever Sophia interned in Katherine's department they always snuck away to have sex in on call rooms, because Katherine couldn’t resist the lure of her.

  The first time they'd had sex at work Sophia had been the one to initiate it. It had been a little after Sophia's lunch break. She'd gone to Katherine's o ce to give her an update on a patient she'd done surgery on and Katherine had looked

  so sexy rattling o medications that Sophia just had to kiss her."I love it when you talk doctor to me.” Katherine had laughed at her silliness but Sophia hadn't been playing.

  “I don’t have any underwear on.”