Chapter Text
“Ryan really said that?”
Maya questions with a frown, as she concentrates on taking her shoes off at her apartment door. The pull on her brow gave a quick reminder of her injury, feeling a twinge where the stitches are knitted across her skin.
Carina had been retelling Maya how she came to be at Dean’s boathouse. The obvious setup her team had coordinated and her resulting indignation of their reasoning had caused Carina to laugh the majority of the way home.
She glances up after storing her shoes away, to the hallway where Carina had last been a moment ago. But she was not in sight. She did however spot her and Andy’s discarded bags on the seat at the end of the corridor between their rooms instead. Andy had convinced Maya earlier that unpacking could wait for one night.
Spying them now, Maya itched to clear them away.
“Si, you’ve apparently been grumpy, bella.”
Carina’s voice floated from her bedroom, which distracted Maya enough from her thoughts of starting a load of washing. It didn’t stop her from noticing Carina’s abandoned boots under the small table to her right though.
That’s not where they go, she admonishes, and then remembers what she had been accused of.
“No I wasn’t.” her huff resulted in a giggle from Carina. Boots forgotten, she headed for her bedroom. “I wasn’t. WIldfires aren’t exactly-”
Maya’s words drop, as well as her mouth as she steps over the threshold.
Carina is standing at the end of her bed, a pleased smile across her lips. Her shirt was removed and the top button of her pants had been undone. Maya’s eyes roam the bare skin available, appreciating and simultaneously cursing the delicate material concealing Carina’s breasts from view.
“Oh.”
“Bella.” Carina calls gently with a mischievous grin, beckoning Maya with a curl of her finger. “Vieni qui.”
Blue eyes lift at the request, followed by a step or two to bring them back within each other's personal space. A stilted breath falls against Carina’s chin as Maya tilts her head back down, taking in the expanse of softness now within reach.
Her mouth follows the path of her gaze, lightly kissing the prominent collarbone. The exhale of air next to her ear incites a further exploration as she runs her tongue delicately up Carina’s extended neck. A small nip is given in appreciation of the room she is being afforded.
That has a different effect than she had anticipated.
A tug to the hair at the back of Maya’s head, and she briefly wondered when Carina had taken hold of her to pull so encouragingly. She is coaxed away from the pleasantness of warm skin, and only granted a fraction of a second before Carina’s mouth was on her own.
The suddenness had Maya breathing deeply through her nose, her hands finally taking hold of the bare waist. Once her brain caught up with her actions, Maya settled into the familiarity. The tips of her fingers dance up Carina’s body, until she could pull her closer and run both thumbs underneath the intricate material of Carina’s bra.
There was a firm grip on the back of Maya’s top, as Carina then tugs on the clothing to expose pale skin.
The intention is clear and understood.
Maya laughs into Carina’s mouth. The other woman’s lack of patience evidenced in a resounding groan of annoyance.
“Off.” Carina instructs, clearly not feeling the same level of humour Maya was in that moment.
“Lost your manners, Dr. DeLuca?” the blonde quips with a smirk, removing her t-shirt and throwing it in the direction of the chair in the corner.
She was pulled close once again, this time by the belt loops on her jeans.
“I’ll make up for it.” Carina answers, still not an ounce of humour to be seen. Pure want in her expression, her mouth and teeth running the length of Maya’s defined jawline. “Promise.” she husks against Maya’s earlobe.
Maya momentarily loses her senses, not just at the bite to her ear, but also because she was suddenly spun and pushed back to fall against the mattress. Getting a staggered gasp of air into her lungs, Maya sits up enough to rest on her elbows, gaining sight of Carina again. The brunette was standing between her parted knees, finally an edge of amusement on her lips before she captured the bottom one with her teeth.
Maya moved to sit up further.
“No. Stay.” a pointed index finger accompanied the instruction.
Blue eyes move down Carina’s body, standing above her. She traces the lines along the tanned abs to the open clasp of her pants. When Carina began easing her pants down her hips, Maya belatedly notices that hers had been undone too at some point. She lifts herself briefly to help, watching the almost black gaze track the length of her body as they were removed.
There was something predatory in Carina.
It stunned Maya.
She doesn’t remember a time when she wasn’t that person. She didn’t allow people to have the upper hand. She wasn’t prey.
Until today it seemed.
There was a final flick of dark brown eyes, before Carina was crouching at the foot of the bed, intent on uncovering all of Maya.
Losing sight, Maya considered sitting up. However, there was a sharp nip to the side of her left knee, causing her to hiss and fall back completely.
“You don’t play fair.” she mutters, as she hears the distinct sound of her jeans hitting her dresser, followed by a throaty chuckle. Maya throws her arm up to cover her eyes, soon remembering the tender spot on her forehead. There was another nip to her right leg this time, offering to distract her from the dull ache.
“I’ve been very patient, Maya.” Carina all but whispers, hands pushing for more space between Maya’s legs. Lips and nose begin trailing up her thigh, before treating the other in the same manner. “I already told you I would be taking my time with you.”
Maya’s stomach somersaults in anticipation.
She bites the inside of her cheek to stop an embarrassing moan from making itself known. Instead she attempts a deep breath. It's awkward as Carina had attached herself to her skin at the same moment, and she seemed intent on leaving a mark in her place.
A sigh is given when Carina finally releases her captured thigh.
Maya moves to glance down her body, only to feel a hot puff of air across her underwear, becoming aware of the damp feeling. She had been distracted. Thoroughly distracted.
“The thoughts I have had of you.”
Carina’s thumbs slide under the fabric at the top of each leg.
“Tell me.”
Maya didn’t recognise her own voice.
She was aware of very little if she was honest. Her full focus was on the eyes hovering above her navel.
Until they disappear entirely.
Replaced by the sensation of a long swipe and press of a tongue against the damp fabric of her underwear.
Maya releases the moan she had been able to hold in until that point. In an attempt to ground herself, she reached down to grasp the back of Carina’s hand that was laying flat on her stomach, pinning her in place. There was a firm suck in response, and a hum.
That hum soon turns into a groan, and Maya finds her underwear is no longer in the way. Her hand tightens its hold on Carina’s wrist, as the doctor’s fingers flex against the tensing muscle below.
Just as she’s about to ask for more, the pressure is gone.
Maya whines, only to see a mass of brunette hair draping over her stomach. There is the sensation of teeth dragging against her hip bone, a circle of her navel from a probing tongue. The hand she has gripped tightly is now moving up her body to cup her breast, her nipple apparently sensitive as the palm is pushed gently across.
“Carina.” she calls out in a moan.
“Patience.”
The reply is all but a growl, as there is a brief moment of eye contact. Then Carina is exposing the neglected nipple and bringing her mouth to it. The hand that had cupped the other breast is now running back down the length of her body, until fingers are scratching at the waistband.
Carina releases Maya with a pop, places a nip on her juddering chin and then pushes her hand into Maya’s underwear, at the same time her mouth dances over Maya’s. There is a desperate inhale of air through the blonde’s nose, before she has to pull back and gasp.
“Better than I imagined.” Carina confesses in an exhale of her own against Maya’s ear.
Carina was laying naked across the bed, Maya half resting over her stomach, equally as naked under the sheet she had barely dragged across them. The blonde was delicately running her fingers along her skin. The quiet chuckle she hears is because of the pelle d'oca, she is sure.
“Stop it.” she pleads with a laugh of her own.
“Sorry.” Maya hums but doesn’t actually stop immediately, just meets her eyes instead. “I like how you react.” she whispers with a smirk.
Carina rolls her eyes, and tuts for extra measure. “Well I’ve always reacted to you.”
Maya smiles, sighing happily at the confession.
“But now I can see it.” she replies, kissing the skin below her resting cheek. “It’s reassuring in a weird way.”
Carina runs her hand through the other woman’s hair, pushing it behind her ear. “Do you need reassurance, bella ?” she questions, wondering what Maya had truly meant by her words.
“Don’t we all?” Is the shrugged reply, Maya pulling her gaze away from Carina and once again playing her fingers along the body beneath her, like a piano. “I just. I thought I may have messed this up at one point.”
Carina is quiet for a minute, before she shuffles herself further down the bed.
She’s pleased when Maya notices and gets the hint to lift herself enough to allow for her to move. Maya lies back down on Carina when she is finished, resting her head on her shoulder.
“I had to leave the MRI room when you were there before I ruined my research.” Carina spoke softly against Maya’s forehead, a small chuckle escaping her when the blonde pulled back, scandalised.
“I thought you were mad at me. You barely said bye.”
Carina bit her lip. “I couldn’t. I was turned on and mad… but not at you, bella. If you hadn’t finished when you did, mio Dio.” she groaned at the memory. “I was on my way. Sans pants.”
There was a light hue to Maya’s cheeks at the joke. Although Carina had now seen a much darker shade appear across that face, and with that thought, she couldn’t help the sense of pride that washed over her. She was excited to get that colour back across the pale skin once more.
“Kinda wish I had held off a little longer now, to see what you would have done.”
“Basta! I don’t need those thoughts. I have enough of my own!” Carina all but yelled in mirth, rolling Maya in a fit of giggles onto her back. “I’m a thorough researcher, thank you. A professional.”
Maya gasps when the Italian finishes her statement with her teeth and tongue on her shoulder, before her hands are taken and firmly pulled above her head.
“I’m well aware, doctor.” she mocks playfully, sliding her legs around the woman restraining her, hoping to get a reaction. “What was it you were saying about multiple orgasms again? I seem to have forgotten.”
It was early.
Maya was used to being up early, it was the best time for a run. That had been her thinking, as she had found her running gear and dressed. It was only when she was sitting at the end of her bed, the opposite side to her usual side of the bed, with her shoe in hand that she realised four in the morning was far too early. Even for her.
The reason she wasn’t sitting on her side of the bed. It was currently occupied and she didn’t want to disturb her sleeping bedmate.
Bedmate.
The thought had Maya taking a glance over her shoulder to Carina, who was lying peacefully on her stomach with her face buried in the pillow. On the side of the bed Maya usually slept.
The firefighter had wondered if that is what had originally woken her. Not being on the correct side of the bed. Her bed. She had been awake almost an hour before she considered going for a run, milling over these thoughts and Maya had become hyper-focused on the situation. Sporadically she would look at Carina, a mix of emotion seeing her there.
Happy, excited, worried, anxious, annoyed. She had felt them all.
Her current emotion is confusion.
Why was she like this? Why couldn’t she just settle her thoughts?
She sighs, drops the running shoe in her hand and covers her face with her hands.
“You think too loudly.”
The disgruntled statement is said into the pillow behind her, as Carina turns to face Maya.
The blonde is watching Carina as she tries to wake herself up, rubbing her eyes and face. If she wasn’t a ball of nerves and agitation she could appreciate how cute she was being.
“Sorry.” Maya answers quietly, focusing on her hands out of embarrassment. She can hear the rustling of the sheets but she can’t bring herself to look back.
“Are you needing me to leave?”
Maya instantly turns her full attention to the Italian, her question having been asked so softly and uncharacteristically timid. She found her sitting up and resting back on the headboard, angled towards her.
“What? Why-”
“Maya.” Carina cuts in, training her eyes thoughtfully on the woman after taking a glance at the clock. “You can’t run from your own apartment. Do you need me to leave?”
Carina knew Maya’s habits, her deeply ingrained beliefs on sex and dating. Finding her awake in the early hours was expected. Upsetting obviously, but ultimately Carina isn’t surprised and she wouldn’t want to make Maya uncomfortable. If her presence was doing that, Carina would rather leave.
“No.”
The response was forceful, and Carina observes as Maya scrambles back on the bed. Even if she keeps a distance between them.
“Bella.”
“Carina, no. I don’t want you to leave, I was just thinking of going for a run.” Maya explains earnestly, pulling a knee up to wrap her arms around it.
“At four in the morning.” Carina replies with a sigh, beginning to fiddle with the sheet. Conscious now that she is naked underneath.
“Well yeah, I didn’t realise how early it was.”
Maya shuffles closer to the brunette, halting her hands on the sheets with her own. She grasps one firmly, and pulls it up to rest her lips against the knuckles. Having spent so long in her head, Maya hadn’t contemplated how she would feel if it was Carina herself to suggest she left. Habit had been to set rules before anything went any further, the biggest agreement was knowing they had to leave.
She would never asked Carina to leave. Didn’t even want that.
Maya was anxious. She ran when she was anxious to feel better.
“I run when I’m anxious.” she blurts out suddenly, studying Carina’s hand still in her own.
“Why? Why are you anxious?”
Carina’s valid question has Maya lifting her eyes again, and offering the smallest of shrugs. “I-.” she starts, before deciding to right her thoughts first. “I don’t know how to… accommodate people.”
Maya scrunches her nose at her choice of words, and she can see it mirrored on Carina’s expression too. This was far too embarrassing for her, the sigh she lets out highlighting that feeling.
“I’m a runner. Runners are lonely by nature. Or I was trained to be from really young. Focus on the finish line, don’t look to anyone else. They are competitors, they will hold you back. Be self-reliant. Eyes forward.” Maya rambled, hearing everything in her father’s voice. A mix between persuasive encouragement or angered yelling. “I have set ways and it throws me when I have to think about others. I live with Andy but I still struggle with her living here.”
Maya finishes with a mocking laugh at herself, knowing how bad this all sounds.
“So you do need me to leave?” Carina tries to piece together gently.
“No. No.” Maya vehemently answers, now gripping the doctor’s hand. Knowing she will refuse to let it go until she is understood. “That's not. I just. I couldn’t settle and started thinking about space and people. I wanted to run to clear my head, stop thinking of all the expectations and how messed up I am. You know, like how I don’t date.”
Carina laughs, she can’t help it. She ends up rolling her eyes at Maya’s confused expression. “There is no expectation here though. I have not asked you to date me.”
That has Maya's thought process grind to a halt.
Carina hadn’t asked for anything actually.
Maya on reflection is more fretful that Carina may ask for something she can’t give her. That was why her thoughts had veered in the direction they had. She had no problem saying no to other people. Carina was the first person she was worried would leave her if she couldn’t ‘accommodate’ her. Not that she had any intentions of telling the brunette this yet.
“That’s…”
“True.” Carina finishes for her, letting out a sigh. “Maya, I’m not asking for dates or for anything that makes you uncomfortable. I enjoyed last night, and I think you did too. We can keep doing that, no? Just see where this goes?”
She has survived living with Andy. Potentially she could consider what commitment would be like. With Carina. Can she hand over that level of control? She'll have to just experiment in her head for now. Carina isn’t asking for anything, which means Maya can't disappoint her. Yet.
New thoughts in place, Maya grins, and gives a quick nod. “Okay.”
She watches as Carina almost melts, her ridgid shoulders deflating on her agreement.
“Okay.” the Italian repeats with a small smile. She begins to move the sheets again and starts to settle. “Can we go back to sleep now? I’m tired.”
Maya stands from the bed and nods in agreement, removing her leggings and vest top once more. She eventually turns to face Carina, who has been watching her actions with curiosity.
“Um…” Maya pauses, while standing at the end of the bed and seeing how comfortable Carina appears to be. Her hesitancy though causes Carina to also pause and tilt her head in question.
“What?”
Maya purses her lips, and rubs a hand over the back of her neck, wondering if she should ask. At Carina’s raised eyebrow, she decides to just make her request. Commitment, even if it’s in her head for now, is about honesty, right. Give and take by asking for what you need. So.
“Can you move to this side of the bed?” A wave of her hand is given to indicate where she meant.
Carina for a moment is stunned and scoffs. She’ll laugh later when she is not so tired, for now she curses Maya for being ridiculous.
“Really?”
The answer is a bite of lip and a nervousness that washes over the blonde, her eyes flicking from Carina to the vacant side. As incredulous as the request feels, Carina sighs deeply and then begins to shuffle across.
Maya is very aware as she climbs back into bed, that she should not ask Carina to translate the muttered Italian she is grumbling to herself. Instead, she leans over and places a quick peck on her cheek in thanks.
Even if it was met with an 'endeared' tut.
Carina sighs as she stares at her phone.
Around her, all prepped and ready, are the various ingredients needed to make French Toast. She managed to scavenge through Maya’s cupboards and fridge to find what she needed, as well as a suitable pan to use.
What was missing?
Bread.
What she had found was long past edible. So, in a move she considered only briefly, she ranted to Andy by message on how it was even possible for them to have in-date milk but the bread they had left for her to find was now green.
The reply had been instant, with far more questions being thrown at Carina rather than answers.
Eventually she explained her plans for breakfast, that Maya was still asleep and that she and Andy were no better than her brother and his college roommates. Even if they had just returned from work travels.
Turns out, Andy Herrera was not a silly woman, and on the promise of breakfast, she would arrive soon with bread.
That had been twenty minutes ago and Carina was growing impatient.
She had considered waking Maya.
However, after the conversation they had in the early hours, she decided against it. If the blonde was resting, she was not going to be the person to disturb her.
Carina has resolved that she would be led by Maya. Rather than push her way in, she’ll observe and take up the space Maya gives her. Which is why she has decided to start with breakfast. An almost reward for not insisting that maybe it was best if Carina left at the ungodly hour of four in the morning.
“Buen día! ”
Andy arrives in a flourish, pushing the door open and holding up the bread in offering. Ryan follows behind her with a grin at the dramatics and closes the door behind them.
“Grazie a Dio.” Carina jumps to attention, coming out from behind the kitchen island to meet Andy. “Buongiorno.”
Andy surprisingly gasps out a “Carina!” and spins Ryan round to face the wall, while trying to cover his eyes.
“What are you-” he mutters, as he tries to bat the bread away from his face.
“Cosa? ” Carina asks, glancing down at herself. She was dressed in Maya’s work t-shirt again and her panties. She’s been caught in far less, so can’t see an issue.
“We have an impressionable male here. He does not need to get ideas in his head of what I could be-”
“What’s going on?”
Maya is standing by her bedroom door, dressed in shorts and a t-shirt, rubbing at an eye as she takes in the scene playing out.
“I’m shielding Ryan from unrealistic expectations.” Andy explains playfully, pushing the bread quickly into Carina’s hands and making sure Ryan keeps his eyes trained on either the wall or ceiling, while she coaxes him to her room. “You.” she directs at Maya pointedly. “Are getting your girlfriend some pants or something so we can all return and enjoy the breakfast she promises.”
Carina’s eyes widen at Andy’s wording.
Panic is starting to set in.
Maya, however, seems more preoccupied with watching the couple bat their hands at each other. Ryan continues to quietly insist Andy is being ridiculous as he is pushed to her room.
When the door closes, Maya turns slowly to Carina.
“Sorry, she’s…”
As Maya’s sentence drifts off, Carina realises the use of girlfriend appears to have gone completely over Maya’s head. Which makes her feel a little better about what just happened.
“Buongiorno.” Carina greets instead with a wide grin, leaning over to kiss Maya.
“Morning.” Maya mumbles in reply, as Carina pulls back and makes her way back to the kitchen, bread in hand. “You’re making breakfast? I usually just have a protein shake.”
Carina’s face scrunches in disgust, as she starts prepping again. “Don’t remind me.” she chuckles, receiving a smirk in reply.
Maya steps closer and leans on the island to watch the Italian for a moment.
“Any regrets?” she asks out of the blue.
The question has Carina stop mid-cut, and observe Maya, allowing a minute or two to pass. Before leaning over and kissing her once more.
“No, non c'è altro posto in cui vorrei essere se non qui con te.” she whispers across Maya’s lips when she pulls away.
She’s provided a scoff in response.
“I’m not even going to bother asking for a translation.” Maya mocks. “...but one day Dr. DeLuca, I might just surprise you.” she adds with a pointed finger and a grin.
“I look forward to it.” Carina sasses back with a wink.
Maya glares, and then spins dramatically. “You need shorts.” she says to herself.
“...and your phone.” Carina adds, picking up the bread knife again to continue with breakfast. She had some other messages to translate too.
“Right, phone.” she hears Maya mumble.