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“I’m sure she’s scheduling her shifts so we don’t cross paths..” Carina paced Teddy’s office, venting. “I mean... she said she enjoyed it, that she hadn’t cum like that in a long time, but now she’s what? Ghosting me?”
“I’m sure she’s not ghosting you. She’s probably busy.” Teddy said though even she didn’t believe that.
“Busy? She doesn’t know anyone outside this hospital. What could she possibly be busy doing?”
“Working? Rumor around here is she’s a bit of a workaholic.”
“Nobody can work 24/7, not even her. I obviously did something wrong.”
“Carina no. Did you ever think maybe that she’s not looking for a relationship?”
“Doesn’t mean we couldn’t have sex again.”
“Would that be enough for you? You seem to really like her.”
“I do, but I’d rather have something than nothing. She’s..she’s addictive.”
“You should talk to her.” Teddy said. She’d never seen her friend like this.
“I would if she wasn’t avoiding me.”
“This hospital isn’t that big. Plus you have enough pull with the nurses to have them page her.”
“I don’t want to make her uncomfortable.”
“But it’ll kill you if you don’t find out what happened. It’s totally reasonable to want to know what happened and make sure you’re both in the same page.”
“You’re right.” She decided she would go and find her immediately, knowing she would lose her nerve if she waited.
“You go get your girl.”
———
“So this is where you’ve been hiding is it?” Carina closed the door the room Maya was in, giving them some privacy to talk.
“Carina? Uh hi…” Maya sputtered not expecting her solitude to be interrupted by the one person she had been trying to avoid.
“Funny that I haven’t seen you around all week. Anyone would think you were trying to avoid me.”
“Avoiding you? No, of course not. Just been busy.” Maya was panicking. She was caught.
“Mhm so busy I haven’t seen you once? Was the sex really that bad?”
“Bad? What? No! It was amazing. You’re amazing.” Maya said quickly. Standing up and crossing the floor. She couldn’t have Carina thinking that it was anything less than mind blowing.
“But not good enough for you to want to do it again right?” She felt deflated but at
least she knew now.
“Carina I don’t…I don’t do this. It has nothing to do with you.”
“This? You don’t do sex? Seemed like you did last week.”
“No I mean…anything more than a one night stand. It gets to messy after that.”
“It doesn’t have to. Why lose out on great sex?”
“You don’t strike me as the friends with benefits type.”
“I wouldn’t usually be, but you’re worth it.”
“I just don’t want to mislead you. I’m all for sex without complication. But I don’t do relationships. I thought if I avoided you, it’d be easier.” Maya explained.
“Easier for you maybe. I’ve been going out of my mind all week wondering what I did wrong. Sex is usually one of my strengths.”
“Oh it definitely is.” Maya praised. She hasn’t been able to stop thinking about it.
“So it’s something you might want to do again? As long as there’s so strings attached?”
“It’s just better for everyone if there are no strings. But the sex part, yes please.” Maya said inching towards Carina now that the brunette didn’t look so angry.
“I can do the sex part.”
“No feelings?” Maya clarified. Moving closer to Carina pressing the brunette back against the door.
“Nu-uh. No feelings.”
“Okay.” Maya knew that wasn’t likely to happen. It never worked out that way. But Carina was too good to pass up. Bringing their lips together Maya sighed contented, these were the lips she’d missed for a solid week. The taste she tried to remember but knew her memory couldn’t do it justice.
“I missed those lips.”
“I missed you.” Maya said against Carina’s lips. Her hands sliding under Carina’s scrub top.
“Good to know I’m worth missing. Even if it’s just for my body.”
“Hey, it’s not just your body.”
“It’s no strings right? So probably best if it is just my body.”
“It is an amazing body.”
“So is yours.”
“So tonight? Your place?”
“Tonight at my place. 8pm?”
“I’ll be there.” Maya promised kissing Carina again.
————
“Holy shit…that was incredible.” Maya panted collapsing beside Carina. They’d been at it for hours and Maya had lost count of how many orgasms had been given and received. But her whole body had the contented buzz of someone truly satisfied.
“I don’t think I’ve ever cum so many times in one night.” She breathed, her body covered in a light sheen of sweat.
“I’ll take that as a compliment.” Maya laughed staring up at the ceiling trying to catch her breath.
“Very much so.”
“Where did you learn to do that thing with your tongue?” Maya asked. She’d never cum so hard in her life.
“Years of practice” she winked.
“So good.” Maya praised turning to look at the clock. It was close to 2am. She should go.
“Happy to do it again anytime. Just say the word.”
“You’re going to become an addiction.”
“Likewise. No other addiction I’d rather have.”
“I should go.” Maya said sitting up.
“I know this is only sex, but you don’t have to leave if you don’t want to. My bed is extremely comfortable.”
“It is comfortable. I just don’t want to blur the lines. Cuddling seems…intimate.”
“It can still be considered part of this arrangement, If you’d like it to be.”
“Okay.” Maya caved. She couldn’t say no to Carina. Not when the Italian was looking so amazing in the soft light of the room. Naked and gorgeous.
“Big spoon or little?” Carina hummed.
“I’m always the big spoon.” Maya said.
“Absolutely fine with me, I love being the little spoon.”
Maya laid back into the bed, finding the mattress warm and comfortable as she knew it would be. And held her arm up letting Carina scoot closer to her.
“I haven’t cuddled anyone in bed for a very long time.” she confessed quietly.
“It’s new to me too.” Maya replied feeling Carina’s back press against her naked front. She was nervous. Her heart pounding.
“Feeling okay there Dr Bishop?” Carina could feel Maya’s racing heart against her back.
“Some tachycardia, but I think I’ll be okay.” Maya answered hating how much she was enjoying this.
“You’re in good hands..” she trailed her fingers along Maya’s arm that was now wrapped around her.
“The best.” Maya answered nuzzling against Carina’s neck, breathing in her scent. Wanting to memorize it so she didn’t forget.
“Well thank you for your kind words. Coming from someone as amazing as you makes them mean so much more.”
“I’m not that amazing. I mean as a doctor, yeah I’m the best. As a person…we’re still figuring that out.” Maya said running her fingers along Carina’s stomach.
“You’re pretty amazing in my eyes.”
“You’re pretty amazing yourself.”
“I’m glad it’s dark in here or you’d see me blushing right now.”
“You’re beautiful when you blush.” Maya complimented before she could stop herself.
“Thank you very much” Carina blushed harder.
Silence fell over them, Maya was surprised that it was a comfortable silence. They didn’t have to talk. It was easy.
“Think you can fall asleep?”
“I probably could.” Maya hummed already close to it.
“Sleep then bella.”
“What about you?” Maya asked falling asleep.
“Mhm, I’m going to fall asleep any second too.”
“Kay good.” Maya said pulling Carina closer.
———
Carina woke up with a smile on her face. She had had the best night sleep she had had in a long time. Maya was still asleep when Carina woke up. She debated getting up and making her some French toast, or staying here and just staring at her pretty face.
Waking with that feeling of knowing someone was looking at her Maya shifted in her sleep. Eager to cling to the last few minutes of peace before waking. “Go back to sleep.” Maya mumbled throwing her arm back over Carina.
“I could say the same to you..” she hummed softly. “Good morning beautiful”.
“Morning.” Maya said turning into pillow eyes still closed.
“You look beautiful when you’re asleep.”
“I doubt that. You look beautiful always.”
“You’re a charmer, you know that?”
“I have my moments.” Maya said finally opening her eyes. Ready to look at Carina knowing that it was going to be dangerous. This felt too easy.
Carina stroked her cheek, Maya turning to face her. Carina couldn’t help but smile at her face.
“Do you work today?”
“I don’t. Do you?”
“Nope.” Maya said stretching luxuriously.
“Sounds like a good day to me. What are your plans?”
“I don’t have any. Benefits of living in a hotel, I don’t have chores to do.” Maya said with a grin.
“I’m ever so slightly jealous of that.”
“I’m sure you could get a cleaning person if you wanted to. But from what I saw it’s pretty clean out there.”
“I do like to keep my apartment clean.”
“I quite enjoy it.”
“Me too. Messes make me anxious.”
“Oh? Why do you think that is?”
“Control issues.”
“I understand. I am similar, hence why my apartment looks like this”.
“Still, it looks like a home. Mine looks like an IKEA catalog.”
“Nothing wrong with that.”
“Saves on the decision making. I just pointed and told the sale person.”
“I kinda like that” she shrugged .
“If you ever find yourself in Boston I’ll show it to you.”
“I’ll have to rearrange my travel plans.”
“I won’t be there for a couple weeks but my apartment is open to you.”
“If you’re not going to be there, then I wouldn’t want to visit. It’s you I really want to see.”
“My contract with Grey Sloan ends at the end of the month.” It was the 2nd.
“Your current contract..” Carina corrected.
“My current contract.”
“Much better.”
“You’ll have to take to the board for that. Maybe you can convince them. I’m not a surgeon so it’s not up to Bailey.”
“I will be speaking to the board for sure, you can guarantee that.”
“Is that for my skills at work or in bed?”
“Can it be both?”
“It can be both. Your friends won’t think down on you for associating with a non-surgeon?”
“God no. Why would they? Everyone thinks you’re amazing at what you do.”
“Surgeons can be a bit…elitist in my experience.”
“Well not me. Or my friends for that matter.”
“Maybe you could introduce me, so they stop whispering about me behind my back.”
“I will. I’d love for you to meet my friends.”
“Further convince me why I should move back to Seattle.”
“Mhm, very much so.”
“I grew up here.” Maya revealed though she didn’t know why she was telling Carina that. Or even why she was still in bed with Carina. She should be leaving.
“You did? Tell me more.” Carina was interested.
“Born and mostly raised. I left shortly after someone close to me died.” Maya explained she hated thinking about Pruitt. It still hurt as fresh as if it just happened.
“I’m sorry to hear that. Can I ask who it was? You don’t have to tell me if you don’t want to.”
“I didn’t have the best childhood. My dad was…difficult. My best friend’s family kinda took me in when it got rough. He raised me more than my own family. He was a firefighter and he died.”
“I’m so sorry that he died bella. That must have been really hard for you.”
“After that I just had to get away from my dad so when I got the offer at Mass Gen. I jumped at it.”
“That makes sense.” Carina found herself stroking Maya’s arm gently.
“I don’t know why I’m telling you this. It’s not fun conversation.”
“You’re fine, I like hearing it.
“Tell me more about you.”
“What do you want to know beautiful?”
“Everything.” Maya said honestly.
“I’ll tell you anything you want to know.”
“Tell me about where you grew up.”
“I grew up in Italy with my brother Andrea and my parents.”
“You have a brother?”
“Had..” Carina told her sadly.
“Oh…sorry.”
“It’s okay. It’s not easy for me to talk about, but I’m doing better now.”
“You don’t have to talk about it if you don’t want to. But I’m here to listen if you want to.”
“Thank you Maya, that is very kind of you.”
“I should probably go.” Maya said sitting up. It was close to 8am. She never stayed in bed this long.
“I’m sorry if I made you uncomfortable.”
“You didn’t. Not at all. I just…I don’t want to confuse things.” Even saying that felt wrong.
“That’s okay. I understand.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Please don’t say sorry. We said no strings.”
“You look sad.”
“I’m okay. I promise.”
“You sure?” Maya asked hesitating.
“Mhm. Promise.”
“Okay. I’ll call you later?” Maya asked getting up and getting dressed.
“I’d like that” she smiled, wishing she could kiss Maya one more time.
Maya fought the urge to lean down and kiss Carina but thought it probably wouldn’t be a good idea.
“Thank you again for last night. I’ll talk to you later.”
“Bye.” Maya said leaving quickly.
————
Maya had just finished up with a patient and was finishing her notes at the nurses station when she felt eyes on her. Looking up she saw Carina across the floor, smiling at the Italian Maya fought the urge to go over to her. It had been days since they’re last encounter. “You have a lot of nerve Bishop.” Maya turned suddenly hearing the sound of a familiar and angry voice.
“Andy…”
“How the hell do you end up being here for weeks and not even think to tell me?” She demanded.
“I’ve been working.” Maya said grabbing her arm and pulling her into an empty room to not make a scene.
“Working so much you couldn’t even call me??”
“I was going to.” Maya lied.
“We both know that’s bullshit.” Andy was no afraid to call her out.
“I’m sorry. We didn’t leave in the best terms. I didn’t know if I was going to be welcome.”
“Maya! You’re like my sister, you’ll always be welcome!!”
“I left after your dad…”
“After he died. I know, it’s okay. You did what you had to do. My therapist helped me to see that.”
“Therapy? Andy Herrera has changed.”
“Andy Herrera lost her father and then her best friend within a few weeks. I dread to think where I’d be right now if I hadn’t been to therapy.”
“You never lost me.” Maya said feeling guilt crush her chest.
“Felt that way. And now you’re here and you don’t even text me? Sure feels like I’ve lost you even now.”
“That’s on me. I was afraid. I was afraid you’d turn me away.”
“I’d never do that. I love you.”
“I missed you. I’m sorry I was an idiot.”
“I missed you too.”
“Forgive me?”
“Of course.” She pulled her in for a hug.
“I’m back for the month.” Maya said.
“We should spend time together, like old times?”
“Definitely. I’m staying at the Edgewater.” Maya said.
“You could have stayed with me. Would have been a lot cheaper.”
“Hospitals paying for it.”
“Oo well that’s a bonus. Hotel room service on you then.”
“Come over tonight? We’ll catch up at the bar and then order room service.”
“Sounds good. I’d like that.”
“I’m off at six but I’ll text you if that changes.” Maya said as they walked out of the empty room.
“Okay thank you.” She followed her out.
“See you later.” Maya said wrapping her arms around Andy and hugging her tight.
“I love you” Andy held on tight with the hug. “God I missed your hugs.”
“Love you too. You’ll get plenty tonight.” Maya promised.
“Love? Plenty of hugs? Looks pretty committed for someone who’d didn’t do commitment.” Carina fumed, standing beside Amelia and seeing the exchange.
“Yeah…that looks friendly. Is it possible she’s not into commitment because she’s already committed?” Amelia asked. She didn’t want to think that this woman that Carina had been raving about for days was capable of such a thing. But evidence suggested that something was going on.
“Could be. Oh god, I’m the other woman aren’t I? The bit on the side, is that what you call it?”
“Side piece. And it’s not your fault if you didn’t know.”
“I am nobody’s side piece” she fumed.
“Whoa there, before you jump to conclusions. Talk to her. Maybe there is a perfectly legit reason for the friendly hugging and ‘I love you’s’.”
“Yeah because she really seems like the overly huggy and affectionate type.
“Go talk to her.” Amelia pushed. She could tell Carina was spiraling and she really hoped that it was for nothing.
“Mhm, right, yeah I’m going to do it.” She marched over, unable to hide the anger seeping from her. “Dr Bishop. Consult now..” she turned and hoped to God Maya was following.
Maya watched Carina storm off and knew better than to not follow. Andy sent her a sympathetic look. Following Carina into the stairwell Maya wasn’t sure what she was about to get yelled at for.
“So that’s what ‘I don’t do feelings’ looks like does it? Hugs and I love you’s?? Looks like a lot of feelings being shared to me.”
“Whoa what are you talking about?” Maya asked surprised at the anger that Carina was throwing at her.
“You think the whole department didn’t see you hugging that gorgeous Latino woman? You were not very discreet.”
“Andy? That’s what this is about?”
“Oh Andy is it? Does she know about our little no strings attached sex?”
“I haven’t told her yet. But it’s not really her business. Why are you so upset?”
“You haven’t told your girlfriend about us? Or worse, oh god, she’s your wife isn’t she?
“What!? Andy? No, Carina remember the best friend I was telling you about? The one who’s dad practically raised me? That’s Andy.”
“Oh.” She suddenly felt very embarrassed. “That’s Andy?”
“Yeah. You thought she and I were…? That I’d do that to you?” Maya asked hurt.
“You disappeared to a private room and then when you came out were hugging her very tightly. And then you both said it love you’. What else was I supposed to think?”
“I don’t know, anything but that. This is why I don’t do complicated like this.” Maya said gesturing between them.
“Look...I’m sorry okay? I mean, what right do I have to feel anything? We said no strings and this is very much not that. I’m sorry, really sorry Maya.”
“I’d never do that to you. Or to whoever I was with, if I was with anyone.”
“I’m sorry for doubting you.”
“I have patients to see. I’ll uh…I’ll text you later.” Maya said reaching for the door handle.
“Maya...I really am sorry okay?” She gave her wrist a gentle squeeze.
“Maybe we should stop whatever it is that we’re doing. Clearly no strings attached isn’t working.”
Carina heard they words she had been dreading, her face falling immediately. “If that’s what you want.”
Maya turned to face Carina and pulled the Italians lips to hers. Kissing her hard, tongue and teeth and pure want.
“I’ll take that as a no then.” She grinned into the kiss, needing more .
“Of course I don’t want this to end. But ‘No strings’ isn’t working.” Maya answered between kisses.
“Not really. Does it have to stay as no strings?”
“I can’t start something with you if I don’t know if I’m sticking around. It’s not fair.”
“Maybe we work on that first then?”
“You don’t even know me, how do you know you want to date me?”
“Because I can tell how amazing you are.”
“I don’t do relationships.” Maya didn’t want to tell Carina that she’d never had one before.
“Maybe I can be the one to change that?”
“Ambitious. The confidence is kind of a turn on.” Maya said with a smile.
“I like the idea of turning you on very much” she teased.
“You do it very well.”
“I’m glad to hear it. I like to be a high achiever.”
“Why does that not surprise me?”
“I would guess the same about you if I had to.”
“I strive for excellence.”
“Sexy.” Carina winked.
“So we’re doing this? We’re…letting feelings into this?”
“I’m in if you are.”
“I can’t seem to get you out of my system so…I’m in.”
“That makes me very happy.”
“Then I must be doing something right. I’m meeting Andy later tonight, but tomorrow night?”
“Tomorrow night sounds perfect. Text me?”
“I might even call you.”
“Ooo, a call? I’d be honored.”
“Don’t quote me. We’ll see.” Maya teased running her fingers under Carina’s scrub top.
“I’ll look forward to being surprised.”
“I like surprising you.” Maya said distracted by the exposed skin of Carina’s neck. Kissing along the skin easiest to access.
“I like it too.”
“How’s this for surprising?” Maya asked her hand coming up to cup Carina’s bra covered breast.
“I like that..but I’m not sure anyone else who happens to meet us in the stairwell would.”
“They’d enjoy the show.”
“Who wouldn’t? We are very sexy.”
“Mhm and I want you.”
“You can have me. Tomorrow night. Have me in anyway.”
“Now.” Maya whispered against Carina’s ear. Biting Carina’s earlobe for emphasis.
“That can be arranged.”
“Wanna show me to one of those On-Call rooms I’ve heard so much about?”
“Do you have time?”
“I have time.”
“Me too”
“Lead the way.”