CHAPTER 5

Dr Porters hand slid down from Dr Kennard’s cheek over the side of her left breast to her stomach. She gently grabbed the tissue of the blonde’s shirt and pulled her in closer for a soft, yet meaningful kiss on the lips. Without protest, Dr Kennard followed her superior.

She had noticed how lately, the neurosurgeon had become more contemplative in the moments they were together, still maintaining the hunger that brought them together in the first place, but now also clearly valuing the moments where they would just lie together and talk, or say nothing at all. Not every kiss was a passionate one, there were also the slow, sweet, savouring ones. Dr Kennard wasn’t quite sure what to think of this evolution in their relationship, but she did know for sure that she liked it.

Dr Porter kissed Dr Kennard’s lower lip, then let out a sigh. She was mentally pepping herself up. The following day, she would be away at the congress and Tina would be meeting with Josh in the bar. She felt that if she didn’t tell Tina today about how she felt, or at least about how she wanted their “thing” to develop, she might miss her chance. She wasn’t delusional – she knew that Josh Becker wasn’t what Tina would go for in the off chance that she wanted to see other people. Fuck, Bette thought to herself. I’m not even sure we are seeing each other.

Finally, the brunette cleared her throat. She let go of the blonde, who frowned at this rather uncharacteristic action. Bette sat down on the sofa, but didn’t indicate what she expected Dr Kennard to do – follow suit or remain standing. Tina decided she would sit down next to Bette, but that she would keep her distance – as this was obviously what Bette wanted.

“So, Tina,” Bette began. “I have to admit I’m a little nervous about this, but I have a feeling that if I don’t ask this now, I never will. I could give you a nice, well-prepared speech to convince you and believe me, that was my initial plan. That plan was already under way when I decided not to go on with it. I thought that if what I’m going to ask you is what you really want, you don’t need a speech or a gift to convince you. So…uhm… I’m just going to ask it. I know you said you haven’t seen other people since we started sleeping with each other, but we never quite established anything about the future. So, what I want to ask you is – do you want to be exclusive?”