Prompt: Italian restaurant prompt using the line "You'd think, after being elbow deep in blood and guts all day, you'd at least be drinking something a different colour."
Set a few weeks after the Italian restaurant visit in Life in the Freezer has happened but there is no talk of secondment or the second kiss. Bernie and Serena are still working out where they stand with each other.
It had been a really hectic day on AAU, the red phone had been ringing almost constantly meaning a continual flow of patients had been rushed through the doors and both Serena and Bernie had spent almost all of their days in surgery.
Serena was just quickly checking her emails towards the end of the day, savouring the chance to sit down properly for the first time in hours, when Bernie entered the office looking as tired as she felt. Serena nodded to acknowledge Bernie's entrance, letting a weak smile form on her tired lips. "Serena, you look like you need a glass of Shiraz, and my god I think we deserve one after today, fancy a quick one at Albies?" Serena's smile grew as she contemplated the offer by her fellow surgeon. "Ms Wolfe, that is a very appealing offer, but I have not eaten anything since breakfast, a glass of wine may finish me off for the night" seeing the expression on Bernie's face fall she continued "But since Jason is staying at Alan's this week, I could be persuaded to re-visit that lovely Italian restaurant we went to the other week" Bernie's brown eyes lit up as Serena's counter offer was laid on the table, "Well, well Ms Campbell, the establishment with the extensive wine menu, I'm sure I can be persuaded on that proposition." Serena was sure she could see a glint desire in the surgeon's eye as she accepted the offer. Smiling, Serena maneuverered her computer mouse to shut down her computer before collecting her things, and putting on her jacket. Bernie collected her belongings in unison, holding the door for Serena as they exited their office. Both women acknowledged Raf and a nurse at the nurses' station as they made their way towards the car park.
As they entered the cold night air of the hospital car park, Serena became even more aware of how tired today's busyness had left her, letting out a small yawn, as she felt her body shiver slightly as the mix of cold air and tiredness attacked her body. Bernie glanced towards Serena, sensing the tiredness "Shall we take my car, no point in us both driving, is there?" Serena smiled appreciatively at the gesture from her friend "As long as you don't mind." Bernie responded by opening the car door for Serena to get in "Your carriage awaits." Serena laughed quietly as she stepped into the car, picking up some chocolate wrappers in the process and placing them into the door pocket. The journey to the restaurant was filled with the sound of Bernie humming along to the radio. Serena found it calming, as she glanced out the car window watching the trees sway in the autumn wind. As Bernie pulled into the car park of the restaurant, Serena's stomach reacted to its lack of food by grumbling loudly. "I think we have arrived just in time Ms Campbell" Bernie said letting out a small playful laugh. "Indeed Ms Wolfe" Serena responded as she opened the car door to get out.
On entering the familiar restaurant, the two women veered towards the same table as last time, ordering quickly when the waiter arrived as the hunger engulfed them. Serena took a little longer studying the wine menu before settling on a bottle of Italian Shiraz that she hadn't tried on their last visit, reassuring Bernie that she would like it.
Bernie was drinking slowly, aware that she was driving but embracing the company of Serena was enough to make her enjoy the evening none the less. She was particularly enjoying watching Serena as she began to be more overt in her flirting whilst elegantly eating her Pollo Siciliana. Bernie was relishing the moments when their hands came into contact with each other as they reached for the wine bottle to refill their glasses. The conversation was varied as the two women discussed a mix of work gossip, life stories and literature they had been reading lately, providing lots of opportunities to laugh and relax around one another. Bernie had become easily lost in Serena's voice as she watched the women's lips move so beautifully, so became startled when Serena noticed and asked her what she was thinking about as she brought the wine glass to her lips. Bernie stumbled as she desperately tried to get her brain to think of something that would make sense, settling on an observation as a safe option. "I was just thinking that after being elbow deep in blood and guts all day, you'd at least be drinking something a different colour," mentally slapping herself in the face as she heard the words come out her mouth. Fortunately Serena who had consumed a number of extra glasses of wine from the bottle found it hilarious and began to laugh causing her to choke slightly and spit the wine she had just tipped into her mouth out as she did so over Bernie's white shirt. "Oh god, Bernie, your shirt" Serena spluttered embarrassed as she tried to control her laughter, reaching for her napkin to assist Bernie. Bernie had tried to jump out of the way of the plum coloured liquid as she saw it leave Serena's mouth and travel across the table towards her, but had not been quick enough to manoeuvre herself out of the booth. Bernie began to laugh, "I think I may need to go to the bathroom to try and save the top" placing her hands on the now wine-soaked table to push herself up. "Wait, I'll come and help you" Serena offered grabbing her handbag as she herself rose from the booth to follow quickly after Bernie.
Bernie was standing by the sink in the disabled toilet trying to stretch her top under the tap when Serena entered, locking the door behind her. Serena approached Bernie quietly, placing her hand on Bernie's back "You might have more luck if you take the top off first" Bernie nodded and slowly began to undo the buttons on her shirt before lowering the material off her shoulders and down her strong arms. Serena hadn't really thought of the repercussions of her words and was now frozen to the spot where she stood, mouth open as she took in the breathtaking sight in front of her. Bernie was now standing inches away from her in, what Serena could only describe as a black lace bra that was specifically made to accentuate Bernie's beautiful breasts against her pale skin. The urge to reach out and touch the blonde's skin was intense, Serena knew she needed to control herself, they had agreed to keep the kiss confined to the theatre, but what she wouldn't give to kiss every inch of this beautiful women in front of her right now. Serena took a deep breath before stepping forward and taking the shirt out of Bernie's hands "Let me help, Bernie," picking up the bar of soap to rub the wine stain as she spoke. "You know Serena, if you had wanted to see me with my top off, you only needed to ask" Bernie winked, the smirk on her lips becoming more evident. Serena let out a nervous laugh as the blush travelled up her neck to her face, this was her chance to react, if only she could make the leap into the unknown of this evident spark. With a twinkle in her eyes Serena responded "Well Major, You know I always like things more when accompanied with shiraz", suddenly feeling embarrassed by her cheesy response, she blushed and looked down at the floor as she continued "I'm not doing a very good job at, well, at, convincing you embrace our undeniable sexual chemistry am I?" Both women started laughing at the words. "Come here you" Bernie opened her arms inviting Serena into an embrace.
Serena had imagined this moment so many times since their kiss, with every touch of Bernie's skin on ward adding to the suspense, the moment she would touch the other women's bare skin but this really wasn't the context she had hoped for. In a restaurant toilet, after spitting wine all over her, Serena held her firmly, fearing the loss of contact if she let go even just a bit. Bernie was herself fighting an internal battle to control the heat building up in her. Serena's soft hands wrapped around her torso, her thumb gently moving in circles sending sparks around her body. Pulling slightly away so she could see Serena's face, she made eye contact with her. Bernie opened her mouth to speak, to tell her friend, that she wanted her in a way that was so much ore than just friends, but the words didn't come. She was again caught up in the sheer beauty of Serena, she needed to touch those beautiful lips with her own, closing the space between their bodies. Lifting her hand caress to Serena's cheek, Bernie pushed her lips against Serena's, her eyes closing as she did. Serena responded briefly then pulled away, bashing her nose lightly of Bernie's as she did so, regretting the loss of contact instantly, she lent back in to Bernie's lip with passion, expressing her desire through the force and heat of the kiss. Bernie moaned into Serena's mouth as she snakingly moved her free hand to pull Serena's body closer to her whilst running her hand down Serena's back to the base of her spine, hesitating slightly at the trim of Serena's black top, wondering whether to cross another line in their relationship, she slipped a hand beneath letting her hand make contact with Serena's smooth skin. Serena let out a small gasp as the contact was made, savouring the warmth of Bernie's hand as she moved it in circles at the base of her back, she could feel the heat within her rising, consuming her actions, she wanted more from Bernie, she needed more. Serena pushed Bernie towards the wall, needing something steady to help reduce the instability of her nerves, to give her some more control in that moment. Bernie jumped as the bare skin of her back hit the cold tiled wall murmuring "cold" into the kiss. The unconscious comment brought Serena back to the present, remembering where they were "We can't do this", pulling away from Bernie to the sound of a whimper, as the contact was lost. "But Serena…" Bernie said quiet lustful tone, reaching back out to find the missing contact. "I mean we can't do this here, in a, well, in a toilet." Serena glanced back at the sink which was now holding a soaked and stained white shirt, "Take my shirt Bernie, Lets get out of here". Serena passed her burnt orange shirt to Bernie to put on and wrung out the white shirt into the sink. "I have some vanish at mine that will clean this right up, shall we retire there?" Bernie couldn't hide the smile as she buttoned the last of her borrowed shirt "That sounds like a great idea".
As they reached Serena's house, Bernie suddenly remembered that Jason would be there and desperately hoped that he would be ok with her being there so late. Serena placed her hand over Bernie's as she put the hand break on, almost reading Bernie's anxious thought. "Remember Jason is at Alan's tonight, so you aren't intruding. Can I interest you in a nightcap whilst I put your shirt in the washing machine?" Bernie reluctantly highlighted she was driving so probably shouldn't. Following Serena into the house and through to the kitchen. "Are you sure I can't interest you in a nightcap?" she asked again, knowing she needed Bernie with her tonight - she was pretty sure she may combust if she didn't have Bernie's hands on her again soon. "I'd be happy with a coffee" Bernie reluctantly responded cursing herself that she had to drive home. "It's quite late already Bernie, why don't you just stay?" she bargained, smirkingly waving the bottle of Shiraz "Ok, Ms Campbell, I think it would be rude to turn down such an appealing offer." Bernie stepped forward to put her arms around Serena's waist, "I should warn you though, I may struggle to keep me hands away from you, if I stay here" Bernie bit her lip as she glanced at Serena's face. "Who said anything about keeping your hands away Ms Wolfe?" Serena blushed as she closed the space between their lips again.
Bernie finally pulled away, aware she was loosing control of her actions in the heat of the moment, not wanting to be too forward, when she wasn't 100% on where their relationship stood, tonight had been a worldwide, and although she sensed that Serena wanted more, she had to be sure, it was their friendship at stake after all. Reaching out to grab the two wine glasses from the drainer "Shall I pour us some wine? We should probably talk about this?" Serena nodded "Sure", knowing this was the sensible thing to do. She watching as Bernie lifted each glass, pouring the Shiraz into each one in almost a seductive manner as she turned the bottle slightly as she poured before placing the bottle back on the counter beside the glasses. Passing one glass to Serena, Bernie took her glass from the counter and guided Serena into the living space and sank into the sofa by the window. Both women sat for a moment in silence, each taking a sip of their wine. Serena was the first to speak "I know we agreed to keep this confined to the theatre, but, well I can't turn off the way you are making me feel" Bernie interrupted as Serena opened her mouth to speak again "there is no denying the sexual chemistry between us is intense, but if we cross this line, we can't take it back." Serena focused her gaze onto her wine glass, running her thumb nervously around the rim, "You sound like you aren't wanting to take it further" her words were quiet and unsure. "No, No, Of course I want to take it further, I have thought of little else for weeks, months if I'm really truthful. I'm well, It's just that, I know that I care about you, and I don't want to hurt you" Bernie spoke gently catching Serena's gaze as she lifted her head. Serena reached out her free hand and cupped Bernie's cheek "I am old enough to know when it's right, and with you it feels right, yes I am petrified at the logistics of this, whatever this is, but deep within my core I know that you do things to me that no one else ever has. I know that you are worth taking a chance on" Bernie placed her wine glass onto the coffee table and smiled as she took in her words "Can I kiss you again?" Serena lent in to make contact with her lips, gently and tenderly kissing the women in front of her. As their kiss became more intense, Bernie lips made way to allow Serena's tongue access to explore, her own, a small moan escaping her as she felt the connection. Bernie reached out and ran her fingers through Serena's soft. hair, gently moving her thumb along the bottom of her hairline, using her free hand to take the wine glass out Serena's hand and place in on the oak coffee table. Bernie used her body weight to shift their position on the sofa, lying Serena back causing Serena to let out a small gasp, leaning over her, as she deepened the kiss. "God Serena, you are so hard to resist" Bernie gently began to kiss Serena's neck, nuzzling as she inhaled the smell of Serena's perfume "God, you smell amazing." Bernie's words caused Serena to melt further under her as she moaned loudly. As Bernie continued placing kisses up Serena's neck taking Serena's earlobe in her mouth and gently sucking it. Serena whimpered as a gasp left her mouth, involuntarily arching her back in the process. She could feel the desire building within her she needed Bernie all off her. She lent towards Bernie's ear whispering in a shaky voice, a barely audible desire "Bernie, please take me to bed, I need more of you."