Chapter Four

Tiffany lay prone on the sofa, her feet hanging over one end. There was a baseball game on the TV that she had half an eye on. The Red Sox were winning but for once she wasn't really paying attention. Her thoughts were on the honey blonde currently hiding out in her office. She didn't get it. What was this all about?

Prostitution: the oldest profession throughout the world had the same premise regardless of where you lived or when in time it happened. It was an exchange, money or some other thing you wanted, for your body.

And Maura had offered the money, but it wasn't her body that she seemed inclined to pay for. And yet, everything about her screamed a need for release. When she had touched her, for just those first few seconds, Maura had melted into her, allowed the touch. She was like molten liquid that was flash frozen.

Her thoughts were interrupted when she heard the gentle cough. Raising her head, she noticed that Maura had changed into jeans and a green sweater that looked just perfect on her. "I'm sorry to disturb you, I wondered if maybe you would like to join me on a walk?"

Tiffany sat up and stretched out her shoulders. "Sure, if that's what you want to do."

Maura seemed to think about it for a moment before nodding. "Yes, I'd like that."

"So, uh…" She looked down at herself. She was wearing the yoga pants and top that she had been given the previous night, but they wouldn't suffice for a walk around the common.

"Oh, yes of course. I…right, maybe we should go to the store and pick up some…"

"Or I could just, well you could maybe, if you don't mind, drive me over to my apartment?" Tiffany's suggestion seemed to be a suitable one. Especially to herself; she didn't want to have this woman take her shopping, no matter how rich she seemed to be. She considered for a moment why it was that a woman like Maura was even at the police station café.

"Sure, ok, we can do that." Maura's soft voice was speaking to her. Tiffany smiled at her and stood up to retrieve her clothes and boots.

~R&I~

The radio inside the Mercedes was still playing the same song it had been when they had arrived at the woman's home the previous night. So, it was a CD or iPod and not the radio. It wasn't the kind of music that Tiffany would choose, but it felt nice to listen to as they cruised the streets. She offered directions, a left here, a right there, until eventually they pulled over to the side of the road outside of a nice brownstone building. Tiffany watched as Maura took in her surroundings. It wasn't Beacon Hill, but it wasn't somewhere you didn't want to live.

"Surprised?"

Maura turned slowly to face her. "Sorry, I…"

"Expected me to live in some fleapit?" She raised a brow, but then dimples appeared as her stern face twitched into a smile. "I'll just be a minute."

She was as good as her word: back within minutes. She had changed the PVC boots for sneakers and was wearing a warm coat. She carried a bag too as she sauntered across the road. Her hair was now up in a ponytail again. Maura couldn't help but lick her lips as she watched her, and she was caught doing it. A sexy smirk appearing as Tiffany neared the car.

~R&I~

Boston Common was beautiful, even in the cold. They walked close together but not touching, although Tiffany had the idea that Maura would like it if she took her hand in her own.

"Can I ask you something?" she said, her eyes remained on the path ahead.

"Of course," Maura replied, doing the same.

"What do you do?"

"Oh, I…I'm a doctor." She didn't sound convincing, she knew that much. But telling someone that you're a medical examiner usually had a dire effect, and she didn't want that now, not here, not with her.

"Wow, I figured you would be something spectacular like that."

"Really, why?"

"Well, excluding the car and the house?" She stopped walking and turned to look at her. "You just…you're very calm and collected. Clearly intelligent and yet, you hold yourself back. You keep your emotions in check."

Maura didn't reply, instead she smiled and nodded. Continued walking.

"May I ask you something?"

"Sure."

"Why…I mean, your work? How did you get into this…profession?"

Tiffany laughed at the roundabout way she had gone about her question, not wanting to offend in any way. "Let's just say it's a means to an end. I won't be doing this forever, or much longer really."

"Do you have someone, at home I mean, a lover?"

Tiffany shook her head. "No, there isn't anyone special. I was dating someone, but she decided that living in Boston wasn't for her."

"Oh…I don't know why, I expected a—"

"Man?" She chuckled at that idea. "No, I haven't dated men since high school." They had reached the bandstand, and Maura seemed unsure what to do next. "Why don't you explain what it is that you want from me, Maura?"

"I want…" she shook her head and laughed, her arms wrapping around herself as she found kind eyes staring at her. She hadn't even noticed Tiffany moving so close to her. "I want to kiss you, but I know that if I do then I will want to do more, take things further, and I can't—"

"Can't or won't?" Tiffany asked, her lips almost ghosting against those of the doctor's.

"Both, I won't pay for sex. I'm sorry, I know that sounds ridiculous given what you do for a living and the fact that I am paying you to be here." She backed off and gave herself space.

Tiffany nodded a little and smiled. "Yeah, it does…because I am attracted to you, it wouldn't be a chore for me to give you what you won't ask for."

"There's a small café here somewhere, shall we get coffee?"

AN: Haha, goodness you lot are impatient! haha, I am hugely grateful for all the reviews and messages... Enjoy!