Chapter 5

It's 9:50 AM when her phone rings, a single beep alerting her of the arrival of a text message. She tries to ignore it in favor of the book of anatomy she has been studying on since she wake up two hours ago.

She's determined to ignore it, but then the phone rings again and she reaches out for it without even trying to stop.

I'm outside your room.

If you open the door with your eyes open I will never talk to you again.

She inhales, deeply, letting her eyelashes drop, enveloping her in a complete darkness for a few moments. She should refuse whatever Kate has arranged for them. She should tell her no for the tenth time, ask her to reschedule after the exam so both can enjoy it.

When she opens her eyes again and rises from her chair, she closes the book resting on her desk. She won't be able to say no to Kate, it's useless to try to fight it.

When she swings the door open, she does have her eyes closed and a faked annoyed expression on her face that Kate finds adorable. She takes Maura's hands in hers, the sudden gesture makes Maura freeze for a moment. She tugs her gently toward her, some steps are enough to make her come outside completely.

"Can I close the door? Do you have your keys?" she asks, almost whispering. Maura only nods, her expression slightly worried now – anxious, actually. Her eyeballs flick from right to left behind her eyelashes as Kate momentarily takes her hands away to close the door.

She hears Kate move behind her, closer than she's ever been. Her lips fall open as she waits. There's a sudden rush of warmth as she notices the perfume coming from behind, less floral than hers but still sweet, extremely pleasant.

"I don't want to startle you again, so: I'm about to put one hand on your eyes and one on your shoulder, okay? I'll guide you."

Maura nods again, breathing, grateful for her forewarning. She feels Kate covering her shoulder with her palm as the other covers her eyes. She's sure Kate can feel her eyes moving against her fingers, and she answers tightening her hold on her shoulder briefly.

"I'm sure you remember, but in case you don't I'm informing you there are two steps here."

Maura lets her lead then, still a little anxious she lets Kate maneuver her and soothe her with her voice coming from behind. She knows, however, that they're walking along the sidewalk and a few steps are all it takes until they stop.

"I'm going to take my hand away from your eyes in a few seconds," Kate whispers against her hair, her front almost touching Maura's back. "You have two options. Either you open your eyes and see what's in front of you, or you keep them closed and let me describe it to you, letting me tell you what I love about it and what I want you to experience."

Kate frees her eyes without waiting for her reply, but her voice is still reverberating in her ear, soft and deep, and the only word that forms in her head is again. Her chest grows warm and her hands tremble as she almost begs Kate to tell her.

Kate's hands slide along her sides, resting respectfully on her hips and Maura feels her keeping space between them. Despite trying to be forward, Kate seems as nervous as her, her fingers have no hold on her and her breathing is uneven.

Maura finds solace in her tension, in the way they both feel the sparkle and try to repress it, in the awareness she's not the only one to feel restless. She hasn't named the jolt of electricity that runs between them – that seems to have since the very first time they saw each other – but she does know there is no point in resisting.

Her hands come up to cover Kate's, Maura's fingers interlock with hers and their gasp on her hips tightens.

"Tell me," Maura repeats, her voice sure and clear even if it's barely a whisper.

Kate comes nearer at that, her front progressively meets Maura's back as her lips part near her ear. Kate blinks slowly as she recognizes Maura's perfume. With her own eyes closed, she dreams for a moment of wrapping her arms around Maura, enveloping her and having her back press against her completely.

She stopped wondering why Maura makes her act like this, so deeply and imprudently, and what this means. Whatever it is, it's real and present and inevitable.

She opens her eyes and smiles briefly.

"In front of you, is a black, completely polished Harley Davidson," she murmurs, her voice slow and seductive, her breath making Maura's locks move. "I worked all through college to be able to pay for it, and let me tell you: it is the best investment I have ever made."

She works with her mouth to stress the words of importance and feels the effect when Maura tenses under her palms.

"Just imagine," she continues, "the feeling of freedom as you rush. The wind blowing in your hair. The power of controlling the bike completely, knowing it will follow your every move. The hum between your legs."

Maura breaks out in a laugh, deeply and heartily, making Kate smirk as she calls her name.

"I know you have it in you to ignore your books and accept to come with me," she continues. "I know it because, deep down, we are very, very similar. Do not resist."

Kate stays with her mouth next to her ear for a moment, before inching her head away from Maura's. She lightens her grip on her sides, but the hands keeping her in place don't let her go, making it impossible for her to distance herself properly from Maura.

She sees her breathing deeply, her hands squeeze hers briefly before she answers, confident and resolute.

"Take me somewhere."

She waits for her with her arms crossed over her chest, a leg propped up on the seat of the bike and the other on the ground for balance. She smiles as she recognizes the familiar blonde locks of the girl walking out toward her.

Maura's wearing a pair of tight, dark blue jeans, a fitting white blouse and a black leather jacket. She has her keys and her wallet in a hand, and a white, silk scarf in the other.

"So you did manage to let go of the purse after all," Kate says, rising from her seat and extending her hand to her.

"It was not easy," Maura answers, handing her her wallet, keys and phone. Maura ties her scarf around her neck and Kate smiles at her, before putting her things in the back pack near the blanket she decided to bring and her camera.

Kate turns and slides a helmet off the handlebars, offering it to her. She can identify the childish excitement that fills Maura's eyes while she loosens the strap. She looks at the bike then, slowly running her hand on the leather of the seat and then on the smooth, metallic side.

"I don't usually let people ride with me," Kate admits as she senses Maura's fear. "But I have good balance and fast reflexes. I don't drive crazily and I do know how to manage the added weight. But I understand if you still don't trust me and don't want to do this."

There's a moment of silence after Maura's gaze has found hers, where Kate realizes all over again that their eyes match: both hazel, even if Maura's look lighter.

"Please, sit," Maura says, her hand gesturing toward the bike as Kate tilts her head in question. But Maura doesn't move, so she turns, displaces the stand and swings a leg over the bike. She comes down to sit fully and turns to Maura, watching her study her in silence, her hands press the helmet against her stomach.

"I think I need to properly acknowledge you for how good you look on your bike," Maura finally says, smiling as she holds her gaze. "Very attractive."

"You have a thing for bad girls?" Kate asks teasingly as she fastens her own helmet.

Maura raises her eyebrows and watches Kate throw her head back and shake her hair out of her face. She does the same, mimicking her actions as they both put their helmets on. It feels strange to have it press around her whole head but it feels less constricting than she thought.

"Come on, a hand on my shoulder and a leg on the other side."

Maura follows, and when she straddles the bike she realizes there is no way for her to keep any distance between herself and Kate. The downturn of the seat will force her forward, against her back.

"You have to hold onto me," Kate continues, turning her head enough to be able to see her. Maura nods, unsure, and places her hands on Kate's side, tickling her involuntarily.

Kate laughs out a no and Maura stores the new information away, smiling a little. It's refreshing to see that Kate has vulnerable sides as her and that she may have the opportunity to discover them.

"No," Kate repeats, breathing evenly again, "you can't be afraid to touch me if you care about your life. Your chest has to be against my back."

Maura accomplishes, slowly resting against Kate until her breasts are pressed to her. Despite the unfamiliar situation, she notices it feels rather nice to have her in her arms: it's easy then to let her hands slide from her side to her belly, skimming over the rough denim of Kate's jacket. She intertwines her fingers on Kate's stomach and feels the calming movements caused by her breathing.

"That's better," Kate admits. "Please, do not move your hands while I'm driving."

"Where are taking me, Kate?"

"That's a surprise. Just relax and enjoy the journey," Kate replies, turning the engine on. Maura gasps behind her at that, a soft oh that makes Kate smirk.

"That's the pleasing hum."

TBC