Megan took the weekend to work at suppressing all of her feelings for Kate. She realized how selfish she had been. It was obvious the woman was under more pressure than she could imagine. If being with Erica made her happy, she didn't want to stand in the way. Thinking back, Kate had only been supportive of her own ventures in dating. Derek Ames, Aiden. There hadn't been very many, but Kate had nothing but kindness and encouragement for her during those two brief stints.
She, on the other hand, had acted like a raging, jealous lunatic twice now, even if the first had been somewhat warranted. She had to face it: the chances of her and Kate ever getting together were slim to none. Whatever tension there was between them would simply have to remain that: tension. Nonetheless, she planned to work very hard at easing the fire between them, if she could help it. She wasn't yet entirely convinced.
"Did you need something?" Kate asked as Megan stepped into her office. She'd been looming for a few minutes.
"Actually," Megan began slowly, smiling as casually as she could. "I wanted to see how you were doing. I know I left before you came back to the party on Friday. I hope things got better."
Kate swallowed, remembering every painful detail from Friday night, along with every realization. She hadn't taken as much time to sort through it all yet.
"I'm fine," she smiled briefly. "Thanks."
"Did you tell Erica I apologized for my bad behavior?" Megan continued. "You of all people know how rare that is."
Kate sighed. Apparently, they were going there, whether she was ready or not.
"Um…" she began, fidgeting nervously in her seat as she rested her elbow on her desk, scratching a little behind her ear. "Erica and I aren't seeing each other anymore."
"Oh," Megan heard the word fall through her lips in slow motion. She felt like a bomb had gone off, and she was in no way prepared for it. She had been willing to throw in the towel, taking Kate's happiness into consideration over her own. Now, she didn't know what to think.
"It wasn't anything I said, was it?" Megan continued. "Or…the Commissioner?"
Leave it to Megan to make this about her, Kate thought. Unfortunately, she was somewhat right. She shook her head though, deciding not to share the details.
"It just wasn't meant to be," Kate brought her other elbow onto the desk, resting her chin in her hands, trying to act nonchalant about everything. "That's all."
"Okay," Megan sighed, taking a seat across from the blonde. "So… does this mean you're going back to dating men?"
Kate laughed a little as she smirked and rolled her eyes, a bit softer than usual. Megan swallowed.
"That's not really how it works."
"I wouldn't know," Megan admitted, a little defensively. "I've never been with another woman. I guess I'm just…you know…curious."
Kate brought her hands to her lap. She shifted again before looking Megan directly in the eye.
"How curious?" Kate practically whispered.
Megan thought she would be engulfed in flames. Surely this was hell. It had to be.
"If I'm being honest…" she sighed, swallowing again visibly, brushing her fingers through her red mane before returning Kate's gaze. "Very curious."
Megan watched the blonde lick her lips again as the corners of her mouth twitched. Her neck was red, the muscles tensed. She appeared to be at about the same level of agony as Megan. Somehow everything had changed. Every moment of subtext was on the verge of being revealed, pulled into the realm of realness before either of them could get a grip on what was happening.
Neither of them could find the words, so they just continued to stare at each other until some random aide knocked on the door, snapping them out of their reverie, dropping a stack of files onto Kate's desk before darting out. Megan took the opportunity to stand up and back away, slowly.
"Well," she said in a pitch much higher than she had intended. "I'll let you get back to….whatever you were doing. I just wanted to check up on you."
"I appreciate it," Kate smiled.
"If you ever want to talk about it," Megan continued. "I mean…Erica…or Beverly…or you know, none of the above, but…"
Kate shook her head and laughed again, that throaty, deep sound that sent little shivers straight to wear Megan needed it most. She couldn't help herself. She found Megan's discomfort adorable, as twisted as it was.
"Thanks," Kate told her, then added a little more boldly. "I'm available too. To talk, that is. About anything."
Megan bit her lip and nodded before she left, heading back to the lab, absolutely certain she wouldn't be able to focus on anything but those last few words.
"You gotta be kidding me," Curtis shook his head as two bodies were rolled into the lab. "Double homicide on Christmas Eve?"
"Doesn't make any difference," Peter sighed, standing by with his camera ready. "Murderers don't exactly know how to put their blood-thirsty tendencies on hold."
"What do we have?" Megan walked into the lab, pulling gloves on as she approached one of the tables.
"Two young men, found in the alley behind Flaherty's bar," Bud informed them. "At first we thought they shot each other, but the angle's wrong. Looks like an execution."
"And, that's my cue," Megan began gently lifting the shoulders, prodding the skin, looking for more clues. "We'll take it from here."
"You mean I get to go home to my family?" He smiled. "Don't have to tell me twice."
Megan worked with Peter for a couple hours, combing through each victim's hair, removing trace from their fingernails and from around the gunshot wounds, compiling evidence until it was almost dark. Peter insisted they call it a day. No one expected them to solve a murder on Christmas. Still, Megan wanted to get as much taken care of as possible before the weekend. She told Peter to go on ahead while she stayed behind.
Thinking she was the only one left in the office, she took her time sealing up all the evidence bags, marking them and putting the bodies back in the morgue. Just as she was sliding the last drawer shut, she heard heels clicking down the hall, stopping a few feet behind her.
Megan's heart began to race. She and Kate had been flirting so obviously, so painfully all week long. It was only a matter of time before they found themselves alone together, and yet, she had no idea what to expect. Part of her feared they'd just pretend like nothing was happening, and the other part knew they were on the brink of…something. She mustered up every ounce of control she had left as she slowly turned around.
"What are you still doing here?" Kate asked, arms folded across her chest.
"Lacey's with Todd tonight," Megan answered. "I don't get her till the morning."
"So you decided to work until the last minute," Kate smiled a little, shaking her head as she took a few steps forward. "Why am I not surprised?"
Megan smirked, leaning back against the cold, metal wall.
"You think you've got me all figured out, huh?"
"Actually, no," Kate swallowed. "I stopped trying to figure you out."
Megan's eyebrows rose. She didn't know if she was supposed to take offense or not.
"Good," she sighed. "It's just as well. I don't need to be analyzed."
Kate rolled her eyes as she followed the redhead out of the morgue.
"Megan," she said when they reached the redhead's office. "Megan, stop…"
"What?" she barked, turning around and leaning against her desk, panicking.
Kate stepped closer again.
"It's been a rough couple of weeks," the blonde argued. "I don't need to be pushed right now."
"I think you do," Megan breathed, trying to keep her composure, but failing as she felt her face fill with color. She knew she was about to say things without thinking, but her tongue was working before she could stop it. "You're playing games with me, and I don't like it."
Kate looked anywhere but into Megan's eyes. She felt them getting closer, like magnets, and yet she was still so afraid of rejection, she was holding on to every last bit of self-preservation.
"What do you want from me?" she finally asked, shrugging her shoulders as she continued to cross her arms. Megan could see she was shaking, and it melted right through her resolve.
She got up from the desk, meeting the blonde in the center of the room, stopping just inches away. She could smell Kate's perfume, along with that sweet, intoxicating scent that started to make her mouth water every time they were close.
"I want you to tell me what you're thinking," Megan whispered. "I want you to let me in, for once."
Kate was breathing hard. She couldn't believe they were having this conversation, even if it was still mostly in code. She refused to look at Megan, but couldn't escape the hints of red she saw floating in front of her, or the sound of her black leather pants rubbing together as she shifted just inches away.
"What if you don't like what you see?" Kate finally spoke, almost inaudibly.
Megan shook her head.
"Remember what I said? About not hiding the real you?" she reminded her. "I already like what I see."
Kate sucked in a deep breath and then exhaled, slowly bringing her bright blue eyes back to Megan's. She was relieved to see Megan's face was just as flushed.
"Please tell me I'm not crazy," Megan whispered. "I mean, I know I'm a little crazy, but…"
"You're not crazy," Kate whispered back.
Megan's smile widened, turning a little more confident. Kate reached out and brushed some of Megan's red locks behind her ear, fingers trembling as the woman closed her eyes. Megan reached up with her own hand and felt for Kate's cheek, relishing in the warm, soft skin she found there, before trailing her fingers to her neck, feeling her pulse race.
"We can't," Kate continued to protest weakly, her breath hitting Megan's lips.
"I think we can," Megan breathed.
Kate felt the faintest tickle against her lips. Megan allowed them to brush just barely, as if there was a silk screen between them that was slowly dissolving. Finally, Kate closed her eyes and pushed into her, letting her full, warm pout capture Megan's. She felt all the tension drain from her body as the redhead threw her arms behind her back, pulling her tight as she slipped her lips against Kate's, moaning ever so softly. Kate cupped Megan's cheeks with her hands and kissed her harder, no longer able to wait before sliding her tongue into her mouth. It was greeted readily by Megan's own tongue, hungrily lapping, stroking against it as she pulled Kate towards the couch by the window.
Kate fell on top of Megan, straddling her legs as she let their bodies mold together. Megan's leather pants squeaked against the leather of the couch as she shifted beneath Kate's weight, all the while grabbing onto her back and kissing, kissing like she needed to kiss in order to breathe. Kate's hands worked their way down Megan's blouse, cupping her breasts, which elicited another deep sigh from Megan. Kate smiled against her lips, bringing her hands back up into her hair as she slowed their kisses, savoring every fraction of a centimeter where their bodies touched.
"You okay?" Kate whispered.
"Uh huh," Megan breathed sharply. "You?"
Kate nodded.
"What if someone comes back here?" Megan suddenly thought.
"It's Christmas Eve," Kate shook her head. "You and I are the only two people who would be anywhere near work."
Megan smiled again, that same smile she'd given Kate last week when she left her office after consoling her. Kate swallowed as she looked down into Megan's gorgeous face, bringing her fingers to her lips, tracing them slowly. Megan's smile turned into her usual devilish smirk, and she brought one of Kate's digits into her mouth, sucking on it, letting her tongue circle it, before letting it go. She felt Kate press into her with her thighs, grinding down almost against her will. Megan grabbed her by the waist and pulled their chests together again, kissing her fiercely. Kate slid her hands underneath Megan's shirt, feeling her tight stomach, exploring every inch of her skin before lifting the blouse completely off and over Megan's head.
"When I said I'd never done this before," Megan swallowed. "I wasn't kidding."
"I know," Kate whispered, running her nails over the swells of Megan's breasts, tickling. "Are you sure you…"
"Yes," she kissed her again, holding her tightly. "God yes."
Kate pulled back so she could look into Megan's eyes. She was sure she saw love reflected there. She wanted to know for sure, but at the same time, part of her was afraid the woman beneath her would still run if pushed too fast. Besides, Megan looked like she was ready to explode if she didn't get some kind of relief. They had been teasing each other for years, and it was almost too much to finally have it come out all at once.
"Okay," Kate kissed her.
Megan nodded, opening her mouth again to let Kate's tongue inside, where she kissed her deeply, so deeply, Megan began squirming beneath her again. Kate kept their eyes locked as she kissed her way down Megan's chest, pulling off her bra and dropping it to the floor next to them. She looked down at the perfectly round breasts, held them, squeezed them, pushed them together as she trailed her tongue between them, all while being urged to continue by the sweet, near desperate sounds Megan made. Megan buried her hands in Kate's hair, gently massaging her scalp as Kate brought one of Megan's tightly wound nipples in her mouth, sucking hard before biting down.
"Ungh," Megan moaned. "Kate. Jesus…"
Kate knew it had to feel good as Megan's hips rose beneath her, trying to get as much pressure as she could. Kate laughed a little against Megan's chest, continuing to flick her tongue.
"You're so impatient," the blonde growled playfully.
Megan lifted her hips again, throwing her head back a little.
"I think… we've wait long enough," she sighed.
Kate couldn't have agreed more. She continued her way down Megan's stomach, licking, sucking, teasing towards her belly button. Megan giggled and shifted away from her, but Kate pinned her down and kept licking. She let up just long enough to undo Megan's leather pants, which Megan helped peel down her legs and shake off. Megan wrapped her bare, muscular legs around Kate's waist again and pulled herself up onto Kate's lap, circling her arms around her neck and kissing Kate so hard, so frantically, the blonde thought their lips might start to bleed.
"I can't believe we're doing this," Kate whispered against her mouth. "I've wanted you for so long. I can't even tell you."
"Show me," Megan sighed, as she undid the last button of Kate's shirt and pulled it down her shoulders. "Please."
Kate grabbed Megan's hands and brought them to her back, guiding them towards the clasp of her bra. Megan undid it and quickly removed the lingerie before looking down at Kate's incredibly ample breasts, glistening with sweat. Megan smirked as she bent down and licked between them, moaning at the salty smoothness of Kate's skin. The blonde closed her eyes and allowed herself, finally, to feel.
Megan sucked on her breasts for what felt like forever, until Kate couldn't take it anymore. She knew what Megan wanted and she wanted to give it to her. She lowered the redhead back down against the couch and brought her fingers to the waistband of Megan's panties. Megan shook her head approvingly, and Kate pulled them down her thighs, jaw hanging open slightly as she eyed the patch of soft red curls for the first time. She still couldn't believe this was happening.
"So beautiful," Kate swallowed. "You are so incredibly beautiful, Megan."
Megan rolled her eyes as she smiled, arching her back, motioning for Kate to come closer. The blonde hovered, bringing their noses together for a second before kissing her, letting her hands roam all over Megan's body, trying to commit every part to memory. Megan shook, pulling Kate's face against her ear.
"Please," she repeated.
Kate let go of Megan's shoulders and positioned herself between her legs, pulling them around her again as she lowered herself to be eye level with Megan's ridiculously wet center. Kate ran her fingers through the hair and felt Megan buzz with anticipation, shifting her hips closer to her face. Kate smiled, feeling herself get even wetter at her eagerness. She brought both hands to Megan's swollen folds, feeling their soft, sticky slickness, before spreading them gently with her fingers as Megan continued to come undone.
Kate finally brought her lips to her labia and kissed her, just as fully and abundantly as she had kissed her mouth, pressing her generous lips into the folds, breathing into her, all while Megan shook uncontrollably beneath her. Kate couldn't believe how open and ready the woman was for someone who was so guarded only weeks ago. Now here they were, Kate sliding her tongue against the hot, pulsing flesh between Megan's thighs. She licked her clitoris furiously, expertly, speeding up until she thought Megan was about to climax, then slowing down, teasing as she brought her hands to her ass and squeezed, digging in her nails while savoring her deliciously. Megan's head thrashed back and forth against the leather.
"Fuck," she cried. "Kate, oh my…fuck. Please, just…"
Kate felt her own juices dripping down her thighs at the sound of Megan begging. She picked up the pace again, flicking her tongue against the little red nub until Megan was gasping, gripping Kate's shoulders, and finally groaning wildly as she came. She continued to pant as Kate licked up every bit of her.
"Kate…" Megan sighed. The blonde returned to her face and kissed her lips, letting Megan taste herself, which seemed to only drive her further towards madness.
Just then, the elevator dinged.
The two shot up immediately.
"Cleaning crew," Kate suddenly remembered. "Shit."
"On Christmas?" Megan whispered, pulling her pants back on.
"Yes, Megan. Some people don't get holidays off," she reminded her as she quickly buttoned up her shirt.
They got themselves decent and sitting on the couch next to each other in record time, almost looking chaste, just as the man walked by with his mop and waved to them. Megan couldn't help but giggle under her breath, feeling bad, but unable to ignore the insanity of the situation. Kate glared at her, but Megan could tell she wasn't that upset.
"So…" Megan sighed. "That was…"
She was at a loss, again.
"Good?" Kate asked, knowing it was an understatement.
Megan smiled, hoping she could communicate with her eyes, just as they had for so long. It was clear Kate understood that it was better than good.
"It's Christmas Eve," Megan continued.
"Uh huh," Kate smirked.
"Got any plans?"
The blonde's face went blank. She usually sat at home watching old movies on holidays, eating whatever she felt like, not worrying about calories for once. But she was always, most certainly, alone.
Somehow, Megan must have guessed what was going through her brain, as she reached out and grabbed Kate's hand, rubbing her thumb against her palm.
"I've got a box of Oreos at home," Megan offered. "They were supposed to be for Santa, but since Lacey doesn't believe anymore, I don't think he'll mind if we steal a few."
Kate couldn't help but laugh. She stole a brief kiss and shook her head yes before they made their way down the elevator and into their cars.
Before Megan knew it, they were in her apartment, losing their clothes again on the way into the bedroom. For any other two people, it would have seemed too fast. But for Megan and Kate, their entire relationship had been foreplay, everything leading up to this. They were more than ready.
Once Megan was fully stripped down, she fell back onto the sheets and rested on her elbows, looking up at the blonde with the most intensely confident, erotic gaze Kate had ever seen.
"Come here," she breathed hard.
Kate climbed on top of her and crashed her lips into the redhead's, squeezing her breasts, running her fingers up and down her lightly freckled arms and legs, as Megan worked at tearing off the rest of Kate's clothes. Seconds later, they were both completely naked, straddling each other as the lights from the city danced across their faces through the window. Megan wiped a sweaty blonde lock from Kate's cheek, kissing where it had lain, before meeting her eyes. She held Kate's face in her hands and took a deep breath.
"I've never felt like this," Megan panted. "About anyone."
Kate shook her head, clearly agreeing. She kissed Megan so softly, so sweetly, they both knew that even though they were too raw and exposed at the moment to say the words, they were absolutely in love with each other. The words would come. Right now, there were more pressing issues.
Megan took Kate's hand and guided it back down between them. Kate helped her out, amazed at how wet she still was after already coming. She teased Megan's entrance with her fingers as she nibbled on her lips. Slowly, she shoved one finger, followed by another, and another, deep inside Megan's core.
Megan's nipples went even harder than before as she closed her eyes and rolled her neck, bringing her mouth to Kate's shoulder and biting down. Kate sighed sharply, then moaned when she felt Megan's fingers searching through her own soaking wet lips. It took her a few seconds to find the opening, but when she did, Kate spread her legs a little further and welcomed Megan inside.
The redhead gasped at the new sensation. She mimicked Kate's motions, sliding in and out until they found themselves synched in their rhythm. The two moved their hips wildly, impaling themselves on each other, thrusting as deeply as they could as their breasts bounced and slipped together, nipples grazing. Kate used her free hand to gently grab the back of Megan's neck, holding her in place against her forehead, while Megan grabbed onto Kate's waist and tried to get as much of a grip as she could through the sweat.
"Gaah!" Megan gasped, letting out noises that were nowhere close to words. Kate bit down on Megan's neck, sucking hard as her eyes narrowed and she breathed heavily through her nose. Finally, Kate brought their lips together again, kissing rampantly, as she felt her walls clench around Megan's fingers.
"Oh my…nngh…" Kate lost control of language as her entire body shook, toes tingling as she met her orgasm. Megan's followed seconds later, and the two collapsed against the pillows.
Several minutes passed while they collected themselves. Megan eventually untangled their limbs and crawled back up Kate's body, stopping to kiss her shoulder, before bringing herself to lie against her chest. The blonde wrapped her arms around the redhead and relished in the feeling of their heartbeats mingling, the smell of her shampoo, the way she breathed shallowly against her skin. She took note of their position and smirked.
"How'd you end up on top?"
Megan shrugged. "It's in my nature, I suppose."
Kate lifted Megan's chin and stared down into her green orbs. Megan smiled up at her, swallowing a little as they both came out of their sex haze.
"You still okay?" Kate had to ask.
"Perfect," Megan sighed.
They kissed for a few more minutes before repositioning themselves, Megan lying next to Kate with her arm draped over her stomach.
"What do we do now?" Megan asked.
"You mean…?" Kate wasn't sure what she meant.
"I mean, with work," Megan clarified. "This sort of complicates things, doesn't it?"
"It doesn't have to," Kate insisted. "It's not like we weren't fighting like a couple before."
Megan's eyebrow rose. Did she say…
"Did you say 'couple?'" she smirked.
Kate bit her lip, realizing maybe she'd assumed too much.
"I just figured…" Kate tried to explain. "I didn't think either of us would go for it if we weren't…"
"Yes," Megan cut her off with a long kiss.
"Yes?" Kate responded when they came up for air. "Yes what?"
"Yes," Megan licked Kate's lips playfully. "To what you were going to ask me."
Kate looked at her incredulously.
"What if I wasn't?"
"Then I'd ask you," Megan smiled.
Kate shook her head again and giggled, then looked at her more seriously.
"Okay," she replied. "Yes."
"Good," Megan grinned. "Because I don't think I could handle watching you run around with someone else again."
Kate rolled her eyes, thinking of Erica only for a brief moment, feeling grateful for her in a way, before lying on her side and returning her attention to Megan.
"You don't have to worry," Kate whispered. "I'm all yours."
Megan swallowed, eyes threatening to fill up with tears. She kept them in check though, playing it off by kissing the blonde passionately, thankfully.
"Why now?" Megan wondered. "After all this time, what changed between us?"
Kate shrugged, thinking, wanting to make sure she said it just right.
"I realized…I couldn't keep trying to make things happen with other people, when the only person I really wanted was you," she gulped, deciding to just be honest. "I didn't think I could have you, didn't think you'd ever want it to be like this, but somewhere along the way I started to consider maybe you'd give me a chance."
"How could you not know I would?" Megan reached for her hand, lacing their fingers. "I risked everything to get that vaccine, even got Charlie Stafford to lose his job over trying to save you. I would have done anything."
"Is that when it changed for you?" Kate asked.
Megan nodded.
"I knew I was attracted to you before. But then…when I thought you were…I couldn't even imagine," she tried to shake off those thoughts. Kate brought their noses together again, nuzzling her face and kissing her gently.
"You did save me," Kate whispered. "I can never thank you enough."
"This was a good start," Megan smirked.
They continued to hold each other until they both started drifting to sleep. Megan knew Lacey would be there early in the morning. She had no idea how she'd explain Kate spending the night, but couldn't worry about it now. She curled up tightly against the blonde and shut her eyes, ready to indulge in the best sleep of her life.
"Merry Christmas, Kate," Megan whispered.