Chapter 6
6
CATHERINE
I t was Friday night, and Catherine had a charity hospital event to attend. She was supposed to be attending with James, but he was still away—his flights had been rescheduled again. That was life with him: unpredictable and lonely. The hospital was hosting the event, and Catherine was just there to play the perfect wife, make small talk with the right people, charm, and entertain. But she really couldn’t be bothered. She wanted to stay home and think about Lexi instead.
Lexi had almost kissed her on the sofa. Catherine was sure of it. Lexi had looked into her eyes and tension had bubbled up inside her, sending shivers through her whole body at the thought of Lexi’s mouth on hers. What on earth was this curiosity? Catherine wondered. She was straight, wasn’t she? And yet here she was, feeling a burning desire for a woman—a very beautiful woman, but still, a woman . Catherine had never looked at women like this before, had never looked at anyone like this before, with this desperate need for them to kiss her.
After leaving the room with the nurses, Catherine had felt flustered, worried that they might have noticed something. Could they see what was happening? Of course not. She was Dr. James Spencer’s wife. She hadn’t done anything inappropriate…yet. She contemplated skipping the hospital gala, but she knew James would be mad if she didn’t go. She had to make an appearance for both of them.
Catherine finished curling her hair in the mirror. It looked good, and her makeup was flawless. She selected a royal blue silk gown. The color reminded her of Lexi’s eyes, and the thought made her mind wander to the rest of Lexi’s body. Catherine remembered noticing Lexi looking at her nipples through that sheer blouse, and how much she’d liked feeling the other woman’s eyes on her.
She slipped into the silk dress. It was floor-length, with a slit up one side that showed off a decent amount of thigh, but not too much. The thing about James was that he liked her to dress classy but sexy, though not too sexy. Other people should find her attractive, but not too attractive. It was a look Catherine naturally pulled off well. Or had it ever really been natural? She’d been living this way ever since she met James in med school—conservative yet alluring.
Catherine slipped into her heels and headed out the door. The car and driver were waiting for her. She was thoughtful on the way to the gala. The event was being held at the Ridgemont Hotel, a five-star luxury skyscraper on the beachfront. It wasn’t too far from her house, and soon she was stepping out of the car, smiling and charming as she walked into the event, surrounded by doctors, benefactors, and sponsors—very wealthy people. This was as much Catherine’s job as surgery itself, but it felt strange being there without James. It wasn’t the first time she’d attended one of these things without him, though.
She spotted Karl Bill Thorp, a big hospital benefactor—a large, overweight man in his seventies who always seemed to have a cigar in hand, even though he wasn’t supposed to smoke indoors. He was pervy and inappropriate, and Catherine hated him. She adjusted her dress slightly to make sure he wouldn’t see too much cleavage and plastered on a fake smile.
“Karl, nice to see you,” she said.
“Always a pleasure, Mrs. Spencer,” he grunted, his voice rough. He introduced her to the man he was standing with. “This is Dr. James Spencer’s wife—you know, the top cardiothoracic surgeon. World-class.”
Catherine hated that—being reduced to just James Spencer’s wife. She was Dr. Spencer in her own right, but people forgot that. They talked about her as if she wasn’t even there, and it made her feel sick. She knew what she was supposed to do, though—smile, look pretty, be smart without being too smart, and nod along with these fat old rich men, keeping the peace like women were supposed to. Catherine had become a master at playing that role. She was nodding and smiling as expected, but inside, she was screaming.
Suddenly, she felt a hand on the small of her back. She turned to see Lexi. Her stomach fluttered as Lexi leaned in and kissed her cheek, her voice lyrical and beautiful as she said, “Dr. Spencer, what a surprise! Lovely to see you here.”
Catherine caught a whiff of Lexi’s perfume—something citrusy and intoxicating. Or maybe it was Lexi herself who was intoxicating. Her dark, shiny hair was loose around her shoulders, and her blue eyes were piercing. She wore a black tailored pantsuit, the jacket plunging low, with nothing underneath. Catherine’s eyes were drawn to her chest, and she felt weak at the knees. Lexi was absolutely stunning.
“Excuse me, gentlemen,” Lexi said, flashing her charming smile. “I’m so sorry to interrupt, but I need to borrow Dr. Spencer—there’s someone I really need her to meet.” Without waiting for a response, Lexi guided Catherine quickly away, wrapping an arm around her waist and leading her into the bathroom. They both leaned against the sink, laughing.
“Thank you for saving me,” Catherine said, still catching her breath from their hasty escape.
“No problem,” Lexi replied. Catherine leaned back against the basin and Lexi stood close, still holding her. Catherine wanted to collapse into Lexi’s arms and be swept away from this shitty event.
“I wasn’t expecting to see you here,” Catherine said quietly, still surprised that Lexi had shown up. “I didn’t think you’d let yourself be dragged into these kinds of events.”
“It’s your lucky night then,” Lexi said, as charming as ever. “You look beautiful, Catherine. The blue really suits you. It brings out the gold in your eyes.”
Catherine felt lost in Lexi’s blue eyes again. She thought Lexi might kiss her now, and she wanted that more than anything else in the world. But just as quickly, Lexi pulled away, and Catherine felt empty.
“Come with me,” Lexi said, taking her hand and leading her out of the bathroom.
Catherine held Lexi’s hand tightly as they wove through the crowd and toward the elevators. Lexi pulled her inside and pressed the button for the rooftop.
“Why are we going to the rooftop?” Catherine asked.
“You’ll see,” Lexi said with a grin. “It’ll be much more fun than that event, trust me. I think we could both use a bit of freedom tonight.”
Excitement rushed through her. She had no idea what to expect, but she was thrilled nonetheless. What on earth is happening to me?
The elevator doors opened onto the rooftop, revealing a stunning pool with a view of the ocean.
“Wow,” Catherine whispered as she took it all in. She’d never stayed at this hotel before, but it was known as the best in the city. She turned to see Lexi’s blue eyes glittering dangerously, as dark and inviting as the ocean in the moonlight.
“Care for a dip?” Lexi asked temptingly.
A thrill ran through her. She was both terrified and excited at the idea of getting into the pool with Lexi.
“But we don’t have any swimwear,” Catherine said, suddenly realizing that even if she did want to swim with Lexi, this meant she couldn’t.
Lexi met her gaze and shrugged dramatically as she began to unbutton her jacket. Catherine had already noticed she wasn’t wearing a bra—or anything else—underneath. As Lexi slipped off her jacket, Catherine couldn’t look away. Lexi’s breasts were round and her nipples small and pink. Wow , Catherine thought as Lexi tossed the jacket onto a chair.
Lexi met Catherine’s eyes again as she began to unbutton her pants. She was seductive—completely and effortlessly seductive—and Catherine couldn’t resist watching in a way she’d never watched a woman before. What on earth is happening between us?
“I…I…” Catherine stammered, suddenly lost for words.
Lexi put her finger to Catherine’s lips, silencing her gently. Catherine’s skin tingled where the soft pad of Lexi’s finger touched her lips. Then, without a word, Lexi dropped her pants to the ground and stepped out of them gracefully, leaving her in just a pair of tiny black panties. Nothing elaborate, nothing too sexy. Lexi didn’t need anything extra—her body was more than enough.
Lexi smiled and turned, walking toward the pool. Catherine’s eyes were drawn to the delicious curve of Lexi’s ass in those small black panties, the muscles of her back and thighs moving fluidly in the moonlight. Oh my God , Catherine thought, overwhelmed by the sight.
Lexi dove into the pool, splashing loudly.
Catherine stood at the edge, torn between running back to the safety of the elevator or diving into the unknown. But when Lexi resurfaced and grinned up at her, Catherine’s resolve broke.
“Come on in, the water’s perfect,” Lexi called from the pool.
Catherine reached for the straps of her blue silk dress, sliding one off each shoulder. She knew that as soon as she let go, the dress would fall to the floor. She took a deep breath and released it, watching as the dress pooled at her feet.
She stepped out of the silk and folded it neatly on the chair next to Lexi’s clothes. The night air felt exhilarating against her bare skin. She hadn’t worn a bra tonight, and now she stood in nothing but a lacy thong.
For a moment Catherine hesitated, wondering if she should really go through with this. But something deep inside her craved the experience—the rush, the freedom, the pull of Lexi’s energy. It was different from anything she’d ever done. Her skin tingled in the cool night air as she stepped closer to the pool.
She curled her toes around the edge, feeling the tension building in her chest. She glanced up to see Lexi’s eyes on her—watching, waiting, dark with desire. Catherine took a deep breath and then dove into the water, feeling the cool rush cascade over her body, washing away any lingering doubts.
When she surfaced in the middle of the pool, Lexi was right there, her blue eyes just inches from Catherine’s. The air between them was electric, crackling with anticipation. They were close—too close, or maybe not close enough.
“Is this okay?” Lexi whispered, her voice barely audible as her hand found Catherine’s hip, pulling her gently, but unmistakably, closer. Their wet bodies slid together, their breasts brushing, sending shocks through Catherine that made her gasp.
“Yes,” Catherine breathed, feeling the warmth of Lexi’s hand against her skin, the weight of her own desire overwhelming any hesitation. Her mind was spinning, her body trembling with the unfamiliar intensity of it all. She’d never felt anything like this before—not even with James.
Lexi’s hands moved up Catherine’s sides, caressing her back and shoulders, before gently cupping her face. Catherine shivered, her body alive with anticipation as Lexi closed the space between them, her lips brushing against Catherine’s softly at first, then more urgently.
The kiss was deep and filled with longing, and Catherine felt Lexi’s hunger as her tongue slipped into her mouth, exploring, tasting. Catherine responded in kind, her lips moving of their own accord, matching Lexi’s passion. She tasted the lime on Lexi’s tongue—sharp, citrusy, and irresistible. Catherine wanted more, needed more, and her whole body ached for it.
A throbbing need pulsed between her legs, a need she’d never felt this strongly before. This was different than anything she’d felt for another person. This was raw and all-consuming. Catherine wanted Lexi—no, she needed her.
Lexi pulled away first, her breath ragged and her eyes dark with desire. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have done that,” Lexi whispered, though her eyes betrayed her words, filled with longing.
“Please…it’s not just you,” Catherine reassured her, her voice trembling. “I wanted it, too. I want this .” She was breathless, her body still humming with the intensity of the kiss, with the need that hadn’t been sated yet. “I promise you, I want this.”
Lexi hesitated, looking into Catherine’s eyes as if searching for any sign of doubt. “But…aren’t you straight?”
“Clearly not.” Catherine laughed softly, a mixture of nervousness and exhilaration making her voice shake. “I always thought I was—until now. Until I looked at you, and I knew…I knew it wasn’t a normal way to look at another woman, not if I was really straight.”
She reached for Lexi’s hand and held it in her own, feeling the warmth, the connection.
“But what about your husband?” Lexi asked, her face contorted slightly with worry, as if she’d messed up everything by giving in to her desire.
But she hadn’t. Catherine wanted this as much—if not more—than Lexi did.
“Shh…” Catherine whispered, raising her finger to Lexi’s lips in the same way Lexi had done earlier. She traced the soft pad of her fingertip against Lexi’s lips tenderly, sensually. She didn’t want to talk about James. She didn’t want to talk about being straight. None of that mattered right now.
All that mattered was Lexi and the way she made her feel—alive, desired, free .
Catherine looked out past Lexi to the ocean stretching out for miles under the moonlight, full of infinite possibilities. She felt bold, wild. She took Lexi’s right hand and guided it between her legs, pressing it tightly against her. She gasped softly, watching as Lexi’s eyes widened with want. She felt Lexi’s fingers begin to move, seeking out her pleasure, teasing her, making her breath hitch in her throat.
“Please…more,” Catherine gasped, her body trembling with anticipation.
Lexi used her other hand to guide Catherine to the edge of the pool, pressing her back gently against the cool tiles. With practiced skill, Lexi’s fingers slipped beneath the soaked fabric of Catherine’s panties, pushing them aside as she teased and played with her, sending waves of pleasure coursing through Catherine’s body.
Catherine’s breathing grew heavier, her hips instinctively moving in rhythm with Lexi’s touch. She was already on the edge, her body teetering on the brink of something she’d never experienced before.
Lexi kissed her again—deeply, passionately—her tongue exploring Catherine’s mouth with a hunger that mirrored the intensity of her fingers as they worked their magic below.
Catherine could barely hold herself together. “Oh God, yes…please, don’t stop,” she moaned, the words escaping her lips in a breathless rush.
Lexi’s voice was a low whisper in her ear, sending shivers down Catherine’s spine. “You’re so wet for me,” she murmured, her fingers moving deeper, more insistent.
Catherine opened her legs wider, giving Lexi full access as she pressed herself harder against the pool’s edge. She felt Lexi’s fingers push deep inside of her and begin to fuck her. The sensations were overwhelming, her body thrumming with the need for release, for more of this unfamiliar yet intoxicating pleasure.
The world around her faded until all that remained was the feeling of Lexi’s fingers moving inside her and her thumb on her clitoris, driving her toward the edge of ecstasy.
“I’m going to come,” Catherine whispered, barely able to get the words out.
“Come for me, baby,” Lexi urged, her voice hot in Catherine’s ear. She pulled Catherine closer, kissing her again, devouring her as if she couldn’t get enough.
Catherine’s whole body tightened, and then—release. She cried out, the sound of her orgasm echoing off the tiles and into the night air. Waves of pleasure rolled through her, flooding every inch of her body. She’d never experienced anything like it. Her body shuddered uncontrollably as Lexi held her through the aftershocks, her fingers drawing out every last bit of Catherine’s climax until there was nothing left but the delicious hum of satisfaction.
Catherine collapsed into Lexi’s arms, her breath ragged and her heart racing. She nuzzled into Lexi’s neck, feeling the warmth and comfort of being held and cared for.
Lexi pressed a gentle kiss to the top of Catherine’s head. “Good girl,” she whispered softly, stroking her back. “Good girl.”
Catherine closed her eyes, letting herself sink into the moment, into Lexi’s embrace, feeling more at peace than she had in a very long time.