Chapter 4
Serena awakes happy, although she would prefer Bernie to tell her how much she has missed her whilst sober, she can’t help but believe that she meant it.
‘OK Campbell, get yourself showered, dressed and off to work, you can’t lie here grinning like the Cheshire cat all day!’ she says to herself.
Bernie awakes with a headache, a smile too of course. The sound of Serena’s sexy purr still in her ears ‘you stupid idiot, what the hell are you doing in the Ukraine?!’
Serena arrives home at 7PM from a much less eventful day on the ward. Raf noticed that she seemed happier but she decided not to tell him about the phone call with Bernie until they speak properly tonight, she didn’t want to jinx anything.
Jason is staying with Alan tonight so she has the house to herself and doesn’t need to worry about him overhearing any of their conversation. Serena pours herself a glass of shiraz and gets to work on a chicken and tomato pasta bake for her dinner. They didn’t agree what time Bernie would call this evening and the anticipation of hearing that husky voice is almost too much for Serena, she loses herself in thoughts of Bernie’s messy blonde tresses, how it felt to curl her fingers into them and hold Bernie’s soft lips to her own. ‘Come on Serena, behave yourself!’
She eats her dinner and drinks her wine then busies herself cleaning a house that really does not need cleaning at all, but she needs to do something to pass the time until Bernie calls.
10PM comes and goes with no phone call. Serena feels heartbroken ‘You bloody idiot, why did you let yourself hope that she meant it?! Now look at the state of you’ she says as she sobs into another glass of shiraz.
11PM and Serena is half asleep on the couch when the doorbell rings. She jumps to life wondering who it could be at this hour. Her thoughts turn to Jason, is something wrong? She races to the door and pulls it open but stops dead when she sees the familiar blonde locks of Berenice Wolfe standing right in front of her.
‘Bernie’ she trembles, not quite believing what she is seeing.
Not sure what else to do Bernie just looks at her in that shy but sexy way she does, through her over-grown fringe, and says ‘Hello Serena’.
Not taking her eyes of Bernie’s, Serena reaches a hand out to her face and gently touches her cheek, she has to feel her to believe that she is real.
Bernie gives a little sigh, leans her cheek into the palm of Serena’s hand and closes her eyes, revelling in just the simplest of touches from this beautiful, amazing woman.
Serena removes her hand, suddenly feeling very vulnerable as she realises that her eyes must be red and puffy from crying not too long before. Bernie opens her eyes and looks at Serena, she steps into the hall and stares straight into her eyes, a horrendous feeling of guilt coursing through her when she realises the pain she has caused. She puts her hands to Serena’s face, leans in slowly a places a gentle kiss on her forehead. Serena closes her eyes to try and stop the threat of tears but it is no good, a stray tear rolls down her cheek and Bernie gently kisses it away ‘I’m so sorry Serena, I really never meant to hurt you. I’m here now and I’m going nowhere’.
Serena opens her eyes. Nervously she leans toward Bernie, lips slightly parted, and brushes them ever so gently against hers. Feeling the ever so familiar ache in her groin Bernie can’t help but deepen the kiss. They kiss slowly at first savouring the taste of each other, but the hunger and wanting soon start to take over. Kissing more passionately, hands searching each others’ bodies through their shirts, Bernie lifts her foot and kicks the front door closed behind her as Serena starts to guide her towards the stairs, their lips not losing contact. As Serena starts to unbutton Bernie’s shirt, Bernie suddenly clasps her hands to stop her and pulls her lips away, breaking the kiss. Serena looks worried, did she do something wrong?
‘Serena, as much as I want you to take me to your room....and believe me, I do....I think we should talk first. I need you to understand’.
Right now that is not what Serena wants but she understands Bernie’s need to make amends, to explain herself. And so, trying to ignore the wetness she now feels between her thighs she smiles ‘glass of shiraz?’
‘That would be lovely, thank you Serena’