2. Gianna

There was time for nothing more than a quick shower and some light makeup to freshen up in the on-call room after the shift before Dr. Gianna Rodriguez had to rush downtown to meet her younger sister for drinks. She was running late, which probably wouldn't come as a shock to anyone who knew her. This time, at least, it wasn't her fault. An emergency bypass surgery had popped up just as she was about to clock out, meaning she barely had time to get out of her bloody scrubs and touch up her eyeliner.

"Finally!" Bianca exclaimed theatrically as Gianna breezed through the door to their favorite bar half an hour late.

The eclectic old dive bar in downtown Rose Bay had become their place since Gianna moved to the city just over a year ago. Her younger sister had moved here with her husband almost ten years before that, and they had finally worn the older sister down enough that when a position had opened up at Rose Bay Hospital, she jumped at the opportunity to relocate to be closer to them. She was still relatively new to the area, so Bianca had done her best to show her around and introduce her to the local scene. This spot had quickly stood out as a favorite. It was intimate without being stuffy, the ambience was lively but not overwhelming, and they did cheap drinks on Fridays. What more could a girl ask for?

"Hey," Gianna huffed, breathless, as she slid onto a barstool beside the curvy brunette. "Sorry. I was busy saving a man's life."

She shot her sister a pointed look, silently daring her to keep making a fuss. Thankfully, the younger woman just laughed and leaned in for a hug, which Gianna happily reciprocated. They were the only girls in a large family, with three brothers and about two dozen male cousins, and ever since they were kids, the two had been thick as thieves. Even now, both in their mid-to-late thirties, they were inseparable.

"Oof! You stink of disinfectant," Bianca teased, leaning back against the polished oak of the bar and raising a hand to attract the bartender. "What happened? Surgery kept you longer than expected?"

"Yeah, I was just about to leave when the boss paged me," she confirmed. "Teenager with heart failure. What was I supposed to do, tell his parents nah, actually, not my problem, I'm gonna go grab margaritas with my sister?"

"That's what I'd do," her sister joked. "If my students' parents call me about anything at seven o'clock on a Friday night, I'm telling them, you know what, I'm real busy with this glass of wine right here. I don't care if that kid set the chemistry lab on fire, my ass is staying firmly parked on this sofa."

Gianna let out a full-throated laugh at that. At work, she was all business, a consummate professional with only one priority: her patients. When she was off the clock, however, she was much more laid-back and free-spirited. Her sister, a high school Spanish teacher, was the same way with her students. They could joke and laugh irreverently off the clock, but once they walked through the doors of their respective workplaces, it was game-faces-on until it was time to clock out again.

They took pride in their work, and it had been instilled in them from a very young age. Their grandparents had come here from San Juan to build a better future for their family, and Gianna and Bianca were the first members of their family to go to college. Neither one of them ever took that for granted.

"Sure you would," Gianna retorted, "but really, it's all good. The kid made it through surgery and is expected to make a full recovery. So now, margaritas."

She grinned brightly as the bartender handed them each a tall glass rimmed with salt. They made their way over to their usual booth toward the back, sinking down into the plush leather seats.

"To me and my kick-ass cardiac surgery skills!" the elder sister quipped as she lifted the cocktail in the air to toast, "I love me. How great am I?"

"Eh, you're okay," Bianca fired back instantly, raising her glass to meet hers. "I love you anyway, though."

"Oh, shut up," Gianna snorted as the glasses clinked together. "I'm awesome. If anybody had half a brain in their head at the hospital, they'd make me the head of cardiology. I'm the best damn surgeon they've got. But no, I guess Doctor Anderson is gonna stay there forever. And anyway, if it ever does open up, I'm sure perfect prim Scarlett Miller will swoop right on in there just because she's been here longer. Ugh. I hate that woman."

"Is that the hot redhead you keep complaining about?" Bianca asked, her eyebrows suggestively quirking up and down quickly. "The one you totally want to have hate sex with in the supply closet?"

"Oh my god, I do not," Gianna protested, swatting playfully in her sister's direction.

Well, maybe a little bit, sometimes. Okay, more than a little bit. She 100% wanted to have hate sex with Scarlett Miller and mess up her perfect hair. But mostly, she hated her guts. Scarlett was cold, inflexible, stuck-up, and condescending. Sure, she was gorgeous and obviously a highly accomplished surgeon, but she always acted like she was better than everyone else.

"Uh, yeah, you totally do," Bianca contradicted, her expression unimpressed, and reached out to poke her sister's arm. "You're obsessed with her. All you talk about is her."

"Because you keep asking me questions about her!" Gianna argued. "Anyway, even if she wasn't totally insufferable, I'm not looking for anything right now. I'm done with all the relationship drama. Just casual hookups and fun dates from now on. No strings, no worries, and definitely no getting mixed up with anyone from work."

"Nah, Gigi, I'm not buying it. You're a relationship type of woman. I totally respect that you're having your no-girlfriends phase right now, but I give it until New Years, tops. You're a hopeless romantic," Bianca teased gently. Her dark eyes shone with mischief in the dim lighting.

"Nope. Not anymore. After Jade, I'm never doing relationships again," Gianna replied sternly.

"Whatever you say," her little sister said, clearly not believing a word of it.

Gianna drained the last dregs of her margarita in one go. Her sister followed suit, and over the next couple of hours, they worked their way through several more rounds. They gossiped about their coworkers and mutual friends, enjoying a carefree evening together.

At about eleven-thirty, Gianna stumbled through her front door and flopped down on the couch. A bundle of fur hopped up on the seat next to her and curled up next to her leg, purring affectionately. Her tabby tomcat, Cocoa, was a strictly indoors animal, and he was terribly clingy. As soon as the door opened, the fluffy feline would be at the doorway to rub against her legs and follow her every step.

"Hey, you," she greeted him in a sweet voice as she patted his soft head and back. "Did you miss me?"

The cat continued his loud purr, stretching out along her thigh. Within moments, he had made himself comfortable and drifted off to sleep, his paws kneading softly.

Carefully so as to not disturb the adorable furball, Gianna lifted her sleek white laptop from the shelf behind her. She balanced the machine on her thighs and booted it up, then went straight to WomenConnect. Determined though she may be not to get seriously involved with anyone, there was nothing wrong with a little harmless online flirting. Keeping her options open was a sensible life choice, right? Just because she spent every night talking to the same person and anxiously awaiting the mystery woman's messages didn't mean she was becoming attached. Right? Right.

Checking her friends list, she grinned to herself when she saw that her favorite username was currently online. For the past few weeks or so, they had been chatting every night, sometimes for hours. Her new online friend was also a surgeon, so they'd had that to bond over immediately. From there, the conversation just flowed. Unlike Gianna, who had been comfortably and openly out since her mid-teens, the enigmatic DrHeart was still coming to terms with her sexuality. Usually, Gianna avoided women like that, having been burned in the past. This was just a harmless online thing, though, and anyway, it was nice to help someone out, like she had once wished someone would do for her.

Grinning widely, she quickly typed out a message.

EmergencyKisses: You're up late. I thought you had a rigid circadian schedule that needed to be strictly maintained at all costs. Should I be worried?

A brief pause, but only for a few seconds. She bit her lip excitedly as the three-dot chat bubble appeared in the corner of the screen.

DrHeart: Hey. Yeah, just got back from dinner with my parents. I couldn't fall asleep afterwards.

Her heart squeezed in sympathy. Her own parents had accepted her easily enough. Well, relatively speaking, compared to a lot of people. There had been some awkwardness and confusion, and some unintentionally hurt feelings and miscommunication, but they always did their best to support her. Her poor internet friend, though, seemed pretty hung up on her parents' potential reactions.

EmergencyKisses: Something happen? I'm here to listen.

DrHeart: Aww, thanks. It wasn't really bad or anything. Just awkward. Mom's still trying to set me up with every single man she comes across, that's all. It's exhausting.

EmergencyKisses: Ahh, that kind of thing sucks. My dad was like that right after I came out. He stopped as soon as I brought my first girlfriend home, though. He liked her more than I did, I think. It's been twenty years, and he still asks me about this woman I dated for five months in college.

DrHeart: Haha, well, that's reassuring. Maybe. Not sure how they'd take it, to be honest. They're very, you know, traditional.

EmergencyKisses: Oh, I hear you. Good luck, my friend. If you ever need anything, my inbox is always open.

Gianna tilted her head and stared down at her computer screen. The more she got to know DrHeart, the more she felt herself drawn in. Her internet crush was smart, witty, funny, and driven. Not for the first time, she wondered what this woman was like in person. They hadn't exchanged photos or anything, so she had no idea, but judging by her personality, she was sure that this DrHeart must be ridiculously hot. That just made sense.

Or maybe that was the margaritas and not having been out on a date with anyone in over a year talking.

DrHeart: Anyway, that's enough whining from me! How has your Friday night been?

EmergencyKisses: I'm SO relieved it's the weekend! I mean, I was convinced that it was Friday yesterday. I have never been so disappointed in my entire life as when you told me it was Thursday. Never.

DrHeart: Haha, sorry to be the bearer of bad. On the plus side, today is definitely Friday.

EmergencyKisses: It is! I was out with my sister. It was amazing.

DrHeart: That sounds fun! What did you two get up to?

EmergencyKisses: Nothing fancy, just some drinks and nachos. We went to our favorite place. It's an old pub-type bar near where I live, super cozy and relaxed. How about you? Any grand weekend plans?

DrHeart: Not at all. My life is not exciting. Just going to decompress, go for some walks, maybe get some reading done. Oh, and I have this application I need to get started on.

EmergencyKisses: Thinking about a career change? Tired of the hectic hospital life?

Cocoa stretched out his paw, and Gianna let out a whelp of pain as a claw suddenly sank deeply into the flesh of her thigh.

"Cocoa!" she exclaimed, glaring down at the cat.

Cats couldn't smirk, but if they could, that is exactly what the lazy tomcat would have done. He stared up at her innocently, licking a paw clean. Rolling her eyes at the little beast, she turned her attention back to the computer to find a new message from her online friend.

DrHeart: Who could possibly get tired of running around like a headless chicken from one literal life-or-death situation to the next all day?

Gianna laughed aloud at that and nodded sympathetically. She loved her job and was very proud of everything she'd accomplished, but there was no denying that it was intense.

DrHeart: But really, though, no. It's all very hush-hush for now, but my department head told me that she's resigning, and she mentioned that she thinks I'd be a strong candidate. So, yeah, figured I'd get a leg up on the competition and get started on it.

EmergencyKisses: Ohhhh, good thinking! Well, best of luck. I hope you get it. I'd kill for an opportunity like that. I mean, I might actually be prepared to commit murder for it. Don't tell the cops, please.

DrHeart: Haha! Wow, you're dedicated, huh?

She stretched out on the couch, still slightly tipsy and giddy. It was silly, really. The chances of them ever meeting were slim to none. It was nice to connect with someone like this, though. Really nice.

EmergencyKisses: What can I say, I'm a passionate person ;)

As soon as she sent the message, her skin prickled. It had been way too long since she'd gotten any action. She missed it. She missed feeling a woman pressed up against her, tasting her lips, sliding her hands beneath her shirt to touch her bare breasts... She was fairly certain that DrHeart was a total virgin when it came to women, but that could be remedied. Everyone had to start somewhere.

It took a while for DrHeart to respond after that. The chat bubble made it clear that she was typing, though, so Gianna relaxed, biting her lip impatiently. Finally, after what felt like ages, the message popped up.

DrHeart: I think I could use some more passion in my life.

Okay, so apparently the vibes she was giving off weren't entirely unwelcome. That was promising. The urge to flirt further, to see where this went, bubbled up inside her. Grinning mischievously, she sat up a little straighter to concentrate on the conversation.

Cocoa let out a dissatisfied meow of protest, hopping down from his place on her lap. On light paws, he disappeared around the corner to rest on the heated tiles in the bathroom instead. His owner didn't even notice his indignant glare. All her attention was focused on the online chat window in front of her.

EmergencyKisses: Oh yeah? What kind of passion are we talking here?

This time, the reply came a little faster.

DrHeart: Passion like I haven't felt in... well, ever, really. Not to sound pathetic, but I've never experienced anything like it.

EmergencyKisses: Hmmmm, maybe I can help with that ;)

Gianna was practically vibrating with excitement now. Without waiting for a response, she typed up another message.

EmergencyKisses: You sound sexy as hell. I wish I knew what you looked like, I bet you're stunning.

A pause. The three dots in the chat bubble indicated that DrHeart was responding, but then they disappeared. Maybe she was editing and revising her message to perfection before sending it. Another minute passed, and then another. After a small eternity, the much-anticipated reply finally appeared on the screen.

DrHeart: Haha. You, too.

Ugh. Seriously? Gianna rolled her eyes. The most frustrating part was the way she felt her face flush. There was something oddly adorable about the other woman's shyness and insecurity, even if it was supremely irritating that she couldn't seem to string two words together. Determined not to give up, Gianna typed out another suggestive reply and hit send.

EmergencyKisses: Have you ever slept with another woman before? I could show you some things if you haven't, maybe put that passion you're longing for to good use.

She watched the screen eagerly, a tiny thrill going through her as the three dots flickered in and out. Her heart pounded loudly in her chest, and she found herself shifting position a little. The air in the apartment was warm enough, but she felt hot all over. With each passing second, the anticipation grew. She had missed this, she realized, the thrill of getting to know someone new, the fluttering in your chest as you tried to work out whether they wanted you as much as you wanted them.

DrHeart: No, I haven't, actually. I've thought about it a lot, though...

A wide grin spread across Gianna's lips. This was more like it.

EmergencyKisses: Oh yeah? What have you been thinking?

EmergencyKisses: Because I'll be happy to give you some pointers ;)

DrHeart: Wow... uhm... I don't know, haha, I'm so awkward about this stuff. Why don't you tell me what you like instead?

Gianna rolled her eyes fondly. That was kind of adorable. She, for one, had never been shy, and immediately dove right in. Typing quickly, she paused to lick her lips as she hit the send button.

EmergencyKisses: Ooh, I like a lot of things. I like starting slow, exploring a woman's body with my tongue, listening for the little gasps she makes when I find that spot that drives her crazy.

EmergencyKisses: There's something so hot about seeing someone who's normally controlled and rational lose control like that. It's the sexiest thing when a woman stops acting prim and proper and lets loose with you.

As she typed with one hand, she reached down to slide her other hand down her stomach until it reached the hem of her dress. Slipping beneath the fabric, her fingers slowly trailed over her toned thighs and hips before gliding under the waistband of her underwear. Her eyes flicked from screen to keyboard and back as she tried to type out coherent messages.

EmergencyKisses: Does that sound good? You just relax, and I'll show you how sexy it can feel to let go.

DrHeart: Wow. Okay.

DrHeart: That sounds amazing. Please keep going...

Gianna obliged, typing out message after message of increasingly graphic sexual content as she touched herself. Her fingers worked rapidly against her clit, making her breath come in heavy pants. Her mind ran away with fantasies about what her anonymous pen pal might look like. Taller than her, maybe. Skinnier, probably. Pale skin, fiery red hair... The image of a certain beautiful, infuriating coworker flashed through her head.

She moaned against the cushion as another message from DrHeart appeared on-screen. Her online friend seemed to finally be loosening up and getting into it now, which made the whole thing so much hotter. A pleasant shiver ran down her spine as her expert fingers rubbed just the right spots.

DrHeart: I've always been curious about what it would be like to have another woman eat me out. I imagine it would be… intense.

Oh, I'll show you intense, Gianna thought to herself, panting heavily as she continued to rub circles on her clit. She was getting close now, the tightening sensation building in her gut. God, she wanted nothing more than to sink her face between her mysterious pen pal's legs and show her exactly what she had been missing. Her toes curled and uncurled rapidly, the tension rising with each moment that passed.

Just as her orgasm washed over her in a wave of relief and pleasure, her eyes glanced at the last message that appeared on the screen. When she recovered a minute or so later and her breathing returned to normal, she closed her laptop with a chuckle, then leaned her head back against the armrest of the sofa. DrHeart seemed to have gotten cold feet and suddenly decided that she needed to go to bed.

Oh, well. There was always next time. Grinning with satisfaction, Gianna pushed herself up from the couch and headed off to the bathroom to wash up, then fell into bed in a pleasant state of post-orgasmic bliss.