Melina Ashford moved through the train carriage until she found her reserved seat, then sank into it with relief. It was a very long journey she was making, and she didn't want to spend it standing up. She set her laptop on the table and powered it up, flicking through some printed notes while it loaded. She was going to a conference in Edinburgh, and had been invited to give a presentation. Until now, she hadn't actually had time to sit down and put the slide show together, though she knew what she wanted to say. It was at least a six hour journey, and then an evening in a hotel, so there would be plenty of time. Melina had just opened the program when her phone rang.

"Hello, Caitlin."
Caitlin Tyler, Melina's girlfriend, her "partner in crime", as they termed it, world famous film actress. Melina's colleagues always found it hard to believe that the hardworking, conscientious Dr Ashford had time for a relationship at all, let alone with a woman they admired on screen. Many had assumed, until Caitlin had appeared, on Melina's arm at last year's Christmas party, that the young blonde doctor was married to her work. However, when Caitlin was away filming, Melina saw no reason to rush home early, like most of her colleagues did.

"Melina, my love, how are you?"

"You know how I am, since you dropped me off at the station this morning."

"That was ages ago." It was an hour, no more than that. Melina had caught a train into London, and then had to change trains. "Humour me, Mel."

"Missing you, Lyn. It's going to be horrible tonight, without you."

"You're used to me being away though."

"But I'm at home, surrounded by things that remind me of you."

Melina moved the phone to her other hand, and started to type her presentation. She'd only got as far as the title, date and her name when Caitlin realised what the faint clicking noise was.

"Put the computer away, Mel."

"I've got work to do before I get there."

"It can wait." Until that point, Caitlin's voice had been casual, conversational. With this line, it became sultry and seductive, the voice that made Melina tremble in anticipation. It had been seven years, and Caitlin still had the same effect on her. Most of their friends were in and out of relationships all of the time - the longest was Daniel Langton's current relationship with Esmé Lester. They'd joked about the so-called "seven year itch", but it hadn't been an issue.

"Caitlin..." Melina had meant to protest, but the word came out as a breathless sigh instead.

"I'm going to miss you, tonight. I'll just have to touch myself and pretend it's you, Melina, sweetheart. I think I'll start with a long bath, with the jacuzzi on..."

Melina slouched in her seat, hoping people wouldn't be able to see her behind her laptop. Caitlin was murmuring softly down the phone, telling Melina, in explicit detail, what she was going to do, all by herself, tonight. Mel knew she was blushing bright red listening to it, and suspected, from the soft moans punctuating Caitlin's speech, that the brunette was doing it right then. Of all the times Caitlin could have chosen to have phone sex, why did it have to be now, when there was absolutely nothing Mel could do apart from wriggle around in her seat getting frustrated.

"Lyn, please, not now."

"I'll make it up to you when you come home, my love. We'll go out for a fancy meal, then come home together, and the dress that looks so gorgeous on you will look even better in a crumpled heap on the floor. I'll touch you and taste you and tease you until you're begging me, and I'll make you scream my name."

Caitlin was relentless. She kept up the erotic flow of words for ages, trying to get a reaction out of Melina. On the train, her blush had begun to attract attention from the other passengers. When the ticket inspector walked through, Melina was praying he wouldn't speak to her, not trusting her voice at the moment. She fumbled, one-handed, in her bag, searching for her ticket, and handed it over.

"Are you alright, miss?"

Melina covered the phone with one hand, and whispered, "Yes, thank you." Even so, Caitlin heard her.

"Am I making you blush, my darling? Are you being stared at? They can look but they can't touch, because you're mine, Melina."

"Always, Caitlin. Always."

Melina might belong to Caitlin, but Caitlin belonged to Melina too. They'd been together since they were still at school, and they'd been close friends long before that. No amount of childish sniping or rumour-mongering by the media would split them up, they knew each other far too well for that. The latest article had suggested Caitlin got involved with somebody else every time she was away filming. "What happens on set stays on set", had been the comment attributed to Caitlin's co-star. Melina and Caitlin had shared a knowing look when confronted about it - they'd got up to various antics on film sets, which nobody else knew about.

"Love you, Mel. With all my heart." Caitlin's voice was no longer seductive, just softly stating the truth.

"Likewise, Lyn."

"I'll let you get on with your work now. Call you tonight?"

"I'll call you, when I'm in the hotel."

"OK. Talk to you tonight."

They said their goodbyes, and Melina put the phone down. Having to return her attention to her slide show after that steamy phone call was dreadful, but it had to be done. Besides, when she spoke to Caitlin that night, she'd be able to get her own back, make her girlfriend hot and bothered, longing for Melina the way she was longing for Caitlin now.