“So shall we consult my all knowing pad to see what we're going to be doing today?”
 
Angela shook her head. “No, I don't think so. I want to take the day off from bondage and do something else.”
 
Fareeha raised an eyebrow, taken aback at Angela's decision. “Did I do something wrong? I know yesterday was frustrating for you but I didn't think you were actually angry or anything.”
 
“No, no, no. Well sorta. My nerves still feel frayed at getting denied over and and over so I need to unwind. Do you like hiking?” asked Angela.
 
“I guess. Are there actually places to hike around here? I thought this whole area was farmland.”
 
Angela shrugged her shoulders and pointed towards the westward facing side of the house. “There's some nice hills about fifty kilometers that way. We can bring some food and make a day of it. What do you say?”
 
“Well if we're going hiking then we're watching another movie tonight Angela.”
 
Angela opened the fridge door and started pulling various pieces of food out to make a lunch for them. “Okay that sounds fair. There's a couple of coats in the living room closet and a spare set of boots too. Check the size to see if they'll fit you. The shoes you brought with you won't keep your feet warm at higher elevations.”
 
Fareeha headed into the living room and opened the closet in question. A pair of hooded jackets were hanging inside just like Angela had said. She glanced between them before grabbing one off the hangar and sliding her arms through one sleeve. Her hand came out the other end with about four or five centimeters or so between the heel of her palm and the end of the jacket's arm. Fareeha pulled her arm out and stuck the coat back on the hangar before checking the size on the boots tongue. Also too small. “Neither of these are going to fit me Angela.”
 
“All right, we'll stop on the store on the way and I'll buy a coat and some boots for you.” Angela yelled back.
 
Fareeha closed the closet and headed over to stand in the kitchen archway. “That's not necessary Angela. Buying me a jacket and boots would just be a waste of your money, especially for something I'd probably only use once.”
 
“Don't say that. Spending money on you isn't a waste. It's the least I can do after the trouble I've put you through with... this.” Angela waved a hand in front of her, a blanket gesture indicating their arrangement and everything involved therein.
 
“But you're already paying me for that. This is just... unnecessary.” Fareeha finished lamely.
 
“I'm trying to say thank you Fareeha. Asking you to come all the way out here and be my mistress for a month was... a huge overstep on my part but you did it anyway. And frankly you've been incredible at it so far. You've constantly gone out of your way to explain things to me and make sure I'm comfortable with everything before we do it. Buying you stuff isn't the best way of showing gratitude but I can't think of anything better that you wouldn't object to so... we're going shopping.”
 
All kinds of outdoor clothing hung from racks and circular stands throughout the store and a myriad of display shoes sat on shelves mounted to the wall. Angela gave Fareeha a glance as she flipped through a set of jackets. “How tall are you? Most of the women's clothes here don't look like they're your size.”
 
“One point eight meters.” Fareeha lifted the largest jacket on the rack up and held it against her chest. “I have a hard time shopping at most places unless they have a tall section and even if they do there's a chance that they won't fit my bust. It's a pain.”
 
“You buy men's clothes don't you?”
 
Fareeha gave Angela a blank look which the doctor tried to stoically meet but her lips began to widen and in seconds Angela was giggling. After a moment Fareeha chuckled and shook her head. “Guilty as charged. Pants or jeans from the men's section fit me about half the time but their shirts are usually just fine.”
 
“Well let's go take a look at the men's section then. There's bound to be some jackets that fit you over there.” Angela didn't wait for a response as she started heading towards the aforementioned section, Fareeha following after a moment's hesitation. She picked one out at random and held it up. “How about this one?”
 
“That's about the right size but that's an awfully garish shade of yellow.” Fareeha pointed out.
 
“I know, it's hideous but it's for visibility not fashion. Bright colors stand out which makes people easier to find if they get lost. And if you're concerned about fashion this jacket is reversible.” Angela pulled the zipper down enough to show Fareeha the interior, a uniform carbon black. “So you can flip it around and voila you're wearing a nice looking black coat.”
 
Fareeha grabbed the jacket with finger and thumb, rubbing the fabric between them. “This doesn't feel thick enough to keep me warm in the mountains or wherever we're going.”
 
“Oh this is to keep you dry. The weather out here can be unpredictable so you should wear multiple layers so you can put things on or take them off as needs be. Sweaters are… over there.” Angela pointed and she was on the move once again.
 
By the time Angela had finished dragging her around Fareeha was carrying a bona fide full outfit and then some. Jacket, fleece sweater, waterproof pants, hiking boots, wool socks, even a pair of gloves. “This is too much Angela. Really.”
 
“You'll thank me when we get up there. The Alps are cold this time of year.” Angela handed her card to the cashier to pay for everything and he handed it back along with a paper receipt. Fareeha leaned in trying to see the amount but Angela quickly stuffed it in her pocket. “Nope. This is my treat, come on.”
 
Once their car was underway again Angela lowered the back of her chair until it was almost fully reclined. “So I have a question for you. You told me that I could ask you one thing per day and you'd decide whether or not it was too personal.”
 
“Yes.”
 
“I didn't ask you anything yesterday so does that mean I get two questions today or does it not roll over?”
 
Fareeha turned her head so that she was looking out the window at the green farmland rolling on by. “No, that's fine. I don't get why you want to ask me questions about myself though.”
 
“I'm asking questions because there's a fascinating stranger staying in my home with me. Who is Fareeha Amari? I know you like old movies, you're a dominatrix and an expat but there's more to you than that.”
 
If Fareeha hadn't kept her head turned away then Angela would be able to see the blush on her face but the wringing of her hands didn't escape the doctor's notice. Her voice was still composed despite her other signs of nervousness. “What do you want to ask me today?”
 
“You said you were an expat so that means you moved here from another country. What brought you to Switzerland?”
 
Silence filled the car as Fareeha's hands stopped moving as she continued to stare out the window, her shoulders rigid. Eventually she broke it but didn't stop looking away from Angela. “My mother brought me here. I was only a teenager when it happened and she's never explained why. All I know is that she showed up in the middle of the night after returning from being deployed with an American soldier in tow and we left for Switzerland the next day. That's your first question, what's your second?”
 
“I'm not sure yet.” admitted Angela. “I'll keep thinking about it though.” Fareeha didn't reply and the silence returned, this time remaining until they arrived at their destination. Angela adjusted a dial on the dashboard console and the window tint darkened until they were opaque.
 
Fareeha finally turned away from the window to see the doctor climbing into the back of the vehicle where she had stowed a pair of bags. Without hesitation or warning she unabashedly pulled her shirt off revealing a sports bra underneath it. Fareeha's gaze lingered for a second then she hurriedly turned back around, the sight of Angela in a bra somehow more erotic than the other things they had done together . “You know I don't mind if you look at me Fareeha.”
 
The doctor's voice was soft but the words still hit her like a sock filled with bars of soap. Fareeha turned around again just as Angela was pulling on her boots. “You mean during a scene right?.”
 
“No.”
 
Her cheeks flamed red and Fareeha turned back around, not wanting to respond to that. “Do you mind stepping outside while I change? It'll only take me a minute or two.”
 
Behind her a miniature smile flashed across Angela's face and she opened the door on her side, cold air forcing its way in. “As you wish. Bring the food with you okay?”
 
A fleece sweater, hiking jacket, pants, socks, boots, gloves. All purchased today just so they could go hiking by a woman who had just admitted she enjoyed Fareeha looking at her. 'What are you doing Fareeha? This woman is a client. What happened to enforcing your boundaries?' She had had this conversation with herself before but each time the argument that the doctor was just a client sounded less convincing than the time prior. She grabbed the backpack of food and stepped outside, where Angela was waiting.
 
“Isn't it beautiful? This is one of the things I love about coming out here. Geneva is great but sometimes I need to just get away from it all.” Angela swung her arm out in a grand flourish towards the area around them. Fields of green grass dotted with bushes bearing violet flowers extended out from the end of the road in every direction. Beyond them rose towering peaks covered with trees and their peaks were capped in white.
 
“It is.” Fareeha agreed. “I used to look up pictures of other countries on the internet when I was a girl but I always had a hard time believing places like this really existed when all I knew was hot wind and sand.”
 
“Makes you glad you came to Switzerland doesn't it?”
 
“I just wish it wasn't so damn cold. This is why I stay in the city.” Fareeha shivered and she tucked her hands into her armpits.
 
“Well, let's get moving. That'll warm you up.” said Angela, practically skipping as she headed for a nearby trail.
 
“You're enjoying me freezing my butt off aren't you?” complained Fareeha as she reluctantly followed along. “I'm moving to the nearest desert when this is over just so you know.” For all of her grousing, the place really was quite lovely. If the air was twenty degrees or so warmer then this would be pretty much perfect for her.
 
Fareeha wasn't exactly someone who went to the gyms but she still felt like she was in okay shape or at least that's what she had thought before this walk. For every step she took it seemed like Angela took three or four as she was continually doubling back whenever Fareeha fell behind only to take off for the sake of taking a photograph from just the right angle or smelling some flowers. Angela doubled back once again, a freshly picked flower with narrow white petals held delicately in her fingers. She held it up for Fareeha to see. “Look, Edelweiss!”
 
Fareeha came to a halt as Angela stopped right in front of her. “Edelweiss only grows at high altitudes in the Alps. Soldiers used to believe it was a symbol of courage and would climb the mountains to find one.” said Angela.
 
The doctor reached forward with one hand, intending to grab the hood of Fareeha's hood but she took a step back. “What are you doing Angela?”
 
“Come here.” Angela took a step forward and pulled Fareeha's hood to the side so she could reach in and slide the white flower's stem into the black hair above Fareeha's ear. “There we go.” The doctor turned around and started walking up the hill again. Fareeha hesitantly touched the flower as she stared at the doctor's back, not understanding what was happening on this trip anymore. She pulled her hood back up and started walking again, at least she tried to.
 
The moment she took a step half a dozen knots began to form all along her leg. Fareeha grimaced and she ground her teeth together as she sank to the ground, unable to put any weight on that limb. “Angela!”
 
The doctor spun on a dime and her eyes widened when she saw Fareeha sitting on the ground. She came hurrying back and knelt down at Fareeha's side. “What is it?”
 
“My right leg just cramped up really badly.”
 
“Okay, I was afraid you'd broken or sprained something.” Angela pulled her backpack off and started digging through it until she came out with a container and a bottle. “Here's some dried bananas. You need potassium and water right now. Eat those while I deal with this.”
 
As Fareeha took the banana slices Angela slid her gloves off before she started unlacing Fareeha's boot, pulling it off. The doctor elevated the leg into the air and her bare fingers squeezed the bridge of Fareeha's foot. “Tell me where the knots are and I'll work them out.”
 
Fareeha squeezed her eyes shut but she didn't complain about the touch. “A little to the right, yes that's the spot.” Under Fareeha's guidance, Angela's hands gradually moved their way higher and higher up her leg, the surgeon's nimble fingers massaging each knot out in turn until they were working on Fareeha's outer thigh.
 
Once that one was gone Angela looked up from the leg. The amplified rise and fall of the other woman's chest was evident even beneath the layers covering it and the look in her eyes was the same as when they had been in the tub together. Angela's spread fingers slid over the swell of Fareeha's hip and down to its inner side. “Are there any knots over here?” asked Angela, her voice as soft as Fareeha had ever heard it.
 
Neither woman dared to breathe as Fareeha looked up at Angela. Those fingers were just a few centimeters away and the only thing keeping them from her skin was a few layers of fabric. She knew it was still freezing out here but Fareeha wasn't cold anymore. Her body had found itself infused with warmth and there was no need to ask where, and who, the source was. Fareeha squeezed her eyes shut and slowly shook her head as she gulped a lungful of air down her dry throat. “No... that was the last one. I think I can make it back to the car now.”
 
As Fareeha pulled her boot back on she didn't know whether to be relieved or disappointed by that fact.