“How do I be seductive?”

Violet’s question clearly caught Cattleya off guard, causing her to nearly choke on the coffee she was currently sipping. A coughing fit soon followed, drawing the attention of some of the other patrons around them. It was probably a good thing that the reaction to the question, rather than the question itself, did so. Otherwise, they might have requested their check sooner than intended.

“What?” Cattleya finally asked after clearing her throat and using a napkin to wipe away the few errant droplets from around her mouth. “Who are you…what do you mean?”

“Amy,” Violet said in answer to the first half of the question. As for the second? Well, that should flow naturally, shouldn’t it? Who else would she be trying to coax to bed? “The frequency of our intimacy isn’t what I hoped for.” Not that Violet was complaining. It was just…well, she had never been good with these kinds of things, and she loved Amy very much. And wanting to be physical with her was a normal part of that, right?

“I see,” Cattleya said after a pause and before grabbing the seat of her chair. With a good hold, she scooted it and herself around the circular table until she was closer. She dropped her voice too, presumably because this was a sensitive topic. Right, Violet should have realized that before bringing it up during their lunch at the cafe. “Does Amy not want to…be intimate?”

Violet remained silent for a few moments as she thought back on recent entanglements. The few times they happened. “I believe she enjoys it,” she started before trying to find the right words to characterize her hesitation. “But it can be hard for us to get started.”

“Well, who usually initiates?”

“Amy.”

At this, Cattleya hummed and tilted her head in curiosity before she leaned forward and rested her chin on her hand. “But you said you were expecting more? Do you not try?”

“I do. I enjoy kissing her, but sometimes it just stops there. Most of the time, I’m unsure when it would be appropriate to take it further. What if she doesn’t want to? Or what if we wake Taylor?”

“Oh dear.”

“It’s a legitimate concern,” Violet assured her. “Amy can be quite loud.”

Cattleya snorted at the assertion and had to shift her hand to help stifle the laughter that followed. Which caused Violet’s eyebrows to finally start to knit with frustration.

“I’m not laughing at you or Amy. People aren’t usually this forthcoming, so it’s just surprising.”

“Should I not have asked?” Had Violet made a mistake? “Please don’t tell Amy I did, I don’t want her to be upset with me.”

“Oh, sweetheart. No, you didn’t do anything wrong. I’m glad that you came to me with this.” Cattleya’s gaze softened as she spoke, and she reached out a hand to place on Violet’s shoulder before offering a comforting squeeze. “It’s a hard thing to learn, and honestly, there are plenty of people who are older than you who still haven’t figured it out.”

Phew! Violet felt better and relaxed back into the chair before managing a small smile of her own. “I want to learn. I want to be better for Amy.”

“And you will be,” Cattleya said with a nod. “Honestly, the fact that you even thought to ask shows how much you care. So, let’s figure it out together, hmm?”

“I would like that.”

“Good. Now, what do you feel when it stalls? What gives you pause?”

“I feel nervous,” Violet answered without hesitation. “My heart is beating so fast, and it’s hard to think.”

“Which is normal,” Cattleya quickly added. But honestly, it was like nothing Violet had ever felt. Not even fighting had carried this kind of downside. At least, not until she started to worry about the Major’s safety. Even then, it was a different kind of anxiety.

“What are you nervous about?”

“That I will do something wrong, or that maybe Amy doesn’t want to be intimate. Not fully.”

Cattleya hummed in understanding before reaching across the table and retrieving her coffee. However, she paused before bringing it to her lips and only lifted her other hand to grip it firmly. “I wonder if she feels the same way? Maybe she’s nervous for those same reasons.”

“But I want to,” Violet protested. “She doesn’t need to be nervous because I want that with her.”

“Have you told her that?”

Violet hesitated this time and shook her head because no, she hadn’t. “I thought she knew.”

“Ah, and what if she thinks the same way? That she doesn’t need to tell you.”

“Then we would both be stuck.”

At last, Cattleya opened her arms wide and made an expression that seemed to say “ah ha!” She took a sip of her coffee thereafter, letting realization wash over Violet.

“So, I should tell her?”

“Yes,” Cattleya confirmed with a nod. “That’s part of it, anyway.”

“What’s the other part?”

“Well, I’m sure you can figure that out once you get started. Just communicate, and if needed, you can lead.”

“Lead?”

“That’s right, just like in dancing. Some people prefer to lead, while others prefer to follow. Some people like both.” Cattleya followed the gesture with a shrug before taking another sip of coffee. “I’m sure you two can figure it out, dear.”

Violet nodded slowly as she considered Cattleya’s words carefully. That didn’t sound daunting because those were two roles that she and Amy had occupied before. Violet led Amy on the dance floor, so could she lead her in the bedroom? But Violet already knew how to dance. But this? She was still figuring it out. “How will I know I’m doing the right thing?”

“You’ll know,” Cattleya said before shaking her head, her eyes widening. “How did you put it? She’s quite loud?”

Ohhh.

“I see,” Violet said before reaching for her own coffee. Amy would tell her, or let her know in other ways, if what she was doing was correct. In the end, they would have to learn together this time.

The two sat in silence a moment before Cattleya set her cup down and cleared her throat. “If you would like some time to yourselves. Claudia and I can watch Taylor for you. We take her plenty already, but maybe a sleepover is in store?”

That sounded like a good idea, even if Violet and Amy usually used the time to clean or do errands. Or for Amy to sleep. Maybe if it were longer, they could do something else? “Yes,” Violet said after a few heartbeats of contemplation. “That would be lovely. Thank you.”

“Oh, please, it’s our pleasure. Taylor is an absolute delight.”

—

“So, what are we going to do while Taylor is gone? I mean, a sleepover? We’ve never had that much time before. Well, not since school.” Thankfully, it didn’t take much to persuade Amy to accept Cattleya’s offer. Mostly because as soon as Taylor caught wind, she had practically begged to go (and get spoiled endlessly).

“Leave that to me,” Violet said. “I have everything planned out.”

“You do?” Amy asked as a smile spread across her face. “Can I have a preview?”

“It is a surprise.”

“Oh? That sounds romantic.”

“That is my intention, yes.”

At that, Amy nearly squealed with delight before continuing on the chores that needed to be accomplished before anyone could get what they wanted. Finally, when the time came, Taylor let out a similar noise when Cattleya and Claudia showed up at the apartment.

Of course, Claudia excitedly followed the little girl to her room to take note of the latest addition to toys and books, and Violet and Cattleya shared a knowing look. That, and a quick “good luck” before she disappeared through the front door, had Amy raising an eyebrow in curiosity.

“What’s that all about?”

“You’ll see,” Violet assured her. “But for now, we have to get to dinner.” Because there was no way Violet was going to risk the evening with her poor cooking, and she wasn’t about to have Amy make it. This was supposed to be special, a night off for both of them.

So, once they had both washed and gotten dressed, Violet offered her arm and led them from the apartment. Amy didn’t hesitate to take it, and when they were out on the street walking with arms linked, she couldn’t help but giggle.

“Is this funny?” Violet asked curiously.

“Oh, it’s just this reminds me of back at school. When we used to walk to class.”

Huh, it did feel a little like that, didn’t it? Except it wasn’t the serenity of the trees that surrounded them, but the bustling city with its tall buildings. Still, the thought made her squeeze Amy’s arm just a little tighter as they made their way down the sidewalk. Amy hummed in delight at the gesture, but her contentment soon turned to confusion as they passed their usual dinner spot and kept going.

“We’re not going to Frank’s?”

“Not tonight,” Violet said with a shake of her head. “Tonight we’re going somewhere special.”

“Oh, so that’s why you told me to dress up. Sneaky girl.”

Well, it wasn’t very sneaky if Violet told her, right? “I thought you would enjoy somewhere nicer for a change.”

“Perhaps. Wherever it is, I’m happy as long as I’m eating with you. That being said, I do like tasty food…”

Violet couldn’t help but smile at the ultimate admission, but it was the previous assertion that made her chest fill with warmth. And tasty food they would get because the restaurant she chose for the evening specialized in serving a fancier clientele. Not that their usual haunts weren’t good enough for an evening out, mind you. It was only that Violet really wanted to spoil Amy tonight. In more ways than one.

When they arrived, the way Amy’s eyes lit up as they came through the door told Violet this choice had been a good one. Hopefully, the food would only reinforce it. “Wow! Everything is so pretty! No wonder you wanted me to dress up.”

“It is nice in here,” Violet agreed before looking around and taking note. A chandelier hung above the center of the restaurant, its lighting dim and intimate. She could see the silverware gleam from how polished it was, and the staff wore the finest clothing with not a crease in sight. All in all, it was very impressive. However, it paled in comparison to the woman standing next to her. “But you look the most beautiful of all.”

Which was no lie! Amy looked absolutely stunning in the deep burgundy dress she wore. It complemented her hair, which was currently pulled up into a messy bun that she knew took considerable effort to shape. And after the compliment, it seemed her cheeks were well on their way to matching the dress.

“Thanks, Violet. You look beautiful too, you know. That dress is going to give me a heart attack.”

Well, Violet certainly hoped not. That would surely put a damper on the evening. Thankfully, she knew Amy wasn’t being serious. At least about the heart attack. The dress, though? Violet wasn’t surprised that was how Amy felt, considering the way she had to pick up her jaw off the ground earlier when she stepped out of the closet. Apparently, a thigh slit that far up her leg was near scandalous? Yes, it showed more skin; however, it allowed Violet to move more easily in case the need arose. Anything else would feel…restricting. Besides, the long sleeves covered her arms, so it kind of offset it, right?

They were shown to their table in short order, thanks to the reservation she had stopped by and made earlier. It was off in one corner, and naturally, Violet pulled out the chair for Amy that would put her back at the door. That left the other for Violet so she could see who was coming and going.

“Old habits die hard, don’t they, love?” Amy asked with a smile.

“I’m sorry,” Violet said by way of apology. Each day, she tried to leave her old life just a little further in the past. Even though Amy told her time and time again that such a thing wasn’t necessary.

“Don’t be. I always feel so safe when I’m with you.” And with Amy’s father still out there, you could never be too careful. But today was not for Richard York, and Violet pushed him from her mind as she sat down opposite.

A waiter appeared not long after and was dispatched with a request for the soup of the day, some breadsticks, and a bottle of wine. Something white, as the sweetness tended to be more in line with Amy’s preference. Then they were alone, and it took nearly a full minute for Violet to pull herself from the depths of those amber eyes at the soft laughter that slipped from Amy’s lips.

“Like what you see?”

“I love what I see,” Violet said without any hesitation.  Her eyes, her laugh, everything about Amy. “And I love Taylor too, of course.”

“Of course,” Amy said with a nod. Whereupon she placed her elbows on the table and leaned across before dropping her voice low. “But sometimes it’s nice to be alone, just you and me.” Her lips curved into a mischievous grin following the question, and she tilted her head enough that a single curl of hair came loose from behind her ear. It kept out of her eyes due to the glasses she wore, but that didn’t stop Violet from leaning forward and brushing it back and up to place.

“Sometimes,” Violet said in agreement. And since she was close, and because there was one thing front and center in her mind, she leaned forward and gave Amy a light kiss on the lips. Which earned her the kind of hum that sent a shiver running up her spine.