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“Actually, I love them, but I don’t think it would be fair of me to get a pet. I’m away from home so often, I think it would get lonely.”
“That’s definitely something to consider. I live in the family home still. It’s a big estate that has different sections, so I kind of have my own place, but I’m still near the people I love. My parents have three dogs, and my sister has a cat. They’re not technically mine, but they’re around my part of the estate often enough. Terry—the cat—seems to be able to sense when I’m feeling lonely, and he always comes to sit with me when that happens.”
“You’re lucky. I wish it was feasible for me. I’ve actually considered volunteering at an animal shelter. I don’t get enough time with animals, and I’d like to.”
“We should totally do that together! I’d love to find some time for volunteer work.”
Victoria grinned at Alexa’s enthusiastic reaction. She was glad to hear that they were already talking about a second date. Alexa was even better in person than she was over text message.
Victoria had been worried that she wouldn’t know what to say, not having been on a date in so long, but that worry soon proved baseless. She and Alexa chatted easily, as though they had known each other for years rather than days.
The food came, and Victoria was sure it was delicious, but she barely tasted it. She was too focused on Alexa. She found Alexa enchanting. She was wickedly intelligent and at the same time, she had an easy manner about her that couldn’t help but make Victoria feel comfortable.
They shared a passion for art and spent over half an hour debating the merits of some of the more esoteric classics. Victoria was thrilled to find someone who could match her word for word on the subject.
All too soon, the restaurant was closing, and they had to leave.
“I wish this could have gone on longer,” Victoria sighed.
“Yeah, me too. How about this? There’s a new art gallery opening downtown next week. I don’t think they’ll have any of the huge artists—they’re too new and not adequately funded for that yet—but there should be some good pieces there. New aspiring talent and all of that.”
Victoria bit her lip. “I’m honestly not so sure about that. The new and aspiring talent of today doesn’t really impress me. I have no desire to see a banana taped to a wall masquerading as art.”
Alexa had the most delightful laugh, and Victoria was so immersed in listening to it that she almost missed Alexa’s next comment.
“Don’t worry, I’ve done my homework. This isn’t that kind of gallery. It’s not the modern, edgy stuff. They’ve picked works made in the image of the old classics.”
Victoria brightened. “In that case, that actually sounds amazing. No bananas?”
“No bananas,” Alexa confirmed.
“You’d better hope there aren’t any fruit paintings there,” Victoria teased. “If I see a single banana, I’m out of there.”
“I’ll bring a blindfold to protect your eyes.”
“Ooh, kinky.”
“Perhaps afterward, we can put the blindfold to other uses.”
Well, that was an enticing idea.
“Art gallery it is, then.”
Alexa hesitated, giving Victoria a shy look from under her long lashes. “Can I get a goodnight kiss.”
“You can most certainly get a goodnight kiss.”
Victoria was glad Alexa had asked. It had been on her mind all evening—that and much more—but she didn’t want to rush things and freak Alexa out. Apparently, they were once more on the same page.
Victoria stepped in close enough to feel Alexa’s breath on her cheek. Alexa’s eyes fluttered closed as she leaned in, brushing their lips lightly together. It was short and sweet, barely even a kiss, but it was utterly perfect, and it made Victoria long for more.
She put a hand behind Alexa’s neck, gently drawing her in closer. Their lips pressed more firmly against each other. Alexa was warm and soft, and Victoria longed to taste her. They kissed several more times before Victoria took a risk, letting the tip of her tongue run across the seam of Alexa’s lips.
She was ready for Alexa to step back, to say it was too soon, but Alexa moaned and opened her sweet mouth, allowingVictoria’s tongue to explore. She tasted better than any fine wine Victoria had ever had.
Victoria eventually pulled away, gasping for breath, staring into Alexa’s wide eyes. She’d never had a kiss like that, and she’d had plenty of kisses in her time.
She wanted more, but she feared it would be tacky to initiate more than this on the first date. She pressed on more chaste kiss to Alexa’s lips before taking a regretful step back. “I should go.”
