In the bathroom Willa caught her breath after locking herself into the room, glad that there weren’t multiple stalls. She paced across the room, then leaned against the wall across from the sink and mirror. In the glass there was a reflection of a person absolutely flushed from sternum to brow, fine sweat beading across the tip of her nose. There were stray hairs escaping the ponytail she usually wore, and she slicked them back with her fingertips, then busied herself with using the facilities then washing up, splashing her neck all the way around with cool water. Checked to make sure that her eyeliner was on point, that everything else was buckled and zipped, Willa sighed and braced herself for the walk back to the table, knowing that at least one set of eyes in the restaurant would be following her. She stamped her feet with the frustration of it all, unlocked the door, walked out. 

Matt didn’t miss a beat, and Willa could feel his eyes following her as she walked back pretending that she didn’t notice. She rolled her eyes as she sat back down in the booth across from him, and he laughed loudly at her, and took a drink from his diet soda. He’d polished off his steak while she was gone, and now was dipping his fries in a side of hot sauce, watching her and waiting for her to speak. Willa was stubborn, though, and even though she realized that he probably didn’t forget the conversation that they were having before she abruptly excused herself, she didn’t want to acknowledge his previous question. Instead she mopped up the juices from her own cooling steak with a piece of bread, and bit into it, crunching through the crust with a satisfying chomp. She pointedly made her eyes avoid Matt’s as he glanced at the pool of juice around her steak, then to her mouth as she bit, then to her eyes. His own narrowed a little as a smirk appeared at the side of his mouth. She didn’t want to give him the satisfaction of continuing their conversation, and instead remained quiet, keeping her mouth busy with food. There was no way she’d be the first to bring up blood this time. 

The waitress came to the table with refills for their drinks, and Willa’s eyes widened a bit realizing this was her third two-finger whiskey of the evening. She startled and asked the waitress to take it away, and moved her water closer so she could reach the straw. 

Quiet continued and she realized that Matt was likely waiting for her to say something first. Good, she could play this game indefinitely, and was never the one to break. 

Matt watched her as she avoided his eyes. He could see the game she was playing, and had dealt with bratty behavior before. He didn’t have to speak to her, didn’t have to do anything he didn’t choose to. Of course, neither did she. They didn’t have an understanding nor had they arranged anything involving consent or the lack thereof. In the meantime just watching her made his entire nervous system light up, and he wanted so very much more. 

As she took the last cold bite of her steak her eyes met his and she almost started to speak, but stopped with her mouth busy. Wouldn’t do to be rude and talk with her mouth full, and this unspoken battle of wits between them was too fun to play. Willa’s toes tapped in her boots and her full belly turned a bit with the churning emotions whirling about inside her mind. She’d had no idea why her tummy and mind seemed so unexplainably intertwined tonight, but she was frustrated with the emotion and ready to leave and process what exactly happened this evening. The less Matt spoke the better, in her opinion, and she didn’t need to explain anything to this frustration of a human. He stood abruptly while her mind was wandering, and she realized that she’d missed the signed credit card slip next to his plate. He’d paid while she was off in the bathroom trying to catch her breath. “So bold of him to have done so”, she thought, “I could have wanted dessert!”. She scolded him with a look, but stood as well, and turned for the door. 

“Thank you for dinner” escaped her lips as she walked out of the restaurant, not thinking twice about how she broke first and spoke. She gasped and her hand lifted quickly to her lips as she glanced his way, and all he could do was laugh, knowing she’d had the same realization he had. 

“You’re very welcome, girly” he whispered as she passed him, holding the door for her. Willa’s knees turned on her and wobbled at the words, and she cursed the betrayal of her body. Especially when Matt could clearly see that she was struggling. And she could clearly see how much he was enjoying this. 

She huffed to herself and walked a little more quickly, listening to the click of his boots behind her on the pavement. The evening was well into full swing, the summer sun had dipped below the horizon and she could hear crickets chirping away in dark shadows around the corner of the building. She dug her car keys out of her bag and unlocked the driver’s side door. There was a tree standing right next to her vehicle, she’d parked on the edge of the lot, and it kept her from opening it fully. She’d have to wiggle to get into her seat, and although this didn’t bother her upon arrival now she got irritated, knowing he’d be right in reach to watch. 

Willa turned toward him and he was close enough to touch, but not leaning into her. He let her make that choice, which she did as soon as she could smell his aftershave. She got up on her toes, and brought her nose close to his neck, inhaling the smell of him. Her eyes flickered to his as she pulled back, and he started to raise his hand then halted. 

“I’d really love to give you a hug, if you consent?” He held back waiting on her response. Her face broke out into one of the many painfully wide smiles she couldn’t stop grinning tonight, and she moved her arms up to wrap around his chest and shoulders. He startled a little, then his arms closed around her, warm and firm. The smell of him flooded her senses and she closed her eyes to breathe in enough to carry him home with her. As frustrated as she’d been this evening she also was more than intrigued by this man who asked for permission before touching her. Most people assumed, and he didn’t. He felt safer than most humans she knew, even her parents, as in the majority of relationships she had with others they’d never taken her consent into consideration. They assumed, just as all people in her society assumed, and people’s boundaries were broken every day as a result. The overwhelming message given to Willa her entire life was that she wasn’t her own person, she belonged to her mother or her parents or her partner, her future children, never to her Self.  It didn’t matter what her dreams or hopes were, unless they kept everyone else’s dreams from coming true. Then they had to change. For them. 

She sank into his arms, exhaling, and almost started to cry. He held her close, not understanding, but willing to be a strong place if she required that of him. It seemed she didn’t get to let go, and she needed it badly, and he heard her bright and clear. Willa’s eyes pricked and burned with the tears she wouldn’t release, and she pulled him in tighter. He started to lean back, and she felt his shoulders pulling from her own, even if his arms didn’t let go. Their ears passed one another, and they pressed their cheeks toward one another as they slowly moved their heads apart. She could feel the stubble start to scrape her jawbone, and she pressed closer, turning slightly, trying to catch it. The rough sandpaper of a man’s face always was such a curiosity, an exploration in textures, and she loved feeling it through the thin skin of her lips. A small touch, and she was at the corner of his mouth, then his own lips were on the edge of hers, and she felt her knees give way again. 

He kissed Willa back. She kissed him on a first date, and here he was kissing her back. She didn’t falter from this touch, though, unlike the rest from this evening. She pressed harder, feeling the softness of him, the heat of the tip of his tongue on hers, and she opened to him. His arms held her firmly enough to give support yet not to cage or trap. She pressed her body into his, letting the slow dance of their mouths lead, savoring and in no hurry to reach any other stage. She kissed him as if she were drowning, forgetting that they were standing in full view of anyone who could wander past. She kissed him until she forgot everything except his lips, his fingertips on her neck, her jaw, pressing her back as he ended the kiss and leaned in the opposite direction far enough to look into her eyes. 

“I was going to ask permission first, girly.” He whispered into her mouth as his eyes caught hers. She closed them, leaning her forehead to touch his. 

“No, I should have asked first. I kissed you.” 

He chuckled, the vibration spreading through her chest as it rumbled his own. Her eyes were still closed, his forehead gentle on her own, their arms still holding one another. She was trying to catch her breath after feeling everything she was had been pulled out of her. She’d needed that reassurance, for instead of walking away when she challenged him, he leaned into her wit and charm tenfold, bowling her emotions in a massive strike that left her reeling. He kept her guessing, which she didn’t find often, and she was becoming aware of everything in her responding to everything in him. It was unsettling for a hyper-independent person, but there was far too much