CHAPTER 6

Agatha had wanted to avoid texting Rio, messenger seemed more impersonal and a better option, but after reviewing the steamy things that had begun over on that app, and the vague memories of where they had winded up – and after a quick self-pleasure session – she finally texted.

Not long after, she stood tapping her nails on a bottle of wine. She had spent a good deal on it, hopeful that this simple gift would be received well. She had reached out about getting together to plan for their trip and Rio had offered to host her down the street at her house. 

Agatha felt her body practically vibrating as she felt on edge standing on the woman’s front porch. The house wasn’t as large as hers but it was cute. She noticed a few wiccan runes that she had seen at Lilia’s before and smiled at her own randomly acquired occult knowledge. Her body physically jolted when the door swung open as she hadn’t heard anyone appear.

Rio’s dark eyes crinkled and her lips twitched up into a smile. Her voice was warm as if she had been waiting to see her. “Agatha.”

The older woman cleared her throat trying to dispel the way Rio’s voice affected her mind and her vagina. “Miss Vidal.” She extended the wine. “I brought this for you.” 

Rio’s long slim fingers made a point of softly caressing Agatha’s before taking the bottle. “That’s so sweet of you,” Her eyes grew large when she noticed the name on the bottle. “Woah, haven’t had one of these in a while. Come in.” She swept forward and placed her hand on the small of Agatha’s back, guiding her gently past the threshold. 

Agatha took a step away from the touch once they were inside, turning around, her mouth opening and closing for a moment as her eyes took in the dark robe. Her fingers fluttered in the air as she pondered how to address the situation before her.

Rio’s eyes looked down at herself with a smirk. She looked back up and winked at Agatha before taking off for her kitchen, assuming Agatha would follow. “I have clothes on, under this, it was just chilly in here. I turned up the temperature, but you know how houses can be, takes a moment to warm up.” She rubbed at her arms briefly.

Agatha’s neck started to flush. She had actually worn her best lingerie, just in case something did happen. Not that she wanted it to, but she wasn’t going to be caught off guard. What if Rio saw her in anything less than her best? That wouldn’t do.

Agatha shrugged, playing at nonchalance. “I wasn’t worried.”

Rio smirked as she placed the wine on the counter. “Yes, you were.” Her eyes lifted. “But I kinda like that.”

Agatha rolled her eyes. 

Rio jumped back in, walking back around the counter towards Agatha, as if she were stalking her. Her hands came to the tie for her robe. She released a breath as she stood before Agatha and untied her robe, revealing a soft forest green cotton shirt and black boy shorts underneath. “See. Clothing.” She wrapped herself back up as her smile faltered. “You said it was a one-time thing, I heard you. I can respect that. Did I misunderstand?” She moved back to the counter. “Did you want to open this wine or did you want some tea?”

Agatha felt the cold air surrounding her as Rio’s body moved away. “Tea… tea would be great. Thank you.” She ran her hand through her hair subconsciously as she decided to leave the door open. “Maybe leave the wine for another time.”

Rio nodded moving to start her kettle. “Why don’t you take a seat? We can talk here.”

Agatha shifted a chair at the counter so she could sit just at the edge, the other woman taking notice.

“Is this a quick visit? Why don’t you actually sit down in that seat properly and stay a while?”

Agatha shifted only slightly further into the seat. “I can’t say long, I just needed to go over a few things with you about the trip. The details.” She flick her hand at the papers as her other elbow found the table and her fist became a perch for her chin. 

Rio leaned back against her sink, crossing her arms. “Alright,” Her eyes indicating the papers. “shoot.”

Agatha set her bag down in the chair next to her, raising an eyebrow at the other woman. “Why are you willing to do this at all?”

Rio’s shoulder’s dropped. She bit her lip lighting in thought before her hands grabbed the counter behind her. “Because… I know what it’s like to deal with homophobic pieces of crap.”

Agatha’s face relaxed slightly, her chest constricting. “Your mother?” Her voice was cautious.

Rio bit the inside of her cheek and averted her eyes before letting them drift back. “My ex's mother.”

Agatha nodded, one hand coming up to rub at her other in a move of self comfort. “Well, if you wanted to exact your revenge on people like that, there is no one better for you than Evanora, she’s… a piece of work.”

Rio moved to the kettle as it started to whistle and pulled two mugs from the cabinet. “Ah, let me guess,” she cast a glance over at Agatha before she moved to grab tea bags. “Uber religious?”

Agatha flicked her hair out of her face, letting her blue eyes lock with Rio’s. “You got it.”

Rio slid a sugar container across the island, and Agatha caught it as Rio brought the two mugs around the table to sit on the other side of Agatha, allowing her purse to remain where it was. “Alright, I have a pretty good idea what I’ll be dealing with.” She set the cups down, then took a sip of her tea before continuing, her head tilted to the side in thought. “How long have we been dating, by the way?”

Agatha’s eyebrows furrowed when Rio rolled her eyes and then wiggled her fingers at Agatha. “How long have I been casting my Sapphic spell on you? Just so I know which layer of hell we are about to resign ourselves to.”

Agatha opened her mouth then quickly shut it, staring down at her tea for a moment before looking back at the woman beside her. “I suppose, three months? I’m not known for having long relationships… the last one was… well my mother threw me out when she found out about her.”

Rio’s hand lifted to run her fingers lightly over Agatha’s hand gripping the mug. The younger woman’s voice went quiet. “How old were you?”

Agatha didn’t look up but as she attempted to swallow her feelings her voice still came out a bit gravely. “Sixteen.” She shook her head before looking up. “I want to hit her where it hurts.” She shrugged with a smile. “And I’ve always been mother's greatest disappointment, so that shouldn’t be too hard to do.”

Rio’s eye’s lingered making Agatha feel a bit uncomfortable with what the other woman might be thinking, as if she could see right through her. Just as she was sure Rio was going to pry, the other woman retrieved her hand. “We’ll, get her back. I'm very good at flirting.” She smirked as her tongue ran along the inside of her lip.

Agatha huffed, turning back to her tea. “I wouldn’t say I recall much of our night, I’m sorry to say.”

Rio’s smile practically lit up the room. “That’s okay, I do. It was… a wild night.” She raised her mug to cheers the room. “Best thing I’ve gotten from the group – aside from Kathy’s cookies.”

Agatha laughed and couldn’t help her smile, appreciating the change in direction of the conversation. “She has to put crack in them, it’s the only reason I would even consider killing Tom and running away with her.”

Rio smirked. “Oh, Agatha, don’t put thoughts like that in my head…” Blue eyes looked her up and down. Rio sighed. “I’d have to kill you, too. Can’t let you have all of Kathy’s attention.”

Agatha snorted. “Is crime of passion even a real defense?”

Rio smiled happily. “Oh, totally. The cookies were the only thing I was living for,” She pointed at her self, her head tilting before pointing at Agatha, “before you took them away. And maybe…” She tapped her chin. “I had this wild idea that you and me, that we we’re in a relationship and I mean just look at yourself. I was obsessed with you. You caused me to have a mental break, I’m afraid.” She shrugged and took a sip of her drink sighing at the warmth. “It would be easy to create a case…” she leaned in as if sharing a secret. “You ever hook up with Kathy to get something sweet?”

Agatha took a sip of her tea shaking her head with a smile. “I’m not that desperate.”

Rio bit her lip, watching Agatha’s lips with interest, before replying. “Oh, I definitely have been.”

Agatha’s mouth fell open in shock. “You got with Kathy… “ She laughed. “She’s straight.”

Rio shrugged. “So is spaghetti until it gets… soaked.”

Agatha gasped. “That’s why you always get first priority for her cookies! Don’t think I haven’t noticed you always seem to come away with a box just about every time…”

Rio nodded happily like she was proud. “Oh, Kathy’s a freak. Kept me busy for a time, but alas, a distant memory now.” She looked Agatha up and down. “Don’t worry I’m all yours now, baby.”

Agatha shook her head, how was she going to keep up with this crazy thing. She avoided Rio’s gaze and scooted the paperwork in front of the younger woman. “I have an itinerary.”

Rio’s eyes flashed with excitement. “Oh, I love a good schedule.” She reached her hand out for the papers, quickly pouring over them. “Ah, not flying too early. That’ll be good. I can be sharp and on my game.” Her eyes continued to read, then when she was finished, she set the papers down. “Ground rules?”

Agatha leveled her gaze. “Don’t kill me.”

Rio stuck her tongue into her cheek, looking her up and down slowly. “Obviously.”

Agatha felt her heart rate speed up. “We’re… just for show.”

Rio nodded. “I’m a good actor,” She leaned in close as she smiled at Agatha, holding her eye contact before letting her eyes enjoy her once more, “you’ll enjoy my work.”