They stepped closer again and fell into another passionate lip-lock, even more probing and daring than the one downstairs, if such a thing was even possible, and then Lou’s hands found a way underneath Mia’s shirt, and she touched, she believed, the exact patch of skin she had seen exposed last Sunday when Mia had leaned back on the couch. And even if it wasn’t, in her head it was, and it was perfect. This moment was perfect, because they had only kissed and the excitement of the pleasure to come was running deep within her flesh, until the intensity of their kiss dropped and Lou remembered her responsibility.

This was her house, her room. Mia was her guest, but also her former tormentor. She had to give permission at every turn. Or did she? What would happen if she just let go? If she let things take their natural course, because between two people, there was always a natural order of things, and with Mia, Lou felt that to lead would go against her nature.

“Please,” she whispered. “Take charge.” She looked Mia in the eye, those dark wells of mystery and unexpected kindness and, tonight, anticipation.

Mia gave the tiniest of smiles followed by an almost imperceptible nod. She stepped closer so there was not a millimeter of space left between their bodies, forcing Lou’s hands to land on the small of her back. She brushed Lou’s hair away from her neck again and kissed her above the collarbone before making her way up to her lips again. Lou leaned her head back. This was touching of a totally different order than what she and Angie had engaged in at the end of their relationship. It was electric and maddening and of the kind of depth Lou didn’t think possible two people could reach on a first date.

But there she stood, trembling under Mia’s touch, wanting nothing more than her clothes to be torn off her. Her skin to be covered by Mia’s. Mia’s hands all over her. Because this was all about Mia. Even if her first date with Meredith hadn’t gone awry, Lou would never have gone this far with anyone else after a first shared meal together. This was only possible with Mia. As though the demons of her past could only truly be expelled this way and their memory was, at the same time, necessary to propel her into Mia’s arms.

When they broke from their kiss, Mia tugged at Lou’s bottom lip with her teeth, then smiled wickedly as she let go. Something had changed in her glance. Perhaps because of the permission Lou had granted her by bringing her up here and asking her to take charge.