“I’m a bloody idiot,” Vanessa lamented.
“Stop being such a drama queen. I’m sure it wasn’t that bad.”
“You weren’t there! You didn’t see the look on her face. I don’t know what I was thinking.”
Daisy waggled her eyebrows. “I know what you were thinking.”
Vanessa took a spoonful of her ice cream and flung it at her. “Oi! Are you gonna be helpful, or just mock my pain?”
“I’m ready to help,” Oliver piped up from the nearby couch.
“Sorry Oliver, but I trust your opinion about as much as a potato’s. I’m here for Daisy’s advice.”
“Hey! I’m engaged aren’t I?”
“Yes, and I’d love to know how you worked that miracle.” Vanessa was glad Oliver made her friend happy, but she still resented him. Soon she’d be alone in this apartment because of him.
“Enough you two,” Daisy cut in. She turned towards Vanessa. “So, Angel left a few minutes early. That might have nothing to do with you.”
Vanessa shook her head. “I pried when I shouldn’t have. She’s paying for sex with no strings attached. That’s the point of a brothel, isn’t it? You get your rocks off without having to learn the other person’s name.” She could feel herself getting worked up and took a calming breath. “Dunno why I care. S’not like I’m that attached either.”
“Bullshit.” Daisy sharpened her gaze, as if she was staring through her. “There’s something you’re not telling us. Your auras been different since you came home yesterday.”
“I’m not even going to dignify that with an answer.” Daisy looked unimpressed. Vanessa groaned and covered her face with her hands. “Fine! We kissed… on the mouth.”
“What?!” Daisy said. “Who started it?”
“She did.”
“OH MY GOD HOW DID YOU NOT ALREADY TELL ME THIS.”
Oliver stared at the two women, utterly confused. “Are you not having sex as well?”
“She never kisses clients on the mouth. It’s an intimacy thing.”
“Yeah, it’s different,” Vanessa tried to explain. “It’s….,” she gave a deep exhale as she searched for the words.. Domestic. Tender. Loving. ,“sweet.” She hated the way she sounded. Pathetic. Desperate. Lonely.
“Vanessa, she obviously likes you!”
“Then why did she run away? Why’d she act like I was rabid? What if I offended her and made her uncomfortable? What if she doesn’t come back?”
“I think her issues are more with herself than with you. Do you think it’s possible she might not be as comfortable with her sexuality as you are? Maybe she’s just afraid of what she’s feeling.”
“That’s optimistic. You’re assuming she’s feeling anything.”
“You should ask her out as a friend. She might be more open with you in a non-sexual setting.”
Vanessa sighed. “Maybe. I just can’t tell what she’s thinking. The way that she looks at me sometimes I don’t know…” she trailed off. It’s like I’m precious, like I hung the stars.
-
To Vanessa’s immense relief, AJ returned the following week. She was wearing a silky, white dress that would have resembled angels robes if it hadn’t been so deliciously form fitting. Instead of her excited, bubbly self, she seemed nervous and hesitant upon her arrival. It reminded Vanessa of their initial rendezvous over two months ago.
She decided to start by clearing the air. “Angel, about last week, I’m sorry if…”
AJ gently pressed a manicured finger to her lips, and Vanessa’s words died in her throat. “I know what you are going to say, please don’t.” She dropped her hand from Vanessa’s mouth and walked further into the room. She pointed at the bag on the floor. “What’s this?” she questioned.
Vanessa wasn’t sure if she should be relieved or upset that she wouldn’t be giving the painstaking heartfelt apology she’d practiced in the mirror all week. “Uh, remember when I asked if I could draw you? Totally understandable if that’s not on the table anymore, but those are some of my art supplies.” Was it obvious that this was supposed to be romantic? Was romantic off limits now? She panicked. “You know, just to help practice the human form. I understand if you’d want this to be off the clock, or for me to pay you as a model, with this being educational for me and all.”
“No!” AJ said quickly, all of her earlier awkwardness disappearing. She looked excited. “I’d love to be your model! It’ll be fun to mix things up. Can I keep what you draw? We’ll say I’m commissioning you for a portrait!” She beamed.
“Sounds great, angel. Just give me a moment to set up.” Vanessa had an excuse to stare at the most beautiful woman she had ever seen, and she was getting paid for it! This had to be illegal. She thanked every deity she could think of and asked AJ to disrobe.
“Oh, will this be a nude portrait?” She said nervously.
“No, you prude,” Vanessa teased. “I’ll draw clothes on you. It’ll just be easier to get the lines of you if you’re naked.” It was only half a lie. Alright, maybe three quarters of a lie. “Just stand up straight for me.”
After half an hour, AJ was allowed to sit again. She moved toward Vanessa’s eisle. “No peeking till it’s finished! Also, this will be more of a sketch than a portrait. Don’t expect any complex shading in an hour.”
“I’m sure I’ll be happy with whatever you show me, darling.”
Vanessa furrowed her brow in concentration and continued moving her hands purposefully. Each stroke was dedicated to capturing the woman in front of her, and adding the additional details she’d envisioned. She worked until she was pleased with what she was holding. She hoped AJ would be as well. “Are you ready?” she said while turning the sketch pad around.
AJ’s mouth moved as if she was trying to form words, but nothing came out.
“Do you like it?” Vanessa asked, suddenly nervous. She thought it had turned out alright, but she was beginning to doubt herself. Why wasn’t AJ saying anything?
“I’m-- I’m an angel,” she stuttered, not taking her eyes off the drawing.
“I thought that was already common knowledge,” Vanessa quipped.
“That’s you,” AJ pointed at another figure in black. “I’m sheltering you with my wing.”
“Yeah.” Vanessa scratched the back of her neck. “I hope it’s alright I threw myself in there too.”
“Alright? Vanessa, this is positively stunning. I mean, it’s beautiful in that it’s realistic, but there’s also such a depth of emotion. You managed to convey profound trust and closeness and affection. You made these two creatures who are starkly different from each other find comfort in the other’s company…. I’m truly honored to be in it.”
Vanessa’s brain attempted a coherent response, but AJ had started speaking again.
“Have dinner with me.”
Vanessa’s open mouth snapped shut. “What? Are you being serious? I can’t tell if you’re being serious.”
“I’m being very serious. Why don’t we go now, I’m feeling rather peckish.”
Vanessa’s stomach did a backflip. “I’d love to angel, I really would, but I’m still on the clock.”
“Yes, I paid for this time,” she said matter of factly. “If Debra has issues with us grabbing dinner then she will have to take them up with me, not you.”
Vanessa loved when AJ took charge like that, and there was no way in hell she was going to miss this opportunity. “Just give me a minute to change.”
She slid easily out of the lace lingerie she was wearing, and slipped into her black rayon slacks. She buttoned up her white blouse and clasped a large red belt around her thin waist. AJ watched unashamedly the whole time. “Have I lost some of my charm now that I’m modest?” Vanessa said, mostly joking.
Her words snapped AJ out of her reverie, and she began blushing furiously. “On the contrary, after becoming a famous artist you should start a modeling career. You look phenomenal.”
Vanessa fought her own blush while putting on a pair of dark sunglasses.
“You’re wearing shades in the evening?”
“I’d rather not have the John’s recognize me when I’m going about my business. I know it’s not the best disguise, but I’d say it works about half the time.”
AJ nodded and offered her hand. Vanessa grabbed it, gently intertwining their fingers. She wondered if AJ could feel her erratic heartbeat through her fingertips.
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