Page 83 of Semantics

Violet Russell: See you at nine.

Violet lay down minutes later and took a long nap. When she woke up, she found her phone charging on her table and noticed that it was after seven. She’d put it on do-not-disturb so that she could sleep and just now noticed another couple of messages from Stella. She couldn’t make them out through the notification on her lock screen, and she was worried that Stella would be canceling until she opened her messages app.

Stella Ross: My dinner got canceled. Jen found herself a hot date on some app.

Stella Ross: Want to come over early? Like, whenever. Like, now, if you want.

That message had come in at six-forty-five, and it made her smirk because Stella definitely wanted her to come over tonight.

Violet Russell: Just saw your messages. I was taking a nap. Let me get changed, and I’ll be right over. Should I bring anything other than myself in a business suit with heels?

She expected Stella to say something about her bringing the dildo Stella had used on her here because she knew that was Violet’s favorite toy, or that she’d suggest that she bring an overnight bag. She waited a minute, and when Stella’s response didn’t arrive right away, she got up and started packing a bag with the dildo and harness inside and found a free pack of lube that had come with the toy. She’d never used the free sample, but the package it came in said it was meant to enhance her pleasure, so Violet tucked it into the pocket of her overnight bag just as Stella’s text came in.

Stella Ross: Do you have any good wine over there? I’ve got some basic stuff, but if you have something better, bring that. Red, if you have it.

“Oh, she’s got something planned, doesn’t she?” Violet asked herself, picturing Stella maybe sipping wine from her belly button or something.

Stella Ross: Oh, and a bag. Bring a bag. You wanted to come all night long. You’ll need to stay over for me to make that happen.

Violet laughed at that and headed out of her room once she had everything she needed. She stopped by the living room and told Arlowe and Enya where she was going.

“Have fun on your date,” Enya said.

“What date? She looks like she’s going to a networking event sponsored by LinkedIn,” Arlowe remarked.

“It’s not a date.” Violet chuckled. “I’m going to Stella’s, but it’s not a date. Do we have any good red wine?”

“No,” Enya said. “We have decent red wine, though.”

“In the pantry,” Arlowe added. “I saw a bottle in there when I was grabbing chips earlier.”

“Thanks.”

She grabbed her bottle of wine, left her pain-in-the-ass friends on one of the two couches in their living room, and set out to prove to herself that she only wanted sex from Stella Ross.

CHAPTER 24

Stella opened the door and took Violet in.

“Fuck. You look sexy,” she said. “I was right to suggest the heels.”

Violet smiled and asked, “Can I come in?”

“Yeah. Sorry.”

She moved out of the way to let Violet walk inside and smiled at the fact that Violet was carrying a bag.

“Let me get that for you,” she said, taking it from her. “I’ll take it to the bedroom for you. Have a seat.”

“A seat?” Violet asked.

“Yeah, in the kitchen. I’ll be right back.”

“Um… Okay,” Violet replied. “Where do you want the wine? Bedroom?”

“No, that would also go to the kitchen. There’s a corkscrew in the drawer with the silverware. You know where that is, right?”

“Yes. But why am I not going to your bedroom?” Violet asked.