Azima and Alisha
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Azima should not be allowed to eat ice cream in public.
That was all Alisha could think as she sat across the table and watched Azima, once again, lick both the top and the bottom of the spoon, making sure that she captured every speck of food from the utensil, before licking her own lips and then swallowing. Then she dipped the spoon back into the sundae and started the entire process again. Alisha wasn't sure how much time passed before Azima looked up, her eyes gleaming mischievously. "You are not enjoying your dessert?"
"Um," Alisha glanced down at her own sundae, which was now a puddle of melted chocolate peanut butter ice cream mixed with whipped cream and even a cherry. She had been looking forward to coming to the newly opened ice cream shop all week, changing her mind over and over again about which flavor she would pick. Yet, right now, she didn't care whether she ever ate ice cream again. She lifted the spoon, barely taking the ice cream. "It's delicious."
It just wasn't what she wanted.
Alisha shifted in her chair, wondering if she was brave enough to grab what she did want. She knew, well suspected, that eventually Azima would ask about sex. There was no need for Alisha to take the first step, she could simply wait. But Azima had been so very understanding of Alisha's request to take things slowly, so very respectful of the boundaries that Alisha placed on their relationship, that she might not make a move until next month or, worse, next year. Besides, if Alisha wanted this relationship to be like the one she enjoyed with Sarah, where they were both equal partners, she would need to stop playing such a passive role.
She was going to have to stop being afraid.
Alisha's mind wandered to Kara who, despite hating to cook and hating being domestic even more, was currently home learning how to make eggplant parmesan from Tex, of all people, because it was Danny's favorite meal and Kara wanted to make it for him as a surprise for his birthday. Wasn't that what a relationship was about? Putting yourself out there and taking risks? Even if, as Alisha was fairly certain would be the case for anything Kara cooked, it ended up a disaster?
Watching as Azima finished another spoonful of ice cream, Alisha spoke before she could second-guess herself. "Would you like to come to my place tonight for a glass of wine?"
The wrinkle of confusion that crossed Azima's face was not the reassuring yes that Alisha was hoping for. "A glass of wine? Is this ... " Azima paused, sitting up straighter, the seductive smile of a moment before disappearing. "I would like to clarify the nature of the invitation."
Alisha felt herself relax. Having been raised in a more structured society, Azima tended to prescribe more meaning to off-the-cuff comments than Alisha would expect. "I am inviting you to join me at my apartment for a glass of wine." Screwing up her courage, she continued. "And, if that goes well, perhaps you can spend the night. With me. In my bed."
Just like that, the seductive smile was back, and Azima took another spoonful of ice cream. So she had been doing that on purpose. "You are proposing that we skip ahead to step eight?"
"Step five?" Alisha echoed. "Step eight of what?"
"Lieuten...Danny has explained the steps to me," Azima explained, her spoon waving as she spoke. "The first step is making contact. The second step is informal dates, such as asking the other party if they would like to drink coffee together. If successful, step 3 is asking the other party for an official date, to be held at night at a restaurant. If this goes well, step 4 is to offer to pick up and drop off the other person, at which time a goodnight kiss may be permitted. Step 5 is...
"And ... Danny told you these rules?" Alisha asked, cutting Azima off. Because the idea that Danny, of all people, directing some sort of playbook was absurd. Now if Carlton had fed Azima that pile of crap, Alisha would believe it.
"Yes," Azima confirmed, before clarifying. "He was speaking to young Eric at the time but, since Danny successfully courted and married a woman I esteem, I adopted his suggested steps over those proposed by Carlton and Wolf." Azima paused. "Danny did indicate that there are exceptions in situations where the only planned activity is sex. However, as we both hope for a longer relationship, I did not want to mess it up, as young Eric appears to be doing."
Knowing that screaming right now would give Azima the wrong idea, and touched that the other woman had put so much thought into the pattern of their dates, Alisha reached across the table to take Azima's hand. "Just so you know, Danny and Kara did exactly zero of those steps."
"I did find that curious and so I asked," Azima admitted, turning her hand so that she could stroke her fingers across the sensitive spot in Alisha's wrist. "Danny said that he was not willing to take the risk of losing Kara by waiting and therefore was required to use an alternative pathway. I found this answer to be quite satisfactory."
"Also, you shouldn't listen to anything Carlton says about dating," Alisha continued.
Azima actually rolled her eyes. "That has been made quite clear from the manner in which both Danny and Wolf respond to all Carlton's suggestions."
Deciding that, ultimately, she didn't care what nonsense Danny or Carlton or Wolf or anyone was spouting, Alisha smiled. "Well, I have no rules about dates. My question stands, would you like to come over to my place tonight?"
"Yes, indeed."
