Chapter Text
Rio’s first stop before dinner was to her office to change her clothes.
“Are you sure?” Agatha ran her gaze appreciatively along Rio’s legs, bared by her skirt, and the sharp cut of her blazer as she followed Rio inside the cramped room. “Because I like you in that outfit.”
“I feel like I’m playing dress up.” To Agatha’s shock, Rio yanked down the zipper of her skirt right there in the middle of her office, the material pooling at her feet as she kicked off her heels.
Agatha caught a glimpse of toned thighs, a flash of another tattoo on Rio’s right thigh, and a hint of black lace before she whirled around to face the wall. “Rio! Anyone could walk past and see you half naked!”
“Well, I’m not shy.” There was the sound of rustling fabric, and Agatha tried very hard not to wonder if Rio’s bra matched her underwear. “And it’s late. No one else will be in here.”
“I am in here.”
“And you don’t wanna see me naked?”
Agatha wanted to so much that she was all but vibrating with the need to turn on her heel, back Rio up against her desk, and drop to her knees between Rio’s thighs. “I didn’t say that. But this isn’t exactly how I imagined it.”
“You’ve imagined it?” Rio’s voice turned low, husky, the same tone she’d used the very first time they’d spoken on the phone. Footsteps approached, Rio’s hands settling on Agatha’s waist and her mouth close to Agatha’s ear. “How many times?” Her fingers curled into Agatha’s hip and tugged her so that her back was pressed against Rio’s front—thankfully, she was still wearing a shirt. “And, most importantly—how was I?”
“Should I be offended that you haven’t imagined it?” Deflection was safer than answering, than admitting that she’d dreamed of Rio’s lips against her skin, that she’d touched herself more than once with Rio on her mind.
“Oh, I’ve imagined it.” Rio pressed the ghost of a kiss to the skin beneath Agatha’s ear. “So many times. How you’d feel, how you’d sound, how you’d taste.”
Agatha’s breath hitched, eyes fluttering closed as Rio’s warm breath washed over the skin of her neck. “I think we should get out of here right now,” she said, not recognizing the timber of her voice—rough, wrecked, wanting in a way she didn’t think she’d ever felt before. “Because if you keep talking, I’m going to let you find out exactly how I taste right here, right now.”
“Tempting,” Rio said, fingers flexing on Agatha’s skin, “but the walls are glass, and I don’t want anyone other than me seeing you like that.”
She stepped away, and Agatha drew in a deep breath, able to breathe easier without Rio’s hands on her.
When she turned, she found Rio dressed in jeans and a faded Nirvana tee, her skirt, blouse and blazer slung over the back of her desk chair.
“Mind if I grab my bag from my office before we go?” Agatha could have gotten it while Rio changed, but she hadn’t wanted to leave her—and despite her racing heart and weak knees, she was glad she’d stayed.
“Sure thing.”
They walked together, shoulders brushing, Rio telling her about the rest of her week and how nervous she’d been for her talk.
“I mean it when I said you did great, though,” Agatha said, as she shouldered open the door to the Geography department, tangling her fingers with Rio’s to squeeze her hand. “And now that it’s done with, you don’t—”
Turning the corner to her office, Agatha froze when she saw two people standing in the hall. It was late—much too late for anyone to still be lurking on a Friday night, and Agatha hadn’t expected to cross paths with anyone.
Certainly not Jennifer Kale—her sharp gaze taking in Agatha and Rio, the way they walked close together, the easy smile on Rio’s mouth, their joined hands—and Lilia Calderu, the history department chair and one of the few people Agatha respected on this campus.
“Little late for a department meeting, isn’t it, ladies?” Agatha tried to keep her tone as neutral as possible, releasing her grip on Rio’s hand and shifting to stand a half-step in front of Rio like she could hide her from Jen’s scrutiny. “Without me, no less.”
“Shockingly, Agatha, the world doesn’t revolve around you.” Jen’s gaze hadn’t dropped from Rio. “I know that might be hard for you to believe.”
“Play nice, Jen.” Lilia was used to hearing them bicker, but she was yet to tire of chastising them for it. “We were just having a discussion about the syllabus for Jen’s classes this upcoming semester, Agatha.”
“You don’t have better things to do on a Friday evening?” Agatha arched an eyebrow. “I know I’m a workaholic, but come on.”
“Well, we can’t always find a student to hang out with instead.” Jen’s lips quirked into a mocking smile as she finally switched her gaze to Agatha. “Please don’t tell me she’s the one who left those things outside your office.”
Fury surged through Agatha like a tidal wave. She hated the look of judgment on Jen’s face. “Like I told you at the time, Jen—it’s none of your fucking business.”
“Are you having a midlife crisis?”
“Jen.” Lilia shot Jen an annoyed look. “Agatha’s right—her personal life is none of our business.”
In her fifteen years as a professor at Westview, Agatha had kept her private life exactly that—private. She and Rio were barely anything, but her boss was aware of it.
“It is if she’s dating a student,” Jen muttered.
For the first time, Rio spoke up. “I’m twenty-nine and in the Biology department, asshole.”
Despite Agatha’s mortification, the absurdity of the situation made a laugh bubble in her chest that she was too slow to choke back.
Jen scoffed. “Wow, I can see why she likes you—you’re just like her. A match made in heaven.”
Lilia clicked her tongue. “Come on, Jen. Let’s continue our conversation elsewhere and leave Agatha to her evening.”
Blessedly, Jen followed Lilia down the hall toward Lilia’s office, leaving Agatha free to step into her own. She approached the bag behind her desk but paused there, fingers pressed to the bridge of her nose.
Rio hovered awkwardly in the doorway. “Are you okay?”
“I… yes.” Agatha sighed. “It’s just… I don’t do this kind of thing at work. I keep my work life and my home life separate. My colleagues barely know my last name, let alone my dating history.” Agatha groaned. “God, Jen’s going to be insufferable after this.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Why?” Agatha dropped her hand to her side. “It’s not your fault I got complacent.”
Rio winced. “Complacent? Is it so bad that they know about me?”
“You don’t understand, Rio. They met Ralph maybe… two or three times over the course of our marriage. Now they’ve met you and we’re not even in a relationship.”
“We could be.”
“What?!”
Rio shrugged. “We could be in a relationship, if you wanted to be. I’m certainly not interested in dating anyone else. Are you?”
“I—no.” Agatha didn’t really understand how they’d gotten onto this topic. “Obviously not.”
“Okay. Then why don’t we make things exclusive? Is it better that your colleagues just met your new girlfriend rather than the woman you’ve been out with a few times? And so what if they barely met Ralph? It doesn’t sound like you should be comparing us to your marriage with him. What you did last time didn’t work out—maybe it’s time you changed things.”
“This has to be the worst way anyone’s ever been asked to be someone’s girlfriend.” But Agatha was stuck on that word—girlfriend—on the fact that Rio didn’t want to be with anyone other than her. “But I suppose you have a point. I don’t want to repeat my past mistakes. But I also don’t want my colleagues all up in my business. Especially when they don’t know the details of my divorce.”
“So tell them. Or don’t. But I’d really like to come and visit my hot girlfriend in her office from time to time,” Rio said, advancing the few short steps to Agatha. “And maybe do this while I’m here…” She cupped Agatha’s cheeks and kissed her softly. “So if you could be okay with that, that would be great.”
Agatha laughed, some of the tension seeping from her shoulders beneath Rio’s touch. “It isn’t my intention to hide you, Rio. I’m just not used to this.”
“Me either.” Rio’s hands slid down to Agatha’s hips. “But how about we figure it out together?”
“Okay.” Agatha was about to lean up on her toes to kiss Rio again, when Rio’s stomach gave a loud rumble. “Come on. Let’s get you some food.”
* * *
“I am not getting on that thing.” Agatha stared at Rio’s motorcycle with her hands settled on her hips. “It’s a death trap.”
Rio’s eyes sparkled, her lips turned up into a teasing grin. “You don’t trust that I’m a good driver?”
“I don’t trust other drivers,” Agatha corrected. “As a general rule. At least in a car you’re more protected from other people’s idiocy. But this...” She shook her head. “No.”
“I promise I’ll go slow. And I’ll be careful.” Rio added a suggestive lilt to her words that made Agatha raise her eyebrows. “Come on. You’ll get to hold onto me the whole time…”
Agatha had to admit that made it more tempting. But… “I am not leaving Nicky without a mother.”
“I promise it’ll be fine, Agatha. And it’ll be so much easier to park than if you drive!” Rio tried to offer Agatha her spare helmet for the second time, a ridiculous pout on her mouth. “Do you want me to beg? I don’t usually, but for you I’ll make an exception.”
“Rio…”
“Fuck, I like it when you say my name like that.” Rio dragged her teeth over her bottom lip. “Like it’s a warning.”
“It is.”
“Please, Agatha?” Rio’s tone turned pleading, and she honest to God batted her eyelashes. “It’ll be okay. I won’t let anything happen to you.”
Agatha had a ten-year-old child at home. She was not unaccustomed to pleas, or to puppy dog eyes. It did not work when Nicky tried it—so why did she immediately want to cave into Rio’s demands?
Because Nicky doesn’t have you wrapped around his little finger the way Rio does, a voice whispered in the back of Agatha’s skull.
She sighed. “Fine. But if you crash, I will kill you.”
It was worth it for the delighted smile that crossed Rio’s face as she pressed the helmet into Agatha’s hands. “You’ll love it, honestly. Here, I have a spare jacket, too. Put it on, it’ll keep you warm.”
Agatha pulled on the jacket over her own coat, zipping it under her chin and trying to ignore the way it smelled of Rio. She tied her hair up—it would be a mess by the time they arrived otherwise—and fastened the helmet under her chin, sure she looked ridiculous.
But Rio’s eyes were appraising as they took her in, admiring Agatha wearing her clothes. “You look so sexy like that.”
Agatha tapped the top of Rio’s helmet. “Get your mind focused on the road, Vidal. You promised not to crash.”
Rio lifted her hand in a salute. “Yes, professor.”
Agatha narrowed her eyes, but allowed Rio to store her bag in the box on the back of the bike before they both climbed on.
Immediately, Agatha felt ill-at-ease. Just one wrong move, and they could tilt—she could be trapped beneath the bike, or they could skid off the road, or—
“Relax,” Rio said, hesitating before turning the ignition. “Just put your arms around me.” She guided Agatha’s arms around her waist, unperturbed when Agatha held on tight, probably squeezing some of the air from her lungs. “Ready?”
“Ready,” Agatha breathed, her chin resting on Rio’s shoulder.
Still, she wasn’t prepared for the bike to shudder to life between her thighs, for the noise of it bouncing around her skull, and she reflexively tightened her hold on Rio.
But Rio didn’t complain as she eased them out of the parking lot and onto the street lead out of Westview campus. It was clear she knew what she was doing, but Agatha still couldn’t fully relax, even as the wind started to whip through her hair.
Thankfully, their journey didn’t take them too long—Rio eased them to a stop after fifteen minutes, tucking her bike into a space on a side street in downtown Westview.
She wisely chose not to comment on the wobbly nature of Agatha’s knees as she eased herself back onto solid ground.
“There. That wasn’t so bad, was it?”
Agatha shot Rio a look as she yanked the helmet off her head. “Well, you didn’t kill me, so that’s a positive. But I don’t see how that’s an enjoyable mode of transport.”
“Cheaper to maintain than a car. Plus, it’s fun!” Rio unclipped her own helmet, her hair mussed from the wind, eyes bright and sparkling in the night air. “You didn’t enjoy it even a little bit?”
“No.”
Rio grinned. “Liar.”
Agatha kept Rio’s jacket on as she was led toward a nearby bar, enjoying how it felt to be draped in something of hers.
“You brought me to a dive bar?” Agatha asked as Rio pressed open the door. Inside, it was dark and crowded, the sound of raucous laughter reaching Agatha’s ears mixed with the rock music thumping through the speakers. “This is your idea of a good date?”
“It’s my idea of good food.” Rio weaved through the initial clamor of people surrounding the bar towards the back of the room, which opened out into tables and a handful of booths against the back wall. “Best burgers around in here, trust me.”
Agatha wasn’t convinced, but allowed Rio to lead her to an empty table. At least back here, the music wasn’t as loud, meaning Agatha wouldn’t have to shout to get Rio’s attention. The menu was limited, with only three burgers listed, but Agatha supposed a place like this probably didn’t have the biggest kitchen.
“You have to go to the bar to order,” Rio said, when Agatha set her menu down. “What do you want?”
“Whatever you usually have, if it’s the best.”
“And to drink?”
“I’ll let you choose that, too.”
“That’s a lot of pressure.” Rio eased herself to her feet. “You sure you trust me?”
“I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t.” Agatha caught Rio’s gaze, the words softer than she intended, but no less meaningful.
And it was worth it when Rio pressed a kiss to her lips as she passed Agatha on the way to the bar.
Left alone, Agatha scanned her eyes around the room. She was definitely overdressed—she was glad for Rio’s jacket hiding the floral blouse beneath—and at least ten years older than the patrons sitting at the other tables.
It didn’t bother her, though. She wasn’t one to feel self-conscious, and the fact that Rio was the one she was there with—that Rio had chosen her—was enough to make Agatha feel like she belonged anywhere.
When Rio dropped back into the seat opposite Agatha, she passed a glass of red wine across the table. “The bartender promised me it was their best.”
Agatha took a sip and tried not to wince.
Of course Rio noticed. “Ouch. That bad, huh?”
“It’s fine.” Agatha glanced at the bottle of Coke in Rio’s hand. “Not feel like a beer?”
“Not when I have a very beautiful woman to drive home after this.”
Agatha raised an eyebrow as she set her glass down, resting her hand in the palm of her hand. “And who says I’m ever getting on that bike again? Maybe I’ll get an Uber back home.”
“And miss the chance to be wrapped around me again? I’m disappointed, Agatha.”
“Or, we could both get an Uber,” Agatha said, daring to slip her foot out of her flats to run along Rio’s calf. “And you could wrap yourself around me in the backseat.” Agatha had the gratification of Rio swallowing the next sip of her drink the wrong way, spluttering as her cheeks tinged pink. “Isn’t that a much more interesting proposition?”
“It, um.” Another cough. “It sure is.”
“I like seeing you like this.”
“Like what?”
Agatha’s foot pressed harder against Rio’s calf. “Well, you’re usually so unflappable, so confident and sure of yourself… it’s nice to know I can get under your skin. Nice to know I have an effect on you.”
“You definitely do,” Rio breathed, a tremble in her fingers as she set her bottle down. “It’s all an act, you know. The confidence. I don’t feel all that put-together most of the time.”
Though Agatha had seen some of Rio’s nerves earlier that evening, the admission surprised her. “Even with your clients? Because the version of you that I saw that night at your place…” Agatha trailed off, remembering Rio’s hands all over her with a shiver.
“I told you, it’s like a performance. Like I’m playing the role of confident woman number one. But you put me in front of an attractive older woman with great hair and an even better smile and I will turn completely to mush.”
“I bet you meet loads of those.”
“No, actually.” Rio’s eyes held hers. “They’re pretty rare. But when I find one, I don’t let them go easily.” Rio reached beneath the table to catch Agatha’s ankle the next time it ascended her calf, maneuvering her foot so her heel rested between Rio’s parted thighs on her chair. Her thumbs snuck beneath the hem of Agatha’s slacks to rub at the bare skin of her own calf, and Agatha let out a breath. “But speaking of confidence… you’re coming across pretty well for someone who hasn’t done this in a while.”
Until Rio touched her.
And then every ounce of Agatha’s composure fled her body entirely.
“Maybe you’re not the only one who’s a good actress.” She managed to force the words out without moaning as Rio’s fingers moved higher up her calf.
Rio’s fingers stilled. “You feel like you have to put on an act with me?”
Okay, that had not been what Agatha had meant at all. At least, not in the way Rio had taken it. “No. Not an act, just… I don’t know. You do make me feel confident, when you look at me like that.” Rio’s ministrations resumed, kneading a knot with her thumbs. “When you touch me like that.” She swallowed, and Rio’s eyes watched her throat bob. “I guess I just have to censor myself more than usual so my first thought doesn’t come flying out.”
“Oh?” Rio’s voice had lowered. “And what’s the first thing that comes to mind right now?”
Agatha had always been good at rising to a challenge, and she leaned toward Rio over the top of the table—it shifted her foot so that for a fleeting second, it pressed to the apex of Rio’s thighs before she pulled it away, but even that fleeting contact was enough for Agatha to feel the blistering heat of Rio, even through her jeans. “That if you keep touching me like that, I might have to drag you to the bathroom and ask you to get on your knees for me.”
“Fuck.” Rio’s eyes met her own, her breathing harsh and her pupils blown wide, and Agatha was seconds away from saying fuck it, grabbing Rio’s wrist and yanking her to her feet and—
“Hi!” A cheery voice interrupted, and Agatha turned her head, still a little dazed, to find a server standing by the side of their table balancing a plate in either hand. “I’ve got two everything burgers with fries?”
Rio was the first one to recover. “Yes, thank you.”
Agatha slid her foot back into her shoe, trying to calm her racing heart as the food was set in front of her. If only her stomach was still the only part of her that was hungry…
She shook her head and took a gulp of her terrible wine as she watched Rio shove three fries into her mouth.
“Do you always eat like that, or are you just trying to be done as quickly as possible?”
Mercifully, Rio swallowed before she answered—at least she had some table manners. “I like food, Agatha, what can I say. And it’s good. Try it.”
Taking a bite of her own burger, Agatha had to agree. The meat was tender, cooked to perfection, the lettuce crunchy and the burger sauce tangy on her tongue.
Rio watched her, waiting for her reaction. “So?”
“It’s passable.”
“Passable? Come on. It’s the best burger you’ve ever had, right?”
“I wouldn’t go that far, but it’s better than I thought it would be, I’ll admit.” And the fries were good, too, crispy and well-seasoned. All in all, Agatha didn’t have many complaints—other than about the wine.
Rio wasn’t as talkative when she was eating—too busy trying to clear her plate in record time—so Agatha let her attention wander, landing on the darts board over Rio’s shoulder and the couple who were playing there.
After a minute of Agatha watching, Rio turned her head to see what she was looking at. “You play?”
“Not since my college days, when I spent a lot of my time in places like this.”
“Oh, so the great Agatha Harkness wasn’t always too high and mighty to set foot in a dive bar?” Rio teased, polishing off her last two fries and then licking her fingers clean in a highly distracting manner.
“Twenty years ago, maybe. Now? Not so much.”
“You’re having fun though, aren’t you? Admit it.”
“Yes. But that’s more down to the company than anything else.” Rio’s pleased smile made anything even vaguely vulnerable Agatha said worth it.
“You want to play a game?” Rio asked, jerking her thumb toward another dartboard that was free. “For old time’s sake? That is, only if you can handle losing—I’m pretty good at it, if I do say so myself.”
“How do you know I’m not just as good?”
“After a twenty-year break?” Rio raised an eyebrow. “Alright. Let’s go.” Rio tossed a few notes on their table to cover the food and a tip before leading Agatha over to the board. “Shall we make it interesting? Have a little wager?”
“After you just suggested you were going to wipe the floor with me?” Rio merely wiggled her eyebrows. “Very well, then. What do you want if you win?”
Rio pursed her lips, considering as she pulled the darts free. “You let me take you down the coast on my bike.”
It wasn’t the most unappealing thing Rio could have said, but it was far from the least. With a reluctant sigh, Agatha nodded. “Fine.”
“And what do you want if you win?” Rio gave a few testing throws of the darts, getting her eye in—all of them nestled close to the treble twenty. She handed them over to Agatha for her to practice with a smirk.
Cocky.
Agatha had to admit it was working for her.
But she liked winning. And based on what she’d seen, Rio could probably beat her blindfolded.
Unless…
“If I win,” Agatha said, throwing her first one—it landed in the board, thankfully, but on a three. Nowhere near good enough. “Then you come home with me tonight.”
Well, that silenced Rio just fine, the smirk sliding off her face. “As in…”
“As in, I’ll let you drive me home on your ridiculous bike.” A thud as Agatha threw her next dart, this one sticking in the twelve. “Then I’ll invite you inside.” She threw her third—wincing when it landed in the one. At least she was getting closer to the twenty. “And I’ll show you the inside of my bedroom. And you can put that pretty mouth of yours to good use.”
Rio’s swallow was audible.
“So?” Agatha turned to Rio, the darts re-gathered into her hand. “Do you accept my terms?”
“I—yeah. Yeah.”
“Great.” Agatha handed the darts over. “You can go first.”
All three of Rio’s darts landed in the one.
With a laugh, Agatha turned to glance at her. “You have to try, Rio.”
“I am trying.” Rio blinked at her, the picture of innocence.
“To win?”
Rio’s lips quirked. “I think whatever happens tonight I’m winning.”
Agatha was rusty, but she grew into it—enough that after the first couple of rounds, Rio actually did start to try, hitting the occasional double or treble.
She still ensured Agatha won, though, missing each of the doubles she had the chance to take victory with.
“Oh no,” Rio deadpanned, as Agatha landed her elusive double five to win the game. “I lost. Whatever will I do.”
“We could always do best two out of thre—”
“Nope.” Rio cut Agatha off, and wrapped a gentle hand around her waist. “You won fair and square. Now let’s get out of here.”
“Someone’s eager,” Agatha said, smug that her plan had worked as they stepped out into the cool night air.
Rio turned to look at her, giving Agatha a once-over. “Can you blame me? Look at you.” She tugged Agatha close, hands dropping to her thighs. “You look incredible. This jacket might have to stay on…”
“Well, it’s definitely staying on until we get back to mine.” Agatha yanked the zipper back up to her chin. “It’s freezing.”
“I can think of a few ways to warm you up…” Rio leaned in close.
Agatha halted her progress with a hand against her sternum. “Not here, Rio.” She tapped her finger against her collarbone. “Take me home.”