The soft hum of the rain against the window filled the small apartment. Ellie sat cross-legged on the couch, tugging the hem of her oversized sweater down over her knees. A candle flickered on the coffee table, casting warm shadows across the room. She wasn't expecting company tonight, but the quiet made her restless.

Her phone buzzed. A single message lit up the screen:

You still awake?

Ellie smiled. It was Violet.

Yeah. You wanna come over?

The reply was almost instant.

I'm already outside.

Ellie laughed softly, padding to the door. When she opened it, Violet stood under the glow of the streetlight, hoodie damp from the rain, clutching a bottle of cheap wine.

"Hey," Violet said, eyes soft as they flickered over Ellie. "You didn't say no."

"I never say no to you."

Violet stepped inside, shaking the droplets from her hair. Ellie watched, heart stuttering in that familiar way it always did when Violet was close. They'd been dancing around this for months—something unspoken, electric, that neither of them had dared to name.

Violet set the wine down and turned, catching Ellie watching her. "You're staring."

"Maybe." Ellie leaned against the counter, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear. "It's hard not to."

Violet stepped closer, just enough that the scent of rain and something distinctly her filled Ellie's lungs. She hesitated, fingers brushing over Ellie's arm, tracing the curve of her elbow.

"You know you're beautiful, right?" Violet's voice was soft, but the weight of her words hung heavy in the air. "Like... ridiculously beautiful."

Ellie swallowed, her cheeks warming. "You always say that."

"Because it's true."

Ellie let out a shaky breath, eyes flicking to Violet's lips. It felt inevitable, the way the space between them disappeared. When Violet finally kissed her, it was slow, tentative, as if asking permission with every movement. Ellie melted, her hands sliding up to rest on Violet's shoulders.

The kiss deepened, fingers tangling in hair, bodies pressing closer. Ellie gasped as Violet's hand skimmed under the hem of her sweater, fingertips trailing against bare skin.

"Is this okay?" Violet whispered, lips brushing against Ellie's jaw.

Ellie nodded, pulling Violet tighter. "Yeah. Don't stop."

They stumbled to the couch, limbs entwining, breathing in sync. Ellie traced the lines of Violet's face, memorizing every detail in the dim light. Violet's touch was reverent, careful, like Ellie was something precious. And to Violet, she was.

Ellie arched as Violet's kisses trailed down the column of her neck, a low sigh escaping her lips. Violet's hand slid further beneath the sweater, tracing slow circles along her hip, inching higher. Ellie shivered, not from the cold, but from the anticipation pooling in her belly.

Violet paused, looking up at her with eyes darkened by want, but also something gentler. "I want you to feel good. Let me take care of you."

Ellie's breath hitched. "I want that too."

The sweater was pulled over her head, leaving Ellie bare to the flickering candlelight and Violet's gaze. Violet took her in with a quiet reverence, trailing kisses down her shoulder, across her collarbone. Ellie's hands slipped beneath Violet's hoodie, tugging it up and over until it joined the pile of clothes on the floor.

Their bodies pressed together, skin warm and slick, hearts pounding in unison. Ellie trembled beneath Violet's touch, every caress drawing soft whimpers from her lips. Violet took her time, exploring, memorizing every inch until Ellie was breathless and begging.

Their breaths mingled, the space between them dissolving completely. The rain outside faded to a distant murmur, and all that remained was the warmth of Violet's body against hers, the gentle rise and fall of their chests, and the whispered promises that lingered in the air long after their bodies stilled.