Bette was sitting behind her desk at the CAC staring at the wall directly across from here. She had been at work for three hours now but had not moved the entire time she was there. The phone on her desk was ringing off the hook and more than once James had stuck his head in to make sure everything was okay. What a stupid question. Is everything okay? Nothing was okay. Bette felt like her heart had been ripped out and was being held out just out of arms length for her to watch as it was slowly drained of all its blood and feeling.

It had been two days since the night that would be stamped in her memory forever. She cringed as she remembered her encounter with Tina at home. The yelling and the hitting. The look of sheer rage and anger on Tinas face as she tried to do whatever she could to make Bette feel her pain. The pain of Tina biting her and even worse the pain when Tina forced her to ***** her. Out of desperation. She had fucked Tina out of desperation. There was no other way to put it.

Bette felt nauseated as she recalled how lost she had been when Tina found her in the shower that morning and how that feeling had turned to despair when Tina questioned her later that night. She would have done anything to take away Tinas pain and she wished to God she could have told Tina there was nothing going on with Candace. Bette remembered how hysterical Tina had been once Bette confirmed her suspicions and she wondered how long those feelings had been building up in her. However long, the boiling point had obviously been seeing Bette with Candace. *****. Candace.

Bette sighed as she thought about Candace. Every bone in her body told her that what she was doing, correction- had done, with Candace was wrong. Yet when it came right down to it Bette had succumbed to her desires. From the moment she laid eyes on Candace she knew she wanted her. It wasnt for the same reasons she loved Tina. She didnt love Candace. Candace could never replace Tina in her heart, but she wanted her nonetheless.

With Candace it was completely different from what she had with Tina. There was no emotion and love involved. It was purely sexual, physical, animal lusting. She desired and craved every inch of her and just being in close proximity to her made Bette wet. Hearing her voice, seeing her face, all things that drove Bette closer to the edge. Candace possessed some kind of power over Bette and when she was around Bette couldnt see straight. That morning when she let Candace ***** her brains out in the very office she sat in now she knew it was wrong. But she did nothing to stop it. It was the release she needed and Candace knew it.

BAM BAM BAM. The sound of someone knocking on the door pulled Bette back to the present.

WHAT!

The door opened and despite Bettes wishing she wasnt, there stood Candace.

Hey, I just came by to make sure everything is in order and to put some finishing touches on some of the displays.

Bette just sat there staring at Candace as she listened to her talk. Bette looked at her overalls and instantly wanted to rip them off her body and devour their hidden treasure. She looked at Candaces lips and licked her own lips remembering how sweet she tasted. Candaces eyes penetrated her very core and Bette knew she was already getting aroused just being in her presence and she hated herself for it. This is the woman who tore my marriage apart. No, this is the woman who allowed ME to tear MY marriage apart, thought Bette. She gave Candace a small smile and cleared her throat before responding.

Okay. Thank you.

Candace looked at her like she was trying to read her emotions as a small smile started to form and she raised one eyebrow slightly. She looked like she was going to speak but when Bette looked down at her desk and began to busy herself she thought better of it and turned to leave. She was about to turn and walk away when she changed her mind and shut the door instead. Bette looked up with a mixture of emotions playing across her face. Confusion, anger, pain and finally desire.

Candace walked over to Bettes desk and stood right across the desk from her. Bette sat up straight and looked at her with what she hoped was an unreadable expression. Her body was physically responding to Candace being in such close range to hers and she hoped her voice wouldnt betray her.

Was there something else?

Candace hesitated before answering. Candace could tell something was really bothering Bette and she had a good idea a lot of it had to do with her being there. She remembered seeing Bette and Tina at the opening and how Bette had managed to slip away to see her. This was not the same Bette who sat before her now. In a low and hushed voice she said,

Is everything okay?

Bette looked at Candace with such sadness in her eyes. Sadness because she was thinking about Tina and how much she had hurt the only woman she had truly loved. Sadness because she knew that she was the one who had let Candace get the better of her and it cost her so dearly. Sadness because she knew that she had to end things with Candace but at that moment all she wanted to do throw her down and do her right there on her desk. Sadness because as much as she didnt want to admit it, if she had never gotten caught she would have gone along ***** Candace until her world completely fell apart.

Tina found out.

The look in Candaces face almost made Bette feel bad for telling her. Candace looked shocked at first and then she saw it. Candace looked guilty. Candace had known about Bettes situation when she got involved with her and the reality of coming between Bette and Tina finally hit her. It wasnt like that night at the jailhouse when Candace was more taken by surprise when Tina introduced herself. That was different. That was before. Bette knew Candace felt bad for ruining her marriage and the fact that she showed it turned Bette on even more. She was like a drug and Bette was addicted.

Im sorry. Well, I guess I shouldnt take that job with her then huh?

Bette frowned as she remembered the fight she had with Tina about her wanting to hire Candace. Conflict of interest huh? thought Bette as she looked at Candace with regret.

I dont know. She probably doesnt want to see you right now. She definitely doesnt want to see me right now

She trailed off because she didnt feel right discussing her marital problems with the one person, other than herself, who had been the source of the problem. She also didnt want to talk about Tina with Candace because she felt like it was a worse betrayal than ***** her. She would never understand what Tina and I have, thought Bette as she continued to stare at Candace.

Deep down Bette knew that Candace would never compare to Tina, and although she was someone Bette could probably have a relationship with, she was not the one she wanted to grow old with. That was Tina, and it always would be. Candace was a mere toy for her to play with to get her mind off of whatever was bothering her. Bette didnt know if Candace had feelings for her, but she knew that if she let them develop things would only get worse. She decided to try and break it off right then and there.

Candace. Just saying her name sent a chill through Bettes body. Candace, I dont know what is going on between us, but it cannot continue.

Candace looked down at Bette with pain in her eyes as she replied, I know.

Bette looked at Candace hoping she would just turn and walk away because the longer she stood there the weaker Bette felt herself becoming. She knew at any moment she could just jump out of her chair into Candaces arms but something held her back. She had to be strong and fight her off if she was going to get Tina back. She needed to get Tina back and if that meant giving up Candace then it was a sacrifice she would just have to make.

Candace looked at Bette for a few more seconds before she turned and walked slowly towards the door. With one last look over her shoulder she said, Ill see ya around. She opened the door and as Bette sat there watching her walk away she began to cry. She cried harder than she ever had in her life and the worst part was Bette didnt know why she was crying. She knew that part of it was that she was finally releasing some emotion she had been holding in since Tina left, and part of it was her frustration with herself for giving in to Candace in the first place. But worst of all, Bette knew part of the reason she was crying was because Candace was walking out of her life. Forever.