Love Revisited – Coming Home Part 12


Previously

Tina took Bettes hand and began to lead her down the hall to the bedroom. I need to lie down, and I want you there next to me.

Bettes mind was reeling – Im dreaming, I know it. I just freakin know it. Move feet, move. Come on, damn it, move! Whats so difficult? Its a dream, I can do anything in a dream. Okay, I feel it, left foot step, right foot step. No, wait! Im floatingthats it Im floating! Look at me!

Tina turned, corners of her mouth upturned in the sweetest grin. Babe, how many times do I have to explain this to you – you HAVE to breathe


Tina turned once again – now the biggest smile adorning her face – and led Bette to their bed.

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Of course, Bette had been in and out of their bedroom hundreds of times since Tina left that night. She needed to get her clothes, use the master bath. She just couldnt bring herself to sleep in that bed.

It took about two weeks after Tina stormed out that night before she could strip the bed and then neatly remake it. She remembered that day very clearly. She was on her way to take a shower, stopped and looked around the room and realized it was like looking at a photograph with everything frozen in time. Even Tinas dress that she had so savagely torn off her still lay on the floor. Like a crime scene victim, only the body was missing.

First the echo of Tina slapping her with brute force across her face, followed by the echoes of their screaming at one another pierced Bettes memory – and then Tina bit her on her left breast like a threatened animal marking its territory with the invisible words THIS IS MINE AND ALL WHO SEE THIS MARK WILL KNOW! And thenthe violent *****. Bette squeezed her eyes shut willing the memories back into the vault way back in ones mind where you put those things you just dont want to think about.

I deserve all the pain and anguish Im feeling, she thought, but please, dear God, muddy the memories of that night. Please.

Tonight I change the bed and straighten this room up – no more delaying it. But I cannot sleep in that bed.

That evening, Bette held good her promise to strip and remake the bed, then straighten the room. Now, when she looked at it from the bathroom doorway, the frozen image of that night was gone – it looked like a bedroom waiting for its owners to come home – Except the images and the sounds were still in Bettes mind tormenting her and constantly reminding her of the very worst moment in her life.



Tina led Bette by the hand to their bedroom. She stopped at the doorway, turned to Bette and mouthed, Come on, tilting her head to the interior of the room.

Tina was headed to what was her side of the bed. Bette behind her thinking, when did the mudslide happen? I cant walk through this stuff – every step paining her calves as she pushed forward.

And then they were there. Tina still had Bettes hand but dropped it, turned and sat on the bed. She patted the spot next to her and looked at Bette. Sit. Bette complied almost as if she were an automaton responding to her mistresss voice. Talk to me, baby. Tell me what youre feeling.

Im afraid, T.

Afraid of what?

Of hurting you as I did that night.

You mean by having an affair again?

NO!! The force I used in ***** on this bed.

I had a part in that, Bette.

But Im the one who cheated. I was the reason you acted as you did. I broke your heart. I fucked up.

Babe, we cant change or even alter what happened that night. Weve got to move forward if we want this to work.

I dont deserve you, T.

Then what am I doing here? That remark caused an immediate reaction in Bette. She stared right at Tina.

If you dont deserve me, why should we bother mending or healing or even trying. If you dont deserve me, then lets just cut our losses now and move on. This sounded harsh, Tina knew that, but she had to use some amateur shock therapy to get Bette to see why they had to get passed this point. Bette had to climb out of this pit of self-deprecation she was wallowing in. Tina was reaching in to help pull her out, but would Bette take her hand?

Bette, do you really love me as much as youve told me you do?

Yes, yes, I do. Bette was beginning to tear up Youve got to believe me, T.

Do you believe me when I say I love you?

Yes.

Well, guess what, Ms. Porter, I ***** deserve you and deserve the love you feel for me. And if you cant reciprocate that feeling, we need to redefine what this is were trying to save here. Were you willing to fight for me, willing to work and continue to work on change within yourself so you could be a better person, both for yourself and towards me?

Yes, I would do anything to have you back in my life again.

Well? Tina questioned. She saw a little spark of recognition in Bettes eyes and saw her slightly squint them as if processing a thought.

When you put it that way, I guess I do deserve you – No, no guessing – I know I deserve you.

Thank you! Tina thought, and in her minds eye she reached down her hand and watched as Bette grabbed hold. Thank you.

Okay, now we know we ***** deserve one another. And thats a good thing.

Right, T, it is.

Weve got about 2.5 hours before we need to meet Kit and the girls at The Planet. Lie down next to me and lets take a nap for an hour or so, okay?

Sounds great, T. Bette walked around the bed and lay down next to Tina.

Bette placed her hand on Tinas hip. She was staring at the ceiling, her eyelids heavy and just before nodding off, Howd you get so smart, Ms. Kennard?


A little over an hour later, they both woke. Sometime during the nap Bette had turned on her side facing away from Tina. She felt Tina stir beside her. This is surreal, she thought, ***** surreal. For six months after Tina walked out the only time Bette was near this bed was to remake it. From that day to this it stood in the center of this room, not as a bed for rest and love but as a dark, cold headstone bearing the inscription: In Memory of What Died Here Tonight. At times it seemed as if those words were seared in flashing neon burning them even deeper into her mind.

And NOW, this moment? Tina is lying next to her, just as she had done for 7.5 years. With an unperceivable nod of her head, she murmured, ***** unbelievable. That knowledge, however, didnt stop her from reaching behind and carefully – this was the arm with the heavy cast – and touching Tina, her purple fingertips just grazing the belly sheltering their daughter. Just to confirm, she thought, just making sure this wasnt a dream.

Oh, Christ, Tina, is nude.when did that happen?

Ummhey, baby. I conked. Have a nice nap?

Yeah, T. Ahh, when did you lose your clothes?

Right after you went into na-na land – which was about thirty seconds after your head hit the pillow.

Guess all that processing knocked me out, eh? They both smiled. Bette turned so she was facing Tina.

Bette, baby, take your clothes off.

GulpAre you sure, T, herein this bed, both of ustogether Bettes nervousness was causing her to sputter.

Yes, here – now – take them off.

Bette got up from the bed and stepped back.

Stay right there, babe. I want to watch you undress. Just let the clothes drop to the floor. Dont move from that spot.

Bette was feeling a bit shaky – a BIT? Ah, I dont think so – it felt more like the tectonic plates holding her body together were shifting. Okay, Porter, youve undressed in front of Tina thousands of times. Her top came off. It fell to the floor. Forget where youre standing – forget its this bed – FOCUS. Then her bra, her pants and panties fell. Can Tina see her quaking? There was a heat wafting off of Tinas body. Bette could feel it, she could smell it. Its the scent of want, of desire. Bette could feel her nervousness dissipate and the stir of her need and want take its place.

Tinas eyes were scanning Bettes body. Shes definitely thinner but, nonetheless, a gorgeous creature, she thought. Her internal temperature of lust for Bette began rising expontentially as each piece of Bettes clothing fell. Her inner thighs were moist with the liquid heat of her passion. She could feel her ***** began to pulsate. Her breathing became rapid. Her mouth was dry. She licked her lips. Come here, babe.

Oh, God, Bette thought, EVERY time she says those words something earth shattering happens. Go for it, Porter, go to your woman, go to your heart, your life. She wants you and, Oh, Sweet Jesus, I want her.

Bette got into bed, sidled up as close as she could to Tina, leaning in so they were touching foreheads, rubbing noses.

Tina was on fire for Bette. She couldnt even describe it, she had no words – there were no words. All she wanted to do was take Bette, feel her, taste her, take her on an orgasmic journey of unparalleled proportions, and impart to her all the love, hopes and dreams Tina was carrying for her. But Tina knew in this time, in this place she needed to let Bette make love to her. It would be a re-consecrating of this vessel they shared – a vessel that became splintered from the violent storm that occurred here on that awful night.

Tina kissed her own fingertips, moistening them and then placed them on Bettes lips. Those lips – oh, god, I want her so badly. My insides are screaming for her to take me. My ability to reason swiftly leaving me, my eyes beginning to glaze with my desire for her, my stomach and pubic muscles are clenchingI could come just watching her eyes as they reflect the flames of desire they hold for me.

I bring my lips to hers and breathe my words into her mouth, Make love to me, Bette. Make love to me now.

Bette felt and heard the words Tina said and groaned her reply. In the back of her mind Bette knew what Tina was doing. She was letting her purposely lead the way this time.

Bette leaned in and kissed Tina. Her tongue was granted immediate access. Tina began sucking Bettes tongue, then let Bette withdraw. Bette trailed her tongue around Tinas ear, a little nip on the lobe, down the side of her neck, hitting that special place near Tinas collarbone and sucked to leave a mark. Down to her ***** and slowly sucking each one, circling each with the tip of her tongue. Back to Tinas mouth and moved her tongue, in conjunction with the movement of her head, ever so slowly in and out of Tinas mouth. She was grinding her own wetness into Tinas hip. With the slow in and out of Tinas mouth, they each could feel the flames rising – rising to a firestorm of mammoth proportions. Bette returned her mouth to Tinas breast, and then started her descent, stopping to gently kiss Tinas belly.

Tinas hands were on Bettes head. She pushed with both hands and in a voice filled with the huskiness of need, Down, babe, NOW! I cant hold out anymore – DOWN! Tina positioned herself in such a way that she could open her legs as wide as she could so Bette could see how much she needed her there, how close she was.

Truth was Bette wasnt sure if she was going to be able to hold out any longer either. Just the feel of her wetness and swollen ***** on Tinas sweat soaked body was taking herself closer and closer to the edge.

She got between Tinas legs and the sight of Tinas glistening, soaked ***** made her expel whatever air was in her lungs and gasp. She lowered her face and with her tongue entered Tinas pool of desire. Both of them nearly lost it right then. Bette moved her mouth up to Tinas ***** and just as she enveloped it with her lips, she entered Tina with her fingers and began thrusting in and out. Bette gently grazed her teeth along her ***** and then started sucking, flicking her tongue, suckingentering and withdrawing her fingers. Tina was close, bucking and pushing Bettes head into her. They were both beyond frenzy – beyond an explanation of what was happening here.

Bette felt Tinas walls closing around and clenching her fingers; she could feel her ***** throbbing in her mouth – Tina started screaming her name over and over again and then the explosion – the release – what felt like the pouring out of love onto her fingers and in her mouth. Heaven on earth? Right here, right now.

After several moments, Bette withdrew. She returned up to Tinas face. Put her hand behind her head and pulled her towards her. Taste yourself, T. Youre on my face, in my mouth, Ive swallowed your love. Youre right where you belong. It was a sweet, gentle but passionate kiss.

I love you, Tina Kennard.

And I love you, Bette Porter.

Tina knew what just happened here was monumental and an important moment in their relationship – in the mending of their relationship. She wondered if Bette caught the significance. She hoped she did.

Well, babe, we better get a move on here. Weve got Kit and a bunch of friends to freak out in a short bit. What say we take a quick shower, get dressed and see what reaction were going to receive, especially from Alice.

Okay, T.

They both showered and dressed and were exiting the bedroom to head down to The Planet. Tina walked out ahead of her.

As Bette reached the doorway she turned around and looked back at the bed. She could see the shape of that headstone with its carved words as testament to that night 6 months ago – except now it was beginning to crumble, granite becoming dust, those words disappearing into nothingness until all that remained was the dust that rises from crushed rock.

A soft and gentle voice floated in the air towards her: Welcome back home, Bette. Welcome Home


TBC