(Bette saw an interesting vignette in the distance, at the bar. Two women were standing there, close enough that it was clear their mutual proximity was welcome, but just far apart enough that their connection was not that apparent. Were they ‘together’? Were they exploring one another for the first time? Bette found it odd that she could not quite determine thatshe was proud of her powers of perception.) DANA- (Emerging from the conversation.) “What do you think Bette?” BETTE- (She quickly turns to pick up where she left off in the group conversation, a skill she had mastered in the past while surveying the landscape, but to no avail.) “Iuhwell, I guessI think I need to ponder it over a refillAnyone need a second?” ALICE- “I want a brown cow.” BETTE- “What?!” ALICE- “Oh, you’re listening?” (Alice knew that Bette was uncharacteristically distracted and she could guess why. Bette knew all her drink preferences and the ‘brown cow’ was hardly one of them.) “Na, I’m still working on this one. You finished that martini off quickly.” BETTE- (Smiling) “That’s because I’m using my mouth for drinking as well as talkingyou, on the other hand” ALICE- (Sarcastically..) “Ha, ha” (She continues the conversation Dana had interrupted by unknowingly arousing Bette from her concentration.) DANA & SHANE- “Yes, thanks”, “Sure, thanks Bette”. BETTE- “I’ll be back in a minute.” (She gets up and heads for the bar, somewhere close to that couple, so she could all at once get a drink, see if they were an item, and get a closer look at the blonde.”) (Bette approaches the woman on the right, the blonde, from behind and walks right up to the bar. “How wonderful,” she thought. The woman smelled beautiful and was wearing a light dress that was fitted well but close fitting enough that Bette had an awesome picture of what lay beneath the material. She felt energized, like so many times before. She had that feeling within her, like so many adventures before. The woman’s hair exposed her neck and that very sensitive and inviting spot, the nape, where Bette had so often began her tactile journeys, and so often ended them on the way up. She waited for the drinks and had a glimpse of the other woman, standing on the other side of this mesmerizing creature. She saw her eyes, she heard her words, and then she knew her brief encounter was done. There was something in that look, in those words the women shared- they were a part of one another, and Bette would relish the view no furtherno question, and she was done.) SHANE- “I don’t know guys, you gotta look at the whole picture. I think Kit is on to something with booking these groups and if she starts limiting it it’s not a good idea. So it’s Kritalika, so what? That’s fine.” ALICE- “Creepy, very creepy.” BETTE- (Receives the drinks and gathers them to head back to the table. Just as she’s turning, she bumps into someone.) “Woe there” WOMAN- “Oh shootsorry”, as some of the liquid spills from the glasses, “damn, I’m sorryso sorry” BETTE- “It’s ok, that’s fine, it’s not like they fell overcaught ‘em just in time. (She looks at the Woman’s face as she’s catching her complete balance and then realizes she may just lose it yet again) “Iumit’s fineI hope II didn’t spill any on you did I?” WOMAN- “No, don’t worry about it anyway, I’m just fine. But you spilled quite a bitcan I buy you another round?” BETTE- “Oh my goodness no, that won’t be necessary” WOMAN- “No, no, pleaseI insistI’m a bit scatterbrained todayshould watch where I’m going.” BETTE- “Well, it’s pretty busy in here and I’m sure these sorts of things happen all the time. II’m Bette, by the way.” WOMAN- “Elaine. Nice to meet you.” BETTE- “Are you here with friends? We got quite a group going if you care to join us.” ELAINE- “Actually, I’m waiting for a friend. She’s a little late, but hopefully she’ll be here soon.” BETTE- “Ok, no problem. I hope youumhave a good timeII better get back or the natives will get restless! It was nice to meet you.” ELAINE- “You too. Bye now.” (Bette regains her focus and starts walking over to the table. “Wow”, she thought, two beautiful women and 2 strikes so farI am getting rusty, she thought to herself.) BETTE- “Here you go ladies.” (Puts the drinks down. She sits and regains her position among her friends, within the conversation and in the line of sight that would keep her apprised of developments with Elaine, sitting by herself at a distant table. The conversation burgeoned, and other friends of Alice’s appeared temporarily to take part over the next little while. They came, they went, the word play, word games, and verbal gymnastics between these friends continuedand 45 minutes later, Bette was again glancing over at Elaine, a lonesome sight still. “Well”, she thought, I can’t just let her sit there alone.) BETTE- “Guys, I’ll be back, I’m just going to see a friend.” (They barely notice her departure. She walks over to Elaine.) “Hi. Are you still waiting?” ELAINE- “Hi, yeah, I guess I am. Although, I suppose it’s been about an hour now and she’s not answering her cell, so I guess we can officially call it- it’s a no show for this evening!” BETTE- “I’m sorry, that’s unfortunate. You know we would be happy if you would join us.” ELAINE- “Oh I wouldn’t feel comfortable, but thank you. I don’t suppose you’d like to have a drink before you head back?” BETTE- “Sure, I’d love that. (She sits.) “So, Elaine, are you from around here?” ELAINE- “Yes. I moved here from Nevada a few months ago.” BETTE- “Did you hear the one about the priest, the cook, and the rabbi in the casino?” ELAINE- “Nooooo, I don’t think I did” BETTE- “Well I haven’t either, so.just trying to to be funnysorry (she turns red)I think I let that last martini get the best of me. I’m usually not so embarrassing!” ELAINE- “Don’t worry, I understand. It happens to the best of us. My foot and mouth are old acquaintances.” BETTE- (What an odd way to put it, she thought, but it sure beats her ridiculous joke.) “Maybe I should stick to coffee the rest of the night.” ELAINE- “You plan on being up late?” (The two women give each other inquisitive glances and chuckle.) (Back at the group’s table, Alice is taking note of Bette’s whereabouts. She talked up a storm but kept a watchful glance over her old friend. She thoughtI can’t believe itthere she goes againbut Alice was relieved. It somehow meant everything was ok, despite recent eventsthis was good in a wayBette was going to be okshe hoped. Dana glanced over at Alice and saw the periodic look toward Bette. She gave her an approving nod now and then, and Shane was not far behind in catching up with the unspoken communication among these long-time friends. The discussions at these two separate tables continued into the evening. Shane was the first to leave, with a couple of women in hand. You could never tell whether they were headed for another event, club, or the inevitable destination. Alice and Dana were ready to call it a night, and by the looks of it, they didn’t have the energy this time to party into the wee hours. They stopped by Bette’s table to say goodbye.) ALICE- “So, abandoned us did you?” BETTE- “Hi Alice, yeah I guess I lost track of timethis is Elaine. Elaine meet Alice and Dana.” (Alice almost has to stop herself from examining Elaine too carefully. ‘Boy she knows how to pick’em,’ Alice thought. She sensed from Elaine that Bette was in safe hands and, if anyone had to really worry, it would be Elaineshe was safe, but depending upon what she expected, her heart was in danger.) ALICE- “Hi there. It’s nice meeting you. I hope our friend here is keeping you entertained” ELAINE- “I haven’t fallen asleep yet.” DANA- (She thoughtif she plays her cards right she won’t be sleeping the rest of the night.) (Turning to Elaine) “It’s nice to meet you. Bette we’re taking off. Will we see you tomorrow for brunch?” BETTE- “I’ll give you a call.” ALICE- (She was about to make a crack but recalled the day’s events.) “Listen, you have the key from last time. If you need anything, you come stay at our place.” (She reverted to a lighter tonetouching Bette on the shoulder) “Other than that- behave yourself old girl! We’ll see you on the weekend.” BETTE- (Touching Alice on the hand and holding it) “Thanks Al.” (The friends leave.) “They’re really great friends.” ELAINE- “It shows.” (She looks at Bette.) “Bette, I live near here and, well, I’m going to walk home now…it’s getting late.” BETTE- “Well I’m not letting you walk home alone. Why don’t I drop you off?” ELAINE- “If it’s not too much trouble that would be great. Would you like to come over for that coffee?” BETTE- “Absolutely.” (A few minutes later…they reach the apartment. Elaine became more attractive to Bette on the way thereshe was almost as tall as her, with light brown hair and a fair complexion. Her eyes were amber and inviting. She seemed warm and good-humored. Her blouse seemed to feature her nape and her endowments so well that Bette had trouble keeping her distance and keeping her eyesight high enough. She had a very lean body thought Bette. Elaine opened the door to her place. They walked in. Bette waited for her to close the door.) ELAINE- “Sparse, but warm and inviting, don’t you think?” BETTE- “Huh? Oh, the apartment, yes, yes I definitely think so.” ELAINE- “Let’s go to my little den area there. (They walk over and Elaine tries to open a window there, but it’s stuck. Bette walks over and leans in to assist. The window risesand so does the temperature. Elaine turns and faces Bette. She places her hand on Bette’s left arm.) “Thank you.” BETTE- (Bette raises her right arm and gently touches the left side of Elaine’s face.) “You are most welcome.” (She could feel Elaine becoming warmer, transforming into a gentler mood and moving her eyes up and down Bette’s face as though a journey had just begun and Elaine was examining the legend to what she imagined would be quite a tripBette was beautiful, with a stunning body and what Elaine thought was a Mediterranean complexion. Bette gave her a moment and surveyed the landscape that was Elaine carefully. She started moving her hand down Elaine’s face while her left hand move up Elaine’s back. She traced Elaine’s lips with her thumb, ever so gently, and began a slow descent. Bette brought both hands to Elaine’s throat and touched it, felt it, as a blind person might feel for shape, texture and structure, Bette explored and slowly her right hand felt the concave of Elaine’s nape. Elaine raised her right hand and softly pushed Bette’s hair aside and gazed into those eyes. Bette looked into the amber gaze and slowly, ever so slowly, moved her lips closer to Elaine’s. A breathe escaped Elaine and this initiated her next movementsshe took Bette’s lips, gently, softly, and broke off just as carefully, allowing a second or two to pass, and then she kissed her a second time, but now allowed her tongue to savor this entry point. Bette sighed, and obliged the visitor with an oral intercourse that was as intense as it was briefshe broke the kiss just as Elaine was feeling her body letting go. Elaine looked at Betteshe was ready to succumb. Bette kissed her on the neck and slowly made her way down to Elaine’s nape, where she filled the concave little place with her wet lips and tongue. Elaine’s head swung back, Bette grasped the effective blouse that had garnered her attention all evening, for what it displayed and what it hid so well. She skillfully pulled it down and welcomed the glorious contents of that blouse into her hands, feeling and exploring now like she had the landscape just before that point. She stroked, she suckled, she moaned gently in her ecstasy and continued. She broke her descent and returned to Elaine’s mouth where the dance continues while Bette rids herself of clothing with Elaine’s assistance. They suspend the dance and disrobe, quickly, elegantly, and totally. Bette gazes over Elaine and feels the front part of her entire body tingle and the top layer of skin, almost with a mind of its own, yearning for the destination that was two feet away. Elaine was consumed with the vision before hershe reached with her left hand and placed it on Bette’s chest. Bette closed the distance, appeasing her body’s inclination toward contact with an exquisite counterpart. Their bodies touchedas Bette grasped Elaine’s face, holding it under her chin, their bosoms met and the effect was cataclysmic. Both women felt their lower beings release the flow of preparedness, of sexual awakening, of dripping desirethey were on the cusp. Bette’s hands toured Elaine’s legs and back, and she led her to the bedroom area. Elaine took over to lead her to the room and the bed that awaited them. As Bette moved Elaine to the bed, Elaine sat on the edge and moved her hands down Bette’s body and she lowered herself to sit. She consumed Bette’s navel while her hands held gently onto both legs at the point where Bette’s swelling ***** could wait only a little more. Elaine slides her one hand to Bette’s inner thigh and finds Bette’s supple yet now also hard core. Bette feels a gutteral moan but exhales an intense sigh of pleasure and anticipation. She lifts Elaine up and onto the bed. Their bodies connect entirely and their cores meet as their bosoms had earlier, but this was beyond a catalyst, it ignited a frenzy of motion, of contact, of intense and all-consuming climaxing.) ELAINE- “Pleasepleasetouch me.now Bette” (The invitation would not be made thriceBette, with the digital mastery known to Alice all too well, entered a new worldso to speakElaine was thrust into her bed with Bette’s every movementonce hard, twice slowly and intensely, and it continued. As Bette felt this woman’s body move and contract with the synaptic touch and thrusting of Bette’s body, inside her and all over her, Bette ravished the amber beauty with all of herself. Time passed, Bette hadn’t noticed the momentum that had enveloped her own body.she was caught up in it and led by ither body pined for moreher face rubbed up against Elaine’sshe was lost in hershe would not stopshe couldn’tshe suddenly felt a pressure up against her collar bone.) ELAINE- “BetteBettewait” BETTE- “What? What’s wrong?” (Bette returned to a more conscious world and looked into her lover’s eyesthe pressure on her chest was Elaine’s hand and it was pushing her back, or rather, keeping it from going forward.) ELAINE- “It’s okyou’re amazingI justI’m sorry buttake it easy” BETTE- “Take it easy? I want you to give you pleasureI thought you were enjoying this? Did I hurt you?” ELAINE- “Goodness no, but you “pleasured” me about 30 seconds or so agotwice. I don’t know where you are, what or who is plaguing you, but you’re going right through me. You’re amazing but it’s a little too much. I’m sorry it’s probably just me” BETTE- “III don’t know what to say. I didn’t mean toIyou’re so beautifulI” ELAINE- “Betteheyit’s not like I’m not enjoying thisyou’ve sent me over the proverbial moon at least twice now.but just easy it up just a bit. Maybe I’m just too delicate a lover, I don’t know, but it’s like you were heading for points unknownfull steam ahead. Are you ok?” BETTE- (Bowing her head.) “I don’t know. I don’t know. I just don’t know. Elaine, I reallyI’m sorry” ELAINE- “It’s okyou just got caught up in somethingand like I said you really are amazing.” BETTE- (Like the countless times before, her inner self felt like it had fallen from a precipiceinto points unknownher chest sank. A beautiful woman under her, a mad and passionate interlude, and now she had no feeling within her. It didn’t matter, it didn’t matter that this was Elaine. Her heart didn’t care. It was one of her many other nights revisited, it was nothing more.) ELAINE- (Elaine recognized Bette’s disappointment.) “Hey kido, it’s ok. There I go having to spoil the moodI’m sorry. Did I misread you?” BETTE- No. I just thought you were along for the ride and got caught up. ELAINE- “I was along for the rideyou had me aching in ecstasy, but you kept going. Wow, you really didn’t notice how long.” BETTE- “Elaine, I don’twell, I had a really hard day, month, it’s beenI” ELAINE- “Hey, it’s ok. How about that coffee now? I’m a good listener.” BETTE- “Sure, ok. But maybe I should go. I don’t want to impose and” ELAINE- “Bette, it’s okI think your great. I have had the distinct pleasure of your lovemakingnow I want to get to know the great benefit of your friendshipif you feel the same way.” BETTE- (She broke a smile.) “I think I’d like that. This is strange. I never” ELAINE- (She tries to finish the sentence) “Made friends in such lofty sexual places?” BETTE- “Something like that.” (They left the ravaged bed behind, got dressed, and spent the rest of the night at the kitchen table. Bette was taken aback by the past few moments, but Elaine had a way with people. She knew she had met a special person, a woman with whom she hoped to share a life-long friendship, even though this meant depriving herself of a most fantastic lover. She didn’t know much about Bette, but this slightly older woman had her share of relationships and she had an inkling that Bette’s soul was haunted and Elaine would not be the one to free it, she would never be the one to captivate her heart.)