Bette moved nervously around the house. She looked out at the patio. Champagne was chilling and a bouquet of roses were awaiting presentation. Tina had told her about her meeting with Peggy today. Bette knew in her soul that Peggy would offer Tina the job. Bette wanted to let Tina know that she was behind her with this promotion. So she set up a small celebration.


‘God, Porter, what if she didn’t get the job? What do you do then?’ Bette shook her head. “I know she got the position. I can feel it.” Bette smiled. She liked the renewed sense of connection to Tina. The entire time they talked last night all Bette could think of was kissing the beautiful blonde. ‘I haven’t let her near me since we came back. I don’t want to rush anything, but I need to feel closer to her. I want to kiss her so badly.’ Bette walked over to Angelica, who was playing in the floor. She kneeled down and ran her fingers through her daughter’s dark curls. “It’s not too soon, is it boo? Especially if I can’t stop thinking about it, right?”


“Soo” replied Angelica.


Bette laughed. “I can’t wait until you’re talking up a storm. I’m sure you’ll have a lot to say, right boo?”


“Boo!” answered Angelica.


“Yes, baby, you are my boo!” Bette reached over and tickled Angelica. She loved to hear their little girl laugh.


Tina walked in and looked at Bette and Angelica in the floor. Never would she think that she would see Bette Porter in an expensive suit crawling in the floor with their child. She smiled. “Hey, am I missing out on all of the fun?”


“Mama!” Angelica pointed at Tina.


“Hey T, we were just waiting on you.” Bette picked up Angelica and walked over to Tina.


“Well, here I am.” Tina reached out and took Angelica for a hug. “How are you, sweetie? Did you have a good day?” Tina looked at Bette. “Did Angus say how things went?”


“No problems reported.” Bette laughed. “She loves spending time with Uncle Angus.”


Tina put Angelica down amongst her toys. Looking at Bette, she had to resist the urge to walk over and kiss her. “So, how was your day full of meetings?”


“Fine,” Bette replied, “but I want to hear how your day went. You met with Peggy, right?”


“I did.” Tina walked across the room and turned to look at Bette. “You’re looking at the newest CEO of Peabody Shaolin Studios.”


“T, that’s great.” Bette crossed the room and hugged Tina. Neither wanted to let go. Bette pulled back first. “Stay right here.” She headed for the patio.


Tina looked down at Angelica and winked at her. Bette returned with the champagne. “We have to celebrate.” She then swept her arm from behind her back. “These are for you, Madame CEO.”


Tina looked at the white roses in Bette’s hand. “Oh god baby, they’re beautiful.” She took them from Bette. “Thank you so much.” Again, she had to resist the urge to kiss Bette. How long would she have to keep up this torture?


Bette took a step towards Tina. God, how she wanted to kiss this woman. Hesitating, she blinked at her. “Um, should I open the champagne?”


“Yes, of course.” Tina noticed the electricity between them. “I’ll put these in water. Angel, did you see the pretty flowers your mommy gave me?


“fwower” tried Angelica. She smiled at her mother and returned to her toys.


“I ordered takeout from your favorite Thai place for dinner.” Bette handed Tina a glass. “I wouldn’t want to ruin the celebration by burning the house down with my attempt at cooking.”


Tina grinned. “Good thinking.”


“Here’s to you, T. Congratulations.”


“Thank you, babe.” Tina closed her eyes and leaned back her head to enjoy the sensation of the champagne entering her system. Bette almost choked on hers at the sight of Tina’s creamy skin and imagined planting endless kisses on her neck, moving down to her shoulder…


Bette took a deep breath. ‘Get a hold of yourself, Porter.’


Tina opened her eyes and looked at Bette. “Bette, this is an excellent selection. You must have had to go out of your way to get this.”


“It was worth it.” Bette took another substantial drink. “It is excellent isn’t it?” She wasn’t sure if she was referring to the champagne or the beautiful sight before her.


Tina noticed the way Bette was looking at her. ‘She feels it too,’ she thought to herself.


Bette finished off her glass. She wondered if it was obvious that she was becoming aroused. “Shall I refill these? Dinner should be here in a few minutes.”


“Sure.” Tina smiled at Bette. “I’ll get Angelica settled in and grab her dinner.”


“It’s already cooling in the microwave,” Bette replied. “Her favorite dinner as well.”


“Mac and cheese…it’s a wonder she’s not sick of it.” Tina picked Angelica up and carried her to her high chair. “Sweetie you have to start eating something other than mac and cheese.”


“Chee!” exclaimed Angelica.


“Sorry that it took me so long to get home. I had to sign the new contract and go over things with Human Resources.” Tina sat down at the table next to Angelica.


“That’s okay. When you called to tell me you would be a little late, it gave me a chance to order dinner.” Bette handed Tina a small plate of macaroni and cheese. Tina checked the food to make sure it wasn’t too hot, and placed the plate in front of Angelica.


Bette looked at their little girl and bowed ceremoniously. “Your dinner, Mademoiselle.”


Angelica squealed in delight at her mothers. Tina laughed. “She has you wrapped around her little finger.”


“Like you aren’t?” Bette smiled back. The doorbell rang. “And there’s our dinner. Right on cue.”


Bette quickly transferred food to plates and lit two candles on the table. “Bon appetit.”


“Thank you. This is wonderful. You didn’t have to do all of this.”


Bette looked at Tina. “I wanted to. You deserve it.”


Tina looked at Bette. She had to tell herself to breathe. As she started in on her dinner, she looked up at Bette and told herself ‘I will kiss you tonight, Bette Porter. You can count on it.’


———————–

Bette returned from the guest room after putting Angelica to bed. “She’s out. Do you know how lucky we are that she sleeps through the night now?”


Tina laughed. “Yes I do, after all of the months she didn’t sleep through the night.” Tina handed Bette her champagne glass. She had spent the last hour trying to figure out how to kiss Bette without freaking her out. ‘This is ridiculous. We have been together this long and I’m acting like I’m on a first date or something.’


Bette sat next to Tina on the couch. “So, what’s your first order of business as CEO?”


“To spend a quiet evening with you on this couch.”


Bette laughed. “Sounds like a plan.” She looked over at Tina. “It’s great that you’re going to be heading up the studio, T.”


“I’m excited about the opportunity.” Tina sat her glass down and turned toward Bette. “Bette, I don’t want anything to get in the way of us. I need you to know that you and Angelica are my top priorities. Nothing else is more important to me than the two of you. Nothing else is more important than proving to you how much I love you and am committed to our relationship.”


Bette saw the sincerity in Tina’s eyes. She placed her glass next to Tina’s and leaned closer to her. “I know, Tina. I believe that you won’t put work ahead of us. I promise to have the same focus on our relationship. Nothing is more important than us and our daughter.”


“I just need to know that you believe me, baby.” Tina reached over and touched Bette’s leg. Bette looked down and placed her hand on top of Tina’s. They both look at their hands, then look up at each other. Their eye contact is electric. Bette reached up instinctively and brushes Tina’s hair from her face.


Tina reached up and stroked Bette’s hand.


Tina placed her other hand on Bette’s face, stroking her cheek. Tina turned over her hand and runs the back of it towards Bette’s ear. Bette closed her eyes and took a deep breath. Tina put her hand in the brunette’s hair and looked deeply and longingly at Bette. “Bette…”


“Umm?” Bette felt as if she were floating.


Tina leaned closer. “I know that you want to take things slow…” Tina brushed her thumb gently against Bette’s ear.


“Uh huh…” Bette’s breathing became heavy.


“Baby…” Tina whispered as she moved closer to Bette’s lips. “If I don’t kiss you soon, I think I’m going to go crazy.” Tina brushed her lips against Bette’s, causing Bette to instinctively open her mouth, searching for more. Tina leaned back for a moment and looked intensely at Bette. She gently closed her lips over Bette’s, stopping for a moment to savor the taste of her lips against the woman she so deeply loved. She reached for Bette’s bottom lip and pulled it into her mouth. Slowly she released it and moaned.


Tina reached her arms around Bette’s neck. She opened her eyes and looked at Bette. “I love you, baby,” She whispered as she closed her mouth over Bette’s. Their lips met and the dance that they both knew so well began again. Bette put her arms around Tina, pulling her in close. Tina parted Bette’s lips with her tongue. Bette reached for more, searching with her tongue. Their tongues met, pulling and touching. At first slowly, then more strongly as their passion grew. Bette pulled up for air, looking intensely at Tina before she placed both hands on Tina’s face and kissed her with a need that burned deep into her soul. She ran her tongue up the roof of Tina’s mouth before searching again for her tongue.


As Bette deepened the kiss, she ran her hands down Tina’s arms to her sides. She wanted to feel the blonde’s skin against her fingers. It had been so long since she touched Tina like this. She reached under Tina’s shirt and felt the softness of her skin. Tina moaned and ran her hands down Bette’s back. She moved her hands back up to Bette’s dark curls and kissed her as if her life depended on it.


Before they completely lost control, Tina broke the kiss first. They stared at one another silently. Tina ran her finger down Bette’s cheek. “I love you so much, baby. I’ll wait forever for you, if I have to.”


“I love you, T. Always.” Bette tried to catch her breath. Her mind was spinning. She didn’t want to stop, but she wasn’t quite ready to go on. Was she?


Tina stood up. She took the glasses to the kitchen, then returned and stopped in front of Bette. She reached out her hand, and Bette placed her hand in Tina’s. Standing up, Bette placed an arm around the blonde.


Tina reached up and placed her arms around Bette’s neck. “We both have busy days tomorrow. I have to finalize plans for our date Friday night. We should get some sleep.” Tina kissed Bette gently on the lips. “Good night babe.”


“Good night T.” Bette watched as Tina turned and headed for the bedroom. ‘How am I supposed to sleep now?’ Bette shook her head and walked into the guest room.