Chapter 38

Tina stood in the kitchen amazed at the sentence Bette uttered just moments before. Her hands were barely holding the expensive bottle of champagne as they shook at the realization that Bette was planning on asking her to be her wife once more. Bette pulled back and released Tina in order to grab the bottle of champagne and save it from meeting it’s demise on the kitchen floor.

“She never ceases to amaze me,” Bette said quietly regarding Angelica’s surprise left on the bottle to ensure Bette understood her message clearly. Angelica was in full support of her mothers reuniting and becoming a family once more.

“You’re going to what?” Tina asked quietly trying to reassure herself that she had heard Bette correctly.

Bette cringed having just realized that she allowed her surprise to escape from her lips in the vulnerable moment.

“Babe?” Tina attempted to coax an answer out of Bette regarding her admission.

“Tina,” Bette said smiling as she looked into her lover’s eyes. “This wasn’t how I had planned to ask you.”

“Ask me what?” Tina once again asked.

Bette took Tina’s hand in her free one, and still holding the bottle of champagne in the other hand, she made her way down the hallway and into Tina’s bedroom. She silently placed the bottle near the glasses next to the bed and dropped Tina’s hand to light the candles and turn the music on in an effort to paint the perfect scene for her proposal. She lit the candles, one after the other, in utter silence leaving a stunned Tina staring at her every move and barely breathing. Bette quickly turned the soft music on, Tina recognizing it as the song they had danced to in the first commitment ceremony.

“Oh my God,” Tina whispered more to herself then anyone else.

Bette walked the length of the room back to where Tina was standing and took her hands gently in her own. She smiled, taking a moment to study every detail of Tina’s face, enjoying the intimacy of the moment.

“Tina,” Bette began to speak quietly. “I first want to apologize for blurting my intentions out in the kitchen. That is so far off the mark of how I wanted to ask you to marry me that I’m angry I let my emotions get the best of me.”

Tina’s response was only a hesitant smile as she hung on every word that left Bette’s gentle lips.

“I was just so stunned at Angelica’s surprise that I lost my head momentarily.”

Tina watched as the candlelight flickered throughout the room, highlighting some of her favorite features on Bette’s face. She noticed how the light reflected the lighter brown flecks in Bette’s eyes as they stared at her. The glow reflected off Bette’s mocha skin perfectly showcased her softer features. The laugh lines that had appeared through the years she had known Bette were deep, as Bette’s smile lit Tina’s heart ablaze.

“I might struggle through this so bare with me, but this moment is one of the most important in my life and I want to get it just right. I’ve spent years dreaming of having this chance again, and now that you’re standing here in front of me, I’m in awe at how blessed I truly am to be given a second chance.”

Tina allowed tears to form in her eyes as she blinked rapidly attempting to hold them at bay. Having failed, one tear began to run down the length of her cheek. Bette gently ran her thumb over it, wiping it away, causing Tina’s eyes to create even more.

“It isn’t often that you find that one person in life that completes you. Some people never find that person and yet we’ve been blessed to find one another and are given a second chance to celebrate our love. There are so many things that you are to me that it’s hard to even put them into words. You’re like a ruby in the most beautiful setting taking my breath away. It doesn’t matter to me what you’re doing, I find myself catching these glimpses of you that mean more to me then anything. Those are the images that comfort me when I’m not with you, that I crave when I can’t see you, and that I will forever hold in my heart as a true gift of life. You’re the fruit upon a tree feeding my love for you. When I feel I can’t go on, you feed me strength through your boundless love. You’re like the wind that gently caresses my face when I need you with me the most, to feel that love and support that allows me to face any challenge that life throws at me.”

Tina barely heard the music in the background as her eyes welled up with tears that, once again, fell freely at the sound of Bette’s words, the meaning behind them, and the sheer love she saw reflected in her lover’s eyes.

“When we were apart, all I wanted was to be together, and I remembered so many moments to give me the strength to go on. I remembered lying in your arms and listening to the rain on a Sunday morning, knowing my life was complete. I remembered looking in your eyes and smiling just to see you smile back at me. In that moment, I would silently thank God for allowing me to live a complete life because your smile means more to me then I can ever express, or that you will ever know.”

Bette’s eyes began to tear up and Tina smiled to reassure her, hanging on one word after another that Bette so eloquently expressed.

“I look at you Tina and I know I’ve got all I need to be happy, complete, to give my heart to someone and find more joy in that then in being loved. Every dream I have ever had is standing in front of me right now.”

Bette got down on one knee, dropping Tina’s right hand, but keeping a grasp on the left. Tina’s right hand flew to her open mouth as she gasped staring down at Bette. Bette dug in her suit jacket pocket and pulled out a small, black velvet box and expertly opened it with the use of only her one hand.

“I could never ask for anything more in my life Tina because you represent all that I will ever want and need.”

Tina noticed the lump in Bette’s throat and her attempt to swallow it in order to continue the proposal.

“So I’m kneeling here, in front of the only woman I will ever love, and opening my heart to it’s fullest to show you that through our life that will be the love that you can always count on, expect, enjoy, and hopefully return as my wife.”

Tina’s hands began to shake as she saw the extreme vulnerability in Bette’s actions, her voice, her words, and even in her posture as she knelt on one knee before her.

“Tina Kennard,” Bette said in a shaky voice, allowing a pause to take a deep breath and steady her voice. “Will you bless me once more in this lifetime by being my wife, my partner, my life?”

“Bette,” Tina said quietly as she blinked to clear her eyes of the tears that clouded her vision. The only word Tina could utter in the few moments following Bette’s proposal was simply Bette’s name as her heart exploded with love.

Tina got down on her knees in front of the love of her life, meeting Bette’s gaze with one of her own, encompassing all the love her heart could no longer contain for the woman before her.

“You continue to take my breath away, even after all these years when you’d think I’d be used to you.”

Tina took one of her hands and gently wiped the tears that fell down Bette’s face as she waited for Tina’s answer.

“I love you. I love you more then anything in this lifetime or others that will follow. I am blessed to have known you and I want nothing more then to be your wife.”

Bette let out a sigh of air that she hadn’t realized she had been holding as she waited for Tina’s answer. Tina scooted on her knees closer to Bette, tilting her head as she leaned forward to make contact with Bette’s soft lips to display her love for the woman that knelt before her. Her lips brushed against Bette’s softly, the moment not being one of urgency, but of love and celebration. Bette wrapped one arm around Tina’s waist and snaked a hand behind Tina’s neck, pulling her into her body as much as she could to kiss her deeper. Her tongue gently outlined Tina’s lips before Tina opened them to allow Bette’s tongue entrance into her mouth. It was a kiss they had shared so many times before, yet there was an excitement and newness to it that they had never felt before.

“God I love you,” Tina whispered against Bette’s mouth as she fought for air.

“We belong together,” Bette whispered back as she tilted her head more to capture Tina’s lips once again with her own. “I never thought I’d love again in this lifetime.”

Tina placed smaller kisses on Bette, needing as much air as she could gather in her lungs, having her breath completely whisked away from her by Bette’s proposal. Her heart was beating at an alarming rate as she held Bette tighter, afraid to live another moment without Bette in her arms.

She moved her hands from behind Bette to the front of her suit coat and slowly slid it down her arms as Bette allowed her arms to fall to her sides so her jacket could come off easily. Tina allowed it to fall on the floor behind Bette. Once the jacket was discarded, Tina continued to kiss Bette’s lips with a sense of urgency to be as close to her as possible. Her trembling fingers made their way to Bette’s buttons on her shirt. She stumbled but eventually undid them, one by one, allowing Bette’s shirt to gape open. She slid her hands into the shirt to feel Bette’s skin. She rubbed Bette’s shoulders and then trailed her hands down Bette’s arms taking the shirt along the same path. Bette broke the kiss to see what she needed to do to remove her own shirt. Bette struggled to unbutton her cuffs, which needed to be done in order to remove her shirt completely. When that was finally done, Bette pressed her lips once again against Tina’s and shrugged completely out of her shirt.

Bette’s heart pounded in her ears as she felt Tina’s hands on her skin, running the length of her arms and massaging her shoulders. Tina thrust her tongue into Bette’s mouth, running the tip of it on the roof of Bette’s mouth causing her to shiver. Tina’s fingers gently touched the straps of Bette’s lacy bra, sliding each one off her shoulder and breaking the kiss to put her lips where Bette’s bra straps once had been. Tina methodically kissed each of Bette’s shoulders, eliciting a moan from deep within Bette. Bette’s breasts rose and fell quickly with each breath she took in order to fill her lungs with the air that seemed to be completely restricted to her at the moment.

Tina reached around and unhooked Bette’s bra, allowing it to fall off between them onto the ground. She looked at Bette with dilated eyes, taking in the sight of her bare chest moving in time with her uneven breathing. The candles provided a perfect amount of light for Tina to take in the small details of Bette’s body. She noticed the softness of Bette’s skin as she lightly touched her breasts, avoiding the hardened nipples that were begging to be touched.

“Please,” Bette begged in a soft voice.

“I want you to feel my love Babe.”

“I do,” Bette whispered.

Bette placed both her hands on Tina’s cheeks to guide her, once again, into a kiss. When Tina broke the kiss and bent down to tease Bette’s nipple, Bette ran her fingers through Tina’s hair to free it from the pins that held it up throughout the night. Tina’s hair cascaded down, brushing against her shoulders, as Bette pulled her head in closer to her chest. She kissed the top of Tina’s head as she felt Tina’s tongue on her aroused nipple.

Bette’s eyes closed as her breath caught in her chest while the tip of Tina’s tongue flicked over her nipple and then she sucked it into her mouth. She sucked lightly, applying the right amount of pressure to Bette’s nipple to keep her aroused but not send her over the edge into a blissful orgasm. Tina switched to the other breast, her hair tickling Bette’s chest causing her to smile as she watched Tina take her other breast into her mouth and repeat the same actions she had just done.

Tina surprised Bette when she then simply laid her head against Bette’s chest and listened to her heartbeat.

“It’s so strong,” she whispered as Bette played with her hair enjoying the closeness of the moment.

“It beats for you,” Bette said smiling as she looked down at Tina and the comfortable position they were in. Tina looked up and met her gaze, smiling back, and then gently nudged Bette back so that she was lying on her back on the carpeted floor. “We can lie in the bed Tina.”

“I’m not ready to break this moment yet,” Tina said as she ran one fingertip over a hardened peak once more causing Bette’s tongue to dart out and wet her own lips.

Bette slid the straps of Tina’s dress off her shoulders and pushed the dress down as far as she could, exposing Tina’s breasts to the cold air around them. Tina’s body was partially covering Bette’s, allowing Bette to feel Tina’s aroused nipples on her own skin.

Tina smiled as she kept her gaze on Bette’s eyes and worked her dress off, casting it to the side, and once again covering Bette’s body with her own. Tina had on just her thong and a garter belt, holding up her nylons, as she had discarded her heels along with her dress. Bette’s hands traveled the length of Tina’s back, gently teasing her skin causing Tina to shiver.

Bette kissed Tina’s shoulder and sucked lightly on it causing Tina to moan and throw her head to the side to give Bette even more access to what she wanted. Bette once again trailed the length of Tina’s back, raking her nails over Tina’s bare skin.

Tina bent her head down and took one of Bette’s nipples in her mouth. Bette’s head moved to the side, a moan escaped her lips registering in Tina’s mind allowing her to read Bette’s reactions. Bette’s lips parted as she struggled to take deeper breaths and steady her hands in Tina’s hair.

“Please,” Bette begged Tina to ease the ache between her legs.

Tina quickly unzipped Bette’s pants and urged her to raise her hips to assist in the removal her pants. Tina slid her hands inside the waistband, taking Bette’s thong with her pants, as she pushed them down to the point where Bette could kick them off by herself.

Tina settled in between Bette’s parted thighs and ground her body into Bette’s center causing Bette to moan and arch upward. Bette’s fingers dug into the skin on Tina’s back as she moved her hips on instinct against Tina’s body. Tina bent her head once more, taking Bette’s hard nipple in her mouth and sucking on it once again. That didn’t last long as she released it and looked up at Bette smiling. Once Bette made eye contact with her, she leaned forward once more and took the nipple back in her mouth, biting on it hard enough to get the desired response from her lover.

“Fuck,” Bette moaned as she arched her back.

Bette arched her hips desperate to come into contact with any part of Tina she could. Her hands traveled down Tina’s sides, gently tickling the skin as she sought out the straps on Tina’s garter belt. Her fingers came in contact with them and unhooked Tina’s nylons so they could easily be discarded. Tina quickly sat up and finished undressing herself so she could lay naked against Bette. Before covering Bette’s body once more, Tina braced herself up on her arms to look at the picture in front of her. Bette was breathing heavily, her breasts were keeping time with her intake of air.

“You are so beautiful,” Tina whispered.

Bette said nothing in response, she just arched upward to capture Tina’s lips with her own in a scorching kiss. Tina broke the kiss and began her decent on Bette’s body. She had done this so many times before in previous years, yet it seemed different. It felt as if she were using this act of making love to reclaim her life, her past, present, and future with Bette.

Tina licked her way down to Bette’s abdomen and placed a kiss where the fine hairs stood at attention on Bette’s stomach. Bette’s muscles twitched in anticipation of Tina’s arrival where she desperately needed her. Bette spread her legs further, a subtle hint to Tina, causing Tina to smile against Bette’s skin where she was lightly kissing to tease her.

“I can smell how aroused you are,” Tina said in a husky voice. She barely recognized it as her own. She began to fight her own need in order to please Bette first. Tina licked and sucked every inch of skin her mouth came in contact with, desperate to now taste Bette’s arousal. Bette could no longer watch Tina and allowed her head to simply fall to the side, moaning, as Tina’s lips found the inside of her thigh.

Tina looked up once more at Bette who was desperate for release. Tina licked her thigh, tasting Bette’s arousal as she had done so many times before, but savoring it as if it were the first.

“You are so wet Babe,” Tina whispered against Bette’s skin as she pushed her nose against Bette’s throbbing clit. Bette arched more, tangling her fingers in Tina’s hair, and pulling her closer desperate for release.

“I love you.”

“I love you Tina,” Bette moaned as Tina’s tongue came in contact with Bette’s center.

Tina’s tongue circled Bette’s opening excruciatingly slow. She tasted Bette’s arousal while Bette’s body allowed more to seep past her swollen lips. Tina spread Bette’s lips slowly, seeing exactly what she expected to find, Bette’s clit completely hard and swollen.

“Please,” Bette begged once more as her need became almost painful.

Tina blew a stream of cold air directly on Bette’s clit causing her to jump and dig her fingers hard into Tina’s scalp.

Tina knew it wasn’t in Bette’s typical character to have a large amount of dialog involved in their lovemaking. However, Tina needed to hear the effect she had on Bette and wanted to hear her voice as much as possible.

“Tell me what you need Baby.”

“You know what I need,” Bette said in a strained voice barely above a whisper.

“I want you to tell me.”

“God Tina,” Bette struggled with her voice, but knew that Tina wouldn’t give her what she needed until she asked for it. “I need your mouth on me.”

Tina needed no further prompting as she was beginning to struggle to contain her own needs in order to fulfill Bette’s. Tina took Bette’s clit in her mouth and sucked gently causing Bette’s hips to buck into her face. Tina did this for a short period of time, not wanting to take Bette over the edge too quickly. She pulled back hearing the disapproval in Bette’s groan.

“Fuck T,” Bette grunted through clenched teeth.

Tina, once again, teased Bette by tracing her opening slowly with her tongue. She barely dipped it inside causing Bette to arch upward quickly. Bette removed one hand from Tina’s head and grabbed the carpeting beneath them in an effort to gain some control over her reaction. The other grabbed Tina’s hair harder, trying to guide her mouth back to her throbbing clit.

“God damnit Tina,” Bette arched her hips upward trying to urge Tina to finish what she had started.

Tina moved her mouth to Bette’s clit once more, sucking it hard into her mouth, as she felt Bette’s hips buck into her face with purpose.

“Fuck!” Bette screamed as her orgasm ripped through her body. Bette’s hands stilled, her breath caught in her chest, her body rigid.

Tina easily slipped two fingers inside Bette as her arousal seeped out and down Tina’s hand. She curled her fingers upward and massaged Bette’s upper wall as her muscles clamped down on Tina’s fingers as Tina drew out as much of Bette’s orgasm as possible.

“Oh God Tina!”

Bette collapsed as Tina withdrew her fingers and laid her head against Bette’s stomach. Bette’s breathing began a normal pattern as she absentmindedly played with Tina’s hair. The candlelight reflected off both of them, a sheen of sweat on their bodies from an intense lovemaking session.

“That was…” Tina didn’t finish her sentence as she broke out into a sexy chuckle.

Bette reached for her and urged her to travel the length of her body to be held in her arms. Bette turned Tina over so that her weight covered Tina completely. Bette gently kissed Tina and moaned as she tasted her own arousal on Tina’s lips. She deepened the kiss by inserting her tongue into Tina’s mouth and massaging Tina’s tongue with her own. Tina held Bette close, her hands massaging Bette’s back as she focused on how secure she felt in Bette’s arms.

“We never popped the champagne to celebrate,” Bette whispered, her lips merely inches from Tina’s as they smiled at her.

“Now?”

“Now,” Bette laughed causing Tina to shiver once her body broke contact with Tina’s. The cold air hit Tina’s skin and she instantly missed the feel of Bette on top of her, the heat of her body, and the feel of her skin.

Bette crawled on her knees toward where she had placed the champagne next to the bed. Tina watched in awe as Bette’s body twisted to reach for the bottle, each group of muscles flexing heightening Tina’s arousal.

“Your body is as amazing today as it was the first time we made love,” Tina said smiling when Bette turned around to face her with the bottle in her hand.

“I doubt that.”

“It’s true,” Tina chuckled in a soft, sexy tone. “Just looking at you excites me.”

“I’m glad,” Bette said smiling as she crawled her way back to where Tina was laying.

She easily pooped the cork on the champagne bottle bringing a smile to Tina’s face.

“Glasses?” Tina pointed to the nightstand that Bette had just crawled back from.

“Not this time,” Bette smiled.

She drizzled a little on Tina’s lips and then bent down to taste the special vintage for herself.

“Is this a hint of what’s to come?” Tina asked knowing she would likely not last long if indeed it was.

“Certainly,” Bette licked her lips once more and then her chin where some of the bubbly had dribbled. “That’s pretty good.”

“Amazing,” Tina said breathless.

Bette slowly poured the cold liquid on Tina’s collarbone causing her to shiver when it hit her skin.

“Bette that’s cold!”

“Let’s see if we can take care of that then.”

Bette leaned over and ran her tongue over the liquid on Tina’s skin. The taste of the expensive champagne mixed with the taste of Tina’s skin went straight to Bette’s head. She kissed the skin where she had lapped up the cold champagne. She nipped at the skin there, sucking on parts of Tina’s collarbone and kissing others.

Bette’s gaze fell on Tina’s hardened nipples as her breasts rose and fell quickly. Tina smiled knowing what was coming next as Bette tipped the bottle and drizzled champagne over one nipple. It quickly spread out to cover Tina’s complete breast and Bette worked quickly, using her tongue to taste it as it trickled down the sides of Tina’s breast and onto the carpeting and other areas of her body.

Bette wasted no time in taking Tina’s nipple into her mouth and sucking hard on it. Tina held Bette’s head close to her chest while the other ran through her own hair to gain some level of composure. She felt her own arousal pooling between her legs and escaping her lips trailing down her thighs.

“Please,” Tina begged breathless.

Bette ignored her plea and continued to assault her nipple, biting down and tugging on it with her teeth. Tina arched her back to thrust more of her breast into Bette’s mouth. Bette responded by releasing her nipple and looking up at Tina.

“Babe,” Tina begged.

“I know,” Bette said understanding Tina’s need, but not giving into her request just yet. She wanted to explore Tina’s body and ensure that the orgasm she wanted Tina to experience was shattering.

Bette took the bottle once more and splashed the champagne on the other nipple. She repeated the same sucking action and finished worshiping it when she tugged on it with her teeth.

Tina began to squirm under Bette, needing to have the throbbing between her legs relieved. Bette trailed champagne down between Tina’s breasts and onto her stomach. She licked it up quickly, replacing her tongue with her lips as she gently kissed the skin on Tina’s abdomen. Tina’s muscles contracted with each pass of Bette’s lips, her need pushing her to absolute abandonment.

“Damnit Bette,” Tina pleaded. “I need you to touch me.”

Bette knew the sound in Tina’s voice, she knew Tina was aching for release and didn’t wish to prolong the descent to between her legs any further. Bette moved to center herself between Tina’s thighs that fell open to her sides. The patch of hair in front of Bette’s eyes was matted down, soaked with Tina’s arousal. Bette lightly dragged her finger through the curls causing Tina’s body to jerk. She smiled when she heard Tina gasp and moan when she removed her finger.

“God T,” Bette whispered close to Tina’s center. “You’re so wet.”

Bette looked up once more at the love of her life, Tina’s hands were above her head, and she turned her head from side to side, biting down on her lower lip. Bette used her fingers and parted Tina’s swollen lips, finding Tina’s clit hard and swollen, slick with her essence. Bette flicked her tongue quickly over Tina’s clit causing her to arch her hips off the carpet toward Bette’s mouth. Tina’s lips were open, her breath coming in gasps, as she worked to try to prolong her impending orgasm.

“God Bette,” Tina moaned as Bette sucked her clit entirely into her mouth and began to run her tongue over it teasing Tina’s senses.

Bette flattened her tongue out against Tina’s clit and applied just enough pressure to hold Tina in the current state she was in, not allowing her to fall into her orgasm just yet.

“I’m coming Bette!” Tina writhed as she moaned her current state of arousal to Bette.

Bette ran her flattened tongue once again against Tina’s clit and then sucked it back in her mouth, allowing her teeth to graze it lightly. The difference in sensations from Bette’s tongue, to her teeth, to her now sucking motion sent Tina cascading over the edge into her forceful orgasm.

“Bette!” Tina screamed as her body shook and Bette continued to suck to draw as much of Tina’s orgasm out as possible. Bette slowed as Tina’s hips stopped their movement against her face. She used her tongue to capture as much of Tina’s wetness in her mouth as she could while more slipped out between her swollen lips.

“God Bette,” Tina whispered as she fought to control her breathing. Her body was limp, her head to the side, and her eyes closed as she drew in several deeper breaths. “Come here.”

Bette smiled at Tina’s familiar command and kissed her way back up Tina’s body. Their gaze met and Bette leaned forward gently brushing her lips against Tina’s.

Bette reached over and removed the diamond ring from the velvet box and held it up while Tina moved stray pieces of Bette’s hair out of her face.

“I love you,” Bette said as she held the ring out.

Tina slipped her finger through it and allowed a tear to escape her eyes once again.

“Thank you,” Tina said softly as she pressed her palm against Bette’s cheek.

“For?”

“Giving me my life back.”

“Let’s get in bed Tina,” Bette smiled as she got up and extended her hand to assist Tina to her feet. “I have another way you can thank me.”

Tina laughed at the arched eyebrow and seductive smile that crossed Bette’s face as they made their way to Tina’s bed and collapsed holding one another.