It was difficult to believe she was so trusting of this woman, but Tina really felt as though she could trust Bette with her life. It was in the way Bette spoke to her – in the way she touched her. It was dangerous, but this night was worth all of the risk to Tina.

When they finally arrived, the house was decorated with beautifully ornamented art pieces, and Tina was taken aback with the possible beauty of a home. The earthy tones soothed her, and she finally turned to the mysterious woman. They could converse with eyes alone.

"I just want you to know …" Tina started, taking a deep breath in and letting it out, "… I didn’t come to satisfy some … sick fantasy or something."

"No, of course not," the woman smirked, sitting back on a kitchen chair. "You have no interest in any of that."

Tina sensed the tease, shifting on her feet. "I mean … I don’t like … expect anything …"

"Your eyes give you away," the woman started, getting up from the chair. "If you really want to lie to me, you should close them."

The advice was strange, but Tina was touched with how passionately this woman knew her. It was all strange, but satisfying? It was also that.

"But then again … I don’t know if you should leave yourself so vulnerable to me. It makes me want to rip off all of your clothes and devour you right here."

Such honesty caught Tina off guard, and she covered her face with both hands. Her own exploration even surprised her. She was so willing to put herself in the hands of another.

"Is it hard to realize how much you need this?"

Tina breathed out and nodded, slumping her shoulders. "It’s all I can think about."

"Good … think about how difficult that is," the woman instructed, watching as Tina closed her eyes. "Think about all of the struggling to keep this thing at bay … this need … this desire."

The air she breathed gave her strength, just as her doubts and concerns took it all away. She felt defeated, as if she were entirely powerless, until she felt the woman behind her, moving both hands over her stomach. The dress was so thin that it enlivened her. She was living for the moment. It was like any other high, but better.