Releasing Tinas wrists, Bette climbed off of her, reaching for their wine glasses. Grabbing them, she returned to Tinas side and handed her glass to her.

She winked at Tina as she lightly tapped her glass against hers in silent toast.

Tina simply smiled back at Bette, letting her happiness shine from her eyes, communicating without words how much she loved her.

Bette held onto her glass as she leaned back against the headboard, looking down at Tina.

Pretty amazing night, huh T?

Yes, baby. I think that this night could be classified as amazing she answered, smiling up at Bette while lightly stroking her stomach.

Yeah was all Bette said while turning her head to look at the fire still roaring in the fire place.

Tina just watched Bette, seeing that she was either mesmerized by the fire, deep in thought about something, or both for that matter.

Where are you, baby?

Huh? asked Bette, peeling her eyes away from the fire to meet Tinas gaze.

Tina sat up in order to join Bette, leaning her back against the headboard, shoulders and arms touching each other.

Still holding her gaze, Tina repeated, Where did you just go, baby?

Oh, I dont know said Bette, convincing neither that that was the truth.

Bette? said Tina with a raised eyebrow.

Hmmm chuckled Bette. Not letting me off the hook anymore, huh?

I think that you know the answer to that said Tina, responding to Bette in a serious tone.

Bette returned her eyes to the fire, finding comfort in its heat and flames.

Tina just sat there, watching Bette and waiting for her to open up to her.

Weve come a long way, T she softly said, still looking into the fire.

Tina continued to stroke Bettes stomach, running her hand down her thigh, not wanting to lose any physical contact with her.

Yes we have, Bette was all she said.

Yeah said Bette, the soft tone remaining in her voice.

Tina kept watching Bette to see where this was going, to see what it was that she really wanted to say. She had learned in this short time of reconciliation that Bette would open up to her, would communicate to her what it was that she wished to say, just that it had to happen at her speed, pushing her not always the best way to garner desired results.

Bette turned to Tina and looked deeply into her eyes, searching for what she didnt know. Tina responded with a smile meant to offer encouragement and hope.

I want it to last, T she whispered, their faces just inches from the other.

So do I Bette she said with no hesitation.

Bette turned her head back to the fire, seeming to mull over Tinas response.

How do we make that happen? she asked, looking straight ahead.

Tina reached over and placing her hand on Bettes chin, turned her so that they were facing each other.

What are you afraid of, baby?

***** up, pissing you off, being a *****, I dont know, being myself?

Tina just looked at Bette with a raised eyebrow, hand softly caressing her face. She dropped her hand and while getting up, raised herself to straddle Bettes lap.

There, thats better smiled Tina. No more gazing into the fire. If there is going to be any gazing going on, its going to have to be at me she teased Bette.

Bette smiled in return, noticing Tina lightening things up a bit.

Now baby, I am not saying that your fears are irrational, cause regardless of the source, a fear is still just that, a fear. But Bette, I think that if you stop and look at what we have been through, you will see that none of it was possible without the in roads that you were able to achieve, and achieve them on your own I might add she said, smiling at Bette while resting her hands in front of her on Bettes stomach.

I know, T. Its just that after tonight, there is even that much more to lose.

Or that much more to gain. It all depends on how you look at it, baby.

Not half empty, but half full, huh? smiled Bette.

Id be willing to bet that we are working with a little more than half full, babe.

Bette reached out and put her hands on Tinas thighs, rubbing up and down her soft skin, working her way up to her tiny waist, drawing circles on her stomach. She felt Tinas muscles jump at the touch and smiled at her, happy to elicit this response from her body.

Tina continued to watch Bette, wondering if the knot of fear was unraveling itself yet. Fear was something that she had become very familiar with since their separation and knew first hand the havoc it could wreak on ones psyche.

You have to trust yourself, baby Tina softly said to Bette.

Huh? she asked, pulled out of the trance she was in from watching her hand make designs on Tinas body.

Trust yourself, Bette she repeated, looking directly into Bettes eyes.

Bette just looked at Tina, letting her words sink in.

Trust yourself to make mistakes, trust yourself to ***** up, to piss me off and to be you she said, pausing to take a deep breath.

Trust yourself to be human, baby she said, the words being communicated directly to Bettes heart and soul.

Bette smiled at Tina, knowing that she would never have the words to express how much this woman meant to her.

Theres that evil five letter word again smiled Bette.

Yep, funny how it keeps coming up in friendly conversation, huh? teased Tina.

Hmmmtrust said Bette, resting her head back against the headboard.

Trust repeated Tina.

Tina leaned in towards Bette, placing her lips softly on Bettes. She lifted her hands from Bettes stomach and placed them behind her head, pulling her in closer to deepen the kiss.

Tina pulled back, looking directly into Bettes eyes and said, I love you Bette Porter.

I love you too, T she whispered.

Yeah? smiled Tina, resting her forehead against Bettes.

Yeah, I do she said, smiling in return.

Tina sat back up and reached her hand towards the bedside table, looking for one of the chocolate truffles that Bette had so skillfully brought into the room.

Bringing it to her mouth, she took a bite while looking directly at Bette.

Oh God she moaned in response to the sweet morsel filling her mouth. This is one of the brandy filled ones she pointed out to Bette.

She took another bite as Bette just looked on, placing the truffle back down on the plate and leaned in to kiss Bette.

Tina had the bite of chocolate resting on her tongue and as she got to Bettes open mouth, transferred the sweet delicacy from her tongue to Bettes waiting mouth. Not pulling out immediately, she felt Bettes tongue taking in the chocolate and managed to capture Tinas tongue, all in one smooth movement.

She began to giggle and pulled back, watching Bette swallow her offering.

Not bad she said, as she licked her lips, cleaning herself up.

What? The chocolate? asked Tina.

No, this said Bette as she pulled Tina back in for a deep kiss.

Both women were left breathless from the kiss, watching the other to see who would make the next move.

Bette reached back over for the half eaten chocolate and brought it up to her lips, all the while, her eyes never leaving Tinas.

Tina watched every move that Bette made and felt her breath catch as she watched Bette reach her tongue out, lightly drawing circles around the chocolate, still watching Tina intently.

Tinas breathing was becoming labored as she watched Bette continue to run her tongue suggestively around the chocolate.

Bette she breathlessly whispered.

Bette reached over and ran the chocolate around Tinas nipples, first the left and then the right. She watched Tina to see that she was mesmerized by Bettes actions, not moving a muscle, allowing Bette to do whatever she wished with her.

Bette leaned in towards Tina, bringing her tongue to run over Tinas chocolate covered nipples.

FuckBette she moaned as she arched her back and placed her hand on the back of Bettes head to pull her in closer.

Bette languorously sucked on Tinas erect and hard nipples, taking in as much of her breast into her mouth as possible. Tina was leaning back, rubbing her hands through Bettes hair, pushing her ***** into her mouth, wanting more.

Bettes hand traveled down Tinas body, landing in between her legs, hovering closely without actually touching her. She felt the heat emanating from her hot center and knew that she would find Tina soaking wet.

As she tickled the insides of her thighs, she felt Tina bucking her hips towards Bettes hand, trying to capture it. She pulled away from Tinas breast and slammed her mouth down onto Tinas, probing furiously with her tongue.

Tina just tried to hang on to Bettes upper body, grasping her wherever she could reach, her hands trying to desperately pull whatever part of Bette she could capture, closer into her body.

Bette, baby she hoarsely panted. Oh God, baby, please

Holding onto Tinas lower back, she suddenly slid three fingers deeply into Tina, who gasped at the unexpected sensation.

Oh my God she whispered into Bettes ear as she raised her hips to then lower herself back down onto her hand, going up and down, trying to get Bette as deeply into her as possible.

Bette moved her hand in and out, allowing the palm of her hand to make contact with Tinas swollen *****. Every time that Tina came down on her hand, Bette watched her shudder at the contact.

Tina was driving this movement, Bette was just trying to keep up, match Tina stroke for stroke. She watched Tina as her head rolled back, ***** moving in front of her face as her hips vigorously fucked her hand.

Oh God, Bette she moaned, I cant hold on much longer.

She picked up the pace of her hips as Bette increased the pressure on her *****.

Bette watched Tinas face and saw that her ***** was just about there. Her eyes were tightly shut, breathing coming in gasps. Her mouth was open, moans escaping one by one, so frequent that they tied together.

*****, baby she panted. Im coming. Oh God, Bette she cried out as the ***** ripped through her body.

Even as Tinas hips began to slow, Bette kept her movement up, dragging the sensations out of Tinas body, trying to pull the ***** out of her, increasing the absolute pleasure.

Bette she weakly whispered as her head fell onto Bettes shoulder.

Baby she said, as she reached for Bettes wrist to still her.

Bette did as instructed but not before allowing her palm to make one last pass at her sensitive *****, making Tina jump at the contact.

Always have to have the last word, dont you? laughed Tina.

Only when it is worth saying smiled Bette.

Bette began to slowly withdraw her hand from Tina, but was stopped by Tinas hold on her wrist.

Just stay there for a minute said Tina into Bettes ear. I like having you there she added quietly, exhausted from another mind blowing *****.

Bette leaned back against the headboard, bringing Tina with her to lean against her body.

They sat there, quietly enjoying the others closeness, listening to the crackle of the fire and their own steady breathing.

After a while, Tina slowly pushed herself off of Bettes chest, looking deeply into her eyes.

So you liked the truffles? she giggled, eyes sparkling in merriment and happiness.

Maybe I should be the one asking that question teased Bette, wiggling her eyebrows at Tina.

With her free hand, Bette reached over to retrieve her wineglass and offered a sip to Tina while saying, A perfect accompaniment to chocolate, wouldnt you say?

Absolutely was all Tina said, as she took a sip of the wine.