And then the thought occurred. Bette normally did not have such a dirty mind duringnormal situations such as these, but her head was swimming in the vicinity of Tina that it just came. It occurred to Bette that instead of having a plateful of food, she would have much preferred having Tinas moistness before herto eat and ravish. As soon as the fleeting thought went in her head Bette blushed a deep red hue. Now Bette Porter never blushed. She had such confidence and control that she feltKNEW that she was in control and undaunted. She had no time, no reason to blush at anything. And nowfor the first time in agesBette felt the age-old warmth rise in her neckand there she stood blushing bright as a cherry. Bettes mind went blank, all she wanted to do was crawl away shrivel and die. She didnt realize that Tina had stopped talking until she felt her hand touch Bettes. Coming around at the touch Bette looked at Tina, not in the eye, she could not even talknot even to make up an excuse. And that was something that had NEVER happened. Tina asked if Bette was okBette looked sideways then holding her breath looked straight into Tinas eyes. In a voice totally devoid of her previous smooth and subtle cockiness…she asked if Tina wanted to ditch this crowd and take a walk in the botanical garden down the street. There it was, Bette blurted out what she really wanted, and the cards were out.did Tina want to be alone with her? With those clear eyes, so direct that Bette had to look down for a second, she said yesTina said yes. Bette felt the mischief goblin rear its head and enter hera grin spread on her face and taking Tinas hand she quickly led her out of the house before anyone noticed. Tina let out a high-pitched giggle like they were two girls playing hooky, which in a way they were. Looking all around them Bette led Tina to the sidewalk, then she let go of her hand. The hot imprint of Tinas hand scorched itself into Bettes, flushed with a youthful feeling Bette hadnt felt in years she let out a full-scale laugh. Tina laughed with her, the hilarity of it hitting them until both were belting out belly laughs.

And they talked; Talked like the world was on a silver platter before them for the picking. They talked about art, about nature, about the latest in science; their conversation was so interesting to both that they soon became comfortable. Bette walking with her hands in her pockets stealing glances at Tina who swung her arms smiling into the starry sky. Sometimes their shoulders brushed sometimes they strayed apart then came together again, their styles in speech reflecting each other, playing off each other. Bette was so into the convo that the garden almost went by. For the second time that night Bette took Tinas hand she led her back a few steps and they entered down the graveled path. Deep roses and black-eyed Susans graced the sides of it. For a few minutes silence ensued. A comfortable one in which Bette breathed in the air deeply and Tina closed her eyes for a second taking in the freshness of the night. Then Bette pointed out the constellation of Orion, Tina came closer to her to see. Bette was super-aware of the pressure of Tinas breast against the back of her arm. After continuing on walking Bette went a little closer, Tina was intoxicating and Bette was practically following her nose; the scent of peaches compelled her to breathe in the others neck. Suddenly Tinas body stiffened slightly, it was subtle but Bette felt it and came off her cloud of happiness. She went too far, she must haveBette cursed herself over and over again. Now an uncomfortable silence ensued and Bette tried not to notice itshe looked sideways at the little pond and felt stupid. It wasnt until Tina said Bettes name softly did she realize that she was walking on her own. Turning around Bette saw Tina standing slightly offside on the path; she had a look of.questioning on her face. With concern on her face Bette approached Tina, this time keeping a foot and a half between them. Bette didnt want to make her uncomfortable and watched for any signals. Tina smiled, warmly so that for an agonizing second Bette felt sharp lightening race down to her toes.

..Bette..theres something I want to ask you