“Right there, along the side” replied Bette quietly. But the brief silence told Bette that Tina still hadn’t spotted what she was talking about, so with grace and confidence, Bette searched and found Tina’s right hand that had been dangling gracefully beside her own.

She slowly and lightly raised Tina’s hand in her own and stretched them out in front of their bodies, up towards the large canvas. Bette then isolated Tina’s index finger with her own and at that Tina almost melted right there on the hardwood. She was immediately taken back to her sensual dream and how Bette had first entered her with that exact finger.

Bette used their blended fingers to air trace the outline of the female face that she wanted Tina to see and appreciate.

“Do you see her now?” Bette whispered, and doing so she let her warm, sweet morning breath drift onto Tina’s right cheek. Feeling this sensual, soft assault made Tina melt just a little bit more.

With their hands still in the air, Tina took the lead and started slowly moving their fingers along the profile that she did indeed see now in the painting.

“The slope of her nose and the shape of her mouth is exquisite” said Tina, as she traced it for Bette has she spoke. “I can’t believe that she is tucked away in there with so much shielding her from first glace” Tina continued “She is drawing me, I just want to be closer if that makes any sense” she said aloud with a slight vulnerability to her voice.

As Tina was speaking these words and looking at the painting, Bette had kept her sight locked on Tina’s profile instead and warmly replied to Tina’s words “It makes perfect sense. I was just feeling the same thing.”

At that remark, Tina turned her head to Bette’s. The women stared at each other and in that one moment they shared something that would ultimately bind them for eternity – a feeling of safety and understanding, a sense of unending warmth in the face of appreciating great beauty in all things.

“Sorry to interrupt” said James as he walked towards his boss and her beautiful guest.

At the sound of James’s voice, both women released their hands from one another and turned to look at him.

“Bette you have been waiting for this call – it’s Richard Lawrence.”

“Right, ok.” I will be right there.

As James disappeared back into the office, Bette turned and looked at Tina. Both women silently realized that this was the first time that they were standing face-to-face, so close together.

“I’m sorry Tina, I really do need to take this call” she said apologetically. “I won’t be long I promise. Will you wait for me please?”

Little did Bette know that Tina had already decided that morning that she would wait for Bette for as long as she could ever need. Nothing could have taken her out of that gallery, out of Bette’s space.

“Of course” Tina managed to say softly. She looked around as if to wonder where she could wait specifically and said “Where would you like me?”

Bette, being the woman that she was, couldn’t help but reply visually with a soft side grin as she was starting to have trouble keeping their banter innocent.

“How about in my lounge on the couch?” Bette said somewhat playfully but then regaining her professional composure and continuing as she walked away “I’ll have James show you the way.”

Tina stood helpless in the middle of the gallery, watching this woman walk away. And like Bette had secretly done to her moments before, Tina drank in her beauty from behind. She was completely full of excitement and anticipation. She still didn’t know what was happening to her, but she knew one thing – that she loved this feeling. She loved what this new woman in her life was doing to her and with the same childlike feelings she had when she pulled up to the gallery in her car, she smiled and playfully followed James to the lounge to wait for Bette to return to her.

TBC