“S-Simone,” Tina started, offering out her hand and cursing herself all the while. She was quite often a powerful sub, and took great pride in that, but it was difficult to be so strong in the presence of one whose will seemed to be so much stronger.

The handshake was solid and slow at once, Bette catching a subtle smile from Simone while Tina wasn’t looking. She read the message loud and clear: You sure are lenient with this one …

The honest smile in answer was just as clear: I know.

By the time Tina had picked her eyes up from the dark hardwood to look back in the woman’s eyes, Simone let her hand drop to her side. It was done purposefully – everything was – and she had Tina holding her breath. Was she supposed to talk?

Before Tina could venture a guess, Simone signalled for Bette to come with her for a moment, leaving Tina all on her own. It was done in part to get her mind racing, and also to give Simone a moment to ask for a minute or two downstairs alone, before Bette and Tina joined them down there. She wanted to fully prepare Brandi – her beautifully willing submissive.

When Bette walked back into the living room, she found Tina shaking out her hands to turn toward her. Smiling as if there was no doubt in her mind. It was exciting to see the confident woman so out-of-sorts, but Bette had to admit that it was worrying her a little, too. She carefully walked over to Tina, and put her hand on her wife’s lower back.

“T … we don’t have to be here.”

And the moment Bette had begun, Tina started up, too. “No! – No, please. I wanna be here.” She had to be there. She had to see what Bette had assured her would be scary. She had to know, and her curiosity would break her if it wasn’t sated. She knew that. “I’m just … nervous …”

“Simone is one way with her … girlfriend or whatever else she might call her. I’m a very different way with you, hunny, because I worry. I would never want to hurt you.”

Tina dropped her head for a moment, and then looked back up to Bette – the scent of something unfamiliar still tingling in her senses. “I love what we have … that’s what I’ve always wanted. But you have to understand … my curiosity is killing me! I need to know what’s behind door #1, you know?! … It’s … I don’t know. She’s very … different.”