Tina sobbed; her shoulders were shaking, as she cried, even more than she did when she saw Eric bring a girl to the Japanese garden of Bette’s gallery to make out with her.   She felt lost and torn: she didn’t want to lose Bette, but she was afraid of getting hurt.

And she didn’t know which feeling would win out in the internal battle being waged inside her: her hopes, or her fears?

Bette held the Tina, comforting, soothing, and cradling her as a storm of emotion swept over the trembling blonde, as she wept.  After a few minutes, Tina’ sobs faded into sniffles.

She drew slightly away from Bette, but continued to rest her head on the shoulders of the brunette.

They fell silent again.  After a few minutes, Bette glanced over at Tina, to try to get a sense of where the blonde’s thoughts were.  She quietly said the first thought that floated into her head, ”I love sacred spaces, T.”  Tina smiled, and nodded her head in agreement.  They both stared ahead, at the gigantic cathedral, which cast long, imposing shadows across the garden, protecting the pensive  couple from the noon-day sun.

Bette continued, ”We should find ourselves a sacred space back in LA that we can go to…. Something like this one, with a river flowing by, a beautiful, peaceful garden…”

”And the best ice cream I can lick from your mouth,” Tina finished Bette’s thought, as she finally looked at her, smiling naughtily.

They smiled at each other.  Bette saw with relief that Tina had recovered, and seemed ready to resume the carefree, let’s-see-where-this takes-us approach they had promised one another that they would take.

With a smile, Bette stood first.   She extended a hand to Tina, and after some hesitation, bent to give Tina a quick kiss. Tina kissed her back immediately, with renewed feeling.  She murmured into the soft mouth,  ”Damn Bette… do you know you are the only person I know who smells better and better as the day goes by?”

Tina couldn’t help it. Her heart was beating fast again, as Bette’s soft lips moved seductively against her own.  Bette’s signature perfume, that suited her perfectly, mixed well with the brunette’s natural scent, and the luxe soap and body butter that she used were releasing intoxicating pheromones that Tina’s senses were helpless to deny.