“Bette?,” Tina asked, between licks. 

“Mmhmmm?” 

“Let’s try to find a way,” Tina continued. 

Bette paused, kissed both inner thighs in turn, then Tina’s cleft.  She motioned to Tina that she was going to rotate the blonde. 

She gently rolled to her side, as Tina’s face came into view, to slide the blonde on her side also. 

“That was amazing,” Bette said, smiling. 

“You never …?,” Tina asked, smiling back at her.  It was earth-shattering, in fact. 

Bette shook her head.  “I never felt comfortable enough with anyone else.  Except with you.” 

The brunette paused, then asked, “How about you?” 

She narrowed her eyes as Tina remained silent. 

“Hmm…not your first time?,” she narrowed her eyes then tweaked the blonde’s nose. 

“But never like that, baby,” Tina responded quickly, “Nothing’s ever been like what you and I have done.  Or continue to do.”  She caressed Bette’s check lightly, to assure her. 

“I bet you’ve got more than a few moves left that you haven’t shown me,” Bette teased. 

“A woman’s got to have her secrets,” Tina responded, with a wink.   They shared a laugh. 

“And you are going to know all of them … in time,” she continued, in a husky voice.  They leaned towards each other, kissed softly. 

They continued to smile at each other.  I love her so, Bette thought. 

After a few minutes, she asked “Should I call Mike?” 

“Yeah, I think you should. Maybe enough time has passed,” Tina answered. “We can talk to Brom, too,” she added.  They continued to gaze at one another. 

After a few minutes, Tina continued, “I can check in with her, too.  See how …” 

Bette shook her head, “No, T.  We talked, and have gone over all that.  I promised…” 

“Bette…hear me out. Is it an important collection?,” Tina asked. 

“Yes…but,” Bette started to say. 

“Then , let’s see whether you can …,” Tina cut in. 

Bette shook her head firmly,“No, T.  She’s a big girl.  She can talk to other people…” 

Tina sighed.

This time, Bette slid over her.  Tina smiled as she parted her legs. 

“Art is important,” Bette started, “But you are my life, Tina.  You and Angelica.  You are my love, my heart, my soul, my heaven….” 

“And your hell?,” Tina asked, teasing, as she started to lightly caress that beautiful face. “Sometimes,” Bette smiled.

“As I’m sure I’m yours, too,” she added, tweaking Tina’s nose. 

Tina’s smile turned serious, “No, Bette…. you’ve never been that,” she said as she stroked Bette’s cheeks. 

“Even in Paris?,” Bette asked, serious now, also, enjoying Tina’s fluttering touches. 

“Even in Paris,” Tina answered.  “The darkest hours I spent there after you’d left suddenly were well worth that magical summer day and passionate night with you.  And all the previous days, also, ever since we met in your gallery.” 

“Even when I left you on that bridge here in New York?,” Bette asked, again. 

“Even then,” Tina nodded, tucking a tendril behind one ear. 

She continued, “Which is why I know that you’ll never cheat on me.” 

Bette kissed the fingers that ran lightly over her lips, “How?,”she asked. 

“Because even when I had dealt you the worst blow, even as you suffered the unkindest cut from me, you were still tender.  Still gracious.  Still loving.  If ever there was a time for you to hurt me, it would have been then.  But you didn’t.” Tina whispered.  

“It would kill you to hurt me.” 

“And it would kill you to ever do so again,” Bette answered, kissing Tina softly. 

She drew her head back, looking back at Tina with all the love she could muster, then asked, “How about we make another baby?”