"Maybe we should lie down. I don’t want you hurting your back any more"

"Always thinking of me, aren’t you Miss Porter?"

"Of course" Bette smiled at her.

They moved so that they were lying side by side, with Bette propping herself up on her elbow. Gently she removed a strand of hair that had fallen over Tina’s eyes. She then ran a finger slowly down Tina’s cheek and smiled.

"You are so beautiful"

Tina tried to turn her face away, but Bette stopped her with a hand on her cheek.

"Don’t be shy, you really are"

"You, Miss Porter, are perhaps the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen. And I’ve seen a lot of women" Tina winked.

Bette gasped in mock annoyance "Oh really"

"In fact, strike that, you’re definitely the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen"

Both women smiled, and Tina reached up to pull Bette down for a kiss. When their lips met they both lost their breath for a second, the electricity that seemed to pass between them was something that neither of them had felt before. Leaning over her, Bette looked down at Tina. Shifting so that she was holding all of her own weight so as not to hurt Tina, she planted little kisses on her face, trailing from her eyebrows to her nose, missing her lips and ending on her chin.

"Hey" Tina pouted.

"Oh, was there something you wanted?" Bette asked innocently.

"Yes. This" Tina grabbed Bette and kissed her forcefully.

Bette moaned and gave herself to the kiss. This woman had such an effect on her that she felt like she had no control over her body any more. Their kisses were hungry now, neither woman seeming to be able to get enough of the other. Tina’s hands roamed over Bette’s back while Bette tangled her hands in Tina’s hair. After several minutes Bette pulled away to catch her breath.

"Wow" she said exhaling deeply.

"What you said" Tina grinned.

"T…I hate to say this…but I think we should stop"

Tina looked at her with fear in her eyes. She was waiting for it. The ‘I can’t be with you because of my job’. The ‘this was a mistake and we can’t let it happen again’.

But it didn’t come. Bette leant over and kissed her softly on the forehead.

"I just meant that we should stop for now. For tonight. Because any more of that and I will not be held responsible for my actions. And I don’t think you’re ready for that yet. Emotionally or physically. And I’m not being responsible for hurting you any more babe"

Tina sighed with relief "Oh…ok…I thought…when you said.."

"You thought I was gonna call this off completely?"

Tina nodded shyly

"Are you insane? There’s no way I would ever want to stop doing this" Bette rolled over and planted a lingering kiss on Tina’s lips.

"You really do care, don’t you?"

"Yes. I really do" Bette said seriously.

"Will you stay with me tonight? I just want to feel safe" Tina asked quietly.

"What about your back? I thought you said…"

Tina interrupted her "That was just to get rid of Eric. I couldn’t bear him fussing round me" she paused "And I couldn’t stand sleeping here next to him when you were in the next room"

"You’re a clever woman, Miss Kennard"

"Why thank you" Tina grinned "So you’ll stay?"

"Well in my job description it does say to keep you safe at all times. I’m not sure my boss would agree, but sleeping with you seems to fit my interpretation just fine"

Tina took Bette’s hand and began to play with her fingers. Bette’s hands amazed her. They seemed so delicate, yet so strong. The same hands that already gave her so much pleasure were the ones that also saved her.

"Can I hold you?" Bette asked softly.

"I would love nothing more" Tina smiled and rolled over slightly so that her back was to Bette.

Bette gently wrapped her arms around her gently, not wanting to hurt her. She kissed the back of her neck lightly and then lost herself in Tina’s scent.

"I’ve never felt so safe" Tina whispered.

"I won’t let anyone hurt you" Bette whispered back.

"Goodnight Bette"

"Goodnight T"