Bette’s chocolate pools oozed with adoration over the beautiful face lingering so close to hers.

Tina tucked a finger in Bette’s scarf, pulling gently to finally untie what had been tantalizing her all day. She placed gentle kisses on each healing love bite. “But I will leave if you want me to leave.”

Bette dropped her head back letting Tina have her way with her neck. As Tina’s mouth drifted down to the mocha chest, savoring the sumptuous skin, Bette caught hold of her chin to tilt Tina’s gaze upwards to look her in the eye.

She took another sip of wine, easing the difficult words to flow from her mouth while her fingers twisted the engagement ring on Tina’s left hand. “What are you doing?”

Tina stared into Bette’s probing eyes. She didn’t know how to answer her question because she didn’t know what she was doing either. What she had figured out was that she needed Bette, she missed her and their life together but she couldn’t easily forget how complicated it was when they were married or how they grew to be so angry at each other. She scanned Bette’s face, noticing how much softer it was than a few years ago. The clenched jaw seemed to have permanently relaxed leaving beautiful smile lines in its wake, and the slight eye creases poked up instead of down. It made Tina ponder if perhaps the divorce had actually been good for Bette.

“You’re still the most exquisite woman I’ve ever seen.”

“And you’re still the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen. But that doesn’t answer my question.” Bette tilted her head, bringing Tina’s hand between them and kissing it lovingly.

“Did it bother you being at brunch together?” Tina figured being with Carrie earlier brought up questions for Bette.

“Not really. I was pretty sure I would be the one, in some way, getting you off tonight. Your teasing was top notch, by the way.” Bette winked, her fingertips still on Tina’s engagement ring, delicately sliding it off.

“I need you to make me cum, baby.” Tina professed into Bette’s ear, biting the lobe, and running her tongue to Bette’s collarbone.

“Jesus, Tina,” Bette exhaled. ”You know I will baby, but tonight we play by my rules and rule number one is that I can’t fuck you with that ring on.”