Bette was so glad she had taken the afternoon off work. A client had cancelled on her last minute and realistically she should have used the unexpected time as a blessing in disguise to catch up with her escalating backlog. Finishing work early on a Friday afternoon however, was an opportunity that was even more of a rare blessing in disguise than the former. So she had decided to treat herself to a little gift of the present. Bette adored Tina but the feelings of being together were so much more tangible, so much more vivid and consuming if she had spent a little quality time with herself first. Connecting with the person she is and reflecting on the person who would be returning home from work any time soon. Time to notice and appreciate like savouring a meal before you even take a bite. Relishing every sensory delight to its maximum and knowing it pales in comparison to the ultimate luxury of tasting that dish. Bette liked a little anticipation to fuel her desire and she knew this only genuinely came from a feeling of distance, however temporary, between her and Tina.

She pulled her body out of the pool, her biceps flexing and tiny glistening droplets of water rolled down every inch of her honey coloured body. She returned to her lounger and sat on the edge pulling her towel to drape around her shoulders. The sun was just starting to set and the previous heat that has caressed her body was settling into a far gentler evening warmth. She lay back and admired the colours of the sky. She thought Tina must be on her way home by now and she closed her eyes as she pictured her lover’s hands on the steering wheel of her car. Soft, gentle hands that spoke when they moved and sometimes sung when they didn’t move at all. Bette pictured Tina catching a glimpse of herself in the mirror and imagined that as she looked into her own eyes like that, she was suddenly compelled to picture Bette sat, waiting for her with the scent of the afternoon sun still on her skin.

The subtle streaks of orange and pink that had threaded themselves through the sky, gradually melted into a deep and luscious red. The colour of passion, a colour you could really feel. Bette heard the sound of Tina’s tyres on the gravel out the front and she had to contain herself to stop from running into the house and tasting dessert before she had even laid eyes on the wine menu. She remained with her eyes closed and could feel her breath deepen as she heard Tina close the car door and head up the steps to the house. She wanted Tina to come and find her like this, waiting for her, ready to show her how much she had missed her. She heard Tina’s heels click across the parquet floor and step out onto the patio. Bette swore she could almost smell the light, musky scent of Tina’s perfume on the evening breeze as she walked across the lawn towards her lounger.

Bette opened her eyes and couldn’t contain a knowing smile as she caught sight of Tina’s hips sashaying closer to her.

“Hi baby, you got home early today?”

“Yes honey, lucky me hey? I’ve had all afternoon to think about you”.

 “Is that so?” said Tina as she sat on the edge of Bette’s chair. Bette felt intoxicated as her lover leant over and kissed her. Her full, plump lips opening in a tantalising motion that encompassed Bette yet opened her more than anything she had ever known. Bette slowly returned Tina’s kiss and took time to linger amongst the beautiful feelings sparked by an intricate unspoken knowledge that they had a whole uninterrupted weekend, to slowly savour each other.