The two women looked at each other across the table, conversation muted while the servers removed their dinner plates.

Bette smiled at Tina, wordlessly communicating all of the love and adoration that she felt for her. Tinas smile in response confirmed her acceptance of Bettes feelings and at the same time, ensured Bette that all of her feelings and emotions were returned in full.

Just as before, once finished with their task at hand, the servers seamlessly exited the room, leaving just the two of them.

Bette now took this opportunity to look at the dessert in front of her.

No need for the decadence to stop with dinner, huh T?

Not one that I could come up with giggled Tina in return.

Bette looked at the slice of flourless chocolate cake with raspberry puree and whipped cream before her and wondered where she would find room for it.

I am going to have to double my time spent in the gym tomorrow. You know that, right? she asked with a smile.

Trust me, its worth it. The concierge at the hotel raved about this.

So, youre going to have to point out which one you worked with said Bette, as she brought a bite to her mouth of what turned out to be, an absolutely amazing dessert.

Good God! she exclaimed. He wasnt kidding! she added in appreciation.

No he wasnt agreed Tina, chewing the sweet decadence.

So you know, T, Ive been meaning to ask you. Did Chris Moore ever follow up with you on your conversation?

After everything that had transpired between the two of them the past couple of days, Tina had totally forgotten to tell Bette that she had indeed spoken with him again.

Oh baby, I completely forgot to tell you! I did talk to him again and we are totally a go. I believe that as we speak, I am being sent paperwork to sign and after that, I am officially on the payroll.

Good job, T! Thats great! So, what are you thinking? Starting week after next, after you get back from LA?

Uh, yeah. I guess so she trailed off. With all of the planning for this evening, she had also completely forgotten about her scheduled trip to LA.

Was it something I said? asked Bette with a smile on her face, immediately noticing the change in Tinas body language.

No, baby. Nothing that you said, I had just kinda forgotten about LA also.

Oh was all Bette said.

T, you know youre gonna have a great time she said, trying to encourage her. I can only imagine how much you miss the girls and just think, after this trip is over, I get you here in New York, all to myself, without having to share you with anyone, except for Chris occasionally I guess she smiled.

Tina returned the smile, knowing that Bette was trying to make her feel better about this trip, but truth be known, she still felt very strongly about not wanting to leave Bette after everything that they had been through.

Dont even begin to tell me that that is all the damage that you are going to do smiled Tina with a nod to Bettes dessert plate.

As much as I would love to keep going T, I really cant she laughed while patting her stomach. Im afraid that the lobster and potatoes dont want any more company.

Tina put her fork down and laughed at Bette. I know what you mean she said, admitting defeat to finishing her own dessert.

The room fell quiet as both took a sip of their wine. Tina looked at Bette over the rim of her wine glass and for not the first time tonight, wondered where this evening was going to take them.

She placed her wine glass back down on the table, wiped the corners of her mouth with her napkin while pushing her chair away from the table. She stood up, dropping her napkin where she had just been seated and walked over to Bette, smiling down at her.

She lowered her hand to Bette and softly said, Dance with me?

Bette returning the smile, reached her hand up to Tinas to take and just as softly said, I would love to.

Tina pulled Bette up from her chair and still holding her hand, led her to the open space in front of the fire roaring in the fireplace.

Once there, she turned to Bette, both women smiling at the other, and placed her arms around Bettes neck, pulling her in close. Bette wrapped her arms around her waist and helped Tina close the distance between the two of them.

They stood there, glad to be back in each others arms, and allowed their bodies to reconnect with the other.

Neither ever tired of holding the other. Tina loved the feel of resting her head on Bettes shoulder, feeling Bettes ***** against her own, their nipples rubbing against each other, causing them to harden in response to the friction. She felt Bette pull her in tighter, one leg in between Tinas, her thigh gently but determinedly, making its presence known to Tinas center.

She sighed into Bettes ear as they began to slowly move to the music that was so subtly coming in from the background. They were barely moving, just slightly swaying, but both womens bodies were responding to this dance as if they were furiously rubbing against the other.

Tina lowered one of her hands from Bettes neck to place it on her chest. She felt Bettes heart pounding and knew that if she were to check her own, it would be moving just as fast, if not more so, than Bettes.

She pulled her head off of its resting place on Bettes shoulder and moved so that her face was merely inches from Bettes. She looked in Bettes eyes, searching for what she was feeling.

What she saw took her breath away. Bette returned the gaze, not attempting to hide what she knew her eyes to be saying.

She saw the love that Bette felt for her pouring out of those beautiful brown windows to her soul. She saw the arousal and passion that Tina knew was being mirrored in her own eyes, and most importantly, she saw trust.

It was just at this moment that she realized that that was what she had been looking for all along, the sign that Bette trusted her again. More than anything, she knew that that was what she wanted Bette to read from her eyes, trust returned. She wanted Bette to see that she was loved, that she was safe, that she was wanted, but most importantly, she needed Bette to know that she was trusted. Once Bette fully understood that, Tina knew that their life together could truly begin again.

Without moving her face away from Bettes, she whispered in a lowered voice that only Bette could have heard, Do you feel it, Bette? I meanreally feel it?

Without hesitation, she simply exhaled and answered, Yes

Tina continued her search of Bettes eyes, and knew instantly that she was telling the truth. She saw that from the depths of Bettes soul, that there was trust there and that Bette understood that Tina truly trusted her again as well.

She placed her head back down on Bettes shoulder with a feeling of contentment that she had not experienced in she didnt know how long. What? Six, eight, twelve months? she thought.

She brought her hand up from Bettes chest to wrap tightly back around her neck.

The dance continued, neither woman willing to move away from the other. Their thoughts were not spoken, but both knew what the others were.

Bette gently dragged her hands up and down Tinas bare back, causing Tina to almost purr in Bettes ear. She dipped her hands down to her lower back, allowing her fingers to dance across the top of Tinas rear end. Moving them now even lower, she gently began to massage the soft muscle and tissue of Tinas rear, each movement thrusting Tina against Bette’s thigh between her legs, causing a moan to pour from Tinas lips.

Tina again lifted her head off of Bettes shoulder and with her hands guiding Bettes head, pulled Bette into her for a deep kiss. Both women opened their lips to the other, immediately thrusting their tongues into the others mouth. The softness of the earlier kisses was gone. This kiss was one of ownership, reclaiming what they both knew to be their own.

Bette pulled Tina into her even tighter, hands never leaving her rear. They began a slow grind into the other, a motion so instinctual in response to their arousal, that neither was even conscious that they were doing it.

Tina peeled her mouth away from Bettes gasping for air. Once she filled her lungs, she slammed her mouth back onto Bettes, greedily sucking Bettes tongue back into her mouth while her hands began to wildly roam Bettes body.

Bette pulled her hands up Tinas back and used them to cup Tinas head, pulling her in even closer, furiously demanding more from her mouth.

The soft knock on the door was not heard at first. When it happened for a second time though, Bette began to pull away from Tina.

No! Tina raggedly whispered, pulling Bette back into her.

This time, they both heard the third knock on the door and Tina muttered, ***** at the interruption.

They painfully pulled away from each other and trying to find her voice, Tina chokingly said, Come in.

The restaurant manager Philip, slowly opened the door, not sure what he would find on the other side. Once he saw the state that these two women were in, he was grateful that he had decided to wait for a response to his knocking instead of just coming in.

I am terribly sorry to interrupt, but Ms. Kennard, your driver is here.

Tina quickly glanced at her watch and saw that sure enough, it was ten oclock, the agreed upon time for the driver to arrive to take them home.

Ohok she said, trying to regain her composure.

Bette on the other hand, had walked over to the table so that she could take a sip of her wine to help calm her as well as put a little distance between her and Tina.

Can you please let him know that we will be right out? she asked, all the while her eyes following Bette’s every movement.

Of course, take your time he said while closing the door behind him.

As soon as it was closed, Tina walked over to Bette and placed her arms around her waist.

Hey she softly said, looking at Bette to see how she was responding to what had just transpired between the two of them.

Hey said Bette, smiling at Tina.

You ok? Tina asked, wanting to be sure that Bette was alright with what had just happened.

Yeah, I am T she said reassuringly.

You sure? she asked, intently watching Bette.

Yep smiled Bette, leaning in to give Tina a lingering kiss, allowing her tongue to slowly run across her bottom lip.

Bette pulled back, watching Tina to be sure that her fears had been assuaged.

Tina finally opened her eyes, took a deep breath, and said, We should be going I guess

I think so said Bette, reaching down for both her jacket and Tinas wrap.

Tina leaned down to get her bag and when she stood back up, Bette had her wrap extended in both hands, opened so that she could place it on Tinas shoulders.

Tina walked over to her, turned and felt Bette lovingly wrap it around her shoulders while she leaned down and said into her ear, Thank you, T. Not just for tonight, but for everything.

Tina turned around in Bettes arms where she always felt so safe, and simply said, Youre welcome, baby.

The two women walked towards the door, bracing themselves for the departure of the safety and warmth that this room had been for them, each knowing though, that it not only could, but would, be recreated wherever they went together.