“you’re staring at me.” Bette said quietly.

“You’re beautiful.” Helena’s laid a hand warmly against Bette’s thigh. “I’m glad you had the guts to seduce me all those weeks ago.”

“Has it been that long?”

“It’s been…three weeks.”

“Wow.” Bette nodded carefully. They had progressed from a weekend of illicit passion, to seeing one another for dinner, and having a few romantic sleepovers. This was their first time traveling together, in any capacity. Bette realized that she was so relaxed, that the usual thoughts and worries of ‘what did this mean’ and ‘where was this going’ had simply escaped her. “This has been so, so nice.”

“Nice?” Helena snorted.

“More than nice.”

“How nice?” Helena’s hand pressed against Bette’s hipbone now. Her fingertips brushed against the zipper of Bette’s slacks.

Bette didn’t say a word, but her smile spoke volumes.

Inside their hotel room, Bette changed the subject slightly. Helena’s arms wrapped her tightly, and her thighs pressed in a way that should have inspired anything but talk.  But Bette was worried.

“I like Amelia.” She said with a frown. Helena’s lips stilled against her cheek.  Green eyes looked curiously at Bette.

“Yes…and?”

“And…I’m worried about Tina’s intentions. I mean she was pretty rude when Amelia jumped the gun like that. Sure she doesn’t want to move in right away, but she didn’t have to be mean.”

“She wasn’t being mean.” Helena moved away, spotting a complimentary bottle of water and deciding that they would both need it. “Well, ok, she was. But she’s nervous, Amelia’s scared…they’re just being you know…well they’re acting like teenagers, which is kind of cute in a way.”

Bette remained quietly thoughtful for a while.  Then the warm hands, long limbs, and gorgeous green eyes which gazed lovingly at her, brought her back to the present.  

“They’ll be ok.” Helena said within the silence.  She smiled, watching Bette as she wrestled with her clothes. “Let me help.” Helena knelt in front of Bette, unzipping her pants slowly, and taking them off. Bette lifted her bum of the bed, then flopped backwards. Her shirt lay open and Helena took advantage. She propped herself up on one and, laying beside Bette on the bed, and reached out to stroke her exposed torso. “You needn’t worry.”

“not worrying…just having some déjà vu.” Bette said with a sigh. “I’ve felt like that…like Amelia feels. Being so unsure.”

Helena’s hand moved in slow circles across the soft parts of Bette’s lower belly. She smiled and leaned forward, pressing her lips just below where her fingertips lay. “Don’t worry about us, if that’s what you’re really thinking about?” Her voice lilted up at the end.

Bette didn’t say anything for a few seconds. Then she changed the subject. “How’s your pot plant doing by the way?” She grinned when Helena started laughing again, climbing up to rest her head on Bette’s shoulder.

“My pot plant is just fine. And no, I didn’t bring any of it along, you silly woman. Besides, I’ve had too much wine for that.” She stifled a yawn.  Before long, Bette had her turned over, and her clothes were quickly coming off.  They climbed beneath the sheets, burrowing close together.

Bette turned Helena over with a slight sigh, bringing her leg up to rest over Helena’s hips, and wrapping her arms around a long, lean waist.  Her hands would soon roam, but for now, she just wanted to cuddle—she wanted that feeling of total security and calm.

Helena had other ideas. She was less distracted by the fears of the future or the griefs of the past.  Gradually, the palms of her hands and the tips of her fingers brought Bette with her.

_______

Tina moaned as long fingers moved within her, and a strong hand rotating and pressing against her clit.  Her own hands dug into Amelia’s shoulders, and her lips brushed Amelia’s ear.

When their eyes met, Tina felt a wave of emotion overtake her.  Nothing but love gazed back at her—there was nothing possessive or insecure about that look.  Amelia would give her everything with no strings attached.  For the first time in a very, very long time, Tina felt that she could be free even as she found herself falling.