Bette nodded, speechless. She could not believe how high she felt. She got to her feet as Helena nudged her away, and they walked to the bedroom, where Helena wrapped them both in a blanket.  Bette lay against Helena’s chest listening to her heartbeat.

Outside, the sounds of the neighborhood surrounded them. Someone hammered steadily on a rooftop nearby. The low rumble of cars in the distance filled the air. Somehow the moment felt elusive and yet real; their time together slipped away as quickly as it solidified.

“Where on earth are we going to get that car?” Helena asked, yawning slightly.

Bette laughed. “Let’s not get it and say we did.” She said, wrapping her arms tighter around Helena’s waist. “Are you feeling better than you were last night?”

Helena nodded. “It seemed scary suddenly, moving from this limbo I’ve been in for over a year. It was easy in a way, letting you have your daily dramas without me—I could just sweep in at the end of it all and carry you away for awhile. Now…” She looked down the length of Bette’s nose, leaning down to the kiss the tip gently. Bette smiled up at her.

“Now,” Bette continued. “You might actually become the cause of some of my daily dramas.”

Helena feigned seriousness. “Yes, I mean this is no laughing matter woman. I can be petulant and sometimes I whine a great deal.”

“I’m a control freak.” Bette volunteered. “And sometimes I whine a great deal also.”

“You also say ‘fuck’ a lot, which I’m picking up the habit of.” Helena groaned as Bette rolled on top of her. “You’re also a sex addict.” She smirked up at Bette who moved her body up and down the length of Helena’s. Bette nodded jokingly, leaning down to kiss the spot between Helena’s collarbone and her neck. “I hate the feeling that I own someone.” Helena said thoughtfully. Bette’s mouth paused just over her breast, and she looked up again.

“Don’t you mean that you hate the feeling that you don’t own somebody when you’re with them?” Bette asked.

“No. What I said, the first time.” They looked at one another with raised eyebrows.

“I hate that also.” Bette decided, laying her head back down against Helena’s breasts. Her hand cupped soft curves and she adjusted herself so that their bodies fit perfectly together. “Maybe that’s why people try all sorts of alternative arrangements with their relationships. Maybe that’s why people cheat. We run away from that feeling, but in the end, it creeps up anyway.”

“We’ve both cheated, almost compulsively, in our relationships…” Helena had the feeling that this issue might suddenly become their sticking point. Bette’s breath tickled her as she sighed. “It doesn’t have to be the end of the world…”

“No, but I have no interest in disrespecting you.” Bette murmured, moving her palm against Helena’s breast, turning her cheek to press lips against skin, and willing every inch of her body to reassure them both that this could somehow work. She had no doubt about that fact, but she did know that it could—probably would—get complicated at times. 

It could also be simple, she realized.  They made love again, slowly, their bodies wide open to one another.  Bette’s smile reached her eyes as they gazed adoringly into the other’s eyes.  Afterward, they slept peacefully for the first time in days.  Bette was curled up against Helena’s back.  Her hands, perfumed with her lover’s scent were strong and sure against Helena’s skin. 

Tbc…