“Not bad?” Bette repeated, smiling at Tina because she recognized her teasing.

“Yeah, not bad at all,” Tina said again, taking Bette’s hand and gently kissing her fingers. “Why don’t you go and rest on the couch while I clean up the table.”

Bette felt so exhausted and overwhelmed with everything that happened today that she happily accepted Tina’s offer and after helping her with the dishes, she went back into the living room.

She was half lying on the couch with her eyes closed when Tina joined her after tiding up the kitchen. She quietly sat by Bette, trying not to disturb her but the temptation to touch her was so strong that Tina slowly put Bette’s feet on her lap and began gently massaging them.

A soft moan escaped Bette’s lips and a smile of pleasure and contentment brightened her face. Tina’s head began spinning from the desire and she tried hard to control herself.

‘God, how long do I have to keep my hands off her’, she thought with a mixture of frustration and understanding. ‘I know she’s not ready. Am I ready to go all the way? I haven’t been with anyone for almost two months…okay, four…and even the last year with Eric was shitty in terms of sex. I’m afraid that my desire for her will consume my entire being and I’ll go crazy if I don’t touch her.’

Bette moaned again, bringing Tina back to reality. The brunette slowly opened her eyes and stared at Tina, conveying all the emotions running through her. Tina recognized desire, affection, confusion and…lust.

Bette propped her body up with her elbows and said, still looking directly at Tina, “No one has ever touched me below my waist and I can’t even describe the way this makes me feel.”

Tina swallowed hard and uttered inanely, “I’m just massaging your feet.”

Bette smiled and laid her head back on the cushion.

‘I’m just massaging your feet?’ Tina repeated to herself in disbelief. ‘I’m so lame. I could have said, ‘There’s more to come, just enjoy the ride.’ I could’ve said, ‘Let me show how it makes me feel’, or even ‘There’s more where this came from, baby,’ but noooooo…all I could say was ‘I’m just massaging your feet,’ Tina’s inner voice mocked her sarcastically.