“Shit …” Tina panted, laughing with what breath she had left. She wrapped her arm over Bette, paying no mind to the broken piece of furniture. “That … was … you’re the best … sex …”

“You’re the best sex, too,” Bette smirked, the cold floor sending a shiver down her spine. But Tina – her little heater – was close by, so she was warmed with her gentler body.

“Don’t-make … fun …”

“I really …” Bette started, her eyes already closing. Her body ached. She was too tired to pick herself up.

“Come here,” Tina breathed, reaching up to Bette’s face, taking it in her hands. She loved to see her beautiful submissive so weak – especially with what she’d just given to Bette. “I want you to know how much … I love you.”

Bette smiled with her eyes still closed, looking almost pained with the confession. She knew she was blessed to feel a love so intensely returned. “T … I love you, too … I didn’t hurt you too much … did I?”

Tina grinned knowingly, staring at Bette’s most prominent features and then the rose in her cheeks. The lengths of her eyelashes. “No, just enough,” she whispered back, resting her head against Bette’s shoulder to close her own eyes and ignore her own discomfort. The moment was bliss.

Bette was quickly falling asleep, her body entirely spent. She wasn’t conscious enough to speak, but her hand drifted slowly across her own stomach to Tina’s soft, loving hand.

And in that moment, Tina cried. Her tears watered and she sobbed because of her love for Bette. Because she couldn’t understand what had created them so perfectly for one another, and because she couldn’t stand the thought of life without her. Through all of the pleasures they felt together, Tina was scared. She choked back her tears, turning from Bette so she wouldn’t wake her. Bette wouldn’t understand.

Just as Tina was wiping away her tears, trying to erase the evidence of her emotional scramble, she felt Bette behind her, pulling her tight. Giving Tina everything she could manage. “It’s okay. I’m here.”

Maybe she does understand, Tina thought, wondering if Bette had also cried over the intensity of their love. She didn’t know what to say, simply giving in to the arms around her when she felt something peculiar on her shoulder. In the silence between them, Bette was crying too. Tina smiled at their connection, glad for what they shared. She gave Bette all the comfort she could, nestling closer to make herself as weak as she could. To show Bette that she wasn’t going anywhere either. She would lay there until they had the energy to crawl into her bed, laughing and teasing all the while. Bette was there for her in every moment – the rough and the tender – just as Tina had her own confession.

“Me too.”

Bette calmed at Tina’s words, to drift off once again. Her body would be in sorry condition tomorrow, but her heart would make no apologies.