Mature rating for this chapter! We saw Bette and Tina hookup half-clothed in 3x02 and (though I know that's likely for the comfort of the actresses, in reality) for the sake of cannon, I'm arguing that it's because these two are simply are too desperate for each other to spare the extra minute it would take to undress. At least sometimes.
They landed early the next morning, tired and groggy, and quickly took a cab to Tina's townhouse—both women eager for a hot shower and mug of caffeinated tea.
In the cab, Bette pulled her sweater more tightly around herself, eyes half-lidded with fatigue. "I can't believe you're planning to be at work at nine. You haven't slept in two days. Why did you never tell me you're superhuman?"
Tina chuckled. "Hardly. Under normal circumstances, I never have such a tough schedule."
Bette's eyebrows furrowed, waiting for further clarification.
"I was supposed to go back two days ago—right after we moved Angie in," Tina explained. "But then I saw you and changed my flight so I could go to the fundraiser. And then we spent the morning together…"
Bette smiled, shaking her head in wonder. "I can't believe that was only twenty-four hours ago."
"The point is," Tina continued, "this isn't a regular occurrence." She smiled shyly. "The only person I'll ever take a red-eye for is you."
Heart swelling, Bette bumped her shoulder with hers. "I love you."
Half-an-hour after arriving at the townhouse, Tina left again, eager to get to the studio before filming began.
Which left Bette alone, in a space—and, well, city—that was totally new to her. After showering and then making a few calls to LA—to get her medications, her skincare, and some of her clothing shipped—she took the time to really look around Tina's space.
For the past few years, this space had been Tina's safety—and Bette was eager to explore all her design choices, to see the similarities and differences between this townhouse and the homes they once had lived in together. She was surprised, for example, to see a bag of Earl Grey tea in the pantry—a flavor Bette loved but one that Tina had always famously hated. She was intrigued, too, by the Adrian Piper print hung above the fireplace mantel—an artist whose exhibition they had once gone to together.
Mostly, she just felt happy—to be in this beautiful space that was curated to feel as warm and cozy as Tina, and knowing that the love of her life would be back at six and that they'd be free to spend the following day, uninterrupted, with each other.
Given the three-hour time difference, Bette was still on a work call when Tina walked in that evening.
After offering a small wave and smile in her direction, Bette refocused on the call: "Hey, can we finish this up tomorrow?" She was quiet for a second, listening to the man's response.
Tina strode toward her, an easy smile on her face.
"Great," Bette concluded. "Thank you. Talk to you then." Then, hanging up, Bette turned her full attention to Tina. "Hi, honey," she greeted, a playful twinkle in her eye—playing, just for a moment, the role of housewife for the very first time in her life. "How was work?"
Tina laughed as she leaned in for a kiss. "Good. I brought dinner."
Curled up on the couch together with four half-empty containers of Chinese food on the coffee table in front of them, Bette asked, "So how was being back? Any drama with all the big personalities?"
"Always." Tina rolled her eyes, thinking about some of the difficult creative people she worked with. She reached for Bette's hand. "I'm glad to be home." It was a slip of the tongue—or maybe some sort of metonym—because both women knew right then that, when Tina had said "home," she wasn't referring to the physical space of the townhouse. When Tina said home, she was talking about Bette.
Bette reached out, tucking a soft strand of hair behind Tina's ear. "You must be exhausted. You've been going non-stop all week."
Tina shrugged. "I don't mind the busyness, as long as I'm doing things I love." She thought back to what—or, better said, whom—she'd been busy doing two nights ago and smirked a little.
Bette nodded knowingly—flirtatiously—always quick to catch on. "So what will you do tonight?"
Tina smiled as she leaned in.
The kiss began gently, with pillowy lips becoming reacquainted with pillowy lips, and soon, Tina deepened it: sliding her tongue into a warm mouth to meet Bette's, groaning at the taste of her.
Bette pulled away, briefly, to catch her breath, and Tina's lips instantly began working up her jaw, toward the shell of her ear. "You?"
Already turned on, Bette's breath shuddered out at the feel of warmth breath against her ear.
Tina urged her to lie down on her back as she leaned over her, lips never breaking contact with sweet-smelling skin.
"Yes," Bette consented eagerly, gently pushing Tina's hair out of her face. She ran her hands over smooth arms, down a lithe back.
Straddling a toned thigh, Tina buried her face in Bette's neck, trailing a line of kisses down her chest.
Bette bent her legs a little at the knee, and Tina shut her eyes in response to the newfound pressure in the place she wanted it most. She pressed her own thigh against Bette's center, feeling the heat of arousal, even through her jeans.
"Tina…"
Tina's stomach lurched at the way Bette said her name—something between a plea and a groan, so quiet and breathy that it sounded almost reverential. She pressed her full weight onto the brunette as she kissed those lips she loved, overwhelmed by want. Her hands ran over Bette's sides, thumbs rubbing rhythmically across breasts, squeezing her nipples, feeling them harden through her bra.
She brought her lips to Bette's ear again, exhaling, "I need you." She knew how Bette had always gotten when she got vocal during lovemaking. And, right on schedule, she felt the body beneath her lurch up toward hers with the sound of a strangled moan.
The blonde laughed lightly, momentarily prideful at the effect she had on Bette—but the sound quickly transformed into a groan when she felt hands on her ass, pulling her down as Bette's hips thrust up, the movement delicious on her clit.
"God, Bette."
And, this time, it was Bette who smiled at the blonde's reaction. She kissed her way down Tina's cheek, searching for her lips. Immediately, their tongues met, lips parted, breaths uneven, flowing into each other's mouths…
Bette lifted her hips again and, this time, Tina ground hers down to meet them, a little whimper escaping her lips as they kept kissing, slowly moving against each other, the seams of their jeans providing the perfect amount of friction and pressure.
Bette brought her hands beneath Tina's shirt and palmed bare skin. She caressed her spine, expertly unhooking a bra. Then, she shifted her body down a little so that she could reach the buttons of Tina's shirt, fumbling to undo them. She willed her fingers to move faster, desperate to touch the breasts she loved. But she didn't even have time to undo the last two bottom buttons when Tina pushed the blouse down her shoulders and arms. It fell down her stomach, still knotted around her.
Tina hands immediately came up to cup those full naked breasts, her thumbs running over them. "God, you're incredible," she breathed.
Tina laughed, her own hands finding the hot skin under Bette's shirt.
Bette lifted her head enough to kiss Tina's chest, her breasts. She took a nipple in her mouth, lolling over it with her tongue.
Tina hands immediately tightened on the brunette. Her body craving friction, she began to move again, her breath coming out in a rush.
Bette lips migrated to the other nipple, her hips lifting instinctually to meet Tina's steady rhythm.
Tina surged forward, searched for her lips, and they kissed hard and sloppily as they humped each other's thighs, their movements becoming increasingly rushed and hard. Then, all at once, Tina tore her mouth away from Bette's and ducked her face into her neck as she tried to catch her breath.
"Ti, I-" Bette words cut off with a groan, her breath hissing out.
Tina shut her eyes, her tongue licking the salt from Bette's neck. "I know. Me, too."
"Come here," Bette panted, her hand smoothing over soft blonde hair, urging Tina's face toward hers.
As their mouths found each other again, Tina felt herself pressing her pelvis harder against Bette, her movements beyond her control. "Bette, I'm—" She cut herself off with a grunt, her eyes squeezing shut. "I'm—"
At the feel of Tina shuddering against her, Bette's own climax hit, and suddenly she tumbled into a simultaneous orgasm. She moaned into Tina's mouth and swallowed Tina's scream, the two of them fumbling for each other as they continued their grinding, giving themselves to the waves of pleasure that washed over them.
After another minute, Tina collapsed on top of Bette, her brow damp with sweat and her face flushed red. She felt arms encircle her back and a low rumble of laughter come from Bette's chest. Still breathless, she lifted her head to look at Bette's face, her own smile curious. "What's so funny?"
Bette kissed her cheek. "Between today and the other night, I'm just starting to remember how often you and I end up having sex with our clothes half-on."
Tina smiled. "Well, I've never had much patience when it comes to touching you." She blushed a little.
Bette cradled Tina's cheek, fingers tracing the line of her jaw. "Should we take this upstairs?"
And, immediately, Tina was standing, ready for more, reaching for Bette's hand. "Come on."