Faith smirked over her shoulder when they reached the threshold of her bedroom. That look on her face made Tara feel a lot of things: nervous, condescended to, excited, cared for, guilty, disbelieving. Maybe nothing would actually happen. Maybe Tara would encounter a forcefield between her and Faith, the Force of Monogamy and Justice that would stay her hand. Only men actually cheated, right? Maybe she was safe. Maybe even as Faith threw herself down on her bed, arms raised and feet on the floor, Tara was safe. She stood there, wondering. God, Faith was beautiful. How was she so beautiful, and why?
"These boots are a bitch to take off," Faith said. "You mind helping me out?"
Tara tried to say she would but she couldn't speak. She just knelt down and started untying the laces. But she caught her breath when she felt Faith's hands in her hair.
"You're good at that," Faith said.
Tara concentrated on her task. "Good at what?" she managed to say. "I'm just—"
"Your fingers," Faith said. "They're moving really fast, with a whole lot of purpose. You really know what to do with your hands, don't you?"
Tara stopped and looked up at her.
"You are so, so, so pretty," she said. "Do you know that? You're like a Renaissance painting or some shit."
"I…thank you."
"You know what?" Faith said. "Forget the shoes for a second. Kiss me."
"What?"
"Kiss me," Faith said.
Tara had a choice. She could pretend or not pretend. She had been pretending, up until now, but all of a sudden she couldn't. Faith would see right through her if she acted shocked, Faith saw through everyone. Tara rose, and, slowly, waiting for the force field to knock her back, she leaned in. Nothing happened to keep her and Faith apart. Without warning – at least it seemed to Tara to have come without warning – she and Faith were kissing, kissing as though they'd wanted to melt into each other this way for a long, long time. Faith's lips – soft, waxy with her dark plum lipstick – were full, perfect, and her practiced tongue sent electric jolts through Tara that – she hated to admit it – she hadn't known were possible from kisses.
"Goddamn, witch," Faith said, flashing that smirk again.
"I really should go," Tara said.
"Should, yes," Faith agreed. "But are you going to?"
Tara took in the full dark gleaming promise of Faith's eyes. "No," she said finally.
"Didn't think so. Now, let's get these boots off me for real, huh?"