Page 36 of The Artist's Rival

The gallery slowly empties, and their acquaintances group around them, asking impatiently about an afterparty. Ellie and Tatiana made sure to think it through before and reserved a table at a nearby club. Both, however, could read in each other’s eyes a growing hesitation. They let everyone know the address and said that they need to finish gathering their things at the gallery.

“We‘ll join soon,” Ellie reassures everyone.

Once the group is out the door, Tatiana is all over Ellie’s lips. They drink away from each other all the uncertainty and miscommunication, they feed each other with thirst for something sincere and uncomplicated. Their bodies have been craving each other for a long time.

“We should get the hell away from here,” Tatiana whispers to Ellie’s ear.

“True,” Ellie agrees, and they leave the gallery.

The air outside is crisp and fragrant, the park nearby spreads the various scents of summer around. The street is entirely empty.

“Let’s walk for a minute,” Ellie suggests.

“Sure.”

They walk, holding hands. Their pace is slow and appreciative of the evening, but something clearly hangs between the two women. Tatiana understands that to simply go back to their old ambiguous relationship is not something either one would want.

“Let me say something,” Tatiana begins. “I came to you that afternoon in a rush, right after a conversation with my friend. She really hyped me up to confront you about that silly house painting. I’m not saying she was wrong. I think what you did really upset me,” she stops for a moment to think the following words through. “But I was never even imagining breaking up,” she confesses. “I didn’t want to look like a fool later when you suggested it, so I simply agreed. That was dumb.”

She stops and takes up Ellie’s hands. Their warmth only encourages her to continue, the pulsing skin of her beloved.

“I truly care about you. Tonight, I felt so silly. I was just walking around half-scared, half-craving to see you.”

Ellie laughs gently.

“I was doing the same thing,” she admits, kissing Tatiana lightly on the lips.

“I think,” Tatiana gets to the less pleasant part, “I think that if we commit to changing certain things… I definitely need to work on my anger, for example,” she breathes in, shakily, “but I think that if we work hard, we will do well as a couple. I would like us to do well as a couple.”

Ellie nods, visibly relieved.

“I would like that very much.”

They embrace tightly, not letting each other go. Tatiana begins rocking them side to side, in a calming motion. She gets closer to Ellie’s ear.

“Do you want to go back to my place?” she asks.

“I do,” Ellie answers, grinning into Tatiana’s hair.

They get into Tatiana’s car, and drive through the emptying streets.

“Oh my god,” Ellie sighs, “We forgot about the afterparty.”

“I didn’t forget about anything,” Tatiana answers casually, “I wasn’t going there.”

They laugh and let the simple joy of sitting next to each other fill them up entirely.

–

Once home, they begin kissing before either has even the chance to take off her shoes. The emotional turbulence they have endured throughout the day melts softly into a rain of sizzling desire, plump with tenderness and longing. Ellie begins taking off Tatiana’s coat, lips still locked together. Tatiana chuckles.

“Let me take off my shoes, darling,” she whispers, for a moment letting herself out of their tight embrace.

They take off their coats, their shoes, lay down their purses. Each motion carries with it the delicate scent of the night’s gentle seductions. They’re careful not to cause abrupt noise, two performers in the house of desire.

Tatiana takes Ellie by her hand and leads her to the bedroom. The window, left slightly ajar, lets gentle breeze into the room. Ellie brushes hair from Tatiana’s face, laying kisses on her forehead, cheeks, finally getting to her lips and playfully teasing with her tongue.

The women lock once more in a kiss, this time less gentle and more fiery, they’re almost feasting on each other’s lips, taking off their dresses, and hungrily falling towards the bed.