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“And I know it probably doesn’t seem like much to you, but I’ve never had someone cook me dinner before. That sounds pathetic, I’m very aware of that, but I wanted to say thank you. For doing that for me. It was…special.”

Aster’s heart constricted. Nobody had ever cooked dinner for Eden? Surely not… “Well, whatever company you’ve been keeping…it’s really shitty.”

“Not anymore.” Eden leant up on her elbow, capturing Aster’s lips. “You’ve been more than anyone I’ve known before, and it’s only been a short time since we got together.”

“Got together, huh?” Aster smirked. “I’m totally here for that, by the way.”

“Yeah?” Eden caressed her lips again, her tongue slipping into Aster’s mouth. They both moaned, deepening the kiss. But then Eden pulled back. “I’m sorry. I’m trying to not get carried away. It’s just…hard.”

“Don’t ever think you can’t get carried away. All of this is absolutely what I want. I’m ready for anything with you.”

“But why?” The lines in Eden’s forehead creased. “I mean, I could be terrible at this.”

“The way you kiss me,” Aster said. “Nobody has ever kissed me like that. My body has never responded the way it does around you. I’d say you’re doing pretty damn good at this.”

“I’ll remember that when I’m having a meltdown at home.”

“No reason for a meltdown, baby. I’m not here to put any pressure on you at all. If you want to hide away at my place, I’m fine with that.”

“Y-you are?”

“Only if I’m allowed to touch you in the process.”

Eden’s lips curled. “I’m sure we can figure that out between us.”

“Fancy getting into bed? I’d like to snuggle you if you’re okay with that.”

Eden’s hands ghosted up Aster’s sides, settling on her stomach. Honestly, it was the most incredible touch Aster had ever been subjected to.

“Come on. Let’s snuggle.”

21

Eden woke to an arm wrapped around her waist. Aster’s light breathing was calming, but Eden’s mind and body raced. Her thoughts…well, they weren’t appropriate for this morning. While she had enjoyed falling asleep beside Aster last night, both of them talking complete rubbish until they couldn’t hold their eyes open anymore, she needed to move. Slowly. Quietly. Without waking Aster.

As she shifted slightly, Aster’s arm tightened around her waist. No, not now. Eden couldn’t lie here while her body craved more. She couldn’t pretend nothing was wrong when she ached to feel Aster’s hands beneath the oversized night shirt she was wearing. Eden never wore clothes to bed, she preferred to sleep naked, but she couldn’t exactly climb into bed with Aster last night wearing nothing but her birthday suit. God, I wish I had.

Eden took Aster’s wrist gently, lifting her arm from her body. And then she slid out of the bed, the chill in the room doing little to help the heat of her body. She fixed her hair, tugging her shirt down her thighs. Then she turned around, watching Aster as she slept peacefully.

Aster lay on her stomach, her legs splayed out across the bottom of the bed. The white sheet that they’d shared as they drifted off last night was crumpled in a ball next to her, her blonde hair dragged up high on her head. She looked adorable as she slept, her tank top riding up her back to expose dimples at the base of her spine. But it was the shorts Aster wore that caught Eden’s attention, tight to her thighs and only just covering her backside. And what a beautiful backside it was.

Eden desperately wanted to reach out and touch Aster. She needed to feel how soft her skin was. But she couldn’t bring herself to do it. Because if Aster backed away, Eden wouldn’t last another moment in this room. Something definitely could have happened last night when they held one another, but both had been a little drunk after sharing almost two bottles of wine, and Eden never wanted her first time with not only a woman but Aster to be that way. She wanted to remember every second of it. She needed to memorise everything Aster liked and everything her own body responded to. Drink could never be involved during a moment like that.

The sound of buzzing broke Eden from her desire, her phone lighting up on the nightstand. She rushed towards it, hesitating when she saw her mum’s name on the screen. Now wasn’t the best time to talk to her; Eden feared she’d blurt out everything that had happened recently. But if she didn’t answer, her mum would only continue calling.

“Hello?” Eden whispered as she slowly crept out of the bedroom, closing the door behind her as she stepped into the kitchen.

“Hi, love. How’s the holiday?”

“I, um…change of plans. I didn’t go.” Eden rested back against the counter, flicking the kettle on.

“Oh. Well, why?”

“It wasn’t a concrete plan, to be honest,” Eden lied. “And I had to be around for a friend who is having a hard time at the minute?”

“What friend?” Angela asked. “Blair?”

“No. Not Blair. It’s a friend I work with.” She’s not your friend. She’s close to being the love of your life. “But we can rearrange. I’m sure another holiday will pop up soon.”