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Aster nearly couldn’t believe it. “We waited for each other.”

“That’s what you do when you’re in love.”

“We had to untie the knot.”

Brynn gasped. “Someone’s been talking to Marigold.”

Aster laughed. “You’ve heard it, too?”

Brynn nodded. “And what a knot we were in.”

Aster slid down the bed onto her side, placing them face-to-face. “Not anymore.” She placed a soft kiss on Brynn’s lips. “I’m never letting you go again. I’m making you breakfast every morning and kissing you every night.”

“Promise?” Brynn asked.

“On the planet Pentagargo.”

Brynn laughed loudly. “You are such a nerd. But you’re my nerd. A sexy one.” She eased a leg between Aster’s. “And really hot in my bed. Without clothes on.”

Everything in Aster woke the hell up. “I feel like you’re coming on to me.”

In answer, Brynn lifted her thigh, placing it more firmly between Aster’s legs, and pressed upward. “I don’t think I’m the one who’s going to be coming.”

Aster felt the familiar stirring hit, and she rocked her hips softly.

“Just so you know, I’m about to have my way with you again.” The authoritative way Brynn said that had her wet all over again. Warm breath, lips, pressure, passion, the brush of skin came together in a haze of her undoing. Brynn played her body like a gifted musician bringing her to the brink and pulling her back in again until she shot like a star in a wash of wonderful.

“I can safely say that you’re worth every second of the wait,” Brynn said, falling next to her. She studied Aster’s face and slid a strand of hair off her forehead.

“We’re lightning, you know that?”

Brynn lifted her head and met Aster’s gaze. “We are?”

“Alive, unpredictable.”

“Beautiful,” Brynn countered. “I like that. That’s us.”

“It’s a good mascot. I mean, if we’re not going with carrots.”

“Tough call, but no.”

In the early morning, Aster sat on the edge of Brynn’s tub, wearing the white fluffy robe and drinking coffee as Brynn showered nearby for her day of work at the clinic. Lucky pets. Her body was very aware of all they’d done together the night before, satisfied and a little tingly in the best way possible. Through the glass she watched fondly as the water fell from Brynn’s skin, the most gorgeous woman in all the world.

“You’re back,” Brynn said over the water. “Where did you go?”

“I told you. I made you breakfast. Big benefit of falling in love with a chef. But you have to come eat it before it gets cold.”

Brynn stepped from the shower and opened the bathroom door. “You’re not kidding. You really did make breakfast. Bacon, even!”

“I had to. I love you. Bacon confirms it.” It was really that simple for Aster. Brynn slid into a robe, and they had the most wonderful breakfast together, full of conversation, soft touches, and decadent food. When it was time for Brynn to leave for work, Aster stood with her on the porch, looking out on Baker Street where it had all started back in the day.

“Surely your new next-door neighbor doesn’t live up,” Aster said, checking out her old place, ruminating on all that had changed in her life since back then.

“Bubba? No. I’ve yet to want to take my clothes off when in his presence. There’s always tomorrow, I guess.”

Aster laughed. “You stop that right now.”

“And now I want to take my clothes off.” She placed a soft kiss on Aster’s lips. “Bye, baby. I’ll come by the restaurant after work.”