Page 61 of Holding Her Heart

Aster offered a sad smile, nodding slightly. “I didn’t think you would. But I had to ask.”

“It’s not that I don’t want to be out, but can I do that? I don’t even know how I’d label myself.”

“Don’t label yourself. Nobody is asking you to.” Aster’s body heat relaxed Eden, her muscles less tense as she rested back against the counter. “But I would like to know how you want to play this.”

“Y-you mean…” Eden stammered, pointing between them. “There’s potentially an us?”

“I thought I’d made that clear last week before I left.”

Eden gripped what she could before her knees gave out on her. Why did Aster mean so much? Why did she have this effect? Nothing made any sense. “Oh. Wow.”

Aster furrowed her brow. “You sound surprised.”

“I am. I hadn’t anticipated this moment. It’s not something I’ve thought about. It didn’t seem possible, even as you were kissing me.”

“Then don’t think about it. Not right now.” Aster curled two fingers under Eden’s chin, lifting her head ever so slightly. “Right now, it’s you and me. Nobody else. No best friends or acquaintances. Just us, Eden.”

Oh, boy! Didn’t Eden know it.

“And as much as I’ve tried to distance myself from you, I can’t. I spent the week at home with Dad and all I thought about was you. You’re everywhere, but that’s what I want. If I’m going to be serious about someone, having you everywhere is exactly what I want.”

Eden swallowed, her hands clammy as she gripped Aster’s hips. She pulled Aster closer, desperate to taste her.

Aster leaned in slowly, smiling as Eden’s breath came in short sharp bursts. Was this the moment that Eden would realise everything she’d been missing in her life? Would kissing Aster again bring everything together for her once and for all?

“I need to know that you want this, Eden,” Aster whispered, switching her own gaze between Eden’s eyes. “I know you say you do, but I need to know you’re sure.”

Eden gripped the front of Aster’s shirt, pulling their breasts together. “I want this. No doubt about it.”

“Yeah?” Aster’s husky voice only heightened everything Eden was feeling tonight. She’d fully expected to be home alone after work, but here she was, about to kiss one hell of a woman.

Eden didn’t need to explain anymore. She needed to be kissing Aster Bennett. She surely couldn’t get that part wrong. Kissing was…just kissing.

You make the first move this time. Show her you want it!

Until Aster’s lips met hers and Eden was reminded that kissing really wasn’t just kissing. The softness, the light breath, the audible moan from Aster. God, the arousal that pooled between Eden’s legs was off the scale unexpected. Nobody had ever made her feel that way from a simple kiss. But this wasn’t simple, and it wasn’t anybody. It was Aster.

“Breathe,” Aster said, pulling back. She swiped a thumb across Eden’s bottom lip, relaxing her. “If we’re going to do that more often, I need you to breathe for me.”

Eden brought her fingertips up to her lips, pressing them against the moistness she felt. “Jesus.”

“The name is Aster, babe.” Aster suddenly leant back in, devouring Eden as she pressed her body harder against her. “I never knew that kissing someone could feel so fucking good,” Aster said, her forehead resting against Eden’s. “I mean, I’ve thought about last week’s kiss every minute of every day, but I’m surprised all over again.”

Eden wrinkled her nose. “It was okay?”

One of Aster’s hands slid to Eden’s ass, cupping it as she pulled her away from the counter, her own back connecting with the opposite side. “Okay?”

“Y-yeah.” Eden swallowed, trying to read Aster’s eyes. All she found was arousal. Deep, dark eyes.

“I think we may need a separate hotel room for Pride. Because if I manage to have my way, we’ll never leave the one we’re supposed to be sharing.”

Those words sent Eden into a frenzy. Not only was Aster the greatest kiss of her life, she was saying all the right things too. “Oh, I’m sure we’ll manage.”

* * *

Aster’s world was spinning. Not out of control, but on its head. Eden was sitting beside her, the taste of her still on Aster’s lips, her legs pulled across Aster’s lap. Yeah, there was no doubt about how much it was spinning. But it felt good. After the week she’d had, missing Eden, she truly believed she’d made the right decision to come back here tonight.

Okay, they had a way to go before anything significant would happen, but the first step had been taken, and that was the most important thing. If Aster cast her mind back to last Sunday, that unease remained. The disinterest in Eden’s eyes was startling considering she’d been lying. Did that make her good at fooling people? Aster hoped not. She also prayed Eden hadn’t had much experience in doing so, because even though she was thoroughly enjoying being here this evening, Aster did have some reservations.

---