Page 75 of Holding Her Heart

Eden cleared the lust from her tone. She knew it would be there. “N-no.”

“Sorry. I must be hearing things.”

Eden stepped fully under the shower, turning the temperature to cold momentarily as she washed the soap from her body. “I’ll be out now. Just finishing up in here.”

“Yeah, no rush.” Aster’s soft voice had Eden smiling as she shut the shower off.

Grabbing a towel, she wrapped herself up in it and pulled the bathroom door open. She needed to see Aster’s face, the sweetness in her smile. That would make everything else feel more…normal. “Hi.”

“Hi.” Eden’s first thought was how she could drag Aster inside the bathroom. Stop! Not now.

“I wasn’t rushing you. I thought I heard you call my name.”

Oh, if only you knew… “I’m done.”

“Right.”

Aster’s eyes trailed Eden’s body. The towel she was wearing wasn’t the ideal length, but it was the first thing she’d grabbed. Aster didn’t appear to be concerned, her eyes dark and intense.

“I’m making dinner. Can I get you anything?” Aster leant against the doorframe, her sweet smile making Eden weak at the knees. “I can whack the heating up so it feels like we’re abroad…”

Eden took Aster’s hand, pulling Aster towards her. “Stop trying to make up for it. It’s not the end of the world.”

“Feels like it. I was looking forward to seeing you in a bikini.”

Eden took her lip between her teeth, blushing. Could she tell Aster what had happened in the shower? How she couldn’t hold back from touching herself, making herself come, with only Aster in her mind? God, no. Eden had never done that before. She’d never felt so overcome, so desperate for release. “There are going to be plenty of times when we can go on holiday.”

“And I’m looking forward to every last one.”

“Let me dress, and I’ll be out to help with dinner.” Eden pressed a kiss to Aster’s cheek, stepping back. “If you trust me to help.”

“I’d love your help. Standing around watching would be very helpful.”

“It…would?” Eden’s forehead creased.

“Oh, yeah. A bit of eye candy never hurts while I sweat it out over a stove.”

* * *

Aster had never felt so content. Eden was lying between her legs, her fingertips were settled on her calf, and a romantic film played out in front of them. Aster had no idea what was going on in said film, but this all felt lovely. Different for her, but lovely. In all honesty, Aster couldn’t quite believe Eden was here.

She’d expected lots of calls during her time away, maybe a FaceTime or two, but she never expected Eden to show up at her flat. Blair, Dom, the rest of the team…that’s where she expected Eden to be. Not here, settled on her couch, her hands on her. The intensity was off the scale if she thought about it too much.

“Can I tell you something?” Eden’s voice pierced the silence, her eyes finding Aster’s as she glanced up at her. “I mean, I know we’re watching a film…”

“You can tell me anything you want, any time.” Aster leaned down and pressed a kiss to Eden’s forehead.

Eden’s eyes closed, her lips parting slightly. “First of all, I love it when you do that.”

“Do what?”

“Kiss my forehead.” Eden looked away, but Aster knew she was blushing. “But that’s not what I wanted to say.”

“Hey,” Aster whispered, lowering her lips to Eden’s head once again. “I love that you love that. And honestly, I love all of this. You and me, wine, films…it’s perfect.”

“Dinner,” Eden started. “That casserole, it was amazing.”

“Thank you. I do try.”