by Clare Lydon
When Eden flashed the door key over the fob, the click it made was definite, final; a little like Heidi’s mood. How had Eden read her so well? She would never have been so bold, so brazen to do this, and yet Eden had. Eden, who was hesitant of lurching into a relationship. Did this mean her worries about doing so were lessening? Did it mean they were moving forward? Heidi had everything crossed.
What was in no doubt, though, was Eden’s intent. Once they dropped their bags, she came to Heidi. No hesitation, no stutter. Their mouths came together in a clash of teeth and lips as Eden clawed at Heidi’s jacket, then her clothing. Heidi was dressed smartly today, having been to a client meeting. It wasn’t destined to last. Eden popped the buttons on her shirt, and the rip of Heidi’s zipper filled the air. Then her trousers were on the floor, her bra removed. Eden’s hands and mouth were everywhere as Heidi gave in to the moment. This was Eden taking charge, and Heidi wasn’t going to stand in her way.
A waft of Eden’s musky perfume trailed into her airwaves as she guided Heidi gently towards the edge of the room. It had sleek, sophisticated decor, but Heidi was oblivious. All she saw was Eden, and all she knew was how much she wanted her.
With the cool, hard wall behind Heidi, Eden pressed her lips to Heidi’s neck. Her hands slid to the curve of Heidi’s hip.
A flash of electricity shot through Heidi. She dropped her head to the side, the rush of desire filling her. Eden was driving, and she was happy to let her go wherever her GPS took her.
Eden’s lips slipped up to Heidi’s earlobe, and she shuddered. Eden’s hand trailed down her back, before sweeping between Heidi’s legs. Nerves fluttered low in her belly. Then Eden’s thigh was parting her legs, a firm hand grazing Heidi’s centre.
“I promised myself I’d go slow, but you’re too tempting.” There was a rough note to Eden’s voice that made Heidi’s stomach flip and heat rush across her skin.
“Fuck slow.” Heidi caught Eden’s mouth with hers, plunging her tongue into it.
When she pulled back, panting, Eden gazed at her, a weird look in her eyes. “I could really fall for you. In fact, I think I already have.”
Heidi’s breathing stilled. “Show me.”
The words stopped. Action began.
Eden’s teeth grazed Heidi’s nipples, making her gasp. Her hand latched onto Heidi’s bum cheek. A squeeze.
Heidi brought her right leg up and around Eden, locking her in place. She never wanted Eden to be anywhere else but here.
Within seconds, Eden angled herself, then trailed a finger slowly, deliberately through Heidi’s liquid heat.
Heidi let out a deep moan.
When Eden slipped two fingers into her, Heidi squeezed her eyes tight shut.
Fuck.
Eden’s mouth claimed hers once more, her fingers sliding in and out like this was their natural home. With every touch, Heidi was taken higher. She dug her fingers into Eden’s strong shoulders, hitched herself up, opened herself to whatever Eden was offering.
It wasn’t just Eden who was risking it all by giving in to their feelings. Heidi was, too. Eden was a risk, but she was too hot to turn down, their chemistry off the charts. As Eden hit her G-spot, Heidi clutched her harder, sinking into her bliss point, never wanting this to end. The intensity of it, the sweet desperation, was new to her. But she gave in to it freely.
They moved to the bed, Heidi grateful to truly be able to fall into the moment. Eden lay beside her, kissing her with crazy heat. Wonder streaked through Heidi, as Eden’s fingers slid all over her, circling her, mesmerising her.
Heidi pulled her close, kissing her lips, the need for them to be skin-tight everywhere overwhelming. She caught Eden’s gaze, and they stilled. Right then, something swelled inside Heidi, so big she could hardly breathe. The flicker of something beginning. Something so them, so personal, she almost looked away. But she didn’t. Neither did Eden. Together, they paused, locked eyes, traded ragged breaths. Then with a silent, still acknowledgement they were taking a bow on the same glorious stage, they continued the journey together.
As Eden’s rhythm gathered and Heidi’s insides twisted and turned till she wasn’t sure which way was up, heat prickled all over her. She held on tight. Finally, as Eden coaxed her to her limits, Heidi’s muscles tensed, her heartbeat pulsed, then her climax popped. Pleasure surged through her like the perfect pop song, making her want to sing the chorus again and again. Every time Eden squeezed a little more out of her, she clung to her, feeling what she was giving, tasting the sweetness on her tongue and in her heart.
When their gazes locked one more time, Heidi felt something shift. Yes, this was the culmination of physical attraction, but this was something deeper, too. The tumbling down of defence walls that had been built over years. Eden finally giving her something more.
Suddenly, even though she was still flying, she didn’t want this to be just her. She wanted this to be the two of them together. It seemed important, because it was. This was their second time together, and after all the obstacles, could this be the start that stuck? The one that didn’t scare Eden half to death? If Heidi wanted it to be, she had to make it memorable.
She rolled a stunned Eden to her side, and reached down, her orgasm still sparking within her. Then Heidi’s fingers were inside Eden. She was so wet, Heidi had to pause to take it in.
“I’m so ready for you,” Eden gasped.
“I know.” Heidi kissed her, preparing to write the longest love letter to Eden’s body.
Heidi rolled on top of her, then began to fuck Eden with such passion, she had no idea where she started and Eden ended. It was a glorious place to be. Eden was already tightening around her, already on the edge. Heidi smiled, plugging into the power of them.
Eden rolled, hands grappling. “I want to be inside you, too.”
Heidi stilled. They inched left, then right, angles adjusted. Heidi clenched as Eden’s fingers connected with her once more. “Fucking hell.” Her eyes fluttered open, and they shared a look of raw desire. It was still there, pulsing between them. That indescribable something. She was ready to rock Eden’s world, and Eden was ready to rock hers.
Heidi thrust, as did Eden, their mouths clashing together, then apart. There was a primal nature to their sex now, rocking together, Eden’s face creased as she fought to stay in control. But if this was going to work, she had to let go. Let everything she ever knew fall away, and start again from fresh.
Could Eden do it? With her help, Heidi hoped the answer was yes.
Heidi’s breathing was shredded as she leaned over, circling Eden’s swollen clit with her thumb.
She put her lips as close as she could get to Eden’s ear, and whispered, “Let it go. I wanna feel you come all over me.”
Eden’s muscles tensed as Heidi spoke, and then with a shudder and a final flourish from Heidi, Eden’s orgasm hit.
Heidi was spellbound.
Eden in climax was beyond beautiful.
But then Eden’s fingers sprang back to life, knowing just where to go. Heidi kept her momentum going, riding Eden. As she came, so did Eden once more, Heidi grasping her round the shoulder and letting out a piercing cry. They kept their rhythms going for a few moments more, muscles spasming, minds blank, until gravity took over and they toppled back onto the bed together, skin slick with sweat and lust.
Moments later, Eden’s arm was around her, pulling her tight. She leaned down, kissing Heidi’s stomach, and then coming back up, adjusting their bodies until they were lying against each other, breast to breast. Eden kissed Heidi’s lips slow and long, before pulling back, regarding her.
“Holy fucking hell,” Eden said, finally.
“You could say that.”
“You think we could do this every week?”
Heidi laughed and it came out croaky. She wasn’t surprised. Her head throbbed and her throat was sore. All her blood, all her body’s juices, had sailed down her body to where it was needed most. She wasn’t complaining. “I’d be happ
y to, but I’m not sure I’d get much work done.”
Eden ran a hand up and down her back. “I’ve always said work is overrated.”
Heidi let out a cackle of laughter. “Hello, Mrs Workaholic. What have you done with Eden? If you find her, can you let her know I’m looking for her?”
Eden grinned. “I think I’ve finally found my ultimate calling, and it turns out it’s not creating advertising and branding. It’s having sex with you.” She rolled onto her back. “It’s something I have no trouble focusing on, and I’m pretty good at it, too.”
“You’re fucking amazing at it.” Heidi pulled Eden back towards her, kissing her lips. Fresh flourishes of desire scampered down her body.
“I wish I’d worked this out earlier. I could have saved myself so much time.”
“If you create the post, maybe we could job share. Perhaps get some crowd-funding to back us? We could stream our sex live on the internet in return.” Heidi put her weight on one elbow, a delicious smile creeping onto her face. “Did I just describe how the sex industry works?”
Eden laughed. “Yes, but if you’re working in that, you don’t normally get to have sex with someone you love.”
Eden stilled, frozen, a deer in the headlights.
Knowing this was a delicate moment, Heidi dimmed her beams. “You love me?” It took everything she had not to punch the air.
Eden’s face still didn’t move. Instead, there was just a faint hint of a nod, her cheeks flushing pillar-box red. “I do. I can’t stop thinking about you. But I didn’t mean to blurt it out. My heart’s thumping in my chest.” She put a hand there, as if checking it.
Heidi kissed her hand, and then gathered her in her arms. Eden melted into her embrace.
“If it helps, I love you, too.” She pulled her tighter. “But promise me we won’t have to do live sex on the internet. My mum would get very cross for starters.”
Eden began to laugh. “Okay, I promise. We might have to keep our day jobs for now.”
Heidi pulled back, and they stared at each other for a few long moments. “You really love me?” The words were bright in her mind, lit up.
Eden nodded. “I think I do. In fact, I know I do. I’m doing weird things, behaving in weird ways. Hell, I took an afternoon off to have sex with you.”
“I know.” Heidi grinned. “Good decision, by the way.” She kissed Eden’s lips again, wanting more of them every time she did. She was like a drug.
“I agree.” Eden sighed. “I really am sorry about everything. About bolting. About being an idiot. I’m amazed you stuck with me.”
“I figured you were an intelligent woman, and that you’d figure out I was worth keeping eventually.”
“And if I hadn’t?”
“Then I’d have been forced to play you at your own game and take out an ad in the national media, telling you to wise up or else.”
Eden grinned. “I’d have liked that. Although I’m not sure if it would have been good for my brand.”
“Lucky you wised up then, isn’t it?”
Eden ran a hand down the side of Heidi’s face.
Heidi shuddered. Her breath quickened, as pops of pleasure roamed her body, making her swoon. The tips of Eden’s fingers held magic, of that she was sure.
“So now we’ve both declared love for each other, we should see how that affects our sex, right? How long do we have?”
Heidi rolled over, missing the heat of Eden’s skin. She grabbed her phone, squinting at the brightness of the screen. Her world over the past hour had taken on a sepia filter, and letting the real world back in was a jolt. “It’s just gone five thirty, so I’d say we’ve got a couple of hours yet. I need to leave by eight at the latest. You can accomplish a lot in two and a half hours.”
“I agree.” Eden pulled her back into her embrace, kissing her roughly.
Heidi’s desire was instantly turned right back to top speed. She pushed Eden down on the bed, climbing on top of her, pinning her arms either side of her head. “Let me give you a lesson in focus and application.” She crushed Eden’s lips with her own, desire making her wet all over again. “Ready?”
Chapter 35
Eden took a deep breath and knocked on Heidi’s black wooden door. Even though it was early May, the rain was rattling down on her umbrella like it was tap dancing in a West End show. She’d got an Uber — it was her weakness — but even in the short few steps from the pavement to Heidi’s front door, her fresh white trainers had taken on a little dirt. The day was still warm, and the air was coated with the smell of rain as it hit hot tarmac. She took another deep breath, the flowers in Heidi’s front garden mixing into the air, too. Heidi had talked about getting a canopy for the garden if the weather was good, but she was guessing the weather had put paid to that.
She recalled the last time she’d been here and someone had knocked on the front door. Heidi’s mum. Nothing had changed on the other side of the door: Heidi’s family were still there. The only thing that had changed was Eden and how she coped. She’d lain in bed this morning working up the courage for today. Now it was time to face the music, and more importantly, a two-year-old’s birthday party.
Heidi opened the front door, a slow smile spreading across her face as she saw Eden. She pulled her inside, taking her umbrella. Eden’s escape routes were all cut off. She was here to stay.
“Hello, my favourite guest.” Heidi stood, the water from the umbrella dripping silently at her side. She didn’t seem to mind.
“Hello yourself.”
Heidi kissed her, and it extinguished any morsels of panic inside Eden, threatening to bubble up. When she pulled back, she put a finger to Eden’s lips. “Just remember, my family are nice people. Most of the time. And they’re going to love you, so don’t worry. Just relax and be yourself.”
How could she read her so well already? “Relaxing around family. I’ll give it my best shot.” Eden gave her another quick kiss on the lips, then allowed herself to be pulled through to the main room.
“Honestly, you should have seen them at this festival. Snogging like their lives depended on it. It was a little much on my birthday.” Heidi’s sister Sarah was filling the assorted crowd in on the first time they kissed. Heidi’s friends, Kate and Meg, along with Cleo and Becca, were captivated.
It was only three months ago, but it seemed so much longer. Eden still remembered the eye-opening feelings of lust and curiosity. The feelings she’d thought had died in her, along with her gran. But Heidi had prodded Eden, woken her from her romantic slumber.
Heidi rolled her eyes. “No more wine for you. This is a two-year-old’s party, remember?”
Her sister grinned, holding up her glass of white. “Maya poured it for me, so I figured it was okay. She wants me to have a good time, even if her puritanical mother doesn’t.” She paused, leaning into Eden. “She’s been like this my whole life, you know. Just so you know what you’re letting yourself in for.”
Eden rubbed the small of Heidi’s back, belatedly realising how natural that felt. Even in front of friends and family. Maybe she was better at this shit than she gave herself credit for. “I’ll take my chances. Besides, I don’t mind a bossy woman in the right circumstances.”
Sarah held up a hand. “Pur-lease. Married lady here. No need for such talk on a two-year-old’s birthday.”
“Shame we didn’t come to this festival. I quite fancy snogging you in a field.” That was Heidi’s friend, Cleo, talking to her girlfriend Becca. They’d arrived just after Eden, carrying in a mini motorbike for Maya. Maya was currently riding it around the kitchen, making super-loud engine noises, being shepherded by her grandad. Eden had bought Maya some books, along with more Chocolate Delight. It wasn’t as popular as the motorbike.
“You hate fields. You’re far more five-star,” Becca replied. “Remember the yurt two years ago?”
“We had fun in the yurt,” Cleo said with a grin.
“Not what you were saying the morning after. When your
boss walked in on us and your brother got arrested.”
Eden furrowed her brow. “That sounds like a juicy story.”
“I’ll tell you another time,” Cleo replied.
Kate and Meg’s son Finn arrived, banging into Kate’s leg with no warning. She remained steady, showing she was completely used to it. Eden had been quietly admiring Kate’s artfully styled platinum-blond look ever since they were introduced.
“Mummy, I won the parcel!” He was holding up a plastic figure that Eden had never seen before, but was probably very familiar to all the parents in the room.
Kate squatted next to him. “You did? Wow, that’s brilliant! What’s his name?”
As Finn chatted excitedly to his mother, Eden’s toddler-heart ached for the same. Parental love and attention like that was something she’d always yearned for, but never had. Like Maya, Finn would never have to ask himself the question, “What can I do to make my mum love me?” These kids were loved and cared for, and she was so warmed by that. Perhaps that was why she’d always shielded herself from kids, too. Because the small one still inside her needed love she’d never received.
Eden blew out a breath as that thought invaded her brain. The solution was right in front of her. Being around these kids and spending time with them was the way forward. Maybe she could learn a lot from these tiny people.
“Want to get another drink?” Heidi steered Eden towards the kitchen, where her mum was chatting to her sister’s husband, Jason.
“Just the woman.” Jason grabbed Heidi’s arm. He was a 40-year-old hipster, clinging to his youth by still wearing skinny jeans and sporting a styled beard. Eden felt a kindred spirit instantly.
“I was just telling your mum that the England women’s cricket team are the best we’ve ever had. In with a chance of beating the West Indies. What do you think?”
“There’s a chance, but always remember Caribbean countries are cricket-mad. They get more coverage, so it matters more.”