Chapter 24

Eden smoothly climbs out of the car and ambles to the passenger side to open the door for me. It's a sweet gesture he does every time we're out and about, and it never fails to make those silly butterflies return.

We've been taking it slow over the past month, but I can tell we're both itching to say I love you, but those words are yet to slip from our lips.

I've spoken to my therapist, Eloise, who seems to approve of the approach we're taking to our relationship. We're discovering each other at a healthy pace and allowing ourselves to enjoy all those new dating moments. That's not to say it's been easy. Some days, I can barely find the energy to get out of bed.

The emotional intimacy we've shared is like nothing I've ever experienced. We openly communicate, and nothing is off the table, even if it's ugly. Eden holds me when I have flashbacks, and I hold him when he has nightmares.

Spending more time with each other has helped me see he isn't this perfect prince charming that I don't deserve. He's anal as fuck about his apartment and gets obsessively consumed by his work, but that's what makes him human.

Things are steady, and that's all I can ask for. I know we're heading in the right direction and healing more each day.

I close my eyes and bask in the smell of salty air travelling up my nostrils. When I open them, I catch Eden gazing at me like I'm the whole damn universe. My insides bubble with that disgusting lovey-dovey feeling you get during the honeymoon phase, and my cheeks heat in the crisp air.

"Hi," I say, even though we've been sitting in the car together for almost two hours. He's looking at me with hope and wonder like it's the first time we've met.

"Hello." Eden smiles coyly before giving my hand two quick squeezes, then brings it to his mouth, firmly kissing my knuckles.

"You ready, baby?" he asks.

"Sure."

His heavy arm loosely wraps around my shoulders as we walk towards a pebbled beach in Brighton. A rush of cold air whirls around, so Eden tucks me closer against his solid frame.

The beach is relatively empty, which isn't surprising considering we're having a colder-than-usual spring this year.

Scattered clouds paint the sky, but a slither of sun tries to peek through. The crash of waves against the shore settles peace in my very bones. There's no other place I'd rather be than right here, squished up against this hunk of a man freezing my tits off.

"I think my nipples are gonna fall off."

"Not your nipples." He dramatically gasps. "Here, let me check if they're still there."

Eden pulls at the collar of my thick emerald, green jumper, but I swat him away. His infectious laugh vibrates through us, hugging my heart.

"You're obsessed," I joke.

"I am, and I'm not ashamed to admit it. Fuck, I remember the first time I saw those nips, thought I was going to come in my pants."

"Ha, you were a sucker for that see-through top."

I chuckle and pat his cheek, then give it a squeeze. Before I can protest, Eden whips me into a fireman's lift and starts barrelling towards the water.

"What the fuck do you think you're doing?" I squirm over his shoulder, unable to contain my wild cackle.

"You're going in, bitch."

I gasp and then nibble on his neck.

"You did not just call me a bitch."

"But you're my bitch?" he asks with an unsure lilt.

"Can't argue with that." I shrug, then let my body go lax. If I'm going in, I'm not making it easy for him. Eden's a big boy. He can handle the dead weight.

As we're about to reach the water, I realise I'm still fully clothed, so I struggle in his tight grip.

"Shoes, Eden!"

"Fine," he groans. "I was trying to be all romantic and shit. Seems like something one of the swoony characters from your romance books would do."

"Yes, probably, but it's incredibly impractical, and I don't fancy driving home in wet clothes and getting hypothermia."

"Strong argument."

He plonks me down with a grunt. I didn't think it through when I decided to wear a kinky little leather skirt to the beach, but I wanted to look hot for my man. Guess I'll never learn.

Eden toes off his trainers and socks and rolls up his jeans while I whip off my chunky boots and flimsy tights. Cold air cuts into my bare legs, and goosebumps scatter across my skin.

"This isn't fair, I'm way more exposed. Take your jeans off."

"Seriously?" he asks, quirking an eyebrow.

"Yes, show me those glutes," I give his arse a quick squeeze.

Eden huffs but does as he's told and struggles to remove his snug black jeans. He hops out of them with zero grace, almost tumbling over in the process.

"Shit, it's cold," he chatters.

"Come on, princess, we said we'd do this. No backing out now."

Lacing our fingers, I drag him towards the sea. We squeal as the bitter water engulfs our feet and ankles.

"Fucking, if we survive," he grumbles.

I puff out a laugh and drag him in deeper. A wave crashes against our shins, splashing my thighs and my whole-body tenses. We're howling with laughter and yelping as more waves attack us. I last a full minute before releasing his hand and retreating.

"Fuck this," I yell over my shoulder.

"Oh, thank god."

Eden chases after me, but being the little shit I am, I pick up our bundle of clothes and run in the opposite direction. He hobbles after me, cupping his junk. Some dog walkers come by, so I flash them a smile.

"Kai, I can't feel my balls," he shouts across the beach.

The dog walkers laugh at us, which sets me off. I run a bit more but have to stop because I'm nowhere near fit enough to run and laugh simultaneously.

Belly laughter aches my stomach as I watch him tiptoe over the pebbles as if they're made of hot coal.

"You've just earned yourself a spanking."

"Don't threaten me with a good time," I say with a wink.

He reaches around me to swat my arse, then gathers me up but loses his footing. We crash to the pebbly ground in a tangle of limbs.

"Fuck, sorry. Are you ok?"

"Perfect." I chuckle.

Wrapping my arms and legs around him tightly, I capture his lips. I don't hold back, diving right in and teasing his tongue with mine. God knows what passers-by must think. Almost naked from the waist down, dry humping on the beach. But I can't seem to find the fucks to give. This right here is what we survived for. These tiny moments of bliss.

After an obscenely long make-out session, we both start shivering and decide it's time to put our bottoms back on.

"Fish and chips?" he asks in a cheery tone. Everything about him seems so light and carefree. I feel my heart expand in my chest and the words I love you on the tip of my tongue.

"Yes, boss," I tease, saluting him.

He rolls his eyes and playfully pushes me off of him.

I started working for him on a part-time basis. We always work in separate apartments, allowing some separation from work and our relationship. But he goes into boss mode when we communicate during working hours, which I tease him about. I don't want to feel like I'm dependent on him, and he's promised that even if it didn't work out with us, I'd still have a job. As professional as he's trying to be, I occasionally get a cheeky kiss at the end of his emails, which he swears is by accident. Suuuuure.

* * *

As we dig into our meal, still slightly shaky from the cold, Eden grimaces at me.

"Problem?" I smirk.

"I thought I could trust you. But no. Mushy peas. You're not the person I thought you were."

I lightly slap his arm with the back of my hand.

"Oh, behave, it's the superior option."

"No, I'm not having it. Curry sauce is the only acceptable addition to fish and chips."

"You're severely mistaken. Come on, give it a try."

I dip a chip in the lumpy peas and hold it to his mouth. His face scrunches up like a toddler trying broccoli for the first time, and I can't help but laugh at his dramatics.

"Come on, I thought you'd be into all things green, Hulk."

Eden shoves me with his shoulder, and I almost topple off the wall we're perched on facing the beach. We fall into laughter, and once it passes, he sighs contently. I watch him fondly, definitely resembling the love heart eyes emoji right now.

I'm so fucking gone for this man.

We finish our food, and the comforting weight of Eden's arm rests on my shoulders. His fingers trace shapes on the shell of my arm.

Staring out at the sea, glued to his side, settles every self-doubt inside of me. No more holding back, I have to tell him.

"Eden."

"Yes, baby?" His bright eyes make my breath stutter.

"How did you do it?" I ask, unable to contain my smile.

"How did I do what?"

"Make me fall in love with you."

Eden's face stretches into an enormous smile, and his eyes gleam in the afternoon sun.

"Easy, I went after you like a psycho and never stopped going after you, I guess." He chuckles.

I feel my cheeks heat as I brace myself to say the words that have been trying to worm their way out of me for weeks.

"God, I love you."

Eden doesn't miss a beat.

"I love you, too, baby."

His smile is enchanting. It's the best smile I've ever seen decorate his gorgeous face. How on earth did I convince this man to keep me?

"Really?" I ask. Even though I know it's true, I just want to hear him repeat it.

"Of course, I've been telling you for a while now."

My eyebrows scrunch together. Is he ok? I'm pretty sure I beat him to the punch. He's not having that.

"No, you've not. Well, unless you've been saying it when I'm asleep. Which is kinda creepy, by the way," I tease.

He takes my hand and uncurls my fingers, exposing my pale palm. I watch intently as he lightly traces the shape of a heart and a U.

My pulse peaks.

"Bu-but you've been drawing hearts on me since the start," I stutter.

"I guess, in a way, I always knew."

Warmth wraps around my heart.

He lets go of my hand, grabs the back of my neck and pulls me into an earth-altering kiss. A kiss that will be etched into my mind and heart forever. A kiss that mirrors the words we've just spoken.

Love.

When we pull apart, my whole body is lit up. Desire swirls through my veins and travels down to my crotch. I'm aching to slide into him and have him in every way possible.

We've been physically intimate a couple of times since we escaped, such as hand jobs and frotting, but I can feel us holding back, waiting for the right moment to give ourselves over to one another again.

"What are you thinking?" he asks with a grin, running his hands through my short curls that have started to grow back.

"I'm thinking about how I want to fuck you."

Eden's breath catches, and his eyes widen. But there's a mischievous twinkle that shines behind his subtle shock.

"Right here?" he whispers, pretending it's our little secret.

"Well, no, preferably in your ginormous bed."

"That can be arranged," he says, doing an eyebrow flash.

"Wonderful." I jump up, grab our rubbish, and slam dunk it into a metal bin. I pat Eden's leg and start walking towards the car.

"Come on, chop, chop. We don't want to hit traffic," I call over my shoulder.

"Coming, dear," he sing-songs while lightly jogging after me.