Chapter 28
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Randi opened her eyes while she tried to take a deep breath.
Eden had just taken her on the best roller coaster ride of her life.
It started with a soft kiss then Eden must have been trying to find every sensitive place on Randi’s body.
Her lips made her melt in one moment then explode out of her skin in the next.
Randi could still feel her body pleasantly tingling in several places.
Eden was staring up at her with anticipation all over her face. Randi had seen this look before, and would sometimes tease her before giving her an honest assessment of the situation, but not now, not for this.
Randi smiled and curled a strand of Eden’s hair behind her ear. “Do you know what feels better than this?”
Eden slowly shook her head.
“Nothing.” Randi could see the relief on her face as she pulled Eden into a slow, sweet kiss.
When they pulled apart, Eden's head rested on Randi’s shoulder.
Randi reached for Eden’s hand and interlaced their fingers, staring at how perfectly they fit together, like pieces of a puzzle.
The anxiety that had found a home inside and around her heart seemed to have disappeared, at least for the moment.
Randi felt like she could breathe again.
Lately, she felt like she’d been constantly on edge. If Cari was around, Randi was waiting for her to say something about her feelings for Eden. Whenever Randi was near Eden, she was constantly checking herself, not wanting her feelings to show.
“What are you thinking?” Eden said softly.
Randi took a deep breath and slowly let it out. It was time for the truth. “Somewhere, somehow, along the way, I’ve fallen in love with my best friend.”
Eden raised her head and looked into Randi’s eyes. “Why didn’t you say something to me?”
Randi smirked. “Really? Why didn’t you say something to me?”
“Fear.”
Randi nodded. “I would never do anything to risk our friendship, but I guess that’s no longer true. Look at us now.”
“This doesn’t have to be risky,” Eden said. “It’s ours. We decide.”
“Do we?” Randi raised her brows and ran a finger down Eden’s cheek. “We both tried to hide our feelings and they came out anyway. Cari noticed the first night she met us. At the pitch a friend thing.”
“Really!” Eden said with surprise.
“Yup. She was sure after we all went dancing.” Randi smiled. “And then I think we became her favorite topic. She tried to hide hints to us claiming it was research for her books or talking about tropes. At first, I thought she was just being nosy. Turns out she cares about us and our happiness.”
“She’s been what? Encouraging you or talking to you about us this whole time?”
Randi nodded. “Most of it.”
“Huh.” Eden looked at her in disbelief.
“What is it?”
“Tennie’s theory on why we didn’t feel sparks was because I had them for someone else.” Eden smiled. “My heart wouldn’t feel them for anyone but you.”
“Oh, so Tennie’s been talking to you about us.”
“I’ve been trying to find the courage to tell you all week,” Eden said.
“I’m listening.”
Randi smiled as Eden widened her eyes and dramatically exhaled.
“I was afraid you didn’t feel the same way.
But I looked back and I realized there were times when both of our hearts must have become very frustrated with us because when I looked into your eyes, you’d be staring back at me and I could feel your love. ”
Randi nodded. “At brunch one day.”
“At the brewery the other night after Cari’s event.”
“We agreed we needed our friendship more than we needed girlfriends and I was trying to respect us,” Randi said. “I know that is not my typical behavior, but for you, I’d do anything, Eden.”
“Oh, Randi,” Eden said tenderly. “You weren’t in this alone because I’ve fallen in love with my best friend, too.”
Randi chuckled. “You’ve always had my back.”
Eden laughed. “Are you still scared?”
Randi nodded. “But not as much. We still have things to figure out.”
Eden leaned in and when their lips met Randi could feel the desire ignite deep inside of her. It had been there, smoldering, waiting, until Eden set her on fire once again.
“Do we have to figure it out right now?” Eden asked, her lips almost touching Randi’s. “I really like kissing you.”
Randi could feel the warmth of Eden’s breath on her lips and could see that her honey-colored eyes were now much darker.
“I really like kissing you, too.” Their lips crashed together again.
“Mmm,” Eden moaned.
“I like you right here,” Randi said, pulling Eden on top of her. She slid her hands down Eden’s back and cupped her backside.
“Oh!” Eden moved to straddle Randi.
“You are so fucking sexy,” Randi said, slipping her hand between them.
“God, Randi.”
Randi ran her fingers through Eden’s wetness and could see her chest begin to rise and fall with quicker breaths. She slid two fingers inside Eden and braced her hand against Eden’s side. “Come on, baby.”
Eden responded by gripping Randi’s shoulders and throwing her head back.
She began to move on Randi’s hand as moans and groans escaped her throat.
Randi wondered if she’d ever be able to go slow with Eden.
She wanted to caress and worship her body, but couldn’t slow down once Eden began to move and those sweet little moans drove Randi out of her mind.
“Yes! Yes! Yes!” Eden groaned through clenched teeth.
When Eden bit down on her lower lip, it was the sexiest thing Randi had ever seen. Her deliberate, purposeful, intentional best friend was moving with abandon in the throes of passion on Randi’s hand. It was powerful, beautiful, and almost overwhelming for Randi.
“You are amazing!” Randi encouraged Eden to let go and feel her love.
“Oh Randi!” Eden groaned.
They moved in perfect rhythm as their labored breathing and moans filled the air.
“Baby, I’m close,” Eden said breathlessly.
Randi adjusted her fingers just enough to feel that sensitive area that drove Eden over the edge. Eden stilled, squeezed Randi’s shoulders then fell forward on her chest.
“Oh my God.” The words came out between breaths as Eden tried to inhale.
Randi kissed her forehead and smoothed the hair back from her face. She could feel beads of sweat that had accumulated from Eden’s efforts.
“You are so beautiful,” Randi said softly.
“Am I?” The quiet words were muffled against Randi’s chest.
“Yes!” She cupped Eden’s face and tried to see into her eyes.
Eden finally met Randi’s gaze. She shyly dropped her eyes then looked back at Randi. “Um, that was incredible and I felt a little out of control.”
Randi smiled. “You were incredible!” She paused. “I know what you mean. When I touch you, I feel out of control myself. It’s amazing and wonderful and unbelievable, then I lose my head and can’t stop touching you.”
The sweetest smile grew on Eden’s face. “I don’t want you to stop touching me. I’ve never felt this wanted.”
“Oh, Eden,” Randi said, caressing her cheek. “I love you so much.”
“God, I hope so,” Eden said. “All I could feel was love.”
Randi hugged Eden tightly to her chest. She never wanted this night to end because deep down, she could already feel the doubts trying to break free. Just as she’d pushed her love for Eden down deep in her heart, that's what she’d done with the doubts.
Eden always told her she had a talent for knowing what would work when it came to marketing. Randi simply knew a good tagline when she saw one or when a hook would snag a customer. She could easily see what images and videos would appeal to readers and which ones wouldn’t.
Why, then, couldn’t she use this same talent or innate power she had inside her to chase away these doubts once and for all? There had been other times when her feelings for Eden had been hard to control or keep hidden, but she could count on her doubts to bring her back to reality.
Now that she knew Eden was in this with her, why would the doubts still be hanging around?
“Hey, are you okay?” Eden asked.
“Uh, does it seem foolish or unwise, how quickly we fell into bed?” Randi asked.
“It got us to admit our true feelings,” Eden replied, resting her head on her hand.
Randi nodded. “I guess, but was that all you were scared of?”
“I didn’t tell you because I didn’t think…” Eden sighed.
“Come on, babe.” Randi reached for Eden’s other hand and held it to her chest.
“I’m too bland. I’m not exciting enough for you.”
Randi’s eyebrows shot up her forehead. “Are you kidding me! I wish you could’ve seen the woman I just saw on top of me. How can you say that?”
“That was because of, of…what you do to me,” Eden stumbled over her words. “I’m not like that all the time.”
“I don’t need you to be like that all the time.
” Randi slowly smiled. “I know I can talk you into doing crazy things with me. If you were any different than who you are then how would it work? If you were irresponsible like me then I wouldn’t have to talk you into things and where’s the fun in that?
You temper my craziness, Eden. You keep me grounded. ”
“You’re not irresponsible,” Eden said.
“Yeah, but I’m known to do things on a whim and not think them through. Thank God that you do!”
“I do what?”
“You think them through!”
Eden chuckled. “Maybe we balance each other out.”
“Yeah.” She smiled then her face fell. “What about Analise and work?”
“What about it?” Eden’s brow furrowed in confusion.
“Is this a conflict of interest, like you thought was happening between me and Cari?”
Eden shook her head. “No, we’re co-workers in different parts of the business. We have no power over each other.”
Randi’s brows crept up her forehead. “I don’t know about that. I’d say you have all the power over me.”
Eden smirked. “You know what I mean.”
“It’s all so complicated,” Randi said.
“It doesn’t have to be,” Eden said. “We make it simple.”
“How?”
“We love each other,” Eden said. “We couldn’t stop it, right? So, just as I can always count on you, let’s count on this love we’re discovering together.”
“It feels good to love you out in the open, but it’s still new, isn’t it?”
“I know you better than I know myself, but there’s so much more I want to know,” Eden said.
“I’ll tell you one thing I’ve discovered,” Randi said. “I love it when you call me babe.”
Eden smiled. “Kiss me, babe.”
Randi was happy to oblige and they lost themselves again in a tangle of arms, legs, and love. Sometime in the night they finally fell asleep in each other’s arms.
Randi’s eyes fluttered open and for a moment she felt the sweetest calm. She knew where she was and whose arms were wrapped around her. She eased onto her back to see Eden’s sleepy face.
She smiled as Eden stirred and partially rolled onto her other side. Her hand loosely rested on Randi’s forearm and she marveled that Eden was always touching her, even in her sleep.
Randi looked up at the ceiling and took a deep breath. She couldn’t believe what had happened tonight. Once they’d kissed it was like a dam breaking and all their feelings rushed out of their hearts. It was overwhelming and at the same time glorious.
They’d spent the next several hours talking and having sex, mostly having sex.
Randi expected a few moments of awkwardness, but they never materialized.
Eden may have experienced a hint of shyness, but then she let go of the control she was used to having.
Randi felt honored that Eden could do that with her.
She sighed and let her gaze fall on Eden once again. How could she ever be enough for this amazing woman? Randi wasn’t sure she deserved Eden as her friend much less her love. They were so different, but was it like Eden said tonight? Did they balance each other?
Randi couldn’t help but feel the dread creeping up from inside her.
She knew she would disappoint and hurt Eden before it was all said and done.
That’s who she was. There were times when Eden had been upset with her for her reckless choices, but they’d gotten through it because of their friendship.
This was so much bigger than friendship.
Randi couldn’t help from thinking: Do I break Eden’s heart now or do I break it later?
Because in Randi’s world, she was sure it would happen.
She could feel tears sting the back of her eyes.
Randi turned on her side and slipped her arm around Eden’s middle, nestling against her back.
She hoped being this close to Eden, holding on with her heart, would drive these doubts away so she could wake up with belief and clarity that she was the one for Eden Andrews.
Randi squeezed her eyes shut as Eden pulled Randi’s arm around her a little tighter.
“My babe,” Eden murmured in her sleep.
Randi choked back a sob and held on for dear life.