Once they were both inside the apartment, Sterling scooped Eden into his arms. He held her gently and kissed her head.
“What are you doing Saturday?” he murmured into her hair. “We should do something. I’ll take you out. It’ll be our official first date.”
Eden stifled an exclaim when Sterling scooped her into his arms. She wrapped her arms around him, her face buried in his chest. Her heart beat rapidly, nervousness flowing through her, but at the same time, she was at peace.
"My plan was to be miserable on Saturday, but a date sounds perfect," she murmured, already wanting his lips on hers. "Where will you be taking us?"
Sterling hummed and kissed her forehead. “Lunch? The park, maybe. We could eat and then go for a walk,” he suggested, kissing down the bridge of her nose.
Eat. Eden's least favorite thing to do. What was the point when it was all going to come out, anyway? It did her more bad than good, but Eden didn't let the discomfort show.
"Walking sounds fun," she responded quietly. "So Saturday it is."
“Good. First date is set for Saturday, then,” Sterling murmured as he continued kissing her face. “You know, I’m really glad we’re dating now. That just means I can kiss you like this. And like this.” He pressed their lips together, drawing her even closer.
Eden stifled her laughter as he kissed her face, her arms tightening around him. Then he kissed her, pulling her closer and Eden felt like a little girl again having her first kiss.
She kissed him back, naturally, standing on her toes to reach to his height better. Her body felt warm and she was aware of how hard her heart was beating. Could he hear it, too, with their bodies pressed together like that?
Sterling smiled against her mouth and deepened the kiss slightly. He pulled away for a moment just to murmur against her lips, “Tell me of you ever want me to stop, okay?” And then he kissed her again.
Eden merely hummed against his mouth, too caught up in the feeling of his lips against hers to reply. Her good hand wound up in his hair, running her fingers over his scalp. This was how a kiss should be. Not like the bruising ones she had shared with Adrien. Not like the fear and disgust that came up afterward.
Eden leaned further into Sterling, keeping up the pace of their kiss. She didn’t know how far she could go without the trauma striking again, but she hoped it was long enough.
Sterling bent down further so that she was able to kiss him back better. He lifted a hand to the back of her neck and gently pressed their lips together harder. His other hand he let stay wrapped around her waist, his hold on her caring.
Eden smiled against his mouth, euphoria coursing through her. The way he handled her mouth, handled her… it drove her insane. She pulled away for air before she clasped their lips together again.
Kissing Adrien was like walking on needles. It was harsh and painful and it killed Eden every time their lips locked. Kissing Sterling was like taking a dip in the water. It could be cold or hot, or both at the same time. It would drive you insane but keep you calm at the same time. Kissing Sterling was like flying. It was exhilarating and felt like freedom. Kissing Sterling felt so different.
Eden loved it.
“Have I get told you how much I enjoy kissing you?” Sterling murmured against her lips, his hand twirling her hair around his fingers.
“No,” Eden responded, tightening her arms around his neck. “Tell me again.”
Sterling kissed her again softly. “I love it. So much. It feels like your lips were made to fit in mine and mine to yours. And your lips are seriously so soft… How do you do that? How could they possibly be so soft?”
Eden smiled, a dark blush on her cheeks. He didn’t just like kissing her. He said he loved it. He thought their lips were made to fit together. He thought hers were soft.
“That might just be you,” Eden chuckled. “I have dry lips. I don’t know why you think they’re soft.”
Sterling hummed and kissed her yet again with a grin. “Maybe it is, maybe it isn’t. But I still like it a lot.”
Eden bit down on her lip, looking up at him in adoration. Her finger traced his jawline, her eyes rather distant. How could one person be so destructive, yet another be so peaceful? Though Eden wasn’t complaining, she found it bizarre how easily she got used to Sterling’s presence. How easily he was able to knock down her walls and have her fall for him. A crush. Her crush. Her boyfriend.
“Are you my boyfriend, Sterling?” Eden continued to trail her finger across his face, nearing his mouth and pressing his lips. “You never asked.”
“Yes. Of course. As soon as we kissed in the classroom. At least, I thought so. Didn’t you?” Sterling asked softly, kissing her finger lightly.
“I just wanted to confirm,” Eden mumbled, a small smile on her features. “You’re really handsome, Sterling…”
Sterling chuckled and kissed her again. “You’re adorable, you know that? Like, seriously.”
Eden blinked at him. “What does me calling you handsome have to do with me being ‘adorable?’”
“Everything. It was cute that you said that, and I was calling you that in return,” Sterling laughed softly.
Eden buried her face in his chest to hide the growing blush on her cheeks.
“Let’s sit down?” Her words were muffled, but she knew Sterling understood her. “I need to use the bathroom, too.”
“Okay. Go take care of that. I’ll be waiting for you on the couch,” Sterling said quietly, pecking her lips and letting her go. He smiled as he took a step back.
“I won’t be long,” Eden promised as she sidestepped him to get to the bathroom in her room. Once she was there, she sighed, walking over to the sink, looking at herself in the mirror and broke out into a smile.
She had a boyfriend. Sterling Ainsley was her boyfriend. And he was treating her amazingly. She didn’t feel an ounce of fear with him, as if she knew he wouldn’t go far without her approval. She wasn’t afraid of being struck or yelled at for little things. He wouldn’t do that. He wasn’t Adrien.
Then her eyes fell on her bandaged hand and she sighed. She really had reopened the wound when she climbed the wall. Thankfully, it went unnoticed by Sterling. She opened the cabinet under the sink and took out the first aid kit, opening it before she removed the bloodstained bandage. She washed the cut as quickly as she could before wrapping it again. It should have saddened her for being so good at it—dressing her own wounds, but it didn’t.
When she was done, she set the things away and pulled out the container for her lenses. She removed them, put them away and grabbed her glasses. Once she was done, she walked back and sat down on the couch, wrapping herself around her amazing boyfriend.
“I think it might have taken long,” she chuckled. “Were you surviving well?”
Sterling grinned up at her and leaned back with her in his arms. “No, it was pure torture,” he groaned dramatically. “Now… Care to tell me what happened to your hand?”