Under The Painted Sky (O/O CLOSED)

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?

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.

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.

“No,” Eden responded, tightening her arms around his neck. “Tell me again.”

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.”

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.”

“I just wanted to confirm,” Eden mumbled, a small smile on her features. “You’re really handsome, Sterling…”

Eden blinked at him. “What does me calling you handsome have to do with me being ‘adorable?’”

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.”

“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?”

Eden tensed. She had been hoping he wouldn’t notice, but he did. He hadn’t given any indication that he had before.

“I just got a cut,” Eden answered quietly. “No big deal.”

“I don’t want to be a burden,” Eden leaned into him, closing her eyes. “And I’m going to try to stop, I promise. Both the fighting and this. But it’s going to take some time. I just want you to be patient with me.”

“Thank you,” Eden murmured. “What do you want to do, Sterling?”

“Laying and cuddling sounds perfect,” Eden shivered at his action. “Have I told you how safe you make me feel?”

Eden nodded. “You do,” she answered quietly. “It’s more than what I’ve felt in so long. It’s somewhat overwhelming. I don’t know what to do with it.”