Page 73 of The Heartbreak Hotel

Ella smiled. “Sure. If that’s what you want?”

She planted a soft kiss on Ella’s lips. “It is.”

Ella started to run the bath while Riley searched her cupboards for candles. She returned with a bag full of tealights varying from Christmas gingerbread to cherry blossom.

“They’re old presents,” she explained with a shrug. “I’m not really a candle gal.”

Once the water was steaming and the flames were lit, covering the bathroom in a golden glow, they started to undress. Riley pulled her T-shirt over her head and hung it on the radiator. She slipped her shorts and underwear off too, and Ella couldn’t help but stare at her glorious form. She wanted to commit it to memory. Every freckle, every hard line and sculptured muscle. The way her blonde hair fell over her strong shoulders. Her perfectly toned back. Those cheekbones and dimples, the blue eyes so full of emotion.

A surge of feeling rose in Ella’s chest, and she turned away, focusing on undressing herself to distract her thoughts from derailing. She didn’t want to forget a thing, but would these moments come back to haunt her?

Calm down, Ella. It’s just a fucking bath.

“After you,” she said, turning to find Riley had now pulled her hair into a bun. Ella always loved how it changed the shape of her face. It made her more vulnerable somehow when she didn’t have all those waves to hide behind.

Riley climbed into the tub, steam pillowing around her, and let out a heavenly sigh.

Ella took in the curve of her biceps as the water coated them. How her hair glowed in the candlelight. Savoured the hums of pleasure as she sunk into the water.

Stop it.

Tears pricked her eyelids, but she wished them away. Letting go of someone who was arguably not right for her had been so difficult. How could she possibly let go of someone like Riley?

She swallowed the lump in her throat. “Where do you want me?”

“Here.” Riley offered her hand, and Ella stepped into the bath, lowering herself into the hot water so she laid back against Riley’s chest. Riley wound her arms around her, the water sloshing over the two of them, and they each let out another sigh. Warmth spread through Ella’s body like balm to her soul. Lying here with Riley was everything. She’d never felt closer to her, but her mind kept prodding at the places that hurt.

“This is amazing,” Riley whispered.

“It is,” she managed, watching the shadows dance across the tiles. Her lip wobbled. She was relieved Riley couldn’t see her face. Don’t ruin the moment, Ella.

They didn’t speak for a few minutes, just let their bodies relax.

Riley broke the silence first. “I already feel better. Thank you.” Her hands glided over Ella’s waist, and she gave her a squeeze.

“You’re welcome.” Ella wished she could say the same, but her mind wouldn’t settle.

“Thank you for being so understanding and patient.” She kissed Ella’s cheek, nuzzling into her neck. “That means the world to me.”

Ella bit her lip, tracing over Riley’s fingers where they lay across her stomach. “Does this happen every year?” she asked.

“Yes. But it’s been easier this time.”

A spark of hope flickered in Ella’s heart, and she cursed it. “How so?”

“Meeting you has opened my eyes to a lot of things.” She caressed Ella’s arms, moving her hands up and down, the water rippling around them. “I was doing fine here. In my eyes, fine is good. Fine is functioning. Surviving. But it’s not really living.”

Ella’s pulse quickened. Riley scooped up water and washed it over the two of them.

“I’ve been scared to want more,” she admitted. “Wanting something sets you up for disappointment. Not wanting anything is safe. It’s…”

“Lonely?” Ella offered.

She felt Riley nod behind her, and how her hands stilled. “Yeah. It’s pretty lonely.”

“Being with the wrong people feels pretty lonely too, though.”

“That’s true. Has that happened to you?”