Chapter 43

Sienna stood on the balcony, the cool breeze brushing against her skin as she leaned on the railings, a glass of wine in her hand. The laughter and chatter of Riley’s family celebrating their graduation echoed from inside, but she found herself lost in her thoughts. A bitter scoff escaped her lips as she considered the absence of her own parents. Neither her mother nor her father had shown up—not that she expected them to.

She glanced at the wine swirling in her glass and let out a quiet sigh. Graduating with Latin honors should’ve been a proud moment for them, she thought. But even that wasn’t enough to bridge the chasm between them. Of course, she wasn’t the only one who graduated with honors. Mia and Riley had too. And out of the three of them, Riley was undoubtedly the brightest—always so focused, so determined.

A soft smile crept onto Sienna's face as she recalled the look of pure joy on Riley’s face during the ceremony, a moment she had committed to memory.

"Penny for your thoughts?" Riley’s warm voice broke through her reverie. Sienna felt her arms wrap around her waist, followed by a gentle kiss on her shoulder blade.

Sienna shrugged and turned to face her. "Congratulations again, love," she said with a smile, leaning in to give Riley a quick, tender kiss.

Riley smiled back, her eyes full of affection. "Congratulations to us, love. And know that I’m so proud of you," she whispered, her hand gently stroking Sienna’s hair as they stood there, wrapped in each other’s warmth.

"There you are, lovers!" Nyx’s voice rang out as she jogged toward them, holding a bottle of champagne. Before either of them could react, she gave it a good shake and popped it open, sending the bubbly liquor spraying all over them. Nyx burst out laughing, wrapping both Riley and Sienna in a tight hug. "I’m so proud of you two!" she exclaimed, her joy contagious.

Sienna chuckled, wiping champagne off her face while Riley frowned, clearly unimpressed by her sister’s interruption. "Nyx, really?" Riley grumbled, glancing at the mess.

"Come on, don’t look so sour! We’ve got a surprise for you both," Nyx said, still giggling as she pulled them back inside, her energy impossible to resist.

Sienna laughed again, shaking her head. "You really know how to ruin a moment," she teased, nudging Riley playfully, who still looked half-amused, half-annoyed.

Riley opened the door to her room in the mansion, gently ushering Sienna inside before closing it behind them. As soon as the door clicked shut, Riley pulled Sienna into a tight embrace. "Finally, no more Nyx," she sighed, sounding both relieved and amused. Sienna couldn’t help but laugh softly as she hugged her back, enjoying the brief moment of peace.

"We’ll be staying here tonight," Riley added, though her mood shifted as she scrunched her nose in slight frustration. "But I feel so sticky," she complained, frowning like a child in mild tantrum mode.

Sienna pulled back slightly, cupping Riley’s cheeks with both hands. "You’re such a kid," she teased, leaning in to plant a soft peck on Riley’s lips.

"Kid?" Riley quirked an eyebrow, a playful glint in her eyes. "Then maybe you should start calling me baby, and I might call you... mommy," she winked mischievously.

"W-what?!" Sienna exclaimed, bursting into laughter as she tried to tickle Riley in response to the cheeky comment.

"I was just kidding!" Riley managed between laughs, trying to fend off Sienna’s tickles. Their giggles gradually faded, leaving a soft silence between them. They stood still, catching their breath, eyes locking in a gaze that seemed to quiet the world around them. Riley swallowed nervously as she slowly leaned in, pressing her lips against Sienna’s in a tender kiss.

Sienna’s arms naturally looped around Riley’s neck, drawing her closer. "Shall we take a shower together?" Riley asked, her voice hushed with affection.

Sienna gazed at her for a moment, then smiled warmly. "I don’t see any reason why not," she whispered back.

Riley pulled Sienna in for a deep kiss, her hands slipping under Sienna’s thighs as she lifted her effortlessly. Sienna wrapped her arms around Riley’s shoulders and her legs around Riley’s waist, their lips never parting as Riley carried her toward the bathroom. The soft hum of their breaths mingled, a silent promise of affection.

As they entered the bathroom, Riley flicked on the heater, letting the warm steam rise around them. She gently set Sienna down, their eyes locking in an unspoken connection. Riley brushed her thumb tenderly across Sienna’s cheek, her voice soft yet filled with emotion. "I love you."

Sienna smiled, her heart swelling at the words. "I love you more," she whispered, pulling Riley closer for a kiss, this time slower, more passionate, the world around them fading.

Her fingers worked their way to Riley’s shirt, tugging it upward to undress her. Riley chuckled softly as she helped, then gently turned Sienna around, unzipping her dress with care. As the zipper lowered, Riley placed gentle kisses along Sienna’s exposed shoulder blade, her lips trailing delicately across her skin. Sienna let out a soft breath, her hand instinctively reaching back to tangle in Riley’s hair, urging her closer.

Riley unclasped Sienna’s strapless bra, letting it fall softly to the bathroom floor. She tenderly massaged Sienna’s chest, her fingers tracing delicate patterns across her skin. Sienna’s breath hitched, her head tilting back to rest on Riley’s shoulder as their lips met in another kiss. This time, the kiss deepened, with Sienna's hand gripping the back of Riley's neck, pulling her closer. Riley’s hand trailed down Sienna’s side, gently cupping her from behind before playfully tapping her waist, adding a hint of mischief to the tenderness.

“I really love your scent, love,” Riley whispered, her lips grazing the sensitive curve of Sienna’s ear. Her other hand wrapped securely around Sienna’s waist, steadying her, as they moved together under the warmth of the cascading shower.

Sienna let out a soft sigh, her body responding to every careful touch, a deep connection building between them. Riley’s hands moved with tenderness and care, following Sienna’s lead, ensuring that every touch was a shared moment between them—fueled by love, not just desire.

Riley’s lips grazed Sienna’s shoulder, planting soft kisses before playfully nibbling at her skin. “Still good?” she murmured into Sienna’s ear, her voice low and tender as she traced Sienna's earlobe with her tongue.

“Yes,” Sienna breathed, her voice shaky as Riley’s touch sent waves of warmth through her. The water from the shower streamed over them, heightening every sensation, blending the heat of the moment with the gentle rhythm of Riley’s movements. Each touch was deliberate, intimate, and filled with care, allowing Sienna to lose herself in the feeling.

As the tension in her body built, Sienna gripped Riley’s arm for support, her breaths becoming shallow. The sensation overwhelmed her, sending a shiver down her spine as she finally let go, her body trembling with release. Riley held her close, pulling Sienna against her chest, ensuring she stayed steady in her arms, their breaths synchronized, the moment filled with tenderness.

Riley slowly turned Sienna to face her, both of them breathless but fully immersed in the moment. She guided Sienna gently to lean against the wall, her lips traveling from Sienna’s lips to her neck, leaving soft kisses along the way.

“What are you—”

“I’m cleaning you up,” Riley whispered, her lips moving lower with each word, leaving a trail of warmth down to Sienna’s chest. She knelt before her, carefully sliding Sienna’s underwear down and lifting Sienna’s leg over her shoulder, her tongue movements slow and deliberate.

Sienna bit her knuckle, her eyes locked on Riley’s. Riley’s tongue was teasing, her sucking slow and gentle, sending shivers up Sienna’s spine as Riley continued. Sienna groaned softly, her breath hitching in anticipation as Riley’s hands moved to gently massage her breast, intensifying the sensation.

Sienna arched her back, her fingers tangling in Riley’s hair, guiding her closer as she surrendered to the moment. Their connection was evident, every touch and movement filled with tenderness as Riley continued, responding to Sienna’s subtle motions with care.