Sienna turned her head so their faces were just inches apart. “No reason to feel guilty?” Sienna asked, curling her index finger around a strand of Juliet’s hair.
Her heart fluttered like a hummingbird and her mouth felt dry. “Well, not about that anyway. Not about leaving him. This,” Juliet said, breathlessly. She motioned between the two of them. “This is a whole different story.”
“We can’t do this anymore,” Sienna said quietly, her lips ghosting over Juliet’s.
Juliet wavered, but dug for her resolve. “No, we can’t.”
“It isn’t fair to Will or Declan.”
“No, it isn’t.”
Sienna sighed. “We should probably say good night, then,”
“Yes. We probably should,” Juliet said. Her paper-thin determination was fading quickly. She was feeling too many things to be able to think clearly, and making any kind of decision was plainly out of the question. With Sienna so close, her head was dazed, and her body cried out for more.
“Okay,” Sienna whispered, before slowly pulling away and turning to face Juliet. “I’m sorry, Juliet. I didn’t mean to put you in such an awkward position.”
Juliet reached out, enveloping Sienna in her arms. She closed her eyes and told herself that she needed to think, she needed to really dissect the possible outcomes of the two of them being together.
Sienna broke away first and let her fingers linger against Juliet’s arm for a second before turning toward the bedrooms.
“Sienna, I just need a little time to figure things out. Is that okay?” Juliet asked.
Nodding, Sienna gave her a slight smile. “Of course it is. Take whatever time you need. I’m not going anywhere.”
Juliet exhaled. There were a million reasons to walk away, to go to her bedroom, fall into bed, and stick to the plan. She’d been over and over them, so many times that her brain revolted at the thought of rehashing them. She looked at Sienna, who was so ready to do whatever Juliet asked her to do. Emotion welled inside her, and she was going to burst if she stayed in that position for a second longer. “Oh, fuck it.”
She pushed her up against her bedroom door. She covered Sienna’s mouth with her own, and her body was on fire. Sienna immediately melted into her, returning the kiss with fervor. Sienna pulled her in tighter, and they slowed their kiss to a tender exploration. Juliet’s mind had abandoned all reason and all she could think of was how much more she wanted.
Before long, their breathing grew ragged and their hands were beginning to roam. Sienna bit down softly on Juliet’s lower lip, and at Juliet’s moan, Sienna pushed her away.
“We have to stop. If we don’t stop now, I’m not going to be able to. Seriously,” Sienna said. She was still out of breath. “We have to go slow.”
“Says who?” Juliet reached forward to pull Sienna back into her.
“Uh…you did. We did. We’ve been saying all along that this is a bad idea and could never work. And about ten minutes ago, you agreed that we should just say good night.” Sienna pushed the hair out of her face, her forehead glistening.
“I say stupid things sometimes. Don’t listen to me,” Juliet said, wrapping her arms around Sienna’s waist.
Sienna backed up against the wall again. “I can’t even begin to tell you how much I want you. I really fucking want you. I can’t even breathe right now. But I don’t want you to feel like we rushed into anything, especially after we keep saying the same things over and over. Don’t you think we should wait?”
Sure, it made rational sense to wait. But Sienna had made her intentions clear, and as selfish as it might be, Juliet wanted her. That was it. The crux of it all. Juliet wanted her. As though an epiphany had erupted, Juliet knew. She wanted Sienna and she would fight for her. There had to be a way to make this work.
Juliet stood back, straightening her shirt. She looked directly into Sienna’s eyes, leaving no question where her head was at. “I’ve been waiting months to finally experience what you feel like, what you look like, and what you taste like. I think we’ve waited long enough.”
Sienna lunged forward, bringing their mouths together once more, all pretense abandoned. Their lips melded together, full of want and need. Juliet felt a rush of warmth from her scalp all the way to her toes. All the oxygen in the room had suddenly disappeared, and Juliet didn’t mind that she was suffocating. It was worth it.
Sienna pulled back a fraction of an inch and whispered into Juliet’s mouth, “Tell me to stop.”
Juliet shook her head, pushing Sienna up against the door again. “I can’t. I don’t want to.”
Sienna tilted her head, inviting Juliet in, fully. Juliet had control, or at least the illusion of it, and it turned her on even more. She held the back of Sienna’s neck and kissed her deeply, the magnetism between them threatening to explode into a million tiny sparks. It wasn’t just chemistry. It was preordained magic.
When Sienna’s moans began to increase in volume, Juliet pulled back slowly. She had never been so attracted to someone in her life. Sienna’s eyes were lidded, her breathing was erratic, and her lips were pale and swollen.
Sienna realized that Juliet was watching her, and bit down on her bottom lip. “You’re pretty good at this, you know,” she whispered, and tugged on Juliet’s hair.
“You’re really fucking beautiful, you know,” Juliet answered, as Sienna looked down and blushed. For someone as classically attractive as Sienna was, she didn’t seem to grasp it. To Juliet, it wasn’t even a subjective opinion. It was simply a fact.
Sienna responded by taking Juliet’s hand and leading her toward the bedroom. Juliet licked her lips, a sense of anticipation mingled with nervousness overwhelming her. She’d been thinking about Sienna nonstop for the last few months, knowing it couldn’t happen, and then to have her, so open and ready, was almost too much to handle.
Rain battered against the window, providing them with their very own soundtrack. Juliet swallowed hard as Sienna sat on the edge of the bed, looking up at her expectantly. Once they were in the bedroom, the mood tempered slightly at the reality of what was about to happen.
“I’m nervous.” Juliet ran her finger along Sienna’s jawline.
Sienna smiled and tugged on the hem of Juliet’s shirt. “I am, too.”
Juliet leaned in and kissed her again, this time softer, gentler. Sienna lifted Juliet’s shirt over her head and let it fall to the floor. She glided her hands up and down Juliet’s back, making Juliet shiver in response, and then she slipped her finger beneath Juliet’s bra and unhooked it, letting that too fall to the floor.
Feeling exposed, Juliet pulled Sienna to her and covered her with her body. She wanted Sienna on top of her, beneath her, and inside of her all at once. She settled for kissing her again, letting her tongue run over the shape of Sienna’s perfect lips. Sienna dipped her head and kissed Juliet’s neck, driving her to a near frenzy of need.
“You are gorgeous,” Sienna murmured into Juliet’s shoulder. “I have never wanted anyone the way I want you. Never.” She slid her fingers lightly over Juliet’s breasts while she continued to kiss her neck. Juliet groaned reflexively as Sienna grazed her nipple, her body tightening with want.
“Come here,” she said, her voice thick and full. She pulled Sienna back up to her lips, kissing her fully as she removed Sienna’s shirt, keeping it crumpled in her hand while unfastening the hooks of Sienna’s black lace bra. She undid the button of her pants with a quick flick and pushed them down as far as she could with her thumbs tucked into the waistband. Sienna wriggled out the rest of the way, pressing herself against Juliet. “Oh God.” Juliet moaned, unsure if she could handle what was surely coming next.
The rest of their clothing came off quickly, the craving of feeling each other outweighing the desire for a slow seduction. Juliet savored Sienna’s body, her lips, her tongue, her hands roaming freely. Sienna’s head was on the pillow, her eyes closed, and her head tilted toward the headboard.
“It’s been a
long time,” she whispered.
Juliet paused and lifted her head to meet Sienna’s eyes. “Are you okay?”
Sienna nodded quickly. “Yes. Better than okay. I just got emotional. I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to ruin the moment.”
Juliet put her finger against Sienna’s lips. “You didn’t ruin anything. You couldn’t. I know it’s been a while, and I know how intense it must be to give yourself to someone new after such a long time. I’m so grateful that you chose me.”
Sienna responded by tipping Juliet’s chin toward her, and she kissed her slowly while holding her body tightly against her own. Juliet couldn’t help squirming above her as Sienna began exploring with her hands again, her touch teasingly light. Sienna turned, and Juliet dropped onto the mattress with one fluid motion, so that Sienna was on top of her, kissing and teasing every inch of her. Juliet reveled in the attention of Sienna worshiping her body so languidly, so adoringly. She writhed passively beneath Sienna’s touch, wanting more, but Sienna paid no attention to her silent pleas. Juliet arched as Sienna’s palm glided smoothly down her stomach. Juliet bucked as Sienna slid her finger along the wet length of Juliet’s sex, in that same unhurried way. Juliet clawed at the sheets beneath her, her body undulating with Sienna’s leisurely rhythm. Bringing their lips together again, Sienna nipped lightly at Juliet’s bottom lip as she slowly inserted her finger into Juliet, eliciting a gasp from the uninhibited pleasure that she was creating.
Juliet let out a string of incoherent words, though she didn’t know what they would be or why she was trying to say them. Sienna began stroking her in restrained circles, matching the cadence of her gentle thrusts. Juliet inched closer and closer until every ounce of her was throbbing with an ache for release. Sienna reached for Juliet’s breast, seeming to sense how close she was. Juliet could hear her own breath coming in rapid waves, her whole body electrified. Her climax washed over her, crashing through every limb and nerve ending and setting her on fire. As she slowly made her way back to earth through the haze of bliss surrounding her, her body went limp. Her body was sated, but her heart ached for the uninterrupted comfort of Sienna’s touch. She reached down and squeezed Sienna’s hand.
Sienna slid up beside her, placing soft kisses on her shoulder and chest. Juliet stirred, still a bit weak, but Sienna’s constant kisses were bringing her around again. She sat up and pulled Sienna up to straddle her. The blankets were strewn around them and Sienna pushed a pillow that had dared to come between them to the floor. Juliet licked hungrily at the hollow of her neck, her collarbone, while Sienna moaned in approval. Juliet pulled Sienna tightly to her with one hand and used the other to slide into her wetness.
“My God,” Juliet whimpered, dizzy with want. She concentrated on Sienna’s breathing, and when it started to become ragged, Juliet withdrew, grabbed her by the waist, and lifted her so she could lie her down.
“You’re pretty strong,” Sienna said. Her voice was thick, and her eyes were filled with lust. Juliet’s body reacted immediately.
Juliet positioned herself so that she was on top, trailing her lips softly against her skin until she stopped at Sienna’s hip, kissing her while caressing her everywhere. Sienna dug her nails into Juliet’s wrist as Juliet circled her breasts, running her palms lightly over them to make Sienna want her even more. Sienna moaned deep within her throat, and Juliet could almost hear her body cry out for relief. Juliet slid her tongue across Sienna’s hip, across her pubic bone to the other hip, and drew a trail down her thigh.
“Please,” Sienna whispered, clutching a handful of Juliet’s hair in her trembling hand.
Juliet smiled and made her way between Sienna’s legs, where she ran her tongue lightly up the length of her, confirming just how much Sienna wanted her. It was better than an invitation. Juliet spread her slightly and descended upon her with abandon. Sienna arched her back, pushing herself even farther into Juliet’s mouth. Juliet breathed appreciatively, her warm breath on Sienna’s sex causing her to tighten her muscles in anticipation. Juliet began to trace circles with her tongue in the spot where Sienna needed her most. After a minute at most, Sienna cried out and clutched her thighs tightly around Juliet’s shoulders. Juliet held on to her forcefully, so the contact between them wasn’t broken. When the sensitivity became too much for Sienna to handle, she gently coaxed Juliet back up to her. Their bodies intertwined, and Juliet rested her head on Sienna’s chest, blissfully spent.
“That was…I don’t even think I can put it into words,” Juliet said, chuckling at the flashes of light dancing behind her eyelids.
“Mmm,” Sienna agreed, placing soft kisses on the top of Juliet’s head. “We didn’t even make it one night. I promised myself when I knocked on your door that nothing was going to happen.”
“I made the same promise. Clearly, promise-keeping isn’t our forte when it comes to staying away from each another,” Juliet said. She ran her finger along Sienna’s arm, watching the skin erupt in goose bumps beneath her touch. She couldn’t remember the last time she felt so at ease. So comfortable. “You really haven’t been with a woman in ten years?”
“Yes. Maybe even a little longer.” She played with the ends of Juliet’s hair and scratched her nails lightly down her back.
“Well, it must be like riding a bike. Because damn, woman,” Juliet teased her, squeezing Sienna’s hand.
Sienna scoffed, but it wasn’t enough to hide her smile. Juliet laughed and bit down gently on her stomach. She wished they could just stay the way they were, happy and content and at ease with each other.
As if reading her mind, Sienna sighed. “So, what happens now? I don’t mean to get heavy, but we’ve deviated from our plan. Yet again. Do we just go back to promising that it won’t happen?”
Juliet didn’t see how that was an option. Connecting the way they had, all the feelings she’d been pushing down had exploded to the surface. She was pretty sure she wouldn’t be able to stuff them any longer.
“I don’t know,” she answered honestly. “I don’t think I can promise that anymore. I’d be lying to myself. I really hope this doesn’t scare you, and if it’s not where you’re at right now, I totally understand. I’m falling for you, and I know it’s not ideal, but there it is. Does that scare you?”
Juliet closed her eyes and braced herself for Sienna’s response. She knew Sienna had feelings for her, but was she ready for something so raw and intense? The ink hadn’t even had time to dry on the divorce papers.
“Yes, it does.” Sienna wrapped her arms tightly around Juliet, bringing her even closer to her. “But it scares me because I feel it too. I haven’t been in love in a very long time. And now I remember what it feels like.”
Before she allowed any of the guilt, fear, and anxiety to set in, Juliet reveled in the pure joy that flowed through her. She kissed Sienna’s stomach again and closed her eyes, trying to hold on to the moment for as long as humanly possible.
Chapter Thirty-one
“Mmm,” Sienna murmured, somewhere between sleep and arousal. She was aware of a pleasant sensation, a burning deep within her stomach. As her eyes fluttered open, she felt a velvet tongue sliding over her. She craned her neck slightly and groaned as she saw Juliet’s hair splayed over her stomach. She brought her hands to Juliet’s hair, curling her fingers in the soft mess while she moved closer to the brink, her body responding as intensely as it had the night before. She writhed beneath Juliet’s mouth, muttering nonsense, until her muscles tightened and she came. When the aftershocks subsided, Sienna laughed quietly as her head hit the pillow, and she rubbed her hands over her face. Juliet placed sweet kisses up the length of her thigh, her stomach, her chest, and her neck, until she’d made her way back up Sienna’s body. Juliet rested on her forearm and raised her eyebrows.
“Good morning,” she whispered seductively.
Sienna laughed again, suspended somewhere between heaven and earth. “Yes. Good morning.”
“It’s really early,” Juliet said. “Go back
to sleep.”
She turned on her side and pulled Sienna’s arm around her so that they were spooning. Sienna held on to her tightly, the feeling of being entangled with Juliet so new, but so familiar, so exciting, but so comforting, that anything she’d felt prior to that morning didn’t hold a candle to the electricity that crackled in the air above them.
After drifting in and out of sleep for the next hour, Sienna opened her eyes when she heard the rattle of a doorknob. She patted Juliet’s leg to wake her, but Juliet just rolled over. Sienna sat up and furiously tapped Juliet’s arm.
“What?” Juliet asked. She was clearly still in the haze of sleep.
“Someone’s at the door,” Sienna shout-whispered.
Juliet jumped up, taking the sheet with her. Sienna heard the deadbolt turn over and scrambled to pull her yoga pants on without tripping over the leg and falling headfirst into Juliet’s dresser.
“I need my cleats,” Declan called out. When he wasn’t met with a response, he announced himself a little louder. “Mom? Are you here?”
Juliet ran her hand through her hair, but it didn’t do much considering how messy it was from their late-night activities. Sienna stifled a laugh even though Declan walking in at that moment was decidedly unfunny. Seeing Juliet completely frazzled was quite amusing.
“I’m here,” Juliet yelled. She straightened the hem on the sweatshirt she’d pulled out of the closet and took a last look at Sienna. “Do you think he’ll be able to tell? Should you hide?”
Sienna shrugged. “I don’t know. Maybe. Probably. No, I’m not going to hide! Just act natural.”
Juliet walked out of the bedroom and Sienna followed her a minute later. She’d hoped Declan wasn’t looking in the direction of the bedrooms.
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