Chapter Thirteen #2
She’s silent for a few moments, and I don’t press. Instead, flicking my lighter and taking a few short puffs from the joint.
“You promise?”
“Yeah, sweetheart, I promise. Now come get high, and then we’ll work on the puzzle together.
” Sienna gently climbs off the bed, leaving what little she’s done on the puzzle intact.
Her shorts are ridiculously tiny, the large T-shirt falling past the hem to about mid-thigh.
Her hair is loose, hanging down her back, wavy from being in a braid all day.
My heart trips over itself then picks up its beat, pounding recklessly against my ribcage.
Damn this woman. What is she doing to me?
Sienna stands in front of me, about two feet away, arms wrapped around her midsection. The warm outside air blows through the window, caressing over her skin, the scent of jasmine filling my senses.
“How do I do it? You make it look so easy. I watched Lincoln do it for the first time when I was like fourteen, and he coughed for a few minutes straight.”
“You might cough; it’s foreign to your lungs, but . . .” A thought comes to me, but I don’t know if she’ll go for it.
I gently grip the material of her shirt, tugging her closer to me. Her eyes widen for a brief moment, then she relaxes, stepping willingly into my space. I’m careful not to touch her, leaving us just enough space so I can lean forward.
“Trust me,” I whisper. “Take a small breath, then breathe in slowly as I breathe out. Then don’t hold it in your lungs, just let it right back out.
” Her pretty blues dart all over my face, but she nods.
I take a hit of the joint, holding the smoke in as I give her one more little yank closer.
Then I’m leaning forward, my head angled just enough, like I was leaning in for a kiss.
I stop right before our noses brush, her lips falling open just enough.
Then I’m gently blowing out, the smoke mingling between us, dancing and curling upward, until Sienna starts to breathe it in.
The smoke transfers easily between us as she fills her lungs with it.
When I’m done, I lean back, letting the hand that was curled around the fabric of her shirt fall to my thigh.
I watch as Sienna holds it for a quick moment and then exhales without coughing, smooth and like a fucking natural.
“That’s it, baby girl,” I praise, the name rolling off my tongue naturally, easily. Sienna smiles up at me, unrestrained for the first time, and it almost brings me to my fucking knees. How do I want to spend my time? Like this. Right here. With her. “Not so bad, huh?”
“No, I like it.”
“You want to try it on your own?” I ask, holding the joint out in offering.
Sienna looks at it, then back at my mouth, her chest rising and falling, nipples straining against the thin material of her shirt.
Jesus, I’m affecting her just like she’s affecting me.
I’ve never been harder, and I’m hoping like fucking hell she can’t tell.
Being this close to her, shotgunning that smoke?
I’ve had a lot of experiences, but somehow that was the hottest. “Tell me what you want, Sienna, and it’s yours.
” My voice is deeper, my desire affecting me in more ways than just one.
“Will you do it again, Axel?” Fuck yes, I will.
“Come here, sweetheart. Hold it in your lungs a little longer this time.” Sienna steps into my space all on her own, this time a little bolder, putting her body right between my spread knees.
We’re not touching, but my hand itches to run my fingers up the outside of her thigh, to feel how warm and soft her skin is.
I want to push up her T-shirt and suck on those pert nipples, strip her of her shorts and underwear, see what’s waiting for me between her legs.
My mouth waters at the thought of tasting her, of bringing her pleasure with my tongue on her pussy.
Jesus Christ, I need to rein it in. This is the last thing she needs.
I take a few puffs of the joint, leaning in, but this time, as I go, my eyes flick down to her pretty pink lips.
I don’t kiss women. It’s too personal, and it gives them the wrong idea.
But right now? I have the strongest urge to kiss Sienna, to taste her, to pull her into my arms and worship her mouth.
When my eyes flick back up to hers, I catch her looking down at mine.
Fuck, is she thinking the same thing? Our eyes finally meet, tension and electricity thrumming between us.
“Axel . . .” My name sounds so good, whispered on her lips.
I can’t respond, so I breathe out slowly, Sienna right there to inhale.
Fuck, why is this so hot? I don’t pull back this time, my hand moving of its own accord, reaching out and brushing my fingertips against the back of her hand, gently sliding down to her fingers.
The touch is so fucking featherlight, but it makes me feel fucking everything.
Sienna’s fingers flex, her eyes softening as she holds the smoke in her lungs and then slowly breathes out, the foggy color whisping around her pretty face.
I’m in complete awe of her.
We stand there, moments after the smoke has cleared, suspended in this connection I’ve never felt before.
She has absolutely no idea how much power she holds, how strong she is.
Her eyes alone hold me hostage, the chemistry between us crackling and sparking.
Touch has always been what I need most, what I enjoy, but this right here with Sienna?
I’ve never felt closer to another person before, and there isn’t a single part of us physically touching.
Then a loud bang pops off, followed by laughs from down the hallway.
Sienna gasps, jumping backward, her arms curling around her midsection again.
I don’t think, I just react, standing and wrapping my arms around her shoulders, pulling her into a hug.
Before I have a second to realize my mistake—that I’m touching her, that she may not have wanted this—she fucking melts into me.
Her body relaxes, her shoulders curling inward toward my chest, her head tucked right under my chin.
“You’re okay, baby girl. It was just some assholes messing around.
I’ve got you.” My hand moves up and down her back in comfort, my palm smooth against her spine.
My other hand combs into her still-damp hair, fingertips massaging lightly into her scalp.
Her scent surrounds me, fresh jasmine, and a hint of .
. . me. Having her in my arms like this feels right, and I don’t want to let her go.
In fact, I want to hold her like this all night.
Which shocks the shit out of me because I’ve never wanted to do anything remotely close to resembling affection in that way before.
I let Sienna lead, holding her close until she steps back. Her pretty blue eyes are hazy and heavily lidded, the THC doing what it does best.
“How ya feelin’, sweetheart?”
“Calm. Centered. Like I want to finish that puzzle.”
I smile brightly at her. “Then we had better get to work.”
Puzzles were a way for me to pass the time that didn’t include work or fucking. It’s something I’ve done since Queenie threw one at me and told me to take a break from constantly trying to prove myself. No one knew about it except the two of us.
And now Sienna.