Chapter 16
Chapter Sixteen
Sienna
The spa doors swing shut behind us with a soft whoosh, and the midday sun hits me like a slap. My skin is still humming everywhere Milo touched, and I’m aching in places that have nothing to do with muscle knots.
Milo walks beside me, close enough that our fingers brush every other step.
Every accidental touch feels electric now, like my body has decided his skin is the only thing that matters.
I catch him looking at the strap of my sundress slipping down my shoulder, at the way my breasts move when I breathe, at my lips like he’s remembering how they felt against his last night.
His gaze is heavy. Dark. Hungry. I don’t call him out on it, though. I don’t tease. I just let the silence stretch between us until it’s almost unbearable, thick with everything we’re not saying.
When we round the last curve, the pool comes into view, and I spot my family instantly.
They’re under one of the large cabanas, laughing hysterically.
Aria’s gaze drifts toward us like twin instinct knew I was coming.
Her mouth drops open, her sun hat nearly flying off as she waves enthusiastically at us.
“Sienna! Milo!” she shouts across the pool area, causing heads to turn. “Come over here and eat with us! We’ve ordered way too much food—quickly though, before Dad eats all the shrimp skewers!”
I laugh, the sound bubbling out before I can stop it. Without thinking, I grab Milo’s arm and pull him along. His skin is warm under my fingers, and he flexes slightly, like he’s acknowledging the touch… like he likes it.
There’s a six-foot folding table set between the loungers, draped with a white tablecloth, holding an impressive spread of food. Mom, Dad, and Ethan are already settled on the other side. Milo and I drop onto the same lounger as Aria, so close that our thighs press together.
Mom beams as she passes us plates. “You two look oddly… relaxed.”
“We were just at the couple’s massage.” I sigh dreamily.
Her face lights up. “How was it? Dad and I have ours booked for tomorrow.”
I feel my cheeks heat instantly. Under the table, Milo’s fingers brush my thigh in slow circles that make my breath catch. He’s reminding me exactly what his hands felt like gliding over me. I swallow hard, pressing my thighs together on instinct, but that only traps his hand closer.
I’m soaked. Aching. And we’re literally surrounded by my entire family.
“It was… intense,” I manage, my voice a little breathy. “Milo’s got magic hands. He found knots I didn’t even know I had.”
Milo chokes on his water, coughing so hard I have to thump him on the back. He recovers quickly and side-eyes me, his lips twitching. “It was… educational.”
“Don’t let her flatter you too much,” Dad chuckles. “She’s got a way of twisting compliments into traps.”
Milo nods once. “Noted. I’ll keep my guard up.”
Aria pops a grape into her mouth, grinning. “Good luck with that. Sienna’s been dismantling guards since she was five. Remember the time she convinced the neighbor’s kid his bike could fly if he pedaled fast enough?”
Ethan bursts out laughing. “Did he break anything?”
“Just his pride,” Dad responds. “And the fence. But Sienna talked her way out of it—said she was ‘testing gravity’ for a school project.”
Mom shakes her head, but she’s smiling. “Always the adventurer. That’s our girl—never one to sit still.”
I stab a shrimp a little aggressively and pop it into my mouth. The garlic butter explodes on my tongue, but it does nothing to dull the annoyance bubbling under my skin. I know what’s coming. I can see it in her eyes.
She leans forward. “Speaking of adventures, honey… have you thought any more about what we talked about?”
I swallow the shrimp, and the garlic is suddenly too strong. “Mom, we’re at lunch. Can we not?”
“We’re just saying, Sienna. Aria has found her person. We want that for you too,” her eyes soften. “Happiness and stability.”
And just like that, my perfect day is ruined, once again, by this stupid “settling down” bullshit.
Aria shoots me a sympathetic look, but Ethan just grins, completely clueless. “Yeah, Sienna. You could do worse than someone like Milo here. He’s got his life together.”
Milo’s hand tightens gently on my thigh—not possessive, just reassuring. The warmth spreads, easing the knot in my chest. It’s like he can feel the irritation I’m trying to swallow down and wants to shield me from it.
I force out a laugh, but it comes out sharper than I meant. “Are you saying I don’t have my life together? Because I do. It’s just… chaotically mine. I’m living on my own terms, that’s all.”
Mom’s smile wavers. “We know, honey. But life catches up eventually. You can’t run forever.”
Watch me.
The words land harder than they should. My knee starts bouncing again beneath Milo’s hand. Run forever. Is that what they really think I’m doing? Maybe I am. Running from boredom, from expectations, from the terrifying thought that if I ever stop moving, I’ll simply vanish.
And the worst part? Some small, ugly part of me wonders if they’re right.
Milo’s thumb resumes its slow circles on my thigh, grounding me. I glance over at him. Though he’s looking at the others, his attention is locked on me. It makes my stomach flip.
“Sienna’s got it figured out in her own way,” he says, his voice calm. “Her life’s an adventure. Not everyone needs roots to grow.”
Mom blinks, caught off guard, but Dad gives a thoughtful nod. “Fair point, son.”
Lunch carries on in that slightly awkward but manageable way. I’m relieved when the conversation finally shifts to the wedding. Aria dives in enthusiastically, chatting about the rehearsal dinner and how the rest of the guests will start arriving soon.
Of course, it doesn’t take long for the topic to swing back to my glaring lack of rehearsal dinners. But Aria, bless her, swoops in like a lifesaver.
“Who’s up for some pool volleyball?” She asks, glancing around the table.
The tension eases—just a little. Mom and Dad politely decline, saying they’re heading back to their villa for a nap. I hop up from the lounger and peel off my sundress, leaving me in just my bikini. I feel Milo’s gaze drag over me like a physical touch as we head toward the pool.
His hand brushes my thigh as we fall into step. “You okay?” he asks in a low voice.
I nod. “Yeah. Just… tired of the same conversation.”
“They’re wrong, you know. You don’t need to change.”
I smile, small but real. “I know. But clearly, they don’t.”
“They’re just trying to look out for you,” he says. “You can’t fault them for that.”
“It’s not that I’m faulting them,” I reply with a sigh. “It’s just that I’m genuinely tired of hearing it.”
Sure, I’m chaotic and sometimes a little wild, but that’s just who I am. I don’t need to change for anyone, and I certainly don’t need to settle down just because they want me to, even if it means suffocating, barely able to breathe, and unable to escape.
Milo doesn’t respond but gives a small smile like he understands what I mean. In return, I smile back at him before jogging up to Aria and slinging an arm around her shoulder.
“So… about that ‘accept a dare from the bride and groom’ square. What’s our dare going to be?”
Ethan grins wickedly from beside Aria. “I’ve been waiting for you guys to ask this.”
I groan. “It’s going to be stupid, isn’t it? Like down seven shots of tequila in a row. That’s an average Friday for me, Ethan.”
“Nope,” he shakes his head. “It’s better than that.”
I raise an eyebrow. “Okay… go on, I’m intrigued.”
“The dare we’ve set for you is…” he pauses and does a drumroll with his fingers on his right thigh. “For Milo to fake propose to you and make it look believable!”
I give him a blank look before doubling over laughing. “Oh my God. You’ve got to be kidding me. That’s hilarious.”
“We’ve also decided that the dare square can be done on any day,” Aria says, grinning. “Flexible timing. But it has to be crossed out before midnight on the final night.”
They continue walking ahead of us while I fall into step beside Milo. I lift my left hand dramatically, wiggling my fingers, and turn toward him. Nudging his shoulder with mine, I flash him a cheeky grin.
“So… I’m going to be the future Mrs. Reyes soon,” I say, wiggling my brows. “How does that make you feel, hubby-to-be?”
Milo doesn’t miss a beat. “Petrified.”
I let out a bright laugh, clutching my chest like he’s wounded me. “Wow. Straight to the heart. You could’ve at least pretended to be excited.”
“Oh, I’m excited,” he deadpans, though the corner of his mouth twitches. “Excited to see how fast this whole thing crashes and burns.”
“Oh, cheer up, you big grump,” I grin, bumping him again.
“I’d make a perfect fake wife. I mean, I can’t cook to save my life—unless you count ordering takeout as a culinary skill.
But I’m excellent at spending money. And since you’re not exactly hurting for cash, I figure I’ll do a stellar job of making sure it doesn’t just sit there collecting dust.”
He snorts, glancing sideways at me with amusement flickering in his eyes. “Should I just give you my card now and get it over with?”
My eyes light up. “Would you?”
Milo shrugs, the picture of casual indifference, but I can tell he’s fighting a smile. “Depends. How fast can you drain my accounts?”
“I’m offended you even have to ask. Because honestly, Milo,” I continue, my voice dropping into a conspiratorial whisper.
“I’ve been eyeing these shoes for months.
If you slip me that card, I might accidentally buy them in every single color.
And then I’d need the matching bags. And maybe a few dresses to go with them. You know… for balance.”
He stops and turns to face me fully now, one brow raised. “Which shoes?”
I blink. “Are you a secret fashionista?”
“No,” he replies, his lips curving. “But I know my brands.”
I look at him with a wicked grin as my eyes shift between him and the sparkling pool behind him. He eyes me suspiciously before his face morphs into shock when I place my hands onto his shoulders and shove him hard.
He looks comically shocked for half a second before his hand snaps out, wrapping around my wrist before pulling me in with him. We crash into the water together, and the coldness of it against my flushed skin steals my breath.
When we both surface, laughter bursts out of me. Milo’s hair is slicked back, water dripping from his lashes. The way he’s looking at me—dark, intense, and openly hungry—makes my stomach flip.
“Race you,” I challenge, still catching my breath. “Fastest lap wins a massage anytime they want.”
His eyebrow lifts. “You’re on.”
We push off the wall at the same time. I slide through the water, but Milo is right behind me, powerful and relentless. I touch the far wall first by a fraction of a second and surge up with a triumphant gasp.
“Ha! Victory!” I laugh, wiping water from my eyes. “I cannot wait for that massage.”
He surfaces right beside me, so close our legs tangle under the water. Before I can gloat any further, his hands find my waist and pull me in. Our bodies press together, slick and weightless in the water. The coldness of the water does nothing to hide how warm he feels against me.
My breath catches. His chest brushes mine with every inhale.
Our faces are inches apart, water dripping from his lips.
The rest of the world fades—the splashes, the laughter, the distant music—until there’s only him, the heat in his eyes, and the undeniable hardness I can feel pressing against my thigh.
“Last night… after the hot tub,” I whisper, my voice shaky. “I took a cold shower.”
His fingers flex on my waist. “Yeah?”
“Yeah,” I swallow, heart hammering. “And I used my vibrator thinking about you. About what you’d do to me. Imagining your hands instead of the toy… picturing you inside me, fucking me against the shower wall.”
Milo’s breath stutters. His grip tightens, pulling me even closer until I’m nearly straddling his thigh underwater. His eyes are almost black now, pupils blown wide with lust.
“Sienna…” The way he says my name sends a fresh wave of heat straight between my thighs.
“Fun only, right?” I whisper, but my words tremble. “But that fantasy… it shattered me. I came so hard I had to hold on to the wall just to stay standing.”
His forehead drops to mine. Water clings to his lashes as his hands slide lower, gripping my hips possessively. For one breathless second, I think he’s going to kiss me right here—deep, desperate, no holding back.
“Tell me more,” he demands, his voice gravel-rough. “What did you imagine me doing to you?”
I open my mouth to respond when Aria’s voice cuts through the air like a bucket of ice water.
“Are you two coming to play volleyball, or are you gonna stay there eye-fucking each other all day?”
Milo’s eyes drop to my mouth one last time, dark and full of promise, before he slowly releases me. I push away from him, already missing the heat of his body. As I swim toward the edge, I feel his gaze burning into my back the entire way.
And as the rest of the afternoon continues, I feel his gaze on me constantly—on my mouth whenever I talk. On the curve of my ass whenever I bend to grab something. Even on the way my nipples strain against my bikini while I lie on the lounger and read my book.
By the time the sun dips below the horizon and we finally head back to the villa, with Aria reminding me about the girls’ night I promised her tonight, my heart feels too full and my body too empty.
Whatever’s happening between Milo and me has made me realize that maybe I don’t want to go back to the life I knew before him… maybe I want to see where whatever this is between us goes.