(Sierra's POV)
It replayed itself relentlessly in my head. The kiss. Stefano's lips, the warmth of his skin, the hunger in his eyes that was reflected within mine. My chest still throbbed, and every time I tried to focus on anything else, the memory flared again like a fire I couldn't put out. I forced myself to think about other things: college, assignments, the casual teasing from Marko and Arko. None worked. The image of him, so close, so consuming, lingered. My mind whispered things that I couldn't admit, not even to myself. I sat down to dinner that evening with trepidation. I kept my posture straight, trying to appear composed, but I felt the weight of Stefano's gaze from across the table. It was subtle at first, almost imperceptible, but the tension it carried twisted my stomach.
(Stefano's POV)
It was torture to see her there, across the dinner table, serene and composed. My chest ached with the memory of our kiss—the way her lips had moved against mine, the way she had breathed into me. I hated it. I hated how much I wanted it again. Dad's booming voice broke into my thoughts. "I have an announcement," he said, leaning back in his chair, his eyes glinting with excitement. "Everyone, we have a news. Aveline and I will be going on our honeymoon for fifteen days" My jaw tightened. Fifteen days. With her. Alone. My chest rose and fell rapidly. Aveline looked tensed for Sierra "Sie, baby can u stay without me?" Sierra looked up at her mother with a small smile, calm as ever. "Don't worry, Mom. Go and have a great honeymoon. I'll be alright." With that, Aveline turned to Sebastian and said in a soft tone, "Sebastian, take good care of her while we're gone. Make sure she doesn't get into trouble."
I tried keeping my expression neutral as Sebastian gave her a confident nod. "Don't worry, Mom. I'll take care of Sunshine. She'll be fine." Sierra's eyes darted to Sebastian, and a tiny, playful smirk touched her lips. "I'll be fine, Sebastian. Don't worry about me."
(Sierra's POV)
I could feel Stefano's eyes burning into me from across the table. I tried to focus on the conversation, the polite exchanges, the way Nicolas and Mom laughed lightly, but I couldn't ignore it. Every glance, every flicker of his gaze made my pulse quicken.
As was usually the case, Sebastian was the first to catch my tension. His eyes gentled as he reached for the napkin in front of him, his hand brushing mine. "Relax," he whispered, his voice at a pitch where only I could hear him. "Everything's fine." I managed a small smile. "Thanks, Seb."
(Stefano's POV)
I couldn't take it. She smiled at Sebastian like she was calm and innocent, but it made my chest ache with jealousy I refused to admit. She doesn't deserve to be with anyone else right now. She should be mine. My hand clenched around my fork as I pushed the food around my plate without even tasting it. Dad continued, oblivious to the tension at the table. "It'll be a good change of pace. Sierra, you'll have some freedom, and Sebastian, you'll have responsibility. Make sure she stays out of trouble, son. And Stefano take care of everything."
I snorted under my breath, but Sierra's soft laugh cut through it. Turning to her, I saw how casually she sipped water, completely unruffled with the prospect of fifteen days with me within a few feet. My chest tightened further. How can she be so calm? Did she forget our kiss? Our first kiss?
(Sierra's POV)
I felt Stefano's gaze shift to me again, hotter this time. I could see the faint furrow of his brows, the tension in his jaw. I tried to ignore it, focusing instead on the small details around the dinner table—the way the candles flickered, the soft clinking of cutlery, the quiet hum of voices. But I couldn't escape the knowledge that Stefano was there, that he was watching me, that every small gesture I made could ignite that same tension we had shared earlier. Sebastian, noticing the silent war of glances between us, leaned closer. "You okay?" he asked softly. I nodded, my lips twitching into a small smile. "I'll be fine. Don't worry about me, Sebastian." The rest of the evening was a tightrope balance between polite conversation, strained silence, and unsaid emotions. Stefano turned his eyes from me, though he appeared to be doing so, and each time our gazes met, I felt an electrical charge-a hazardous, delicious attraction that left me apprehensive yet thrilled. As I excused myself to clear my plate, I realized that fifteen days under the same roof with Stefano would be nothing short of a storm. God plz keep me in ur protection for this fifteen days. How I was going to make it through that, I didn't know, but a very small and irresponsible part of me wanted to find out. I just hope I won't face any situation in these 15 days where me and Stefano will be all alone. Cz if it hapeens even god can't stop something from happening. Despite of all our chaos we have to remind us that we are step siblings we can't just do anything forbidden.
This fifteen days will be war between our temptations and reality...…..
(To be continued...…..)