Sienna fit in his arms like he was born to hold her.

I can’t lie next to you every day, maybe not ever, and I won’t get to anytime soon. She told herself, looking at her reflection in his dark shades.

Wasn’t she the one who told him that she wasn’t interested in men?

Yet here she was. On his lap. In his arms.

She could feel her thigh burning where his hand was placed. His other arm was around her waist, keeping her glued to him.

She could feel heat spreading under his touch.

"H—Hunter," She called his name, but her voice barely made it.

He didn’t answer. The teasing smile that was there on his face minutes ago had already vanished, and now there was an unreadable expression.

"I ..." She tilted her head to look down before glancing back at him, "I really wish— you could get rid of—"

She trailed off.

Hunter had pinched his lower lip between his teeth. He let it go before letting out a sigh, "Get rid of what, menace?" His face got a little closer, "My clothes?"

She shook her head, pressing her lips tightly.

"My glasses?" He asked again.

She closed her eyes and nodded at him. When she opened them, she saw him bringing his face closer to hers. For some reason, she was breathless.

His breath was now brushing against her lips, and she felt her heart stutter. He had stopped moving towards her, she realized. And then decided to bridge the gap a little more.

Just a little more.

She moved ahead, just enough to let her nose tip brush against his. A shiver ran through her. She didn’t pull away, lost in the moment. Neither did he.

If only she could look into his eyes and see all those sensations – and emotions he must be experiencing right now. None of them was aware of who moved first because now their lips were dangerously close.

It was not exactly a kiss.

Just a faint touch.

Their lips were grazing each other. Feeling the softness.

Sienna slowly inhaled his scent, scared that she might break the moment. Her fingers tightened on his shoulders as if she needed something to hold onto.

She was very much conscious of his thumb that was now brushing lightly against her thigh. It was done slowly, absentmindedly— like he didn’t even realize he was doing it.

"Careful, menace," He murmured, his lips still hovering against hers, "You keep doing this— you might start falling for a jobless man. I might start thinking you don’t dislike me that much."

Sienna’s breath trembled a little, "Wh—who said that I – hate you?"

In answer, he cocked up a brow, "You like me?"

She was the one who became a little bolder and brushed her lips against his. She felt a tremor running down her spine, "Don’t flatter yourself, Hunter."

Hunter’s other hand left her thigh and wrapped around her waist to pull her closer— more into him. Trying to absorb her body into his. For some reason, Sienna felt like he was staring at her lips.

Before she could beg him to kiss her, the door to the living room suddenly swung open.

"Ah. It’s too hot outside— I don’t know how we’ll survive— uh huh..."

Both of them jolted. Hunter stiffened momentarily beneath her, and there was no time to stand or pull away from the position they were in.

Brian stood at the door, equally frozen. His eyes flicked between them, then he cleared his throat, straightening awkwardly, "I’m— sorry for coming home early and –" He gestured awkwardly, "—disturb you."

Sienna blinked, praying silently that the blush on her face wasn’t obvious, "Oh. We were just discussing— an upcoming meeting."

And then there was a pause.

Poor Brian nodded his head, "Of course," He struggled to smile, "The living room is hot too. Why don’t you both go upstairs and discuss your meeting..."

"Brian!" Warning was evident in Hunter’s voice when he called his butler’s name. Brian wasn’t a fool; he took the hint.

Sienna slipped out of Hunter’s lap and tried to stand, but her weak knees didn’t let her stay on her feet. This time her ass landed back on Hunter’s lap, causing her face to bump into his chest, "Sorry," She said with a red face, trying to control her laughter this time.

Hunter helped her up, steadying her with a firm hand on her waist, and then got to his feet, "What do you say? Should I carry you to your bedroom?"

The double-meaning statement subtly reminded her of their earlier conversation.

Sienna placed her palms flat on his chest and shoved him playfully, "No, thanks," She tried to hold her composure, but the crimson color creeping onto her cheeks and ears betrayed her.

She tried stepping back, but Hunter was still holding her. Brian was now coughing, taking grocery bags inside the kitchen.

He was stealing glances from the open kitchen, enjoying the view.

Sienna hurriedly made a beeline for her room without looking back.

"Good God!" She slammed the door behind her once she was inside the safety of her room, "I’m behaving like a teenager. Hehe."

She could still feel that giddiness in the pit of her stomach.

She leaned against the closed door and rested her head back against it. In her past life, he was her crush. But the day he married Ruby, she closed that Chapter of her life forever.

The reason was simple. She wanted to stay faithful to Tom.

However, that man never deserved her loyalty. The way Hunter was taking care of her in this life, she was now regretting offering him a contract marriage.

Once I’m done with this revenge, I might ask him to stay. She thought with a shrug. If only Tom were half as caring as Hunter.

She let out a helpless sigh, trying hard not to think about her daughter. This afternoon, when she met Ruby at her parents’ place, she felt sorry for her.

But Ruby dug her own grave when she chose Tom for herself in this lifetime. She pushed herself against the door and took out her phone to check messages.

With a speeding heartbeat, she opened Finn’s message that said:

I’ve got the job at Star Realty and Projects, Madam Boss.

Sienna clutched her phone to her chest and laughingly told her daughter,

We did it, sweetheart! We did it!