Page 17 of HER SISTER

"Ow—"

"Oh my god did I hurt you?" I questioned, looking up from Mili's hand that I had previously been patching up.

And when Mili's lips twitched up into an amused smile, I rolled my eyes.

"You're annoying," I said, confirming that she had faked the pain to mess with me.

Mili only chuckled, "Clearly not enough," she pointed out, leaning into me as I sat on the bathroom counter in front of her.

I only rolled my eyes at her again, focusing back on her hand while her dark eyes seemingly remained on me.

The silence was comfortable and warm—just like her presence.

And her warmness seemed to transfer from her body to mine, especially with how she was standing between my legs—allowing her body to brush against mine.

"Why did you dodge her kiss?" Mili suddenly asked.

And the bold question alone managed to make me look up from her hand, so quickly, I almost caught whiplash.

The question seemed simple.

But the answer is what would complicate things.

Because even I knew it was because of Mili.

"I don't know," I breathed out.

And we both knew it was a lie.

We both knew that I knew why.

"Atiana," Mili said, looking carefully between my eyes—and even the use of my full name managed to make my stomach do somersaults.

I shook my head to myself, looking back down at her bandaged hand, "You—it was you," I breathed out so quietly, hoping she couldn't hear my own breathless words.

But she did, especially when she gently grabbed my chin and aligned our eyes.

"Me?" she questioned, clearly wanting a better explanation.

I blinked a few times, looking between her eyes, "I've thought about you, about us, these past couple of weeks—and I know I shouldn't. I know it's wrong... you're my best friend's sister and I made a promise, but I—"

My rambling was quickly cut short when Mili suddenly pressed her lips to mine, easily sliding her arms around my waist and pulling me into her body.

A hum vibrated in my throat, wrapping my arms around her neck as I tugged her even further into me using my legs.

The kiss was warm and soft—and something that I had dreamed about for the past couple of weeks.

"I thought about you too," Mili said as we pulled back from the breathless kiss.

The reciprocated words alone sent a beautiful warmth throughout my body.

I couldn't help but smile slightly, holding her stare as I said, "Stay the night."

It was bold and definitely not thought out, but I didn't care.

I just didn't want her to leave.

Mili looked between my eyes, "Are you sure?" she questioned, clearly referring to Mya.

I nodded, "I'm positive," I said.

Mili nodded once, "Mya normally isn't up before eight so I can leave early," she determined.

And automatically, I knew that was a good plan.

Mya slept in until at least ten.

Which definitely bought us some time.

I slid down from the counter, "Sounds perfect," I said, walking into my room as Mili followed behind me.

"Let me just grab you some clothes—"

But I quickly cut myself short when I suddenly turned to face Mili, noticing she was now standing in her same t-shirt except she had on Calvin Klein briefs—leaving her jeans discarded on the floor.

The sight alone was enough to make my mouth run dry.

"Do you have a spare toothbrush?" Mili questioned, entering the bathroom.

I blinked a few times, desperately trying to gather my nerves, "Uh yeah—yes, second drawer," I breathed out, sliding into my bed since I had already done my own nighttime routine.

Mili chuckled to herself, "Someone seems flustered," she determined.

I rolled my eyes to myself, "I'm not I'm just..." I trailed off in search of a decent excuse, "Tired—I'm tired," I finally said, earning even more laughs from Mili as she brushed her teeth.

Not even minutes later, she was sliding into the bed beside me—and I could easily smell the coconut hair product she typically wore along with her sweet cologne.

She always smelled so sweet.

As the darkness settled around us, Mili and I managed to settle in each other's arms.

It was always so odd how normal everything felt with her.

Like we had done it before, when really, we hadn't.

"I'm glad you were with me at that party," Mili suddenly said, easily making my eyes flutter back open.

My brows furrowed slightly, "Really?" I questioned, nuzzling deeper into her arms.

Mili reached her hand up from my waist, gently tucking a piece of my dark hair away from my face.

"God only knows how many other weirdos were there," she determined, clearly thankful that I wasn't off alone.

I smiled slightly, easily noticing the protective tone her voice had taken.

"I'm just thankful Mya's okay," I murmured, allowing my heavy eyes to close as Mili guided me closer to her warm body.

"Me too—hopefully she feels okay in the morning," Mili sighed, pressing a fleeting kiss to my forehead before she said, "Goodnight."

I nuzzled into her chest, "Goodnight."

The warm darkness seemed to grow around me, especially with Mili's comforting arms holding me close.

There were a lot of questions floating around in my head.

What did this all mean?

What would the morning hold?

Is this going to shift something between us?

The last one felt obvious, but even so, it still wasn't hard to fall into a deep sleep—ignoring all my worries as Mili's warm legs intertwined with mine.

—

I furrowed my brows as I felt myself drift from my deep sleep—inhaling a deep tired breath to myself.

"Shhh," A soft voice soothed me, clearly trying not to wake me.

But the action alone made my heavy eyes flutter open—trying to recall the events of last night.

Mili stood by my bed with a soft smile, shaking her head at me as she said, "I was trying not to wake you."

I hummed lazily, smiling as I looked up at her, "Aw how sweet of you, Lani," I teased her, watching as she pulled her long dark hair back into a low ponytail.

"Don't start," Mili warned with a jokingly narrowed look, adjusting her pants from last night that she was now wearing again.

I only smirked at her, "Or what?" I challenged her, feeling as if I quite literally woke up in a teasing mood.

Mili suddenly reciprocated my smirk, "Would you like to find out?" she carefully questioned.

My smirk only grew as I reached out for her hand—and before she even had a chance to catch onto my actions, I was pulling her into me completely.

Mili chuckled to herself as she hovered over me, "You're so cute," she said, leaning into me.

I frowned dramatically, "I was going for sexy or maybe even attractive," I said, looking between her eyes as her soft lips grazed mine.

Mili only hummed, "You're both of those too," she said, pressing a soft brief kiss to my lips, and as she pulled back she said, "You're also pretty," she pressed another gentle kiss to my lips, "And beautiful," she pressed a deeper kiss to my lips, "Can't forget stunning—"

"Mili," I cut her short breathlessly, feeling my face grow red with shyness.

Mili's amused smile only grew as she pressed a deeper and longer kiss to my lips, allowing me to bask in the softness of her warm lips.

She pulled back yet again, "I've never found anyone as beautiful or as sexy as I find you, Atiana," Mili declared as we pulled away from the gentle kiss, and even if I was only joking before, I couldn't help but find her quick reassurance entirely attractive.

It seemingly gave me a glance into what a future with her would look like.

If...

We got to have one?

I mean, for a moment I forgot about our very complicated situation.

"What's that look?" Mili questioned, analyzing my face as she gently tucked a piece of my dark frizzy hair behind my ear.

I hummed, feeling my stomach swirl with warmth, yet tie in anxious knots at the same time, "Nothing, you're just so sweet," I said with complete genuineness.

Mili only raised a slight brow, "Something's bothering you," she determined.

I pursed my lips, "Yeah, I just—" I sighed, looking away from her, "—I don't know, I'm just thinking about how complicated this all is," I admitted.

Mili hummed, pressing a soft kiss to my cheek before pressing one to the edge of my jawline, "We'll figure it out."

I felt hope shoot up inside of me, "That offer... the one you made that night in the elevator, you still mean that?" I questioned, knowing that I had assumed she moved on from it.

That she wouldn't offer for us to be something more again.

Mili tilted her head, "Of course—why wouldn't I..." she trailed off when I pursed my lips, knowing that we had basically moved onto other people within the past couple of weeks, "Tell you what—" she suddenly pulled away from me to stand up fully, "How about we figure this out later?"

I sat up in the bed, "Later?" I repeated back to her, hoping she'd give a better explanation.

Mili nodded, "Yeah, we could figure it out over dinner—and after, I could show you some spots in LA," she proposed, easily making my brows raise.

It was obvious what she was suggesting, but I knew we both needed to make it clear.

"Are you... Is Milan Damaris asking me on a date?" I said, keeping my tone light as a slow smile grew on Mili's perfect lips.

Her smile alone easily made a smile grow on my own lips.

Mili only hummed, "Oh, I'm one hundred percent asking you on a date right now," she said, easily making my smile grow wider.

"Well, in that case, I'd love to go," I said, feeling my body ache with warmth.

Mili raised a brow, "Are you... Is Atiana Cato going on a date with me?" she teased me, repeating my previous words.

I couldn't help but laugh as I slid closer to the edge of the bed, propping myself up onto my knees as I pulled her in for a kiss.

Mili didn't hesitate to slide her arms around my waist, reciprocating the warm kiss as my hands slid up her toned arms.

"Tonight at six—I'll pick you up," Mili murmured against my lips.

I hummed, "Tonight at six," I repeated back to her.