Page 69 of HER SISTER

I hopped off the counter when the timer went off, which signaled the batter was done resting.

Apparently, Mili makes her buttermilk pancake batter from scratch—and she also lets the batter rest for thirty minutes before cooking the pancakes.

"Someone's excited," Mili laughed as I pulled the large bowl from the fridge.

I hummed with a loose smile, "I like cooking with you," I said, walking over to Mili who already had the stove on low with a frying pan on it.

Mili smiled at me, "I like cooking with you too," she murmured as she guided me to stand in front of her.

I didn't hesitate to lean back into her warm body, as her hands reached past me to the large bowl that she stuck a ladle in.

"This part is simple—the butter and vanilla have already melted," she explained, gently guiding my hand to wrap around the ladle, "Now you're going to scoop a small amount into the pan," she instructed, but I could really only focus on her touch or how her warm breath tickled my skin so perfectly.

I hummed, "You're very distracting," I whispered as I carefully scooped up some of the batter.

I couldn't miss the slow smirk that grew on Mili's face, "I mean, I can always take a step back—"

"No," I cut her short, and even I could hear the strict tone I had taken, which easily earned an amused look from Mili, "I didn't say it was a bad thing," I suddenly added, allowing my voice to grow softer with her.

Mili only hummed, clearly amused by me—but I could only zone into the perfect circle that I was making in the black pan.

"Now—" she motioned to the bowl of perfect blueberries, "—We add in the blueberries and cover the pancake with a little more batter on top so the blueberries don't stick to the pan when we flip it."

I nodded, following her specific directions as I sprinkled some of the blueberries on the cooking pancake and scooped a little bit more of the batter over it to cover the blueberries.

"That's my girl," Mili murmured before pressing a soft kiss to my cheek.

I smiled happily to myself as I watched the perfect pancake cook on low—suddenly moving onto the blueberry compote to top the pancakes with, which was relatively easy to make.

It was just blueberries, sugar, lemon juice—which Mili squeezed from a fresh lemon, and a small amount of pure maple syrup.

Luckily, all these ingredients were already present in the kitchen due to breakfast, brunch, lunch, and also dinner being served here.

"Voilà," I said with a soft smile.

Mili only shook her head as a slow smile grew on her lips—eyeing our initials that I managed to draw on the pancake using the blueberry topping we made.

"You're so cute," Mili said as she pulled me into her warm body.

My smile grew, "You're cuter," I countered back, easily earning a narrowed look from Mili, which automatically caused me to say, "Agree to disagree?"

Mili rolled her eyes, "Agree to disagree," she reluctantly said.

I couldn't help but laugh at her reaction, "Come on," I said as I carefully grabbed the plate stacked with pancakes.

Mili only hummed as she grabbed the jar of maple syrup and the fresh blueberry compote, "Where are we headed now?" she said as we exited the kitchen back into the dining room.

"Wait and find out," I said with a raised brow as I scooped the picnic basket up onto my arm.

Mili purposefully took the basket back from me, so I didn't have to carry anything more than the plate of pancakes.

"Someone's full of surprises tonight," Mili said as I led her through the empty restaurant.

I smiled slightly to myself as I led her toward the tall doors that led outside to the outdoor seating by the calm ocean.

"What can I say? I like keeping you on your toes," I joked back with Mili as we exited the air-conditioned restaurant into the warm salty air.

Soon we were setting everything down on the tables, but not before I began taking off my strappy gold sandals.

"Oh, we're taking this to the beach," Mili said, putting two and two together as she followed my own actions and took off her shoes.

I smirked slightly, "Keep up now," I teased her.

And before she could begin to respond, I was grabbing the picnic basket along with the plate of pancakes.

The ocean waves were calm and the night sky twinkled with stars as I carefully sat the plate of pancakes on one side of the picnic basket before pulling the folded blanket from the other opening.

Soon Mili was setting the two jars down beside the plate to help me lay out the cover over the sand.

And once the cover was settled, Mili and I sat down on it with our plate of fresh pancakes that we later drizzled with the warm blueberry topping and maple syrup.

The moon was full and bright as it beamed down at us—shedding a glow onto us as we ate our pancakes.

And I don't know if it's because we made them together, or if it was the fresh local ingredients, but the pancakes tasted better than they ever had before.

"Now I can never make them alone again," Mili determined as she sat her fork down on our shared plate of pancakes.

I smirked slightly, "Are you saying I'm just as good as you in the kitchen?" I teased her.

Mili hummed as a slow smile grew on her lips, "It seems like it—maybe keep cooking with me and I'll find out," she said, and I couldn't stop my smirk from turning into a soft smile.

"You don't have to include me in cooking," I politely reminded her, knowing that this was all fun, but that my cooking levels weren't that great.

Mili only raised a brow, "I know I don't have to—I want to," she clarified, clearly trying to explain the difference.

And when I seemed to only nod slowly, clearly trying to tell if she was just being her usual sweet self, she managed to say—

"Everything is better with you. Cooking, sleeping, watching movies—all of it," she explained, and her words alone managed to send a warm glow throughout my body, "I never realized there was a difference until I shared it with you," she added.

I smiled as I held her perfect dark eyes—and before I could think it through, I was setting the plate off to the side with the jars before straddling her warm lap.

Mili hummed, not even hesitating to slide her arms around my waist as I tucked her dark hair behind her ears.

"I have another surprise," I whispered as I looked between her eyes.

Mili held my stare, "Show me," she said, her voice lowered and soft as the quiet air hugged us.

I smiled slightly as I leaned back to reach into the open picnic basket, and as soon as I felt the glass bottle, I grabbed it before revealing it to Mili.

And as soon as her dark eyes landed on the bottle of Dom Pérignon, her stare was back on me, clearly wondering what we were celebrating.

And there wasn't anything in particular—my mom just happened to give it to me, and I couldn't think of a better night to open it.

"To us?" I said, hoping to toast to that as I extended the bottle to her.

Mili didn't hesitate to take it, "To us," she repeated back to me, aiming the bottle away from us as she shook it a couple of times.

A gasp fell from my lips as soon as she popped it open—and not even seconds later, another gasp fell from my lips, feeling the cold liquid of the bubbly champagne spray our clothes as it fizzed out.

"First sip honors," she said to me, and I couldn't help the grin that grew on my lips as Mili guided my head back before pouring the sweet champagne into my mouth.

And as I swallowed the bubbly liquid, Mili was taking her own sip from the bottle.

Mili gently grabbed the side of my neck as she took yet another sip of the champagne before guiding my lips to hers for a deep kiss.

A hum vibrated in my throat as she purposefully let the champagne transfer from her mouth to mine, easily sharing the sip she had just taken.

I swallowed the warm champagne, easily feeling a familiar fire grow in my lower stomach as we pulled away from the deep kiss.

Mili looked down to my fingers that were suddenly undoing her button-down shirt, "What are you doing?" she questioned, and god did her voice sound so low and raspy.

I sucked in a deep breath when my body managed to grow hotter.

The ocean would definitely help me cool off.

"We're going for a swim," I said as I tugged her shirt down her arms.

Mili sat the champagne bottle down as I pulled her shirt off completely, leaving her in her usual white tank top, which was also pulled off not even seconds later.

I bit down on the inside of my cheek—taking in her Calvin Klein sports bra and her toned stomach.

Just like that, the warmth in my stomach doubled.

"Milan," I breathed, suddenly feeling extremely frustrated.

Mili tilted her head, "What is it baby?" she questioned as she analyzed my flushed face.

I only stared down at her body under mine, zoning into how perfect her body looked—or how her warm hands ran up and down my thighs that were exposed now that my dress had risen to my hips.

My hands unconsciously ran down the soft skin of Mili's stomach before suddenly latching onto the button to her pants.

I met Mili's beautiful brown eyes, "I want to touch you."

And even if my voice was in a low whisper and drowned out by the waves of the ocean, Mili managed to hear me—especially when her brows raised slightly.

Mili reached one of her hands up to my chin, easily leveling our stare, "Are you ready to take that step?" she questioned, clearly wanting to make sure I was comfortable.

I didn't even hesitate to nod as I managed to unbutton and unzip her pants in one fluid motion.

"I want to feel you—right now," I said, my words breathless and needy.

Mili's jaw grew tight, clearly turned on by my words.

Her thumb managed to tug down on my lower lip before her lips took its place.

And as my lips met hers, I unconsciously tugged at the waistband of her pants—easily deepening the warm kiss with my tongue.

Mili's fingers tangled in my dark hair, "I'm all yours," she murmured against my lips.

And I swear those three little words were enough to send my brain into a frenzy, feeling past impatient to touch her.

I knew within seconds her pants would be off and I would finally get my way with her.