Chapter 27 Sienna's POV
I woke up to a softness and warmth I knew for sure wasn't from my bed.
Where was I? The question was answered almost immediately by flashes of what happened last night.
Oh
I didn’t even remember falling asleep, It was somewhere between all the sex we had.
I rolled onto my back, staring at the ceiling, and I waited for the awkwardness to hit.
It didn’t.
No embarrassment. No dread. No panic that I’d crossed a line I couldn’t uncross.
It was different.
A strange kind of warm, floaty happiness I hadn’t felt in years. Something I could get used
I pulled the blanket tighter around myself and listened. There were soft movements from the kitchen, I could hear him making his way around it and from the clacks and slams I could hear. .
He was making breakfast.
Of course he was, he was Mr Great guy.
I slipped out of bed and grabbed the oversized shirt he’d tossed aside last night. It almost reached my knees, and it smelled like him, be fore I could stop myself. I pulled it up and smelled it.
It smelled so much like him.
Weirdo. I taunted myself
Would he find it strange that I was wearing the clothes he took off and not the ones I did?
I don't care I'm still going to put it on we had sex last night. The logistics for this is unimportant.
I dropped my hands down and made my way out of the room and towards the delicious smells now wafting in the hallway.
When I stepped into the kitchen, he was plating food like it was a professional, bare-chested, hair messy, completely relaxed and deliciously sexy.
Fuck this man was hot.
He glanced over his shoulder at me, and his lips curved a slight smile.
“You’re awake,” he said softly. “Good. Sit. You need to eat.”
The way he said it, so gentle so hot, he made something flutter in my stomach.
Stop it you pervert.
“You didn’t have to cook,” I said, sliding into a chair. “You literally just came back from being detained yesterday.”
“It’s just breakfast.” He shrugged, placing the plate in front of me. “Let me take care of you a little.”
The words felt nice.
He didn’t hover, didn’t touch me, didn’t even crowd my space. He just sat across from me, watching me the way someone would watch a skittish animal they didn’t want to scare off.
“It’s nice,” I finally said. “Thank you.”
He only nodded, and let out a slow exhale.
We ate quietly, but it wasn’t uncomfortable silence. It was warm
Nice
It felt like… like waking up next to someone you’d been with for a while, even though that wasn’t true at all.
I liked it.
A lot.
When breakfast was done, I pushed the plate away and stood, smoothing the hem of his shirt. “I need to get ready,” I told him. “Danny’s party is today. I’m face painting the kids.”
His opened his mouth, like he almost asked if he could come, but he stopped himself. “Do you need a ride?”
“No, it’s fine....”
“Take my car,” he cut in, “It’s a long trip. You’ll be tired. I’ll feel better knowing you’re not on a bus after last night.”
I opened my mouth to argue, but his expression, gentle, hopeful, pleading cut the argument right out of me.
“…Okay,” I said, and he visibly relaxed
I dressed quickly, kissed his cheek before I could overthink it, and headed out.
\---
I stopped by a makeup store on the way and stocked up on paints, brushes, wipes, everything I needed to survive an army of excited children I knew would warm me once I got there.
When I finally arrived at Danny’s, the sound hit me before anything else.
Squeals. Laughter. The wild noise of kids on a sugar high.
“Sienna!” they screamed the moment they saw me.
I didn’t even get the chance to put my bag down before they swarmed me, little arms wrapped around my waist, paint requests already being shouted, tiny faces glowing joy.
“Okay, okay,” I laughed, pulling my sleeves up. “One at a time, monsters.”
But even as I worked, drawing butterflies, tigers, superheroes, a crooked dragon that one kid insisted was perfect, I could feel Danny's eyes on me.
I finished up and slipped away as the kids did a show and tell on there paints and walkeds to Danny.
"Hey, Danny" I smiled and she pulled me into a hug
"Hey hon" she smiled tightly
"What's wrong?" I asked concerned and she sighed
"The allowance being sent is being cut even more. I don't know how much longer we can keep up. I might have to send the older kids away." she explained and I froze
No!
This could not be happening. I didn't know it was this bad.
I couldn't let that happen.
"Please before you do anything let me know. Maybe I can help" I offered and she smiled
"Sure, I will. I'm still trying to find a way to keep them all " she explained and I nodded.
"Danny, come over" Someone shouted and she smiled at me walking away
I glanced around the yard. These kids had already been through so much. They clung to stability wherever they found it, even if that stability was just someone painting their faces once a week. The thought of them being separated, displaced again, it twisted something deep in my gut.
By the time the party wrapped up, I was tired and stained with every color of the rainbow, but I didn’t leave until each kid hugged me goodbye, some of them twice.
“Bye, Sienna!”
"Bring us snacks next time!"
“Come back next week!”
“Don’t forget us!”
“I won’t,” I promised them. I meant it.
I was going to find a way to protect them. They were my family
\---
When I got home, Kael was waiting.
He was sitting on the couch, reading something, his posture relaxing the moment he saw me.
“You look exhausted,” he said softly, standing.
“I am.” I kicked my shoes off and stretched my arms over my head. “But the kids had fun, so… worth it.”
“Come here.”
Before I could question it, he guided me toward the bathroom, and I froze.
The tub was filled. Warm steam curled in the air from the water with bubbles frothing right on the surface. The smell that filled the bathroom was calming. .
“You ran a bath?” I whispered.
“You needed it,” he answered like that was all it took. Me needing it
“Dinner will be done when you get out. Take your time" He kissed my forehead and smile.
He then stepped back, walked away and closed the door behind me.
I slipped into the bath and nearly melted on the spot, letting the warmth soak into the places that still ached.
“This is nice,” I whispered out loud sinking into the bath.
He was kind and thoughtful. The nicest person I've seen in a very very long time.
I was grateful for it.
it was something I could get used to.