Sienna’s breath fogged the air as she stepped out of the dormitory. The crisp morning chill bit at her cheeks, but she welcomed it. It was better than being trapped in her room with nothing but her thoughts to keep her company.
She tightened her scarf and adjusted the strap of her backpack. Today was going to be a long one—three classes back-to-back, a shift at the campus bookstore, and then an endless night of catching up on assignments.
As she walked across the courtyard, she caught sight of the rugby team jogging toward the field. They moved in perfect synchronization, their laughter and banter cutting through the morning quiet.
Her eyes found Luca instantly, as if drawn by a magnet. He was at the front of the group, his breath visible in the cold air, his dark hair damp from sweat. He didn’t look like he belonged in a place like Ridgecrest either, but not because he was out of place.
He owned the space.
Sienna tore her gaze away, her stomach twisting. She couldn’t let herself get distracted. People like Luca Deveraux didn’t look twice at girls like her—not really. And even if they did, it was never for the reasons you’d want.
Luca was trying not to think about her.
He focused on the pounding of his feet against the ground, the rhythmic thud that matched his heartbeat as he pushed himself harder, faster. But it didn’t help.
The memory of Sienna Hayes kept intruding, slipping through the cracks of his resolve. The way her eyes had flashed when she snapped at him in the library. The quiet determination she carried like armor.
She was different.
And that was dangerous.
“Deveraux, pick it up!” one of his teammates shouted, clapping him on the shoulder.
Luca grunted and surged forward, his muscles burning as he pushed himself to the front of the pack. He couldn’t afford distractions—not now, not ever.
But even as he pushed her from his mind, the pull of her lingered, tugging at him like an undertow.
By lunchtime, Sienna was ready to collapse. She grabbed a sandwich from the dining hall and found a quiet corner of the quad to eat.
Her head was pounding, and the weight of the day felt heavier than usual. She rubbed her temples, willing herself to focus.
“Rough morning?”
The voice startled her, and she looked up to see Luca standing a few feet away, his hands shoved into his pockets.
She frowned. “Do you make a habit of sneaking up on people?”
He smirked. “Only the interesting ones.”
Sienna rolled her eyes, but her heart skipped a beat. “What do you want, Luca?”
He sat down on the bench beside her, far too close for comfort. “Maybe I just wanted to say hi.”
“Well, you’ve said it. You can leave now.”
Luca chuckled, leaning back as if he had all the time in the world. “You’re feisty, you know that?”
“Do you enjoy annoying people, or is it just me?”
“Just you,” he said with a grin.
Sienna stared at him, her irritation warring with a flicker of curiosity. Luca Deveraux was a walking contradiction—a perfect storm of arrogance and charm, confidence and chaos.
But she didn’t have time to figure him out.
“Look, I’ve got a lot of work to do,” she said, standing up. “So if you don’t mind—”
He caught her wrist, his touch surprisingly gentle.
“Sienna.”
Her name on his lips sent a shiver down her spine.
“What?” she asked, her voice softer than she intended.
Luca’s dark eyes searched hers, and for a moment, it was like the rest of the world faded away.
But then the mask slipped back into place, and he released her.
“Nothing,” he said, standing. “See you around.”
He walked away, leaving Sienna staring after him, her heart racing.
She didn’t know what game he was playing, but she wasn’t about to let herself get caught up in it.
Later that night, Luca sat on the edge of his bed, staring at the photo on his desk.
It was an old picture, taken years ago—a family portrait of him, his father, and his mother before she died. Before everything went wrong.
He picked up the frame, his fingers brushing over the glass.
Sometimes he wondered what his mother would think of him now. Would she be proud of the man he’d become, or would she see through the facade?
A knock on the door pulled him from his thoughts.
“Luca, you coming out?” one of his teammates called.
“Yeah, give me a minute,” he replied, setting the photo down.
He stood, grabbing his jacket as he pushed the memories aside.
There was no room for the past in his life. Not anymore.
I had a mild concussion, which resulted in an overnight stay at the hospital for observation. A week off school was the cherry on top, though the idea of being trapped in the house for seven days wasn’t exactly a vacation.Home was… complicated. It wasn’t a place you could relax or feel safe. My mom tried to make it that way, but my father’s moods were like landmines—unpredictable and destructive. You never knew when one would explode.That week, I did what I always did: I stayed invisible. I spent my days locked in my room with headphones drowning out the noise downstairs. My dad’s voice carried through the house like a storm cloud, barking orders and complaints. My mom would reply in soft, careful tones, trying to keep the peace. But peace was a foreign concept in our house.I’d learned how to navigate it long ago. Avoid. Evade. Endure.By the time Sunday night rolled around, I couldn’t wait to get out of there. I should have been dreading Monday—the stares, the whispers, the inevit
The dream hit me like a punch to the gut- raw, vivid and impossible to shake. Sienna . Her lips. Her eyes. Her Skin, glistening with sweet, gliding under my fingers like silk. I could feel the heat of her body against mine , a constant pull that threatened to break everything I knew. We were in a room I didn't recognize- dark, shadows creeping in the corners. But all I saw was her. The way she moved, slow and deliberate, like she was daring me to make a move. I didn't hesitate. I never did in dreams. My hands found her, gripping her waist, pulling her closer. She gasped, breath catching in her throat. "What are you doing?"she whispered, but her eyes told a different story. Her body arched into mine, lips parted in a silent invitation. I kissed her then, hard, desperate. She tasted like fire- sweet and fierce, like nothing I'd ever known. I was drowning in her, lost in her taste, and the feel of her against me. But then, just as quickly she pulled away, her eyes wide with something
The walk home from Ridgecrest was always the same. Students peeled away into luxury cars or onto private buses while I trudged to the edge of the campus, where the wealth and privilege abruptly ended. My route took me past gated mansions, sprawling lawns, and perfectly curated lives.By the time I reached my neighborhood, it felt like I’d crossed an invisible line into a world that Ridgecrest refused to acknowledge existed.At home, the front door creaked open to the sound of my dad’s voice barking at someone over the phone. I stepped inside, careful not to draw attention to myself.“There you are,” he said as soon as he saw me. His voice carried the sharp edge of frustration. “Did you buy groceries like I told you?”I winced, guilt twisting in my chest. “I didn’t have time after practice—”“Not this again,” he snapped, cutting me off. “Do you think the bills pay themselves? Or that food just appears in the fridge?”“I’ll go tomorrow,” I said, keeping my voice low.“You’ll go now,” he
Home smelled like rosemary and garlic when I walked through the front door, and the warmth of it hit me like a wave. My mom’s cooking had a way of doing that—wrapping around you, making you feel like the world wasn’t such a bad place after all.“Luca, is that you?” her voice rang from the kitchen, light and musical like it always was.“Yeah, it’s me!” I called back, dropping my bag by the stairs.“Dinner will be ready in ten minutes! Invite your friends if you want!”I smirked. She always said that, whether or not my friends were actually coming over. Mom loved nothing more than a full house. She thrived on it—feeding people, asking a million questions, making them feel like part of the family. It was one of the reasons Jake and the guys practically lived here.I stepped into the kitchen and found her exactly as I expected: apron tied around her waist, hair pulled back into a messy bun, and a wooden spoon in hand as she stirred something that smelled incredible.“Rough practice?” she
Chapter 10LucaThere are certain things I’ve learned to tune out over the years—Coach’s endless shouting during practice, Jake’s bad jokes, and Amanda’s persistent need to be the center of attention. But when she cornered me after practice today, I knew tuning her out wasn’t going to cut it.“You’ve been ignoring me,” Amanda said, her arms crossed as she leaned against my locker. Her tone was a mix of irritation and that fake sweetness she used when she wanted something.I sighed, tossing my gear into my bag. “I’ve been busy, Amanda.”“Too busy to reply to a text? Too busy for me?” she pressed, stepping closer.I looked at her, trying to find the words that wouldn’t completely blow this up. Amanda and I had been… something for a long time. Not dating, not serious, just a comfortable arrangement that neither of us questioned. But lately, it wasn’t comfortable anymore.“Yeah, I am,” I said finally, slinging my bag over my shoulder.Her eyes narrowed, and I could feel the shift in her d
It was too quiet.I stared at the ceiling in my room, the soft hum of the streetlights outside barely filtering through the thin curtains. My mind was racing, unable to settle on anything but the drive home with Luca earlier that evening. The way he looked at me, the way his voice softened when he spoke—it was so different from what I was used to.For weeks, he’d been hovering at the edge of my life, breaking through the walls I’d built. And now, after tonight, there was no denying it—he was in my head, taking up space I couldn’t afford to give.A soft knock on my bedroom door pulled me out of my thoughts.“Sienna?” my mom called.I swallowed, trying to steady my voice. “Yeah?”“Lights out soon, okay? It’s late.”“Okay,” I replied, listening as her footsteps faded down the hall.The next day at school, it felt like everyone was watching me. I could feel the weight of their stares as I walked through the corridors, their whispers trailing behind me. It wasn’t unusual—being the new girl
I couldn’t stop thinking about her.All day, every day, she was there—haunting me in ways I didn’t understand. The quiet way she carried herself, the fire in her eyes when someone tried to knock her down, the way her lips had felt against mine under the bleachers. It was maddening.I had it bad, and I knew it.So when I saw her walking out of school, her head down like she was trying to make herself invisible, I didn’t think twice. I jogged to catch up, falling into step beside her.“Need a ride?” I asked casually.She glanced up at me, her expression cautious. “I’m fine.”“Sienna, come on,” I said, grinning at her. “Let me give you a ride. It’s better than the bus, right?”Her lips pressed together in thought before she sighed. “Okay, fine.”The car ride started out quiet, the kind of silence that felt heavy with unspoken things. I glanced at her out of the corner of my eye, noticing the way her hands fidgeted in her lap.“You’re nervous,” I said, breaking the silence.“No, I’m not,”
I barely slept.Every time I closed my eyes, I felt Luca’s hands on me. His lips. The heat between us. The way he had pulled me into him like he couldn’t get close enough. And the way he stopped the second I told him I wasn’t ready.I’d never had a boy listen to me like that before.It scared me.I wasn’t sure if it was because of how much I liked him or because, for the first time, I felt like I was handing over pieces of myself to someone else. And Luca? He was the kind of boy who could crush me without even realizing it.I pulled my covers over my head, willing my heart to slow down.Because whether I wanted to admit it or not—he had already gotten under my skin.The next morning, I felt like I was walking on shaky ground.I was still thinking about last night as I made my way through the school hallway, my fingers gripping the strap of my bag a little too tightly. I wanted to see Luca, but at the same time, I was terrified of what might happen when I did.Would things be weird? Wo
The bus ride back to school was nothing short of chaotic.The lads were still buzzing from the trip, making noise in the back like they hadn’t just spent the past few days running on barely any sleep. Someone had smuggled a speaker onto the bus, blasting music loud enough that the teachers had already given up trying to control it.I should’ve been right there with them—laughing, messing around, enjoying the last few moments of freedom before we were dumped back into reality.But my head was somewhere else.Or, more accurately, on someone else.Sienna sat near the middle of the bus, headphones in, staring out the window. She wasn’t talking to anyone, wasn’t engaging in the chaos around her.I knew that look.She was overthinking.I sighed, running a hand through my hair.The thing was, I knew what Amanda had said to her. I knew the way her mind worked, how doubt crept in no matter how many times I tried to shut it down.And I hated it.Hated that she still questioned this—us.I wasn’t
The crisp morning air bit at my cheeks as I stood outside the cabins, watching the sunrise spill soft gold over the hills. The trip was almost over. By this time tomorrow, we’d be back in school, drowning in assignments and pretending like this excursion had been just another ordinary event.But it wasn’t.At least, not for me.Not after last night.Not after the way Luca had looked at me at breakfast—like he wasn’t willing to let me slip away.A shiver ran through me, though I wasn’t sure if it was from the cold or the weight of everything that had happened.“Hey.”Cassie’s voice pulled me from my thoughts, and I turned to see her approaching, a steaming cup of tea in her hands. She held it out to me.I took it without question. “Thanks.”She arched a brow. “You okay?”I hesitated, then gave a small nod. “Yeah.”She huffed, clearly unconvinced, but didn’t push. Instead, she glanced toward the mess hall, where students were still trailing in and out, finishing breakfast. “So, what’s o
The sun was barely rising when I cracked my eyes open, but I knew, before I even turned my head, that I was alone.Sienna was gone.I sat up slowly, rubbing a hand over my face as last night came rushing back.Her lips.Her body pressed against mine.The way she looked at me—like she wanted to stay but didn’t know how.Like she was afraid to want this as much as I did.I exhaled sharply, running a hand through my hair.I should’ve expected this.Sienna had always been the type to run when things got too real.And last night?It was real.Too real.With a grunt, I swung my legs over the edge of the bed and stood, stretching out the stiffness in my muscles. The room was still dark, but I could hear movement outside—the rest of the students waking up, getting ready for the last day of the trip.Right.The trip.The whole reason we were here.It was easy to forget that this wasn’t just some weekend getaway—that we were technically on a school excursion, meant to be soaking up educational
I should’ve pulled away.I should’ve told him no.I should’ve done something other than let Luca Russo—cocky, infuriating, undeniably irresistible Luca—drag me through the house like I belonged to him.But I didn’t.Because deep down, in the place I tried so hard to ignore, I wanted this.I wanted him.The music pounded through the walls, the thrum of bass rattling through my chest as we weaved past people drinking, laughing, making out in corners like they had nothing to lose.But I barely noticed them.Because all I could focus on was Luca’s hand wrapped tightly around mine.The way his grip never faltered.The way he never once looked back, as if he already knew I wasn’t going anywhere.And the worst part?He was right.We reached the bottom of the stairs, and my pulse kicked up.Oh God.Where was he taking me?I should’ve asked.Should’ve stopped him.But instead, I let him lead me up, past more partygoers, past people I barely recognized.By the time he pushed open the door to hi
I couldn’t stop thinking about it.The kiss.Sienna.The way she’d grabbed me in front of everyone, like she’d finally snapped, like she had to prove something—to Amanda, to herself, to me.But she didn’t have to.Not to me.Because I already knew.Knew she wanted me. Knew she felt this, whatever the hell this was, just as much as I did.And now?There was no going back.I leaned against the porch railing, watching the lake, trying to get my head straight.It wasn’t working.Every time I closed my eyes, I saw her.The fire in her eyes. The way her lips had trembled against mine. The way her whole body had melted into me, like she belonged there.Like she wanted to belong there.And now, she was running.I had seen it the second she stormed off after breakfast, Cassie struggling to keep up.She was panicking. Probably overthinking. Probably trying to convince herself it didn’t mean anything.Too bad for her—I wasn’t letting her do that.The cabin door creaked open, and I turned just as
I had officially lost my mind.That was the only explanation.Why else would I have grabbed Luca in the middle of breakfast—in front of everyone—and kissed him like I had something to prove?Because I had snapped. That was why.Amanda’s words, her smug little smirk, the constant taunting—I had reached my limit. And instead of ignoring it like I always did, I had thrown gasoline on the fire.And now I was burning.The moment my lips had touched Luca’s, the rest of the world had vanished.I hadn’t thought about Amanda.Or the people watching.Or the fact that Luca was Luca—the same boy I had spent the last few months trying to keep at arm’s length.All I had thought about was him.His hands in my hair. His lips moving against mine. The way he made me feel like the ground beneath me was shifting.And now?Now, I had to deal with it.I practically sprinted out of the breakfast area, ignoring the whispers and the knowing looks.Cassie was right on my heels. “Sienna—”“I don’t want to talk
I woke up to warmth.Soft. Comfortable. Dangerous warmth.For a second, I forgot where I was.The rain had slowed to a soft drizzle, the occasional rumble of thunder still rolling in the distance. The tent smelled like damp fabric, grass, and something undeniably Sienna.And then I realized—She was still wrapped around me.Her head rested against my chest, her fingers curled into my hoodie. One of her legs was tangled with mine, and my arm was still draped over her waist, holding her way too close.Fucking hell.I forced myself to stay still, even as every muscle in my body screamed to do the opposite.I should wake her up.I should move.But I didn’t.Instead, I let my eyes trace the curve of her cheek, the way her lashes rested against her skin.She looked so soft like this.So unguarded.I had the sudden, reckless urge to run my fingers through her hair, to tilt her chin up and kiss her awake.Instead, I swallowed hard and forced myself to breathe.What the fuck was happening to m
I was so fucked.And not in the good way.Standing outside the tent, watching Sienna wrestle with the poles like they’d personally offended her, I had to bite back a smirk.“Need help, Sunshine?”“Don’t call me that,” she snapped, not looking up as she struggled to drive a stake into the dirt.I shoved my hands in my pockets. “Alright, Sienna—do you need help?”She huffed. “I got it.”Yeah. Sure she did.I watched for another thirty seconds before stepping in, easily driving the stake into the ground with my boot.She scowled. “I could’ve done that.”“Of course you could’ve.” I grinned, grabbing the other pole and securing it in place. “But at this rate, we’d be sleeping outside.”She muttered something under her breath, but I was too busy not staring at the way her shirt had ridden up to expose a sliver of smooth, golden skin.Focus, Russo.By the time we finally got the tent up, the sky had darkened, the campfire was lit, and dinner was being passed around. But before we could even
The ride was long.Too long.The bus rumbled along the highway, filled with chatter and occasional outbursts from overly excited students, but I barely heard any of it.Not with him sitting just a few rows behind me.Not with his presence burning into my skin like a brand.Cassie had long since dozed off, head resting against the window, but I was wide awake, pretending to be engrossed in the scenery outside when, in reality, I was painfully aware of every single move Luca made.His laugh, low and lazy, floated through the air.The rustling of his hoodie as he shifted in his seat.The occasional murmurs as he spoke to Ethan.I hated it.I hated how aware of him I was.I squeezed my hands together, nails biting into my palm. It’s just a school trip, Sienna. Nothing else. Keep your head down, and get through it.But of course, the universe had other plans.The moment we pulled up to the campsite—a massive stretch of land nestled between thick woods and a lake—our teacher, Mr. Harrison,