Page 24 of The Cousins and the Brunette

The question hit me like a punch to the gut. If only he knew. I swallowed hard, fighting to keep my expression impartial. “Sometimes,” I whispered. “But we can’t outrun who we are, can we?”

Braxton’s eyes searched mine, and for a heart-stopping moment, I thought he could see right through me. “Maybe not,” he said softly. “But maybe we can become something better.”

He pulled a key from his pocket, stood up, walked over to my cell door, and unlocked it. “But, hey, tonight, let’s not think about all that.”

Damn, why did that sound so sexy? Get it together, Brynn. This guy’s still the enemy, no matter how fine he looks.

The metallic click of the key in the lock sent my pulse soaring. Braxton stepped into my cell, his presence filling the cramped space with an electric charge. I inhaled sharply, catching a whiff of his cologne—spicy and intoxicating.

“Care to join me on the bed? The floor doesn’t look too comfortable,” he teased, gesturing towards the cot with a wink.

Oh hell, why’d he have to go and say that? Now all I can think about is...sex. With Braxton.

“Only if you promise to keep your snarky humor to a minimum,” I quipped, hoping my voice didn’t betray the tremor I felt inside.

“Can’t make any promises,” Braxton shot back, his gaze roaming over me with unmistakable heat.

I stood up, hyper-aware of every inch between us. Shit, when did this cell get so small? And why is it suddenly a thousand degrees in here?

“Fair enough,” I managed, moving towards the cot on unsteady legs.

Braxton sat down, patting the space beside him. “I’m curious. What’s it like to be Elizabeth Shoemaker?”

I perched next to him, our thighs almost touching. The warmth radiating from his body made it hard to concentrate. Shit, shit, shit. Don’t look at his lips. Don’t look at his... too late.

“It’s complicated,” I admitted, meeting his intense stare.

“And how’s that?” His voice was low, inviting confidences.

I swallowed hard, searching for words that were true for both Elizabeth and myself. Careful, Brynn. Don’t blow your cover now, not when you’re so close.

“Let’s just say I’m more than just another Elite.”

“Sounds like someone else I know,” Braxton murmured. His fingers found mine, intertwining naturally. The contact sent sparks shooting up my arm and I fought back a surge of lust.

I leaned in closer as if drawn by an invisible force. Oh god, what am I doing? This is insane. He’s my captor. He kidnapped me. Sort of. But damn, those eyes...

“Someone like you, perhaps?” My voice came out breathy.

“Perhaps,” he whispered, his lips tantalizingly close to my ear. His warm breath fanned across my cheek, and I fought the urge to close the remaining distance between us.

My heart thundered in my chest as I turned to face him fully. Braxton’s expression was a mix of desire and something softer—almost a vulnerability that I hadn’t expected to see. I lifted my hand, my fingers hovering just shy of his jaw, torn between caution and the overwhelming need to touch him.

“You’re full of surprises, you know that?” I said softly, and smiled.

Braxton’s larger hand came up to cover mine, pressing my palm against his cheek. “I could say the same about you, Elizabeth.”

For a moment, guilt gnawed at me. I wasn’t Elizabeth. But in that instant, with Braxton looking at me like I was the only person in the world, I wished I could be. I wished I could be the person he thought I was—someone worthy of the tenderness in his touch, the warmth in his gaze.

“There’s a lot you don’t know about me,” I whispered, the truth of those words hitting me hard.

“Then let me learn. I want to know everything.”

The sincerity in his voice made my chest ache. I leaned forward, resting my forehead against his, our breaths mingling. In that moment, in spite of everything—the lies, the danger, the uncertainty—I felt kinship with this man that I hadn’t felt with anyone else in a long time.

“Every single detail.” Braxton’s breath was warm against my skin. His fingers slipped into my hair, gently tugging at the roots.

“You might regret what you find.”

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