Page 143 of Serpentine

“Confused,” I finally say. “Pissed-off. Hurt. Damaged. Betrayed.”

As I give him each word I can muster for the things warring inside me, he nods at each in agreement.

“You take your time with everything you’re working through, Brax. But don’t shut us out of it.”

Us.

He and Aella.

I smile because I can’t fucking help myself.

“What?” he asks.

“Is there an us, Miles?”

The question hangs between us like a thick fog. Minutes pass as the sounds of the forest surrounding us seem to grow louder in the absence of our words.

He laughs and drops his gaze to his boots, shifting back and forth in them before looking back up at me with a cheeky grin, tugging his lips. “Fuck, Brax. You’re going to make me do this now? After the fucking day we had?”

I nod. “I am.”

If I’m going to process a fuckton of information, I might do it all at once.

“There’s always been an us,” he admits, his green eyes boring into mine. “There always will be. Though we share her, you and I’s bond is the center of my universe—the center of even our bond with her. I’ve wanted you since the night you boldly kissed me in your room. It was just too…”

“Taboo? We’re not actual brothers, Miles. I hate to break it to you.” I smirk ruefully.

“Still, Brax. It’s not accepted in the lifestyle we’re in. For all intents, we are brothers.”

Though it makes me feel naughty, I do like to think of him as my brother when his lips are sliding over my… I inwardly try to focus on the conversation as images dance in my mind.

Now isn’t the time for that field trip into my fucked-up psyche.

I keep the filthy smirk as I run my thumb over my lip and glare at him. He growls and reaches down, grabbing the front of my shirt and pulling me to stand.

Our noses touch, and our breathing melds. “Be fucking serious,” he snarls.

“Too much is serious around us, Miles,” I whisper, grasping the back of his head in my right hand, my left palming his hard cock within it. “I’m done with serious for the night.”

“What do you want from me, then?” he murmurs against my lips.

“You sought me out, Brother. What is it you want from me?”

He breathes out a shaky breath.

FORTY-FIVE

MILES

The thing about Braxton is that there are many layers to him. Like an onion or a massive puzzle. Even though I know he’s fucked-up over what we learned and seeing our mom today, he’s able to stuff it down in some box inside himself to deal with later.

I’m so overwhelmed by today that I can’t focus on what’s next.

His hand grips my cock harder, his breaths mingling with mine.

But this is the other thing about Braxton, about our connection. When he’s near and touches me, the world falls away.

Suddenly, everything doesn’t seem so heavy.

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