Page 36 of Caught Up In You (The Monroes 2)

By the time he got back to her, she had her hair over her shoulder, wringing out the wet ends. That dress clung to every dip and curve of her body and left absolutely nothing to the imagination—and he had a damn good imagination. She folded the wet material up to her knees. The moonlight hit right on the water droplets on her bare legs and nearly had Braxton moaning. He needed to get some sort of control over his . . . well, everything. He’d only known Cora a short time and already he was falling deeper and deeper into her world.

When he wrapped the blanket around her, she jerked at his touch. “Sorry. I just thought you’d hand it to me.”

“I’ve got it.”

He didn’t even want her to do something as simple as placing a blanket on her shoulders. She’d done everything for too long. It was time someone did things for her, though he’d never tell her that. Actions definitely spoke louder than words and every action Cora put out there told him she was proud, independent, and stubborn.

He’d definitely met his match. Then again, so had she.

“Listen, I can’t apologize for kissing you again.” She clutched the blanket tighter around her body as he went on. “Ignoring what we both want is only depriving us of something amazing. And those kisses were damn amazing.”

Cora remained silent and Braxton felt like a fool standing here in his wet underwear opening himself up to her. But he’d told her he’d never lie to her and he’d meant it. Besides, trying to pretend these emotions weren’t here would only cause more tension and he didn’t want that in his life.

The pull here was beyond anything he could describe, beyond anything he’d ever felt before. Part of him wanted to blame his rush of emotions on the fact Cora was new, she was a challenge, but that wasn’t the case. He met new women all the time and he’d never wanted to uncover more than just the outer layer . . . literally.

“Have you ever wanted to just break away from everything?” she asked softly. “Have you ever felt so crushed and molded into someone you weren’t, but when you had the chance to become yourself you couldn’t let anyone get in your way?”

Braxton crossed his arms over his damp chest, the chill no longer a concern. Cora was talking to him, possibly giving him a glimpse inside what made her so intriguing and unique.

“We both have pasts, Cora. I don’t know what you’re breaking free from, though I can guess. I understand your need. But, I refuse to let anyone take away everything I’ve worked for.”

On a sigh, she slowly eased to the ground, wrapped in the blanket. With her back to him, she faced the pond. Heidi, loyal as ever, lay down against her master’s side.

“No matter what is happening, I can’t let myself get involved.” Her torn words floated back to him. “I can’t lose focus of the reason why I came here, why I need to learn who I am.”

Braxton took a seat beside her, careful not to get close enough to touch. Bringing his knees up, he rested his elbows on them as he looked out onto the calm water.

“I’m not asking you to be anyone or to forget why you came,” he explained. “I’m just as confused and freaked out about this as you are.”

Cora laughed. “I doubt that. You seem completely in charge and you have control over this situation. I don’t like feeling out of control and when I’m with you . . .”

Braxton couldn’t stop the smile from spreading across his face. “That’s the best compliment I’ve ever received.”

Cora shook her head and muttered, “You would take that as a compliment.”

“I know you’re scared—”

“I’m not scared,” she cut him off, her chin lifted up in defiance. “I’m determined and you make me want more than I should.”

Damn, she was something. “It’s that drive you have that got my attention from the start. I know you want to keep things on a friend level, and that’s fine. But I won’t pretend not to want more and I won’t

be sorry for the fact.”

“Are you always this blunt?”

“I think you know the answer to that.”

Silence enveloped them and Braxton didn’t want to leave this moment with her thinking he wasn’t sincere. It was important for him that she understood he was just as confused and scared as her . . . though she’d never admit her downfalls because in her mind she had to always be strong and always be on top of things, especially her emotions.

“I’m going to scoot closer to you.”

“Braxton . . .”

Ignoring her protest, he edged over, wrapped an arm around her shoulders, and leaned her against his side. “We’re just going to sit here, like friends, and talk. Nothing more. Unless you can’t control yourself and you try to kiss me, in which case I’ll remind you that you don’t want to do that again.”

She smacked his chest as her damp head settled against his shoulder. “In your dreams.”

“Every single one,” he muttered.

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