Page 53 of Caught Up In You (The Monroes 2)

His voice rumbled in his chest, vibrating against her back, and Cora tipped her head up in his direction. “You are. As much as I didn’t want to meet a man who gave me any feelings whatsoever, you dropped into my life.”

Braxton laughed. “You don’t have to sound so upset. Besides, we’re friends. Right?”

Friends. Sure. That’s what she wanted.

But she felt as if she were cheating herself out of something that could be absolutely fabulous.

“Maybe there’s more here than friends,” she muttered. “Those kisses were more than I’d ever share with any friend.”

Braxton’s hand slid up along her jawline, his thumb stroked her bottom lip. “What are you saying?”

Before she could think better of it, she licked her lips, accidentally swiping the tip of her tongue across his thumb. What was she saying? That she wanted to sleep with her boss? That she wanted to attempt a relationship?

Cora blinked and pulled away as she shook her head. “Nothing. I’m just . . . ignore me. I’m getting caught in the moment and not thinking clearly.”

“Oh, no.” The sofa cushion dipped as Braxton shifted and grabbed her shoulders. “You’re not brushing this aside again. You’re worried because you work for me, right? Forget that for now. I know you feel this connection to me, the same way I feel it for you. Damn it, Cora, why do you keep doing this push-pull thing with me?”

Taking a deep breath, she closed her eyes and let her head drop on the exhale. “Because I’m terrified of what I feel when I’m with you,” she whispered, hating this exposed vulnerability. “I don’t like being out of control.”

His fingertip slid beneath her chin as he raised her face. Silence enveloped them, her heart beat fast, and she was almost afraid to know what he was thinking.

“I wish I could see your face.” She’d already confessed so much, why not keep going? “Your eyes, really. I wonder what I’d see if I could look at them right now.”

Braxton’s thumb came up to caress her bottom lip. “You’d see a man who’s dying to kiss his friend.”

Those raw, honest words hit her right in the heart. She didn’t want her heart involved in any of this. Too late.

“I’m pretty sure we’ve crossed that friend line,” she murmured. “When did that happen?”

Braxton let out a soft chuckle. “A while ago. I’ve just been waiting on you to catch up.”

His hand eased up to cup the side of her face. Instinctively she turned toward his powerful touch. “I didn’t want to catch up,” she admitted.

“I know.”

His lips hovered just over hers. She could feel his warm breath, the featherlight touch, and she tipped her forehead to rest against his.

“This is a mistake.”

“Won’t be the last one I make,” he admitted a second before he covered her mouth.

Cora gripped his shoulders, telling herself she should pull away, but the woman in her who was achy and needy couldn’t get close enough. Denying herself any longer wasn’t an option. The man wanted her. He’d been patient, he’d been giving, and he’d been totally selfless. Yes, she’d only met him a short time ago, but every feeling he pulled from her was new, exciting, and she couldn’t just ignore that.

Braxton shifted, changing the angle of the kiss as one of his hands settled on her side. She arched into his touch, wanting him to be bold, to make a move and take control of this moment.

For once in her life she wanted to completely hand over the reins and let someone else have all the power. Cora knew without a doubt that Braxton’s taking charge would leave her both breathless and satisfied.

When his hand slid beneath the hem of the shirt, she stilled. Was she seriously going to let this happen? Was she going to get intimate with her boss on his couch during a storm? She didn’t want to be a cliché and she definitely didn’t want him to think that—

“Relax.” His whispered word cut off her thoughts. “I can hear you thinking and you’re throwing my game off.”

Cora laughed. “I’m not a player you’re used to.”

His lips grazed back and forth over hers. “That’s for damn sure. I’ve never wanted a woman like this, Cora. Those aren’t just words. I’m serious. You’ve torn me up since you first had your hands on me.”

“I’ve been pretty torn up too since that

day.”

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