Page 82 of Caught Up In You (The Monroes 2)

“I want to talk before people arrive and I want privacy.”

Turning her head slightly, Cora sniffed. “Well, you could’ve stopped by my house any day in the last week since you left. Plenty of privacy there.”

Raking a hand through his hair and keeping his hold on her, Braxton blew out a breath and attempted to count backward from twenty . . . he made it to nineteen. Why did this have to be so damn complicated? Couldn’t he want a woman who was passive, smiled and nodded, went along with everything he said, and was completely honest? No, he’d chosen the woman who had the ability to crush him in ways he’d never known possible and he wanted more.

“We’re talking now. You want to do it where everyone can hear?”

The muscle clenched in her jaw and he knew she was biting back her words. “Fine.”

He led her from the room, ignoring the glances from Zach and Sophie. Whatever they thought was none of his concern and he honestly didn’t give a damn. All he wanted was to . . . hell, he didn’t know. He knew he wanted to be with her, touch her, taste her. It had been too damn long. The time gap between them had seemed like an eternity and for once in many months, he didn’t even think of another woman. There was nobody else. Yes, she’d lied to him. Yes, he was furious. But damn if he didn’t still want her. There was no shutting off that emotion or desire. If anything, the absence only made him ache more.

“Where are we going?” she asked as they traveled through the hallway.

He didn’t say a word as he led her into her own room where she’d be working. Once inside, he pulled the double doors closed. The click of the lock sliding home seemed to echo through the room.

Heidi obediently sat next to Cora. Releasing the collar, Cora crossed her arms and tipped her head to the side. “Now you want to talk? I’ve waited for you to cool off for days and you choose now to—”

He hadn’t even realized he’d closed the space between them, but he cut her off with his lips. A gasp escaped her as her hands came to clutch his shoulders. She willingly opened for him and Braxton knew nothing but this second, this woman. He didn’t care what was going on outside these doors, didn’t care that a party was getting ready to happen. All he cared about was the fact that Cora wasn’t pushing him away.

Braxton slid his hands around her waist, pulling her flush against his body. She felt so damn good. He’d missed this familiarity, he’d missed her.

Cora pushed against his chest. “What are you doing?”

“I have no idea.” Honesty, he lived by that damn rule. “I thought I could avoid you, I thought I could stay away and keep my head on straight, but when you walked in tonight all of my intentions were shot to hell and I realized how much I need to touch you.”

Cora shook her head. “I can’t keep up with you.”

He tightened his grip on her waist and nipped at her lips. “I don’t want to analyze this.”

Carefully her hands traveled over his shoulders, up into his hair. “I’m a fool for letting my emotions lead me, but I’ve missed you.”

Relief flooded through him. He didn’t give her another second to say anything or to fully think this through. He didn’t give a damn what waited outside those doors.

Braxton wrapped one arm around her waist and plunged his other hand through her hair, tipping her head to claim her mouth once again. With a soft groan she opened, arching into him as if she’d craved this just as much as he had.

He’d never missed a woman like this. Despite his confusion, he still wanted her. Yes, she’d withheld information from him, but at the same time, this whirlwind relationship took them both by surprise.

Braxton gathered the skirt of her dress in his hand and yanked it up to her waist. Gliding his hand over her silky panties had him fighting for control.

“What about the party?” she muttered as her lips slid along his jawline.

“We’re having our own private one.”

He roamed his fingertip along the edge of the satin, teasing her and torturing himself in the process. Those breathless pants of hers were driving him insane. When she eased her legs apart, he wasted no time in taking what he wanted.

Cora’s forehead fell to his shoulder, her hands clutched at his biceps. Her hips worked against his hand and Braxton couldn’t believe he’d gone days without touching her. They needed to talk now that he had some time, but right now, all he wanted to do was give her pleasure and secure that bond they’d started forming weeks ago.

“Braxton.”

Yeah, he knew. Her fingertips dug into his arms, her warm breath came out fast and harsh against his neck. This is what he’d missed. Her coming undone, her completely at his command. When she shattered, Braxton tipped his head to the side, kissing her on the sensitive spot just below her ear.

She’d barely stopped trembling against him when someone pounded on the locked door. Cora jumped back, forcing Braxton to pull away. Heidi, who’d obviously been resting off to the side, shot to her feet as well, wagging her tail as she stared at the door.

“Guests are arriving. Wrap it up.”

Zach, a man with tact and sensitivity.

Braxton adjusted Cora’s clothes as she brushed her hair away from her face. Her eyes were wide, face flushed as she rested a hand over her chest.

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