Page 39 of Conflicted Lies

“You bought some of my statues? I’m surprised you can afford them,” I say, clicking my tongue and quickly falling back into indifference.

He smirks as if following suit, and we return to our usual selves.

“No, the special ones you have delivered here. The creepy ones of dead bodies.”

My face twists in disgust. “Eww. I don’t know what you’re talking about, and of course, I don’t want to see them.”

His smirk widens. “Your best work, if you ask me.”

Warmth settles in my heart, and I’m quick to conceal any kind of reaction. He’s baiting me, waiting for my admission. But I’m not falling for it.

I scrunch my face and feign disgust. “This was a mistake. Maybe don’t tell the next woman you bring over that you’re into weird little dead figurines, okay? Tell them you play Xbox or something instead.”

He laughs at that. “Look who’s so quick to put herself back in her own cage.”

I ignore his provocation, hating how much of me he sees and not knowing how he does it. He’s the only one. Not even my family knows this part of me, so how can he so clearly see it?

Like calls to like.

I want to punch myself for that thought. I’m not romanticizing anything about Braxton Hero.He’s the asshole who I’m giddily waiting to kill. I remind myself as I pick up my dress and slide it back on.

“Reclip this,” I demand, turning my back and lifting my hair.

He chuckles but does as he’s told.

“I have to go,” I say.

“If you say so.” He lies on the bed, completely naked, cock semi-hard, holding a bottle of water.

I lick my bottom lip, unable to stop staring at his cock. I mean, maybe one more round would be okay since I’m already here?

No!

What the fuck is wrong with me?

What have I done?

Did I really just sleep with the enemy? My family has many enemies, the police being one of the worst. And I’ve just climbed into bed with one of them.

I’m in so much trouble.

I grab the last of my things and hurry for the door.

“I’ll be seeing you real soon, Shortcake.”

I flip him off over my shoulder because kicking the hornet’s nest is painful in a way I like.

And that’s what makes it dangerous.

CHAPTER21

Braxton

Iwatch her go, unable to wipe the smug smirk off my face. She hurries out the door like she’s about to be caught at any moment, and I’m tempted to do exactly that. I knew having her again would be so much fucking better than the first time. And tasting her was literally the cherry on top. And that? That is something I’ll relive for days, if not years, to come.

She’s a redheaded little vixen, but at the same time, she oozes innocence. However, she and I both know that’s just a mask she puts on for the rest of the world. I tempted that depraved side of her to crawl from the darkest part of her soul, and then I challenged and exposed it more than I ever thought she’d allow me to. She is my undoing as much as I am hers. Had she put that gun to my head, I might’ve actually let her pull the trigger. My cock twitches at the thought.

Oh no. Shortcake and I are far from done.

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