Page 97 of How to Resist Prince Charming

He snorted, but it wasn’t as effective this time, especially when his eyes misted and his chin quivered. But he sounded plenty condescending when he scathed, “Yeah, until Tom throws a fit and you once again choose him over me.”

Lenna scowled. “That’s not fair. Don’t say that. My life doesn’t revolve around him. I don’t—”

“Are you kidding me?” His eyes snapped fire. “The entire foundation of our relationship was centered around him. We had to be hush-hush because of him. If I wanted to be with you, I had to keep us quiet.”

Her mouth fell open. Shaking her head, she said, “But you didn’t want him to know either. You wanted to keep it quiet too...Didn’t you?”

He sent her a bleak look. “You don’t know how many times I could’ve blurted everything to him. I was so ready for him to learn the truth, it wasn’t even funny. I wanted to move past the secrets and the lies. But I kept my mouth shut...for you.”

“Braxton...” She reached for him yet again.

“Lenna, stop this,” he rasped, desperation so thick in his voice he pleaded. “It won’t work. We won’t work. Your dad is always going to be between us. We don’t stand a chance. And I said, don’t touch—”

“Why?” she countered, her temper rising. “Don’t you think you’ll be able to resist me if I put my hands on you?”

The challenge in her tone had him standing rigidly still when she reached for him the fourth time. Taking advantage, she ran her hands up his chest and pressed close. When her hip nudged his erection, she leaned up to kiss him. But he turned his face to the side, and she caught his jaw instead.

She nibbled on his five-o’clock shadow. He shuddered.

“I miss this,” she said, running her hand down until she cupped him through his pants.

He caught her wrist but didn’t move it off him. She tightened her grip and listened to his breath catch. His eyelashes fluttered, and he clenched his teeth.

Lenna stroked him through his clothes. “I miss our late-night talks, our tickle wars, snuggling on the couch, eating together in bed, feeling you deep inside me. No one has ever made me feel the way you do.”

He bowed his head, choking out a sound of defeat. “You’re not playing fair.”

“How can I? I can’t lose you.”

“You hurt me.” His voice was stiff even as his body sank closer and he buried his face in her hair, inhaling the scent of her vanilla shampoo.

More tears rolled down her cheeks while she wrapped her arms around him and rubbed soothing circles across his back. “I know. Braxton, I’m so sorry. I miscalculated you. You were too good to be true. It didn’t seem right. I didn’t think it was possible for you to be as perfect as you are. But I was wrong and—”

“I’m not perfect,” he muttered.

Lenna was actually able to smile. “You’re perfect for me. Please believe me when I say I learned my lesson. I even told Dad you take precedence over him in my life, if that helps.”

His eyes widened as he straightened away from her, eyeing her as if he wasn’t sure he should believe her.

“But you can’t,” he said, adamant. “He’s your dad. He’ll always be your dad. Your family. You can’t...you can’t choose me over family.”

She lifted her chin. “Then I guess you two will have to learn to share me because I love you both. Do you hear me, Braxton? I love you too much to let you go. And I swear with every breath I have, I’ll never doubt your word again.”

He sucked in a breath. “You love me?”

As their gazes held, she nodded. “Yes, I love you. I will always love you. I messed up, but I swear, it won’t happen again. I know you’re the only man for me, just like I’m the only woman for you.”

He watched without resisting as she unzipped his jeans and ran her hands around the back of his pants. Fingers slipping inside, she cupped the taut globes of his buttocks before pushing his jeans down, underwear and all.

When she started to lower herself onto her knees, her mouth already watering for his taste, he caught her arm and pulled her back up.

“No,” he said. “I want to be inside you.”

She nodded, and he kissed her hungrily. Wet. Hot. Open-mouthed. The works.

Clothes became an immediate barrier; Lenna heard fabric rip as he tore the t-shirt off her. He was mad with lust, but then...so was she. He had her back pressed to the wall, her knees lifted in his arms, and her legs spread before she knew exactly what was happening. The tip of his penis nudged her opening and she cried out, already pulsing to receive him.

“Tell me again,” he whispered hoarsely.

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