Page 28 of Serpentine

He reaches up and tucks my hair behind my ear.

I close my eyes as I let the fizzle of his touch saunter through my veins.

“How many people have been down here?” I ask, feeling he rarely lets people see this side of him. I don’t know why, because it’s a beautiful side. I guess people need to guard themselves from the world. Protecting your peace is a real fucking thing, and more people should do it.

I only started protecting myself a year ago and know myself better now.

“A handful,” he admits.

I smile warmly. “It makes me feel special.”

“You are special, Aella.”

Most men would realize what they’d said and get weird, but not Braxton. No. He tips my chin and looks deeper into my eyes as if trying to riddle me out.

He says what he means and knows to be accurate, and I love it.

Truth is something we hide from. Sure, you think you want it. You tell people you respect it, but when it’s freely given, with no regard for your feelings, when it’s just bare, raw truth slapped across your face, it’s hard to handle—a hard pill to swallow.

I’ve been dealing with tabloids that exploit every aspect of truth since I was born, though. I’m hardened by it and used to peering into my depths and seeing the parts that aren’t perfect. Our imperfections make us who we are, not our similarities. Once I realized that I was much happier in my skin. His differences are what draws me to him.

“You’re special too,” I finally say back, a pang of guilt eating at me when I admit it to him. He registers the minute change on my face, the shift in my mood. It’s like he’s zoned in on every intricacy of my expressions. My frequency.

“What is it?” he asks, dropping his hand from my chin.

“I have to admit something to you. I know you can handle the truth, so I won’t sugar-coat it.”

He nods, waiting for me to go on as I sit up and move to the edge of the bed. My feet dangle and rest on his thighs. He places his hands on either side of me like a protective bubble around me.

“I kissed Miles,” I say, watching his face for any change.

He narrows his eyes; his brain cogs turning as he takes in what I said. Then he laughs.

Confusion fills me. I haven’t said funny things, so I don’t understand the reaction.

“No, you didn’t. He doesn’t kiss anyone,” he finally says, coughing as he shakes his head and cuts the laugh off.

“No, I did. I didn’t know that he doesn’t kiss, though. It was so dark in his room last night, and I leaned in to kiss him after we talked about something, and I could tell he was uncomfortable... That’s not the point,” I shake my head, “the point is that it happened. I don’t know what you and I are... I know what we did was intimate, and I know he’s your brother, and I wanted you to know.”

He clears his throat of lingering amusement, nodding as I unravel why I needed to tell him. “Alright, well, how you feel about the matter also matters. How does it make you feel you kissed him and I licked your pussy?”

His blunt words make me cough, and he smirks again.

“No other way to say it, is there?” he asks.

I smirk. “No, that’s the gist of it. Sorry, I just...” I clear my throat again, shifting on the bed. “I feel like I’ve wasted my life if I’m honest with you. I feel as though I spent twenty-five years saving myself for a man who would never touch or appreciate me the way I should be. So, I’ve done what I want when I want. If that’s irresponsible, I don’t give a shit.”

“Mmm, but that’s your reasoning. You’ve justified it. I won’t diminish that fact, but how do you feel about what’s happened between us?”

I lick my lips. He’s making me face more truth in a few moments than I think I have the entire last year. I have to admit I’m uncomfortable.

“I feel... It makes me feel...”

He nods, his hands softly touching my sides in silent comfort. It gives me the strength I need. “I feel hot. It feels exciting and new. I want both of you. That’s just me being honest. There are facets of each of you I want to explore, and I want to feel everything with both of you. I feel beautiful and seen. And wanted.”

He nods as if he got what he was after and then stands. His cock is hard as steel behind his sweatpants, and my mouth waters.

“You’re wanted,” he says, looking down at me with more amusement dancing in his eyes.