Page 69 of The Leaving Road

“Magnolia?”

I barely registered Sloan’s voice behind me until his arms wrapped around my waist from behind. I took my time taking him in, in the mirror’s reflection. He looked a littledisheveled, his eye was swollen, but thankfully,not shut—it’dbe black and blue tomorrow. Hissplit lip looked tender, and I found myself wanting to run my tongue over the cut to trytosoothe it. His hairwasslightly out of place, and the five o’clock shadow he had going on just added to his appearance. I took most of my time taking in the features of his face, the way his jaw was clenched and clearly ticking as I took my time assessing him.

Once my eyes met his in the mirror, there was no mistaking thewantandneedI saw in them—because they matched my own. I became acutely aware that I was standing here in a barely-there towel. Sloan must have realized it at the same time because the grip his fingers had on my waist intensified, and he used a little pressure to turn me around to face him.

His eyes left mine as his hands trailed featherlight touches over my arms, causing them to erupt with shivers and goosebumps. Even though his eyes left mine, I kept mine locked on his face, and I saw the uptick at the corner of his mouth over my shivers and I felt heat pool in my belly. He trailed his fingers sosoftlyover the bruises that marred my neck and skin, and I saw the rage andterrorwash over his features. His eyes found mine again, he looked tortured, and his whisper broke the silence that had fallen over us.

“I almost lost you.”Since his voice was barely above a whisper, I almost missed the pain in them, but even the softness couldn’t mask it—if anything, it made it more potent. I felt his words in mybonesbecause I felt the same way.

“And I almost lostyou,”I whispered back at him, knowing my tone matched his worry.

Sloan stepped closer, if that were even possible, leaning down and his whispered breath hit the spot between my ear and my neck. “Magnolia…I can’t be in a world where you don’t exist. If there’s a choice between me and you, it’s you. Every time.”

Despite our closeness, I turned my head to look at him. “And if it’smychoice, it’s you.” I heard a rumbling in his chest at my confession. “Every. Time.”

Sloan closed the distance that was barely there, and his mouth met mine, the rumbling that had started now shook the foundation of our kiss. It wasn’t just a kiss; it was aclaiming.It wasn’t a sweet kiss; it was teeth and tongues, and I tasted Sloan’s blood from his split lip, and that just added to what it was.The start of something…big.

His mouth left mine, and I whimpered at the loss of him until he grabbed my legs and forced them around him as he sat me on the bathroom countertop. His lips found mine again, but only for a brief second before he nipped his way down my throat and neck. When he came to the area where the bruises started, he placed the lightest kisses over them while he murmured how he’d never been so scared in his life.

“Sloan,please.”

I should have been embarrassed, but I wasn’t above begging him—the throbbing between my legs was starting to become unbearable.

“Please…”

I couldn’t help but grind my towel-covered pussy over the bulge that was barely concealed in his jeans.

Why is he still dressed?

Sloan’s chuckle had me blushing because I realized I must have said that out loud. He backed up a few steps and reached down to grab his T-shirt and pulled it over him and tossed it to the side.Jesus.Sloan might have been a boy when I’d left, but he wasallman now. I wouldn’t say he had a six pack, but he was toned and tan andperfect. His hips jutted out, and he had a patch of hair that led down his stomach that was sodamnhot, I felt the saliva pool in my mouth at where it led.

“Better?” he asked as he advanced back at me, but I wasn’t done looking at him. I held my arm out and stopped him, then jumped off the counter. I grabbed where my towel was being held together and let it pool at my feet.

“Better,” I whispered as I reached out to trace the skin on his stomach. Not able to help myself, I trailed my fingers over the patch of hair that started just below his belly button.

“So much better.” I stood on my tippy-toes and nipped right below his ear, which seemed to spur him into action.

His growl met my laugh as he threw me over his shoulder and carried me out of the bathroom and into my bedroom.

“Mine,”Sloan ground out as he threw me on the bed.

“Mine.” I reached out and touched the bare skin over where his heart was. I barely got it out before he descended on me like I was his last meal.

Chapter 44

Sloan

“Mine.” Her hand ran over where my heart was, and I could have sworn she felt how fast it was beating.It’s all for you,I thought, but couldn’t find the words. I was too busy focusing on not swallowing my tongue at a naked Magnolia spread out over her bed.

She was so fucking perfect, and I couldn’t help but take my time looking at her—from her hair sprawled out in every which way and her makeup-free face. Her eyes were glazed over with lust, and I felt that all the way down to my cock that was straining painfully behind the zipper of my jeans. I couldn’t help but wince when my eyes trailed over the bruises that littered her skin. I wanted to rage and destroy everything in my path at the thought of something happening to her, at the thought that I almost didn’t get there in time. I wanted to smack her ass, over and over, until it was the prettiest shade of red since she put herself in dangermultipletimes.

Now wasn’t the time for that, though, so I continued my visual perusal of all things Magnolia. Taking in the roundness of her breasts, the dips and curves of her hips, the way her thighs pooled around her, and her ass jiggled at any movement.Perfect, just so fucking perfect. Mine.

I’d never felt this way looking at a woman before. The blood that was left in my head that hadn’t traveled down to my cock was rushing, and the only coherent thought I could make out was,Mine. Mine. Mine.

My eyes traveled back up to meet hers, and she reached for me. I caught her wrist and brought it to my mouth to kiss it. “Tell me you want this,” I whispered over the kisses I was placing on her wrist.

“I want this.”

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