Free Filthy (A Stepbrother Romance) #1 by J.L. Beck

even though they felt as if they had the weight of the world lying on them.
                  “You’re beautiful when you’re sleeping. A lot less mouthy as well,” Talon spoke into my hair breathing in my scent. Memories of what had happened came back to me at a snail’s pace. Donovan should be dead, and if he wasn’t yet then I was going to kill him. I turned into Talon’s body. His eyes were wide open and shined down on me brightly. They were little orb like stars.
                  “I’m sorry,” was all I could say, my voice sounding like someone had ran my throat through a grater?
                  Talon’s large hand cupped my cheek. His skin was rough where mine was soft, and I couldn’t help but lean into his warm touch. It was so wrong of us to be doing this, but after everything that had happened comfort was the only thing that I needed right now.
                  “Never be sorry for something that was not your fault.” His voice was pained, and he looked away from me and up over my head. The muscles in his jaw ticked as seconds went by. I could see the raw rage and anger. It made me want to reach out and inside of him to remove it.
                  “I know it wasn’t my fault, I just feel…” My words were cut off, Talon’s lips falling against mine shutting me up. I could feel nothing but his touch as he kissed me so gently; it was as if he was trying to remove the pain that I had suffered with each press of his lips against mine.
                  “No. Stop. Don’t speak.” He pulled away from me, and I missed his touch. I wanted more of him, so much more.
                  “What did you do to him?” I had to ask because all I could remember was hearing the sound of bones crunching.
                  Talon’s nostrils flared. “He’s still alive, so clearly not enough.” I felt the same anger. I felt the same pain. The fear that rushed through me when he pulled my shirt up over my head and everything went dark. The moment when I realized no one would notice where I went or what was happening to me.
                  I was certain that it all was over. I would be damaged goods, and for what reason, my association with Talon?
                  “Please, for the love of fucking God, Mia, stay out of that beautiful mind of yours. I can see you replaying everything in your mind, and it makes me want to get in my car and go to that fucker’s house and beat the life out of him.” Talon held me to the present with his touch alone, overwhelming my senses. I might have said I hated him in the past, but that hate was starting to melt into like. Something I wasn’t sure how I felt about.
                  “What if I said I wanted that?” I bit my lip, my eyes lingering down to his lips. I could see him take a breath in before he responded. He knew the effect he had over me, but I had never seen the effect I had over him.
                  He leaned into my face, his forehead against mine, our bodies entwined in a never-ending web that I didn’t want to separate.
                  “Then I would get in my fucking car, drive out there, and do it.” I could feel his heartbeat pounding through his shirt, and I was sure my own heartbeat matched the rhythm of his.
                  “Please don’t.” I sighed. Talon had never been so soft or caring before, and I was all kinds of confused on what was going on inside that head of his.
                  “Then I won’t. I won’t do anything you don’t want me to.” His confession rocked me. I was falling for him, even when I didn’t want to. Tonight had changed everything. He was opening up to me, not only that but he saved me. He rescued me when I was certain there was no saving.
                  “I want you, Talon.” I couldn’t believe I spoke the words. I almost