Free Sloane: A Bad Boy Billionaire Romance Novel by Zoe Davis Page A

noticed. 
     
    She was absolutely beautiful in the spotlight with legs that stretched for miles and thick brown fur.  When she ran off into the woods I finally caught my breath.  I stared in the direction of her trail, oblivious to how much time had passed.
     
    My gaze was broken by the sound of sobbing next to me.  Jared was crying for the first time since I’ve known him.  I reached my hand to his shoulder but he shrugged it off and got out of the car.
     
    I was taken aback and wasn’t sure what my next course of action should be.  I decided to chase him against my better judgement.  I didn’t bother closing the door when I got out, and watched winged insects fly in and out of the car.
     
    I found him on the side of the road with his arms crossed, kicking the dirt below.  He was no longer crying but was focused on his feet.
     
    “Jared-“ I began, but wasn’t sure where to go, so we stood aimlessly in silence, aglow from our own headlights.  I looked down the road in front of us and my mind flashed back to that first night.  I thought of his cool excitement and remembered the creases on my fingers.  I finally found the words.
     
    “Jared.  I know this was supposed to be an adventure.  We were supposed to open ourselves up to flings and meaningless sex.  I wasn’t supposed to fall in love, or get my heart broken.”
     
    Like a stubborn child he continued kicking rocks while I poured my heart out.  Our car dropped to a low humming from the idleness and I continued.
     
    “I feel foolish, actually, caring so much about something that was supposed to be meaningless.  I thought my love for you would keep me at a distance, but I’ve found so much more than I anticipated.  My heart is so vulnerable and open, but I’m learning just how full it can become.”  The wind picked up as I finished and stirred grounded leaves into the air toward the stars.
     
    Before I knew it I had a pair of hands on my cheeks and a set of lips kissing me.  Jared was crying through his kiss and shook with a passion I didn’t know he had.
     
    His ardor crashed into me and I soon matched the nervous vibration of his body next to mine.  He didn’t let up on kissing and I didn’t push him back.
     
    His fingers traced my arms from tense shoulders to the hands at my waist and he held them gently as he pulled his lips away, looking into me with a new intensity.  He left me speechless.
     
    “I have to know I won’t lose you, Vanessa,” he said finally.  “I would be a wreck without you.”  He clenched his jaw to hold back his fear.  I assured him he would never lose me.  I described my undying gratitude to him for allowing me this experience.  We talked for what felt like hours, in the cool night, in our headlights.  Eventually we returned to our seats in the car, on our way to one of Ethan Sloane’s very memorable swinger’s party.
     
    Jared seemed different that night.  After our conversation he had a confidence that seemed inspired rather than controlled.  He smiled occasionally and looked at me often. 
     
    In the distance, the road faded into pitch black and I returned to the thought of Ethan that first night.  I thought how bizarre it would be to know his name and his face, yet see him in the mask from that night.  I couldn’t picture it, and in my mind I removed the mask from his face to more clearly see those silver eyes.
     
    As his eyes stared into me, they flickered into a soft yellow and soon we were at his front gate.
     
    The air was warmer than the first night but still cool enough to give me chills.  I looked up at his castle and was no less amazed than the first time I saw it.  I imagined Ethan inside running around with various naked women, having his way with them and was surprised at my acceptance of this.  I wanted him to be as happy as he’s made me, even if it ended in my own demise.
     
    Jared and I sat in the car for a few minutes, daring the other to get out first.  I