Chapter 142: Mine

Chapter 142: Mine
Travis’s POV

Patience was never my virtue.

But for her?

For her, I had waited.

For months, I had held back.

For months, I had kept myself in check, making sure she healed, recovered, became strong again.

For months, I had watched her move, watched her body regain its strength, watched her laugh, fight, live—

And fuck—

I was done waiting.

The second we stepped into the apartment, I didn’t let her go.

Didn’t give her a chance to breathe, to think, to do anything but feel me.

Her back hit the door, a soft gasp escaping her lips before I swallowed it whole, my hands framing her face, my mouth claiming hers with the kind of hunger that had been clawing at me for too fucking long.

"Travis—" she tried, but fuck—

I was starving.

For her.

For this.

For the only thing that had ever truly been mine.

"Tell me you missed me," I murmured against her lips, dragging my teeth along her lower lip, sucking it just enough to make her shiver.

"You were literally there every second of my recovery," she breathed.

"Not like this."

Not pressed against the door, not with my hands already sliding under her shirt, my fingers tracing every inch of skin I had been dying to touch again.

Not with my mouth teasing its way down her neck, biting, licking, soothing.

Not like this.

"I missed you," I admitted, my voice low, rough, my fingers digging into her hips as I pressed her harder against the door.

"Travis—"

"I missed this," I exhaled, dragging my tongue over the hollow of her throat, feeling her pulse jump under my lips.

"I missed the way you taste."

I moved lower, my teeth grazing her collarbone.

"The way you sound when I touch you."

My hands slid under her thighs, lifting her, forcing her legs to wrap around my waist.

"The way you fall apart for me, sweetheart."

She let out a sharp breath, her fingers tangling into my hair, pulling me closer.

And fuck—

That was all I needed.

I carried her to the bedroom, my mouth never leaving hers, my hands never leaving her body.

Her skin burned under my touch, her breath ragged, her body already trembling.

"Travis—" she tried again, but fuck—

I knew what she wanted.

Knew exactly what she needed.

And fuck—

I was going to give it to her.

I laid her down, hovering over her, my fingers trailing down her stomach, lower, teasing, just enough to make her whimper.

"Tell me you want this," I demanded, my voice low, firm.

"Travis—"

"Tell me, sweetheart."

Her eyes locked onto mine, her breath uneven.

"I want you."

And fuck—

That was all it took.

I devoured her.

Tasted her like I was drowning and she was the only thing that could save me.

Dragged my mouth lower, kissing, sucking, biting, leaving marks that proved she was mine.

And when I finally, finally took her apart, piece by piece, when I finally felt her shatter against my tongue, my fingers, my name a broken whisper on her lips—

I knew.

She was never getting away from me again.

I crawled back up her body, my lips brushing against hers, my voice a low, teasing rasp.

"Hope you’re ready for me, sweetheart."

She shivered, her nails digging into my back, her legs already wrapping tighter around me.

"Travis—"

"Because I plan on making up for lost time."

And fuck—

I was only getting started.