Evolving Emotions

Talon took a deep breath and stepped into the kitchen the following morning. Wren and the others were just finishing up when he came in.

“You are up early today,” Lily commented as she continued cleaning up the breakfast dishes.

Talon had not been present for the past month during breakfast. “I am surprised,” Eric commented. “We were up late last night. I would not have been able to get up if it had not been for you, dear.”

He placed a kiss on Lily’s cheek as he walked by. “We need to spar again soon, Talon.” He patted Talon’s shoulder as he went by.

“Have a good day, everyone. Supper will be ready when you return,” Wren called over her shoulder as she snuck out of the kitchen.

She did not want to face Talon yet. She was such a coward, running from him in the afternoon, skipping supper, and then hiding out in her room for the rest of the night.

Now he was in the same room as her, and all that bravado from yesterday fled. Talon grabbed her arm to stop her, and Wren reflexively recoiled from his touch, but did not feel the usual repulsion.

Today, it was pure instinct that had her drawing away; fear and pain had no factor in it. ~Interesting. Is it because of yesterday?~

“I suggest you cut your morning practice short today and do whatever it is you normally do in the evenings at that time,” he said.

He noticed her withdrawal and her confusion. ~Why is she confused about my touch? Where is the fear I felt from her in the past month?~

“Why would I need to do that?” she asked.

“Because you will need to have some strength and stamina left for our training session. Starting today, I am only available after supper,” Talon replied.

Talon moved away from her to get his breakfast. There was something different about him this morning.

~I got IT!~

Other than the fact he was up, and even decided to speak with her, that was. He was in a suit.

She had only seen him in jeans and T-shirts up until now, and the way his butt looked in those pants… Wren quickly looked away, embarrassed she had done that.

He looked good in a suit. Her mouth started to water a bit as she looked back, really taking in his appearance.

The suit fit his body snugly but was not so tight that it was obscene. The man was built to wear suits.

~Oh, who the hell am I kidding? The man is built to wear anything and nothing.~ Wren mentally slapped herself.

When had she developed the ability to have these kinds of thoughts? ~Get yourself together, woman. This man is an egotistical ass that thinks of you as a problem and burden. Do not let him be the one that you finally let in!~

Evan spoke up in the silence as everyone tuned into the byplay between Talon and Wren. “Hey, you know what? I think that is the first time I have seen you touch Ms. Wren.”

“I think you are right,” Emerald stated thoughtfully. “I do not remember seeing you touch during training yesterday either, you just used your voice or your weapon.”

Talon commented, continuing to make his breakfast. “Do not be ridiculous. Of course, we have touched you, ninny. We had to in order to complete the initial bond.”

“Oh. I had forgotten that, but other than that…how are you two going to physically bond if you do not touch?”

Talon stopped. Damn, he had finally been able to put that hurdle out of his mind.

“We will not be physically bonding,” he replied, his voice overly rough.

“What! You have to. It is not an option,” Emerald scolded him.

Eric turned toward Lily. “I am not touching this one. Go for it.”

“Oh no, not me. I am a firm believer this should be discussed between partners.”

Evan stepped in. “But…what if they…”

Lily interjected. “Enough. It is none of your business, Evan. They will cross that bridge when they get there. They still have to get through the emotional bond before they need to worry about the physical bond. Though come to think of it…”

She turned to Talon and Wren. “You are not very far on that one either. You will need to do something about it soon.”

Carrie stalked forward, her anger at Talon’s behavior the day before not yet subsided. She stabbed a finger at Talon’s chest. “As for you, do not think you will get out of having a physical bond. You will not be able to stop it from happening, so stop hiding your head in the sand and get her prepared. You are already behind on the emotional bond because of your stubbornness.”

Carrie pulled her finger away. “The only other thing I have to say is that you better explain it to her properly so she does not get hurt.”

Lily placed her hand on Carrie’s shoulder and drew her away from Talon before the woman really let him have it. She caught Michael’s eye. He stepped forward to pull Carrie back, moving Talon out of her reach.

“I said enough. Carrie, that includes you,” Lily said, giving Michael a nod of thanks.

They did not need any bloodshed this morning. “Let it go. He will do what is right in the end.”

Carrie sent one more glare at Talon and turned to Wren. “Answer me this right now. Have you two touched other than just now and the initial bond?”

“Carrie!”

Carrie ignored Lily’s protest. Everyone waited silently for Wren’s answer.

“Ummm… Well, yes. We have had contact before. I mean”—Wren grew more and more uncomfortable under Carrie’s scrutiny—“that is… He did help me after my first experience in the combat room.”

“It is a start.” Carrie turned to Talon. “Weak.” She turned on her heel and left the room, Eric following behind.

“We have to go now, hon. Take care of the house and listen to Talon. You need to be in fighting form,” Lily said, nodding to Talon as she left the room.

Talon rubbed his chest where Carrie had stabbed him. If this was how it was going to be from now on, maybe he should go back into hiding.

That woman was scary. Not that he would ever let her know that.

***

After everyone had left, Wren turned to see Talon staring at her.

“Ignore them. They just worry about you,” she said, dropping her gaze.

The only time they had been alone, they had either been arguing or training. She was not sure what to do.

So she continued, “All they could talk about this morning was how much they enjoyed spending time with you yesterday. I am sure they are just trying to make sure you do not pull away from them now that you have let them in.”

Wren spoke awkwardly. She quickly added, “At least, you let them in a little. You gave them hope.”

Her voice trailed off as he continued to stare at her in silence.

“Um?” Talon did not know what to say to her.

“Are they right? Will it happen whether or not you wish for it?”

He could not deny her words. She had already started to crowd his thoughts, and last night, he had had a dream with her in it for the first time.

His dream had not been erotic, but he had woken to a feeling of loss at the knowledge she was not by his side.

The emotional bonding was coming, and it was coming soon. Talon gave himself the leisure of a mental sigh.

~What will I do then? How will I stop the physical bonding? How will I explain the physical bond? Damn it.~

He had already found he needed to be near her daily and was aware of her presence at all times. He worried about how strong this bond was, and there was no one he trusted to speak with about his thoughts.

He was in new territory and was not sure he would make it out alive.

“No one has told you the process of the emotional or physical bond yet, have they?” he asked.

“No. All I know is what the director told me the first day here. I figured you would tell me when I was ready for them,” she replied.

Talon stepped up next to her. On impulse, he reached out his hand and placed it on her cheek.

It was warm and smooth and soft. He watched her eyes widen and then grow confused, making her brown eyes grow darker with an emotion he could not decipher.

Wren was not repelled by his touch. It was coarse and warm and gentle.

“I have to go. Be ready for training tonight. We will need to find time to speak about your power core,” he said.

He turned and left the room, not sure what to think about touching her like that and even less sure about her not pulling away from him.

***

Wren stood in the kitchen long after he had left. She placed her own hand on the spot his had been.

She could still feel the warmth. His eyes had seemed to glow at that moment, and she had felt the desire, for an instant, to step in close and wrap her arms around him.

Things were changing. She was changing, and these changes scared her.

Rather than think about it, she buried these emotions deep down, out of sight, and went about her day.