Moving Forward

Talon resisted the urge to reach out and pull Wren into his arms. They had both struggled with their families.

The waves of sadness flowed strongly as she stood there, lost in her thoughts.

“Even when you have family, you can still be alone,” Talon muttered.

“Not always. Most families are amazing, and yours is better than most.”

“They are not my family.”

Wren cut him off. “Well…how are they supposed to be your family if you do not let them? I think that you have found yourself a wonderful family.”

Wren gave him a bright smile. “See, I told you, you already have two of the three things on your list.”

Talon sat down on the windowsill and looked at her. He felt his knees go weak when she smiled at him.

Her smile was rare, and his body stirred in response. His arm raised to pull her close before he regained control.

Wren stepped up, almost touching his knees with her own. “Thank you for supper and the conversation. You have a lot to think over, so I will say good night here.”

She reached up on impulse and laid her hand along his jaw. “Good night, Talon. I am glad you have found your home.”

Talon watched her leave in shock. She had touched him—no, more than that—she had somehow managed to break down the wall he had put around his heart all in one night.

What the hell?

“Shit. I forgot to force her to see that this is her family, too.”

Damnit, her smile and touch had flown the thought straight out of his head.

He stood to catch her. The memory of the softness of her hand on the five o’clock shadow of his jaw caused his member to raise to attention like a flag in the early morning of a windy day.

He needed a moment.

***

Wren headed for her piano, her hand still shaking from where she had touched his jaw. It had been scruffy, but smooth.

His eyes had widened slightly at her touch, and she had heard his sharp intake of breath. She could not believe she had been so bold.

What had possessed her? In that moment, she wanted to wrap her arms around him and hold him tight, letting him know he was not alone.

No one had ever affected her in this way. Even in the beginning with Don, she had always kept a part of herself left untouched by his affection.

No matter how much he manipulated her, a part of her was protected from him. But not Talon.

With Talon, every part of her was being exposed, touched, caressed, and brought to life.

It was new and scary and exciting, and she did not know how to process everything.

~Why him? Is it just because of the bond, or is there more to it than that?~

***

Talon replayed their conversation in his mind. No matter how he tried to spin it, she was right.

He had a home and a family, but he was not accepting them. He sighed.

Damn that woman. She was making it hard for him not to fall head over heels in love with her, and then what would he do?

Have all three of his dreams come true? No, there were too many skeletons in his closet for him to deserve that kind of happiness.

Besides, if he achieved all three, what dream would be left? What next? A family of his own?

A flash of a dark-haired child in the arms of a mousy and dull woman raced from one part of his brain to the next before disappearing.

~Oh hell, I am in trouble.~

“What about my third dream?” he asked.

Wren stopped walking for a second before continuing toward the house.

Talon’s shadow appeared in the moonlight next to her, his steps shortening to match hers.

“Only you may answer that one when the time comes,” she said.

“But the woman I will be with for the rest of my life is standing next to me,” he said.

The air became weighted down as his statement hung between the two of them.

Wren stopped and turned to face him full on. The moon was full, and she could see his face clearly in the moonlight.

His eyes glowed as they probed hers, seeking an answer only she could give him.

Wren, in that moment, wanted to tell him that he could have it all. That she would find a way to give him what he wanted.

However, the ghosts swirled around her, reminders of a past filled with mental and physical pain that held her in its claws like those of the “Beings” they fought.

She would not and could not give him false hope.

“No one knows what tomorrow brings. There may be other women for you, even if I am alive. Just because we are partners, it does not mean that your heart will be mine as well.”

Talon recognized a bullshit answer when he heard one.

“There will be no other woman for me. Just as there will never be another man for you,” he said, his voice low, rolling over Wren’s shoulders and down her spine like distant thunder.

“You may only bond once. There is no other after that.”

Talon looked down at the woman before him, taking in her small stature and loose, plain clothing.

~Mousy. That is what I called her in the beginning.~ Talon wanted to laugh out loud at his own stupidity.

This woman was anything but mousy. She was feisty, strong, fragile, determined, and so many other things rolled into a tiny firecracker that threatened to explode in his face.

~Could I really fall in love with her?~ The answer came to him without hesitation. ~Yes.~

“For my third dream to come true, you are the one I must fall in love with.”

“Thought the bond made us feel this way,” Wren retorted.

His eyes held so much emotion, and it frightened and excited her. He was moving forward while she was moving back, the promise she had made hanging heavy on her heart.

It did not matter what she wanted or what he wanted. The promise would be kept.

“How can you know it is love and not the bond?” Wren asked.

“The bond does not create, it only enforces,” came his reply.

Wren took a step back from the intensity that he was radiating. He was serious.

“Only you can decide that,” she said. She turned and continued heading toward the house.

This conversation was too intense. She needed space.

Talon followed her.

“You know, you are just as guilty as I.”

“What do you mean?” Wren asked, continuing to walk away from him, refusing to rise to the bait.

“What are your desires? You did not tell me,” Talon said, reaching out and stopping her movement.

He wanted to continue their discussion. He wanted to help her see what she had as well.

“You did not ask.”

“I am now.”

Wren paused for a moment before continuing. “Same as you,” Wren replied, staring at the steam rising off the water of the outdoor bathhouse.

It was late spring, but the nights could still have a bit of a bite to them, she guessed, trying to push away the thoughts of Talon’s body so close to hers.

“Do you wish to bathe?” Talon asked, noticing her watching the water.

He could feel her pulling away from him. It was time to rein in the emotions, and a nice hot bath sounded like a good way to relax and release some tension at the same time.

Though he could think of another way to relieve this tension he was feeling.

“Oh no. I was just thinking.” She took a step back and headed to the little side garden.

This seemed to be the spot they always met. There was a serenity here not found in any other place on the grounds.

“You have not used the outside bathing house yet, have you?” Talon followed her.

The more he thought about it, the more he liked the idea of taking a long, hot bath with her. If she was not willing to continue the conversation, maybe he could connect with her another way.

“I like my privacy.”

“So why do you not put your piano in your room? It would be easier, and you would not have to walk so far.”

“I do not mind the walk, and I would not wish to disturb the others with the noise.”

“Now, who is avoiding everyone?” Talon commented dryly.

“We each have a soundproof room in our suite.”

“Let it go.”

Wren took off once more, heading back into the house.