The End of a Weekend

“Is it all right for me to enter?” he asked.

“Huh?” Wren turned to see Talon standing in the doorway of her room.

“I know I have been in here before, but I do not feel comfortable without your permission. It was hard enough to do it the first two times.”

“Granted.”

They worked on taking the sheets off her bed, each trying not to imagine the two of them entwined, dripping with sweat, in the bed, working off the tension that had been created in his room.

“Do you have a stash?” Talon asked.

He had been secretly scanning the room for hers. His lay in a false bottom in a drawer of one of his side tables, but where was hers?

“I believe you have already asked that question. Do you see a little black bag anywhere?”

“No, but that does not mean you do not have one.”

“The same could be said for you.”

“Not all men need extra stimulation to masturbate, you know,” Talon said as he followed her into the bathroom, and they got to work.

“Neat.” Talon commented on the room.

“Of course it is. Like you, I do not like to live in filth.”

Also like him, she had seen her fair share of filthy living conditions.

“I do not like to have others clean up after me. This way, there is less work for them to do.”

“Do you not wear makeup?” Talon noticed the absence of jars and makeup bottles from her counter.

All three of the other ladies’ counters had been overflowing with cosmetics and bottles that promised beauty if used.

“I do. I just do not have it in abundance.”

Makeup and lotions were a luxury she could not afford for years after she had escaped from Don, and now she just did not see the necessity of spending money on such things.

Talon stepped into the shower and started to wipe it down, images of her reappearing, stronger now that her scent filled the room.

He could see his hand lathering her breast before rinsing it off and lathering it back up with his tongue and mouth.

His lower region pushed against his pants, and he had to take a few breaths to calm himself down enough to continue his work.

Wren made the conscious decision not to watch Talon clean her shower, something she would need when they were done here. She was hot and sweaty and damp in places that had not been damp in a long time.

“The kitchen is the last room.”

~Thank God we are out of the bedrooms.~

“Wait? You want to clean it before you cook?”

“Yup.”

“But you are going to dirty it again.”

Wren gave Talon a pointed stare.

“So will everything else.”

Talon sighed and started the water, adding bleach and dish soap to the sink.

“I will sweep and mop, you start on the counters.”

In no time, the kitchen was clean, and Wren collapsed in one of the chairs.

“Done.”

Talon brought her a cup of tea, and they sat in an easy silence while they drank.

“Feels good, doesn’t it?”

“Yes, it does,” he replied as he reached over.

“You have a bit of dirt on your cheek. Here, let me get it,” he said. He rubbed the dirt away and went back to his drink.

“Thanks.” She went to take another sip of her tea, trying to calm her heartbeat a bit, and hoped that Talon did not see her hands shaking. He had touched her again.

His touch used to cause her repulsion but now had a calming effect on her nerves. She found herself wishing he would touch her more.

“I think that is my cue to go try out the outdoor tub.” Wren could see the dirt under her nails and smudges of dust on the sleeves of her blouse.

She needed a shower, but she was not ready to use hers; the images of Talon in there were too fresh in her mind.

“I do not want to dirty my shower either. Too much work,” Talon finished his drink.

“Why have you not used it before? Everyone else uses it regularly.”

“I like my privacy.”

Wren cleaned her cup and put it away.

“Why in the world do you have one of those anyway? I thought that was a Japanese custom.”

“It is.” Talon followed her example with his cup.

“The director put it in when it was just him, Mr. Lee, and their partners.”

“Still…”

“Let it go,” Talon interrupted gently.

“There are some things that are better not to question.”

“All right. Anyway, you should shower as well. You are just as dirty as I am.” Wren stood behind Talon and giggled.

“You have more lint in your hair,” she commented, picking a few pieces and placing them on the table. “See?”

Talon stood. “I suppose you are right.”

Wren waved as she left the room. “I will cook tonight, but starting tomorrow, it is all yours.”

“What! Wait a minute.” Talon followed her out the door. “Let’s discuss this.”

“Nope.” Wren smiled and sauntered out the door.

“Damn. She is right.” Talon shook his head and headed for his bedroom.

***

“Do you think that they survived?” Emerald asked as the plane flew them closer to home.

“I think that Wren can hold her own,” Michael commented. “Besides, Talon is very gentle and protective of Wren.”

“We can only hope there has been some progression in their relationship. I am worried. They should have already been through the second bonding. It is unusual for it to take this long.” Carrie voiced her concern.

“Afraid they will bond in public, are we?” Emerald did not want to think about how embarrassing it would have been if they had gone through a bonding in public.

Thank God they had finished the whole business within the three-month grace period.

“Leave them be,” Lily told her. “It will happen when THEY are ready for it to happen.”

“I can wait, but what about the enemy?” Carrie spoke what they were all thinking.

The plane lurched left and shook from an impact.

“What the hell?” Eric jumped up and looked out at the right wing to see smoke coming from one of the engines.

“Attention, Ladies and Gentlemen, it seems we have had a bird fly into the right engine of the plane. We will be making an emergency landing. Please fasten your seatbelts and make sure all trays are put up as we are making our descent.”

“At least it is just engine failure.” Michael put away the newspaper he had been reading. “I would not want to try and fight a Being up here.”

“Shut up, Michael.” Five voices chimed in chorus as the plane made a sharp turn toward the ground.

***

Wren stepped into the hot spring bath slowly, acclimating herself to it.

Everyone had told her to try it. Emerald had even mentioned that she could wear a swimsuit if she was shy about her body.

Wren did not see the point of bathing if she had to wear a swimsuit, and she had preferred to keep her body hidden from the others for certain reasons.

She lowered herself into the water and sighed. It felt wonderful to soak her aches away. Steam floated off the water, and the quiet sounds of the small water fountain and evening animals brought a sense of calm to her tired body.

~I really need to do this at least once a week.~

“If I did not know any better, I would say you are tired.”

The low growl of Talon’s voice came from behind the rock that split the large pool in two.

Wren sat straight up and then shot back down. “What are you doing?” she squealed, reaching for the towel she had set nearby.

Talon’s torso appeared around the rock, and Wren let out a squeal and ducked as low as she could in the water.

Talon grinned. “Relax, I did not peek.”

Not that he had not wanted to when he heard her enter, but he was too much of a gentleman to be disrespectful of her privacy like that.

“Would you like me to cook tonight as well?” he asked.

“Why are you here?” Wren asked.

“This is where I usually bathe.”

“What?!”

Talon came into full view, and she immediately started to stand to leave the pool.

He was too close, and that was waaaay too much skin for her to remain calm and collected. She needed to leave before she did something stupid. Like drool all over him as she tasted that flesh with her lips.

“I would not do that if I were you.”

Talon’s grin grew as Wren froze. “Not unless you want to expose your breasts for my viewing pleasure.”

Her hair was down, floating around her body, the very top curve of her breasts the only visible part for his eyes to feast on, and he was feasting, his mouth watering to taste.

Talon swallowed. ~Keep it under control. We have had a pleasant day. Do not ruin it now.~

“Although the sight of your breast would not bother me, I think it would bother you. I recommend you remain seated and enjoy the water. You are safe from me.”