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Talon moved slowly, sitting down on a bench perpendicular to her before stretching out his tired limbs. Who knew cleaning could wear you out?

“I told you…relax. I cannot see anything, and as long as neither of us tries to look when we get out, there is no problem,” he said, leaning back and closing his eyes.

Wren could only stare at him in astonishment. “Uh?”

Talon’s lips curled in a bemused smile. “Are you always this articulate?” he teased.

“Shut up.” Wren sank further into the water and mimicked Talon’s movements.

She closed her eyes and let out a sigh, fully aware that they were naked, just feet from each other, with no chaperone around.

“Feels good, no?” he asked.

“Mmm, I just might be able to get used to this. The scenery is much nicer than my bathroom.”

He stole a peek at her. She was leaning back like him with her eyes closed, her hair now pulled up off her neck.

Water strolled lazily down her neck and shoulders, merging into the surface of the water, where the curves of her breasts swayed gently.

Damn, she did have large breasts. His groin tightened painfully as his eyes traveled up her neck and ear before going back to rest on the tops of her breasts.

He thought that when she took in a deep breath, he could just make out her nipples, but he could not be sure. His groin tightened even more, and he found himself sporting a good, hard-on.

~I am glad she is not looking this way.~

He knew that he was not going to be able to get out for a while, but for the moment, he found himself enjoying the pain-pleasure of sitting next to her like this.

He closed his eyes and let his imagination go. As long as he did not make any sudden movements or noise that would scare her, he could do as he pleased.

***

Wren stole a peek at Talon through slitted eyes. The exposed skin of his chest was glittered with water droplets.

She had to fight the urge to run her tongue across his chest, lapping them all up. ~When did I start reacting to him so strongly?~

He was not down nearly as far as she was. In fact, he was exposed almost to his waist.

She had been right. The man was built with some of the finest muscle cuts ever imagined, but there were scars, too.

Little ones here and there. ~Did he get them during his fighting days or when he was following the orders of the Mob boss?~

Her gaze traveled back up his chest, noting that his nipples were hard little pebbles and that he seemed to have no hair on any part of his body.

~I wonder if it’s from the handling of the fire element.~

She had a serious itch to run her fingertips over the smooth chest and flick one of his nipples to see if it would get even harder at her touch.

She clenched her fingers together as moisture pooled between her legs and closed her eyes.

She was going to have very vivid dreams tonight, now that she knew what it looked like underneath those T-shirts and suits he wore.

If she was honest with herself, she could even say she was looking forward to those dreams.

After all, in her dreams, she could reach out and touch his chest, feeling the heat seeping from his body to her hand.

~Stop it, you pervert.~

Talon was at his limit. Any longer sitting next to her, hearing her breathing hitch up and become ragged like that, and he was going to lose his control.

He knew that he was affecting her like she was affecting him. He could feel the emotion of lust and excitement radiating from her.

If he did not move soon, he would do something stupid that they would both regret later.

“I am getting out,” Wren said suddenly. “If you would be so kind as to…” She gestured to the rock.

Talon stood up, revealing his body down to his hips, barely keeping certain body parts concealed.

Wren felt her mouth go dry at the sight, and she was pretty sure she could come just by watching his body move.

“Like what you see?” he asked.

That was the third time he had caught her ogling him. What was he, some kind of prime, grade A meat?

Wren jerked her eyes up from his flat abs and hips to see him looking right at her.

She blushed bright red when she caught his gaze staring down at her.

He was not going to tell her, but from his viewpoint, he had a very nice view of her naked body, only slightly distorted by the rippling water.

He knew he was skating a fine line by continuing to stand there, his member fully erect and just barely concealed by the water.

“Sorry.” Wren looked away. “I just have not seen so many muscles and scars up close before. Your abs…” She blushed even redder, covering her mouth with her hands to stop herself from speaking.

Talon gave her a grin. Her movements caused her breasts to rise further up.

“Would you like to touch?”

His voice dropped low as desire snaked through him.

Damn if he knew what he was thinking right now, but the temptation was so great. She was so beautiful looking the way she did, her body just obscured by the water, the reflection of the moon casting soft light that seemed to gravitate toward her.

Wren’s mouth dropped open.

Talon moved in closer, stopping just short of her body, and leaned down, making sure his hard-on was kept just out of her reach.

He did not know what she would do, and he wanted to be able to walk later. Much later.

He placed his hand just above her shoulder next to her head and looked her right in the eyes.

At this angle, he could truly appreciate the curves of her body and the beauty of her skin.

He leaned in close and whispered in her ear.

“I said…would you like to touch?” He pulled back a bit and caught her eyes again. “My abs, that is.”

“No, I would not,” Wren said, looking away, unable to keep eye contact with him.

He radiated heat and sex, and she was not sure how long she could fight that pull until she did something stupid, like ask him to take her right then and there.

Talon stepped back carefully, making sure not to disturb the water too much.

Getting that close to her body was a very dangerous thing for him to do at the moment.

He shrugged nonchalantly. “You are welcome to touch them whenever you wish. I do not mind,” he said.

He sent her another saucy grin and headed for the boulder. “That goes for any part of my body you might be interested in.” He laughed and disappeared behind the boulder as her face turned even redder at his comment.

“Why you…”

“Yes?”

“Nothing,” Wren muttered and turned her nose up at him.

“I am getting out now. Do not look.”

He let out another rumble of low laughter as Wren scrambled to get out and wrap herself quickly in a towel.

~The nerve of that man.~ It did not help that she was so turned on right now.

Damn him.

She dressed quickly and headed to the kitchen. She did not bother to dry or pull up her hair; she would not be able to get supper ready in time unless she started now.

***

Talon glanced up at the darkening sky.

That was close.

He closed his eyes, replaying the last few moments, pulling up the images of her body once more. He had almost lost control and kissed her.

His body was aching for his release that was close and yet so far. He let out a sigh as his hand helped him go over the edge.

He had not masturbated this much since…well…ever.

Damn bonding made everything more intense. What if it was the bonding that was causing him to react to her like this? Was he attracted to her, or was the bonding process the attraction?

He climbed out of the pool and headed for the house.

She was going to need help if they were to have dinner ready in time.

This was a question he would dwell on later.

***

“Allow me.”

Wren felt the knife slip out of her grasp as Talon’s warm body manifested directly behind her. She had felt his presence but had not been tuned in enough to realize he was that close.

She turned and took a sharp intake of breath when she saw that he had no shirt on and had her pinned against the counter.

“Uh, where is your shirt?” she asked, even as she stared at his naked chest and abs again.

The man really did have a nice body.

His towel was thrown over his head like he had just dried his hair, a few rivulets of water still dripping down his shoulders and chest.

Her hand physically ached to run it across his chest as she licked the moisture away. She swallowed hard.

~Does he have to be this hot?~ She was grumpy with herself for being so affected by him.

What was up with that? Stupid bonding.

~Of course! It is not I who is attracted to him. Okay, maybe a little bit of it is me… It was the bonding.~

Talon grinned, noting her discomfort.

“Right here,” he said.

His shirt lay on the counter next to the food she had been preparing.

“I thought I would give you another chance to touch my body before I let the offer expire.”

Wren rolled her eyes and, without thinking, put her hand on his chest and shoved. Surprisingly, he stepped back.

She snapped her hand back quickly and stepped away from the counter, intent on stepping around him and heading for the stove. She was bright red and knew it.

“Put your shirt on, for Pete’s sake.”

“I do not know a Pete, but I will put it on if you ask really nicely.” Talon pulled the shirt on, still feeling her hand on his chest.

They worked in silence until Lily poked her head into the kitchen.

“Helllooo. Is anyone here? We are home.”

Talon turned and walked out of the kitchen to where everyone was coming in with their luggage.

“I see we arrived in one piece,” he commented.

“We almost did not,” Carrie replied. “We had to make an emergency landing due to birds.”

“We are here now and starving,” Evan said. He placed a hand on his stomach as it let out a long, loud rumble.

“Please feed him before I cut out his stomach,” Emerald complained.

“Go put your things away and clean up. It will be another ten minutes until supper is ready.” Talon headed back to the kitchen.

“Welcome home.”