Creatures

“Who is the lady?” One of the boys asked after Karen disappeared.

“The woman I am going to marry.”

“Does she like kids?” One asked.

“Will she be our mother now?” Another asked and Talon laughed, ruffling his hair. “I hope so...”

Just over an hour later Karen was back downstairs and waiting for Talon. It had taken the ladies a while to get her ‘just right.’

“Sorry. I am a bit behind on paperwork and time got away from me. Shall we go?”

Karen turned to see Talon walking down the steps in a tux. He looked good and her heart did a little flip-flop at the sight of him. He came up to her and spun her around to look at her.

“You look ravishing. May I?” He pulled out the necklace and earrings.

Karen nodded.

“This is the dress that I tried on that day we went to the mall.” She spoke as he put the necklace on her. She could feel his fingertips brush her neck, sending shivers down her spine.

“I could not pass it up so I had them send it here to wait until it could be used.” He handed her the earrings.

“I would put them on if I knew how.”

Karen smiled and walked over to the hallway mirror, quickly slipping them on.

“Will I pass muster?” She asked.

Talon pulled her into his embrace. “I do not think I have ever seen a more beautiful woman in my life.”

Karen blushed. “Such pretty lies.”

She tried to pull away, but he stopped her.

“I do not lie, Karen,” Talon told her seriously before releasing her. “Shall we go?”

Karen nodded and they were off. This time though, they went in style as Karen looked around the limo they had climbed into.

“Is this yours as well?”

“Would you be intimidated if a said yes?”

“No.”

“Then yes.”

Karen smiled. It was nice to see Talon relaxed and enjoying himself, at least, she hoped he was enjoying himself.

As they rode along Karen asked the one thing that had been on her mind, besides Talon that was.

“How do the students at the school know what we do? I thought no one did?”

“Most people on the island know since we tend to get quite a few attacks. It is people off the island that do not know.”

“Why are there a lot of attacks here?”

“Because this is where we train,” Talon explained.

“So why do so many people live here?”

“Would you prefer to be isolated?”

Karen fell silent at his words.

They arrived outside a lavish hotel and Talon helped her out, guiding her towards the elevator.

“I should probably warn you that we are about to make a bit of a stir.”

“Why is that?” she asked as they stepped into the elevator and Talon hit the up button.

“Well...” Talon blushed and looked away. “It seems that it got out that I was single and came here a lot, so now there are those that come to... Well, let us say that there will be a lot of women that will not like you and it is not your fault.” Talon finished with Karen’s smile.

“I do not think that I will mind.”

Talon returned her smile as the elevator doors opened.

Karen let out a soft whistle as she got a look at the plush digs surrounding them.

“Nice.”

She watched the Maitre de’ come up to them.

“Good evening Mr. fielding, your table is ready when you are.”

“Thank you.” Talon handed Karen’s wrap and his out coat to the man.

“We will have a dance before heading to the table. Please go ahead and chill the wine for us.”

“As you wish sir.” The man bowed and left.

Karen looked up as Talon smiled down at her and took her arm, leading her to a set of double doors.

“Shall we dance?”

“You can dance?”

Talon pouted. “We have had this conversation before. Really! Would I ask If I could not?”

Karen giggled. “All right, but you better live up to my expectations.”

Talon grinned. “Just watch, my lady, you will be speechless when I am done.”

“Speechless? We will see.”

They entered into a massive ballroom with dangling chandeliers and many couples dancing to a lively waltz. Many people stopped and turned when they entered the room and as they passed other couples, conversations stopped and whispers started.

“I really am a new sight, huh?”

“Yup.” Talon pulled Karen into his arms and started across the room, twirling her as he went.

“Do you not bring many ladies here?” Karen asked innocently.

“I do not bring anyone here,” Talon replied, pulling her a little bit closer. Karen rested her head on his shoulder as the music slowed and segued to a sultry number.

“This is nice,” Talon commented and Karen started. She had been lost in feelings of comfort and warmth and love and had not realized that they had just spent the past five minutes in silence with her snuggled up against him.

“Sorry.” She straightened up.

“No need to apologize. I am glad.”

“Come on. It is time to eat.” He started to lead Karen off the dance floor.

“What happened to my sully, ill-tempered, bad-mouthed Talon that I have lived with for the past six months?” Karen asked after they had been seated and had ordered.

Talon looked at her. “Say that again.”

Karen colored, surprised that she had even voiced her thoughts out loud. “I asked you where the grouchy man went. I liked him.”

“No, not that.” Talon waved her words away.

“What? What did I say?” What had she said that he wanted to hear if not that?

“Tell me that I am yours again,” Talon spoke softly, leaning forward to take Karen’s hand in his own.

He placed a kiss on the inside of her wrist. “I liked hearing that from your lips.”

Karen flushed and pulled her hand away, putting them underneath the table.

“Karen...”

Karen watched the waiter appeared with their food, relief evident on her face. What was going on with him? He was playing with her emotions like a cat played with a mouse before devouring it.

Karen started to eat quietly and Talon followed suit, trying not to laugh. Finally, he could not help himself and let out a good solid rumble.

“Stop that. People are looking.” Karen reprimanded him.

Talon leaned back in his seat. “And you think they were not watching our interaction just now?”

Karen turned her nose up at him and looked out at the stellar view beside them. “I know they were.”

“Then shall we give them a bit more to watch?”

“What nonsense are you spouting now?” Really, where was the tall, silent, moody Talon? This new Talon was starting to frighten her.

“Marry me.” Talon continued to eat as Karen’s fork hit her plate.

“What?”

Talon concentrated on his food. Although he spoke lightly, he was serious and he was not taking no for an answer.

“Talon...”

“Yes?” Talon looked up at a very red Karen. She really was cute when she got embarrassed like this.

“I do not appreciate the joke,” Karen replied stiffly.

“I am not joking,” Talon spoke softly. “I think we should get married.”

“You think...” What was he playing at now?

Damn, wrong choice of words.

“Marry me.”

“No.”

“Why?”

Just then the waiter re-appeared.

“We will chat about this later... when there is not an audience,” Karen whispered with her head down so no one could see or hear her.

Talon smiled and nodded.

“I am sure we shall, but prepare yourself, because we will be married.”

“In your dreams.” She snapped back, making sure to keep her voice low and a smile on her face.

“Every night.”

Karen choked on her food and Talon waited patiently for her recovery.

“Better.”

“Shut up.”

“As my lady wishes.”

Karen rolled her eyes. “I cannot believe that you have even brought this up.”

“Why?”

“Why... Because... I mean... This is so not happening right now. I am so not marrying you.”

“You sure about that?”

“I am sure. There is no way that I will marry you, no matter what you try.”

“Is that a challenge?”

“Nope. A promise.”

“Be prepared for that promise to be broken.”

Kare felt a sliver of excitement run up her spine. Was he really serious? She wondered.

They finished dessert and Talon escorted her towards the door after paying the bill.

“Shall we have one last dance before we head home?” He asked.

“Home. We have a chat to finish, remember?”

“However could I forget.”

The road back to the house in silence, Karen watching the scenery go by. She was tired and it had been a very long day. She finally dozed off, dreaming about being held in Talon’s arms as he twirled her around the room.

“Karen? Karen, honey, we are home. You need to wake up or I will carry you.” Karen looked up from where she was laying against Talon’s chest. She pushed away from him and he had to suck in his breath as the feeling of her hands on his chest had caused a pleasurable pain that resounded in his lower extremities. Karen heard it and glanced down, her eyes widening at his very aroused member.

Talon shrugged. “It cannot be helped. He has a mind of his own.”

Karen blushed and quickly climbed out of the car, stopping short as Talon almost ran into her.

“This is... your... home?” She spoke as she looked up the mansion she had left a few hours beforehand.

“I thought it would be nice to not sleep in the compound. After all, you did not get to take the vacation and you need one.

Karen shrugged and headed for inside the house, Talon quickly closing the gap in time to open the door for her.

Karen walked past him and headed straight for the room she had been to previously occupying. “I assume I may use the room I saw earlier?” She spoke as they headed for the stairs.

“Yes, but you will have to share it with me.” Talon grinned.

Karen stopped for a moment before continuing. She needed to think through everything before she said anything or she would say or do something that she would regret later.

“Are you not going to talk then?” Talon asked as she opened the door.

“I...I need to change and sort a few things out. Give me half an hour.” Talon grabbed her arm and spun her around, crushing her against his chest.

“No. I will not give you time to make excuses. You do not seem to understand, I will marry you and you need to accept that.”

Karen pushed against his chest, half-heartedly trying to get away. She knew she should be furious with him, but she was secretly a bit excited at his abrupt change in attitude. He was still the same stubborn and proud Talon underneath all of the smiles and sweet words. Besides, she could not lie to herself, the thought of marrying him excited her.

“Karen?” Talon stared down at the lady that had gone still in his arms. He could see her thoughts racing through her head and feel the conflicting emotions that were going through her. More importantly then that, he wanted to hear what she was thinking, not just feel it.

“Karen.” Talon murmured as he pressed his lips to her temple. “Stay with me tonight. Let me make love to you.”

Karen woke from her thoughts in a rush and blushed, pulling away. “No.”

She turned towards the bedroom and quickly made her exit.

Talon leaned his head on the door and let out a sigh. He was very frustrated right now. He looked down, in more ways than one. He slowly headed to the other room set aside for him, deep in thought. How to break her defenses? He knew that he should be handling her gently, what with her past and all, but it was hard with the way she reacted to his advances. He wondered how long it would take before she noticed he gift. He headed for the shower. The prelude aside, Act one was about to start and he wanted to be ready.

Karen leaned against the door. Damn the man was good. He had easily broken through so many of the barriers that she put up to keep others out in an instant. The proof in the fact that he was able to make her wet and needy without even a kiss.

She shook her head and started to undress, heading for the shower. She needed to cool off and think this through. She climbed in and started to wash all the hairspray out of her hair. It made her hair all sticky and she hated the smell.

“Oweee.” Her ring caught in a tangle of her hair and just about scalped her. That hurt. She untangled her hand from her hair and looked down, she did not remember putting a ring on this evening. She looked at her hand, dumbfounded. Sitting on her ring finger, twinkling in the soft light of the bathroom shower, was the exact engagement ring that she had tried on that afternoon with Talon.

What the hell? When had he put this... she thought back to his behavior a few moments ago, realizing now why he had done what he had. She had been distracted by his words and he had been holding her hand between his and her body. That no good, son of a... She quickly finished her shower and pulling on a nightgown and robe, heading next door, where she assumed he had gone. She was going to strangle him for such an underhanded trick.

“Talon!” She bellowed as she entered his room without bothering to knock. No sense in letting him have a chance to escape, she was so going to smack his face. She came up short just inside his bedroom.

Talon stood there, a towel wrapped around his waist and another towel over his head as he dried it. Water droplets ran down his chest and were absorbed by the towel. She felt her thoughts fly away and her mouth run dry.

“You bellowed my dear?” Talon commented as he removed the towel from his head as his hair fell loose around his shoulders. She had not seen it loose since that first morning, not even when he was sleeping. It softened his features and showed them in the best possible way.

Shoot, what had she come in here for? She rubbed her hand over her eyes, suddenly tired and cranky, what was it? She knew it had been important. She felt the cool metal on the side of her temple and remembered.

Talon was smiling benignly at her as he watched her search for why she had come. It was a good thing she had hollered when she had entered otherwise she would have seen every part of him and he was not sure she would have been able to take that right now. As it was she looked like she would pounce on him with just a little prodding, oh the possibilities.

“It looks even better now then it did in the shop.” Talon nodded towards the ring.

“That is right.” Karen gave him a sweet smile and started stalking towards him. Talon knew the smile for the fake it was but allowed her to approach, steadying himself for whatever was to come. Karen stopped just short of him and looked up in his eyes.

“You are not going to run?” she asked sweetly.

“Nope. I figure I deserve whatever you decide to throw at me.”

“You are right.” Karen agreed. He was close and he smelled good and an itch to press herself against him was so strong she felt her body starting to sway. What was it she was going to do to him?

Oh yeah, that was right... SMACK! She felt the contact as her palm hit his right cheek. It stung, but it was nothing near what he had endured before.

“Feel better.” He asked.

Karen stepped back and crossed her arms around her waist and turned away. “No.” and headed for the door.