Creatures

“Stay.”

Karen stopped without turning around. “Good night.”

“Karen.” Talon stopped. He did not know what to do now. “I promise. I would never do anything to hurt you.”

“I know, but you have gone too far with this joke.”

“I told you... This is not a joke.” Talon moved quietly, not wanting Karen to bolt. “I promise I will not do anything, just... let me help you, let me hold you in my arms for the night.”

Karen did not move, every fiber of her being was screaming at her to stay with him. She looked at the door that headed towards her room. Would she be able to sleep tonight without him? It seemed that he was becoming a permanent fixture in her life and in her bed. Who was she trying to kid, lately, she had only slept well when he was beside her, but.. she had not consciously, or at least, in her right mind, crawled into bed with him and now he was asking her to.

“Karen.” He had come up behind her. “Let me help you sleep. I promise that is all I am asking of you. I know that you have been having trouble sleeping. Stay with me if for no other reason then that.” Talon gently placed his arms around her waist and drew her back against his hard chest, placing his chin gently on her head. “and... at least leave the ring on for a few days as you take some time to think over what I am asking of you. I only ask that you give it serious consideration and if you still feel this way afterward, then you can take it off, but I will not ask you twice. If you decide that you do not want to marry me that is fine, it will end there and it will stay there. I could not live with any hope that you might one day change your mind, so think it through very carefully. Could you do that for me?”

Karen looked down at the strong, warm arms that were wrapped around her waist. Unlike before, she was not uneasy when he pulled her into his embrace, but she was not ready for any kind of physical relationship, let alone, lifetime commitment.

“I do not like my emotions being played with.”

“I am not playing with your emotions. I thought you knew me well enough now to know that I would not do something if I had any doubts about it.”

Karen, tentatively, gently, placed her arms over his and relaxed a bit in his arms, too tired to argue anymore.

“We can try this arrangement for tonight only... and we will discuss everything else tomorrow. I am too tired right now to do more than crawl into bed and sleep.” she whispered. She felt his arms tighten around her for an instant before relaxing.

“Thank you.”

Karen sighed. “Do not thank you me. I can still walk away from all of this.”

“No.” Talon breathed in her scent. “You will not. You love me too much to refuse.”

Karen blushed, how the hell did he know that?

“Right?” Talon pushed. If he could not have her physically yet, he at least wanted an emotional connection between them. “Otherwise you would have taken the ring of immediately.”

Karen listened to his words, for the first time hearing a thread of uncertainty in them. He was only guessing at her feelings.

“Karen?”

Karen sighed. She was not sure she knew what she wanted or how she felt right now. “Can we let it go for the night? I am not ready to handle that conversation yet.” She asked.

Talon nodded. “I am going to go grab some pajamas, you can go ahead and get in bed. I will be there in a minute.” Talon knew when to leave well enough alone and he had overloaded her tonight.

Karen nodded numbly. He released her and she heard him walking away, waiting until he closed the bathroom door before moving. She turned and walked up to the bed, looking at it for a moment. Was she really going to do this? Would he really keep his word?

Of course, he would keep his word. He was like that, but what about her? What if she lost control? She let out an unladylike snort at that thought. She was terrified of physical contact, there was no way she would do anything, even if her body was betraying her mind right now.

Talon leaned against the door, trying to get his body under control, after all, he had promised her and he would have to keep that promise even if his body ached for her warmth and heat and his fingers itched to run across her body. He let out a groan. What had he done? Especially with that last comment.

He knew that she loved him, but if she did, why was she holding back? Was it because of her past or was he just chasing a dream?

He slowly dressed, giving her and his body time.

He knew she was uncomfortable. Last night she had been scared and half asleep, but this time she was fully awake. He could not afford to scare her or she would bolt from him. So that meant, no half awake assaults on her body in the morning either he scolded his hand.

He quietly opened the door and peered at the bed. She had shut off the lights, except for a small one on the nightstand, and he could just make out her body in the middle of the bed. He moved forward as silently as he could and gently pulled back the covers, noting that she had removed her robe and was wearing a silk dark nighty underneath. His body tightened painfully and he pushed all thoughts away as he gently climbed in beside her. He felt her body stiffen and he knew she was still awake.

“Could you move just a bit?” He asked. She scooted away from him a bit and he slid all the way in, laying on his back next to her, not touching her, but still feeling the heat from her body. He forced his body to relax and took deep breaths. He was tired, but it was still awhile before he could fall asleep.

Once she realized that he was not going to touch her at all, she started to relax. She would not be held accountable if he touched her right now. She was so tired though, that even the fear of what he could do to her, was not enough to keep her awake for long.

Karen shut off the alarm and sat up. After almost two weeks of rough sleep, it felt like heaven to wake up to the alarm after a full night’s sleep.

“Good morning,” Talon spoke to her and she turned to see him looking up at her.

“Uh, good morning. Did you set the alarm?”

Talon sat up, revealing his smooth chest causing Karen’s mouth to immediately start drooling.

“I usually get up at this time on the weekends, so feel free to go back to sleep for awhile. We will head back to the house when you are ready.”

“No worry. I am awake and need to get up too.” Karen pushed back the covers and started to rise out of bed.

“Feel free to use the shower first.”

“Uh, I figured I would just head back to my room.” She did not look his way as she spoke.

“Why? Mine is closer.”

“Because my clothes are there.”

“K.”

Karen headed out the door towards her room. After she had showered they spent some time with the children and Karen got to see a more gentle side of Talon and Talon got to see just how great Karen was with little kids.

She would make a great mom someday, he thought, as she crawled around on the floor with the little ones. All too soon they needed to leave, Emerald was holding a late breakfast for them and she would not be happy if they did not show up on time.

Karen said goodbye to the children and they were off, heading back to the compound, neither speaking anything that was on their mind. It seemed that throughout the night, the walls had been rebuilt.

“Good morning.” Karen stopped as Emerald called out to her as she headed to her room to change clothes, she had put back on the outfit from yesterday since there was nothing else to wear and she wanted to get it off.

“Have a fun evening?” She asked with a knowing grin.

“Yes.” Karen ducked her head and hurried to her room. Fifteen minutes later, she was in the combat room, working off her frustration. Talon had not touched her once last night and for some reason that made her angry. She did not want a physical relationship with that man, right? WRONG! her mind told her. She was craving a physical relationship with that man.

That was just the bonding, she reasoned. WRONG AGAIN! her mind screamed and she let out a sigh as she took down another creature. She had to face the truth, she was hopelessly in love with Talon and it had nothing to do with the stupid bond, but was it really the same for him as well, or was it just the bonding process for him?

She did not know, but she did know that she was not sure if she could do this again. Could she put her trust and love into another person and watch it crumble around her. Would it crumple with him the voice in her head asked and she stopped, looking down at the ring that was still on her hand?

“Look out!” Shorty hollered over the system and Karen looked up to see the sword of the creature coming right at her face. She would not be able to block it in time and braced herself for the pain to come. When it did not, she peeked up to see Talon quickly dispatch the creature and then turn towards her.

“Shut off the program Shorty.” He called and pulled Karen into his arms. “I think we are done for the day. You are too distracted.” Karen nodded into his chest.

“Thank you.”

“No worries. I could tell you were distracted this morning when you headed to your room and I was not going to let you practice alone in that condition.”

Karen could only nod.

“Now.” He lifted her face to look at him. “Go practice piano or lounge around and read a book. I think we are done here for the day.” He placed a quick kiss on her lips and ushered her out the door, watching her go with relief. She needed time away from this right now.

“Is she going to be all right?” Shorty asked over the system. Talon nodded. “She just has a lot on her mind right now.”

Karen placed the last of supper on the table without a word and sat down. Everyone was quiet as they ate but Karen did not notice. Her thoughts were so jumbled and she was oblivious to her surroundings at the moment. Talon had turned her world on its axis and she did not know if it would ever be rightened. She had no idea what she was going to do and that worried her.

Talon eyed her as she sat there, barely touching her food. She would be fine, she just needed time. He kept telling himself that over and over, trying to believe what he was saying. Emerald and Karen started to clean up when suddenly Emerald grabbed Karen’s hand and pulled it close.

“Oh my God!” she exclaimed.

“Watch your language,” Talon commented dryly, quite aware of what was coming next.

“Is this what I think it is?” She looked up at Karen’s flushed face.

“It is.” She turned to Talon. “You’re getting married? Really?”

Evan looked up in surprise. “What? You actually asked her?”

Talon picked up his plate and walked over to the sink to rinse it off.

“And if I did, so what? Is that not what everyone wants?” Talon spoke gruffly to mask his happiness, immediately realizing his mistake when he saw Karen’s face.

Karen heard the words and wanted to cry. Of course, that was how it was. She pulled her hand from Emerald as Emerald and Evan pounced on Talon and slipped from the room.

Talon watched her go with sadness. He realized that she would think that he had done it for the wrong reason now. He could kick himself for slipping up there by trying to shrug it off in front of the others. He should have shown his happiness, not hide it, but years of conditioning could not be broken that easily it seemed. He needed to go explain it to her.

“What happened to Karen?” Evan asked, finally noticing her absence.

“Let her go,” Talon commented, also heading for the door. “Just because there is a ring there, does not mean that it is a done deal yet.” and disappeared, leaving the other two in confusion behind him.

Karen looked out the window of her bedroom and then down at the ring. She did not want obligation, she wanted love. She reached to pull it off but stopped when Talon spoke behind her.

“I would ask that you not do that until I have a chance to explain my actions.”

She turned to look at him.

Talon continued. “What I said downstairs was said in a reflex of how I handle things in my life, not how I feel about this. I did not ask out of obligation or because of the bonding.”

Karen’s eyes widened at his words, how had he known what she had been thinking?

Talon stepped forward. “That is what had been bothering you, right? You think that I would ask someone to marry me, bind themselves to me for life, just because of obligation or some stupid bond?”

“Uh, you already have,” Karen commented dryly.

Talon pulled her close. How could he explain this to her? “I could not do that to someone else’s feelings. No matter what anyone thinks of me. I do not know what I can do to gain your trust, except to tell you that I love you and want to marry you, not out of obligation, but because of you and my own feelings.”

He stopped the words that Karen was about to speak with a finger.

“...And... I will wait patiently until you are ready to trust me with your own feelings. Do not worry. I will not push you.” He turned and left the room, calling over his shoulder, “Whenever you are ready to sleep, my room will be open, go on in.”

Karen stood there staring out of the window long after he had left, pondering his words.

The following morning she woke again to Talon beside her, not touching her. He had not been there when she had crept in last night.

“Good morning.”

“Good morning.” She started to rise out of bed when Talon grabbed her wrist.

“Why not move in with me?” He had thought about it for a long time last night as he watched her sleeping in his bed. It felt like the next step for them.

“What?” she sat back down on the bed and turned towards him.

“Move in here with me.”

“No.”

“Why?”

“Because...”

“Exactly. If you are sleeping here, it just makes more sense for you to move in here... or would you rather I moved in with you?”

“What?”

Talon sighed and sat up. “You are not very sharp first thing in the morning are you?”

“Shut up,” Karen grumbled.

Talon laughed. “Come on, move in and be done with it.”

“If it does not work out?”

“You move back. No big, But I do not think that is what you are really worried about.”

Karen stood and pulled on her robe. “And what would it be that I am worried about then?”

“That you might like it too much.”

Talon stood and came around the bed, stopping before her. She could only stare at his bare chest. Damn, he looked good first thing in the morning and she had to ball up her hands to keep from touching him. She could not stop herself from looking though and she realized that he was hard other places as well and she quickly looked away, embarrassed at her action.

Talon laughed.

“Sorry. I told you he had a mind of his own and he is very fond of you.” He headed for his bathroom. “Think about it. We can take the day and move you in and get you settled before we start work tomorrow,” he called as he went.

Karen headed back to her room in a bit of a daze.

Move in with Talon? Sounded like heaven and hell all combined into one, but he was right. If she was sleeping there, the next step would be for her to live there, right? Or was that just her secret desire coming out. The thought of living was Talon was scary and exciting all at once.

“Fine.”

Talon looked up from where he was buttoning up his shirt to see Karen leaning against the doorframe.

“Really?” He knew what she was talking about instantly.

“Sure, whatever, but if I leave, there is to be no arguing about it.”

Talon grinned. “Fair enough. Shall we get started?”

“Can we at least wait until I eat something?” Karen asked with a sigh. There would be no living with him now. Damn, she could not say that anymore, she was living with him.

“Of course.”

After breakfast, they spent the morning moving all of Karen’s belongings into Talon’s room and making space for everything. Karen did not have much and Talon had plenty of room, so it was fairly easy to combine wardrobes. Karen looked down at the top dresser drawer to see her lacy underthings sitting next to his boxers and she shook her head. Why was something like that so erotic to her right now? She needed some physical release.

“Thinking about a roll in the hay?” Talon spoke just behind her, letting out a laugh as she jumped.

“What?”

“What? Do you not think about those things?” He asked, placing his hands on either side of her on the dresser, not quite touching her.

“No. I do, It’s just...”

Talon leaned in and whispered in her ear. “I think about it every night, especially when you are laying right beside me, moaning in your sleep. Do you know how hard it is for me to refrain from touching you when you do that?”

He watched as Karen colored.

“I...”

Talon gave up and covered her mouth with his own, slipping his tongue inside before she could close her mouth. She was sweet and hot and he could still taste the tea she had drunk earlier on her tongue.

He went deeper, exploring her mouth leisurely and coaxing her into a timid response. She was unsure right now, but with the right tutoring, she would be able to inflame any man she wanted. Though, she better only be inflaming him.

He felt her sigh against his mouth and pressed against her more fully, pushing her up and closer to his hard-on. He bit back a groan and came up for air.

“Honey, you are slowly torturing me to death here. Please...”

Karen wrapped her arms around him and pulled his head down for another drugging kiss, this time being the aggressor, turning the tables on Talon. Gone was the timid response, hello to the seductress, darnation, the woman could kiss.

Karen pressed herself against his body, feeling a shudder go through him as she did that and stroke his tongue at the same time. He was hot and hard and made her body burn where he touched her. She felt her training kick in and her mind go blank from all emotion. She knew the drill. It was long moments before they pulled apart and he buried his head in her neck, taking in deep breaths of her scent, trying to take his mind from the gutter and his body from hers.

Karen’s mind finally comprehended what her body was doing and she pushed against his chest, watching as he easily fell back. He had felt her tense and knew that she would withdrawal from him.

“I, I am sorry.” Karen mumbled and headed back to her room to see if there was anything else to carry. Talon smiled and slowly followed her.

“The only thing left is the piano. I will let The President know that we need it to be moved.”

“No. Leave it.”

“Uh, but how will you practice.”

“I will come in here. This way is fine, I will not disturb you when I practice.”

“No, we can move it...”

“Leave it. I do not want it moved.” Karen looked away from him.

“You are afraid.”

“Yes, I am.” Karen acknowledged.

“Fine. We will leave it for now.”

“Thank you.”

Talon shrugged his shoulders. He needed to remember patience. She was still struggling with her emotions right now and he knew that she had to be the one to come to him.

“I have no say in it, it is your property. You can do with it as you please.”

He knew he should not be angry at her, but by not moving the piano she was blatantly telling him that she planned on their separating at some point and was not going to give them her all. She was already sabatoging them.