Creatures
Chapter 22

“Are you finished moving her in?” Evan asked quietly when Talon collapsed on a couch in the sitting room.

“Yeah.”

“Is the piano to be moved?”

“No.”

“I see.”

“You see what?”

“She does not trust you not to leave her,” Evan commented as he continued to read his book.

“You mean that she does not want to give this relationship a chance.” Talon retorted, letting his emotions out for a moment.

“No.” Evan replied calmly, “I mean what I said, she does not trust you not to leave her. It does not mean that she is not going to try, it means that she has been left before and does not have the confidence in herself to allow the possibility that you might not be like them.”

Talon soaked in Evan’s words. How the hell did he know that? He could not see it. She should trust him, after all, she spent most of her time with him and he had told her his feelings. What more did she want?

‘I thought that he loved me.’ her words came back to him and he let out a groan. Of course, she would not believe him. Damn it, he hated it when they were right. It just made him feel even more idiotic.

“I knew you would get it eventually, I am impressed that you figured it out so soon. Enjoy yourself. Supper will be ready soon. ” Evan left the room with a smile. They had heard most of the conversation between Karen and Talon earlier and knew what was coming so this was the least Emerald and he could do for them.

After supper, Karen headed to the other building to practice. She kept telling herself it was not because she was avoiding Talon, but she knew it was. She climbed into bed well after midnight and knew that she would regret that tomorrow. She curled up away from Talon and slowly relaxed to his steady breathing, eventually falling asleep.

“You were out late last night,” Talon commented as Karen groaned and sat up.

“Sorry, I was engrossed in my practicing.”

“You do not need to apologize to me. I am the one that owes you an apology.”

“Huh?” Karen headed to the bathroom and started the shower, Talon following close behind.

“I was out of line yesterday. I am sorry.”

“Out of line?” Karen was confused. Did he regret having her move in with him already?

“About the piano. I should not have tried to push you to move it.” Talon explained.

“Oh, that, no big. I should not have made such a big deal about it either.”

Talon leaned against the door of the bathroom watching as Karen started to fidget and then he realized he was staring at her.

“Oh, Sorry. Take your shower, I will get dressed.”

Karen kept her eyes averted from his bare chest. The man was too happy and good looking first thing in the morning. She had never woken before him and she wondered what he was really like when he first got up.

He had obviously just climbed out of the shower himself and the bathroom smelled of him and his soap. As soon as the door closed behind her, she jumped in, hoping he would not walk in. It was not until she climbed out that she realized she had left her clothes in the bedroom. Ouch.

She had just wrapped the towel around her when there came a knock and Talon opened the door.

“Excuse me, I need to finish getting ready.” He stepped into the bathroom and Karen quickly stepped around him and headed to find some clothing. Talon smiled to himself. She was overly aware of his and her bodies right now, that was good.

Karen took her time getting dressed, but finally, she admitted defeat to herself. She needed the bathroom or she would not be on time for work. She hesitantly knocked on the door.

“Come on in.”

She peered around to see Talon finishing his shave.

“It is all right you know. I will not attack you or anything. There is plenty of room for two.” He grinned at her in the mirror.

“Shut up,” Karen mumbled.

She got ready as he watched. “Do you not have anything better to do?”

“Nope.” Talon grinned and Karen sighed. This was going to take a bit of time to get used to.

Talon once again escorted her to her classroom door and placing a kiss on her cheek headed to his own room with a smile.

Talon decided that it was going to be a good day, even though he had barely slept last night with her body so close to his. He had woken sometime in the morning hours to his arms wrapped around her and her snuggled up against him, spoon style. He had had to use every trick in his arsenal not to take her right then and there.

He had then tortured himself further by continuing to hold her close until she started to stir. He let out a sigh. It was going to be difficult to continue this for long.

That night Karen crawled into bed late again. She just did not know how to handle this arrangement with Talon. She let out a sigh as her head hit the pillow.

“You can come to bed earlier you know. I know that you do not usually stay up this late.”

Karen started as Talon’s arm snaked around her waist and pulled her up against his warmth. He let out a sigh and snuggled down, getting comfortable.

Karen struggled against his arms, fear overtaking her. What was he doing?

“I do not know why you are avoiding me, but I promised I would do nothing to you and I keep my promises.”

“What do you call this?” Karen stilled at his words, her body tense, but Talon did no more than hold her close.

“I did not say that I would not hold you. At least give me this much.” He fell silent and Karen waited, for what she did not know. She laid there listening to his breathing deepen and his body relax.

She shook her head. How had he been able to fall asleep like that? She did not think that she could do it that easily, yet his warmth and the comforting weight of his arm over her waist made her feel emotions she did not want to analyze, so instead, she closed her eyes and soon she too was sound asleep.

Talon woke to his hand curled around a warm mound of flesh and it took him several seconds to realize that he had, at some point in the night, slipped his hand under her nightie and cupped her breast. It spilled over his fingers and as he pulled them back, he felt her nipple pucker under his touch and a sigh escaped her lips.

He froze, afraid that she had woken as he felt her nipple harden even more and she arched her back, pressing her body against his hard member. He bit back a groan, trying not to wake her up.

Damn, she was hot and he was having serious withdrawal symptoms. He watched as she snuggled her head against his arm and let out a contented sigh. He slowly lowered his head and buried his nose in her neck, breathing in her scent deeply, placing a gentle kiss on her exposed flesh and slowly pulled away, feeling her body responding to his caresses as his fingers lingered over her breast, giving her nipple a quick flick before completely leaving it.

He sat up and looked away from her, realizing that he had just violated her trust in him. He looked down at the hand that had not only just caressed her breast but had at one time, entered her most secret of places in disgust as he headed for the bathroom to relieve this ache.

For the next week that was their routine. Most nights Karen would stay out late, Talon quietly waiting for her return. He would pull her into his arms and within moments they would both be asleep, neither one speaking.

Eventually Karen became too tired to stay out late to avoid him. One night she entered the room just after their evening training and head for the bath. She wanted to soak in a hot tub and then crawl into bed and sleep. Tomorrow was Friday and she was ready for the weekend. The stress was wearing on her emotionally and physically. She was still lacking in sleep so what was the point of all this again?

She entered the bathroom with a sigh. Even with everything, she still found herself waking up in the middle of the night in the most... erotic positions with Talon. Thank God the man had slept through them.

She ran the bath water and slipped in, looking at the hand that she had woken up to the night before wrapped around his member through his pajama bottoms. He had been hard and hot and large, making her have the oddest fantasy of sucking on him like you would a lollipop.

She had turned bright red when she had realized her thoughts and pulled her hand away, but not before Talon had let out a groan and buried his head deep into her neck, sighing her name. She had blushed even more but had been unable to move for a while, afraid that she would wake him. If they did not do something soon, she was likely to jump him one night out of sheer lust.

She was so confused right now. She hated physical contact so why did she want it with Talon so much? She was beginning to think that there was more to her emotions than just the bonding process, but she was scared of what that meant for her.

“Karen? Are you...” Talon had opened the door and stepped in. It seemed that she had forgotten to lock the door after her. She ducked down in the water, glad that there were still some bubbles to help hide her body from him.

“Uh... Sorry.” Talon turned red and immediately turned around, but not before he had gotten a glimpse of her body through the water and suds, his body reacting instantly.

“What do you need?” Karen asked softly.

“I was just... I... I do not remember. Sorry for disturbing you.” Talon walked out and closed the door after him, sitting down on his, no their bed, and let out a sigh, putting his head in his hands.

He did not know how much longer his control would last with all the assaults on his senses lately. It was even worse when he climbed into bed a few hours later. Tonight he had been the one to stay up later than usual.

He had stayed up later then usual because he was not sure if he trusted his body not to ravage her if she gave even the smallest hint that she was at all interested in him. Damn, this was not good, not good at all. Whose Idea was it to do this anyway?

He slowly climbed into bed and tried to stay away from her, but she immediately rolled over and curled into his side, mumbling something as she did. He tried to steady his breathing and ignore her leg wrapped around his waist.

Finally, she turned away from him, pushing at the covers, exposing most of her leg and revealing a very quick glimpse of her thong as she tossed around, muttering the whole time. Her arm flung around next and almost hit him head-on.

“No... I...Stop.” She mumbled and kicked out with her leg, taking the covers completely off and revealing the scrap of material that was the only thing covering her. Talon swallowed hard. Damn it what was he supposed to do? He gently reached out and put a hand on her hip and shook her gently.

“Karen.” he spoke softly. “Karen, wake up honey. Please.”

Karen opened her eyes, not really seeing him.

“Please don’t, don’t do this. You do not have to do this.” She pleaded, not seeing him.

“Karen, honey, wake up. I am not going to hurt you. Karen...”

He placed his hand on her cheek, trying to figure out how to snap her out of it. He watched her lick her lips and then bite the bottom one, causing his own member to tighten painfully. He let out a sigh and leaned down.

“I am sorry honey, I cannot control it anymore.” He gently took her lips with his own, applying the softest of pressure, tense and ready to jump back if she woke up and tried to strike him. Instead, she let out a sigh and relaxed in his arms.

“Talon, please...”

At her words, Talon’s heart rate picked up.

“...no more.”

Talon jerked back, what the...? Was she dreaming about him? Was he the one that had been causing her nightmares? He pulled away from her, not sure what to do. He laid back down, careful not to touch her and tried to sleep as she continued to toss and turn.

“No more... no more... no... I...no more... no fight... Please...” She pleaded, reaching out with her arms, still lost in her dream. “No. I don’t... no.”

As the minutes went by, Talon struggled to sleep as she continued her movements. He did not know what to do as she would not wake up.

“No... please...” Karen started to whimper and Talon gave up on sleep, pulling her into his embrace. “Relax honey, I am right here. I will not hurt you, I promise. Wake up now okay. Please.” He knew that he was being selfish as he bent and kissed her again, putting more pressure on her lips until she opened her mouth, inviting him in and pressing her body up against his, letting out a sigh of satisfaction.

“More.” She mumbled when their lips parted for air.

“No honey,” Talon used the last of his strength to pull back. “Not until you wake up.”

Karen came to slowly. What was going on? Why were the covers at her feet and Talon holding her in his arms, her body flush against his and his very large, very hard member pressing on her sensitive spot through her nightie and... her thong! Her nightie was up to her waist and one of his hands was on her bare back and the other was in her hair with her own arms wrapped around his neck. What had she been doing in her sleep this time?

The biggest problem at moment, though, was that Talon was nibbling on her neck and a shiver went through her body as his mouth played with the sensitive flesh. She opened her neck to him and he ran his tongue up her neck and started to play with the spot just behind her earlobe. She heard herself moan in response to his touch.

“Karen... Karen, please.” Talon whispered in her ear. “Wake up hon, I will not have any control soon... please.” He begged, unable to pull away from her. He needed her to wake up and stop him.

“Talon?” He pulled back and looked, realizing that she really was awake.

He sat up and let out a long breath, trying to get his body back under control.

“Thank goodness... you are awake.”

“What happened?” Karen pulled the covers over her body and scooted away from him.

“I do not know.” He answered honestly, his lower body was starting to hurt and his mind was not fully able to function at the moment.

“You were tossing and turning and calling out to me and the next thing I know... I am sorry, I did not have enough self-control.” He ran a hand through his hair. “I will sleep on the couch tonight.”

“No.” Karen put her hand out and grabbed his arm. “Stay. It is all right.” She flushed and looked away.

“I trust you.” She whispered. “Please come to bed.”

She could not sleep without him any longer and she did not want to lose sleep over their frustrations. She could think of better things to lose sleep over. If she felt safe enough to want him near her when she slept, then she was going to trust her body, no matter what kind of pain came later.

Talon froze. No one had ever said that out loud to him and to hear it from her, he realized he did not want to refuse. He slipped back into bed and gently reached out to pull her into his embrace.

“Uh, Talon, what are you doing?”

“Just shut up and let me hold you.” He responded gruffly. “I need to hold you tonight. I promise, nothing will happen.”

“All right.” Karen smiled against his chest, happy to be in the circle of his arms.

“Are you all right?” He asked a few minutes later. “You were having some sort of dream earlier...”

“I am fine now. Do not worry. It will not bother me again.”

Talon was not sure he believed her, but he was too tired to worry about it at the moment. Tomorrow was soon enough to worry about this new development.

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