Deepening Relationship

Wren rolled over and stretched, opening her eyes to see Talon sitting on the bed, dressed and putting on his socks. She rolled onto her side, facing him.

What was he doing in her room, and why did she seem to be constantly waking up to him? She stiffened as the realization that she was not in her room seeped into her sleep-addled brain.

The events from the night came flooding back, and she found herself blushing fiercely.

“I am sorry. I did not…” she began.

Talon stopped her.

“It is fine. You were scared, and when you are scared, you should come to me. It shows trust,” he said, standing up and heading toward his bathroom.

“Go get ready for school. You will be late if you do not.”

He was right.

Wren scurried to her room and took a quick shower, dressed, and was down in the kitchen within fifteen minutes. This was becoming a nasty habit she needed to break immediately.

“You are running late again,” Emerald scolded as she entered.

“Sorry. Rough night.”

“Whatever. Eat.”

“Thank you for making breakfast lately. I have been slacking in my duties.”

“Nonsense. I really do like cooking, and you have a lot on your plate right now. You can make supper,” she added.

“Thank you.”

Wren ate quickly and headed for the door.

Talon was leaning against the front door, much as he had the first day she had met him. “Are you ready?” he asked.

“What?” She had thought he would have already left.

“Are you ready to go?”

Wren nodded, not sure what he wanted.

“Good. Come on.”

Talon put his arm around her and ushered her into his car.

“What is going on?” Wren asked. If someone saw them, Talon would be unbearable to live with.

Talon ignored her question.

Emerald had let him have it this morning, and he hated to admit it, but she was right. He thought back to that uncomfortable conversation as he drove along.

***

“If you really care for Wren, then you need to stop going Dr. Jekyll/Mr. Hyde on her.”

“What are you talking about?” Talon asked.

He had gotten up that morning and reluctantly left Wren sleeping in his bed, looking warm and soft and completely edible, for his morning workout. If he had stayed, he would have done even more damage, like take her right then and there and damn the consequences of his actions.

He had not had blue balls this bad since his first crush.

“You.” Emerald had jumped on him the moment he had walked into the kitchen. “You chase her and practically jump her at home, but the second you step off the grounds, you act like she does not exist. No wonder she hates you.” Emerald flung her hands up in surrender.

“I swear all you boys are the same.”

“When did you become old enough to tell me about relationships?” Talon had shot back. Big mistake.

“Really? This coming from you. You have to be kidding me.”

Emerald had stomped up to him and poked him in the chest as she spoke.

“If you want her to fall in love with you, you need to stop thinking with your ego and start thinking with your brain. How is she to believe someone who tells her they love her and then acts that way? Duh!”

Emerald had then turned around and blatantly ignored him for the rest of the morning.

Wren had said something to the same effect as well. Something about him being hot and cold toward her.

He figured they must be right, so this morning he had made the decision to make a change.

He stepped around the car and helped her out of it, continuing to walk with her toward her class.

“What are you doing? Someone will see,” Wren hissed, keeping her head down.

“So.”

“So? You are the one who did not want anyone to know. What gives now?” They had reached her room, and he opened the door, then stopped her from entering.

“I was wrong, so I am fixing it. Now.” He placed a quick kiss on her lips before letting her go.

They were slightly opened and too tempting for him not to taste them.

“I will see you at the meeting this afternoon. Later, honey,” he said, waving over his shoulder as he left.

He chose not to look behind him, certain of what he would see.

~God, please do not let her strike me down yet.~

Wren stared after him and then turned to see that she already had students in her room. She colored, but lifted her head and entered, ignoring the onslaught of questions aimed at her.

***

“Mr. Fielding?” One of Talon’s students raised their hand. They were in a study hall just before lunch.

Talon had been wondering if he could sneak over and see Wren for lunch when the student called out.

“Yes?”

“Did you kiss Ms. Hintz today?” It took a moment for Talon to register what the student had asked him.

Then he grinned. “Yup.”

***

“Why that egotistical, pig-headed, psychotic, good-for-nothing asshole. I shall cut his balls off… No, I will kill him off with a slow-acting poison. He is so going to pay for this.” Wren could not think of enough adjectives to describe what she wanted to do to that man right now.

***

“Are you two dating?” another asked him.

Talon stopped to think. Were they dating? He thought about the bonding process.

Could he say they were dating? Probably not.

“Not sure,” he answered truthfully.

***

“Ms. Hintz, are you dating Mr. Fielding?” one student asked at the end of class.

“No!” Wren replied. “Now, we are going to start at measure…”

“Are you really going to cut off his balls?” another asked her.

“I refuse to answer that question. Now, if you would please put a crescendo in measure…”

“Do you like Mr. Fielding?”

“I plead the fifth,” Wren replied. “Instruments up, please.”

“Do you want to date Mr. Fielding?”

“No comment. I shall give you a four count before you come in.”

“Oh come on… Give us something.”

Wren lowered her baton. This rehearsal was going nowhere.

“It is none of your business,” she replied.

“But how did you get together?” another student asked.

“Yeah,” another interrupted. They were on a mission for answers now. “We have never seen you together, and you work in completely different buildings.”

Wren gave up and ignored the comment completely this time, hoping that would work. Well aware it was not going to.

Teenagers were more tenacious than any Being could possibly be. In fact, she would rather face a dozen Level IVs than continue this conversation at the moment.

“We are starting at measure fifteen, now please put your horns up.”

“Not until you give us something.”

The students looked at her without moving their instruments. “Come on. At least tell us how you met.”

Wren sighed. They were not going to get anything done unless she gave them something.

This was all Talon’s fault.

***

“I heard that you two live together.”

Talon looked at the kid who had spoken. “Where did you hear that from?”

“One of the music kids. They asked Ms. Hintz how you met, and she said you both live in the same house.”

Talon grinned. She had spoken about him. “I live across the hall from her.”

“You had better be careful then.”

“Why?” he asked, curious about what she had said about him.

“They also said she was planning to hire an assassin and have you killed. You must have upset her.”

Talon shook his head in amusement. That sounded like something she would think of doing.

***

Wren entered the teacher’s lounge for the meeting, running headlong into Talon.

She gasped and stepped back. “Sorry.”

“It is all right. Did you have a good day?” he asked, watching her face turn red and her eyes look away from him.

“Yes, thank you. Is there any special seating?” she asked.

This was the first meeting she was attending. She had no idea what to expect.

“Nope.”

She walked away from him, and he let her.

He leaned against the filing cabinet, wondering if he should go sit next to her. He knew she was upset over this morning, but still…

He watched as a couple of female teachers sat down next to her, and he stayed put. He should not push too hard just yet; it was obvious she needed more time.

The physical education teacher came and stood next to him. “Good-looking woman there.” He nodded toward Wren.

Talon did not care for his attitude toward women, never had.

“I would have liked to get a chance to know her better, but it seems you have already claimed her.” He grinned. “Not that I blame you. However, if you change your mind and decide you are not interested, let the rest of us know. We would like a crack.”

Talon nodded. “She is off the market.”

The physical education teacher nodded. “We figured as much. The ladies will be sad to see you go as well, but it can’t be helped.”

“Huh?” Talon looked at him.

“You do not know?”

“Know what?” he asked. What was the man talking about now?

“That all the single ladies have been pining after you since you came here?”

“Nope. I had no clue.” He laughed.

“Go figure. A couple of the guys thought you might swing the other way, but there was no indication either way, so we figured you already had someone in the shadows. Oh well.” The teacher shrugged his shoulders and walked away.

Talon thought about what he had said during the meeting.

~They thought I swung the other way? What in the hell gave them an idea I was interested in guys?~

After the meeting, he headed toward Wren’s room to wait for her. She had been talking to a few of the other teachers, and he had not wanted to intrude.

He was ready to take her home, where he had plans to assault her defenses against him until she understood he was serious about them.

***

Wren stepped into her room to find Talon waiting for her. “What are you doing?”

She had been looking for him after the meeting, trying to figure out when he was leaving to go home.

“Waiting for you,” he said.

“Why?”

“So we can go home together.”