The Date

“What!?”

Talon grinned. “Just to sleep. I will not do anything that will make you uneasy. I figure it would be easier if we just started the night in bed together, rather than getting our sleep interrupted.”

He stepped out of the car in front of a large mansion and helped Wren out once again.

He led her up the stairs, going right in. “Even though tomorrow is the weekend, you still need to sleep. I can see how tired you are.”

“Welcome back, Master Talon. Everything is ready for you upstairs.”

“Thank you,” he replied.

“Wait, you own this?”

“Yes, I own this,” Talon said, giving her a smile, pride seeping out from him.

“I realized, when I first arrived at the compound, I had more money than I knew what to do with, so I purchased this place and set it up as an orphanage for kids who had no place else to go. I do, however, keep rooms here for when I need to get away.”

“I see.”

“Everything you need is upstairs,” Talon told her. “Take a shower and change. The sisters will see to your hair and makeup.”

He glanced at his watch. “You have about an hour. Our reservations are at seven, and it is a bit of a drive in evening traffic.”

Wren nodded, giving up on trying to figure out what he was up to and deciding to just enjoy herself.

She had not been on a date in years, and she could not wait to see what was in store for her.

Two sisters came down the stairs and led her to a room.

She passed various rooms, each containing kids of all ages.

She peeked into one room and saw a group of boys about seven or eight years old playing in a room that had every Tonka truck you could imagine in it.

“Hello.” One of the boys stopped playing when he noticed her.

“Are you here to play with us?” another asked.

“No. The miss is here with Master Talon,” one of the sisters said.

“Talon is here? Yeah! Let’s go see him.”

A dozen little bodies ran past Wren and shot down the stairs.

Wren could hear the squeals of delight and Talon’s low rumble coming from below.

She peered over the banister to see him covered with little bodies, all of them clamoring for his attention, and he with a huge grin on his face.

She had never seen him so relaxed and downright ~happy~.

He glanced up and caught her eye, giving her a wink and blowing her a kiss before turning back to the group before him.

Wren blushed and headed for the room.

***

“Who is the lady?” one of the boys asked after Wren disappeared.

“The woman I am going to marry,” Talon replied.

“Does she like kids?” one asked.

“Will she be our mother now?” another asked, and Talon laughed, ruffling his hair.

“I hope so,” Talon said.

“Will she have a baby with you?” a small boy around the age of six asked.

“I do not know.” Talon knelt down and looked the boy in the eyes.

“If she does, it means you get to be a big brother.”

He looked at all the eager faces around him.

The unseen and forgotten children who just wanted a place and a family of their own.

“You all will be big brothers. I am counting on you when that day comes.”

***

Just over an hour later, Wren was back downstairs and waiting for Talon.

It had taken the sisters a while to get her “just right.”

“Sorry. I am a bit behind on paperwork, and time got away from me. Shall we go?” Talon said as he walked down the steps in a tux.

Wren turned to see him. 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.

Wren nodded.

“This is the dress 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 as he wrangled with the clasp.

Instead of repulsion, shivers ran down her spine this time.

“I could not pass it up, so I had them send it here to wait until it could be used,” he said, handing her the earrings.

“I would put them on if I knew how.”

Wren 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,” he said.

Wren blushed. “Such pretty lies.” She tried to pull away, but he stopped her.

“I do not lie, Wren,” Talon told her seriously before releasing her.

“Shall we go?”

Wren felt the lighthearted mood shift momentarily.

Talon put a smile back on his face and ushered her out the door and into the waiting limo.

“Is this yours as well?”

“Would you be intimidated if I said yes?”

“No.”

“Then yes.”

Wren smiled.

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

As they rode along, Wren asked the one thing on her mind—besides Talon’s body, 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 who 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?”

Wren fell silent at his words.

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

“I should probably warn you. 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 it got out I was single and came here a lot, so now there are those who come to… Well, let us say there will be a lot of women who will not like you.”

~Why am I not surprised?~

“I do not think I will mind.” Wren let out a soft whistle as she got a look at the plush digs surrounding them.

“Nice.”

She watched the maître d’ come up to them.

“Good evening, Mr. Fielding. Your table is ready when you are.”

“Thank you,” Talon said, handing Wren’s wrap and his outer 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.

Wren 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?”

Wren 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 a massive ballroom with dangling chandeliers and couples dancing to a lively waltz. Many people stopped and turned when they entered the room.

As they passed other couples, conversations stopped and whispers started.

“I really am a new sight, huh?” Wren said.

“Yup.” Talon pulled Wren into his arms and started across the room, twirling her as they joined the other couples.

They waltzed around the floor, Wren forgetting about the other couples as Talon’s scent and heat filled her senses.

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

“I do not bring anyone here,” Talon replied, pulling her a bit closer.

Wren rested her head on his shoulder as the music slowed and segued into a sultry number.

“This is nice,” Talon commented, and Wren started.

She had been lost in feelings of comfort and warmth, not realizing 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,” he said.

Wren blushed and dropped her gaze to his chest. She was being swayed by his smooth talk and attention.

She needed to get a hold of herself. He was acting this way toward her so he could get what he wanted.

That was all this was. A means to an end.

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

***

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

Talon looked at her. “Say it again.”

Wren colored, surprised 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?” she asked. What had she said that he wanted to hear, if not that?

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

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

Wren flushed and pulled her hand away, putting her hands underneath the table.

“Wren…”

Wren watched as the waiter appeared with their food. Relief was evident on her face.

What was going on with him? He was playing with her emotions like a cat plays with a mouse before devouring it.

Wren 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. People are looking,” Wren reprimanded him.

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

Wren 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 Wren’s fork hit her plate.