Page 129 of Wild Card

“And you love me.”

“Told you this place was magical,” Harley sing-songs, arching her hands in the shape of a heart. “Now would you like to meet my parents?”

Usually, this would mortify me, but being in Talon’s arms surrounded by this group of friends and family, the only thing I feel is delight.

“Put me down, honey, so I can meet Harley’s parents.”

“Not happening.”

I can’t stop the bubble that escapes my throat, sounding like a girly giggle.

I’m totally in love.

18

WILLOW

“Something’s up with Bex.”

Talon remains quiet, his fingers twined with mine, his thumb running across my wrist.

“She had this mega-insightful revelation tonight about adoration and love. Talking about how Harley, Rowan, and Jewls’ relationships are what romance novels are made of. She stuck up for Ace and his sly method of getting Harley out of Tom’s. Which is kinda sweet in a barbaric, overbearing way.” I prattle on about Bex’s little speech and stop short when I almost blab about the sex conversation.

Still no reaction from him.

He drives around to his entrance and hops out. “Stay here.”

He punches in the code to his door and Wolf runs out, doing a sprint around the car before running through the open gate to the backyard. Talon closes the gate and comes to open my door, scooping me into his arms and carrying me inside.

“Don’t move.”

The brash instruction takes me by surprise as he leaves.

I realize he hasn’t said a word since we left the bar. Is he pissed we stayed longer than he wanted?

Shit, have I already screwed this up?

Tom wasn’t wrong. All the members from Sayge arrived along with a few other famous musicians from the Label.

Ace spread the word about Harley’s last night and she had dozens of co-workers and friends show up in support.

I met more people in one night than I had in the last year. The party went on and Talon never pushed to leave, seemingly enjoying himself.

The only hiccup in the evening was when Nate, a member of Sayge, pulled me into his arms in greeting and held on. There was an audible growl as Talon extracted me from him with a glare so lethal a chill spread across my skin.

Nate was undeterred, grinning like a man with a death wish.

That was the only time I wasn’t connected to Talon’s side.

After our racy display of affection and his promise of what was to come, I was anxious.

Too anxious.

Now that we’re here, reality hits. My nerves kick into overdrive.

Earlier was a spur-of-the-moment reaction. The feelings I’d been suppressing came to the surface. There was no more denial.

But what if I misread his meaning earlier? What if it is way too soon?

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