Page 49 of Talon

“Uh, yeah. Everything’s fine.” I try to sound convincing, but I’m sure I’m failing miserably.

“Are you sure? You know you can talk to me about anything.”

“I guess there’s just been a lot on my mind lately.” I offer her a weak smile.

“Anything you want to share?” She tilts her head, waiting patiently for an answer.

“Nope.” I hit play on the movie, hoping she’ll let things go.

As the film continues, I lose all focus and my imagination takes over. I picture us standing in front of our friends and my club family, exchanging vows of love and commitment. I see her walking down the aisle toward me, radiant in a beautiful white dress, her eyes glistening with tears of joy. I envision our future, filled with laughter, adventure, and endless love.

The fantasy is so vivid, so real, that it steals my breath. But it’s dangerous—I know I shouldn’t let myself get carried away like this. The stakes are too high, and falling in love could put both of us at risk.

The movie’s end credits roll, but I barely register it’s over. I’m too absorbed with the vivid images that have plagued me throughout the film. Thoughts of making her my wife are just insane. I don’t know why I’m having them. She said earlier she’s not a fan of club life, and I’ll never leave the club, so trying to make a life together will be impossible.

“Wow, it’s late.” She stretches her arms above her head. The movement pulls her t-shirt up enough to reveal a sliver of her sexy stomach.“I should get to bed.”

“Bed. Right,” I mumble, trying to shake off the lustful haze clouding my thoughts.

As she stands, I follow suit, extending my arms to give her a goodnight hug.

“Goodnight, Talon,” she whispers, brushing her lips against my ear.

I wrap my arms around her, holding her close to my chest, reveling in the feel of her body pressed against mine.

“Goodnight, Jess.” My voice comes out much rougher than I wanted, betraying my torment.

As the seconds pass and our embrace lingers, my body swells with the need to be inside her. Every inch of me is screaming that I should toss her back onto the bed and take her. My lips tingle with the need to kiss every inch of her sensual curves. My fingers tingle at the memory of her soft skin. My cock doesn’t give a damn about anything other than burying itself as deep as she can take it.

“Thanks for tonight,” she murmurs, pulling away just enough to look into my eyes.

Her gaze is so tender and so trusting. I can’t let my impulses take over. If I seduce her tonight, she’ll hate me tomorrow. She’s in a vulnerable position, relying on me to protect her. If I use this to my advantage, then I’m no better than the assholes who trick women into bed. Fuck that. I’m not that kind of man.

“Anytime.” I force a tight smile before finally releasing her.

She gives me one last smile before retreating to her bedroom, Loki trotting happily behind her.

Once I hear the soft click of her door closing, I collapse onto the bed. My body aches with unfulfilled longing. Images of Jessica spread naked across my sheets fill my mind. I get up and make sure my door’s locked before I let my desire take over.

I unbutton my jeans, sliding them down along with my boxers, freeing my throbbing cock. As I grip it tightly in my hand, my thoughts are consumed by the fantasies of what could be, of a world where she’s mine and nothing comes between us.

“Jess,” I moan.

Stroking faster, I picture her arching beneath me. Her passion-filled cries echo through my mind as her lips part and her eyes flutter closed. My fantasy version of her is so erotic, I can’t draw things out like I usually do. The pleasure intensifies, spurring me on, but deep down, I know this can never compare to the real thing. My body yearns for her touch, for the intimacy that binds two souls together. But for now, I must settle for this fleeting moment of ecstasy.

As I reach my climax, my body shudders violently. I cry out my release and hope to hell she doesn’t hear it.

When the waves of pleasure finally pass, I lie in bed, staring up at the ceiling. Does she feel the same undeniable pull toward me? And if she does, how long can we resist each other before our desire consumes us completely?

Chapter 14: Jessica

As I sit across from Talon in the kitchen, the scent of freshly brewed coffee fills the crisp morning air. I’m enjoying my breakfast with him, and I can’t stop thinking about how great the last week has been. Moments like these make me feel safe despite everything that’s happened recently. I don’t know what I would have done if I hadn’t met Talon in the bar that night. He saved my life.

“So, Jess,” Talon says between bites of scrambled eggs.“It’s Saturday, and you’ve got the day off. What do you want to do today?”

I pause, fork halfway to my mouth, as I contemplate the question. It’s been over a week since I moved into the clubhouse. Nothing out of the ordinary has happened since the stuffed animal incident. I’ve almost convinced myself that the nightmare is over and my stalker is gone for good. Leaving the clubhouse isn’t an option yet, but I really miss seeing my bestie.

“I’d like to meet up with Sienna for coffee,” I say hesitantly, gauging Talon’s reaction.“I haven’t spent any time with her since all this started, and I miss her.”

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