Page 21 of Unconditional

Frustration renewed, I stomped to the bathroom and shut the door with more force than was probably necessary.Digging my hands through my hair, I squeezed my eyes shut tightly.I was so overwhelmed, the feeling threatening to become all-consuming if I couldn't force it back.Several deep breaths later, I slowly opened my eyes again, a sharp squeal of glee slipping past my lips at what I saw when I did.

I was barely halfway across the bathroom when the door flung open and Talon barged in, fully on alert.“What?What is it?”His head swiveled around, searching for the cause of my perceived alarm.

Ignoring the weird way I found pleasure in the hard set of his face, I lurched forward to pick up two small rubber ducks that had been perched along the edge of the tub.“Look at howcutethey are!And they’re blue too!Ugh, it’s my favorite color.Do you think Susie will let me keep them?”My feet did an enlivened little tippity-tap on the tile floor.

When I looked back to Talon, his face had gone slacken for half a second before one of his brows shot up, his lips clearly holding back a bemused smirk.He took his time sizing me up, from my feet all the way to my face which was beginning to lose some of the small joy I’d found in the ducks.

“What?”I finally snapped, feeling heat reach my cheeks.He was still just staring at me with silent surprise, one of his arms going up above his head to lean into the door jam.That should be illegal.He’d removed his jacket, strong toned biceps flexing and causing black ink to ripple, making Talon look entirely out of place in this tiny bathroom.Butoh, what a sight he was.

Until he opened his mouth to start talking again.

“Just didn’t take you for a blue gal, with all that pink you wear.”

“Ugh!You are so dense.For your information,” I stomped forward, shoving a pointed finger into his chest with each word, “someone can wear one color often without it being their favorite.Pink just so happens to be a very complimentary color on me.Youmight not have any taste, but—”

His hand shot out to grab my wrist before I could jab him again.I’d avoided looking at his face during my rant, and now, meeting his gaze, I wish I’d kept mine down.His eyes were on fire, all traces of lingering humor long gone.With one yank, I was brought so close to his chest that we were nearly pressed together.My breath felt thin when I let out a startled gasp, tripping over my own feet just enough to send me tumbling further into his body.

“Oh, I have taste.For the record, I have a certain appreciation for pink on you,” Talon’s husky voice growled in my ear, sending goosebumps over my arms.“Especially the way you wear it righthereevery time I catch you staring too long.”His thumb trailed over my flushed cheeks, pausing at the corner of my lips.It was impossible to get air into my lungs.Talon’s body radiated heat around my own, the smell of cinnamon gum wafting off his breath.

He was so close.Wewere so close to each other, our bodies nearly flush together and our lips just a centimeter apart.With every rapid beat of my hammering heart, my mind spun faster.It would be so easy to close the distance—there was so little of it after all.And what would it hurt?Nobody would ever have to know.And a girl has needs after all, especially under such a heavy burden of stress.He was right here and he wassodamn hot.Nobody would blame me if I just tipped my head up a little bit more and…

It was in that moment that Birdie’s face flashed into my conscience and brought me back into my right mind.She would blame me.As our lips dared to just barely brush, I flattened my palms against the broad expanse of his chest and shoved, screwing my face up into a scowl that would hopefully cover the unfortunate presence of arousal.

“Would you just get out?What kind of person barges into an occupied bathroom without even knocking?What are you, some kind of pervert?”

“Wouldn’t you like to find out?”The smirk on Talon’s face was undeniable, his words just barely reaching me when the door slammed in his face.

fourteen

Misely

“Oh,Susie,whereisyour chef so that I can propose?”I scarfed down another bite of creamy almond topped cheesecake, moaning with pleasure as the flavor exploded across my tongue.

The woman beamed with pride, her hands clutched in front of her chest.Meanwhile, Talon sat across from me sipping a glass of brandy and watching me eat as if I were an extraterrestrial being.

“I’ll tell Louis you send your deepest appreciation for his craft, but I regret to inform you that he is a bit on the older side.”

I waved my hand.“Preposterous.I’d never be put out by something so trivial as age.So long as he can make me meals like this every day, I’m happy to sign up as his ball and chain.Age-gap romance has never scared me.”

Susie’s laugh tinkled around the dining room, now empty with the exception of the small table she’d led us to half an hour before.“Well, unfortunately he’s already got someone who holds claim to that title.Besides that.”She gestured to Talon.“I doubt your beau here would be very fond of sharing you.”

Talon cocked his head to the side, giving me a look that dared me to refute her.Sitting back in my chair, I crossed my legs and took a deliberate sip of my pink martini.“Oh, I don’t know.Talon darling, how would you feel about a little ménage à trois?It could be fun.Louis could make us treats.Though I suppose if his partner joins it would be more of a ménage àquatre?”

Susie’s cheeks flushed a bright pink, a small gasp leaving her lips as she looked between the two of us.She very likely didn’t think this conversation would veer in such a scandalous direction, but now we were here as we both waited for Talon’s response.He seemed terribly unimpressed while simultaneously amused at my taunting.He leaned as far forward as the table would allow, meeting my eyes directly.

“I’m so sorry to disappoint you, my love, but our kind hostess is correct.This thing…” he gestured between our bodies with a finger, his lips curved in a sinister grin.“Is just between the two of us.Nobody else gets to touch you.”

My mouth went completely dry, the taste of my martini souring on my tongue.It was as if we were chest to chest in the doorway of the bathroom again, one wrong move away from every ounce of control crumbling.

Susie’s released a small, “Oh, my.”that was swallowed up by Talon very suddenly turning his attention on her.

“Thank you so much for your hospitality tonight, Susie.It’s been truly unmatched.We’ve been staying in highway motels on our journey west so far, and this place is just a complete breath of fresh air.”

The abrupt change in subject made her blush intensify.“Oh.” Her hands fluttered in front of her.“Oh, you really are too kind.It’s no bother.I uh—I think I’ll go see if Louis needs any help cleaning up the kitchen, and let you two enjoy the rest of your dessert.You can leave your dishes when you’re done.”

Without another word, she bustled out of the room like her skirts were on fire.I shot a glare at my companion.“You didn’t have to ruffle her up like that.Poor woman is probably off to go pray.”

Talon looked incredulous but he was chuckling.“Excuse me, you started it, Miss French Foursome.”He took another long sip of his brandy, but I was in shock.Talon had just laughed authentically in my presence for the first time, and I was completely unnerved by how much I had enjoyed the sound.And how badly I wanted to hear it again.

---