Talon

I DON’T WANT TO LOSE AGAIN - MUNN

“In six hundred yards, turn left.”

I glance at the satellite navigation and take the next left onto Rein’s street. “In two hundred yards, you will have arrived at your destination.”

I pull up just outside her house and dial her number. It rings twice before I hear her answer in a hushed whisper. “I’m here.” I tell her.

“Yes, Professor, I can see that. What I’m failing to understand is why you’re at my door at one in the morning?”

I reach for the handle and push the car door open. I step out of the car before turning to look up at her window, and sure enough she’s standing there, phone pressed to her ear, an adorable scowl on her angelic face. “We’re going to fix your little sleep problem, so get that sexy bum down here, Miss Valdez.”

“Talon, short of hitting me over the head and knocking me the hell out there is absolutely nothing you can do that I’ve not already tried. I promise you.” I rest my arms on the roof of the car and smirk up at her.

“Okay, have it your way. If you don’t come down here, I’ll just have to come up there!”

“Shhhh! No!” She whisper-shouts in a panic. I narrow my eyes watching her glance back into her room and down at me again. “For goodness sakes, I’ll be down in five minutes you colossal pain in my arse.” She grumbles.

I smile widely in triumph and lick my lips, “Give me five minutes and I’ll turn that pain into unconceivable pleasure, baby,” I drawl suggestively.

Rein shakes her head and hangs up, disappearing into her room again. I thought the days of me loitering under a girl’s bedroom window were long over; alas, here I am, two years shy of thirty sneaking the girl I love, the soon to be mother of my child out of her house.

Ten minutes later I see her slipping out of her front door, pulling the door quietly shut behind her. I straighten and let my eyes wander down the length of her as she walks over to me. She’s in a powder blue maternity shirt dress, and matching flip flops.

My heart flutters wildly in my chest. Goddamn, she’s beautiful. I open the passenger side door for her to get in, our eyes interlock and she keeps her gaze fixed on mine. “Miss Valdez.”

“Don’t you ever show up at my house in the middle of the night again, Professor.” She huffs raising her brow and jabbing her finger into my chest before she goes to slide into the passenger seat. I chuckle and push the door shut before walking around my black Mercedes SLK while we watch one another the entire time. “You’re lucky my grandmother is a heavy sleeper because if she saw you lurking around, not even God himself could save you from her wrath.”

“Ahh,” I nod in understanding, “So you’ve been singing my praises to her then I take it?” I respond, my tone sardonic and she purses her lips.

“You could say that.” She shrugs, keeping her eyes straight ahead when I start the car.

“Well, I look forward to meeting her, then.”

Rein frowns, “And what makes you think you’ll be meeting her?”

I glance over at her briefly and smile, “The fact you’re having my child. I’m going to have to face your family sooner or later, Rein. Wrath or no wrath. I would like to have a good relationship with my son’s maternal relatives.”

“Maybe you ought to try having a good relationship with the mother of your child first.” Rein mutters under her breath. I glance over at her and frown.

“What was that?”

Rein fixes me a sidelong look, “It’s your funeral,” she sighs, combing her fingers through her long dark hair. “You think I’m stubborn and unforgiving, where do you think my mother and I got it from? Your sexy smile and charismatic attitude won’t fly with my Grammy. She’ll soon shove the olive branch you’re offering up your arse before she allows you to walk back into my life let alone her house.”

Her words sit like a ton of led in the pit of my stomach. I know it’s going to take time to earn Rein and her family’s trust after everything that transpired between us, but I’m more than willing to put in the work for as long as it takes if it means I’ll get to have her in the end.

“It’s a sure good thing you’re worth the fight then, isn’t it?” I declare and from the corner of my eye I see Rein watching me closely, and I’m itching to just turn my head and meet her enchanting gaze, but I keep my eyes fixed on the road.

“I know you want to be more involved with the pregnancy, but you really didn’t have to come all the way over here at one in the morning, Talon.”

“Snowflake, you’re the mother of my unborn child and above that the woman I love,” I tell her truthfully, turning to meet and hold her startled gaze. “I know you didn’t expect me to just roll over and go to sleep when I know you’re suffering?”

“And how do you propose to help me through my suffering?”

I smile and wet my lips, “You should know better than to underestimate me, Snowflake. I always have a trick or two up my sleeve.”

Rein snorts and rolls her eyes, “You’re wasting your time, Talon. I have scoured the internet, tried every herbal tea and remedy I can get my hands on, nothing is working.” She complains placing her hands on her stomach. “Until I spit this baby out there is a fat chance in hell, I will get a good night’s sleep.”