Talon's Heart

by Jordan Silver

  SKYLAR

  How did I end up with the only caveman on campus? Just when I had decided to grow a backbone and stop being a doormat, he comes along and sets me back a couple centuries. My family had nothing on him, he was bossy, opinionated and just plain pig headed. I know he didn't think I would ever take Robert back, but the way he acted it was as though my just being in the same air space was a catastrophe. And I don't understand his obsession with the whole mold thing either; he’s acting as though someone had purposely set out to hurt me. I think that the last occupant just dropped a wet hand towel under the bed and forgot it, but no, Sherlock had to pull out his monocle and start pointing fingers, he’s a nut.

  Who would've ever thought that the school’s resident jock and playboy would be like this? From the little whispers that kept following me around campus, our relationship was an enigma; everyone was trying to figure it out. I was a little surprised by it myself in the beginning, after all the stories I had heard the first two weeks I was here, I had expected him to be a real ass, but nope. He was sweet and doting, and best of all he doesn't rush me into doing anything that I'm not ready for which had been one of my greatest fears.

  Yes we do some things that are new to me, but I never once felt pressured or like I have to do it to keep him. And the way he touches me, the way he whispers to me of the things we’ll do together in the future, sometimes I have to pinch myself to make sure it’s not all a dream. I was never in love with Robert, he and I were childhood friends whose fathers were business partners of sorts. When dad told me as a young teen that I was destined to marry him I never thought to put up a fight, it just was.

  I’ve always done what I was told, being raised in a strict close-knit family it never struck me as strange or outdated. And then one day my world had come crumbling down around me and my eyes were opened. A little bit of the innocent had washed off of me and I’d had a choice to make. Bury my head in the sand and go with the status quo or find myself in the rubble and move on. I’d chosen the latter and that had led me here to him. Heaven help me.

  I was still getting looks and snide remarks from some of his old flings, especially when he wasn't around. But when we were together they stayed away, the only one who seemed not ready to give up was Mackenzie, and for some reason she burned me up. I hated to even see her; every time I did I got a cramp in my tummy. Maybe it was because she was so beautiful or maybe it was because I had seen her all over him that first day. Whatever it was she got to me, but Talon who seemed to be seriously in tuned to me in such a short time always sensed it and tried to limit my exposure to her. He never engaged her in conversation, and in fact the last couple times he didn't even acknowledge her, where before he would still say hi if she spoke.

  I never let on that this bothered me, but he had explained that he wasn't the type to just dog a girl just because, as he put it he had fucked her. He said just because he didn't go back for seconds that didn't mean he had to treat them like less than human. So when they would wiggle their fingers at him in passing or say a coy hello, he would answer but kept it moving. Thank heaven he didn't engage in conversation with any one them, I'm not sure I could handle that. Not after what had happened in my past.

  He had pointed out every girl he had ever slept with to me, no joke; he said he didn't want me getting any surprises and since he knew what Robert and Lainey had done to me, he was very protective when it came to that. I think I was finally coming to believe him about this whole family legend thing as farfetched as it seemed. His mother and sister in law swore it was true; they’d neglected to tell me about the caveman part though, because the man that just left this apartment is not what I would call rational.

  I should’ve suspected from the way he wouldn’t let me sleep in my own bed after only one week of dating that he would be like this. But his actions also made it easier for me to accept the feelings I had for him without fear. After Robert I’d convinced myself that I would never be able to trust again. If someone that I’d borne no real love for had been able to cut me so deeply I couldn’t imagine that I would be able to survive betrayal at the hands of Talon Avery.

  I’d taken a risk and found something I never imagined existed. He looks at me like I’m the most beautiful girl, the only girl in the world. And when he tells me how precious I am I believe him. His love isn’t something that’s said it’s something that’s felt, that’s shown. I feel stronger now than I ever have because of him, because he makes me feel like I’m not alone. For the first time in my life I know what it means to really have someone at my back, someone that would catch me if I fall, that’s if he ever lets me fall.

  Talon Avery in other words has fast become my everything. It amazes me that I have no fear of him leaving me or hurting me the way I once was. He had this way about him that just told me he was being honest with me about that. And I’m not so green that I don’t recognize love when I see it, when I feel it. The only thing I question on occasion is how in the world did I get so lucky? How did I come from betrayal and loss to this overwhelming happiness that seemed like something out of a fairytale? Of course the fact that he’s nuts kind of balances it out.

  So no, I’m no longer afraid of what he makes me feel, the quickness of it. That panic that I felt in the beginning before I was treated to the full Talon Avery treatment. If Stephanie and Kevin his best friend hadn’t assured me in confidence just how unusual, how different he was with me I would probably have given into the fear but now I’m so glad I’d closed my eyes and jumped into the deep end. I can’t imagine life without him in it.

  But now things had come full circle and he was about to get himself in trouble over my past. I hope Robert gets some sense and just turn around and go home. Not because I give a damn about him, I just don’t want Talon getting into trouble and I know he will. He can’t fool me, I knew all that calmness was hiding something, the man blew a gasket over flowers, how did he expect me to believe this would be any different?

  I'm so tempted to follow him and make sure he stays safe but I know that would only make matters worst. He hates it when I disobey him it makes him nuts. I could just imagine what our lives are going to be like, him calling the plays and me just following them. I guess I'll just have to remind him every once in a while that I don't play on his football team, a lot of good that will do me though. Talon isn't exactly the cooperative sort, he likes things done his way and that's that. I usually just let him have his way because it saves time and energy but this time I’m not so sure.

  I was starting to get nervous again, pacing back and forth with worry eating away at me. I looked out the window but there was nothing to see out there so I went back to the couch.

  I picked up the phone to call Stephanie maybe she knew what the hell was going on. I don't think Kevin kept her in the dark as much as Talon kept me there, according to his caveman mentality there were just some things his woman didn't need to worry her head about. I so have to drag my man into the twenty first century.

  TALON

  "Kevin what's up, you seen him yet?" We met outside her old dorm room where the asshole would most likely be headed. Most people didn’t know where my condo was so they couldn’t have sent him there; I’m thinking this was probably the best bet. That was another thing I knew was burning the shit out of Mackenzie and the others who were holding out hope for a repeat. I’d never taken anyone home with me. I always went to their room. Even then with me not looking for permanence I always knew my place was off limits. I’m glad I’d kept things that way because true to female form that had been one of the first things my baby had asked when I invited her to spend the night. Had I ever had anyone else there? It felt good telling her no, that she was the first and the last. That the bed she slept in had never been used for anything but my sleep.

  "Nah, not yet, but he should be here soon, the last word was that he landed and got a rental and was headed this way." I had the boys on the perimeter in case he slipped through somehow, a little overboard I guess but I
meant he was not getting anywhere near her so I had to cover all the bases. I didn’t want to be gone too long because I knew she would be worried about me and I didn’t want that. I knew too that deep down she was relieved that I was the one facing him. She’d told me in one of our midnight talks that she never wanted to lay eyes on him again. Not only because of the betrayal, but also because of the things he’d said to her after. The way he’d tried to belittle her womanhood. There’s no way I could let her face him after that.

  "How much do you wanna bet my girl is on the phone with yours fishing for information?"

  "She won't get much, I didn't share with Steph, figured you might want to play this one close to the vest. Anyway, what do you plan on doing with this guy when he shows up?"

  "After I get it through his head that seeing my girl ever again in his lifetime would be detrimental to his health, I'm thinking of kicking his ass for what he did to her; then again if he wasn't such an asshole I wouldn't have her. No that's not true we were destined to meet so that's out, whatever. If he goes away like a good little boy I might let him live, but if he pisses me off I'm going to hurt him."

  "Don't do anything stupid, I think coach already suspect something's up, the way the guys have been acting must've tipped him off. Why you had to get the whole team involved is beyond me, and you know they'll mess this guy up really bad if they get ahold of him, I'm not sure that was such a good idea."

  "First of all I could care less what coach knows, he wants to bench me he can; as for the guys it's called loyalty, they know I would do the same for any one of them if some douche came sniffing around what's theirs."

  "Did you ever stop to think that you might be overreacting just a tad bit?"

  "No, and I'll tell you why, after what the fuck he did to her he had to know she was gutted, she ran away from that shit. The fact that he's coming all this way tells me that he still thinks he can control her or some shit. That he's just gonna show up and she'll tow the line which from what she's told me was pretty much how things were before. Now I'm all for being a man's man and going after your shit, but the difference is he’s no man he’s an asshole. I could never do what he did it’s just weak. Her family and his gave him a false sense of himself, so he thinks he's a big shot. She doesn't get to deal with him when he shows up, he doesn't get the chance to intimidate her, if he ever even looks at her again I'll blind the fuck."

  "Dude you are so gone." Kevin started laughing his ass off but it wasn't funny, it was the truth. I was gone, and I didn't give a shit. She was mine; mine to love, to protect and to shield. I had already spoken to her parents so I know they're not the ones who sent him here, in fact they were rather surprised to hear he was coming. Her dad seemed to have the same idea I had, keep him away from her. I gave him my promise and I meant to keep it.

  My girl is not as strong as she thinks she is yet, she still has moments when that shit creeps up on her. She tries to hide it from me but I know her inside and out. She’s not all the way over what they did to her back on that farm but she will be, I’ll see to it. It was hard to remember that all that shit went down not too long ago, for some reason it felt like we'd known each other way longer than we had. Things had progressed so fast between us that some days it was hard to remember what I did before her. That’s because nothing else had ever mattered as much.

  I couldn’t imagine not being with her, not having her there. I’d never given her a chance to tell me no, to deny me. When I thought of it like that I thought maybe I should pull back, take it easy, and then I would say fuck that shit and carry on as I was. I wasn’t the only one who’d felt the pull that day on that football field. I’ve seen the same longing in her eyes that I know has been reflected in mine. It is what it is, it doesn't matter how long we knew each other, all that mattered was that she was mine for keeps, we belonged to each other, anyone who tried to come between that was fucked.

  Chapter 11

  TALON

  My phone beeped with a text from my boy Tyler Cunning. I read it and my body went cold.

  "Fuck."

  "What?" Kevin ran to keep up with me as I'd read the message and started moving.

  "That fuck's going to our place."

  "What, how?"

  "Those bitches told him I'm sure, I can't think about that shit right now." I was too busy calling Skylar's cell. She answered on the second ring. "Baby, don't answer the door." My heart was knocking the shit out of my chest as I raced to get to her. Why had I been so sure that he wouldn’t find where we lived? It was true that not many knew where my condo was, it’s not like I broadcasted the shit. But in hindsight I should’ve known that somewhere along the line one or more of the females I’d tangled with would become curious. I’ll have to think about my slip in judgment later, right now all I could think of was getting to her before he did.

  "Talon what's going on?" She sounded freaked, no doubt from the panic in my voice.

  "Just don't answer the door babe, I think Stark's on his way there, I'm coming to you right now." My feet weren’t moving fast enough.

  "Talon you sound like you've been running a marathon, would you calm down Robert's harmless."

  "Don't tell me that shit babe, you moved across the fucking country to get away from that asshole, so don't tell me he's harmless. Look just please do what I say, I'm almost there okay sweetheart."

  "Okay, but honey...I moved across the country to meet my destiny, remember that okay." Her voice went all soft and dreamy cutting through the haze that had been forming in my mind.

  Shit, I stopped in my tracks, she was going to make me soft if she kept talking like that and I needed to be tough right now. Is there anything more perfect than your woman telling you that you’re the answer? I closed my eyes as I let the sweet rush through me; it wasn’t often that she overcame her shyness enough to say these things to me. Though hearing it right now while I’m in killer mode might not be the best timing. Fuck that, that shit went straight to the heart of me, that's why she’s mine, only she could make me feel what I’m feeling right now, only she ever will. I don't know why I'd found her at this point in time, or what life held in store for us, but I was absolutely sure that we would face it together. I wouldn’t have it any other way.

  "Babe, seriously, that was…wow, I don't even know what to say."

  “You don’t have to say anything. I love you.”

  “Fuck baby.” I started moving again my heart beating in a whole new way this time. She was going to turn me into a sap. “I love you more baby.” Why do women do this shit to us men? How am I supposed to rip a motherfucker’s head off if she puts dreams of romance and happily ever after in my damn head at a time like this?

  "So you'll come home and forget all this nonsense?" Aha that should do the trick.

  "Not a chance, one thing has nothing to do with the other. The man is basically calling me out, showing up on my turf, coming after what's mine, nah, I gotta deal with this shit once and for all."

  "Coming after what's yours, what am I a piece of meat?" There was no real heat in her voice so I knew she wasn't really mad. My baby has her soft side and her sweet side, then there's this other side, I call it the pain in the ass side. That's when she doesn't listen for shit, digs her heels in and set up for mutiny. Yeah I learned all this about her in just a few weeks.

  Like I know that the sweet, quirky, free spirited Skylar is the real Skylar and the cautious almost weary Skylar is what emerged after what this fucker had done to her. And that thinking put me back into the right frame of mind completely, which was a good thing because I was turning the corner when I saw the rental pull up. "I love you babe gotta go." I sped up, hanging up on her after sending her a kiss.

  Good, my posse had done their jobs, he hadn't beaten me here. One of the hangers on must've alerted the guys to this new development. All along I thought he was going to try the dorms first. This move, him coming to our place, convinced me that he was getting help from someone here, how else would he know where we l
ived? I'll deal with those two idiots later right now I had to deal with this cheating asshole. The guy had to be a real heel to cheat on someone like Skylar, fucking weak. His lost, my absolute gain.

  He got out of the car and was headed to our condo, I sped up my step and was in time to body check him on the walkway. "What the fuck?" He puffed up like he was a badass, yeah okay dipshit.

  "Private property douche, get going."

  "I'm here to visit my girl so whoever you are, you need to step."

  I looked him up and down, stocky, darkish, not bad looking for a douche who was about to die if he didn't get the fuck out of my face.

  "You don't have a girl here, this is my place, you need to get the fuck out of here now." If I’d caught him at the dorms it would be a different story, I would’ve handed him his ass. But this was too fucking close for comfort the instinct to keep him as far away from her as possible kicked in and all I wanted was for him to be gone I’ll have to kick his ass another time. I felt Kevin come up to my side followed by the sound of car doors opening and closing, fuck the whole team was here it looked like.