41. Talon
41
TALON
I watch the video feed intently as Lena helps Mrs. Wilson prepare another bland casserole. My fingers drum against the steering wheel of my parked car, three blocks from the Wilson house. Every muscle in my body tenses when Mrs. Wilson gets too close to Lena with that kitchen knife.
"Just chop the onions finer, dear," Mrs. Wilson instructs in that saccharine voice that makes my skin crawl. I hear rhythmic chopping sounds through the hidden microphone in Lena's necklace.
The weekend crawls by at an excruciating pace. I barely sleep, constantly monitoring the feeds. Mrs. Wilson cycles between weeping dramatically about Richard's disappearance and passive-aggressive comments toward Lena. The detectives come and go, asking more questions. Lena plays her part perfectly—the concerned foster daughter who just wants to help find Richard.
My hands clench the steering wheel tighter when Detective Chen suggests Lena stay longer to support Mrs. Wilson. Relief floods through me as Lena declines, citing college commitments.
"I really should get back to college," Lena tells them. "But please call me if you hear anything."
Finally, Sunday evening arrives. I trail the Uber safely as it winds through the streets toward Boston. Lena stares out the window, her shoulders relaxing with each mile that takes her further from Salem. The hidden camera in her coat button gives me a clear view of her expression as the coat is tossed on the seat beside her—a mixture of exhaustion and satisfaction.
I always keep three cars between us, watching carefully for any signs of surveillance. But the detectives seem to have bought her story. They're looking in all the wrong places, just as planned.
The Uber pulls up to our building. I park across the street, hidden in the shadows, and watch through my windshield as she exits the car. Her steps are steady as she walks to her door. She is almost home, safe, and almost back in my arms, where she belongs.
I slip out of my car, following Lena's silhouette as she approaches the apartment entrance. Her keys jingle in her hand, echoing through the empty hallway. My footsteps are silent against the carpet as I close the distance between us.
She fumbles with her keys at the door, and I seize my moment. In one fluid motion, I wrap my arms around her waist from behind. Lena lets out a surprised squeal that makes my heart race.
"Miss me?" I whisper against her ear.
She spins in my arms, her hazel eyes bright with recognition. "You scared me half to death!"
I capture her lips with mine, feeling her body melt against me as she responds with equal fervor. Watching her from afar has left me starved for her touch. With one hand, I help her unlock the door while keeping her pressed close.
We stumble through the doorway, neither willing to break the kiss. I kick the door shut behind us, echoing through our apartment. Lena's fingers thread through my hair as I back her against the wall, deepening our kiss.
"I hate being apart from you," she breathes against my lips.
"Then let's never be apart again," I respond, pulling her closer.
The weekend of pretense falls away, replaced by the raw truth of us—together, united, exactly as we should be.
I kick the door shut, my eyes never leaving Lena's. Hunger consumes me as I take in her flushed cheeks, swollen lips, and the desire burning in her eyes. She wants me as badly as I want her.
My lips crush against hers, claiming her mouth with an urgency that reflects our separation. Her fingers tug at my hair, sending a ripple of pleasure down my spine. Every kiss, every touch, ignites the flame between us. I push her toward the bedroom, needing to feel her skin against mine.
Inside the room, I push her gently, and she falls onto the bed, her eyes sparkling with anticipation. I climb onto the mattress, pinning her beneath me, reveling in the feel of her curves against my hard frame. My hands slide under her sweater, my thumbs grazing the sensitive skin of her waist. Her breath catches as I lift the fabric over her head, baring her to me.
"You're so fucking beautiful," I whisper, capturing her lips in a kiss that steals the breath from her lungs. My hands explore the soft contours of her body, reveling in her responsiveness. She arches into my touch, craving more.
With gentle force, I roll her onto her stomach, running my hands over the curves of her hips and thighs. I bind her wrists with a soft silk scarf from the dresser. She looks at me over her shoulder, her eyes flickering with surprise and something more —a spark of desire fueled by surrender. I secure her arms behind her back.
"Talon," she breathes.
The sound of my name on her lips sends a primal rush through my veins. I trace the length of her body with my hands. My lips move from the back of her neck to her spine while my hands explore lower. Her breath hitches as I slip my fingers into the waistband of her pants. With deliberate slowness, I tease her, sliding her pants over her hips, baring her to my gaze inch by inch.
"Please," she whispers, her back arching.
I give in to her soft plea, sliding her pants down her legs and off. My fingers trace the curve of her ass, my fingers brushing over the carving of my initials down to the soft skin of her inner thighs, making her shiver. She's vulnerable, exposed, and mine.
Her submission fuels my lust, and I feel the primal need to claim her, to brand her as mine in the most elemental way. I want to thrust into her, marking her body with mine. But first, I want to savor her.
I kneel beside her bound form, trailing kisses along her spine as my hands continue their exploration. She squirms beneath my touch, a soft moan escaping her lips. Her responsiveness only fuels my hunger.
My fingers dip lower, finding the wet heat between her thighs. She's ready for me, dripping with desire. I brush my thumb over her swollen center, making her body tremble. Her hips push back, seeking more.
"You like that, baby?" I murmur, my lips moving against her shoulder. "You like it when I touch you here?"
"Yes," she pants. "Talon, please."
My cock throbs with need as I position myself behind her. Her bound arms excite me, knowing she's completely at my mercy. I hold my length in my hand, rubbing the tip against her slick entrance. Our eyes lock over her shoulder, and with one smooth, powerful thrust, I fill her. Her cry of pleasure is music to my ears. Then, with a slow rhythm, I move.
I bury myself deep within her, my hips slamming against her ass. Her entire body shifts forward with each thrust. Her moans fill the room, urging me on.
"That's it, take it all," I grit out. "Your cunt is so fucking tight around my cock."
My hands grip her hips as I piston into her. Her body is a vessel for my pleasure, and I use it shamelessly. With each thrust, I claim her a little more, branding her as mine.
"You're mine, Lena," I growl. "My little tied-up fuck toy."
Her breathless cries fill the room as I plunder her body. I feel her walls tighten around me, her pleasure building. I want to draw this out, take her to the edge and back again. I slow my rhythm, drawing her pleasure out in an attempt to tease and torture her.
"T-Talon," she stammers. "Please, I'm so close."
"Not yet," I whisper, my lips brushing her ear. "I'm not ready for you to milk me yet."
With renewed fervor, I drive into her, my hips a blur. Her cries fill the room, a symphony of pleasure and need. I feel her body tighten like a coiled spring, ready to snap.
"Come for me, Lena," I demand. "Let me feel it."
Her body convulses around me, her climax tearing through her. She cries out, her voice echoing off the walls. I continue to thrust, riding out her waves of pleasure. My release coils within me, held in check by sheer force of will.
With a final, powerful thrust, I spill myself into her, filling her with my seed. My vision blurs as I bury my face in the curve of her neck, panting.
"That's it, baby," I whisper, my lips brushing her skin. "Take every goddamn drop of my cum in that perfect pussy."
I let my spent body collapse onto hers, still joined as one. Our hearts pound in unison, the rhythm of our love song. In this moment, we are one—completely, perfectly united.
"Talon," she says, her voice trembling. "Untie me, please."
I hold her tightly, slowly pulling out of her body. The threads of our connection feel unbreakable as she turns her head and captures my gaze over her shoulder, her brown eyes shimmering with emotion. This is what I've craved—total devotion. I carefully untie the scarf, freeing her wrists. She shifts onto her knees before me and winds her arms around my neck, tangling her fingers in my hair.
I pull Lena closer, breathing in her scent as she nestles against my chest. Her fingers trace patterns on my skin, sending shivers through my body. The moonlight filtering through the window casts a silvery glow across her face, highlighting the curve of her cheek.
"I've loved you since that first day at the Wilsons," I whisper, running my fingers through her dark waves. "Even when I tried to push you away, you were already under my skin."
Lena lifts her head, her hazel eyes meeting mine. "I think I fell for you when you took that beating for me. No one had ever protected me like that before."
My arms tighten around her. "I'll always protect you, Lena. You're my reason for breathing, my purpose."
"Promise you'll never leave again?" Her voice carries a hint of vulnerability that makes my heart clench.
"Never." I press a kiss on her forehead. "You're stuck with me forever, baby. No force on earth could tear me away from you now."
She smiles, tracing my jawline with her fingertips. "Good, because I love you more than anything, Talon Voss. Even when you're being overprotective and possessive."
"That's just part of my charm." I capture her hand and bring it to my lips.
"I wouldn't have you any other way," she murmurs, already drifting toward sleep.
I watch as her eyes flutter closed, her breathing evening out. Holding her like this, feeling her heartbeat against mine, I know with absolute certainty that everything I've done has been worth it. Every dark deed, every violent act—it all led me back to her.