Chapter 7

CHAPTERSEVEN

Sunset woke up slowly the next morning. Tal had read to her for quite a while before he brought the book back over to the mouth of her cave and told her to close up the canvas and get some sleep.

She’d agreed, but she felt guilty about Talon being outside in the blowing snow and wind in his tent, while she was inside the cave. She wasn’t ready to share her space though. It was hers, and it had been a long time since anything was solely her own.

I won’t hurt you and you can trust me.

His words echoed in her head, and while she wanted to believe him, her history had taught her that no man was trustworthy.

As she lay inside the padding he’d given her, Sunset recalled the way he’d brushed her hair. He hadn’t yanked at the tangles. Had been extremely careful and worked through them methodically and gently. And when he’d run the brush through the strands from the top of her head all the way to the ends, it had felt so good. Relaxing even.

For the first time in her life, she’d fully let down her guard around a man.

She realized with a start that even though her brain was telling her Talon wasn’t to be trusted, that she’d just met him and he probably had an agenda, her heart believed differently.

Sighing, hating how confused she was, Sunset pulled the book over to her and turned on the flashlight Talon had given her. She aimed it at the book and began to slowly try to make her way through the pages. It helped now that Talon had already read them and she knew the story. All of the words weren’t familiar, but she was proud when she was able to muddle through the first chapter on her own.

She fell asleep again, dreaming of Aslan and hearing Talon’s unique-sounding voice in her head. But she woke up to the sound of the wind screaming outside. Her nose was cold where it was sticking out of the bedding and when she sat up, she shivered. The cave was cold, but not as cold as it would’ve been without the canvas he’d insisted on tacking up over the mouth of the entrance.

Grabbing a log, Sunset put it on the fire and stoked it, satisfied when the flames caught and a bit of warmth began to spread through her small space.

Grateful for the leggings, pants, and sweatshirt, she crawled to the edge of the cave and lifted the canvas to peek outside. She blinked in surprise at the sight that greeted her. There was white as far as the eye could see. And it was still falling. Snow had built up against the canvas from the wind, and she could barely make out Talon’s tent, even though it wasn’t that far from where she was kneeling.

“Talon?” she called out.

When she didn’t hear him respond, anxiety spiked. She didn’t need him, she was perfectly safe here in her cave for as long as the storm lasted, but for some reason she didn’t like the thought of him being in that little tent. It didn’t seem very sturdy.

As soon as she had that thought, a gust of wind blew through and she watched as the material of the tent fluttered violently. “Talon? Are you okay?” she said a little louder.

“I’m good. Stay in the cave. Keep warm!” he called back.

Sunset bit her lip, torn about what to do. The right thing to do would be to invite him inside with her. But she didn’t want him to get any ideas. Didn’t want to find out he was just like Cypress.

I won’t hurt you and you can trust me.

“Talon…the storm is too bad for you to be out there. Come into the cave.”

The words came out of her mouth before she could stop them. For a moment, she wanted to take them back. The cave wasn’t huge, and having Talon in there might be too much for her. He might take back the bedding he’d given her, or start ordering her around, or try to touch her. He would take away the independence she’d fought so hard for.

But then she shook her head. She hadn’t known Talon very long, but she’d watched him in the forest without his knowledge. She’d never seen him do anything to hurt others. He treated the women he rescued with respect, even when they were mean to him.

Then she thought about how Brock had been with Finley. He’d protected her when they were under that rock. He’d put his body between her and the forest.

“Are you sure?”

Sunset jerked in surprise at Talon’s words. She’d been so lost in her head, she’d forgotten where she was. Looking out into the blinding white of the forest, she saw he’d unzipped his tent a fraction and was looking at her.

“Because I’m okay in here,” he went on.

He didn’t look okay. He looked tired. Sunset wondered if he’d slept at all.

“I’m sure. It doesn’t look like it’s going to stop anytime soon. There was a storm years ago much like this and we were all stuck in our tents for at least a week before the wind stopped enough that we could walk around. We shoveled for ages just to get from tent to tent.”

Sunset remembered that storm like it was yesterday. She’d been delighted to have seven full days to herself. She didn’t have to cook for anyone. Or clean. Or hunt. She’d simply hunkered down in a tent with Arrow’s other wives and relaxed. Of course, when the wind calmed, she and the other women were in charge of shoveling paths, and she had to do her wifely duties with Arrow the second the snow stopped, but it had been worth it to have an entire week of down time.

“Okay. I’m going to pack up my things and take the tent down. In the meantime, close the canvas and stay inside,” Talon told her.

Instead of being irritated at him telling her what to do, Sunset merely nodded and dropped the canvas. She realized the difference was that Talon was ordering her to do something for her own good. He wasn’t ordering her to go outside and get his stuff together and take down his tent. It was a huge difference, and it felt surprisingly good that he was worried about her when he was the one out in the storm.

It didn’t take long before Talon appeared at the entrance to the cave. He pulled back the canvas and entered. His head and beard were covered in snow, and it stuck to his clothes as well. He put his bag and the folded tent down near the entrance and sat almost right where he’d entered. He resecured the canvas and sighed.

Sunset sat tensely on her bedding, waiting for him to do something. To start ordering her around, to ask what she was making him for breakfast…something. But all he did was sit there with his eyes closed. The snow eventually melted from his face and clothes, and yet still he sat there almost motionless.

If she didn’t know better, she would’ve said he was asleep, but there was no way he could sleep upright…could he? “Talon?” she whispered.

“Yeah?” he said immediately, but didn’t open his eyes.

Sunset didn’t really have a question to ask, just wanted to know if he was awake or not.

His eyes opened and he stared at her from across the space. The cave was dim, the light from the fire flickering around them. The wind whistled outside and Sunset was once more very glad for the extra protection the canvas gave her. She wouldn’t have thought to use it as a type of door if Talon hadn’t suggested it. She’d been all right the winter before in her cave, but there hadn’t been any blizzards like this one last year.

“You okay?” Talon asked. “You want me to go back outside in my tent?”

“No!” she blurted. “I just…” Her voice trailed off.

“I understand,” Talon said calmly. “You can trust me, and I’m not going to hurt you.”

Sunset blew out a breath. “Are you sick of saying that yet?” she asked.

“No. And I never will be. I’ll keep saying it until you believe it with your heart and soul, and then I’ll probably still keep saying it. Thank you for inviting me inside.”

Sunset nodded. Her throat was tight and she didn’t think she could speak.

“May I get up and put another log on the fire?”

He was asking her? Sunset felt off-kilter, but she nodded.

Slowly, Talon got up and walked past her to the pile of wood they’d collected the day before. He frowned as he studied it. “On second thought, I think I’ll wait. Not sure how long this storm is going to last and I don’t want to run out of fuel.” Then he looked at her. “Are you warm enough?”

Sunset nodded.

He walked back to his pack and rummaged through it for a moment. He pulled something out, a small packet, and squeezed it in his hands before holding it out to her. “Here.”

She reached out without thought and took it from him. “What is it?”

“A hand warmer. A little packet that uses chemicals to heat up. It’ll last for a few hours before the heat dissipates. It’ll help keep you warm without having to use a lot of the wood right now.”

Surprisingly, the packet in her hands did begin to warm, and Sunset’s eyes widened. “It’s like magic,” she breathed.

Talon chuckled as he sat once more by the entrance. “I totally agree. And don’t ask me how it works, because I have no idea. Just that it’s full of chemicals and I was more than grateful for them last night.” He tapped his boot and said, “Put one in each shoe last night and my toes thank me for it today.”

Now that her eyes had adjusted back to the dim light of the cave after being blinded by the snow outside, Sunset could see the dark circles under his eyes. “You look tired,” she blurted.

“I’m okay,” he said with a shrug.

It was another way this man differed from those she’d known in the past. Arrow took a lot of naps. Didn’t think twice about sleeping while his wives were working. Cypress was just like him. But Sunset had a feeling this man would never sleep while those around him were busy working.

“Do you mind if I change my shirt?” Talon asked. “Mine’s damp, and I don’t want to risk getting sick.”

Adrenaline coursed through Sunset. She shook her head silently, but didn’t dare take her gaze from Talon. She clutched the hot packet in her hands and held her breath as her heart beat hard in her chest.

Talon rummaged in his pack and pulled out a long-sleeve shirt. He turned his back and took off the fleece he was wearing, then the sweatshirt, then the skin-tight black shirt. She couldn’t help but wonder at the differences between this man and the ones she’d lived with. Cypress and Arrow weren’t nearly as lean as Talon. They had pasty-white skin and large bellies that stuck out. Talon’s shoulders were broad, and it didn’t look like he had any extra fat on his body. She could see the muscles in his upper back ripple as he moved. Even his forearms were muscular.

All too soon, he’d covered himself up with another tight shirt that clung to his body. He also replaced the sweatshirt with another and donned his fleece before spreading the damp clothes on the ground near the fire.

Then he sat once more with his back against the cave wall. “Feel like listening to more of The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe?” he asked.

Sunset nodded. She still felt weird inside. Not scared exactly, more like…excited? It didn’t make any sense. She’d been afraid when Talon had taken off his shirt. Scared he was going to want to lie on top of her, but he hadn’t even looked her way.

Maybe…just maybe…she could trust him.

She tossed the book over to Talon, careful not to get it anywhere near the flames. He smiled at her, opened it, and immediately picked up from where they’d stopped the night before.

Time had no meaning as Sunset got lost in the world of Narnia and Aslan the lion. The wind continued to shriek outside. Trips out to do their business were quick, and she didn’t even feel awkward about needing to see to her bodily functions around Talon. He made everything feel easy and normal.

He was in the middle of a chapter when he stopped and said, “Bloody hell, I almost forgot!”

Sunset was confused when he started searching in his pack. He pulled out the satellite phone and gave her a small smile. “Rocky’s wedding. I promised to call.”

“Will it work?” Sunset asked.

Talon wrinkled his brow. “I sure as hell hope so. Otherwise I’m in deep shit.”

He dialed the phone and put it on speaker once more.

“You don’t have to do that,” she said quickly.

“I want you to hear what a wedding ceremony is supposed to be like,” Talon countered, just as someone answered.

“It’s about time,” a deep male voice said.

Talon chuckled. “Hello to you too, Brock.”

“We had a bet going on if you were going to forget to call or not.”

“No way would I forget something this important.” Talon winked at Sunset and put his finger to his lips, as if asking her to keep quiet about how he had almost forgotten to call. She gave him a small smile.

“Hi, Tal,” a feminine voice said into the phone.

“Got you on speaker,” Brock told him.

“Hey, Finley,” Talon said.

“Is she there?”

“Yes.”

“Her name’s Sunset, right?” Finley asked.

“Yes.”

“Hi, Sunset,” Finley said immediately. “I’m Finley Mabrey. I’m the one you saved when you threw dirt in that jerk’s face, the one who was holding me at knife-point. Thank you so much. Seriously, you were so badass, and I was scared out of my mind. You ran through that clearing like Wonder Woman or something. It was amazing, and you gave Brock enough time to grab me and get us out of there. I can’t tell you how appreciative I am.”

“I think you just did,” Brock said with a chuckle.

Sunset sat stock still as she listened to the other woman’s praise. Again, she was so unused to people thanking her for anything, she felt uncomfortable. She didn’t know what to say or how to react.

“Right, well, I want to make sure you know that what you did was so brave and amazing. I hope I get to meet you soon,” Finley went on. “I’m gonna make you my super-special snickerdoodle caramel cake. I don’t make it a lot because it’s kind of a pain in the butt, but it’s sooooo good. It tastes exactly like a snickerdoodle, but in a cake instead of a cookie.”

“Wait, how come you haven’t made that for me yet?” Brock asked his wife.

“Because. Didn’t you hear me? It’s a pain to make and the cookies are a heck of a lot easier to whip up. And I want to make something special for Sunset, since she literally saved our lives.”

“Right, fine. I can understand that,” Brock said.

Sunset looked down at her hands and did her best not to cry. She had no idea what a snickerdoodle was, but the mere fact that this woman, who she didn’t know, wanted to make something special for her, had her choked up.

“Is she there? Hi, Sunset, I’m Lilly! We’re all here, and we wish you could be here too, but hopefully we’ll get to meet you soon and we can all get to know each other.”

“Hey, Sunset!” another woman called out from the background. “I’m Elsie!”

“And I’m Caryn. Khloe is here too, although at the moment, she’s outside with Duke. Outside! In this craptastic weather! She’s totally using it to escape the hubbub going on…and I think to get away from Raiden for a moment, since he’s being especially annoying to her today.”

Sunset’s brain spun. She didn’t know these women, wasn’t sure she’d remember all the names, and had no idea why they were being so nice to her.

Talon pushed off the wall he’d been leaning on and scooted a bit closer to her. He was still careful not to get close enough to make her uncomfortable, but he held the phone out in front of him so she could hear more easily.

“Hi,” she said after a moment, tentatively, not sure what else she should say.

“Hi!” a chorus of voices said in tandem from the other end of the phone.

“You’ve all had your chance to say hello, now let me talk to Tal for a sec,” Brock told the women.

They all giggled and called out their goodbyes to Sunset.

“You good?” Brock asked. “Not buried?”

“No, we’re good. Although I could use a spot of tea,” Talon said with a wide grin on his face.

“You Brits and your tea,” Brock said with a laugh. “But seriously, you need anything?”

“No. Sunset’s cave is perfect. We’ve got food, fire, and we’re hunkered down.”

“All right.”

Sunset heard music start in the background.

“Looks like things are starting. Gonna shut up now so you can hear what’s happening.”

“Before you go, everything’s all right with everyone there? With the storm and all?”

“Yeah, we’re fine. It was a little hairy getting over here this morning, but we’re all present and accounted for.”

“Good.”

The way Talon wasn’t afraid to show his concern for his friends made the odd feelings within Sunset flare up again. In her experience, men never thought much about anyone but themselves. She couldn’t remember a time when Arrow was worried about those he was in charge of. His philosophy was that whatever happened was meant to be.

She found herself leaning forward when the music coming from the phone got louder. The melody was beautiful, and she tilted her head to hear more easily.

“I saw a picture of Bristol’s dress,” Talon said softly. “Lilly showed it to me. She made me swear not to give any hints to Rocky on what it looked like. It’s form fitting down to her knees, where it poofs out. She didn’t want a train, so the veil comes down to her ankles, and I heard she was planning on wearing a pair of sneakers with the dress. She said she wanted to be comfortable on her wedding day. She’s short—sorry; the politically correct term is ‘petite,’ but she doesn’t care about that kind of thing—but said she refused to wear high heels and be miserable all day. The colors for the ceremony are red and green, to go with the holiday, and I bet she’s got a huge bouquet.”

Sunset appreciated Talon trying to describe the scene for her. She wasn’t exactly sure about everything he was describing, but she nodded anyway.

“Oh, you should see Rocky’s face,” Brock said quietly. “He’s gobsmacked.”

Sunset frowned at the strange word she’d never heard before.

“Rocky’s seeing Bristol for the first time in her wedding dress,” Talon explained. “Gobsmacked means he’s blown away by how beautiful she looks. And probably asking himself how he got so lucky.”

Again, the things Talon was describing were so foreign. The last time she got married, she’d been wearing the same brown dress she always wore, was sweaty from the heat of the day and from cooking dinner, and Cypress had taken her by the arm, marched her into his tent, and told her he was done waiting for her to come to terms with his claim. Then he’d pushed her to the ground and consummated their marriage.

“We are gathered here today for the union of this woman and this man,” said a deep voice Sunset hadn’t heard before. She leaned forward again, eager to hear what the man was saying.

Talon moved closer, holding the phone between them.

She listened in awe, and confusion, and a little bit of disbelief as the man spoke of love and loyalty. Of honor and sacrifice. He spoke about adversity and how it made people stronger, and how together, two people in love could overcome any obstacle thrown in their path.

She was lost in his words and desperately trying to swallow the ball of emotion that had risen in her throat.

Thiswas what marriage was supposed to be? She’d had no idea. Life in The Community was nothing like that. It was about servitude, obedience, and punishment.

The next voice she heard was feminine, strong and steady. “From the moment I heard your voice calling my name in the woods, I knew I was going to be okay. You’re my safe harbor, Rocky. The first person I want to see when I wake up, and having your arms around me before I go to sleep is the best feeling in the world. You’re my muse, my best friend, and my love. You’ve changed my life in so many ways, I can’t even begin to list them all. I love you so much, Cohen Watson. I’ll spend the rest of my life attempting to show you how much, but it still won’t be long enough for me to fully demonstrate. I promise to be true to you, to love you and only you, in sickness and in health. To celebrate the good times and be your rock during the bad, just as you’ve been mine. I love you.”

Sunset felt numb. She could feel the love in the woman’s words. She could picture her looking up to the man she was marrying as she spoke. They were obviously standing in front of a group of people, their friends, and yet the words were so intimate. Sunset felt almost guilty listening.

“You are my life,” a man replied. “I wasn’t living until I found you. Not really. I’ve never met anyone so strong. No SEAL compares. I’m in awe of you, Bristol Wingham. You’re smart, beautiful, funny, and you have a core of steel so strong, nothing can bend it. I want to be the man who stands at your side, celebrating each and every victory, and the one holding you up when you need support. Being with you makes me a better person, a better man. I have no idea how to be a husband, but I do know how to be the man you can trust one hundred percent, a shoulder you can cry on, and a protector when you need one. When you were missing…”

Rocky’s voice broke, and Sunset couldn’t keep her tears back anymore. One slid down her cheek as she listened.

“…it felt as if a part of me had been viciously torn away. I never would’ve given up looking for you. Not ever. You are now mine to protect, to cherish, and to provide comfort to. In return, I’m yours, body and soul. There will never be another. How could I even think about straying when your hands are the only ones I want touching me, your voice the only one I want to hear late at night, and when your very essence has seeped so far into my psyche, you’re with me even when we’re apart. I can’t imagine not having you by my side. I love you, Bristol, even if those words seem too small for how I really feel.”

Sunset’s tears wouldn’t stop. It was hard to believe what she was hearing. That a man could be so fiercely devoted to a woman. That he had no problem declaring his feelings for her in front of so many people.

With sudden clarity, she fully realized what The Community had done was an abomination. The multiple wives, treating women like slaves rather than partners, the punishments…all of it. It was wrong. Evil.

And just like that, a weight seemed to lift from Sunset’s shoulders. Nothing she’d been through was fair or normal or right. But she was right to run away, to escape. She wasn’t selfish or somehow broken because she didn’t want to be “married” to Cypress.

“You may kiss your bride…and your husband,” a male voice said, right before voices in the background began to cheer.

Looking up at Talon, Sunset was surprised to see his gaze locked on her, not the phone.

Very slowly, he reached out his other hand. When she didn’t pull back, his fingers brushed against her cheek, wiping away the tears there with a whisper-soft touch.

“You can trust me…and I won’t hurt you,” he whispered.

Sunset swallowed hard once again.

“I have the great honor of introducing for the first time as man and wife, Bristol Wingham and Cohen Watson!”

Another cheer went up.

“She’s keeping her last name,” Talon said softly, as if speaking in a normal tone would somehow ruin the moment. “She’s a very famous artist, and while she could’ve kept her last name for her business only, they decided that would get too confusing.”

Sunset’s brows furrowed. “Last name?”

It was Talon’s turn to frown. “Yes. Do you not have a last name?”

“Many women in The Community had the same one…Meadowblossom. What’s yours?”

“Ross. Talon Ross.”

She liked it. “Arrow and Cypress’s last name is Goodson. I always thought it was funny because they weren’t good sons, not at all.” She’d never said those words out loud before, even though she’d thought them more than once.

“Tal? Is that you?” an excited woman asked, her words making both Sunset and Talon jump in surprise.

“Yeah, Bristol. It’s me. I’m sorry I couldn’t be there in person. Congratulations!”

“Thanks, and it’s fine. You’re doing something more important. This storm is bad. Keep her safe, okay?”

Tears formed in Sunset’s eyes once more. These women she’d never met had more compassion and concern for her than the people she’d known her entire life.

“Plan on it,” Talon told her. “Make sure Lilly takes lots of pictures so I can see them when I get back.”

Bristol laughed. “As if I have to tell her that. I swear she’s worse than the paparazzi.”

“Hey, Tal. You found Bigfoot yet?” a male voice asked.

“Nope. Sorry, Rocky. But I found something better,” he retorted, staring deep into Sunset’s eyes.

“Well, the good news is that this storm has chased everyone out of the forest,” Rocky said. “Which means I can have a honeymoon without worrying about being called out in the middle of the night to find someone who’s lost. Bad news is, I might have to host everyone here if they can’t get home. Never thought I’d have a house full of guests on my wedding night.”

Talon chuckled.

“Gotta go. Glad you could be here by phone,” Rocky went on.

“Same. Cheers, mate. You couldn’t have found a better woman for you.”

“I’m a lucky bastard, and I know it. Later!”

“Tal?”

“Still here, Brock.”

“I’m gonna let you go. I mean, I’d let you hang out for the reception, but I’m thinking that won’t be good for the batteries on your sat phone. Stay put,” he ordered. “I’ll call Harvey and tell him you won’t be back for a bit. There’s nothing going on here, like Rocky said. We don’t expect to be called out, but even if we are, we can handle it. You do what you need to do there. Take your time.”

“Understood.”

“The storm’s supposed to taper off later today, but it’s gonna stay damn cold for at least a week. If you need anything, and I mean anything, call. We’ll all be pissed if you don’t.”

“Same goes for you. If something comes up, let me know.”

“Will do. And, Tal?”

“Yeah?”

“Is it her?”

Sunset saw Talon’s muscles tense. She had no idea what his friend meant, but it was obvious Talon did.

“I think so, but I’m not one hundred percent sure.”

“Okay. We’ll follow your lead on that. Stay safe out there.”

“Of course.”

“Sunset?”

“Yes?” she said quietly.

“You can trust Tal. He’d rather cut off his own hand than hurt you. I know he sounds funny, but he’s an okay bloke.”

Sunset knew Brock was teasing Talon, but she couldn’t get past his first words. It was just another confirmation that she really could trust the man in front of her. That he wasn’t going to hurt her. She looked straight at Talon and said, “I know.”

She saw his physical response to her words. His shoulders relaxed and the emotion swimming in his eyes told her that he more than appreciated what she’d said.

“We’ll play things by ear,” Talon told Brock. “Hoping to be back by the end of the week.”

At that, it was Sunset’s turn to tense up. He was leaving so soon?

“Can’t wait to meet you, Sunset,” Brock said. “And I think you probably got that my wife and all our friends are anxious for the same. Stay safe out there. Later.”

Talon clicked a button, ending the call without another word to his friend.

“Sunset?”

She’d dropped her eyes when he’d said he would be leaving soon.

“Will you please look at me?”

He hadn’t ordered her, which she appreciated. So she tentatively raised her eyes.

“I want you to come with me when I go back to Fallport.”

She blinked in surprise.

“I have no intention of leaving you out here on your own. No way in hell. I know you can take care of yourself, you’ve been doing it for a very long time. But…you aren’t alone anymore. I want to help you. I know it’s probably scary to think about going to town, especially after everything the assholes you lived with said about it. But it’s not a dangerous place. The people are actually very nice. Well, most of them. And you can trust me, I’m not going to take you to town and drop you off somewhere. You’ll have a place to stay, a safe space to acclimate back into the life you were born to live.”

Thinking about going to town was downright terrifying. Even if she was beginning to realize nothing about her life in The Community was normal, she couldn’t shake Arrow’s lectures about the evils of Fallport.

“At least think about it. Right now, I’m sure all you want to do is say no. It’s easier and more comfortable to continue with a life you know, rather than take a chance on the unknown. But you have my word that everything will be all right.”

She nodded. Strangely enough, his words made her feel better.

They spent the rest of the day hunkered down inside the cave. The temperature was surprisingly comfortable with the canvas keeping out the worst of the wind and cold, and with the small fire crackling merrily.

Talon read to her some more, then he encouraged her to do her best to read some of the book to him. It was embarrassing how often she stumbled over the words, but Talon was nothing but encouraging.

He made them both dinner, which was still weird to Sunset, as she was so used to doing everything that needed to be done to survive. Sharing responsibilities with someone was an odd but pleasant feeling. When night fell, she and Talon continued to sit in the darkness of the cave, lit only by the flames from the fire, and talked.

He told her everything he could think of about Fallport. It was obvious he enjoyed living there, and the people he spoke about sounded interesting.

For the first time in her life, Sunset felt a keen need to go into town. Even though she didn’t have a home, Talon had promised to help her figure that out…and she believed him.

She wanted to meet Sandra who ran the diner. Wanted to check out the used bookstore. Wanted to meet Khloe and Raiden, who worked at the library. Talon said she could get a special pass that would allow her to take books home for free.

She was intrigued by his description of the three older men who sat in front of the post office every day and gossiped about everyone and anything. She could almost picture them in her mind. She wasn’t sure why her mental image of them was so strong, but just the thought of them made her smile.

And when Talon described the square, the downtown area of Fallport, somehow she knew he was going to mention a gazebo in the middle—which he said locals called The Circle—surrounded by trees. How she knew that, Sunset had no idea, but a peculiar longing began to throb deep within her chest. It was an uncomfortable and scary feeling, so she quickly asked a question about Talon’s life before he came to Virginia.

The rest of the night was spent talking about Talon’s childhood, his parents—who were both alive and well, living back in London—and some stories about his time with the Special Boat Service.

Sunset had already known Talon was completely different from the men in The Community, but by the time her eyes were too heavy to stay open anymore, she knew with certainty that he was also special. He was a warrior. He’d spent his entire life keeping people safe.

The words of trust he kept reminding her of, over and over, penetrated a tiny bit further.

No, that was a lie. They’d already seeped deep beneath her skin. She understood now that she wouldn’t have invited him into the cave if they hadn’t. No matter how much snow there was outside or how cold it got, if she didn’t trust him, she wouldn’t have let him get as close to her as he was right now.

He was lying on the other side of the cave, against the wall opposite the fire from Sunset. She hadn’t asked him to stay over there; he was doing so to make her comfortable. He’d given up his bedding, had cooked, gone out and forged a trail through the snow to a place where they could both relieve themselves, and constantly fiddled with the canvas, making sure it was secure and wouldn’t blow off while also allowing smoke from the fire to escape.

Everything he’d done had been to put her at ease. He hadn’t touched her except to cut her hair and the one time he’d brushed her cheek, when she’d been overwhelmed with emotion after hearing his friends’ wedding vows.

“Talon?” she whispered. The wind had stopped howling quite so hard, and she hoped that meant the snow had stopped as well, or would stop soon.

“Yeah?”

His low voice seemed to reverberate around the cave, wrapping itself around her like a warm blanket. She’d always preferred to be alone. Her times hunting in the woods were some of her most cherished memories. Back in The Community, she was never alone. There were always other wives around, watching and waiting for her to mess up so they could tell Arrow, and then Cypress, once his father died. Any attention on someone else meant eyes and ears were off you, so the other women were quick to point out each other’s flaws and missteps.

And of course, the men were always watching as well. She’d often felt their eyes upon her.

She supposed she should be grateful she’d only had one husband, only had to lie with one man at a time. Some of the other women, the younger, more obedient and subservient women, had two or three husbands.

But Sunset realized, lying there in the dark cave, that she was glad she wasn’t alone. She’d never liked storms, and if she’d been by herself, she wouldn’t have used her bedding as a door. She would’ve been cold and scared and the snow surely would’ve piled up inside her cave with the way the wind was blowing.

Not only that, but she liked how she felt around Talon. He didn’t talk down to her. Didn’t order her to do things. He talked to her as if she was an equal.

With sudden clarity, Sunset realized that was what she’d always wanted. She’d never felt as if she was just as important as the men around her. She was a slave, and up until the moment Cypress had informed The Community they were moving to Florida, she’d blindly accepted it.

For months, she’d wondered if she’d done the right thing by running away. By hiding from Cypress. But now that she’d met Talon, even though it had been such a short period of time, he’d validated her actions. Had shown her that she’d been right to stay hidden from The Community when they’d searched for her.

“Sunset? Are you all right?” Talon asked.

She jerked in surprise. He’d been patiently waiting to hear what she wanted to tell him. He hadn’t yelled at her for making him wait. Hadn’t called her stupid for collecting her thoughts. She sighed. “I just wanted to tell you that I’m glad you’re here.”

She heard his deep sigh, and braced for whatever he might say.

“You have no idea how much that means to me,” he told her. “And I’m so very glad I’m here too.”

Warmth spread through her body, and it had nothing to do with the heat coming from the flames of the small fire.

She smiled. If someone had told her a week ago that she’d be lying in her cave with a man feet from her, and she’d be completely relaxed, she would’ve laughed her head off. But here she was.

“Sleep, sweetheart. I’ll make sure the fire doesn’t go out tonight.”

For a split-second, she felt guilty for not even thinking about that, but then she closed her eyes and let sleep take her.

* * *

Tal sat up late into the night, watching Sunset sleep. So many emotions threatened to overwhelm him. Happiness for Bristol and Rocky that they were now married. Relief that the storm finally seemed to have abated. Gratitude that he’d found Sunset before the storm hit. And relief that she trusted him enough to invite him into the cave.

The more he learned about her life with that bloody cult, the more he wanted to hunt down every single one of the men who lived there and shove their heads up their arses.

The fact that Sunset had been able to trust him enough to let him within twenty feet of her was a small miracle. She’d been through hell, and yet she was still compassionate and caring. He didn’t understand it, but he was grateful all the same.

He thought about the wedding ceremony, about how it had affected her so deeply. If she’d ever received an ounce of affection while living with the cult, he’d be surprised. From what he’d gathered, the men ruled with iron fists, and the women had done all they could to survive.

He could picture how Lilly and the others would take Sunset under their wings when he got her back to Fallport. They’d show her what true friendship was supposed to be like. She’d see what a loving relationship looked like, as well, simply by watching his friends with their women.

Sunset was a fascinating contradiction of naïve and old soul. She might not be educated in the normal sense of the word, but she was smarter than most people in many ways. Her hunger for knowledge was painfully obvious. She was embarrassed that she couldn’t read that well, but that didn’t stop her from trying.

Yes, it was safe to say Sunset had gotten under his skin. He admired her, respected her, and was so damn impressed with how she’d been able to take care of herself for the last year. He didn’t feel sorry for her or pity her. How could he, when she had more determination and strength inside her than just about anyone he’d ever met…including the most badass soldiers he’d worked with in the special forces.

He ached to give her a hug, to help her experience the first gentle embrace she’d probably ever known from a man…but that wasn’t going to happen anytime soon. He’d just continue to use his words and actions to prop her up. To make her understand that her past didn’t dictate her future.

With that thought, Tal added a log to the fire, then sat back against the side of the cave and closed his eyes. Sleeping was out of the question, but he could at least rest his eyes for a bit.