Page 44 of Wild Card (Men of Action #4)

TALON

“You gonna finish up in there tonight? Or should I order a pizza?”

When there is no answer, I tap on the door. “Lo, let’s get a move on.”

More silence.

“Princess?” I jiggle the handle, finding it locked.

“I’m not feeling well,” she calls through the door.

Lynden and Chase both warned me Willow was going through the motions, but as the afternoon wore on, her anxiety seeped in. I wanted her family here tonight, but Rosie declined for everyone.

She insisted this was something Willow needed to get through.

“You don’t feel well, we’ll call off dinner.”

“No! You can go without me.”

There’s noise behind the door, and I give her a full minute before picking the lock.

She jumps a foot in the air when it swings open. “What are you doing?!?”

The ringing in my ears isn’t caused by her loud shriek; it’s because all my blood rushes to my dick at the sight before me.

Willow’s dark hair hangs in a wave of curls, her eyes lined with a goldish sparkle that highlights the shade of her irises, her lips shimmering. My eyes travel over the dress that hugs her body.

Absolutely fucking stunning.

“What are you doing!” she repeats.

“Right now, trying to figure out how fast I can fuck you.”

“That door was locked for a reason.”

She props her hand on her hip, tapping her foot and huffing out, “It’s not appropriate to break into locked rooms.”

“Gave you warning.” I pop open my jeans and step forward, hauling her to me.

She seems to forget her snit, her eyes widening when my cock presses into her. “We can’t.”

“You’re so goddamned gorgeous, Princess, not sure I can stop myself.”

“Please, I have to focus.” Her plea isn’t convincing.

My hand glides up her dress, my fingers scaling over a strip of lace. Her breath hitches when I slide them under the fabric and along her pussy.

She grips my shoulders as I play with her, strumming along her folds and clit. Her hips buck into my hand and I bend to her lips. “Focus on me, baby.”

Two fingers slide inside, scissoring and twirling, teasing her until she’s drenched.

“My dick is fucking throbbing to be inside you.”

Her tongue darts out, caressing my mouth, and she lowers her hand, fumbling with my zipper until I’m free. My fingers sweep along her inner walls once more before slipping out and curling along the thin strip of fabric at her hip. One yank and it snaps, falling to give me full access.

Surprise and desire flare in her eyes. She holds my stare, wrapping her legs around my waist and hitching up. Slowly, I ease her onto my cock. She lets out a soft gasp, rolling her hips to adjust.

“You good?”

“Please don’t mess up my hair and make-up.”

“You saying that means your mind is still somewhere else.” I drive up, her muscles clenching in response. “Get here with me, Princess.”

“I’m here, honey.”

“Do you feel me?”

“Hard not to.”

I fight my grin at her pun.

“Every fucking inch of that is yours. Never in my life has a woman made me so hard at just the sight of her. Every fucking time I see you, my cock stirs.”

My hands cup her ass, holding her tight as I thrust.

“This isn’t the savage beast who wants to fuck you hard until you’re screaming my name. This is me being inside you. Wanting to feel you. More importantly, wanting you to feel me moving inside you.”

“I feel you.”

“You got yourself all wound up. Tonight is just another night.”

“It’s much more.”

“Remember this. Anytime you get anxious, remember me being right here deep inside you. Knowing I crave this for the rest of my fucking life.”

Her gaze clears and she swivels to meet my strokes. My tongue slides inside her mouth, sweeping through and curling with hers.

She grips the back of my neck tightly, lifting and slamming back down.

Need rumbles up my throat as my balls constrict.

I break away. She pants against my lips, her eyes a mix of lust and fire.

My sweet Willow wants it hard. She wants the savage beast.

I speed my thrusts, pounding into her roughly.

Her nails bite into my skin, her pussy clenching me until the knot in my spine unravels.

“Babe…”

“God, yes!” She tenses then bucks, her pussy convulsing and pulling me over the edge with her.

My cock spasms, pulsing as it empties into her soaking heat.

“Shit.” I drop my forehead to hers, feeling her heart racing with mine.

“I can’t believe we did that.”

“You shouldn’t be surprised.”

“I’m buying an industrial fool-proof lock. “

“No lock will keep me away from you.”

She grins, loosening her death grip. “Now I have to do a major clean-up and find new underwear.”

“Sexy as hell, knowing you’re full of?—”

“Do not finish that sentence. Usually, I find it absurdly alluring with your caveman act. But tonight, I’m meeting your parents. I don’t want to think about being full of you.”

I smile wide. “Hate to break it to you, Princess, but my parents know I’m not a virgin.”

“That’s not what I mean.”

“Considering they know I moved you in, they know you’re not one either.”

Her eyes widen. “Talon! You did not tell them I live here.”

I kiss her quickly, slip out, and set her on her feet before readjusting my pants.

“Are you going to clean up?”

“Nope, I like having you on me.”

The motion sensor chimes, and I know our time is up. Her face fills with panic. “Who is here?

“Probably my parents.”

“I thought we were meeting them at the restaurant.”

“Change of plans.”

She jolts, shoving past me to the sink. “I can’t believe you didn’t tell me!”

“I tried, but when I opened the door, my intentions changed.”

She wets a cloth. “You mean, before you broke into the bathroom.”

I shrug. “I didn’t mess up your hair or make-up.’

“Thank God for that.” She glares at me in the mirror.

“I didn’t mark you.”

Her glare flickers, and fuck if my dick doesn’t lurch again.

We need to leave this bathroom or we’ll never greet my parents. “Hurry up.” I go to the bedroom, texting my dad we’ll be right out.

It doesn’t take long for Willow to hustle in, hopping on one foot as she slides the other into a heel.

“I think I’m ready.” Her nerves from earlier are gone but she’s still worried.

“Not yet, something isn’t right.”

“Oh no, my lip gloss.”

“Not your lip gloss.” I cup my chin and pretend to do a once-over.

“Yeah, not working.” I take the bag from the side of the bed and hand it over.

She glances at it skeptically. When she removes the box from inside, she inhales. “Talon, you didn’t.”

“Open it.”

She places the box on the dresser and gently lifts the lid. “Oh my God, Talon… I can’t… these are…”

“Do you remember that first day in the clinic when I called you firefly?”

“You referred to me as a beetle.”

“Hope, love, passion, inspiration, transformation… Fireflies represent many meanings in different cultures. But one thing is common, their shining light. Some refer to it as enchanting. That’s why I called you firefly.”

“You never used it again.”

“You are all those things and more. Princess isn’t the most original, but I knew you were meant to be my princess. And my princess is enchanting and deserves to sparkle. The salesman said the crystals are effervescent.”

Her eyes shine as she focuses back on the box.

When Rowan sent me the picture with a not-so-subtle hint, ‘ These slingbacks scream Willow’s name’, I didn’t know what the fuck a slingback was.

But I trusted her.

An hour later, I was leaving Neiman Marcus with a pair of shoes and a highly amused Ace, who invited himself.

Willow kicks off her shoes and slips on the new pair with shaky hands. “They are exquisite.”

My debt of gratitude to Rowan keeps racking up.

Jesus, fuck, her legs… those shoes…

“I can’t believe you bought these. They cost… They’re Amina Muaddi.”

I’m not an expert in women’s designer wear, but I’ll become one if it puts that air of marvel on her face.

“Tonight is a huge step in our relationship,” she whispers. “I desperately want your parents to approve of me.”

Fuck, we’re back to vulnerability. “Baby.”

“Let me finish. Meeting parents didn’t bother me in the past. But this time is different because we are different. You’re my mystical unicorn.”

“Fuck, you’re killing me.”

She straightens, striding to me with a new sheen in her gaze, taking my hand. “I’m not nervous anymore.”

I lead her down the hall where Rowan and Ford are greeting my parents. Mom takes one glance at Willow and our joined hands, her smile beaming bright. She rushes over, pulling her into an embrace, and gushes, “It’s nice to finally meet you.”

Willow releases my hand and returns the gesture.

Dad saunters over, holding my gaze.

Mark Simms is a keen man. His perception and observation skills set me up for the success I’ve had in my career. He’s regarding me with the wheels of his mind spinning.

His lip curls and he yanks me into a one-armed hug. “Glad to see it with my own eyes, son.”

“Bingo!” Addison and Ronnie shout at the same time, high-fiving.

Willow hands over gift bags to each of them while Jewls gives Harley the next present.

“I thought only Harley got presents today?” Drake, one of Major’s brothers, watches the large group of women who are circled around Harley and her pile of gifts.

Ace, Major, Sam, Drake, Ford, Chase, and I are up on the patio, drinking while Harley’s being showered with attention by over thirty women.

“Brother, you have a lot to learn. Apparently, there are hostess gifts, party gifts, game gifts, gag gifts, basically a fucking gift for every occasion,” Major informs him. “Get a woman and you’ll understand.”

“You want me to get a woman so I can spend all my money on others?”

“No, I want you to get a woman so you quit drooling over mine.”

“Same,” Ace grumbles.

Major’s twin brothers, Drake and Sam, take immense joy in flirting with the women. Hell, I enjoyed it, too, until Willow. There’s something about watching my friends turn into green-eyed monsters that was enjoyable.

Now I get it.

“You guys make it easy. Not our fault we’re irresistible. Last night, I caught the new hottie eying me.” Sam tips his glass of whiskey my way.