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For years.
“I’m falling in love with you,” Talon said.
*************************
Jenna
Talon sat across from me, holding a copy of the journal, and watched me like I was prey that might try to escape. Which was pretty accurate at the moment.
I couldn’t believe he shown up at class. And I also couldn’t believe he was sitting in my office, the most vulnerable, honest, raw, picture I’d even taken, in his hands.
If he’d had any doubts before, he didn’t now.
His presence in my life had changed me in an integral way, and even though I’d tried to act like it didn’t matter, it did. And I couldn’t take it back.
So when I was selecting the image to go with the article, I’d looked at hundreds of photos, but I kept coming back to that one. And I knew it was the truth. It was my truth. And if I was going to give my readers everything they deserved, and I was going to give the brothers in the club the honor they’d earned, then I had to give them that too.
As much as I didn’t like it, my truth was Talon.
“I’m falling in love with you,” he said, voice low and soft, like he hadn’t quite meant to say the words out loud.
I sucked in a breath. “Talon, you don’t even know me. Not really.”
“Yeah, I do,” he argued. “I know you’re smart and funny. I know you’re loyal, even to your ex. I know you’re honest, and you love your kid. And I know that underneath all that fucking beauty that is you, there’s a sweet I haven’t gotten to yet. But I know it’s there.”
I chewed my lip, thinking about how right he was for someone I hadn’t thought was paying attention. My voice went as quiet as his. “When you give people the sweet, Talon, that’s when they don’t appreciate you anymore.”
He looked at the picture in his hand again and then looked back at me, “I’m a greedy bastard. I want it all. But I can promise you that with the life I’ve lived, I’ll appreciate you until they put me in the ground. I’ll know what I’ve got. And I’ll protect you and Cass with everything I have.”
I frowned, “What are you asking me exactly?”
“Let me in, princess,” he said, eyes going the darkest blue of ocean depths.
“How can I trust you?” I whispered.
“Let me prove it. Give me time, and I will. I swear it,” he answered.
My heart pounded in my chest. He was offering me everything I’d ever wanted. With him.
The hurt was still there, lurking in the back of my mind, waiting to rise up and sting me again, and I wasn’t sure I could let it go. Wasn’t sure I could give him what he was asking.
“Can I think about it?” I asked, wanting to be brave enough to take a chance on him again, but also not wanting to make a decision I’d come to regret. “This is a lot, Talon, and I’ve got to think about Cassie. My decision doesn’t affect just me.”
“Take all the time you need,” Talon said. “I’m not going anywhere. You got my word on that.” He paused and seemed to think of something. “And my name’s Trustin. Trustin Alexander Mathis.”
*************************
Talon
And the smile that hit Talon when he gave that to Jenna lit up his whole world.
He hadn’t heard anyone use his first name in years, but if it made her smile at him like that, she could use it anytime she wanted to.
Talon grinned and ducked his head back to the article. Then he set in to read.
There are few things in the modern world more iconic than a man and his motorcycle….
By the time Talon got done, his throat was tight and his eyes were blurred.
