Talon IV: Maggie's Family

by Nan Strebeck

Maggie rushed forward as the door swung inward, skillet crashing down in a sweeping arc.  Her eyes closed as she put her entire body into the momentum of the swing.  The skillet’s descent came to a bone jarring halt as a large, masculine hand caught her two-fisted grip on the skillet’s handle.

Her eyes popped opened to see Devlyn, one hand easily engulfing both of hers, a sardonic expression in his eyes.  He removed the weapon from her grip and placed it gently on the counter.

“I’m not familiar with this weapon.  You’ll have to tutor me in its use.  However, I prefer knowing when a lesson is to be scheduled.”

She stared in stunned silence for all of five seconds, secretly admitting her heartfelt gratitude that he could take charge now.

The heady relief of realizing he was safe, of knowing he’d returned in time to protect them and take charge, disappeared in the wake of his casual remark.  Fury such as she’d never known ripped through her, making her blood boil and her teeth gnash.

“Where the hell have you been?  How dare you leave us to be attacked and not even know if you were safe or had already been killed.  And where is your almighty partner, huh?  All we find outside are a couple of talking dogs. . .wolves. . .whatever.  No protection.  No way to contact you.  No stupid food in the house!”

Mk’Devlyn pulled her into his arms as the tears streamed down her cheeks.  One of Maggie’s hands circled his back and frantically pulled him closer, touching every part of his waist, ribs and shoulders that she could reach reassuring herself he was unharmed.  The other hand pummeled his chest in a tight fist, pushing herself away even as she drew closer.

*  *  *

Her hands were all over him.  He didn’t think she was even aware of the conflicting emotions her actions revealed.  Looking down into tear-drenched eyes, Mk’Devlyn was appalled and somewhat amused to find he wanted this raging virago more than he’d wanted anything he could remember.  The brush of her hand on his back made him long to feel her touch on his bare skin.  He wanted her breath ragged with desire, not anger and fear.

Catching her pounding fist, he soothed her with reassuring murmurs, meaningless sounds that nonetheless had a calming effect.

This is crazy.  His self-imposed abstinence over the past several months must have finally triggered this rebellious response.  He didn’t have time to get involved, even briefly, with a woman.  Even if he had the time, he had no right to seduce Maggie since he had no intention of making any kind of commitment.

He’d read her file.  All of it.  She’d been sexually violated at a tender age, a crime unheard of in his culture.  He also knew she’d tried two sexual relationships in college.  Both affairs had been short, ending at Maggie’s insistence.  She evidently did not find pleasure in physical intimacy.

He ruthlessly ignored the traitorous urge to coax her down the path to fulfillment.

Brushing the hair out of her eyes, he tucked one strand behind her ear.  Uncomfortable with strong emotions, he nevertheless had learned a little about dealing with emotionally overwrought Terran females.  He had, after all, observed his close friend, Bn’Avrom, and his Life Mate, Karli, for the past five, very entertaining years.

     BACK to home page