Oh shit.” There wasn’t space for their bags. It was literally one tiny room with a bed. That was it. Maggie’s mom had apologized non-stop since they’d arrived earlier.

“It’s fine.” Talon didn’t sound so sure. When she glanced back at him, his Adam’s apple was bobbing he was swallowing thickly.

“I can try to see if I can share a room—”

“No.” A low rasp. “We can share.”

“Says you. Have you seen how big you are?” Vicky shivered involuntarily ‒ and it had nothing to do with the temperature. “I’ll curl up on the top right-hand corner and you can have the rest of the bed.”

“It won’t be that bad.”

“It’s that or we’re spooning.” She frowned. Couldn’t help it.

“What is spooning?” Talon looked serious.

“Um … that’s when one of us ‒ usually the guy ‒ lies with his front against a woman’s back, so that—”

He shook his head. “No, that won’t work.”

Don’t take it personally.

Don’t.

“Top right-hand corner it is then.” She sighed. “I did give you the option of staying home, you know?” Vicky had checked for herself and Maggs was right, every establishment within thirty miles of this place was fully booked. Not that there were many. This was a quiet part of the world. With mainly private residences.

“We’ll draw a line down the middle. Your half and my half.” He pointed at each side of the bed.

“You won’t fit on that half.”

“It’s bigger than the sofa. I’ll fit if I sleep with one leg on the ground.”

“Not sure there’s enough space on the ground. You have big feet.” Talon had big everything, but she needed to not think about that right now. Like how he had felt against her that day in the gym. Right up against her. There. Where it mattered most. She also remembered how close she had been to leaning down and kissing him when he’d spooked and pulled her off of him. Thank god he’d done that.

What was it he’d said, when she’d pointed out that his reaction had been a normal one? Oh yes, he’d apologized and said that he wasn’t human. In other words, that it shouldn’t have happened. Then he’d gone down on her as a favor. She definitely wasn’t going to think about that right now. Or how Maggie’s whole family ‒ especially all the ladies ‒ had fawned over Talon. Her two cousins, Sarah and Pauline were all over him at dinner, despite her sitting right next to the guy. Talk about rude.

To make matters worse, Maggie had announced to all and sundry that Vicky and Talon weren’t together. That they were just friends. The only consolation was that Talon hadn’t seemed thrilled either. No, that wasn’t true, he hadn’t reacted much.

“We will be fine. I will wear clothing to bed and will ask that you do the same.”

“It might get really hot in this tiny room, maybe we should sleep naked.”

A look of horror crossed his face. Then he smiled. “You’re joking.”

“Of course I am. I had planned on wearing pajamas but I’m glad to hear you will too.”

“I don’t like sleeping in clothing.”

“You don’t like clothing, full stop.”

“No, I don’t.” He shook his head. “It is, at least, nice to be out of the city. Smells better.”

“Maybe you can … you know, shift,” she whispered. “We’re in the middle of nowhere.”

“It’s still inhabited by humans,” Talon whispered back. “There is a chance of being seen, I can’t take the risk.”

“I guess not.”

“Hey, you two,” Maggie said, as she came down the passage. “How’s the room? Small … I told you it was ridiculously small.” She wrinkled her nose. “It’s just for tonight.”

“Oh? How so?” Vicky asked.

“I completely forgot, Will and I are in separate rooms tonight, but we’ll be sharing tomorrow.” She rolled her eyes. “Obviously! One of you can take my room. It’s tiny but comfortable.” Then she sniggered. “Only if you’re sure you’re here as friends and not more?” Maggie hadn’t just asked that. She looked expectantly from Talon to Vicky and back to Talon.

Shit.

What was wrong with her?

Vicky wished the ground could open up and swallow her whole. Talon just stood there, staring holes into Maggie. He eventually folded his arms. “We’re friends and nothing more.”

Ouch!

Then again, how many times did she need reminding of that? Too many it seemed. Vicky cleared her throat. “I keep telling you that, Maggs. Talon is my client, remember?”

“Don’t get all upset. I was just checking before we finalize seating tomorrow.” She smiled broadly. “Maybe one of you gets lucky and won’t even need the extra room. Anyhow, hope it’s not too cramped. You’re sharing the bathroom with Sarah and me. I hope you don’t mind?”

“Not at all,” Vicky quickly answered.

“That’s fine,” Talon said. “Thank you again for allowing me to be here for your special event.”

“I’m so glad you could come.” Maggie beamed. “Are you sure you’re happy to help with the flowers?” her friend asked her.

“I don’t mind at all,” Vicky said.

“I’ll leave you to it then. It’s an early start tomorrow.” Maggie looked beyond excited. Vicky felt so happy for her friend. “Good night.” She waved as she walked down the hall.

“Good night,” Vicky replied, feeling more nervous than she had in a long while when she shouldn’t, considering Talon saw her as just a friend. There were moments when she was sure there was more there ‒ and not just on her side. It was times like these, that she was brought firmly back to reality. “Do you want to use the bathroom first or shall I?”

“What does ‘get lucky’ mean?” Talon asked, stepping back into the hallway, out of the cramped entrance to the even more cramped bedroom. Away from her.

“Well,” she shrugged, “Maggie knows that we’re not here together so she introduced you to her single cousins and introduced me to that guy, Peter.”

“The one who sat next to you at dinner? The one who spoke to you the entire evening?” See, now he sounded jealous again.

“That would be the one.” Vicky nodded.

“I still don’t understand what ‘get lucky’ means.”

“It means to have sex,” she whispered. “She’s trying to set us up with other people in the hope that we have sex with them.”

Talon shook his head. “Why would she do that?”

“It’s what happily together people do with single people like us.”

“I am mated. I don’t plan on having sex with anyone.” He said it softly but with venom. Enough to sting.

“It was just her being nice. Maggie didn’t mean anything by it.”

“Good.” He sounded angry.

“You go first.” Vicky pointed down the hall to the bathroom. Her cheeks felt hot as she watched him head off. Then it was her turn to brush her teeth and to change into her pajamas. Vicky took her time dressing, feeling stupid that she’d taken her time to pick out the right set of sleepwear. The pants were long, but they were silky. The shirt had a built-in bra and was tight. Not showing off too much skin and yet, sexy. At least, she thought so. Not that it mattered. She wasn’t even sure why she had gone to so much trouble when Talon wouldn’t even notice.

She crept back to the bedroom. The light was already off. Talon was on his half of the bed. Turned away from her side, with one foot on the ground. He looked uncomfortable but that was his own problem. She’d offered to spoon and had been shot down. What was he afraid of anyway, that she might get all handsy during the night or something? He could go to hell. She was sticking to her side and he had better stick to his.

* * *

Her first thought was that she’d slept. Her second was ‘how long have I been like this?’ Then she wondered how to extricate herself without waking Talon up.

Shit.

Shit.

So much for not getting handsy. So much for staying on her half and him staying on his. Talon lay sprawled across the entire bed. He was on his back. Vicky was almost on top of him. Of course she was. It wasn’t like there was much bed space with him in it. Her boobs were flat against his chest and side. One of her hands was curled around his neck, while the other was flat on his abs. His shirt was riding up in that particular spot. Very close to his— Good lord but that was big. She swallowed thickly, eyes on his boxer shorts. Talon took up a ton of bed space, his cock took up the rest. No wonder he needed to rest a foot on the ground. It was to support that thing.

“You shouldn’t look at me like that.” A deep rumble. Talon sounded amused. Really?

Shit.

He was awake. She sucked in a deep breath, preparing to evacuate the bed ‒ make that the room, make that the house ‒ when his hands closed on her hips. “No need to rush off.”

This whole ‘hot and cold’ thing was giving her whiplash.

Big time.

“We’ve been like this for most of the night.” His voice was thick with sleep.

“Oh shit,” she said, squeezing her eyes shut. “You should have woken me.” She forced her eyes off his cock and onto the wall. Safer.

“I tried to stick to my side but you made it impossible.”

“I made it impossible? I find that hard to believe. I think you took all the bed and I was forced to—”

“Forced?” His voice definitely had an edge of amusement.

Vicky looked up, acutely aware of him. How hot his skin was. How hard his abs felt beneath her fingers. Talon was smiling. Oh boy! Other than look at him, Vicky was too scared to move. Too scared to breathe. Her heart raced. Why did he have to be so cute? So everything?

“Well, I’m sorry, I …” She uncurled her hand from around his neck and began to pull away.

Talon clasped his fingers over hers, holding her in place. What the—? “I liked sharing a bed with you, Vicky.”

That look on his face was far too serious. It looked like his gaze drifted to her lips. What? Why was he looking at her lips? What the hell was going on here? “Sorry I hogged the bed,” she tried to sound flippant. “I’d better get going, Maggie needs me to—”

“It’s five-thirty. Everyone is still sleeping.” Talon’s hand tightened over hers. “Stay.” His eyes drifted back to her lips. His jaw tightened. A look of … hunger? Could it be? A look of hunger took up residence on his face.

“I’d like to kiss you, Vicky.”

Shit!

Shit.

“Why?” she blurted. “Friends don’t kiss friends, Talon.” She realized just how badly she wanted him to kiss her and it scared her. “You’re really starting to confuse me with your whole ‘yes, no’ vibe.” Quite frankly, it was pissing her off.

“I’m sorry,” he breathed out. “I know it’s wrong of me. We are friends. There can never be anything more and yet …” He closed the distance between them, his lips touching hers. It was like an electric shock. His mouth was softer than what it looked. She must have made a squeaking noise, or tensed or something, because his arms banded around her waist. Talon lifted her onto him so that she was straddling his belly. His hands closed over her ass and he squeezed.

What the hell?

Then he was sucking on her bottom lip. She’d never had a guy do that. It wasn’t clumsy or weird. It was good. Really good. She moaned as his tongue slipped into her mouth and dueled with hers. Talon was a great kisser. Wait a minute. Why was he kissing her? He shouldn’t be kissing her. One of his hands rubbed up her back, while the other stayed clamped on her ass. This was insane. The way her body reacted to his. The way her boobs got this whole heavy feeling. Her clit throbbed as he sucked on her tongue. Just one quick suck before taking back her mouth. Again, there was nothing weird about the move. It felt good. His hands felt good. The one on her ass dipped between her legs.

Her clit all out sprang to life and Vicky moaned again.

“Not too loud,” Talon said as he broke the kiss. He took back her mouth, his hand slipping past the band of her pajama pants.

Her mind was foggy. The need to come raged through her. What was she doing? What were they doing? Was this him doing her another favor?

Only one way to find out. Vicky reached down, closing her hand over his—

Talon scooted away, his eyes wide like she had hurt him. “I want to touch you, but you can’t …”

“I can’t what? I can’t touch you back?”

He shook his head.

“Why not?” She knew the answer to her question.

“I liked spending the night in the same bed with you. Waking up with you. I would like to touch you one more time.”

“It’s confusing.” She pulled her hand out of his. “You’re adamant we’re just friends, and yet you just kissed me and you want to touch me … intimately again.”

“Yes.”

“It doesn’t work like that.”

“Why not?” He snaked an arm around her waist. “I’m being honest. I want to make you feel good but I can’t be with you. Does that make sense?”

“No, none whatsoever.” She knew why he felt this way though. “It’s because you consider yourself to still be mated?”

Talon’s eyes clouded, his throat worked as he swallowed. “Yes.”

“Then you shouldn’t touch me at all.” She didn’t believe that. Talon’s wife had been gone for a long time. She thought it was crazy that he felt he needed to go through life alone. It didn’t make any sense. Why would he punish himself like this?

“You are right. I shouldn’t be doing this. I shouldn’t have kissed you either.”

“You don’t understand. Touching me, being touched back, it isn’t bad. You aren’t doing anything wrong.” How did she make him understand?

“It is wrong. I keep hurting you. I’m truly sorry.”

“Stop apologizing already.”

“I will go and shower now. Let’s forget this happened.”

“Let’s talk about this,” she said as he climbed off the bed.

“Nothing to talk about,” he said as he left the room.

Well, shit! Vicky scrubbed a hand over her face. That was the best kiss of her life. The best. It seemed that maybe Talon was attracted to her after all. The knowledge should make her feel better but it didn’t. Not even close. It made her feel infinitely worse.