She might have been daring me to drag her from the car and show her how well I mastered the art of fucking over the hood of my car, but we were in too public a place and under enough law enforcing eyes as it was.

My eyes narrowed as I considered my options, and she smirked at me with her glossy, pink lips in return, confirming my suspicions.

“There’s always tonight, baby.”

It was more than a warning. It was a promise to deliver. Her smirk dropped, and she began to vibrate with anticipation.

Wordlessly, I got out of the car and headed for the entrance, leaving her to follow behind with slow steps. With my back to her, I smiled, relishing the fact that there was never a dull moment with her. I secretly enjoyed her incessant need to challenge me to prove she was no longer afraid.

Tormenting her years ago wasn’t always about hating her. A predator enjoyed the chase, and she made a damn good prey.

“Hey, Keiran!” the owner greeted me. I noticed Lake’s surprise at his familiarity with me and smiled at the owner, shaking his hand. I never told her I came here often because I knew she’d worry about the reasons why.

I had known one day I would see Mitch again and this time, I had more than one reason to care if he ever came back at all. I needed to be ready, and I had believed a soft heart like hers wouldn’t understand. I’d believed she would want me to take the high road.

I was wrong as fuck.

Lake had wanted Mitch dead.

Maybe even more than I did.

I watched her while she curiously looked over the guns in the case and felt my dick harden knowing she was willing to kill—willing to give up her innocent soul—for me.

She deserved than all of me. I just needed to figure out what came next so I could give that to her. First, I had to make sure she was around to accept me.

“I see you like this one, little lady. A revolver is certainly a more suitable gun for you.”

He grinned at me but then cleared his throat when he saw my warning look. Bart was old and set in his ways and didn’t think much of women with guns, but he was also wise enough to know I wouldn’t tolerate his biased views when it came to Lake.

“Sorry, I just like the classic look of it,” she corrected a little too sweetly. I knew she picked up on his meaning but hid her irritation with sarcasm. I was usually on the receiving end of it, particularly during the week when she becomes a hormonal bitch. “What I really want to see is this one.”

My chest swelled with pride when she pointed at the bigger, more powerful weapon beside it. She looked at me for approval when the owner turned to grab his key, and I nodded. It was impressive and had a helluva kick, but I’d teach her how to handle it.

“Have you ever held a gun?” Bart questioned as he rested the gun on the glass.

“Yes.” His furry brows lifted, but he quickly recovered after a quick glance at me.

“Ever shot one?”

“No.”

He nodded, seemingly satisfied, and grabbed a box of rounds.

“I just need to run down the safety protocol before you start.”

“Ok.”

“The first are simple. Don’t shoot anyone here and don’t shoot yourself. Keep the peacemaking end pointed down range at all times.” He rambled off the rest of the rules while I paid the fee and purchased the targets and ammo. When he finished, I grabbed the box of rounds and gun case, then led her to the lanes. 

“It’s loud in there,” she shouted.

I shouldered off my pack and dug out the ear and eye protection. I handed her a brand new set I had picked up for her while she was in class. She gushed over the bright blue buds and clear goggles as if I’d just handed her a diamond ring. I smiled and rolled my eyes while she put them on and then opened the door for her to enter.

When we reached our bay, I sat down our stuff and grabbed the paper targets, staple gun, and cardboard. The hanger for the target was already pulled in so I set up the target and sent it out to the furthest mark.

She looked at me as if I was crazy, and I resisted the urge to laugh.

Instead, I bent low until my lips rested on her ear. “Watch me.”

And because I couldn’t leave it there, I trailed my lips down the side of her neck, feeling her shiver beneath me. She looked up with a painful expression, begging with her eyes to be fucked. Ignoring her plea, I pushed her safely behind me and shoved the magazine clip into the gun.

I set up to take the first shot and once I had my aim perfectly nested, I didn’t hesitate. I emptied the clip into the target and swept the brass off the counter once I was done. Lake came to stand next to me and pulled the target in with narrowed eyes. I braced my hip against the counter and crossed my arms as I watched her study the target.

“You’re a good shot.”

“Thank you. Your turn.” She suddenly looked nervous as I set up the next target and sent it out. This time, I stopped it at the first mark. I loaded the clip, handed her the gun, and waited. I needed to see where her instincts led her.

She maintained a steady grip despite her nervous flush, but her awkward positioning displayed zero control over the weapon. She flipped the switch of the safety, aimed and fired. I searched the target and was relieved that she, at least, hit the target.

I reached out and flipped the safety so she could lower her arm. “First thing you need to know is that you don’t fire until you’re sure of your shot.”

“You didn’t hesitate,” she quipped.

“I was sure of where I was aiming.”

She blew her bangs away and turned to face me. “What makes you think that wasn’t where I was aiming?”

“If you shoot, you should shoot to kill.”

“I hit it, didn’t I?”

“You hit the paper, but you didn’t kill your target.”

“What’s the difference?”

“The silhouette,” I pointed out. She studied the target again. Her lips formed a perfect O when she understood. “Try again, but this time, fix your footing.” I paused, remembering her comment in the car. “And you were right. It is like bowling.”

She immediately fixed her footing and looked to me for approval. I made some minor adjustments and then showed her how to grip the gun properly.

“Now, I want you to aim using the rear and front sights.” I pointed them out using my fingers. “Use the rear sight to aim your front sight where you want the bullet to go—in this case, the silhouette. The rest isn’t there.”

“Okay.” She switched to fire, brought the gun up, and aimed, using what I had taught her.

“Good. Now breathe in, and when you’re ready, squeeze the trigger slowly and shoot on the exhale. Aim for the center.”

She breathed in and began to squeeze the trigger slowly until the metallic click engaged and the round left the chamber. She immediately put the gun on safety and peered at the target. She found her mark hit dead center and released a happy squeal. She once again looked to me for approval. I offered her a nod and sent the target all the way out.

“That’s good, baby. Real good. Now hit it again.”

 

* * *

We stayed until the range closed. Lake insisted on bringing her final target home because she finally managed to get a headshot. I took us to a romantic restaurant despite us being severely underdressed. I wouldn’t let the dirty stares we got as we were shown to our table stop me from wining and dining her tonight.

“This is nice.” She smiled. “What’s the occasion?”

“To my future bodyguard.” The waiter came and took our drink orders.

“Not that I don’t appreciate this, but I think our clothes are getting us dirty looks.”

“So what should we do about that, bodyguard?”

She seemed to consider it for a moment before she turned to the couple at the nearest table diagonal from ours and cheerfully waved at them with her middle finger. They looked on in horror and finally turned back to their meal.

“How’s that for inappropriate?” 

“God, you’re a monster,” I accused in a high pitch.

She giggled and peeked at me from under her eyelashes. “Can I be your monster?”

“That depends on you and if you can handle the job. I’m not easily scared.”

“I had something else in mind as your monstrous bodyguard.”

“Yeah? What?”

“What if we got married?” Her eyes changed from confident and playful to terrified and unsure.

What the fuck just happened?

“Did you just propose to me?”

“No.”

Well fuck. Why did her denial of a proposal irritate me?

“I’m a traditional romantic, and I just think it would be nice to know if it’s on the table.”

The only thing my mind could consider being on the table right now was her naked body as I fucked her.

“It’s definitely on the table.”

“Good.” Satisfied, she picked up her menu. I closed a hand around it before she could open it.

“But I’d be careful the next time you feel the need to test the waters. I just might accept it.”

“Noted.”

The waiter returned with our drinks and took our orders. After a peaceful meal, we returned home where I made love to my ‘almost’ fiancée.

The next morning, I was up before her and thought of the perfect way to bring her back to the world of the living. She was already on her back, so I slid down and spread her legs gently. She moaned and I tensed, waiting for her to wake. When she didn’t, I gripped her thighs softly and dove in. I was salivating by the time my tongue first touched her pussy. The pounding I gave her last night was evident, so I took my time and worshiped her right. I knew the moment she came awake.

“Keep your hands above your head.”

“Why do you always do this to me?” she gasped. I flicked my tongue across her clit before answering.

“Do what? Want to know how each taste is better than the last? Bring you pleasure?” I didn’t wait for her answer. I tortured her with my mouth until she came, and when her body jerked for the last time, I moved over her and kissed her hard as fuck. When I pulled back, she chased my lips like the greedy bitch she was.

“Turn over.”

“Why?”

“Because it’s what I want.” The heat in her eyes ignited to pure fire. She turned over, giving me the aerial view of her slender back. My gaze traveled the length until I reached what I was after. I bent low and took the plump flesh between my teeth just because I could and smiled when she yelped. “Turn your head and close your eyes.”

When she turned her head toward the window, I reached into the nightstand drawer and pulled out the small bottle of lube I’d gotten after I had her ass the first time. I lifted her hips until her back was arched to my liking. She was curious but knew speaking wasn’t allowed when I got like this.

I made quick work of the lube and leaned over her again, bringing my hips to rest against her ass with a grip on my cock. Watching her face, I entered her slowly.

She gasped.

I pushed deeper.

She writhed.

I held my breath.

We were both slaves to the feeling of my cock filling her.

Her pain-filled whimper when my cock was fully seated spurred my hips to move, wanting to hear the sound again.

“Keiran, it’s deep,” she moaned.

“I know, baby.” I didn’t pull back to offer her relief. I pushed harder simply because I needed to take her to the edge of sanity and have her beg for more so I’d know without a doubt she was mine. “Tell me you love me.”

She bit into the pillow when I fucked into her harder. The sound of my hips impacting her ass rang about our bedroom. “Fucking tell me.”

“I love you. So much, baby. Please,” she shrieked.

I forced her flat with my weight, gripped her neck, and kissed her mouth hard as hell.

I dominated this girl, yet she owned me. Completely.

And I wasn’t even sorry for it.

I shoved my hand underneath her and stroked her clit with my fingers as I took her ass until she shook beneath me and collapsed.

“Forever, Lake.”