Total pages in book: 95
Estimated words: 85183 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 426(@200wpm)___ 341(@250wpm)___ 284(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 85183 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 426(@200wpm)___ 341(@250wpm)___ 284(@300wpm)
"You do know which end to point away from you, right?"
I scowl at him. "I might forget to point it away from you in a minute," I say whilst trying not to smile.
He chuckles as he pushes open the screen door to the porch. We walk to the tree line, and he stops behind me, pointing at a target on a tree, the messy paint faded and old. "Raise the gun up."
I hold the gun out in front of me, one foot spaced behind the other.
"Good." Jude's hand glides down my arm, his fingers gently holding my elbows to keep my arms up. He mimics my stance, his body lining up with mine. The heat from his chest presses against my back, his even breaths blowing in my hair as his massive frame towers over mine. He lowers his lips to my ear. "Now, don't tense your arms too much. Let the gun kick back. Don't fight it." He waits for me to relax my grip on the gun. "Okay, close one eye and stare down the barrel. You need to line up the sight here with the target." I do as he says, focusing in on the tiny raised notch on the top of the gun.
"Now." He reaches forward and flips the safety off. "Breathe in and out, and on the pause between breaths gently squeeze the trigger and let your elbows absorb the impact."
He moves away from me, and I take even breaths. I focus on the target in front of me. I squeeze, and the gun explodes in my hand, raw power contained in my grasp. My heart races and my ears ring from the deafening bang. The last and only time I shot a gun, I did it because I had to. I did it to protect Caleb, and it terrified me. Now though, now I feel powerful, I feel a surge of energy pulse through me as adrenaline courses through my veins. This is power right here, life and death.
Jude brushes my arm, and I glance over my shoulder at him. "Good. You're a natural." I've always been good at pretty much anything I set my mind to but being good at this suddenly feels so crucially important.
We work for what seems like hours, shooting round after round. We shoot until I feel like I can't hold my arms up anymore, and my hand shakes from all the adrenaline. Jude cups my cheek, staring into my eyes with a small smile on his lips. "Well, hell, we still have another box left. Who knew my girl could fucking shoot?" His eyes move to my mouth, and I can see the desire flash through them. It doesn't scare me now. Jude is and always has been, my exception. His touch should make me nervous, but instead it makes me feel safe. His lust should make me want to run, but it makes me feel loved, wanted.
I reach up on tiptoes and place my lips to his. He bends down and grasps my thighs, lifting me as I wrap my legs around his waist. One hand cups the back of my head as his lips move against mine, soft, but unforgiving. I cling to his broad shoulders and his arms wrap tightly around my waist, crushing me to his body.
"I'm proud of you," he whispers against my lips. "And not just for being a good shot." He releases me, and I slide down his body until my feet touch the ground. His fingers remain tangled in my hair, keeping me close. "You are fucking strong, Tor. You're a survivor."
I don't know what to say to him, so I say the first thing that comes to mind. "I love you," I whisper.
His lips slam over mine, uncontrolled, unhindered. One second I'm standing, the next, my back hits the ground, his hand protecting the back of my head. Empty casings litter the floor beneath us, clinking against each other. His hand strokes over my jaw and down my throat, his lips softening slightly. His fingers move to the hem of my shirt and trace up my sides, taking the material with them. His lips skim down my throat to my chest. I can feel his restraint in his gentle touches, which are almost reverent. His mouth moves lower, his fingers pushing my top up. I freeze, and he feels it. I don't want him to know about the baby, and it's at the point now where he just might notice. I need revenge more than anything else. Revenge is all that matters right now. Everything else can come later. He needs to remain focused, and I still need time to work out what I'm going to do. At this stage, I can't think past finding Joe.
Jude's eyes flick up to meet mine. "You want me to stop?" he asks.