Page 110 of Branded Hearts

“Alright, now line up the sights with the target. Take a deep breath, and when you’re ready, squeeze the trigger gently. Don’t jerk it.”

I take a deep breath, focusing intently. He presses up against my back, his body solid and reassuring. The way he’s gripping my hands to move them into position sends shivers down my spine. He gently grabs my hips, turning me slightly to get my stance just right. His cologne wafts in the air, overpowering the smell of gunpowder and metal, enveloping me in his scent. My body tenses up, and I turn to look back at him.

“I’m scared!”

He looks at me, his eyes softening. “Okay, we don’t have to do this, Mills. Whateveryouwant. It’s your call.” I’m scared but alsocurious. I want to give it a go. I want to make him proud.

I take a deep breath. “No, wait. It’s okay. I can do this.”

He nods at me, his encouragement steadying my nerves. “Alright, keep your grip firm, but relaxed. Focus on your breathing. When you exhale, that’s when you squeeze the trigger. Just a gentle squeeze.”

I line up the sights again, taking another deep breath. I exhale slowly, and when I feel ready, I squeeze the trigger. The gun fires, my body jerking slightly from the recoil.

Holy shit! I just shot my first gun!

“Fuck. Good job!” His voice is full of pride. “Not bad for a beginner.”

I look at him, a mix of relief and excitement flooding through me. His praise makes me feel warm inside, and I can’t help but smile back at him.

“Really? That was... intense.”

He chuckles softly. “You did great, Mills. I’m proud of you.”

“Can I try again?”

“Of course,” he replies, stepping back slightly, but still close enough that I can feel his presence. “Take your time and remember what I showed you.”

After a few more rounds each—yes, rounds, plural—we pack up and head back out. Bradley thanks Mark again, and I do, too. We walk to the car, the cool evening air brushing against my skin.

As we reach the car, he suddenly grabs me by the belt loop of my jeans and pulls me backward, spinning me around.

“Wha—” I start to say, but I don’t get to finish because his mouth is on mine in a hurry, his lips moulding to mine like they fit perfectly, as if they belong there.

Maybe they do.

The kiss is intense, filled with a mix of urgency and tenderness that sends my heart racing. His hands find my waist, pulling me closer, asI lift up on my toes to wrap my arms around his neck, losing myself in the moment. His scent, his taste, the feel of his strong hands against me—it’s overwhelming and exhilarating.

I can’t help but melt into him, responding to his kiss with a hunger of my own. His hands skate down to cup my ass, lifting me even further on my tiptoes, pressing me tightly to his rock-hard body. A groan escapes my lips, and he does the same.

Every part of me is on fire, our bodies perfectly aligned, and I can’t get enough of him. The world around us fades away, leaving just the two of us in this intense, passionate moment.

When we finally pull apart, we’re both breathing heavily, our foreheads resting against each other.

“Wow,” I whisper, my voice barely audible.

“Yeah,” he murmurs back, his eyes locked on mine. “By the way,” he says, breaking the silence, “my colleague from work asked if you and I wanted to join him and his wife for dinner tomorrow.”

I turn to him, curiosity piqued. “Like, as in, adate?”

He scoffs, a playful smirk on his face. “Yeah. What else would it be?”

“But, aren’t double dates what you would usually take a girlfriend on? You know, with other people?” I ask, the words slipping out before I can really think about them. And now they have me thinking. The thought of officially being hisgirlfriendsends a thrill through me. But what does he think? Am I just over analysing everything?

“Technically, double dates can be for anything. But in this case, yes.”

I frown, trying to read more into what he’s saying. “So, you said yes. To a double date?” He nods, his expression serious.

“With your… girlfriend?” Is he saying what I think he’s saying?

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