Page 31 of Pike
He didn’t speak for a long time and I thought maybe he wouldn’t. He studied me until he found whatever he was looking for, and then he nodded. “Let’s go.”
I blinked and then frowned. “Wait… now?”
“Yeah, now. It’s best to do it before you lose your nerve.”
My spine straightened and I tilted my chin up defiantly. “I wouldn’t.”
His lips tugged into a crooked grin. “Everyone thinks that, yet most people do back out of things. Come on.” His gaze raked me up and down, taking note of my black shorts and hot pink tank top. “You’re dressed for it.”
“Where are we going?” I scrambled after his long-legged gait the moment he began walking away.
“Just over there. Gemma won’t be able to see exactly what we’re doing but we can see her.”
“Oh.” My heart skipped a beat at his considerate nature. “Good thinking.”
“I know. Stay here.” He walked towards the cabin before I could ask him where he was going, stopping to have a quick conversation with Gemma before he disappeared inside, reappearing a few minutes later with a black metal box tucked under his sculpted arms.
“What’s that?”
He looked up at me with a raised brow. “Can’t do weapons training without weapons.”
Oh. “Right.”
He picked a black handgun and stood. “This is a Glock 19. People like it because it’s light and reliable, and good for beginners. Ever used a gun before?”
I shook my head, resisting the mighty urge to take a giant step back from the murder weapon.
“Ever shot anything before?”
I shrugged, a small smile played on my lips as I answered. “Paintball once, but I really hated it. A lot.”
Pike grunted his reply, which I kind of understood. I wasn’t going to be the best student, not when I was ignorant and unwilling. “Well that’s not the same but it’s all right.”
I looked at the gun he attempted to hand to me with the barrel pointed at the ground.
“What?”
“Take it,” he insisted.
Again I obeyed instinctively. “It’s heavier than I expected. Colder too.” It felt exactly as it should considering what it could do. I listened carefully as he ran me through safety instructions, loading and unloading it and general gun safety.
“Respect the power and gravity of this piece of metal. Always.”
I swallowed the lump in my throat and nodded furiously. “Got it. All of it.” That’s what I thought until he said the words that made my resolve crumble.
“Okay, let’s get ready to shoot.”
I nodded and raised my arms the way he showed me. He stood behind me, his chest pressed against my back, and I froze. He was close. He wastooclose, and I couldn’t focus. Or speak.
He was oblivious, of course, because he wasn’t as affected. His hands slid down my arms, instructing me along the way. “Grip it firm but not tight, so you’re in control.”
I did as instructed, swallowing hard again.
Pike adjusted my stance and squared my shoulders. “Better. Now take a deep breath,” he whispered, his breath brushing my ear, stealing a gasp from my chest. “Focus, Chloe. You’re all good.”
I wasn’t okay. I wasn’t okay at all.
Instead I was vibrating with need. Every nerve hummed with heat and tension, and this time it wasn’t a fear response.
