Page 76 of A Second Dawn

“You know,” I begin, my voice purposefully light, “when you shoot a rifle, the bullet spirals through the air. It’s like a mini-twister in flight!”

Her eyes widen with curiosity, a hint of amusement dancing in them. “Really? I never knew that.”

I nod, my grin widening. “Yep! It’s called rifling, and it helps stabilize the bullet’s trajectory, making it more accurate. Isn’t that fascinating?”

She chuckles, her tension visibly melting away. “What’s fascinating is your mind and the kind of information it stores.”

The sound of her laughter and the way her hair dances in the breeze draws me in. The sun highlights her features… I can’t take my eyes off her.

I shake my head to refocus my attention.

Still, my gaze keeps wandering to her. I just can’t help it.

She catches me staring and raises an eyebrow. “Lost in thought?” she teases.

“Just a momentary lapse. It’s hard to concentrate when you’re nearby.”

Her cheeks flush with that delicate shade of pink I love so much, and she looks away, a shy smile tugging at her lips.

The air crackles with the magnetic pull that’s always there between us. She stirs a deep sense of belonging within me I’ve never known.

Taking a deep breath, I will my libido to stand down.

She watches as I step up to take my turn. The rifle feels steady in my hands, and I take a moment to align my stance, absorbing the weight and balance of the weapon. As I raise the rifle to my shoulder, she observes my every move.

My muscle memory kicks in. I’ve spent hours upon hours in shooting ranges over the years. In one fluid motion, I take aim at the target, my focus narrowing down to a singular point. Time slows as I gently squeeze the trigger. The rifle barks, the sound echoing through the mountains as the bullet pierces the air with precision. It strikes the center of the target, causing it to shudder and sway under the impact.

A gasp escapes Ella’s lips, her face lighting up in amazement.

“That was incredible!” she exclaims. “You make it look so easy.”

A surge of pride wells up within me, and I can’t help but smile.

I step toward her, feeling the weight of the rifle in my hands diminish as her presence takes over my attention.

Her pupils grow larger, pushing out the blue in her irises. She swallows hard, and my eyes follow the movement in her throat, catching on the racing pulse visible in her delectable neck.

I push the rifle back toward her, our skins touching. The shiver running through her becomes a shiver up my spine.

She’s so close. The distance between us is completely erased, and I don’t want to put it back—ever. Ella lifts her head ever so slightly toward mine.

Her breath feathers my face. As my pulse throbs, I have to remind myself how to breathe.

“Ella,” I rasp, not recognizing my voice.

I’m not sure what I want to say. My mind is a blur.

Her tongue darts out to moisten her lips, and my gaze locks on their shiny redness, before lifting to lock with her sparkling blue eyes. They’re begging me to kiss her.

I want to—badly.

With each second that passes, the ache inside me grows.

I don’t move, blink, or breathe, not wanting to disturb this monumental moment.

We stare into each other’s eyes.

My skin prickles, my stomach cartwheeling.

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