He reaches into his case and pulls out a box of bullets, shaking a few into his hand. “You load them one at a time into the cylinder here. This is the hammer. You have to pull it back before you can shoot.” He toggles it back and forth to demonstrate. “Remember, you should only be pointing the gun at the target, or it should be down on the counter with the safety on. Always keep the safety on. You don’t want it to go off accidentally.” He hands the revolver back to me. “Now, let’s run through your posture and get the feel of shooting.”
He crosses behind me and then his hands are on my hips, nudging my leg over to widen my stance, positioning me at just the right angle.
Christ on a cracker.I hadn’t even considered this. Are his hands going to be all over me for the next hour? My poker face is going to get a serious workout.
“Since you’re right-handed you’re going to hold it like this.” He demonstrates, grabbing my arms and clasping them in front of me, placing my right index finger into the trigger and curling his fingers around my left hand to show me how to brace the butt of the gun. Then he moves behind me again and stretches his arms around mine, holding me in position. Every inch of his body is wrapped around mine.
Welp, I was wrong before—thisis what hell feels like. Lady parts onfire, surrounded on all sides by a man I’d like nothing more than to roll in sugar and eat for dessert. A bead of sweat forms between my breasts and slides down my belly. This sweater was a mistake of epic proportions.
I will myself to calm down; I’m shaking and I don’t want the gun to slip out of my hands. “What happens if I accidentally drop the gun?”
“It could go off.”
“What?!”I nearly drop it right then.
“Calm down. You’re not going to drop it.” He looks entirely unconcerned.
“You don’t know that.”
When I hear his voice next, he’s speaking into my right ear from behind. I jolt at his proximity.
“Now practice shooting it. Since it’s not loaded you won’t feel a recoil. When you shoot for real, there will be a kickback. That’ll be the scariest part for you. I can’t really explain how that feels until you experience it for yourself.”
He finally steps away and I let out an unsteady breath, then set my feet in the stance he’s instructed and look to him in question. When he nods his approval, I slide my gaze back to the target, close my eyes, and squeeze the trigger.
“Not bad. You should probably keep your eyes open, though.” He’s laughing. “How did it feel?”
“Like I’m Olivia Benson onLaw & Order.”
He laughs again and I relax another inch. Making Ben laugh is like a drug. I crave the sound, each hit feeding my habit.
His mouth still twisted in a smile, he picks up the bullets and loads them into the chamber. “All right. Now we’re going to try that with ammunition.”
“Oh no. No, no, no. I’m not ready for that yet. You need to go first.”
He opens his mouth to protest, then closes it, considering. “Okay. If that’ll make you feel more comfortable.”
He moves to his bag and pulls out another gun, this one a little bigger. I step closer to inspect it.
“What is this gun? How is it different?”
He smirks. “Getting interested now, are we?”
I make a face, but the truth is Iaminterested now. I’m naturally curious—a lifelong learner—and my inner nerd demands to know everything there is to know about something. I realize with sudden clarity that I want to impress Ben. Sure, I didn’t want to do this, but now that I’m here I have a new goal: dazzle him with my sniper-level marksmanship.
Ben takes my place at the counter and lines up his shot. It’s strange to see him in this mode: so serious and authoritative and un-Ben-like. He looks as comfortable with a gun in his hands as he does discussing exemptions and withholdings.
“Do you see how I’m holding this? Firmly, with both hands, but don’t choke the trigger. A light touch is all you need.”
Choke the trigger. Light touch.Good God, must everything he says sound so sexual?
He motions for me to come closer. “Feel how I’m gripping it. You can close one eye or keep both eyes open, whatever feels more natural for you.”
Great idea. I’ll just drape myself over him and close my eyes. That won’t be problematic.
I eye him doubtfully but step closer and mimic his stance. I press myself against his right side, laying my arm over his to simulate his grip. I’m locked into his body like a puzzle piece, my front to his back, closer than a shadow. I pray he can’t feel my heart hammering through ourflimsy cotton layers. When he looks back at me in question I nod like I’ve got it, but spoiler alert: All I’ve got is a raging case of Ben-lust.
Once I move away he fires a couple of rounds, the bullets hitting the target right in the outlined chest box. I jerk-jump like a dancing marionette after each one. He sets the gun down on the counter calmly and turns to face me.
