She tries again. Still off, but closer. I step in behind her once more, molding my front to her back, one hand on her hip, the other guiding her arms. Her ass presses against me, and I have to fight the urge to grind into her.
“You’re doing good,” I tell her, lips brushing her ear.
She fires again. This time the bullet hits the outer ring. She lets out a small, surprised laugh.
“See?” I say, squeezing her hip. “You’re getting there.”
We continue like that for a while. I correct her stance, her grip, her breathing. Every time my hands linger on her body, I feel her shiver. My cock is half-hard the entire time, pressed against her ass when I stand behind her.
Even though she misses more than she hits, she’s good. Naturally coordinated. Quick to learn. I’m impressed.
I spend the next hour showing her everything. How to reload a gun quickly, how to clear a jam, how to dismantle and reassemble it. She’s a fast learner.
Every time she repeats the motion correctly, I feel a strange surge of pride.
She pauses after loading the magazine again, biting her lower lip. “Are you still disappointed that I had a gun?”
I meet her eyes. “No. I’m not disappointed you have one. I always planned to get you one eventually. You’ll always have guards when you’re not with me, but you should know how to protect yourself.”
She looks down at the weapon in her hands. I step closer, tilting her chin up so she has to look at me.
“But I am disappointed that you thought you needed it to protect yourself from me.”
She opens her mouth to deny it, but I give her a look that makes her shut it again. Her shoulders drop slightly.
“I wasn’t sure. I didn’t know what kind of man you were. After the way I grew up...” she admits quietly.
I brush my thumb across her lower lip, pulling it gently from between her teeth. “I understand that with the kind of father you had, the kind of home you came from… it makes sense. But I need you to hear me, Calina. I would never hurt you. I would never raise a hand to you. You are my first priority. My wife. I will always put you first. I will always protect you.”
Tears glisten in her eyes. She blinks them back quickly. “Thank you.”
“Don’t thank me. It’s my duty as your husband.”
She nods, then turns back to the target. We continue practicing in silence for a while. She’s improving fast. When she finally hits the bull’s eye dead center, I can’t help the small smile that tugs at my lips.
“Well done,” I say, squeezing her shoulder. “You’re a natural.”
We’ve been out here for hours. The sun is fully up now. “Let’s head back. We can continue another time. You need breakfast.”
On the way back to the house, my phone rings. It’s Artyom. I answer immediately. “What is it?”
“The scout I put on Adrian just reported in,” he says. “Adrian made an appointment at The Obsidian Lounge this evening. We’re not sure who he’s meeting, but it could be our mole.”
My grip tightens on the phone. “Send me the details. I’ll check it out myself.”
I end the call and my phone immediately pings with the details of Adrian’s appointment at The Obsidian Lounge.
I stare at the message. I hope whoever the bastard is working with shows up. If it’s one of my own men, I’ll make his death slow and painful. If Adrian is truly behind the attack on my wedding, on my wife, I’ll make sure he suffers for days before I end him.
We pull up to the mansion and step inside. Calina’s voice pulls me out of the dark spiral in my head.
“The staff hasn’t resumed yet.”
“I gave them the day off,” I reply. “The whole house is ours today.”
She nods. “I'll make breakfast then. What would you like?”
“Anything. I don’t mind.”
