Chapter Four
It’s Thursday, and Ash is back in her rightful place—my arms. Well, in a way. At the moment I’m standing behind her, instructing her how to shoot a handgun.
“Okay, take a breath, hold it then pull the trigger.” I brush my hands up her outstretched arms and let her have at it. She squeezes the trigger and the gun fires several times.
“Holy shit.” She pauses.
“You okay?”
“Yeah, just wow.”
“Feel powerful, huh?”
“Hell yeah.” She points the barrel at the target and fires away again. “I see why you like this so much.” She places the gun down and turns to me. Her face is bright and youthful and oh so beautiful. I love spending time with her, no matter what we’re doing.
I push the button to retrieve her target. “Let’s see the damage.” I inspect the outlined silhouette of a man with rings around him. She didn’t even come close to the bullseye, but she did manage to hit his shoulder and abdomen. “Not bad for your first time, rookie.” I’m getting way too much enjoyment out of this.
“Well, since you’re the expert, show me how it’s done,” she taunts.
With pleasure.
I may not be good at everything, but I can say with an air of arrogance, I’m a great shot.
Ash steps back as I take my position. I hold up the .45 and without hesitation fire away. Eight rounds ring out consecutively, all hitting the target in the exact same spot. I exhale proudly as I spy my handiwork.
“Whoa,” Ash voices as the target slides towards us.
“X marks the spot.” The center of the target is blown to smithereens.
“You’re not kidding.” She laughs buoyantly.
“Ready to go again?” I reload her clip, loving every second of this.
“Hell yeah.” She jumps in front of me, ready for round two.
I step back and admire the woman standing before me. I drink her in from head to toe, appreciating the way her skintight jeans mold to her body, how her long black hair lies against her back, and her stance screams confidence.
Is it possible to have the best week of your life built on pure deception?
All I know is, when I’m with Ash, I have never felt more like myself. I have never felt freer or happier or more overprotective than I do right now. She’s getting under my skin, and I’m not doing a goddamn thing to stop it.
* * *
We aren’t back inside my fake apartment for more than five minutes before we start ripping each other’s clothes off. It’s been a hell of a day, but I’m so ready to make it a hell of a night, too. Ash seems to be in agreement as she rips my t-shirt over my head and attacks my chest with kisses.
Jesus, she feels so damn good.
It’s a frenzy of mouths and tongues and hands and moans. I can’t strip her naked fast enough, but once I do, it’s like a rush of oxygen to the brain. Ash completely bare and completely mine shifts my entire existence. She’s the epitome of a fantasy girl.Myfantasy girl, and I get to put my hands and lips wherever the hell I damn well please.
Lifting Ash into my arms, I walk us into the bedroom with our lips fused together and her legs locked around my waist. I search my brain frantically, trying to decide where I want to come.Inside hermy subconscious hisses, but I beat that notion away. I can’t sleep with her. I can’t take her virginity. It wouldn’t be right. If there’s one moral code I cannot break, it’s that one. No matter how much I want her, no matter how much she wants me. I can’t take her virginity under a cloud of deception.
If there is one thing Ash deserves, it’s honesty. Something real, something genuine. Not a cloud of lies creating a barrier.
“Eli, I need you to touch me.” Her plea is so earnest, it resonates through my whole body.
“You’ll never have to ask me twice.” I drop us onto the bed, the mattress bouncing from the force of our weight.
My hands fly all over her naked form, massaging her breasts, plucking her nipples, grabbing her ass. We’re rubbing and grinding and writhing against each other until our skin is on fire and our need is flaring.