American Made (Against the Tides #2) (8 page)

I stare blankly at him and wonder when he’s going to shout that he’s just kidding and tell me to go home and sulk because my life as I know it is over. “I still don’t understand.”

“There’s a sniper position opening up on my team soon,” Rush speaks up. “They’re recruiting people but you’d have a better shot with me pullin’ for you.”

“Didn’t you ask how a girl in a sling could protect anyone the other night in the bar?”

“Yeah, I made an assumption that was wrong so I decided to do my homework on you. I won’t lie, I was impressed.”

“So what? You guys wanna watch me fail at shootin’ this gun so you can have a good laugh?”

Gentry slides off the table and crowds my space. I wait for Knox to snap and start yelling, but he doesn’t. “We wanna help you,” Gentry says. “If you don’t want this and you wanna go find another career, our feelings won’t be hurt. But if you wanna push forward and try for that spot on Rush’s team we wanna help you.”

“You’re OK with workin’ with a woman, Rush?”

“Honey, havin’ a pussy instead of a dick doesn’t mean a thing when it comes to skills. Your record speaks for itself and if you want help, I’m here.”

I really don’t have to think about it even though I know I should. I shouldn’t just throw my hat into the ring again without weighing my options, it puts me back where I feel like I know what I’m doing but I’d get to go home every night instead of to a cot.

“Where do we start?” I try to hide my smile but there’s no use. I needed this and we all know it. Rush and Knox high-five but Gentry makes no effort to move. His eyes stay fixated on my lips and even though I feel like I want to kiss him I decide against it. His smile doesn’t falter when I step around him so I know he wasn’t actually expecting me to kiss him right now anyway.

“Well, until you’re cleared to use your arm again we’ll work on the table instead of the ground or standing,” Knox talks as he sets everything up in the center of the table the guys were sitting on. When he turns around, he pins me with his eyes. “Are you sure you wanna do this?”

I know he’s not actually questioning if I want to do it, but if I think I can. To be honest after what happened when I first got here I’m surprised he didn’t pull the plug already.

“Want to, yes. And to answer the question that you refuse to voice… I don’t know if I can or not until I try.”

“Good enough for me.” He nods and I climb onto the seat behind the rifle they set up, instantly feeling at home.

The woman in front of me making adjustments to the rifle is a major difference from the one that I left in her house the other day. It’s a big improvement from the girl that thought she was weak. After she jumped when she first got here and someone took a shot, I honestly didn’t expect to get her back here. Once again, I’m proven wrong. 

“OK, so we didn’t have time to find you a left handed rifle so this will have to do for now,” Rush explains.

“Not a big deal,” she tells him. Reaching across to the right side of the gun, she pulls the bolt back with her left hand, loads a round into the breech, and then pushes the bolt forward again. She does everything with her left hand without a problem so far. It isn’t until she bends to look through the barrel that she has an issue. “This has to go,” she mutters, pulling the sling strap over her head.

I step forward and drop down next to her. Grabbing her elbow, I help slide the sling off even though I don’t want to. She winks at me and I can’t help but smile back.

“Calm your tits, I only have a few more days with that fuckin’ thing anyway and I’ll put it back on as soon as I’m done.”

“I didn’t say anything,” I mumble.

“You didn’t have to. I can see it in your eyes, now put your earmuffs on.”

We all do as she says as she adjusts hers, pulling them into place over one side of her head so she can hear us but so we don’t get in trouble if management comes out and sees us. Locking the butt of the gun against her left shoulder, she wraps her right hand over the top of the stock and peers down the scope.

I can’t hear anything that’s being said between Emerson and Rush but I don’t care at this point, watching her in her element is hot as hell. She makes a few adjustments on the scope before covering her other ear as the guys stand up and get out of her way. She flips the safety off and settles her left index finger against the trigger. For a second she runs her finger over the trigger to get accustomed to using that hand. Her lips move but I can’t make out what she’s saying and it feels like time slows down as we wait to see if she’ll actually be able to pull the trigger. I almost tell her to stop because it’s taking so long but before I have a chance, she pulls the trigger.

The shot echoes around us. Emerson reaches for the bolt again while waiting to hear what Rush says about the shot. I don’t pay attention to them, instead I focus on the way Emerson’s chest is shuddering with every breath. I grab her earmuffs and toss them to the table. Gripping her chin, I force her to look at me.

“Are you good? You kinda look like you’re about to panic.” Holding up her finger, she silently tells me to wait and even though I don’t want to, I do. She drags a few deep breaths in before nodding.

“I’m fine,” she whispers. “Just had to catch my breath but I’m OK.” Emerson closes her eyes for a minute and when they open again she’s back to the calm woman that was sprawled across my lap ordering dirty things from McDonald’s. “How was that, Rush?”

“Not bad at all,” he says. Reaching across the table, he fist bumps Knox before dropping the binoculars. “Needs practice no doubt, but not bad for your first shot with your non-dominant side.”

“How’s your shoulder?” Knox pipes up from beside me. She rolls her head to the side, shifting her body as she does.

“It’s fine.” Reloading the gun, she hauls her earmuffs back on without looking at us. “Again.”

For about an hour we let her run rounds through the rifle without a break but when the pain becomes evident when every move she makes, we tell her she has to stop. She reaches into her bag and pops a pain pill when she thinks no one is paying attention and I help her back into her sling. Rush grabs everything and heads for his truck after telling her that he will help her any time she wants it. I help her stand up and maneuver around the bench. 

Knox bends and kisses the top of her head. “You did good today.”

“Shocking.” She laughs. “I can do something I’ve spent years trainin’ to do.”

“Most people can’t shoot with the opposite hand like that, Emerson. Don’t downplay what you did today. It’s a step toward a new career if you want it.” She nods but stays quiet. “I gotta head out. Love you, Em.”

“Love you too,” she says when she realizes he said something. She shakes her head before reaching out and grabbing his arm, pulling him to a stop. “I went to Ari’s today. It’s actually where I came from. It’s wasn’t good.”

I sit back down so they can talk privately and after a few minutes Knox shakes his head sadly and leaves without another word. I push off the bench and step up behind her. I figure I’d be pushing my luck right now if I try to touch her so I just stand there and wait to see what she needs. She shocks me by spinning around and pressing herself against me. I wrap my arms around her when she buries her face into my neck. This should be freaking me out and making me want to sprint away as fast as I can but it doesn’t. All it does is confuse me more.

“I need an honest opinion since Knox will say anything to make to make up for bein’ an asshole the other day.”

“OK, honest opinion of what?”

“Do you think I can do this?” she whispers. 

“Yeah,” I tell her honestly. “After what I saw today, I do. If it’s what
you
want to do, anyway.”

“I felt at home behind that gun. I felt like myself. I forgot what that was like but I’m still not sure why I freaked out when I first got here.”

I chuckle and tip her head back so I can look at her, hating that she looks so confused. “Because you got shot, dumbass. Bein’ jumpy around gunfire is normal after bein’ shot. You obviously came out of it after a few rounds.”

“Yeah.” She smiles, ignoring my dumbass comment. “It felt good to feel like I knew what I was doin’ for a bit.”

“Mhm, and you looked good doin’ it too.”

She laughs. “What?”

I grab her chin again. “You’re hot as hell when you’re in your element, you know that?”

“Oh yeah?” She pushes away from me and grins. “Is that the only time you think I’m hot?”

“No.” I laugh. I have a hard time catching my breath when she slides her hand under the hem of her shirt, exposing her toned stomach. “Fuck no. All you have to do to have my cock beggin’ to be touched is breathe in my vicinity.”

“Good to know.” Emerson winks at me before spinning and heading toward the parking lot. Her hips swing with each step and it drives me insane. 

“How the fuck can I want someone so much that I only met a few days ago?” I call out as she reaches for the door handle on her truck.

“Infatuation,” she yells back over her shoulder. I take a few long strides and press myself against her back, forcing her chest against the truck. I make sure I don’t press hard enough to hurt her and scrape my teeth across the junction of her neck and shoulder. She moans, rolling her head to the side for me. “I have a theory, wanna know what it is?” I nod against her skin and wait to see what she has to say. “My theory is if we get it out of our systems we won’t want each other as much.”

Doubtful
.

“And why’s that?”

“Because I don’t wanna want you as much as I do and I think that feelin’ you touchin’ me and gettin’ it out of my system will help.”

“What if I don’t wanna stop wantin’ you? What then?”

“You will. My appeal will diminish the second you get what you really want.” She pushes me back using her ass and opens the door of the truck, jumping in. “Follow me.”

I shake my head because I know I shouldn’t be doing whatever it is we’re about to do, but I follow her anyway. She turns down a series of back roads until she pulls off to the side. I’m glad someone other than myself knows their way around the outskirts of the city. Emerson tosses her hand out the window and crooks her finger, telling me to get out of my truck and come to her. I jump out of my truck and make my way to hers, climbing up into the passenger side of the cab.

“This has to work,” she says. 

I can already tell it isn’t going to fix anything and if it does anything, it will only make me want her more. She scoots across the seat and flips over so she’s straddling my lap. My hands fall to her hips and tug her closer.

“You don’t get to hate me if this doesn’t work,” I whisper against her throat. “I’m only doin’ this for you.”

“Yeah,” Emerson laughs. “You’re just doin’ it for me.” Leaning forward, she presses her lips against my ear and rocks her hips against my dick. “You might wanna tell that lie to your cock. He didn’t seem to get the message.”

“Oh, don’t worry. He’ll get it loud and clear when I get out of this truck after gettin’ you off and he hasn’t been touched.”

“What?” Her gaze snaps to mine and I can tell she’s starting to wonder what the hell I’m talking about. 

“You didn’t say anything about fuckin’. You said you wanted to feel me touch you, so that’s what’s gonna happen.”

I slip my hands under the hem of her shirt and push it up her body until her tits are showing. Reaching around her, I undo her bra clasp with a snap of my fingers. I don’t give her a chance to think about the fact that her tits just tumbled out of her bra before sucking her nipple into my mouth. I roll my tongue over it as it hardens and I know the second she breaks and gives into me. Her hand flies to my head, holding me where I am as she rocks her hips.

“Do you need something?” I ask, pulling back only long enough to speak. When I drop my head again, I drag my teeth across her nipple and make her gasp.

“Touch me. Fuckin’ hell I don’t care what you do, just touch me.”

I know as soon as I take this further there’s no going back. For the first time ever, I don’t care. I don’t know her and I know that it’s purely infatuation like she said, but I’m not afraid of figuring out what this is going to become. I undo the button on her jeans and slide my hands into the back, cupping her ass. 

Pulling her up, I slide her jeans over her ass and down to the middle of her thighs. Kneading her ass with one hand, I move the seat back with the other. I let go of her nipple and lean back in the seat. Her face is already flush and I can see how much she wants this. I pull her against my chest and slide the red lace down until they meet her jeans. I let the tips of my fingers graze her thighs and ass until her body starts to quiver. 

“You gonna let me do whatever I want?”

“Anything, yes,” she pants. “Just please stop teasin’ me. I haven’t had an orgasm in longer than I can remember and it’s been longer since it was by someone else’s hand.”

“That’s a shame,” I whisper against her chest. “A body like this should be touched every day.”

I tease her for another for seconds before finally caving. I need to touch her just as much as she needs it. Gripping her ass in one hand again, I run the fingers of my other hand lightly across her pussy lips, tickling her gently. She’s already wet so when I spread her open with my fingers, I have no issue driving two deep inside of her.

Emerson digs her fingernails into my shoulder as her body bows. Her hips rock against my hand but I don’t give her a chance to get used to what I’m doing before I pull my fingers out and slide them along her ass. I roll them across her asshole and wait for her tell me no.

“More,” she begs, shocking me. “Please.”

I put pressure on her ass with my fingers and she cries out in pleasure when one slips into her. Grabbing the back of her head, I pull her down against my lips and thrust my tongue onto her mouth.

“I really wanna bury my tongue in your pussy right now.”

“Yes, please,” she whispers against my mouth. 

I barely have time to pull my finger out of her before she’s scurrying onto her back as fast as she can without hurting herself. I twist until I’m kneeling on the floorboard and grab her hips, tugging her toward me again. I push one of her legs out of my way, hooking her heel over the back of the seat. Without me even asking, she proves her flexibility and uses the steering wheel to hold her other leg out of my way. The position she gets herself into leaves her spread wide open for me and I wouldn’t want it any other way.