The Sacrificial Lamb (32 page)

Her mouth dried up, and her hands shook as her finger squeezed the trigger. Since she’d already done this, she thought it would be easier the second time around, but it wasn’t. Alex exerted more pressure, and the gun went off. It was just as deafening and terrifying as before, but she managed to hold on to the weapon this time. The recoil pushed her arms up, even though it was a small gun, but Domenic kept her steady.

“Good,” he said in her ear. “See? Was that so bad?”

“Well, maybe not
that
bad.”

“Okay, fire once more. Then the next time, I won’t hold your hands steady.”

She looked back at Domenic, panic stricken, but he just smiled in reassurance.

“You’ll be fine, just—”

“
Don’t
drop the gun,” she finished. “Yeah, yeah, I got it.”

Alex fired the gun once more and found it was easier that time. She already had a feel for how much pressure to exert on the trigger and didn’t fight against the recoil. Instead she allowed her arms to jerk up after it fired. But Domenic was still bracing her hand, so she was a little apprehensive about firing the gun on her own.

“Are you ready?” Domenic asked, letting go of her hands.

Alex nodded grimly. Gripping the pistol, she took a deep breath and pulled the trigger. This time the recoil was more pronounced. Like before, she didn’t fight it and let her arms rise with the pressure. She glanced back at Domenic, smiling widely, quite proud of herself.

“How did that feel?”

“Pretty good, actually!”

“Good,” Domenic said, chuckling. “Do you want to do it again?”

“Yeah,” she said, surprised a little at her own enthusiasm. Once she got past her fear, it was kind of exhilarating firing the gun. Made her feel a little badass.

“Shouldn’t you be putting up a piece of paper or something for me to shoot at?”

“Not quite,” Domenic laughed. “Right now, I’d be surprised if you could hit the side of a barn.”

“Hey!” she said, turning and glaring at Domenic. He still looked amused, despite the fact she was holding a loaded gun in her hand.

“Alex, it takes a lot of practice to be able to hit actual targets,” he explained. “I just wanted you to get a feel for the gun. Know how to use it. You’re not going to be shooting anyone from a distance anyway.”

“Oh, I guess you’re right.” Alex was disappointed. She had visions of targets and exploding beer bottles in her head. “So no targets?” She couldn’t keep the wistful note out of her voice.

“Not today,” Domenic said, dropping a kiss on the top of her head.

“Later?”

“How about we just get you used to the gun first?”

“Okay.” Alex pulled up her arms to shoot the gun again, fixed her sight on a tree, and pulled the trigger. Of course she didn’t hit the tree, but she did see a chunk of bark fly off the one beside it, which made her feel better. Okay, so she wasn’t ever going to be a sharp shooter, but at least she was confident enough to know she could indeed hit the side of a barn if she had to. Alex smiled in smug satisfaction.

“Go again,” Domenic said behind her.

Alex aimed at that same tree, and this time bark flew from the tree on the other side. She had overcompensated and pointed the gun too far right this time.

“Are you aiming at something?”

“Yeah, that tree in the middle. I keep missing it.” She couldn’t keep the frustration out of her voice.

“Actually, you’re doing pretty good,” Domenic said.

“Really?” He was probably saying that just to make her feel better after the slight from before.

“Really. I expected your bullets to be flying wild still,” he mused. “Try again. This time hold the gun up closer to your face and close one eye. Use the sight at the end of the barrel to aim at the tree.”

Alex did as Domenic instructed and fired again. Bark flew off the outer curve of the tree she was aiming at. It wasn’t a direct hit, but it was still closer than she’d gotten before. She pointed the gun down and looked at Domenic. Her face split in a wide grin.

“That was a pretty good shot!”

“
Couldn’t hit the side of a barn
,” she scoffed, feeling pleased with herself.

“Easy there, Annie Oakley,” Domenic said. He took the gun from her and reloaded the chamber. “It could be beginner’s luck. Try a few more times. Then we’ll call it a day.”

“Oh.” Alex had started to enjoy herself, but she figured Domenic was right. It wasn’t safe to be out in the open too long, even if they did have a gun.

Alex tried to hit the tree a couple more times but missed. One bullet must have gone wild, because she didn’t see bark flying from any of the trees, and the second one hit two trees over. She frowned and dropped the gun to her side.

“I don’t get it.”

“It’s all right. It happens,” Domenic replied, rubbing her shoulder. “I think you got a little excited and lost your focus.”

“Can I try again?” she pleaded. Domenic looked around uneasily, peering through the trees.

“I think it’s better if we go back now. People hunt in these woods, but too many gunshots in a row may catch someone’s attention.”

Now it was her turn to look around nervously. She hadn’t thought of that. Domenic held out his hand for the pistol, so she handed it back to him. He checked it to make sure everything was in order and then tucked it back into the waistband of his shorts.

“Let’s go.”

He held his hand out to her once more, and she took it, signaling the end of her first gun lesson.

“Y
OU
S
LAPPED
M
E
P
RETTY
H
ARD
,” Domenic told Alex as they walked back to the cabin.

“I’m sorry,” she replied, pressing her lips together tightly. It was only when Domenic glanced down at her with an amused expression that she allowed the smile to surface.

“You’re not sorry.”

“I’m not sorry,” she answered. “You deserved it.”

“That’s questionable. Especially coming from a
pacifist
.”

Alex had enough sense to be abashed at his statement. He was right, she’d never lifted her hand in anger before. It completely went against her nature and was one of the reasons she had decided to teach special needs children. Usually her patience far exceeded her need to react. But there was something about Domenic that lit her fuse.

Noticing her sudden introspection, Domenic gave her a disarming smile and pulled her close to his side.

“I’m not upset,” he said sincerely. “Actually, I was quite proud of you. You used the technique I taught you in the cabin.”

“That’s true. But I wasn’t able to escape you the second time.”

“Hm. Well, I guess that means we need to practice, doesn’t it?”

The rest of the afternoon and early evening was all business. Alex followed Domenic back to the cabin to eat a simple lunch with what food they had left, before working on Alex’s self-defense lessons.

They worked for the next couple of hours on various wrist escapes, taking breaks in between. When Domenic was satisfied with her progress, they moved on to strangle holds, again stopping to eat a hasty dinner. Last time they tried this, Alex had gone running away because she couldn’t handle Domenic being so close. The intimate nature of his touch had been too hard to resist. After what had happened this morning, however, some of that tension had dissipated. The flipside was that now instead of feeling the need to escape him, she wanted to get closer.

Domenic had discarded his shirt, and that hadn’t helped things. His perfectly sculpted chest and taut stomach taunted her, begging to be stroked. Domenic’s hair was sweat-soaked because the cabin still hadn’t cooled down after the heat wave, and he slicked it back to keep it out of his eyes. Alex tried to keep her mind on their lesson, but it was becoming more and more difficult.

Finally Domenic stepped away from her and flopped down on the couch. She joined him gratefully, ready for a break, and sat sideways so her back was against the arm of the couch. Alex pulled her shirt away from her chest, grimacing. The fan was running, but it provided scant relief. Since all of the windows in the cabin were screwed shut, it was difficult to air it out. She had managed to find a cheap rubber elastic in one of the kitchen drawers to pull her hair up, but small wisps escaped and curled in tendrils around her face. The feeling of the air on her as it blew her hair back was wonderful.

“I
really
need a shower.”

“Me, too,” Domenic agreed. Their gazes locked, and a slow smile spread on his face. “I believe you made me a deal in the woods.”

“That was a one-time offer.”

“Really?” Domenic replied, reaching out to draw a finger down between her breasts.

“Yes,” she said faintly, not even convincing herself.

“Is there any way I can convince you otherwise?” Picking up her hand, he placed a kiss in the middle of her palm, flicking it with his tongue. A ripple shot through her midsection.

“Uh…maybe?”

Domenic’s lips trailed up her arm. When he got to the juncture of her elbow he paused, opening his mouth and sucking the tender flesh between his lips. The ripple turned into a tidal wave as desire swept through her. Domenic looked up at Alex from under his lashes, and she could see his lips curve slightly. She decided right then that Domenic D’Angelo was evil. Evil and impossible to resist.

He began kissing up her arm again. When he reached her shoulder, she was leaning back against the armrest of the couch, and he was holding himself suspended above her. His lips moved across the slope of her shoulder and continued up her neck. When he got to her ear, he sucked on the lobe, making her tremble.

“Are you convinced yet?” he asked in a husky voice.

Turning her head, she pressed her lips against his, tasting the salt on them. The kiss became heated within an instant, and Domenic lowered his body onto hers. Alex wrapped her legs around him and found him very ready. It still boggled her mind that this man wanted her—badly by the feel of things. It was just their circumstance that was igniting this type of passion in them both, but she was enjoying being sinful for once in her life. Alex understood the draw of this particular bad boy, and even if it was temporary, she was going to live life to the fullest.

Since Domenic already had his shirt off, she took advantage by running her hands over his chest. Alex slid her thumbs over his nipples and heard a hiss escape him. Breaking the kiss, she pushed him back and ran her tongue over one hard nub. They were both sticky and sweaty from their exertions, but that just added to the excitement. She bit Domenic’s chest lightly, and he placed a hand at the back of her head, making a low noise of pleasure.

“Ah, fuck the shower,” Domenic groaned, getting up and pulling her off the couch. He lowered his head and backed her toward the bedroom while kissing her. Alex assumed he knew where he was going and just enjoyed the ride.

Their hands were all over one another. He managed to get her nude from the waist up as they made a slow progression to the bed. Domenic pulled her shorts down and placed his hand between her legs. He groaned when he found out just how excited she was. Unable to wait until she was fully naked, he slipped two fingers inside of her, and she gasped at the suddenness of it.

Alex tugged at his shorts to free him from the clothing keeping them separated. This was difficult to accomplish while Domenic pumped his fingers in and out of her. Finally she just gave up and thrilled to the sensations he was unleashing in her. His lips had found hers again, and Alex was kissing him frantically as he stroked her. Domenic curled his fingers, and her eyes flew open as he hit a particularly sensitive spot.

“Oh,” she exclaimed, arching back to give him better access as his hands played her body expertly.

“Fuck!” she huffed as she felt tingles begin at the top of her head and shoot down, spreading outward.

Unable to control herself, Alex leaned forward and placed her forehead against Domenic’s shoulder as she drowned in sensation. Her orgasm hit her fast and hard, and her legs were threatening to collapse. Domenic tightened his grip to keep her steady until she stopped shaking.

When her climax subsided, he leaned her back till she was lying on the bed. It took a second to untangle her clothing from around her legs, and he tossed them behind him. Alex hadn’t managed to remove his shorts, so Domenic stripped them off and joined her on the bed. He reached into the nightstand, grabbed a condom, and put it on.

“I want you,” he said raggedly. “I can’t wait.”

Alex nodded, and he crawled between her legs, settling his hips against hers. In one strong sure thrust he was inside her, both of them groaning in delight. She wrapped one arm around his waist, grasping his ass in her hand, urging him to take her hard. Domenic began moving his hips, his arms on either side of her, keeping his weight off her body. Alex leaned up, threw her other arm around his shoulders, and dragged him down on top of her.