Page 87 of A Better Place

I close one eye and look out through the lane, my vision secured on my target. I take a deep breath and squeeze the trigger. The force of the pull makes my arm go up in the air just slightly, but my feet don’t move. My body feels like a thousand jolts of electricity just shot through me, my heartbeat pounding so violently I can feel the pulse in my neck. I have no clue if I hit the target, and I can’t bring myself to care.

“How’d that feel?”

“Amazing!”

“You did so good, baby.”

One of James’s hands snakes around my waist and settles on my stomach. His mouth moves to my neck where he lays a lingering kiss, allowing his tongue to sneak out and shivers to wrack my body. I don’t know if it’s the proximity of him, or if it’s from the power I felt when I pulled the trigger, but, even though I felt stronger every day from the moment I walked away from Vince, I now feel the strength I have been searching for all along.

I place the gun gently on the counter and spin around as I pull off my protective gear. James follows suit quickly as I pull him closer to me. I place my slender fingers around his face and look into the eyes of the man who knows everything I need without me even knowing what it is. I want to show him that he deserves every ounce of love in this world, show him a love he wasn’t shown before. I want to kiss him every single day, and with each kiss, I want his heart and soul to know that he is loved forever.

I pull his face down to mine, and it’s obvious in his eyes that he knows. He knows he has my heart, and he’s never going to give it back. And I know I have his, and I hope like hell he sees the same thing in my eyes.

“Carly,” he moans, seconds before slamming his lips to mine. His arms wrap around my waist, bringing our centers together.

My arms hold tight around his neck. This kiss is so much more than simply endorphins firing. This is healing our hurts, overcoming our pasts. He’s somehow familiar, as if my heart has been beating his name all along, even before I stumbled into him and we locked eyes for the first time.

He’s warm and safe and strong and fierce — and every single thing I didn’t know I needed or wanted to have in my life again. But he is all of that and so much more. I want to crawl into him, become one and never let him go.

I feel his hardness press against my core, and I whimper into his mouth. His responding groan sends a rush of heat straight to my center. My stomach dips, and I fight for breath but never release my hold on my new forever.

James lifts his head from mine, and I protest by chasing him, pressing my lips to his once again and begging for entry. His tongue battles with mine, loving, caressing, rebuilding all those walls he tore down. But this time it’s for him, because no one else can ever get in. My heart is now restored… for him.

Slowly we part, both breathless, lips swollen and eyes glazed over.

“I plan on doing that for the next fifty years of our lives,” he tells me.

“I’m good with that plan,” I say, tears springing to my eyes.

“Took Harper to school,” he murmurs, his eyes still darting between mine.

“Yeah,” I agree, but his statement confuses me. “Wait. What?”

“Something that shouldn’t have changed my life forever, taking Harper to school. Is it bad if I say I’m so damn glad she broke her arm that night?”

A bubble of happiness pops in my soul, exploding like a firecracker of color. I cover my mouth with my hand and press my lips together. “Not bad.” I shake my head, trying not to laugh.

“What did I tell y’all about making out in my shooting range?” I hear Will shout, laughter filling his voice.

“Sorry, man. Couldn’t help myself,” James says, eyes still on me.

“Warned you!”

“Some things happen without warning,” he says quietly, but Will still hears him.

“Yeah, yeah, yeah. Come here when you’re cooled off, lover boy. I need to ask you something,” he says as he makes his way back into the front office.

“Ready to get out of here?”

“Not really,” I admit.

Obviously pleased by my response to the first part of the date, he stands up straight and puffs out his chest. “I did good?”

“Oh yeah, Captain. You did real good.”

“Want to shoot some more?”

“Absolutely.”

For the next thirty minutes, we shoot James’s gun. The first few shots of mine don’t even come close, but by the end of our time, I’ve successfully hit the target more often than not.

“Let’s get a move on to the second part. See if it’s as good as the first.”

“I don’t know if I can handle a second part.” I wink then walk slowly in front of him, trailing my fingertips down his arm as I pass.

“I’m rethinking the second part of this date,” James groans, making me giggle. He reaches out and jerks on my arm until we’re once again pressed tightly to each other. He brings me in for another scorching kiss before informing me, mouth still close to mine, his breath caressing my lips, “Next time we’re grabbing takeout.”

“Mmm. Good plan.” I reach up to kiss him softly on the mouth. “I’m gonna use the restroom while you’re chatting with Will.”

As I’m walking past him, he reaches over and swats me on the butt. And my insides shoot off like bottle rockets.

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