Chapter 25
Her request for a pistol surprised the hell out of him, but he understood. Neither one of them had a weapon. They'd left everything behind.
He'd feel better if she could defend herself, and she needed to feel like she had power, not just protection.
Hunter studied her face, the determination in her eyes. "Ever shot one before?"
Annie shook her head.
He weighed the pros and cons. She was a level-headed woman. Strong. Brave.
He nodded. "Tell your sister she can come outside or stay inside, but we're going outside for a half hour."
She spoke, but he couldn't read her lips. He tipped her chin, running the pad of his thumb over her bottom lip.
"Repeat it," he said.
"We're going outside, right now?"
He nodded. She frowned and went into the bedroom. He walked to the door, pulled out his phone, and texted Cruz, letting him know where they'd be and what they were doing.
When she returned, he guided her through the clubhouse, down the hall, and out the back door into the connected garage. The scent of oil hung in the air.
Hunter slipped into a side room, returning with a Ruger Mark IV and a box of subsonic ammo. Quiet rounds, but he knew better than to trust "quiet."
He pulled a couple of foam-in-earplugs from his pocket. He held them out to her.
Annie frowned. "We're shooting a gun?"
"Yeah." He slipped the pistol under his belt. "Protect your ears. They say it's a quiet gun. One that won't draw attention to what we're doing. But I want your ears protected anyway."
Her lips parted, the weight of his words sinking in. She pinched the foam and put the plugs in her ears. All he needed when he was younger was for one person to protect him, and he would still have his hearing.
He'd be that person for Annie.
Outside, under the night sky, he showed her how to hold the pistol, line up the sights, and gently squeeze the trigger rather than jerk it. Then, he showed her how to load the bullets into the magazine and arm the gun.
Once, she unloaded and loaded the weapon ten times, and he covered the pistol with his hand. "Now shoot. Aim toward that mound of dirt."
They were only twenty feet away from the target. She couldn't miss. Tonight was more about getting comfortable holding a weapon. Not letting the process scare her. Most importantly, respecting the pistol.
Holding her right arm up, she closed her left eye. He stood behind her, tapping her left arm, reminding her to brace the pistol. While this gun had soft recoil, others would be more powerful. She had to h
She fired. Dirt kicked up from the mound they used as a backdrop.
Hunter corrected her grip, adjusted her stance. Again. And again.
She loaded, shot, and reloaded ten times, each round going smoother than the last. Her confidence grew, her movements more determined.
When he was satisfied, he led her back into the garage.
Hunter disappeared into the private room, the one that only patched members could enter. He came out carrying something heavier and deadlier. A pistol that could cause more damage, capable of dropping any man within twenty feet.
He didn't let her practice with it here. It was too loud. Too dangerous.
But he placed it in her hands, his eyes locking with hers. "If you want protection. This is it."
She looked down at the weapon, weighing it in her hand. Hunter's chest tightened as he watched her grip the pistol while keeping her finger off the trigger. He hated that it had come to this. Hated that she needed it at all.
But if he failed to take Jason out, and her brother-in-law came close. She wouldn't be helpless again.
He held out a box of bullets for the pistol to her. She took them and then set them on the ground, gently placing the pistol at her feet as well, as if it were a grenade that might explode if she dropped it.
Lost in watching her, he was surprised when she suddenly threw herself at him, wrapping her arms around his neck. He grabbed her hips, holding her close. She tilted her head back, standing on her toes to kiss him.
He claimed her mouth. His balls throbbed with the taste of her.
She lowered the pistol, her chest rising and falling with adrenaline. When she turned to him, her eyes burned—not just with determination, but arousal.
The tension snapped.
Every wall he'd built—every reason he'd told himself to keep her at arm's length—crumbled.
They moved together, the kiss deepening. Getting involved with her was dangerous. He wasn't the man she deserved. But in that moment, with her pressed against him, none of it mattered.
He slid his thumbs under the waist of her jeans and slowly pulled the fabric over her hips, bringing her panties along with it. She squirmed in front of him but kept the kiss going. He then lifted his head, took his wallet from his pocket, and pulled out a condom.
Annie's hands slid underneath his vest, grabbing his stomach, his chest, his sides.
His cock pulsed harder, and he moved his pistol to his vest pocket.
By the time he got to his belt, his touch wasn't as steady.
All he could think about was grabbing his dick and getting it out of the confinement of his jeans.
And then he was free. He inhaled deeply, rolling the condom on. Annie grabbed at his vest, pressing herself against him. He walked her to the car in the bay.
"Put your hands on the car." He ran his fingers over her bare hips.
He never took a woman from behind. From that position, he couldn't read her lips. He wouldn't be able to see if she told him to stop. His toes curled inside his boots. But damn if he didn't want to bend her over and fuck her.
He pulled his own pistol out of his pocket, placed it on the hood of the car within her reach, and hoped like hell she would use it on him if he ever hurt her.
Annie widened her stance until her jeans puddled around her ankles, holding her captive. He tilted her ass and plunged his cock inside her pussy.
She moved onto her tiptoes, nearly losing her grip on the car. Sweat broke out on his forehead. It killed him not to move. Desire already had him holding her, showing her who she belonged to. He'd never felt that way with anyone else.
Sex was just sex. Every woman who entered the clubhouse, eager to party with the members, was there to find pleasure. He took it readily, without hesitation.
But this felt different with Annie.
He wanted to make her happy. He wanted to make sure her orgasm was the best thing she'd ever had.
She tossed her hair behind her, raising her head. He stopped, breathing hard.
Annie shook her head. He grabbed her hips, trying to pull away as she reached behind to slap at his hip. He paused, then pushed into her. She bounced on the toes of her sneakers, taking every inch of him.
His cock pulsed, becoming harder, bigger, and thicker. She couldn't be clearer in indicating what she wanted. He held her hips and drove all the way in until his thighs slapped the back of her legs.
Her head lifted higher, and her fingers curled as she struggled to hold onto the car in front of her. He collided with her, grinding against her backside. Her desire set the pace. He thrust into her forcefully, keeping her on her feet.
The sweet heat coated his cock. Her pussy squeezed down on him. He reached around her without losing his grip on her hip and cupped her breast. Each moment set that perfect handful swaying. He thrust in short, fast motion.
Her hair tickled his hand. The arch of her back deepened. Sliding his hand up, he cupped the front of her neck, holding her in front of him and fucking her harder.
Beneath his palm, the cords on her neck spasmed. She rose on her toes, and her body ignited. He clung on as her orgasm wracked her. The extra stimulation tightened around him. His testicles throbbed. Spurt after spurt erupted from him as pleasure shot from his tailbone up his spine.
He slowed, rocking back onto the heels of his boots and pulling her with him, holding her gently against his chest. His cock slipped out of her, and he shuddered at the loss.
Annie looked over her shoulder and up into his face. He kissed her.
Her body sagged. He lifted her up until she got her balance, and then he stepped away to take off the condom. Tying a knot in the end, he dropped the used protection in the trash.
Annie pulled her jeans up. He watched her as he tucked himself in and buckled his belt.
She pressed her hand to her chest. He tilted her face toward him.
"Okay?" he asked.
"Thank you...back someday."
He turned her so he could see her better in the light coming from the back hallway. "What?"
"I'll pay you back someday." She glanced at the floor.
He followed her gaze to the pistol and box of ammo. There would be no point in using the weapon. She was going to stay inside the clubhouse. He would take care of Jason as soon as he figured out a good way to reach him without any witnesses.
She reached up and kissed him. "I should get back to Leigh."
He took her hand and led her back through the clubhouse, so no one bothered her, then let her go into the room alone. Right now, he needed a shot of whiskey.
He could feel himself becoming more involved with her. Once this was finished, she'd realize she could have any man she wanted. One who would have no trouble protecting her.