Chapter 4
EVAN
I'm always a fast worker, but this morning I'm on fire. Not because it's one of the rare days where I'm working with Marty. I have to finish up in time to get Zinnia to Sandersville Open Range before anyone else arrives.
I don't want to share her. Don't want her to be distracted by others. Most of all, I need her to be in a calm environment as I explain the safety protocols.
Even though I arrive five minutes early, Zinnia is already waiting out front on the sidewalk. I automatically wrap an arm around her when I get to her side. "If it's ever dark out when I come to get you, you wait inside behind both locked doors. Okay?"
Zinnia looks at me like I'm nuts. "It's broad daylight." She gestures to a mother walking by with a stroller. "I'm pretty sure I'm safe."
"Now, yes. At night, please wait inside. Is that reasonable?"
Even though I'm completely serious, she looks adorable trying to pull a stern face while at the same time trying not to laugh. "Sure."
I help her into my truck, using the opportunity to caress her hips. Then I lean over, buckling her in.
"I'm perfectly capable of fastening my own seatbelt, thank you."
I grin. "But this way I get to fuss over you and do…this." Adjusting the strap across her hips, I run my hands around the curve of her jeans, then tilt her head back, nuzzling her throat. "Safe and sound?" I whisper.
"Yeah," she breathes. Then she smiles. "I'm not sure about my lips, though. Are they safe, do you think?"
"And here I was trying to control myself." Kissing her gently, I don't even care that her sisters might be peeking out the windows. I hope that everyone on the street sees us together.
I need everyone to know that Zinnia is my girl.
She seems genuinely excited when we reach the range. I unlock the door and turn on the lights as she follows me, looking around carefully. "Weird. You teach indoors?"
"To start, yes." Taking her hand, I lead her down a hallway to a back window. "On clear days we use that field to teach outdoors so that people can get a feel for the wind. But first we start in a controlled indoor environment."
"So it's kind of like bowling?" she asks. "People come in groups to have a beer and compete against their friends?"
"Yep, except that they only have a beer after they shoot, never before."
I run her through the basics of scoring and distances. Then it comes time for the part I've been looking forward to.
"Let's start you off with perfect form."
"Okay."
I love how open-minded she is. Honestly, I feel like I could ask Zinnia if she would like to come apple-picking in Albania, and she would be up for it.
I have to put the question out there. Taking her hand, I ask, "Zinnia, does it bother you that I'm more than ten years older than you?"
Smiling softly, she steps closer. "No. Because you don't treat me like a child." Her head tilts. "You do seem a bit overprotective, but I feel like that's a guy thing, not an older guy thing."
My hands wrap around her hips, pressing our bodies together. "I already have intense feelings for you, Zinnia. I can't stand the thought of anything bad happening to you. So yeah – I'm already protective." Reaching my hand into the back of her long, wavy hair, I tilt her lips to mine.
This time we're completely alone. She picks up on that vibe immediately, pressing her breasts against my chest. Untucking her shirt at the back, my palm slowly drifts up her spine. "Yes?"
Her soft giggle makes me hard as rock. "Yes."
Even though my jeans are suddenly uncomfortably tight, I hold my hips slightly away from hers, resisting the urge to grind against her. She doesn't take the hint, though, pressing against me as tightly as she can, opening her lips for a deep, intoxicating kiss.
"You're driving me crazy," I groan, sliding my hand higher. Then a shudder runs through me. Leaning back, I watch her nipples tighten through her t-shirt. "No bra today?"
Zinnia laughs. "You said I shouldn't wear anything that restricts my movement. I hate those stupid things."
I lean back a bit more, sliding my hands to cup her luscious breasts under her shirt. Her hands wind around the back of my neck, pulling me in for another kiss.
At first I assumed I should go slowly, that Zinnia might be nervous. Instead, she is clearly on board with what we're doing, and it feels like she wants everything. If anything, I'm going to be the one slowing us down.
Her tongue entwines with mine as our kiss deepens while my thumbs gently caress her tight nipples.
Her breasts are so soft as my hands roam over her skin, enjoying every gasping sound she makes.
If we weren't standing in the middle of the range I would lie her down, strip her naked, and kiss every inch of her heavenly skin.
Zinnia makes a soft whimper as I reluctantly pull my lips from hers, causing my cock to throb in my jeans.
I should maintain some control in case someone walks in.
More importantly, the sooner we finish with the lesson, the sooner I can invite her to my house for dinner.
She grinds against me impatiently. "I can tell that you want more," she giggles.
"Time and place, baby."
Squeezing her breasts firmly one last time, I remove my hands, then tuck in her shirt so that I'm not tempted again.
I select a bow that should be the right size, then turn Zinnia so that her back is to my chest. I place her in position, slowly caressing every body part as I move her legs, her hips, her arms and shoulders. Her soft sigh is a humming purr. "I love the way you touch me," she whispers.
"Good. Because I love touching you." Wrapping her fingers around the bow, I murmur in her ear, "Do you know what else I love, gorgeous?"
"What?"
"When a new student hits the target panel on their first try."
She looks up at me with a saucy grin. "Challenge accepted."
I spend a solid five minutes going over the basics before even allowing her to nock an arrow. Then I step back, waiting as she gets a feel for how to aim.
"Back of the arrow, front of the arrow, target," she murmurs to herself, repeating back what I had just explained. She draws back, exhales, then becomes still as a statue before releasing the arrow.
It not only hits the panel, but inside the printed rings on the target. "Holy shit. Nobody scores higher than a two on their first shot."
"Definitely beginner's luck," she laughs. I adore how her eyes sparkle.
"You're right. You'll just have to do it again and again."
Over the next hour Zinnia continues to impress me. Not only by being unusually accurate with every shot. It's her focus and determination. Her ability to shut everything else out and be perfectly still. That's an art that it takes some archers years to learn.
"Do you meditate?" I ask suddenly.
She shakes her head. "No. I get too jumpy."
"Then how do you stay so still when you shoot?"
Her eyes light up as she leans in to whisper in my ear, "Easy. You told me to."
Grabbing the bow from her hands, I replace it on the rack so I can hold her against me. "Well, if your goal was to impress me, you've done it."
"Good. I wasn't sure whether I was supposed to play the part of the helpless princess so that you could coach me more."
"Never." Picking her up, I carry Zinnia and sit her on a small table. Her legs immediately wrap around me.
"You don't know what it does to me when you do this," I growl against her lips, caressing her outer thighs.
"Oh, I have some idea," she purrs, grinding against my thick erection.
"You're driving me wild, gorgeous." My hips pitch forward, pressing against her jeans as she opens wider. "Do you have any idea what I would be doing right now if there weren't people on their way here?"
Her eyes blaze. "Tell me."
My fingers tangle into the hair at the nape of her neck, angling her back. "You'd already be naked. I'd be kissing and licking every inch of this sexy body. My mouth would be feasting on your pussy, making you come over and over. Do you know why?"
Her breath is stuttering, eyes wide, as she trembles against me. "Why?"
Grinding slowly against her, I let her feel the size of my erection. "Because you're a tiny little thing, and all of this is for you. I'm going to need you dripping wet so that you can take it."
Zinnia grins, nodding eagerly. "I bet I can."
"You're that determined?"
"You have no idea." Her hips move in a slow circle, as if she's already fantasizing about what would be happening if we weren't wearing jeans. "What else are you going to do to me?" Zinnia breathes, slowly twisting back and forth to brush her nipples against my firm chest.
"You really want to hear it?"
"Yes." Her eyes are glassy, her breath shallow as she moves restlessly against me.
"I'm going to slide my huge cock into this sweet little pussy," I murmur, brushing my lips against hers.
"I'm going to watch your beautiful eyes as I fill you up.
Stretch you open. Fill you with so much cock that you moan my name.
" She's moaning already, her thighs tightening around me.
"If I slip a hand into your panties right now, would I find you wet for me? "
Her chin tips up and down. My fingertips sneak under the button of her jeans, slowly gliding lower, expecting her to stop me. She doesn't.
The lights in the foyer turn on, bringing me back to reality with a jolt.
Blocking Zinnia with my body, I turn around to see Clark hauling in a couple of deliveries.
"Hey, Evan. What are you doing here so early?"
Zinnia drops her legs and as she stands I keep an arm firmly around her while her breath returns to normal.
We turn together, and Clark looks up and waves. "Oh, hi! Private lesson? Cool." He goes back to his boxes without another glance.
"My place tonight?" I murmur.
Zinnia looks up at me with such sorrow that it breaks my heart. "I'd really love to. But it's the final day with Dad's credit card, so my sisters and I are going out for a big dinner to celebrate the apartment being finished. I'm sorry."
"Don't be sorry, baby. That's important." I smile, caressing her shoulders. "What about tomorrow night instead?"
Her chin tips up and down eagerly. "Yes please."
I drive her home, then drive us both half crazy with a goodbye kiss that leaves us breathless in the stairwell of her apartment. "How am I supposed to go back to normal life after this?" she giggles.
"Normal life? How am I supposed to walk around after this?"
I groan in shock as her hand skims down the front of my jeans, taking a firm hold of my shaft. "Is this the problem?" she asks innocently. "Should I pay more attention to it tomorrow night?"
Flattening her against the wall, I kiss Zinnia so hard I worry I'll bruise her. Then I step back just as suddenly. "You have to get ready for your fancy dinner. I have to get out of here before I do something seriously inappropriate."
She reaches up to trail her fingertips along side of my face. "I think I'd like it when you're inappropriate. Almost out of control. It's sexy."
"Grrrr." I love the way Zinnia's eyes light up whenever I make that growling sound. Whenever I say anything dirty, or give her a command.
I love the way her perfect ass shimmies up the stairs. I love the way—
I love her.
My mind has checked out. All that's left is emotion, and physical need.
I love her. And she's mine.