Chapter Twelve #3
The tenderness in Keegan’s expression made Kerry’s heart flutter.
He claimed a quick kiss before setting off for part two of their date.
There were only a few cars in the parking lot when they arrived, but it was the middle of the week, and Lumberjack’s Axe and Ale was new.
The rustic, Western-themed decor was pretty standard in their part of the world, and the owners leaned into it without going too far.
Country music drifted through hidden speakers, and a full-service bar took up one side of the building.
Kerry questioned the wisdom of combining alcohol and sharp weapons, but what did he know?
A woman named Karen greeted them at the checkout counter with a friendly smile and chipper voice that declared she alone was going to take back the name for all the good Karens in the world.
She put a ton of personality into her presentation of the rules of axe throwing.
Basically, they didn’t want their patrons to throw those axes all willy-nilly.
Again, Kerry wondered why they’d introduce alcohol onto the premises because that would never go sideways.
Karen slid a waiver across the counter for them to sign after her presentation. “Follow me, guys,” she said.
Keegan leaned close and said, “Personal injury waivers on a first date. Man, you sure know how to show a fella a good time.”
Kerry placed his hand on the small of Keegan’s back. “Wait until you see the waiver waiting for you back at my place.”
Keegan stiffened, and Kerry wasn’t sure if it was his hand placement or his reference to potentially rough sex.
He was about to withdraw his hand and apologize, but Keegan smiled up at him.
“This night just keeps getting better.” He stopped and spun around to face Kerry.
“Sorry I tensed. I’m not used to PDA, but I like it. ”
“Me too.”
Keegan rose on his tiptoes and pressed a quick kiss to his mouth.
“I like it a lot,” Kerry amended.
Keegan laughed, took him by the hand, and led him to find Karen.
She waited patiently for them around the corner.
Each range looked like a fancy horse’s stall but without the bedding on the floor.
The targets were set up on the rear wall, and stagecoach lights provided the perfect amount of illumination without ruining the Western vibe.
Old-timey wanted posters hung on the walls, and other decor like whiskey barrels filled the space.
The rules they’d just agreed to also hung on the wall as a reminder.
Karen demonstrated the proper axe-throwing technique and posture.
She struck the target at dead center of the bullseye.
“Wow,” Keegan said. “You must practice a lot.”
Karen smiled and shrugged. “It was just a really lucky throw.”
Kerry doubted that very much.
“I’ll work with both of you to make sure you’re comfortable before I leave you to it,” Karen said. “Who wants to go first?”
“He does,” Keegan said, pointing at Kerry.
“I will,” Kerry agreed.
It looked much easier than it really was.
Kerry focused on his footing and balance first before bringing the axe over his head with both hands.
He went through the motion without releasing the axe once before he let it fly.
The weapon soared through the air, smacked into the target, and fell to the floor.
“You’ve got brute strength on your side,” Karen said. “You’d knock an enemy out cold with that blow. You might want to take a little off the velocity and work on the finesse part.” She waved a hand for Keegan to join her. “Let me show you what I mean.”
She directed Keegan’s movements with his steps, the pull back and the release of the axe. His throw struck the target but at the farthest ring from the bullseye, though you’d never know by his jubilant celebration.
“I did it!” Keegan cheered before leaping into Kerry’s arms.
His joy was contagious, and Kerry caught him up in a hug. “You sure did. That was a solid throw.”
Keegan sobered a little and considered him. “You’re not about to turn this into another Hart family card night, are you?”
“No,” Kerry said defensively.
“That’s where I know you from!” Karen said, pointing at him. “I saw you on the news when you rescued the truck driver on the bridge.”
Kerry scratched behind his ear. “Yeah, that was me.”
“You were very brave,” Karen told him. Her expression grew serious, and she glanced between Keegan and Kerry with narrowed eyes. “What happens at the Hart family card nights?”
“Nothing,” Kerry replied.
Keegan snorted and leaned toward Karen. “It’s a testosterone-filled night of chest thumping and silliness.” Realizing what he said, Keegan added, “No one gets intoxicated, stupid, or violent. There’s just a lot of teasing.”
Karen nodded. “Teasing is good.” She gestured for Kerry. “Come on over here, and let me see if I can help you hone your skill a little better.”
“She means land the axe in the target,” Keegan teased as he stepped aside. His hazel eyes looked more brown than green in the stagecoach lighting, and they glittered with a challenge.
“Big talk for a guy who barely stuck the landing.”
“This isn’t gymnastics,” Keegan quipped. “And I’ll take barely over nada anytime.” He swept his arms to the range. “Let’s see what you’ve got, big guy.”
Karen grimaced. “Strong man, sharp weapon.”
“He’d never hurt me,” Keegan replied.
Kerry had never wanted to kiss that smug mouth more than he did right then.
He loved that Keegan knew he’d always be safe in his presence.
He winked at Keegan and said, “Damn right.” Kerry turned his attention to the target, pictured Chuck’s stupid face in the center of it, and threw his axe.
“Bullseye!” Kerry cheered when the blade struck the target with a loud thud.
Karen gave him a high five, and Keegan celebrated with an exuberant but all-too-quick kiss.
“I think you guys have the gist of it,” Karen told them. “I’ll leave you to it, but let me know if you need some help.”
The lane rental was like a bowling alley, allowing them to play as many rounds as they could squeeze into their time limit.
Scoring was all done by hand instead of a computer, and they didn’t have any fun graphics when they landed an axe.
Kerry found their jeers and reluctant congratulations much more stimulating than dancing cartoons.
The first game went to Kerry, but he knew the next would be much tighter since Keegan’s accuracy improved with each throw.
“How much time do we have left?” Keegan asked as he approached the thrower’s mark on the floor.
“Forty-five minutes.”
“It only took you fifteen minutes to pound me into the…” Keegan’s words trailed off as he realized their secondary meaning. “To win,” he amended.
Kerry waggled his brows. “I like the first remark better.” He tilted his head and reconsidered as he closed the distance between them. “Though I’m not sure if that was a complaint or a compliment. Are you suggesting I slow things down or speed them up?”
Settling his hand on Kerry’s chest, Keegan gave a playful push. “Get back over on your side of the stall until it’s your turn. Don’t make me call Karen over here to remind you about the rules.”
Kerry took a few steps back and pointed to the sign. “No need to get me in trouble. I can see the rules.”
“Then obey them,” Keegan replied. He squared up against the target and pulled his arms back over his head, but he looked at Kerry instead of releasing the axe.
“Fast, slow. I don’t care how long it takes as long as you pound me.
” With that, he returned his attention to the target, took a deep breath, and let it fly.
The axe landed dead center in the bullseye.
Keegan turned and strode toward him with an extra swagger in his step. “Top that.”
Kerry lightly cupped Keegan’s jaw to hold his mouth in place for a hard kiss. “I’m going to top you.”
Keegan sighed, and his eyelids lowered to half-mast. “Promise me that both of the cards will lead to life-affirming orgasms?”
“Not earth-shattering?” Kerry asked.
Keegan snorted. “Why would I want the world to break apart when I finally get my hands on you?” He swatted Kerry on the ass and tipped his head to the throwing line. “Now, get over there and wow me.”
Kerry complied, but his throw was off a little. He turned narrowed eyes on Keegan. “You got me all flustered.”
Keegan rolled his eyes, but it was true. “I’m sure my last shot was pure luck.”
Except it wasn’t, and neither was the next one or the one after that. His throws didn’t all land in the center of the bullseye, but close enough. Kerry had some excellent throws, but they weren’t enough to beat Keegan. They set their axes down and exchanged congratulatory hugs and kisses.
“We have some time left,” Kerry said. “Do you want to—”
Keegan took him by the hand and led him out of the range. “Where are you hiding the third set of cards?” He stopped by Kerry’s truck and faced him. “Are they somewhere on your person? Because I wouldn’t mind a thorough body search.”
Kerry wouldn’t mind that either, but not in the parking lot of Lumberjack’s Axe and Ale. “The cards are up in my bedroom.”
Keegan was around the truck and opening the passenger door before he finished his sentence. “Let’s go.”
“I feel kinda cheap,” Kerry teased.
“Just wait until I’m through with you.”
Kerry almost asked what he had in mind but decided against it so they could arrive safely at his house.
They chatted about random topics during the short drive, but the conversation ceased the moment he pulled into the driveway.
Keegan was practically out the door before his truck came to a complete stop, and he sure as hell beat Kerry to the front porch.
They kissed while he fumbled with his keys to unlock the front door.
Their clothes started coming off as soon as they shut themselves inside the house.
Keegan shivered hard when Kerry trailed kisses down his neck and gripped his bare ass with both hands.