I mentally tallied in our head the fights we’ve had in a short amount of time. “Do you realize we’ve fought more since I was arrested than we have in the five years we’ve been together?”

“I realize I do a lot of things wrong when it comes to you.”

“Don’t be so hard on yourself. I did get your father killed.”

His eyes darkened, and I prepared myself for another argument when he kissed me instead.

“After you’re done with classes there’s somewhere I want to take you.”

“Where?”

“After class,” he said and let me go. He walked past me and disappeared into our master bath. I stared at the closed bathroom door, willing myself to shake off the effect he had on me. I was finally able to move and left for class wondering about his mysterious request.

When I got home a few hours later, I was greeted by the sight of him zipping up a small backpack. He took my bag from me, dropped it by the door, and led me back out. I got the sense he was in a hurry, so I didn’t ask questions until he pulled up to a building with a sign that read ‘Shooting Sports.’

“What are we doing here?”

He put the car in park and turned in his seat to face me. “I’m not always going to be around. If you’re going to protect yourself, you need to know how.”

My eyebrows rose to my forehead. “That’s very big of you, Keiran Masters.”

“My generosity isn’t the only thing big about me,” he flirted.

I rolled my eyes and grinned back at him. “Yes. Your ego is much bigger.”

“If you’re good, I’ll let you feel how big my ego is all night.”

“So, is this going to be like when you taught me to bowl? Because I don’t think I have as much constraint. You don’t scare me as much, and you’re much hotter now than you were then.”

It was his turn to look surprised. “Really? How so?”

“Well, for one, you aren’t finding ways to make me cry every day. Your muscles are bigger—more defined. Your voice is deeper—smoother.” My own lowered seductively as I ticked off reasons why he was so irresistible to me. “I think you might have even grown an inch.”

“Inch and a half,” he corrected.

“Oh, wow,” I gushed, stroking his ego and watching his chest puff. He smirked, seeing past my response.

“What else do you think is sexy about me?”

I leaned over until my lips were touching his. “I also think you have finessed the fine art of fucking.” I wanted him to kiss me, but he leaned away and quirked an eyebrow.

“You think?”

“It’s been hours,” I answered, referring to this morning’s session in the shower. “A girl forgets.”

“I think you might have hit your head against the tile too many times while we were fucking if you forgot that.”

Chapter Fifteen

KEIRAN

She might have been daring me to drag her from the car and show her how well I mastered the art of fucking over the hood of my car, but we were in too public a place and under enough law enforcing eyes as it was.

My eyes narrowed as I considered my options, and she smirked at me with her glossy, pink lips in return, confirming my suspicions.

“There’s always tonight, baby.”

It was more than a warning. It was a promise to deliver. Her smirk dropped, and she began to vibrate with anticipation.

Wordlessly, I got out of the car and headed for the entrance, leaving her to follow behind with slow steps. With my back to her, I smiled, relishing the fact that there was never a dull moment with her. I secretly enjoyed her incessant need to challenge me to prove she was no longer afraid.

Tormenting her years ago wasn’t always about hating her. A predator enjoyed the chase, and she made a damn good prey.

“Hey, Keiran!” the owner greeted me. I noticed Lake’s surprise at his familiarity with me and smiled at the owner, shaking his hand. I never told her I came here often because I knew she’d worry about the reasons why.

I had known one day I would see Mitch again and this time, I had more than one reason to care if he ever came back at all. I needed to be ready, and I had believed a soft heart like hers wouldn’t understand. I’d believed she would want me to take the high road.

I was wrong as fuck.

Lake had wanted Mitch dead.

Maybe even more than I did.

I watched her while she curiously looked over the guns in the case and felt my dick harden knowing she was willing to kill—willing to give up her innocent soul—for me.