Chapter Fifteen

I can't help but sigh as I relax, loving the way his skin feels against mine. I'm lying on Kado's chest like a cat while he plays with my hair. If you would have told me that this quiet man's love language was physical touch when we first met, I would have thought you were crazy, but now I can see it. To him, being able to reach out and touch me whenever he wants is physical proof that I'm here and not going anywhere, even when I think I'm driving him crazy.

"When are you going to teach me to shoot and fight?" I ask again for what feels like the millionth time since I brought it up.

Kado takes a deep breath and lets it out slowly. With a free hand, he reaches over to the nightstand and picks up his notebook and pen. I close my eyes as I wait for his response. When he's ready, he taps my arm, getting my attention.

Do you not trust me to take care of you?

I fight the urge to roll my eyes. "Of course I do, and like I've told you, it's not about that. I want to be able to protect you ."

Like always, his dark eyes grow darker by my statement. If there's one thing I've learned about this man, it's that he loves it when I want to do things for him. It's almost as if he can't believe that someone wants him.

He breaks eye contact and starts writing again.

Are you sure?

"I've never been so sure of anything. Please…"

He lets out a silent laugh as he shakes his head.

I have a feeling I'm going to regret this.

I push up off his chest and smile down at him. "Is that a yes?"

He nods his head.

I can't help but squeal as I jump off him. "Let's go before you change your mind!"

Quickly, I throw clothes on. I've never touched a gun, let alone shot one, but it's always been something I've wanted to try, and now I get to because of him.

Fully dressed, Kado takes my hand, and we walk out of the apartment and down a flight of stairs. Instead of heading to his car, he pulls me to the side of the room I've never paid attention to before. He opens a door and locks it behind us. We head down a hidden flight of stairs, the hallway lighting up the further we go down.

Finally, the hallway opens up into a gym.

"You've had a gym down here this whole time and this is the first time I'm seeing it?" I ask him in disbelief.

Kado shrugs as he pulls me through the gym and through another door. I can't help but gasp at the room while the door clicks shut behind us.

Holy shit. Just when I think I have a grasp on Kado, he goes and surprises me like this.

"Is this a gun range? You have a gun range in your home?"

He nods as he lets go of my hand. I watch as he walks across the room to a wall of lockers. He opens a door and pulls some things out. Kado walks back over to me and points to where he wants me. I step in between two partial walls that are padded and rest my hands on the table. Kado comes up next to me and lays down a gun and a box of bullets.

This is it, I think as my heart tries to beat its way out of my chest.

He pulls his phone out of his pocket and shoves it toward me.

Are you sure?

"Yes, teach me, master," I quip, making his nostrils flare.

With his notes app, he tells me the different parts of the gun and what they do. Kado explains that this gun doesn't have a safety that you have to flip before firing but has a multistep one built into the design. He shows me how to load it, stand, and hold the gun.

"Okay, I'm ready."

Kado sets the loaded gun on the table in front of me and places the hearing protection on my head, covering my ears.

The moment it is sealed, I hear nothing. I close my eyes as I take in the silence. Then I open them again.

Kado takes a step back, and my breath catches as he steps into my back. I don't know why, but I thought he would back all the way off and let me do this on my own, but I'm not mad about him sticking close. This is my first time, after all.

Kado taps my arm and points to the gun. Very carefully, I pick it up and hold it out in front of me just like he said. His hands move down my arms until they touch my wrists, silently supporting me in case I need it. Taking a deep breath, I point and aim. With the target in sight, I pull the trigger. Even with the earmuffs on, it's loud but not uncomfortable. Smiling, I do it again and again, until I'm out of bullets.

I set the gun on the counter and turn to face Kado. He steps right into me and grabs my face, kissing me until I'm breathless. When he pulls away, I laugh lightly as my hand trails down his chest.

"Did you like that?" I ask as I squeeze his denim-covered cock.

He nods.

"How about I take care of this later for you? I'm having fun and want to keep shooting." I point over my shoulder, down toward the target.

He steps back and lets me turn to face the other way. Once again, he presses his front to my back.

"Do you think I could come down here and practice while you're gone?" I ask as I watch him load the gun for me.

When he has it loaded, he grabs his phone and types out a message.

Only if you're careful.

"You know I will be."

I feel him nod as he brushes his lips across my shoulder. He points to the gun, silently telling me to start shooting again.

"Yes, sir."

If anyone ever asks me, I'll deny it, but I was hesitant to let Lucy shoot.

I don't like the idea of her having to shoot someone to save me. It should be the other way around. Yet when she batted those caramel eyes up at me, I knew I couldn't say no. So imagine my surprise when I realized how attractive it is to watch her hold a firearm, let alone shoot one.

It made my dick so hard I thought I was going to come in my pants, like I did her mouth.

My cock twitches at the thought of her warm, wet mouth, and I adjust myself as I walk behind her, heading back to the gym. She doesn't need to know what she does to me right now.

She turns and throws her arms around my neck. I have to shift my weight at the last second as I wrap my hands around her waist to keep us from going down.

"What now?"

My hands move from her hips to right under her ass, and I pick her up, her legs going around my waist. She kisses right behind my ear, making me shiver as I walk her to the middle of the room. Reluctantly, I let her down. I feel her loss immediately as she takes a step back, putting some space between us.

I hold up my fist, showing her how I want her fingers. She tries, but she tucks her thumb behind the rest. I shake my head and adjust it so her thumb is on the outside.

Lucy giggles. "I know how to make a fist, but I had to see what you would do if I did it wrong."

I narrow my eyes at her as I try to fight back a smile. Silly girl.

I move behind her and trail my fingers up her arm. She shivers under my touch, letting me know I affect her as much as she does me. There's nothing one-sided about our attraction to each other.

That's the most shocking thing about all of this. I hoped and prayed she would accept me, but I never in a million years believed it would happen. Especially not as quickly as it has. It's as if I flipped a switch in her, and now she is mesmerized by me.

I'm not sure how I feel about it. On one hand, I love it, but on the other hand, I worry about whether or not it is an act. Or maybe she's having a breakdown. I worry that one day she will come to her senses and realize that she deserves way better than a guy like me.

It's too late now, though. I've had a taste, and I will never let it disappear on me now.

Once behind her, I move her body, showing her how I want her to throw a punch correctly. When she has the mechanics safely down, I move away from her and grab some pads.

With them covering my hands, I move back in front of her. Without question, Lucy starts throwing punches. They are a little wild speed-wise, but consistent. When it becomes obvious that she's starting to lose steam, I pull back.

"What now?" she huffs.

I drop the pads and step in close to her. I place her arms on my shoulders. Gently using my body, I show her how I want her to break out of a hold when face to face.

"Got it. Can I try?" she asks.

We switch positions so my hands are on her shoulders. She goes through the actions, and when her arm hits mine, I drop mine.

Frowning, I shake my head. I raise my arm between us and bring it down swiftly, showing her that I want her to do it with all of her strength. If she tries to do it on someone else, like she just did me, she will never get away.

Lucy cringes. "I don't want to hurt you."

I tilt my head and give her a look that says, really?

She must get it because she rolls her eyes and gets back into position. This time, she puts much more force behind the move. It's not all her strength, but I give her a break on it. It's more about getting used to the motion than actually putting the force behind it anyway. The force will be there if she truly needs it.

I make her repeat it over and over until she seems to be growing tired. Then I switch it up.

I move quickly, taking her legs out from under her but catching her as she falls. She gasps, glaring up at me.

I offer her a cocky smirk before I pull her back up. Then I do the motion again. This time, she tries to avoid it but still ends up on her ass. The third time, she surprises me, rushing me instead of trying to get away.

We both go down, but I twist my body so that I hit the ground and not her. Still, she lets out a grunt as she hits my body.

Quickly, I cup her cheek, kissing it softly. I stare up at her, concern filling me.

"I'm fine, big guy. Thanks for catching me."

I nod, kissing the tip of her nose. She giggles.

Looking up at her, I can't help it. I brush a stray piece of hair from her face.

Then I whisper to her, "Beautiful."

Her eyes widen. Then she slaps her hand over my mouth.

"I don't like you talking, knowing it hurts you."

I shrug. Honestly, it does cause me discomfort, but it doesn't hurt as much as it used to. Or maybe it's because I'm talking to her that the pain doesn't register.

Either way, I wanted her to know she is beautiful.

She sighs, shaking her head. Pushing up from my chest, she stands before offering me her hand.

I take it, but I get up on my own. I would never let her take my weight on. Once standing, she moves back into position, but her stomach growls.

I step closer to her, putting my hand on her stomach.

"I'm a little hungry, but we can do more. I want to learn."

I shake my head no and point to the stairs.

She pouts. "Fine. Fun time is over."

I let out a silent laugh, shaking my head as she sullenly walks over toward the stairs. In several steps, I catch up to her, picking her up to throw her over my shoulder.

She squeals, but she's laughing now.

This is how I like her. Happy and playful.

I'll never get tired of life with her.