I turn just enough that the rough edge of my whiskers brush her cheek. She shivers. I grin and whisper, "Put your hand in mine."
Her breath picks up as the low, coarse words reach her, and she wiggles again. But she does as I ask, slipping her small fingers through my own. I bring them up and together we hold the weight of the Beretta. Then I go through the staples every gun owner should know, until finally, with her arms straight out in front of her, hands wrapped around the M9 in perfect position, I whisper, "Squeeze."
The kickback is immediate, as is the crack. But with my body and shoulders supporting hers, Piper manages the force with only a sharp squeal that hits as the bullet drives through the paper target.
"Wow. That was . . . interesting." She looks at me over her shoulder, slightly red-faced. Exhilaration twinkles in her dark eyes.
"Nice shot, sunshine. Do it again. This time, harness the power. Control it. Let it be yours."
Biting her bottom lip, she faces forward, aims, and pulls the trigger. I hold on for number two, whispering my praise and keeping her steady, but I loosen up for number three, and by five and six she's on her own with my grip loosely holding her tee by her waist.
After emptying the magazine, she turns with the gun pointing at the dirt. "That was fun!" She breaks the sound barrier with her pitch, and I laugh.
"Next time I'll bring ear protection. Your hearing will get back to normal in a minute. Come on, let's put the gun away."
I pull her over to my truck and once the weapon is safely stowed, I turn the lights off and help her up into the bed under the pitched canvas tent. I follow her in, and we're cushioned by the blow-up mattress and blankets I laid out earlier. I stay close to the edge and pat the spot next to me. She shuffles over until we're arm against arm, and we gaze out to where the sky meets the ocean, married in a perpetual state of forever. The place where everything and nothing is possible. The desert and sand come to the same end. I've seen it and stared in the way we are now. It was Justin sitting next to me then. He knew me better than anyone, even Cara, who has my DNA. Now I find myself sharing moments with Piper, stories and laughter, memories and time, making our own history. My heart tightens around the words best friend and the dawning realization that I have a new one. The difference is I'd like to do terribly dirty things with my new BFF.
"The movers will be at the cottage early tomorrow. You ready for this?" I ask, keeping my eyes on the stars rather than her face.
Dropping her head on my shoulder, she asks, "Truth?"
I nod.
"Everything is changing, yet I feel like me, a good me, a better and happier me. The me I haven't seen in a long time, and I dig her. She's fun and likes to smile. She doesn't want to hide in her room because her parents expect her to be there. She's not alone and crying because she feels like she will be forever. She likes to sing and dance, bake cookies and try new things. And she gets excited for the future. So yeah." I can't see Piper grin, but it brightens the night. "I'm ready for the next piece to fall into place. So very ready."
I look down as she gazes up, and we stare for long moments-me into her supernova gaze, along the high point of her cheekbones and straight nose, and then Piper, searching as if to catalog every line, every bump or bruise that wore me down into the man I am today. The scrutiny punts my pulse into high gear, and my fingers flex in spontaneity. In what feels like slow motion, she moves to her knees. Hands as soft as a feather cup my cheeks as her warm breath fans my mouth.
I don't know where we stand. Sometimes I feel as if I'm on one side of a line racing to a finish line that doesn't exist. I only know I want her. The ache in my chest and cock proves there's nothing platonic in my need. But if I force my way into her heart, I'll never know if we evolved from friends to lovers naturally. I'll never know what she wants if I make all the moves. This one has to be hers. I close my eyes and let her decide what she wants.
And then her lips are on mine. Soft and searching, pressing her sigh against me until she pulls away for a breath. Then she's back and more demanding. I grab her waist to hold her steady as she straddles my thighs and sinks in closer. I hold on as her mouth opens, insisting my lips part with her sheer determination for me to follow her lead. Her tongue sweeps in next to mine. I groan as her hands find my chest, and she kneads and then pushes, pressing my back into the cool blankets below. I let her take me wherever she wants to go because I'll follow. I'll follow because amidst all the noise in my head is Piper, the eye to my storm, the sane within my crazy, the peace to my war.