I decide that if he wants to give me a lesson, I won’t stop him. I’ll take any attention the Alpha will give me.
Viper presses the weapon into my grip, covering my hands with his, and guides me into position. Leaning me over so I’m braced against the rock for stability.
His chest grazes my back, and his warmth radiates through my clothes. He presses the center of my shoulder blades until I get the hint and bend over to look down the rifle’s sights. Having his body so close makes it difficult to concentrate on the task at hand.
An unhelpful thought springs forth. This is how an Alpha makes his Omega present before she takes his knot.
I bite my lower lip.
He smells so good. His familiar scent of gunpowder and roses is a heady combination. Even the slight sweat he worked up onour hike smells nice to me. Masculine and salty. I find myself breathing faster through my nose, chasing more of his scent.
Viper must think my rapid breathing is nerves because he doesn’t leave me to it. He stays close for support. His strong, calloused hands guide mine, cradling the cold metal of the rifle. The weight of the weapon is familiar, except this feels very different to the little games I played in the shooting range.
Shooting this gun has a purpose. It’s made to stop enemy forces in their tracks. Frack, this gun has probably taken countless lives.
Viper handles it with flawless expertise, confident and sure in a way he isn’t when he interacts with me. I don’t doubt Viper is capable of great and terrible things with a gun in his hands. It’s oddly flattering that someone so skilled is teaching someone he believes to be a complete beginner.
I want to learn from him.
“You have good instincts.”
His deep voice breaks the silence, a melody of rumbling reassurance as he explains the intricacies of aiming and firing. He encourages me to look down the scope and hold the weight of the gun. Always using the shortest amount of words possible. It should be annoying and off-putting. Instead, I hang on his every word like they’re a gift.
I want nothing more than to please him. To show him what a good Omega I am. The familiar shimmer of O-space hangs at the edge of my consciousness. I’m beginning to understand that its presence doesn’t herald vulnerability, rather a way to protect me through either relaxation or unleashing my burgeoning new power.
As I focus on the target ahead, his hands guide mine into position, and he has me match his even breaths. Our chests rise and fall in tandem, and a subtle intimacy blossoms.
I sense his unease, a delicate undercurrent beneath his stoic exterior. It’s as if we’re both navigating the fragile edges of this connection, afraid to shatter the spell between us. The scent of the bark mingles with the damp of the forest floor, and I hope it masks my growing arousal. Having the full attention of such a powerful, capable Alpha is heady.
“Now hold your breath,” he murmurs, his breath a warm whisper against my ear as he leans over me. “And squeeze.”
I squeeze the trigger under his watchful gaze, and the echo of the shot dissolves into the vast embrace of nature.
It’s a little off the red bullseye, but for a first shot with an unfamiliar gun, it’s impressive.
I turn my face to the side, locking eyes. With our faces so close together, it’s the first time I notice his dark green eyes are flecked with gold.
His hot breath fans over my face and I lick my lips, chasing the taste of him in the air. His eyelids drop as he follows the movement.
He blinks, and it breaks the spell. Viper straightens and takes two large retreating steps. He shakes his head, clears his throat and returns to his role as instructor.
“You’ve done this before,” he states. I straighten as well, handling the rifle with practiced ease. I’m worried I’ve offended him by not disclosing my skill level, but he quickly adds, “It’s a good shot.”
There is a warmth in his feedback, and I feel the tender connection deepen between us. It’s another thing that we have in common. A shared interest. Something that links us together more than the inexplicable and unexplainable connection that simmers behind my breastbone.
My cheeks tingle and I know they must be flushed pink from the compliment.
“Show me what you’ve got, pretty girl,” Viper says with a hint of amusement.
He’s laying down a challenge.
“Alright.” I nod, shifting my weight and propping my spare hand on my hip. “Let’s have some fun, big guy.”
His beaming smile makes me quiver.
Chapter Thirty-Four
Halley
