“Careful, Captain, or this arrow might go a little off course.” She pulls the string back with ease until her elbow jams into my sternum, as if the string isn’t so taut, it takes all your strength to hold it in place. She flicks her gaze back, smirks at me with mischief, and with a soft release of her fingers, fires.
The arrow spirals through the air and pierces just on the edge of the centre target, effectively making mine and everyone else’s jaws drop.
She turns to me with a pout lining her mouth. “Not quite as good as Katniss, I suppose.”
A stray lock of hair has fallen out of her ponytail, and I reach out to brush it out of her eyes. “Better.”
A gorgeous flush tints the top of her cheeks. “Your turn,” she whispers.
I brush a quick kiss to her temple before I step past to grab an arrow and take position.
As I pull back, I feel the telltale sign of nerves creep up. Even here, even after finally winning a match, the anxiety of under performing takes root. I take a deep breath, trying to let it go, and release, but the arrow flies wide, landing in the grass to the right of the target.
“Try again,” she says, gentle and encouraging.
I grab another arrow, and when I lift my arms, I feel Jade step up behind me. Her soft hands run up my side, and my pulse starts to gallop.
She reaches up, hand wrapping around my elbow, and my gaze snags on her petal pink nails, so soft on the fiercest person I’ve ever known.
“Pull your elbow back—good.” She moves to clutch my hand. “Soften your hand for me, my love.” I almost release my hold completely just so I can kiss her, but she moves out of my reach, coming to stand at my back. “Straighten your spine, but make sure your knees aren’t locked—good. Now, the bow should kiss your mouth?—”
“I’d rather you kiss my mouth.”
“Be a good boy, and we’ll talk.”
I chuckle, feeling the anxiety ease out of my body just from the proximity of hers. Taking a deep breath in, I go to shoot, but as I release, I feel her hands slip around my waist, fingertips skimming beneath my sweater and brushing against my bare skin.
She’s playing games with me now. I can feel her smile against my back.
Focus, Tieran.
At the same time, I pull back and let the arrow fly, her fingers dip lower, and she taunts, “Maybe you just wantedmeto touchyou.”
My body jerks from the firmer touch, and the arrow soars off course on a wayward trajectory until?—
“FUCKIN’ JESUS MARY AND JOSEPH!”
“Oh, fuck,” I say at the same time Jade says, “Holy shit.”
We both follow the direction the arrow went and discover it’s found a home in Barnaby’s thigh. Twenty minutes later, the ambulance has arrived, medics tending to his thankfully shallow wound while he looks like he wishes he could put an arrow in me.
Maybe season tickets would be better.
“I think maybe we should go,” Jade suggests.
“Good idea.” As we’re walking towards my car, I shout over my shoulder, “Send me the bill, mate! I’ll get it sorted.”
He flips me off in retaliation, but there's a small quirk under his bushy mustache that makes me think he can’t be too mad.
“I’m curious,” Jade starts. “Does maiming people work up an appetite? Cause I’m famished.”
The laugh that bursts out of me is loud and slightly manic. “It does, actually, and I know just the place.”
“You brought me to your parents’ house?” Jade whisper-yells at me as I tug on her arm, trying to drag her toward the yellow front door of their home.
“It’s Sunday. Mum’s got the roast going. Come on.” She digs her heels in, looking like an adorably angry cat, hissing at me.
“Tieran. I am not dressed to meet your parents. Look at me.” She furiously indicates down at her body, as if I should see anything other than absolute perfection.
