Nice Shootin' Tex

by Cyndia Rios-Myers

  "It will probably only get worse for you too."

  I stared daggers at him as I watched him take a sip of his coffee. Was he enjoying this conversation?

  "Why do you say that?"

  "I say that as a compliment," he snapped back. "You will beat Bob, George, Suzy and many others. You are good. But I just hope you know that it's not going to be easy for you."

  "Why is it easy for you?"

  "Because I make sense. I'm a guy. I'm a Marine. I'm a sniper. Because I have a little kid who really needs the money."

  I felt my shoulders slump under the lesson he was giving me. I felt naive and ignorant.

  "You on the other hand are a very cute, little blonde girl who has her own business in Texas. You are smart. You are an artist. But again - you are little, yet you can shoot better than a ton of guys I have seen shoot. It doesn't make sense, Lauren. Who is going to root for you? What is there to root for?"

  I felt tears well up in my eyes and I blinked them away. He must have noticed them because he set his coffee cup down and walked closer to me.

  "I'm not trying to upset you. I'm just letting you know where you stand."

  His words didn't comfort me at all. He then looked around and then spoke to me again in a lower voice.

  "Also, it doesn't help that the host has got the hots for you." His words chilled me to the bone so much that I couldn't even speak, let alone breathe. "The producers can cut all of that out of the show and the people in TV land will never know it," he continued. "But we - your fellow competitors - we can see it."

  I said nothing, but kept staring at his steaming coffee cup on the counter.

  "So you are not confirming or denying anything. Good move." He then crouched down close to me before speaking again. "Things happen in stressful situations. People get closer than they need to. They find comfort where they need to in order to get by. I know what I'm talking about." He then looked around one more time before speaking to me again. "If you and Trevor have got something going on, you'd better work hard to keep that under wraps. Everyone is watching you two."

  I swallowed and blinked tears away.

  "I didn't mean to make you upset; I really want you to do well."

  He then took his coffee cup and walked away, leaving me alone in the kitchen. Just then, Trevor walked into the kitchen. Nervously, I turned around and faced the window again and dried my eyes. He looked around and then took another step closer to me.

  "I was going to say 'Good Morning'. It doesn't look that way, though."

  I said nothing but took a deep breath to try to compose myself.

  "What did he say to you? Do I need to speak to him?"

  Quickly, I shook my head.

  "No. There's no need to do that."

  "Then what has you so upset?" he angrily whispered.

  Frustrated and tired, I rubbed my forehead.

  "He didn't say anything out of line. He didn't say anything insulting. He just said that I had to watch my back."

  I snuck a glance at Trevor's green eyes and saw that they still looked angry. He didn't believe me. I then heard shuffling feet upstairs and knew that our conversation was over. I stepped away from him, but not before he stopped me by gently grabbing my arm.

  "This conversation isn't over, Lauren. We'll pick this up tonight."

  I nodded and walked away from him and out of the kitchen. The two hours leading to the elimination round were just as unpleasant as the one I had during breakfast. Most people ignored me - even Suzy. Briefly, I wondered if it was a good idea to alienate her too. Ah well. What was done was done.

  As we walked to the training range that held the elimination exercise, I wondered if it would have just been easier to lose the challenge. This competition was not turning into what I thought it would be. But then I thought of the money, the shooting and of Trevor and I knew that the answer was no. I would stick it out, as painful as it was.

  As we approached the gun range, I saw Winchester rifles lined up against a bunch of targets. Smiling, I knew that I would do well. Our trainer that day was an older gentleman - an Army retiree who trained others on firearms use and safety. I was up first for the training session.

  Without looking or sounding cocky, I showed the trainer how familiar I was with the weapon. I took some shots on the target that were straight and true. He laughed.

  "You are good with this. Do you use it much?"

  I nodded and explained the family business to him and what firearms we used during our hunts. He laughed.

  "It sounds awfully exciting."

  "It is. But it is awful dangerous too."

  I then told him about my recent goring which made him cringe.

  "Ouch. Well, good luck, Miss McCoy. Not that you'll need it."

  "I'll take whatever luck I can get, actually."

  With that, I left the training grounds and went back to the house where I could hide in my room until the elimination round came later on that evening.

  Suzy came in and tried to talk to me, but I mostly ignored her.

  "I don't know why you've decided to stop talking to me. I wish you would tell me."

  Out of the corner of my eye, I saw that she looked a bit upset. Still, I remembered Trevor's words about trust.

  "We are all competitors here, Suzy. Everyone is alienating me and I don't think I can trust anyone."

  "You can trust me," she insisted.

  I looked at her and stared at her for a few long seconds.

  "No, I can't."

  With that, I grabbed my paperback book and headed downstairs and away from her.

  At the shooting range that evening, I grabbed my shotgun and emptied it out on all of the requisite targets as fast as I could. I was fast, cold and unapologetic as I gave it my all. I beat Bob by nine seconds and eight points. I was happy, but mostly relieved. Trevor thanked Bob for his time and demonstrating his fine shooting skills. As Bob headed back to the house by himself, the cameras panned in on me.

  "Miss McCoy. How do you feel about winning tonight's elimination challenge?" asked Trevor. I smiled into the camera and tried to sound as honest as possible.

  "Happy, but mostly relieved."

  "You had the second...highest...score out of all eight competitors yesterday. Were you surprised to find out that you were being voted for elimination?"

  Ouch, Trevor, I thought to myself. I then reminded myself on how it was that he paid his bills.

  "I was. But maybe I shouldn't have been. This is a competition after all. Every single one of us here wants to win."

  He nodded at that, satisfied. He then looked at the rest of the competitors and gave them a smile full of teeth.

  "As soon as you are done congratulating your competitor, you can all head back to the house."

  With the pressure of the cameras on them, each competitor came up to me and shook my hand. They all gave me a "good job" or a "congratulations." The only genuine-sounding sentiment came from Max Allen and Suzy. Max shook my hand and winked at me, making me smile. Suzy smiled at me and said, "Great job, Lauren."

  Soon it was just me, Trevor, the two cameramen and the guy holding the microphone were left.

  "So what now?" I asked with a smile.

  Trevor smiled at me. "Just a few retakes of you walking down the trail that leads here."

  It was a request that was easy to fulfill. Twenty minutes later, I was making my way up to the trail and back to the mansion. Once inside, I found all of the rest of the contestants drinking beer and eating dinner.

  "So you live to fight another day," said Max from his position at the bar.

  I smiled at him. "I have. I'm gunning after you next," I added with a laugh.

  He laughed back. "I can't wait."

  Looking around at the others, I got the feeling that I wasn't welcome. So, I grabbed a plate of food and took it outside to eat to enjoy it all by myself. Forty minutes later and wearing a warm coat, I headed down the path that led to the gazebo by the water. My heart thumped a loud d
rum beat in my chest when I saw Trevor standing by the bench, staring out at the water. My foot crunched on some sort of dried undergrowth which made him turn around to look my way.

  He smiled as soon as he saw me. I smiled back. Nervously, I made my way to his side.

  "You did great out there today."

  I sighed. "Yeah. But it was so stressful."

  He nodded at that. "I imagine that it was."

  He reached his hand out to me. Hand shaking, I reached my hand to his. He squeezed it and held it there for a while as we looked out at the water. The winds picked up and I must have shivered.

  "You cold?"

  "No, I'm alright."

  He put his hand on my face and neck. "No you aren't. You are shivering."

  With that, he pulled me with him to the steps of the gazebo. He sat down and then pulled me towards him so that I was sitting down between his legs on a lower step. Once there, he put his arms around me and held me close. He lowered his head to mine and whispered in my ear.

  "Better?"

  Oh, my Lord. Better than ever.

  "Yes."

  I sighed in relief a couple of minutes later, once the shivering stopped.

  "Warmed up now?"

  "Yes," I replied with a smile.

  I turned my head and looked up at him. "You don't have to let me go just yet."

  He smiled and tucked some hair behind my ear. "I won't."

  "So, what did Max tell you this morning that upset you so?"

  I sighed and turned around to face him, but stayed very close to his body. He didn't move his arms either which I really liked.

  "He didn't say anything insulting. He was simply very frank." I then went on to tell him what Max said word for word. Well, word for word with the exception of the part about me and Trevor seeing each other.

  "It doesn't sound like he was being friendly, Lauren."

  "Yeah, I guess not," I said after some thought.

  As I looked in his eyes, I wondered if any other woman had had the privilege to stare into them the way I was.

  "Trevor?"

  "Yeah."

  "Do you have a girl...back home?"

  His brow furrowed a bit at that.

  "No, Lauren. I don't. I wouldn't be here with you if I did."

  He sounded a bit offended.

  "I don't mean to offend you. I just wanted to be sure."

  He sighed.

  "It's a reasonable question, I guess. I'm an honorable man, Lauren."

  I raised my hand to his face and caressed it, wanting to comfort him. Instantly his face warmed.

  "Come here," he whispered.

  I brought my mouth to his and closed my eyes when my mouth reached his. He kissed me gently at first before kissing me more deeply. I must have moaned a bit because that encouraged him to put his hand behind my neck to pull me in close. I felt the five o'clock shadow on his face abrade my cheeks and lips. I was in heaven as he held me in close to kiss him. I then felt his hand on my back, pushing me even closer to him. Suddenly, I felt some hard in his pants press against my belly; I was momentarily surprised and broke from the kiss. He took a deep breath and ran his hand through his hair.

  "Oh, Lauren. I'm sorry. You've got quite the effect on me."

  Flustered, I ran my hands through my hair.

  "No, that's okay."

  He looked deep into my eyes.

  "I'm burning for you, Lauren. Do you feel the same?"

  I nervously nodded in response.

  "I am too. But how do we slow...this down?"

  Trevor looked at my mouth and reached out to caress my face.

  "I don't know if there is any slowing this down."

  My nipples hardened at his husky words and it was all I could do to not bring my mouth to his and get lost in his kisses.

  "Trevor, I don't...do this. I don't move fast with guys. As a matter of fact, it's been six plus months since I was last on a date."

  He sighed and gave me a slight smile before leaning back on the step.

  "Six months? That is a while. Why haven't you dated?"

  I thought about my brothers and rolled my eyes.

  "I live on a huge ranch, with my over-protective brother and father. I have another brother who lives off the ranch who loves to run interference too."

  That made him smile. "What kind of interference?"

  "Well, I've lived in one house my whole life. For some reason, eligible men approach my brothers first when they want to speak to me."

  I then explained how my brothers turned them away without my knowledge. Trevor laughed out loud when I told him about the cult story that my brothers told.

  "Is that funny?"

  "Come on. You've got to admit that it is."

  I smiled and rolled my eyes. "It is, but I don't need them running interference for me."

  Trevor smiled before his eyes went out of focus a bit, like he was lost in thought.

  "Do you have any siblings?"

  His smile widened and he looked down at me.

  "I do. I have a younger sister by the name of Alicia. She's a handful."

  My insides warmed, as I was glad that he was telling me about his life outside of American Sharpshooter.

  "Do you run interference for her?"

  He sighed.

  "I wish I could. She's in the Army now and is stationed away from home."

  I nodded at that.

  "Where do you live when you aren't this?"

  "I live in Los Angeles, near the TV network."

  I nodded at that.

  "Why do you still live at home with your folks?" he asked.

  I sighed. "I've asked myself that plenty of times." he laughed at that.

  I then went on to explain that after my mother had died five years ago, that I stuck around to take care of the house. I'd also explained that it was convenient because of all of the late night jobs we had for our business.

  "That will change when I get back, though."

  "Why is that?"

  "I'm moving out. I looked at some rental properties before coming out here."

  "What does your daddy have to say about that?"

  I sighed as I thought of my dad.

  "He wasn't happy when I first told him that I was moving. I wouldn't know how he feels about it now because he's not talking to me."

  "Why?"

  "He didn't want me to come and do the show. He thought that it would be something tacky and lewd like what they have on the music video networks."

  Trevor didn't say anything for a few minutes and I wonder if I had offended him. Before I could say something, he spoke.

  "Well, I guess that he'll just have to learn different when he watches the show next year."

  If he watches it, I thought - but didn't voice. I was kind of getting the feeling that Trevor was a sensitive man. He then looked off to the distance for a while before looking back at me.

  "Well, tomorrow is going to be a long training day. You should go back and get some rest."

  Oh. Was our night over already? Before I could stand up, he put his hands back on my shoulders.

  "But not before I kiss you good night, Lauren."

  He gently pulled me towards him then, kissing me long and deep. In no time at all, our bodies were pressed against each other. Soon, I felt his hard erection pressing against my belly. He pulled me tighter against his body and I must have moaned. The feeling of the softer parts of my body touching his harder parts aroused me so. Trevor groaned once before pulling his mouth off of mine and kissing the side of my face and my neck. I wonder if I should have told him to stop. I wondered if I wanted him to stop. I wondered what he wanted from me besides my body. Before I could think of anything else along those lines, I felt him pushing the collar of my t-shirt and jacket aside and then setting his lips on my neck near my shoulder. He kissed and licked at that spot before he gently suckled on it. My nether regions began to tingle as I felt more moisture reach that area.

  I would have given it to him righ
t there. I wanted to give in to him right there - more than I had ever wanted anything else before. But my faltering inner voice spoke one more time. You have to stop, it begged me.

  "Trevor," my mouth begged over the top of his head.

  He moaned and kept kissing and suckling on my shoulder and neck. I was so close to letting him have me - too close.

  "Trevor - I can't. It's too soon," I whispered again.

  Trevor growled and pulled his head off of me then. Gently, he pulled himself out of my arms and stood up. He took two steps away from me and faced the water. I took that opportunity to compose myself, hand-combing my hair and straightening my shirt and jacket. I sighed and then stood up stopping just behind him. Trevor turned around and looked down at me. He sighed before grabbing my shoulders and placing his forehead on mine.

  "Oh, Lauren. I'm sorry if I'm being too forward and too fast for you."

  I smiled and placed my hand on his chest and caressed it.

  "I think I'm moving too fast for me too, Trevor. I'm having a hard time here."

  He groaned at that before gently kissing me again.

  "Then go. Go back to your room and go to sleep. I'll see you in the morning."

  Yes - he would see me in the morning as the TV show host - not as my lover. That frustrated and saddened me.

  "I will. What will you do?"

  He laughed at that.

  "Maybe go for a run. Definitely take a cold shower."

  "Do you want to meet with me tomorrow night?"

  He sighed at that and looked up at the clear sky.

  "I do, Lauren. But I don't know if we should."

  That stung. I nodded and took a step back.

  "Okay. Good night, Trevor."

  I turned away to leave and actually took a couple of steps before his hand on my arm stopped me. He pulled his body against mine and whispered in my ear.

  "But I want to see you. I want to have you, Lauren. I want to taste and kiss every square inch of your body. I want to bury myself deep within you and make you yell out my name."

  I couldn't help but moan at his heated, verbal seduction.

  "But I have to hold myself together. I've got a job to do here. But I'll fantasize - I'll fantasize all day and all night about what I want to do to you. But please go now while I can still be a gentleman. Next time, I don't know that I will be able to behave as honorably."