Nice Shootin' Tex

by Cyndia Rios-Myers

  He then kissed my neck. "Have a good night, Lauren McCoy."

  He then gently pushed me forward, sending me on my way. Even overcome with passion, I forced one foot in front of the other and walked away from Trevor. As much as I wanted to, I didn't look back once. I knew that if I did, I would surrender all of my inhibitions to the man who would very soon be my lover.

  Walking back into my room, I ignored my roommate and went straight to the bathroom. First, I took a very hot shower and imagined that my hands were Trevor's as they coursed over my body. Still aroused after that, I took a very cold shower. By the time I opened the shower door, Suzy's lamp was off. Exhausted after such a scary and passionate day, I fell asleep like the dead.

  The next morning, I woke up feeling much more refreshed. I stretched big and long and saw that Suzy was already gone. Looking at my clock, I saw that it was eight a.m. Crap. I had twenty minutes to get ready and get out to the training field. Rushing, I quickly brushed my teeth, dabbed some make up on before getting dressed and dashing off to the training field.

  I arrived with three minutes to spare. Trying to be as inconspicuous as possible, I took a seat on the back bench. I watched as my fellow competitors looked back at me and muttered under their breath. Trevor deigned to look in my direction just then. Lord, he looked good. He had a black canvas long sleeve shirt on with black pants that made him look so awesomely handsome.

  "Miss McCoy. Nice of you to join us."

  He had sunglasses covering his face so I couldn't see his expression. Was he mad? Annoyed? I had no idea. Ah well. It was probably better that I paid attention to what my host was saying instead of wondering what my soon-to-be lover was thinking.

  As I listened in on what Trevor was saying, I got excited. Today's training would consist of using top secret weaponry that I had never even heard of. Everyone else seemed to get excited too. The weapon, an RGM 84 Delta by name was a sniper rifle that had the capability of shooting far, far distances. Using binoculars, we spotted our targets that were half a mile away. Our training expert was a military fellow who could not reveal his name. Not that we cared; we just wanted to shoot the rifle.

  First was Max Allen; he did great. Apparently he was familiar with the weapon; his expertise showed as he aimed and shot the target in very little time. A couple of the other fellows shot too and did well. Suzy didn't do so well. Then it was my turn up. Trevor walked me to the training stand like he did everyone other contestant. I felt my heart thumping in my chest at his proximity. What was he thinking? Was he thinking about last night? Did he sleep well? Did he want to meet up tonight? I opened my mouth to say something but then noticed the index finger on his right hand moving back and forth in a 'No' motion.

  "Do well, Miss McCoy," he said to me once we arrived at the training stand. Leaving me wondering, he walked away.

  The military expert smiled as soon as he saw me.

  "I've seen you on tape, Miss McCoy. I can't wait to see how you do here."

  "You and me both, Sir," I replied. Lord, I was nervous.

  The expert gave me advice on how to lay down on the mat, how to hold my arms, hot to breathe and even when to blink. I probably took way too long, adjusting the sights and thinking about things like wind, temperature and humidity too. As soon as I thought that I had the best shot possible, I gently squeezed the trigger. I then watched the fireworks detonate that signaled the fact that I had shot my target. Cheering, I stood up and clapped my hands as I laughed. The expert laughed too.

  "Very well done, Miss McCoy. You have a natural talent for shooting."

  "Thank you, Sir."

  With that I walked back to the benches holding the rest of the contestants. Once I sat down on my bench, Trevor looked down at me and smiled.

  "Well done!"

  "Thank you," I said with a blush.

  He held my gaze for a few seconds before moving on to the next contestant. Most of them ignored me, but I didn't care; I'd shot an extremely difficult shot extremely well. My lover was proud of me. I was on cloud nine. When the contestant to the right of me got up to shoot, Max Allen came and took his spot. I didn't say anything to him, but just smiled. After a while, he smiled back.

  "You know, if I wasn't so confident that I was going to win this thing, I might be worried about you."

  I laughed out loud at that.

  "I don't even know what to say to that."

  "That's not the most shocking thing I have to say to you, either."

  I laughed again. "Go ahead. Lay it on me. I'm having a good day and I don't think anything could ruin it."

  He took his time staring at me with his dark brown eyes before leaning in and whispering to me.

  "If I wasn't married, I would ask you out. And you would say yes."

  My mouth must have opened in shock. I nervously ran my hand through my ponytail before blushing profusely. He smiled.

  "Relax, McCoy. Like I said - I'm married. Though you would have said yes, you know."

  I shrugged and smiled.

  "Okay."

  "Plus, now I know if whether or not you are actually available."

  He then discreetly pointed towards the front of us with his finger. Looking that way, I saw Trevor staring right at us with his arms crossed over his chest. I couldn't see his eyes but his mouth was unsmiling and his posture was stiff. After I gazed at him in surprise for a few seconds, he turned and faced the other way. Thinking quickly, I turned to Max.

  "I don't know what you are talking about."

  He just laughed and stood up. "Sure you don't."

  With that, he left my side and went back to his spot on the front bench. Not knowing what to make of that exchange, I shook my head trying to dispel it - or at least forget that it occurred. Trevor got us all together at the end and told us that the next competition would go down tomorrow morning and to be prepared for it. I followed the group of contestants up the trail and back towards the mansion.

  My afternoon wasn't half bad, actually. I ate some turkey and potatoes and chocolate cake. I played cards with Max Allen, Suzy and Sam Jones. I lost and left the game early on. Grabbing a book, I left my competitors and headed outside alone as I didn't want to wear out my welcome. Thinking about it, I figured that some of them probably thought that I was okay because Max Allen thought I was okay.

  I'd been halfway into my book when Trevor approached me outside. Looking around, I saw a camera focusing in on us from across the deck.

  "How are you doing, Miss McCoy?"

  Oh. So he was talking to me as the show's host. I could play along.

  "I'm well. Just enjoying the afternoon and evening without the threat of elimination looming over my head."

  Trevor took off his sunglasses as he smiled at me.

  "Well, you shot very well today. I'd be happy if I were you too."

  I sighed. "If shooting well was all it took, I'd probably relax a bit more."

  "I think they are warming up to you. Especially the Marine sniper."

  My brow furrowed a bit as I glanced at him. His face was friendly, but his tone was not.

  "He is friendly. Max has got a great shot of winning this. And as good a reason as any to win this."

  "What about your reasons for winning this? Why do you want the title? Why do you want the money?"

  I sat up a bit straighter at his question, knowing that my response would make it onto national television.

  "I want the challenge of this. I want this experience. I want this journey, whether I win or lose. As far as the money is concerned, I'd probably use some of it for a down payment on a house."

  I self-consciously laughed and pushed my hair behind my ears.

  "So you wouldn't use the fame of winning this show to travel around the country and enter other shooting competitions?"

  I furrowed my brow as I considered the question.

  "No, I wouldn't. I have a business. I have a home. I have a life that I want to settle down into. I don't really want to be on the road."


  Trevor nodded at that before his eyes spaced out onto the forest behind my back. After a couple of seconds, he turned back to camera and made a slashing motion with his hand near his neck. Once he did that, he reached for a black foam tip hanging from his shirt neck. He pulled it off and twisted it, turning it off. He then looked at me with a serious look on his face.

  "Don't go to the gazebo tonight, Lauren. I won't be there."

  I felt my heart slam in my chest. I felt fear assail my senses.

  "What? Are you busy?" I whispered.

  He shook his head at that.

  "No. Don't go back there at all. I won't meet you again," he said with a whisper as he stared at the ground.

  "Why?" I asked, hating how my voice sounded small and how tears had begun to reach my eyelids.

  He then looked back up at me with his bright green eyes.

  "We are in two different places, Lauren and I don't just mean Texas and California. You are ready for a serious relationship; I am not."

  I blinked a lot and swallowed at the tears in my throat. Trevor was killing whatever it was that we could be before it even had a chance of being born. He was killing me, just a tiny bit. I wanted to cry and to beg, but knew that I couldn't do so. Not here, and not with him. Maybe not for myself either; I shouldn't have to beg for someone to be with me.

  I bit my lip and stifled a sob before nodding.

  "Are you sure?" I quietly asked.

  He nodded. "I am."

  With that, I grabbed my book and my jacket and stood up.

  "Lauren," he whispered, trying to call me back.

  I walked away and I did not look back. I could not look back. My tears had begun to fall and I didn't want him to see me like that. I heard his boots come after me, but I kept walking. I walked through the rear entry of the mansion and up the stairs that led to the level that held the contestant bedrooms. I sobbed openly as I stared at my closed bedroom door. I couldn't go in there; what if Suzy saw me? I couldn't let anyone see me this way. Instead, I went to the bedroom that was right my bedroom. Opening the door, I saw that it was empty. Relieved, I walked in and closed the door behind me. Once in there, I went to the window that overlooked the gazebo where Trevor had just broken my heart. It was empty. Not knowing what else to do, I sat down on the bare mattress and sobbed out loud.

  Trevor had embodied my freedom to me, and not the competition itself. It was my choice to kiss him; it was my choice to let him kiss me back; it was my choice for him to touch me and for him to touch me back. I had decided that the scorn and disdain of my fellow competitors was an acceptable price to pay to be Trevor's lover. Making love to him would have been my reward for this competition and not the title or the money.

  "But you just took that away from me. I have lost," I whispered as I cried.

  Silently sobbing, I fell asleep right there on the bed.

  Chapter 14

  I don't know when I woke up, but it was fully dark. It took me a few seconds to remember where I was. I hit the light button on my watch to look at the time; I'd slept for about two hours. I lay on the bed and tried to envision myself competing for something I scarcely cared about. I tried to picture myself staring at Trevor like he meant nothing to me. I tried to imagine sitting by myself at the gazebo by the water. I just couldn't do it.

  I went to my room and grabbed my parka off of my bed and then quickly left again. I then ran for the trail that would take me to the gazebo by the water which was where I found him. Trevor turned around as soon as he saw me.

  "Where have you been?" he asked me in a concerned voice.

  I didn't answer him. Instead I walked into his arms and kissed him. He didn't respond at first, so I kept kissing him. Seconds later, his hands were on my back as he pulled me closer to him. He kissed me back then. So deeply and so hungrily. I sobbed in relief over that. His mouth broke from mine as he kissed my mouth, cheek and neck. His hands were all over my back and I knew that he longed to touch me elsewhere.

  "What's changed?" he asked as he leaned back from me.

  I looked up at him with tear filled eyes.

  "Nothing has. I'm still me. But I want you. I want you more than the money or the title."

  He took a deep breath and released it.

  "Are you sure?"

  I nodded. "Yes. I'm sure."

  His eyes went hungry and his hands became possessive as he pulled me closer.

  "There is no going back from this point, Lauren. I'm going to take you right here and right now."

  I nodded.

  "No. Tell me," he said in a deep voice.

  "Please. Take me," I nearly whimpered.

  My fate sealed, he reached down and kissed me again, deep and hard. He put his hands on my back and pulled me towards him. I felt his erection on my belly and I trembled. His hand reached for my hair and he grasped it while his mouth went from mine to my neck. Once there, he unzipped my jacket and shoved my shirt aside to kiss my shoulder and neck.

  Oh, but I wanted to touch him too. I reached my hands to his shoulders and lifted myself up on my toes to kiss his mouth, cheek, ear and neck. Once there, I kissed at his skin and darted my tongue out to taste him. I made him moan.

  "Oh, Lauren," he said as I unbuttoned the top buttons of his shirt. He stayed my hands with his own.

  "I'll take you, but not here on the trail."

  With that, he grabbed my hand and pulled me towards a section of woods that was heavy with trees and tall grass. He stopped as soon as we stopped at a grassy patch that was encircled by trees. Once there, he took off his jacket and lay it on the ground. Still holding my hand, he knelt on his jacket and gently pulled me down as he looked in my eyes. I stayed on my knees before him and returned my mouth to his.

  If it was cold, I couldn't tell. All I could feel was Trevor's skin, hands and mouth on me. I think that the trees and the grass might have smelled good, but I couldn't say for sure as all I could smell was aftershave and deodorant.

  And oh; my lover was good for his word. His mouth kissed my neck. It kissed my chest. It kissed my breasts. It kissed my belly and it kissed my thighs and the juncture located between them. I returned all of the attentions he gave me. I tasted his mouth, his neck, his chest and his stomach. I even wrapped my lips around his manhood and tasted that. As promised, he had me yelling his name and biting on his shoulder; I yelled his name while my naked legs were wrapped around his naked hips as he moved in and out of me - time and time and time again. I tensed and moaned as I felt my body crest in a wonderful orgasm. He yelled himself when he finished inside of me. In my mind's eye, I pictured how we looked from above. Me with my long blond hair on top of his orange jacket and the green grass; the contours of my white skin wrapped around the contours of his tanned body. My legs wrapped around his hips and buttocks as he burrowed deep within me. It would be a beautiful painting, I knew.

  "Oh, Lauren," he groaned as he bent down and kissed me. I kissed him back. How would I not? I was crazy about the man who had given me the best sexual experience I had ever had. Slowly, he climbed off of me and removed the used condom before lying next to me again. Reaching for my jacket, he covered my hips and chest with it along with his hips.

  "There's just not much," he said with a laugh as he got closer to me.

  I smiled back.

  "Lauren, that was...awesome," he said with another smile.

  Tenderness and affection effervesced in my chest like little, happy warm bubbles. I placed my hand on his face.

  "I know. It was awesome for me too."

  His face went serious then.

  "Was it worth it?"

  I felt my brow furrow. "Was this worth...what?"

  "Was this worth running the risk of getting kicked out of the competition?"

  I stared at him in surprise.

  "Of course it is. I told you it is. Look at us. Look at the beautiful trees and the clear night and the green grass below us. Never has it been like this for me. Not ever."

  He blinked and took a dee
p breath before lowering his mouth to mine and kissing me again. He then leaned back and caressed my hair. I watched his expression go sad as he opened his mouth to speak. Gently, I put my fingers to his mouth, effectively silencing him.

  "Shhh. Please don't tell me that it wasn't worth the risk of losing your job. I imagine that it wasn't, but I still don't want to hear that."

  He kissed my fingertips while he gently pulled my hand off of his mouth.

  "You are simply the most beautiful thing I have ever seen."

  I smiled and caressed his face again. "As are you."

  He kissed me again, and I felt the kiss get passionate.

  "I intend to have you again tonight. And again, and again. Tomorrow night too and the night after that."

  "What are we waiting for?" I gently asked him.

  With that, he covered my body with his as he gently kissed my neck and shoulders. The scruff on his face raked over my sensitive skin in the best way. Suddenly, he stopped and lifted his head, looking down at me.

  "What? Did you hear something?"

  He shook his head. "No. What in the hell did Max Allen tell you earlier?" he asked in a heated voice.

  "When?" I asked, slightly annoyed. Really? We were having this conversation now?

  "After you shot. On the benches. I saw you run your hand through your hair the way you do when you get flustered. What did he say to you?"

  I half smiled. "Are you the jealous type, Trevor?"

  "You are damned straight I am." He sounded completely unapologetic about it.

  "Then you don't want to know what he had to say."

  That made him sit up, straddling me.

  "Out with it. What did he say?"

  I sat up partway, leaning on my arms.

  "Tell me you won't do anything about it. Because you can't do anything about it - right? You can in no way confirm that we are...together," I added with a blush.

  He rolled his eyes at that.

  "Just tell me what he said."

  "He said that if he wasn't happily married that he would have asked me out and that I would have said yes."

  I watched as his nostrils flared and his jaws worked in his mouth.