Danger Zone

4. Fertilized

Chapter four

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"It helps if you pull the trigger a bit slower," a voice yelled from behind me.

I jumped about a mile in the air before swirling around to glare at whoever decided it would be a wise decision to sneak up on me at a gun range at work. Amused emerald green eyes stared back at me, making me forget what I was going to say.

I pulled my headphones off of my ears and tried to discreetly ogle at the handsome man. He was tall with dirty blond hair that was cut short. His skin looked smooth and his lips were enticing. Decked out in a tight black T shirt and jeans, his muscles were on display for sex deprived women like me to admire-

My train of thought was interrupted by the chuckle that spilled out of his lips. I blushed and awkwardly cleared my throat, "And who are you?"

"Reece Hayes, and you must be new here," he assumed with a raised eyebrow.

"What clued you in on that?"

"I would've remembered somebody so beautiful," he replied with a grin of a heartbreaker.

I let out a snort, was he flirting with me? "Cheesy, but thank you."

"My apologies, I'm not usually this corny. Now turn around and let me help you hit your target."

I did as he said, surprised at myself for obeying a complete stranger so easily. It didn't help that he was extremely attractive as well.

I looked at the targets that I'd attempted to shoot, frowning at the bullet holes that closely circled the bullseye of the target. He stepped close behind me, so close I could feel the rise and fall of his chest as he breathed.

"Feet hip width apart," he instructed, his voice so soft and concentrated it almost sounded like a whisper. I did as told.

"Good, extend your arms straight out but not locked," he proceeded to gently grab my upper arms and lift them to the desired position. "Bend ever so slightly at the waist." His hands went to said body part and my breath hitched in my throat at his touch. How could someone make shooting a gun feel so..sensual?

"Good. Now relax your shoulders," he pressed down on them, forcing me to relax. "Okay, now aim and squeeze the trigger slowly."

I took a deep breath and pulled the trigger, nearly jumping with joy when it put a hole in its mark.

I turned around to thank him and froze in horror at the gaping bullet wound in his chest. His face contorted in pain before he fell to the ground, deaf to my terrified screams.

"Thalia wake up!" A voice pleaded frantically from above me. The scream died on my lips and my eyes snapped open to find Dante standing above me. The moonlight that shone from the window illuminated the concern evident in his features.

With no further preamble, I burst into sobs.

"Shit Thalia, what's wrong?" He hurriedly slid into bed next to me and sat me up, pulling me into his naked chest. He stroked my hair while I cried and murmured soothing words in my ear.

Honestly I should've been used to the nightmares, I had them every night and could never get much sleep because of them. Even then, each time it still hurt the same. My mother had been urging me to talk to a therapist or psychologist, but I refused to sit on a couch and listen to some nut job just repeat my feelings and questions back at me and offer some bullshit advice.