Page 81 of Beneath the Light of the Moon

“Don’t get any ideas,” she responded before lowering the gun. Her arms ached and her shoulders creaked as she tried to shake the tension out. But now that her thighs could touch again, she couldn’t ignorethe feeling of her jean’s seam rubbing just ri—

“Who said I was?”

Shaking her head, she unloaded the clip from the handgun when his hands stilled hers. “We’re not done here.”

“What do you mean?” Anika glanced up at him over her shoulder. “I did what you asked, your services are no longer needed,professor.”

And if I stay here any longer, a morning with my vibrator isn’t going to cut it…

His eyes were shadowed from his hat, but they darkened at the nickname. “One good shot doesn’t make you a master. Do it again.”

“As much as I’d love to, I need to get home so I can shower and go to work. Not everyone can be rich like you and play pretend in an office.”

“Take the day off.”

She fought the urge to roll her eyes. “Now why would I do that?”

A beat of silence passed between them as he assessed her. “You look tired.”

Her heart stopped. “How nice of you to notice, but in reality I’m tired of you, so if you don’t mind…”

She went to step around him, but he refused to move.

“Practice makes perfect,malyshka.”

Running her tongue over her teeth, Anika composed her thoughts. “I agree, which is why I come here every week. Which is why I don’t needyouto teach me. Now, if you’ll excuse me…”

He finally let her move past, his eyes flashing with something she couldn’t decipher in the brief moment they shared. It made the arousal pooling in her underwear painfully evident.

I’m so fucked.

She was relieved he finally listened and stepped out of her space. It was getting hard to breathe, and her heart was thudding painfully against her insides.

“I hope you had fun with my lotions at least,” she sneered, unable to resist one last dig.

He stiffened, and she swore his face reddened beneath his hat slightly, but, “I’ll see you around,” was all he said before grabbing his bag and striding away. She watched him set up a few lanes down from her.

Guilty conscience much?

Before she could think any longer on it, she packed up her own things. Work did start in a couple hours and she couldn’t be late, weird gun range interactions or not.

Determined not to be cornered by him again, she quickly walked out so she could return the equipment she’d rented. The man behind the counter was smiling while she signed out. “It’s not every day the owner of the range gives you a private lesson.”

“What?” her brain was already hazy from Mikko.

“Romanov, the man helping you shoot, he owns the range. He usually keeps to himself, coming in early or late, but this is the first time in a while I’ve seen him practice with someone else.”

No shit.“Uh, yeah…well, that was gracious of him.”

“Truly, does my old heart good to see him come out of his shell occasionally.” The man seemed genuine, his eyes glistening with kindness. Had Mikko paid this man to act? She wouldn’t doubt it, but her intuition said differently. Not only did Mikko own this range—because of course he did—but it wasn’t often that he was vulnerable here. Why share that moment with her?

Mind games. Hehadto be playing mind games.

“He should do it more often,” she started, setting the pen back atop the sign out sheet, “he’s a good teacher.” It pained her to say it, but it was either that or explain to the older gentleman that Mikko and her were playing a game transcending all normal societal standards.

“I’ll let him know you said that.”

With a nod, Anika shakily made her way to her car. After the night she’d had, the gun range was supposed to clear her head and affirm her actions, but it looked like the opposite was happening.