Free American Made (Against the Tides #2) by Katheryn Kiden

time she wants it. I help her stand up and maneuver around the bench. 
    Knox bends and kisses the top of her head. “You did good today.”
    “Shocking.” She laughs. “I can do something I’ve spent years trainin’ to do.”
    “Most people can’t shoot with the opposite hand like that, Emerson. Don’t downplay what you did today. It’s a step toward a new career if you want it.” She nods but stays quiet. “I gotta head out. Love you, Em.”
    “Love you too,” she says when she realizes he said something. She shakes her head before reaching out and grabbing his arm, pulling him to a stop. “I went to Ari’s today. It’s actually where I came from. It’s wasn’t good.”
    I sit back down so they can talk privately and after a few minutes Knox shakes his head sadly and leaves without another word. I push off the bench and step up behind her. I figure I’d be pushing my luck right now if I try to touch her so I just stand there and wait to see what she needs. She shocks me by spinning around and pressing herself against me. I wrap my arms around her when she buries her face into my neck. This should be freaking me out and making me want to sprint away as fast as I can but it doesn’t. All it does is confuse me more.
    “I need an honest opinion since Knox will say anything to make to make up for bein’ an asshole the other day.”
    “OK, honest opinion of what?”
    “Do you think I can do this?” she whispers. 
    “Yeah,” I tell her honestly. “After what I saw today, I do. If it’s what you want to do, anyway.”
    “I felt at home behind that gun. I felt like myself. I forgot what that was like but I’m still not sure why I freaked out when I first got here.”
    I chuckle and tip her head back so I can look at her, hating that she looks so confused. “Because you got shot, dumbass. Bein’ jumpy around gunfire is normal after bein’ shot. You obviously came out of it after a few rounds.”
    “Yeah.” She smiles, ignoring my dumbass comment. “It felt good to feel like I knew what I was doin’ for a bit.”
    “Mhm, and you looked good doin’ it too.”
    She laughs. “What?”
    I grab her chin again. “You’re hot as hell when you’re in your element, you know that?”
    “Oh yeah?” She pushes away from me and grins. “Is that the only time you think I’m hot?”
    “No.” I laugh. I have a hard time catching my breath when she slides her hand under the hem of her shirt, exposing her toned stomach. “Fuck no. All you have to do to have my cock beggin’ to be touched is breathe in my vicinity.”
    “Good to know.” Emerson winks at me before spinning and heading toward the parking lot. Her hips swing with each step and it drives me insane. 
    “How the fuck can I want someone so much that I only met a few days ago?” I call out as she reaches for the door handle on her truck.
    “Infatuation,” she yells back over her shoulder. I take a few long strides and press myself against her back, forcing her chest against the truck. I make sure I don’t press hard enough to hurt her and scrape my teeth across the junction of her neck and shoulder. She moans, rolling her head to the side for me. “I have a theory, wanna know what it is?” I nod against her skin and wait to see what she has to say. “My theory is if we get it out of our systems we won’t want each other as much.”
    Doubtful .
    “And why’s that?”
    “Because I don’t wanna want you as much as I do and I think that feelin’ you touchin’ me and gettin’ it out of my system will help.”
    “What if I don’t wanna stop wantin’ you? What then?”
    “You will. My appeal will diminish the second you get what you really want.” She pushes me back using her ass and opens the door of the truck, jumping in. “Follow me.”
    I shake my head because I know I shouldn’t be doing whatever it is we’re about to do, but I follow her anyway. She turns down a series of back roads until she pulls off to the side.