Page 54 of Coveted

“It’s a high-voltage stun gun from the military,” I say. “Compact, reliable, good for close-quarters attacks.”

“I see.”

“Come here.” I beckon with my free hand. “If you’re ever going to use it on someone, you need to know how.”

After hesitating, she steps closer.

I can’t tell if she’s more afraid of me or the stun gun, because she looks at us like we’re the same.

I place the device in her small hand. A frisson moves through my skin at the contact.

As I take my fingers away, hers curl around the handle uncertainly.

“Not quite.” I move behind her. “Hold it like this.”

She stiffens immediately.

Reaching past her shoulder, I close my hand over hers to adjust her grip. Her pulse jumps under my fingers.

“Thumb here,” I murmur. “The trigger is pressure-sensitive.”

She swallows. “So I just… point it at the person?”

“Make sure you’re within range first. You use it when someone’s already in your space.”

She’s very still now. “So I let them get near?”

“If you have to.”

“That seems dangerous.”

“I know it does.”

Her hand is still enclosed in mine. I can feel the tension in her grip, like she’s wary of sparking the heat between us.

“Then what?” she asks.

“Then you press the trigger,” I say.

Curiosity enters her voice. “What will happen?”

“Try it. Find out.”

After a long, steady exhale, she tightens her grip and presses the trigger. The device crackles to life with a sharp electric snap, searing blue and sparkly. She jerks back reflexively, landing against my chest.

I don’t move away, but she pushes off me while peering at the stun gun.

“That was perfect,” I say, still feeling the imprint of her warm skin on my palm. “Keep it on you always. Use it when you need it.”

With care, she opens her bag and lowers the weapon inside.

“I hope I never need to use it,” she says.

“Neither do I.”

“You said you’d have information about the car he drove?” she asks.

“I did say that.” I tilt my head at the door. “Let’s go upstairs. You don’t seem all that comfortable down here.”