"Carter, you can't just help yourself to this equipment. It's expensive and a teacher has to supervise."
Lydia's words fell on deaf ears as carter continued to fill his arms with the bow and arrows, unfazed at her warning. The equipment room in the gym wasn't being used but she could hear Nathan from where she was, taking a class and shouting directions at the freshman.
With lunch next, she knew that the room wouldn't be unoccupied for much longer. The football players would arrive to collect their gears and the last thing that she wanted, was to get caught sneaking equipment out with Carter.
"Relax killer," he grinned, gesturing his head in the direction of the door before he started towards it. "We'll be careful."
Before he walked out, Carter poked his head around the door jam and searched both directions before he stepped out in to the gym foyer. Lydia kept her scowl on his back as she followed him with a quick walk across the open space that allowed light in with wide windows and glass doors.
Once the two of them were outside, Carter led the way, keeping close to the brick walls until they were out on the field. The snow had been light for the last week so there was a little bit of the white powder here and there. But for the most part, the grass was just wet and cold.
It took a few minutes before there destination was met. The archery target boards were set up side by side and well out of view of the school. Carter dropped the bow and arrows, putting his hands on his hips with a proud grin.
"While I'm itching to shoot one of those things," Lydia admitted with her nose upturned in faux self righteousness. "I have to point out that you've lost it."
"Wanna hear a secret," he questioned picking up one arrow and the bow.
He lined up his shot, one eye closed as he pulled his elbow back, the sound of the bow rope becoming tight. His stance was perfect, strong and confident as he concentrated on what he was doing. Lydia felt herself lost to him, watching with so much admiration that she got a fright when he released the arrow and it loudly pinged.
"I was an instructor for archery at boarding school," he lowered the bow and nodded his head in the direction of the target. Lydia glanced to her right and found herself smiling when she saw the arrow on the red spot in the centre of the circle.
"So you won't get into trouble if we get caught then?" She folded her arms and brought her attention back to Carter who was watching her with a cute smirk.
"Oh no I'll get into a shit ton of trouble," he nodded, pursing his lips. "But you won't get hurt."
She felt her cheeks warm up under his sincere gaze. She hadn't expected that response but it brought on that familiar flutter in the pit of her stomach and she realised there was a definite truth to what Riley had said.
If she hadn't checked out of her relationship a long time ago, she wouldn't be so susceptible to these emotions that were being caused by another guy.
"Well, show me how it's done then," she walked forward, stopping only inches in front of him. Her gaze stayed glued to his as she reached down and took the bow from his hand, his smile growing.
Carter put his hands on her hips, turning her so that she was facing the target board. "Alright, lift the bow, get a feel for it," he instructed and Lydia did so, working hard to concentrate while his hands were serving to distract her.
"Good. Now ground yourself, you need your legs as much as your arms," he murmured. One of his hands kept to her hip, the other travelled south, grazing the outside of her thigh as he tapped her leg so that it went a little further forward.
She swallowed the lump in her throat when his hand lingered on her leg. "Strong," he breathed from behind her. He'd positioned her so that she was side on, him behind her, the bow raised and her legs steady.
He reached around and fed the arrow into her hand, his fingers grazing hers as he showed her how to hold it against the bow rope with the most efficient pinch.
The air felt thick, so thick that Lydia took a few deep breaths, disguising the action as a form of concentration. Which in some ways it was; but it had a lot more to do with the hands that were all over her.
"Now, lift here," he instructed, tilting her elbow. His hand moved to her ribs, wrapping around as the other guided her elbow back and she could feel his warm breath fanning her cheek as she closed one eye and attempted to focus on the target.
"Perfect," he praised with a hushed voice which reverberated through her. "Now focus on the target, take a deep breath and when you're confident— release."
She did as he said, doing her best to ignore how her heart thumped, the sound of beating in her ears and a mild adrenaline causing her eyes to haze over. She shook it off, willing herself to pay attention to what she was doing, rather than the gorgeous boy who towered over her with his front flush against her back.
When she realised that her concentration was at its peak and it wasn't going to get any better, she let go of the arrow and once again jolted when the loud ping startled her.
Carter stepped back, which allowed the cold winter air to hit her back and she lowered the bow, blushing with embarrassment when she saw where it landed.
"Well, I suck."
"Na," Carter chuckled. "You hit the frame, that's better than some first timers."
She stared at the arrow sticking out of the boards leg and found herself determined to try again. At least so it hit the target rather than just the frame.
"So I have a question," Carter interrupted her thoughts and she turned to spot him with his hands in his pockets, a devious grin on his flawless profile. Lydia set the bow on the ground, holding the top of it so that it didn't topple and waited for him to elaborate. "What was with telling Riley that we slept together?"