She licked her lips, the smile falling, but her breathing quickened.

We fell quiet again, the surround sound blasting every fight and explosion, but I swore I could only hear my heart beating with her next to me.

The minutes stretched, and I didn’t even know what movie we were watching anymore.

“Why do you like me?” she finally asked.

I looked over at her, repeating Edward McClanahan’s words, because it was the only way to explain. “We want what we want.”

Her chest rose and fell harder, but not an inch of her anywhere moved as she sat there and seemed to sink into her seat.

I looked down at her hands, the yellow box in one and the other clenching her skirt.

What would she do if—

“Do you still want to hold me?” she suddenly asked me.

I shot my eyes up to hers, but she just stared at the seat in front of her. My heart hammered in my chest, and every inch of me warmed.

Fuck yes.

Leaning over, I put her cup in the holder and dumped her Milk Duds into the popcorn container on the floor, taking her hand and pulling her up. I watched as she came over and lowered slowly into my lap.

I slid down in the seat, folding her into my arms as she tucked her head into my neck, neither of us giving a damn about the film anymore.

I closed my eyes, savoring the feeling of finally having her in my arms, and I had to fist my hands to keep them from roaming, or else she’d probably slap me.

But God, she felt good. Like everything was lighter when I held her.

“Don’t tell you I said this,” she whispered in my ear, “but you smell good.”

I shook with a laugh, unable to help myself. “Keep being, like pleasant and shit, and I’m going to find it really hard to keep being nice, Em. What are you trying to do?”

She shook with a chuckle, but then she slipped a hand around the back of my neck and whispered against my throat. “Remember what you said about nightfall?” Her lips grazed over my skin, feeling me. “You don’t have to be nice. Not until the end of the movie.”

The end of the movie. When the lights came up.

My dick swelled and hardened, and I threaded my fingers through the back of her hair, fisting it as I nuzzled into her mouth. “Em, Jesus.”

She came up, both of us tightening our arms around each other as the heat of her lips fell over mine. “Just until the end of the movie,” she whispered.

Sweat cooled my pores, and my cock twitched. I wanted everything at once, and my hands shook so fucking bad, I was afraid I wouldn’t be able to control myself. I didn’t want to scare her.

We held each other, our mouths centimeters apart as I came in and she inched away, and then she came in, and I held back, playing.

And then finally…

I caught her bottom lip with my teeth, she whimpered, and her mouth sank into mine, every nerve in my body firing as her warmth hit my tongue and her taste filled my head.

God, I’d waited for this, but as soon as my mouth moved over hers and her body filled my hands, I wasn’t in a hurry anymore. I slowed everything, slipping my hand under her skirt and squeezing her thighs as she repositioned herself and straddled me.

I wanted this to last forever.

“So soft,” I panted over her mouth.

God, her lips were soft.

I kissed her, both of us getting faster and harder, and when she came in for more and more, I was high. My dick strained against my pants, and I gripped her thighs, pressing her down on me.

She moaned, diving down to my neck and yanking my tie looser so she could get to more of my skin.

My head floated, the feel of her mouth blazing through my body with the sweetest pain. We nibbled and teased each other, and I wanted to take things off and see her. I wanted to touch her and kiss her in other places.

But I had to go slow. I didn’t want this to be over, and she scared easily.

My cock bulged, and I felt it almost there. I grabbed her head, holding her to me and stopping her from moving, but not letting her go.

I…

She grinded on me, nibbling and licking my mouth.

I sucked in a breath. I…

“Shit,” I gasped.

I dug my fingers into her thighs, the theater spinning around us.

Kissing. Only fucking kissing, and I was about to come already.

She breathed hard into my neck, and I could feel her heart racing, too.

I hated it when things ended up being exactly how you hoped they’d be.

I leaned in and kissed her gently, starting slow again and taking my time.

She might regret this tomorrow. She was in a weird mood today, and maybe I was an action movie, here to help her escape, but that wouldn’t fly when I finally took her into bed.

I wanted inside her head first.

Because contrary to whatever she thought, this shit wasn’t ending when the lights came up.

Emory

Present

He’d changed. And I didn’t like it.

It had been over a day since he took my underwear in the pool shower, and he still hadn’t spoken to me. Will was never so angry. Not that I was an expert on him, but I was the temperamental one. He was the lover.

I might’ve been able to get help from him eventually, but I didn’t have time to wait for it.

Aydin’s mind games. Taylor’s leering. Rory’s scowls.

I wasn’t sure why I’d remained protected, but I wasn’t counting on it lasting.

Will could get revenge on me all he wanted. Back in Thunder Bay.

It was time for a plan.

I walked down the hallway and entered the game room, spotting the pool cues on the wall. I took one down, pausing as I looked at all the paintings adorning the maroon wallpaper on the walls.

This place was like Dracula’s Castle with all its nooks and treasures. But sad and dying, too. Why would people send their kids here? Why not a beach, with sun and warmth? Depression only made moods worse. Was this place really supposed to help?

I gazed at the paintings of ships and pirates, of sea battles and sea creatures. What was the connection? Did the person who previously owned the house enjoy the ocean?

Or were we close to one?

A sudden weight anchored me to the ground, a new possibility I hadn’t considered.

If this was an island, I was fucked.

I needed to get to the roof. It was the best view I was going to get.

I shook my head. There were too many problems, and I wasn’t solving any of them. It was Thursday, and my co-workers at the firm would’ve reported me missing by now, right? Missing one day would be odd for me, but two?

I wasn’t friendly with any of them. No one had a key to my apartment. But they’d contact the police if I wasn’t showing up to work or answering my phone. Right?

Not that it would do any good. No one would find me here anyway.

“You walk around bold as brass, don’t you?” someone said from the dark corner in the room.

I startled, turning around and searching for the source.

“Like you have nothing to fear,” he added.

I twisted my head right again, finally seeing long, black-clad legs. He slouched in the chair at the far corner behind the chess table. His face was in shadow.

I inched around the pool table, toward the door, but kept my eyes on him.

“But you forget,” he panted. “We’re all in here for a reason.”