not on the list. The fact that every time he
thought of her, his cock pressed against his zipper, that he’d replayed every
word of their conversations in his head all afternoon like a teenage boy
wondering if a girl liked him—those were not the kind of things that made a relationship
last. Oh, she laughed at his jokes, and their conversations had been
interesting, but she couldn’t possibly like him like that . Why would
she? She’d want someone like that guy Geena was hanging out with, John, the
tall, tanned construction worker, or whatever he was.
The final trailer rolled away, followed by some animated
snacks fox-trotting across the screen, reminding the audience that they should
head to the lobby before the movie got going. Shouldn’t that have come before
the trailers? The opening credits began, and he moved to the aisle seat and
turned to watch the door at the back. She’d been gone a while.
Just as he became concerned she had decided not to return,
Coral reappeared and sauntered toward him. In her faded jeans and fitted, low-necked
t-shirt, her figure was outlined by the projector’s shifting light. Long legs,
rounded hips, and a tiny waist. Her breasts, high and proud, made him regret
not hunting for the popcorn further. When she tilted her head at him, he
wondered if he should offer to move back to his original seat.
Coral smiled and shrugged. “Excuse me.” She brushed past him
and took the vacant chair. He held the popcorn in his lap, grateful the giant
tub concealed his arousal. “Want me to take that from you?” she asked.
Gage clutched the bucket tighter. “No, I’ll hang onto it. I
might even have a little myself. I never—”
“Never eat fattening junk food loaded with fake butter
flavoring?” She giggled, and a man in the row behind the shushed them. Coral
clapped a hand over her mouth. She dropped it and brought a few pieces to her
lips. “Oh, this isn’t fake at all. So good, try some.”
Gage smiled, enjoying the evening. He reached into the
bucket and took a handful. The taste was a revelation, salty and buttery and
indulgent. He ate more, and stuck his hand in again just as she did the same.
Her fingers brushed his, and his cock throbbed. God, could
she tell? If this kept up, by the time she got to the bottom, he’d have pushed
it out of shape and her hand would… He gulped.
“Oh, I’m sorry,” she said, pulling back, but he caught her
wrist and held it.
“No, you go ahead.” He pushed her deeper. “It’s your
popcorn, after all.”
“I intended to share with you anyway.” She turned her palm
up and tangled their fingers together, then looked up and met his eyes, the
flickering light flashing on her face, her lips shiny with butter from the
popcorn. Inches away.
His breath caught. Her eyes widened. He tightened his
fingers around hers. She tilted her head back, and he closed the distance,
focused on her sweet mouth, wanting to taste it, to taste her. She lifted her
face, her eyelids drooping.
“Could you two get a room if you’re not going to watch the
movie? Geez!”
Coral jerked away as if she’d touched a live wire, yanking
her hand out of the tub. Gage fought the urge to turn and punch the guy who’d
made her react like that, who’d ruined the moment. But he faced forward and
passed her the bucket. The need for concealment had disappeared as well. For
now.
“Can you see Charlie and Elise?” she whispered, sitting
forward and trying to look around the tall woman in front of her. That hadn’t
been a problem in her former seat...and it hadn’t been one for him with his
greater height.
He went with the subject change, abashed by his desire for
her. No aphrodisiac could have done more than the buttery popcorn. “Yes.
They’re watching the movie.” They, in fact, stared straight ahead, with no
little chats to the side. Nor did they brush shoulders together. Their
attention seemed focused on the film.
“Oh, okay.” She leaned back again. “I guess
Michael Bishop
Nancy McGovern
Ruth D. Kerce
Greg Bear, Gardner Dozois
Tade Thompson
Violetta Rand
Aria Hawthorne
William W. Johnstone
Homer Hickam
Susan Fanetti