Chapter 9

“Oh, popcorn. Definitely,” Cyn immediately replied. “The large bucket, if you don’t mind. But don’t worry, I’ll share it with you.” She then added, “And a cherry slush. Large.”

With their snacks – well, with her snacks – purchased, they entered the darkened movie theater and chose their seats. “Alex,” Cyn started, “This is our second date, and I really don’t want that awkward ‘should I kiss him?’ and ‘is he gonna kiss me?’ crap. So, before the movie starts, I think we should kiss. Is that cool with you?”

“Um, yeah. Sure.”

“I love your enthusiasm,” she said sarcastically as she leaned over towards him. Almost nose-to-nose, she asked him, “Are you ready?”

Alex only had a split second to think, ‘ready for what?,’ before their lips met. But “met” wasn’t what their lips did. Their lips melted into each other. He instantly felt hot and chilled at the same time. And then it was over before he even had a chance to react.

As their lips parted, he could feel her breath on his tongue as she told him, “You’re an amazing kisser, Alex.” And as she drew herself away from him, she looked down at the bulge in his lap, barely visible in the gloom of the theater. She, ever so lightly, ran a fingertip across his twill-covered erection and Alex shuddered to her touch. Cyn placed her hand on his thigh and leaned towards his ear. “I’m glad that I didn’t do any lasting damage down there.”

After that first kiss, Alex could barely think straight. Then she continued, “Could you hand me the popcorn, please?”

“Sure,” he replied and, almost robotically, handed her the giant tub of popcorn. He stared at her face, lit up by the previews and advertisements showing on the screen, wondering what the hell he had gotten himself into.

And driven almost insane with the desire to find out.

About ten minutes into the movie, they both knew that the movie was one of those terrible, by-the-numbers and predictable rom-coms that studios release in the summer when they don’t have a blockbuster on tap. Twenty minutes into the movie, Cyn had finished the popcorn with no help from Alex – his mind was elsewhere. She wiped her hands on a napkin, then used a moist towelette that she had brought from home to clean her hands and mouth. She took a healthy swig from her slushie, then leaned over to Alex. “This movie sucks.”

“Yeah.” Alex was about to ask if she wanted to leave, when Cyn started to rub the crotch of his pants. Figuring that she preferred to stay – and he certainly didn’t want to go anywhere – Alex said nothing. He put his arm around her shoulders and she leaned her head against him. All the while encouraging his erection along.

After a minute or two, she whispered in the dark, “Would you mind unzipping?”