Page 137 of Puck Me Back to Life

“You absolutely did.” He wipes at one eye. “I haven't had this much fun in weeks.”

“I'm thrilled my suffering could entertain you.” I roll my eyes.

The movie settles down again. My heartbeat eventually follows. Then, without saying anything, I feel Ash's hand rest lightly on my thigh. The gesture is casual. Steady. He doesn't squeeze. Doesn't move. He simply leaves it there. Grounding.

My muscles relax before I even realize they'd been tense. The warmth of his hand cuts through the cool air inside the theater. Another frightening scene begins unfolding on screen. The possessed woman slowly crawls across the ceiling. I decide very firmly that I don't need to look. Instead, I stare determinedly at the popcorn.

Ash looks at me from the corner of his eye. “Watching the snacks now?”

“They're less terrifying.”

His thumb traces the smallest circle against my leg. The movement is almost absentminded.

My attention immediately abandons the movie.

Ash leans just slightly closer. Before I realize what he's doing, his lips brush softly against the side of my neck. The kiss lasts barely a second. Just enough for warmth to bloom beneath my skin.

“You're being very brave,” he murmurs.

Heat floods my face instantly, and I can feel him smiling.

The problem is that I can't remember what's happening on the screen anymore. Somebody might still be possessed. The priest might be winning. The ghost might have consumed the entire cast. I have absolutely no idea. Every ounce of my concentration has shifted to the man sitting beside me.

His hand is still resting comfortably against my thigh. Eyes locked on the screen as his thumb drags up and down on my skin. The place where he pressed his lips is burning almost as hot as my cheeks. You're being very brave.

And now—Jesus fucking christ.

I'm hard in my pants.

I want to kill myself a little bit more than I usually do in this moment. I shift my shirt down to cover the obvious hard-on in my track pants. Should I use the popcorn to hide it? No, that’s some sitcom bullshit.

I set the popcorn bucket down on the fancy table that pulls out over the lounge chairs and try to concentrate on the movie, which has turned into a bloody mess that's not distracting enough.

Ash squeezes my leg slightly, his fingers curling on the inner part of my thigh. “You okay?”

“Mhm.” I don't look at him. I can't. I'm sure he'll be able to see how horny I am on my face.

“Are you scared?” A slight hum of humor fills his voice.

“Not at all. I actually really enjoy gore.” My voice cracks.

Ash nuzzles his nose against the side of my face. “Are you lying, sweetheart?”

I huff, refusing to answer. The warmth of his skin rolling down my spine and straight to my crotch.

Ash sucks my earlobe into his mouth, making me gasp.

“Stop it,” I mumble.

Ash presses another kiss to my neck, but this one is a little longer. He sucks my skin into his mouth and digs his teeth into me. His hand moves up on my leg to my crotch to find the evidence of my feelings.

“Oh, you're not scared at all,” Ash hums.

“Ash, not here.” But my legs are already spreading on the lounge.

His hand starts rubbing me through my pants as he licks up my neck.

A broken whimper leaves my mouth.