Chapter 96 Part 96
Emerson
They were quiet for a few minutes as she processed Asher’s words. She didn’t want the silence to grow, and she cleared her throat. “So what movie should we watch?”
He’d been staring at her the entire time, but now his focus shifted to the TV. “You can choose whatever you want to watch. I don’t watch a lot of TV.”
“I’m guessing army movies are out and probably horrors, too.”
Asher smiled. “I’ve had enough army without having to watch them.”
“Ooh, we can watch a cowboy romance,” she said, and Asher laughed.
“Is that a thing?”
Emerson grinned. “It’s a big thing. Romantic cowboys are every woman’s fantasy.”
“Why?” Asher asked, with a frown.
“It’s the whole thing of men wearing cowboy hats, working with horses, muscles forged from work and not a gym, good manners, and probably, or hopefully, a bit of a wild side. Women like to be dominated without feeling like she has no say. Cowboy books and movies give that to them,” she said.
“So, you’re saying there’s a host of women out there falling over themselves to land a cowboy?”
Emerson laughed and swatted his arm. “Oh, yeah, I can just see you putting up a sign on a New York corner advertising yourself.”
Asher laughed, too, and shook his head. “No, thanks. I prefer a woman that’s real.”
Emerson shifted, and leaned back against the couch. She browsed through the movies because she was on the verge of throwing herself at him. He didn’t realize how attractive he was, and not just the physical part of him, it was everything.
“Have you seen ‘Good Will Hunting’?”
Asher shook his head. “No, I haven’t.”
“It’s not a new release, but it’s really good.”
“But you’ve already seen it,” Asher said.
“I don’t mind, it’s good enough to be watched twice.”
They watched the movie in moderate silence. Emerson kept glancing at Asher. His concentration on the film made her smile. Asher was one of those people that talked to the television, and Emerson loved it.
“Thanks for putting it on. It was really good.”
“See, sometimes I know what I’m talking about,” she said.
“I’m glad he made the right choice in the end. He went for it, and it’s brave. Not everyone is willing to leave behind what they know for the unknown.”
Emerson looked intently at him for a few seconds. “You’re right. The unknown scares us. We all want to know what will happen tomorrow or next week. Most of us like routine, I guess.”
“You’re brave, too, Emerson. You took a leap into the unknown,” he said.
“I’m glad I did.” They looked at each other for a few seconds, which felt more like an eternity, until Asher cleared his throat and looked away.
“What’s next?”
“You want to watch another movie?” Her smile made him smile, and it warmed her.
“It’s not like we’ve got anywhere to be,” Asher said.
“I’ve created a monster,” she whispered.
Asher was half-way to the kitchen when he stopped and turned to look at her. “I heard that.”
She laughed, and scrolled through the list to find a suitable movie for them. She didn’t want anything that would trigger him, and she laughed when she saw the perfect movie for him.
Asher returned with two cans of soda, a bowl of popcorn, and a large chocolate landed on her lap. She looked up at him, and smiled.
“Supposedly, chocolate is a woman’s best friend, not diamonds,” he said.
She grinned. “A diamond’s pretty to look at, but chocolate just hits the spot.”
Asher settled on the couch, took off his shoes, and rested his feet on the coffee table. The bowl of popcorn rested on his lap, and he gave her a look. “Are you gonna put the movie on or stare at me the whole day?”
“Nothing wrong with your self-esteem,” she said, and pressed play.
“What’s this one about?”
“A little boy who figures out he’s a wizard and goes to wizardry school,” she said, with a smile. “His aunt and uncle are really mean, but then when he goes to this school, he discovers secrets and magic, and makes new friends.”
“So it’s a movie for kids?”
“It’s not just a movie for kids. Just watch it,” she said, and opened her chocolate. “Do you want some of this?”
“Are you offering me a piece to get some of my popcorn?”
Her hand went to her heart, and her eyes widened dramatically. “You mean you weren’t going to share that with me?”
“Well…at least popcorn won’t make you fat. Maybe we should trade,” he said, and laughed at the look on her face as he put the popcorn on the table.
“You did not just say that!” She moved so quickly that she caught Asher off guard. She straddled him, and pushed against his chest. “That is mean and rude!”
She inhaled sharply, realizing what she’d done, as she looked into Asher’s eyes. His hands moved up her legs, over her thighs, and settled on her hips. There was a fire burning in them, and she couldn’t look away. It was now or never. She knew it.
She moved closer, their mouths just inches apart, and Asher’s hands moved to her ass, and pulled her even closer to him. Their breaths mingled, and Emerson closed her eyes when their lips touched.
His hands moved to her back, their chests touching, and Emerson’s fingers moved through his hair. The kiss deepened, and Emerson moved her hands down his sides. Her fingers met warm flesh, and her nails grazed over his skin. Asher’s hands slipped underneath her shirt, as well, and goosebumps broke out over her skin.
Asher broke the kiss off, and she inhaled deeply before she opened her eyes. His eyes had a stormy look to them, and he slowly lifted her shirt, and took it off. In one fluid moment, he took his own shirt off, then they were kissing again, Asher’s hands moving to the button of her jeans.