Chapter Twenty-Four
Aveline
“ARE YOU FREE tonight? My boss gave me gift cards to the discount movies. Want to go?” Ricky texted me the next day.
“The movies? Yes!”
His response came right away. “Pick you up in an hour.”
“No, I’ll meet you there. Text me the address?” I asked, fingers flying to respond as excitement zinged through me.
“Ok, will do.”
An hour later, I pulled up the address Ricky had sent me. My parents were already in bed when Ricky texted. I knew I could sneak out without alerting Tobias. A loud, rumbling motorcycle would be a different story.
Excitement bubbled up inside me. This was definitely a date. A real one. My first. Shimmying in my seat, I squeezed my hands together to keep from squealing. A knock at my window shocked me and a scream slipped out.
“Aveline, it’s me,” Ricky called from the outside.
I unlocked my door, and Ricky opened it, moving to let me step out of the car. “I’m sorry, it’s dark out and I didn’t see you there.”
“Didn’t mean to scare you, mariposa.” Ricky closed the door behind me and I locked it, walking next to him into the theater.
Looking down at his hand, I contemplated grabbing it and holding it in mine. I glanced up at him, but he was focused ahead, looking serious and not like he wanted any contact right now.
Inside, Ricky used the cards to buy our tickets, popcorn, and sodas. I took in the whole place. Ricky had said over text that this was a discount theatre. Nothing looked discount to me. Large colorful posters illustrated upcoming shows, while dark red velvet ropes lined off entrance and exit areas. The concessions were filled with box after box of candy, every soda I could think of, and even things like pretzels and nachos.
The little girl inside me did a happy dance.
I followed Ricky to the last theater on the left. We were seeing one of the later shows for the night and walking into the dark theater, I noticed a few people in the middle, but for the most part the room was empty.
“Like sitting in the back?” Ricky asked, his tone hushed.
I nodded vigorously. “Anywhere you like.”
He led the way to the back row, and we settled into the seats, shedding jackets and securing sodas.
Ricky motioned to the screen that was still dark. “You haven’t seen this one, right?”
He’d asked me what movie I wanted to see, but I declined, letting him pick. I had no clue what was popular or getting good reviews right now.
I shook my head, taking a single piece of popcorn between my fingers and popping it into my mouth. The salty, buttery flavor was delicious.
My head fell back against the seat and I moaned. “So good,” I told him, eating a few more pieces.
“My boss cleaned out his desk last week and found the gift cards. Gave them to me for free. I hope you don’t mind a discount theater. I haven’t been to a movie in years. Too pricey.” Ricky scooped up a handful of popcorn.
“I’ve never been to the movies, so I don’t care at all.”
Ricky choked on a piece of popcorn and took a long drink from his soda. “Aveline,” he turned to me. “You’ve never been to a movie theater?”
Oh boy. How did I explain this one?
“My parents are very… cultured. Movie theaters are not their thing.” I avoided the whole deaf issue and that being the reason movie theaters were unappealing.
Ricky’s eyes were wide as he watched me. I still had no desire to talk to him about my parents. I would tell him in time, but first I wanted this stage to be about us. Being in the public eye with my parents, I had always seen the looks of pity. I didn’t want or need pity. But getting to know someone without a hint of sympathy was like diving into a crystal clear, cold pool. The refreshing knowledge that I was known and judged, just for me, allowed me to do and say what I meant. Without thought or pretense.
Letting Ricky into that last part of my life also meant a whole slew of other, sillier issues. He would want to meet my parents and vice versa. My parents would freak about his whole rough guy vibe, not to mention the motorcycle. The first guy I dated had to be one that would hit their panic buttons on many levels.
No, not yet. Right now, I was enjoying the process of getting to know Ricky on my own terms, for the first time in my life.
The previews started, and I shimmied again in my seat, smile wide across my face. Feeling his attention still on me, I faced him. “Thank you for asking me. I’m so excited!”
His eyes warmed, the color again looking like melted chocolate. Reaching between us, he lifted the arm rest and placed his arm around my shoulders.
My heart raced. This was getting better and better! I snuggled into his embrace, glancing up to see him looking down at me. When we made eye contact again, we both whipped our heads forward.
The music began, lights darkened, and the movie started.
A few minutes into the show, Ricky’s hand rubbed my shoulder, his thumb reaching over onto my chest, close to my breast. The warm sensation raised the hairs on my arms and nape. Should I touch him too? I wanted to. The place was pitch dark. I could be bold.
Inch by inch I dragged my fingers closer to his thigh. Pulling in a deep breath, I placed my hand on his rock-hard leg. A gravelly sound came from the back of his throat and I bit my lip to keep from sighing. Instead, I raised my hand a little higher, my heart beat raising from the intimacy of this moment.
Ricky’s nose buried in my hair and he inhaled, a shaky pull of air, if I wasn’t mistaken. I didn’t push it further, but neither of us broke contact, using our free hands for popcorn or sodas, the ones connected to each other remaining that way.
Two hours later, the credits rolled, and the five other patrons exited the theatre. Finally pulling apart, I turned to Ricky, stretching my arms over my head. Popcorn and soda were gone long ago, I was sated with food and entertainment.
“That was fabulous. Everything is brighter and louder and… and… bigger than watching it at home. Thank you again.”
Ricky grinned. “Stop thanking me.” He looked around and behind me. “We’re alone,” he muttered, pulling me closer.
He slipped my glasses off and folded them gently, placing the frames in an empty cup holder beside him. Cupping my face in his hands he drew me closer and closer until our lips met.
The shyness and fear I had about kissing Ricky was gone. He’d allowed me the time to adapt and heck, I had. Now I wanted more.
Our lips gave and took. We sucked and licked, tasting and exploring. The sensations were overwhelming, but I wanted more than kisses.
I climbed over onto his lap, my fingers stroking his hard jaw. “Will someone come in here?”
“Not for a while, mariposa. Almost no one is on duty this late. I’ll keep an eye out, you’re safe.” He sucked on my earlobe and then ran his tongue down my neck.
“I love it when you call me that.” I sighed.
He sucked on my pulse point and I whimpered. “Delicate, fragile, beautiful. That’s what you are to me. A butterfly.”
My lips pursed in a small, teasing grin. “I feel like I have wings. I want to stretch them wide, enveloping you.” I adjusted my legs, bringing one on either side of him and as I sat back down, his hardness landed right between my legs.
“Oh,” I breathed out, a surge of fiery delight shooting through me. A strong and urgent need coursed through my blood and I pressed down, wanting to relieve the ache that throbbed in my core.
Ricky closed his eyes. “Fuck,” he whispered, his hands falling to grasp my hips.
When he opened his eyes again, they were hooded. Mine felt heavy in response. I followed my instinct and rocked back and forth, dragging my body along his erection.
Ricky’s mouth fell open and I caught his lower lip between mine, sucking as I rocked. Whatever instincts I was following had to be right, as Ricky took over, his mouth meeting mine, in a hard, demanding kiss.
My hands found his long hair and I wrapped it around my fingers, reveling in the soft, silky locks. We kissed, mouths dueling for control as my tempo increased. Ricky’s hands guided me, seeming to know exactly which patterns brought the most pleasure.
I’d only ever felt this build inside me from my own hands, the images I read about in my books playing out in my bed at night. The orgasm was coming. My skin heated, body tightening, and breath stalled. I pulled back, my head dropping to my shoulders and I groaned, shuddering with release as pleasure washed over me.
As reality found me, so did embarrassment. God, I got myself off on his lap. What did I do for him? Nothing. Not one thing.
I sat up straight, my fingers tracing his now even more swollen lips. My other hand traveled to his jeans, fumbling with the button.
Ricky chuckled, nipping at the end of my finger. “Not here. Maybe when I come to your house on Saturday, okay?”
“Okay, Ricky. That was… that was…” I mumbled, brain on overload.
Ricky’s gaze was tender. “Good? Was that your first orgasm, little mariposa?”
My face heated as I shook my head. “I’m twenty-two. I’m not a nun.”
The smile fell from his face. “But you’ve never had any boyfriends…” His words trailed off. Realization struck and the smile that appeared was slightly wicked. “I’m going to save that discussion for another time.”
He scooted me off his lap, standing and readjusting himself in his pants. God, that was hot.
I stood, placing my hand on his forearm. “I’m not experienced as you know, but I’m looking forward to more with you on Saturday. I’m sorry to leave you uncomfortable.”
He chuckled. “So formal. So cute.” He kissed my lips. “Trust me when I say that what I saw from you, what I felt from your body, will take care of me for quite a while.” The corner of his mouth lifted in a lopsided grin and I couldn’t help but laugh.
I would soak up every minute. I would touch him everywhere I could. And I would make love with him when the time was right.
Because I was ready. My time had come. I was living my life out loud, open, and in the arms of Ricky for as long as he’d have me.