CHAPTER 50: FUN IN THE THEATRE

The Grand Lumière Cinema’s private screening room was a haven of indulgence, its velvet seats cradling Alex, Tisha, and their friends in plush comfort.

The rom-com burst onto the screen with a vibrant montage of city lights and a bouncy pop soundtrack, the story of two clumsy lovers stumbling into a chaotic romance.

Sarah was hooked from the opening scene, her eyes glued to the screen as the protagonists tripped into a hilarious coffee-shop meet-cute.

"Oh my God, this is so my vibe," she whispered to Danny, her voice bubbling with excitement as she nestled into his arm, oblivious to the electric undercurrent rippling through the row.

The seating had fallen naturally. Tisha on the aisle, her sapphire dress glowing faintly in the dim light. Alex beside her, his tailored jacket open, his body tense with anticipation. Mike next to him, crunching popcorn with feigned nonchalance, then Danny and Sarah at the far end, lost in their couple bubble.

Tisha’s focus, however, was nowhere near the movie. Her hazel eyes locked onto Alex, a wicked glint dancing in them as she leaned closer, her thigh pressing against his in the tight space.

"Cute movie," she whispered, her voice a sultry purr that sliced through the rom-com’s dialogue, meant for his ears alone. "But I’m thinking we could’ve picked something... spicier. An erotic thriller, maybe."

Her hand, resting lightly on his knee, began its slow ascent, fingers tracing lazy circles along his jeans, each touch igniting sparks under his skin.

Alex’s breath caught, his eyes darting to hers in the flickering light, a mix of warning and want. "Tisha," he murmured, his voice low, rough, "you’re gonna get us in trouble." But his body betrayed him, leaning into her touch, craving the danger.

Her lips curved into a mischievous smile, her breath warm against his ear as she leaned closer, her voice dropping to a husky whisper.

"Trouble? Oh, darling, if we were watching something naughty... say, a steamy noir, I could’ve slipped under this armrest and given you head right here." Her fingers slid higher, brushing the inner seam of his thigh, dangerously close to the bulge straining against his zipper.

"Imagine that, Alex... my lips on you, while your friends think I’m just... watching." She let out a soft, breathy moan, tilting her head, eyes glittering with mischief. "Oh... God, how thrilling... just thinking about it makes my heart race."

A low groan stifled in his throat as her words painted a vivid, forbidden image.

His hand gripped hers, trying to still it, but she twisted free, her fingers now grazing his side, slipping under his jacket to trace the hard lines of his abs through his shirt.

"You’re evil," he whispered, his voice a growl, his body humming with tension. "They’re right there."

She laughed softly, the sound blending with the movie’s upbeat score, drawing a quick glance from Mike. "Evil? No, just... inspired."

Her hand ventured higher, teasing the edge of his chest, her nails grazing his nipple through the fabric, sending a jolt through him.

She turned slightly, addressing the group as if nothing was amiss. "So, Sarah, what’s the best part of this rom-com? The banter or the inevitable kiss?"

Sarah, engrossed as the protagonists bumbled through a fake-dating scheme, barely looked away.

"The banter! It’s so awkward and perfect." She giggled, popping popcorn into her mouth, her focus snapping back to the screen.

Tisha nodded, her smile engaging, but her hand never stopped its exploration. Under the cover of darkness, her fingers dipped back to Alex’s thigh, pressing firmly, inching inward until they brushed the unmistakable hardness beneath his jeans.

"Mmm, I like a good chase, too," she said, her voice casual but laced with a double entendre, her eyes flicking to Alex’s. "Don’t you, darling?" She gave a gentle squeeze, making him tense, his free hand clutching the armrest to keep from reacting.

From the corner of his eye, Mike caught the subtle flex of Tisha’s arm, the way her body angled toward Alex like a predator savoring her prey.

His heart pounded, a wild drumbeat in his chest as he tried to focus on the movie. Holy shit, he thought, his eyes widening, nearly popping out.

First, the bombshell that Alex had landed Ms. Tisha, the hottest and strict professor at Blackwood University, and now this? She was practically devouring him, her hand roaming freely, exploring his body right there in the dim light, inches away.

The thrill was unbearable, a mix of shock, envy, and disbelief coursing through him.

He couldn’t take it anymore. He elbowed Danny sharply, leaning in to whisper, "Dude, look. She’s all over him. This is nuts."

Danny’s eyes flicked over, catching Tisha’s hand resting possessively on Alex’s inner thigh, her fingers tracing slow, deliberate paths.

His eyebrows shot up, a grin tugging at his lips despite his lingering suspicion.

"No way," he whispered back, shaking his head. "Alex is in deep."

Sarah, still lost in the rom-com’s escalating plot... a chaotic wedding scene... remained oblivious, laughing at a slapstick moment.

Tisha caught the whispers, her lips curving into a wicked smile as she leaned into Alex again, her breath hot against his ear. "Your friends are watching, darling," she murmured, her voice a teasing lilt.

"Should I behave, or should I tell them how I’d rather be on my knees for you than watching this fluff?"

Her hand slid higher, cupping him briefly through his jeans, a bold move that made his breath hitch audibly.

She pulled back just enough to meet his gaze, her eyes gleaming with mischief. "Or maybe you’d like that movie idea better, a dark room, just us, no limits."

Alex’s pulse roared, his body torn between pulling her closer and pushing her away to avoid disaster.

"You’re gonna kill me," he growled, his voice barely above a whisper, his hand covering hers again, this time pressing it harder against him before reluctantly guiding it back to his thigh. "They’ll figure us out."

"Let them," she whispered, her tone daring, echoing her office challenge to make it worth her risk.

"I’m not your professor here." Her fingers slipped to his side again, teasing the hem of his shirt, brushing bare skin now, sending shivers through him. She turned to Mike, her voice innocent. "Mike, you’re awfully quiet. Not a rom-com fan?"

Mike jolted, his popcorn spilling slightly, his face flushing. "Uh, no, it’s great! Just... uh, intense scene, you know?" He stammered, his eyes darting to her hand, now resting casually on Alex’s lap but still too close for comfort.

Tisha’s laugh was soft, sultry, her hand giving Alex another teasing squeeze as she spoke.

"Intense, huh? I get it. Sometimes the real story’s off-screen." Her eyes flicked to Alex, a private promise in her gaze, her fingers never still, tracing, exploring, unraveling him with every touch.

The movie rolled on, its lighthearted romance a pale shadow of the forbidden dance unfolding in the dark, where Tisha’s hands and whispered promises pushed Alex to the edge, with Mike and Danny caught in the thrilling crossfire of her audacity.

_____

The credits rolled across the Grand Lumière Cinema’s massive screen, the upbeat pop soundtrack fading into a soft hum as the private screening room’s lights slowly brightened.

Sarah clapped her hands, her face glowing with delight as she turned to Danny.

"That was perfect! The way they got together at the end? Total swoon!" she said, her voice bubbling with excitement, still caught in the movie’s fairy-tale glow.

Danny chuckled, squeezing her shoulder, while Mike stretched dramatically, tossing his empty popcorn bucket onto the seat with a grin.

"Not bad, not bad. But I’m starving now," he declared, his eyes glinting with mischief.

Alex sat back, his body still humming from Tisha’s relentless teasing during the movie—her wandering hands, her whispered promises of what they could’ve done in a darker, more private setting.

Tisha leaned against him, her sapphire dress catching the light, her hazel eyes sparkling with a mix of satisfaction and anticipation.

"Fun movie," she said, her voice a sultry purr meant for Alex but loud enough for the group to hear. "But I think we’re just getting started, don’t you, darling?"

Alex grinned, mirroring the bold charm he’d flashed in her office. "You’re trouble," he murmured, low enough for just her to hear.

Then his eyes sparkled with mischief. "And I’m going to teach you a lesson for every little mischief you’ve been up to, Dr. Wells."

Her breath hitched, lips brushing his ear as she whispered, sultry and daring, "I’m very much waiting for your punishment... please, punish me hard."

The group spilled out of the cinema into the vibrant city night, headed to a nearby upscale bistro, a sleek spot with dim chandeliers, polished wood tables, and the aroma of grilled steak and rosemary wafting from the kitchen.

Alex had insisted on treating them again, and they settled into a cozy booth, the clink of wine glasses and laughter filling the air.