Chapter 40
Natalie was focused entirely on the movie screen. After opening a peanut for Jasper, she reached into the paper cone for another one and popped it into her mouth.
Having eaten some salty peanuts, she felt a bit thirsty and naturally leaned closer to him, whispering in his ear, “Can I have the soda?”
The warm breath against his ear sent a shiver through him. As he turned his head, his lips brushed against her cheek, the touch soft and smooth, just as he had imagined.
The faint, floral scent she wore only added to the tension. He felt his body tighten, and his hand’s grip on the soda bottle instinctively tightened as his arm reached out toward her.
She was focused on the movie, so when she caught sight of the soda bottle being offered to her, she reflexively reached out to grab it. However, she grasped something warm and hard instead of the cold soda bottle,
For a moment, she thought Jasper had warmed the soda with his grip and mused that he had quite a bit of body heat.
She tended to feel cold easily. As she felt the warmth, her hand instinctively rubbed against it as if trying to warm herself.
The moment the soft touch grazed his arm, Jasper felt as if he had been frozen in place, unable to move.
Memories of their lunch earlier flashed through his mind–Natalie holding her cutleries, her delicate wrist, the beauty of her fingers, and her nails. Even though it was early September, he felt summer had returned.
Heat surged through his body, rising from within.
Still curious about the warmth, she wondered why it felt hotter and was oddly textured.
“This doesn’t feel like a soda bottle,” she thought.
Only then did she realize something was off. Looking down, she found her hand resting on Jasper’s arm. The uneven texture she had felt was his forearm’s prominent veins and muscles!
In a rush of embarrassment, warmth flooded her cheeks,
“S–sorry!” she exclaimed, instinctively retracting her hand as if shocked. She quickly apologized to him. She was grateful for the dim lighting in the cinema, which concealed her flushed face.
Jasper calmly raised his arm, bringing the soda bottle to her lips. “Here you go.”
His voice was steady, revealing no hint of his inner turmoil.
Seeing his composure, Natalie also tried to act nonchalant. She lowered her head, took a sip of soda, and then straightened up.
After she finished drinking, he naturally pulled his arm back and rested it on the armrest, using it as a makeshift holder for the soda bottle.
She remained focused on the screen, feeling guilty for her earlier behavior.
When one felt guilty, they often sought distractions to cover it up. Stealing a glance at the paper cone in his hand, she casually reached in to grab another
As the film reached a climactie point, with the sound of bomb explosions and gunfire filling the air, Natalie became engrossed in the story. Her moverments became instinctive. She reached out, but her fingers brushed against something hard and firm instead of a peanut.
The lingering sensation of her soft, smooth touch on his arm left his skin still tingling. His eyes stayed fixed on the screen, trying to appear focused but completely distracted
Suddenly, he felt a soft pressure on his thigh. Glancing down, he saw a pair of small, delicate hands resting on his leg. His expression tightened instantly, every muscle instinctively tensing as if he were bracing for turbulence mid–flight.
Realizing something, was off, Natalie froze as her peripheral vision caught her hand on Jasper’s thigh. Remembering her earlier movements–kneading and pressing without thought–she felt like she had been struck by lightning.
Her eyes widened in shock, her mouth slightly agape, and her hand momentarily forgot to pull away.
gaze darkened, tracing her graceful neck, dark hair, and expressive face. Her wide, watery eyes stared at him, making his throat tighten with a d swallow. For a moment, he couldn’t make a single sound.
