Chapter 6

The air in the back room of the private screening room was thick, heavy with the scent of old velvet curtains and the lingering, sweet musk of our sweat. Outside, the classic drive-in theater hummed with the low, mechanical whir of projectors and the distant murmur of families settling into their rusted sedans, but in here, time had stopped. The only light came from the screen, casting a pale, flickering blue glow over us, illuminating the dust motes dancing in the humidity. I lay on my stomach on the plush, deep-red carpet, my cheek pressed against the rough weave, while you loomed over me like a titan, your shadow swallowing the light. You had stripped off your tuxedo jacket earlier, leaving your dress shirt unbuttoned at the collar, sleeves rolled up to reveal strong forearms corded with muscle. You were barefoot, having kicked off your shoes to get a better grip on the carpet as you positioned yourself behind me. I could feel the heat radiating off your body, a tangible force pressing against my lower back, making my skin prickle. My heart was hammering against my ribs, a frantic bird trapped in a cage, mirroring the throbbing in my