“Do you think we need more blankets?” Aspen asks.
“We have what, three layers?”
“Yeah, but it’s nothing but the hardwood floor underneath. I want to be comfy.”
“You can lay on me,” I tell her without thinking.
“I’ll go grab another blanket.” She rushes off. As her footfalls sound at the steps, I can’t help but feel excited about today—about my time with her and what tonight could bring. The fort is not very big, so we’re going to be close, and if there is anything to make my night, it’s snuggling up with Aspen.
“Look at this one,” she says, pulling me from my thoughts. “I think it weighs like twenty pounds; it’s so thick. This is exactly what we needed.” She drops the blanket at the edge of the fort and then falls to her knees to get busy spreading it out on top of the other three.
As for me, I stand back and watch the show of her ass in the air in those leggings that she wears. I don’t know who invented them, but it must have been a man. Sure, they look like they’re comfortable, but no way would a woman create them knowing how crazy it would make the male population. Then again, maybe it was a woman. Regardless, I’m thankful to those involved. Aspen’s ass in those things is life-changing.
“There,” she says, backing out of the fort and climbing to her feet. “It’s perfect. However, there is one thing we still need.” She skips off to the kitchen, and like the puppy I am when it comes to her, I follow behind.
“What are you looking for?” I ask as I stand back and watch her opening the cabinets.
“Popcorn.” She digs in a few more cabinets and pauses with a smile. “Jackpot.” She holds up a box of microwave movie theater butter popcorn.
“I’ll make us some hot chocolate and grab a couple of bottles of water too,” I say, getting busy. We work side by side in the kitchen, just like we have the entire time we’ve been here. I like it. It feels natural. Everything with Aspen feels that way. Nothing is forced or fake. It’s just us, and I love that a hell of a lot more than I ever thought I would.
“Ready?” she asks, holding a massive bowl of popcorn.
“Let’s do this.” Together we make our way to the living room. “I’m glad you suggested the small end table under there, so we have somewhere safe to set these.” I hold up the two mugs of hot chocolate. “How about you set the popcorn down, and I climb in? I’ll hand you everything.”
“I’m so excited,” she says, the sparkle in her hazel eyes glimmering.
I wait for her to settle in the fort and carefully hand her one mug at a time, the two bottles of water, and the bowl of popcorn. “I’m going to get the lights,” I tell her. Making my way through the downstairs, turning off lights, and checking the door. We haven’t been outside today, but I still check it to make sure it’s locked. I could have done it all from the app on my phone, but I’m not taking any chances of something not being locked up. Not with Aspen. Moving back to the living room, I spy both of our phones on the mantel and grab those, as well as an additional blanket to cover up with.
“Another blanket?” she asks, taking our phones when I hand them to her and placing them on the small end table.
“Yeah, we have a cushion, but nothing to cover up with.”
“Damn. I can’t believe I forgot that.”
“That’s why we make a great team.” I mean that in more ways than one, but I don’t know if she’s ready to hear that just yet. Hell, I’m not sure I’m prepared to say it out loud.
“All right, you ready?” I ask her.
“Yep.” I settle next to her, setting the bowl of popcorn between us, and hit Play on the remote. The night is just starting, and it’s already the best one I can ever remember having.
Chapter 11
Aspen
Why is it that sitting next to him eating popcorn turns me into my teenage self? Case in point, every time both of our hands enter the bowl of popcorn, and we touch, I get all giddy inside. I’m a grown woman. I should have more control than this, but I’m discovering there are different rules when it comes to Conrad Riggins.
As if I need more validity of my point, we’re currently watching a steamy scene in this series we’ve been binging, and I’m squirming all over the damn place. Why is it that I can watch this a thousand times and sit perfectly still, no matter how hot the scene, but watching it with him is about to send me into orbit, and he’s not even touching me?