When the Lights Go Out

“I’m so sorry Rache, I really am,” Emma beseeched down the phone. And she really did sound sorry.

“Don’t worry Ems, I’ll see you tomorrow anyway. Have fun, ok?”

Rachel hung up the phone and tried not to squeal with delight. The whole gang had agreed to go to movies tonight, and now they’d all cancelled. All except Adam. And that suited Rachel just about as well as her new Christian Dior sunglasses. She had secretly fancied Adam for about a year now, but they never had time alone. And it was always so difficult, that transition from friendship to “something more”.

She was especially grateful that Emma had called now, when she was already waiting at the cinema. That way, it couldn’t possibly look like a set-up. She was just wondering whether to wear her sunglasses mysteriously or balance them stylishly on her head, when warm, friendly hands wrapped around her from behind.

This time she did squeal, and spun around to embrace Adam.

“Hey Rache, you looked so lost in thought – trying to think up a new slogan for toothpaste or something?”

The others always mocked Rachel’s career as a copywriter for a company that made, shall we say, rather unglamorous products. But she knew it was only a matter of time before she was advertising Lamborghinis and Prada.

“Oh no, I was just a little sad because Em just phoned to say she can’t make it.”

“Don’t be sad, darlin’, the two of us will have the time of our lives!”

Adam sauntered casually over to the ticket machine and swiped his credit card.

“I booked ahead for us, so she’ll just have to buy next time,” Adam said. He put the ticket in his pocket and linked arms with Rachel.

“Now, what shall we have in the way of sustenance? Fancy some popcorn? Or maybe you’re in the mood for a little slush puppy?”

They joked and giggled their way to the front of the queue, where they emerged with a coke light for Rachel, a popcorn to share, and a truly enormous coke and a box of Whispers for Adam.

“Now comes the really tricky decision,” Adam looked her sternly in the eye. “Salt, salt and vinegar or cheese? Which popcorn topping is the one for you.”

And then, in a moment of pure synchronicity, they both reached for the Aromat. Adam folded his hand over Rachel’s, and she honestly felt her knees go weak. In fact, she wobbled a little, and Adam reached his arm out to steady her. There was a spark. An actual spark of static electricity zapped between them.

Adam stared at her, “Hectic.”

But he was smiling as he put the Aromat on their popcorn, and he followed very closely as they went inside. Rachel was glad they had the extra ticket when she saw how crowded it was, and she made sure the seat next to her was the empty one. She silently blessed Emma again for bailing out at the last minute.

As the lights went out, Adam leant over to whisper in her ear, and all the hairs on the back of her neck tingled deliciously.

“This dude next to me is hogging the armrest. Can I share yours?”

And before she could answer, he’d put his arm next to hers on the armrest, skin to skin. Now Rachel was an arm connoisseur, and she was glad of the excuse to admire Adam’s sun-browned skin, and long, lean wrist. It was strong but not too muscular, which she hated.

The adverts passed in a blur. Rachel’s mind was filled with the sensation of Adam’s skin, and what it might feel like to have rather more of him pressed skin to skin against her.

And then the movie started. With a rather intense love scene. Rachel tried to focus on the movie, but she found she was juxtaposing Adam for the hero – a secret agent about to go off on a mission – and herself for his long-suffering girlfriend. She could almost feel him caressing her. No wait! She could feel him caressing her. He was gently stroking her arm.

Rachel panicked, and tried simultaneously not to tense up, to stay completely still, and to steal a glance to make sure the arm-stroking was real and not a figment of her imagination.

No, there it was, his fingers gently stroking her arm. Oh. My. Word.

And then Adam did what she had not seen done since her teenage years. He stretched, yawned, and put his arm around her. Trying not to be too obvious in her delight, she edged closer to him. There was a moment of awkwardness, and then his fingers began their gentle caress again, this time on her shoulder, her collar bone.

Wow. She hoped no one would ask her later what the movie was about, as she had not the faintest idea anymore. Adam seemed to be watching intently, but who knew what he was thinking.

At this precise moment the lights went out. Everybody moaned.

“Bloody Eskom,” a loud voice said behind them. A voice at the back said: “Ladies and Gentlemen, please remain in your seats, we will come with torches to assist you.”

Then Rachel felt his lips on her neck. Soft, gentle, they made her whole body tingle. Finally, she relaxed into it, into him, let herself go with the feeling. Her hand reached for him and found his chest. She relaxed and, instantly, his hands were on her; warm, confident hands. He kissed her neck while his finger explored the neckline of her shirt, and his other hand tilted her head towards him.

Rachel had a brief moment of worry that an usher might flash a torch on them at any moment. Then she saw them standing at the back, asking the back row to leave quietly.

She rapidly forgot the rest of the world as Adam’s mouth moved lower still, and his hand began unbuttoning her shirt. As if drawn by a magnetic force her hand was on his crotch, and she began to caress him. His mouth and hands were in her bra now and, as he licked her nipple, her whole body rocked with excitement.

People were filtering out slowly and Rachel was vaguely aware of them as Adam’s hand slipped out of her shirt and down to her jeans. In mutual need, they each began unbuttoning the other. And then his fingers were on her g-string, and she felt the lace rub against her, and then, not a moment too soon, his fingers were inside her. She finally managed to open his jeans and press her hand inside his boxers, and they started to move to an ancient rhythm.

The darkness in the cinema was heavy, and soon the noises around them had stopped. They heard, suddenly, a voice at the back: “Anyone else in here?”

They both remained silent until the voice, and the person, were gone. Then, with increased frenzy, they rubbed and caressed each other. Adam was kissing Rachel furiously now, and she could feel the tingle on her lips from his stubble.

Rachel was nearing climax. She could sense it, and, it seemed, so could Adam, who began teasing, withdrawing his hand slightly before thrusting harder into her. She heard Adam moan her name softly, and was elated to feel him come in her hand.

And then, he was gone entirely. Rachel was confused, delirious almost, wondering if he had left now, his pleasure done. Until she felt his head between her thighs. And then there was that stubble again, tingling against her skin, his tongue slipping inside her, and she could no longer hold herself, her body rocked with the sensation of pure pleasure.

“Shhhh,” Adam giggled gently. Rachel couldn’t remember making a noise. She couldn’t remember much, except her recent ecstasy. And then … oh yes, the movies, the ushers … how were they going to get out?

Laughing quietly, and touching each other as much as possible, they dressed, and, with a final kiss, stumbled up the aisle, grabbing on to the wall for direction and support. They crept out into the foyer, where a few candles had been lit.

They were halfway across the floor when the voice they’d heard before spoke.

“Look Yusuf, there’s another pair.”

Flushing red, they ran with the jeers of the ushers ringing in their ears.

“So,” Emma demanded down the phone the next morning, “How was it?”

“Oh, you know, the power went out halfway through,” Rachel sighed.

“Fantastic. So we can all go see it again?”

“Oh yes, it’s an experience I wouldn’t mind repeating.” Rachel grinned, as Adam pulled her closer to him.

Copyright Karlita Diamond

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A professional voyeur and international woman of mystery, Karlita is a crusader for passion, and promotes (safe) sex wherever she goes. She seeks to inspire joy and happiness, and a sense of curiosity. She will do anything for the perfect Mojito, and frequently has.