Page 54 of Poinsettia Lane

“Cheeky little thing," Asim says under his breath.

“So where are we?” she asks.

“About thirty minutes northeast of town.”

“And we’re doing what out here, exactly?”

Asim smoothes her flyaway hairs, then turns back to the bike. He’s so casually tactile, it’s a new experience for her and she revels in it.

Everly hadn’t noticed the extra bags on either side of her seat when they set off, but now he starts pulling out one thing after another and she’s beginning to suspect he managed to somehow replicate the Undetectable Extension Charm Hermione used on her handbag. He passes her a woven Mexican blanket, two metal mugs, and a large insulated water bottle. From the other side, he pulls out a cooler bag and a couple other random things that she can’t see clearly in the dim evening light.

She learns soon enough one is a collapsible solar powered lantern. It gives off a soft glow when Asim expands it, and he holds it up as he walks toward the large boulders a few feet away, setting it on top of one so it lights the area around them. Asim sets everything down, then gestures for the blanket, spreading it out next to the boulders. It’s then that Everly notices this area specifically is cleared of brush and debris.

“Did you… You planned all this," she says, a touch ofwonder in her voice.

“I did.” Asim glances at her, seeming almost nervous.

“That’s really sweet," she says softly.

No one has ever put this much effort into a date for her before. She knows he’s busy too, so she can’t imagine when he found the time to drive out here and clean up this spot for them.

Asim’s cheeks puff as he blows up an inflatable pillow, which he props against the large rock. He toes off his boots and lowers himself to the blanket, offering her a hand down as well, then unpacks the cooler. Sliced meats, cheeses, fruits, honey, nuts, crackers, and a salad are displayed in front of her. He takes a paper plate and tops it with a bit of everything, then passes it over to her with a napkin and fork, before turning to the water bottle.

He pours hot chocolate into the two camp mugs, then raises an eyebrow in question while holding up a hip flask. She shrugs with a smile, nodding her consent as he adds a splash into each and passes one of the mugs to her. Everly takes it with wide eyes, speechless as he proceeds to drop some marshmallows on top. No one has ever come close to doing something like this for her before. She’s dreamed of a romantic picnic, sure, but never has she thought it would be a reality. This is the kind of thing that only happens in movies.

Sniffing her mug, she notes hints of coffee and Irish cream, and she closes her eyes in appreciation as she inhales the comforting scent, cupping the warm mug between her palms.

Asim leans back against the pillow, setting his plate and mug next to him, then spreads his legs and carefully maneuvers her between them with her side to his front. He shifts and angles her slightly, then picks up his mug and taps it to hers.

“To a night to remember, my darling Ever," he says.

“A night to remember," she whispers.

~~~

When she’s eaten her fill and their charcuterie board is nothing but scraps, Everly sits closer and Asim holds anarm out. Everly tucks herself against his side and leans her head back on his shoulder to look up at the stars.

“So beautiful," she says, staring at the Milky Way glimmering above them.

“Stunning,” he murmurs into her hair.

Everly peeks at him through her eyelashes, seeing he’s already looking at her, and the breath whooshes from her chest at the naked desire in his eyes. They’ve each only had one drink; she feels drunk anyways.

It’s him. Having his full attention is dizzying and addicting.

Everly turns in his arms and he lifts her, readjusting her legs to fall on either side of his hips as her arms snake around his neck. They pause for a moment, breathing each other’s air, eyes flitting up and down, the tension building until Everly isn’t sure who moves first. One second she’s staring into his green eyes, pupils blown wide, and the next he’s devouring her. She loses herself in his lips, the feel of his tongue stroking hers, his stubble rasping against her skin as he kisses along her jaw and down her neck.

Asim’s hands move from her waist to her hips, and he rocks forward while pulling her harder into him. Everly gasps at the sensation, clenching her hands in his hair and as his hardness presses against the seam of her jeans, right where she wants it. His mouth comes back up to cover hers as he obliterates any lingering thoughts in her head.

He pulls away too soon and an involuntary whimper comes out of her mouth at the loss of contact. Asim smoothes a hand up her back and hushes her.

“Shhh, my darling, I’m not going anywhere," he whispers into her neck, lips grazing her skin as he readjusts their position.

He leans to the side and flips her onto her back, snagging the pillow from behind him and sliding it under her head as he follows her down, settling his weight between her legs. Everly arches up into him, greedy for more of his drugging kisses, but he places a firm hand on her chest as he looks down at her before he moves his fingers to toy with the zipper of her leather jacket.

“Yes,” she says, nodding in emphasis, and he unzips itslowly, eyes searing into every inch as he bares her breasts and midriff. She’s only wearing the black lace bodysuit under the jacket, and Asim groans as his eyes devour her, sending a flood of heat to her core. Her nipples are visible beneath the lace, and he palms her breast with one hand, pinching her pebbled nipple through the fabric and she arches into his touch again as they harden even more. Their bodies are tangled together, one leg entwined between his, her other hitched around his hips and as she shifts against him, she can feel the hard bulge pressing against her inner thigh.

“I have to taste you.” He barely gets the words out before his tongue curls around her peaked nipple. She twists her fingers into his hair, pulling him even closer while grinding against him. His mouth closes over her, teeth scraping, and she moans into her arm, biting down in an attempt to stifle the embarrassing sounds.

---