Page 19 of Embers of Torment

Adam dimmed the lights and joined us, taking a seat on the other side of Della. He turned on the movie, and she instantly tensed.

"Are you all right," I asked, leaning against her.

"Yep, dandy as ever." Della drew her knees to her chest, her body tightly curled around one of the square decorator pillows.

"Tell me if you get too uncomfortable."

"Okie dokie." Della flashed me a smile and turned toward the television.

The three of us were quiet as Jack Nicholson's character sat in an office at the Overlook Hotel, where the general manager went over the details of Jack's new winter caretaking job. The scene switched back and forth between Jack and his wife and young son, Danny, who remained at their home. I watched the scenes play out, then realized Della had slipped the hood of her onesie over her forehead.

I refrained from saying anything but kept an eye on her till I caught her shrinking into the back of the couch. "Hey, are you okay?" I whispered.

"Yeah, I can't watch this part," she said in a low voice. "It's where Danny speaks to his imaginary friend and visualizes the blood pouring from the elevator. Oh jeez, it's coming up." Della yanked on the hood until it completely covered her eyes.

I remembered the elevator scene from when I saw the film years ago. It was weird and scary, and I knew it would creep Della out. Attempting to be proactive, I slipped my arm around her shoulder and tucked her into my side, instantly enjoying her softness and warmth. Struggling to focus on the movie, I whispered, "I'll tell you when it's over."

"Okay." Della's voice was barely audible, muffled by my shirt.

The scene finished, and even I was creeped out. "You can peek now. It's over," I said, my mouth at Della's ear. I was trying to avoid disturbing Adam, although he seemed oblivious to everything around him except the TV screen.

Della sat up but stayed next to me, and I couldn't help but notice how strangely delicate she felt in the crook of my arm. The movie played on with Danny meeting Hallorann, the hotel's chef, right before the resort closed for the season. Then Della snuggled closer and uttered a frustrated moan. I peered down at her.

"I can't watch this part either. It's where Danny rides his tricycle around the hotel and runs into those two murdered little girls. Crap. Here it comes." Della buried her head into my chest.

I chuckled, abruptly stopping when the scene came on, goosebumps forming on my arms. "Oh, hell. That was freaky," I said when it was over, feeling Della's head nod against my collarbone.

We continued to watch the movie, Della peeking from under her hood occasionally as Jack Nicholson's character lost touch with reality, and the scenes became more intense.

Then I was thrown for a loop as Della muttered something and practically crawled onto my lap, the couch pillow falling to the floor. Inwardly groaning, I took hold of her hand and removed it from its dangerous placement on my upper thigh. I leaned toward her ear. "Is this another scene you can't watch?"

Della poked her head out and quickly drew it back. She nodded against my chin. "It's room 237. Oh God, the woman in the bathtub." Her fingernails dug into my side.

"Damn, I remember it." I cringed when Jack hugged the sexy and sultry woman, her actual image shockingly reflected in the bathroom mirror. After a while, I gave Della a little nudge, concerned when she failed to resurface. "Hey, are you going to watch the movie?"

"Not until after Jack kills Hallorann. Tell me when we pass it." Della shifted, her knee slipping between my open thighs.

"Okay. I can do that." I stared at the television, blissfully aware of her position, while I savored the feel and scent of her body in my arms. I shouldn't be enjoying this moment—at her expense—but as hard as I tried, I couldn't help it.

Della had my motor running—in overdrive.

I moved Della's leg to a less intoxicating spot, forcing my attention to the screen. When we passed the scenes Della said she couldn't view, I leaned down and pushed her hood back tosee her face. The sight seared me with an instant heat. Della's luscious lips were a mere six inches from mine, striking me with an urgent need to kiss them. Abruptly straightening, I closed my eyes while trying my damnedest to stifle my growing desire.

Della nudged me in the ribs. "What happened? Can I look now?"

I cleared my throat and looked down at her. "We're at the part with the man in the bear costume."

"Yipee. That means I can watch the rest of it." Della pulled away and sat up but stayed wedged against my side.

Della's body stiffened when Danny ran into the foggy hedge maze to escape from his crazed father. The scene was eerie and tense, and my anxiety built as the camera followed the boy through the dark, snow-covered twists and turns.

"Run, Danny, run," Della shouted.

The three of us jumped when Adam's front door slammed shut.

"Oh, hell." I placed my hand over my pounding heart.

"Adam, I'm home," someone called from the entryway.

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