The Master Programmer-Chapter 98: A Knock at Midnight 1

The city hummed with the faint echoes of nightlife, but Jason Cross was focused. Seated in the backseat of a sleek taxi, he glanced at his phone, a faint smirk playing on his lips. Tonight was a crucial step forward, not just for his plans but for something more personal—Emily Grayson.

He wanted to put the final nails in the coffin as soon as possible for her father. If he had managed to accomplish this, he would have had a lot less on his plate and he would have a good reward too.

The game had shifted. He was determined to make his next move.

Jason stepped out as the taxi rolled to a halt near Grayson Apartments, his polished shoes clicking against the pavement. The towering building loomed above him, its dimly lit windows giving the illusion of slumber.

Jason adjusted his suit jacket and looked up toward Emily’s window. He could feel the anticipation building, a thrill coursing through him. He pulled out his phone and dialled her number. It rang twice before a soft, familiar voice answered.

"Jason?"

"Hello, Emily," Jason began, his tone warm yet firm, a subtle play of authority and charm. "I hope I didn’t wake you."

"Oh, no," she replied quickly, her voice carrying its usual shy lilt. "I wasn’t expecting you to call so late, though. Not that I don’t want you to call… It’s just I was… Yeah…"

Jason chuckled, his deep voice laced with teasing. "I’m full of surprises, Emily. Most of them are good. You might find out soon."

A soft laugh escaped her. "I can’t argue with that."

Jason could hear that the laugh was genuine, not just a courteous one that was given to people to make them pacified. Since she was so interested in him, he could finally shift the conversation in the direction he wanted it to go.

"Good," he said smoothly. "Because I’ve been thinking about you." He let the words linger, calculated to draw her in. "I missed your voice. A bit too much, perhaps. That’s why I called…"

There was a brief silence on the other end before Emily’s soft, incredulous response. "Wow… How do you say things like that so easily? I-I…"

Jason smiled, leaning against the cool brick of the building next door. "Because I mean them. And I know you won’t embarrass me. You care about me too much for that."

"Of course, I care about you," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. Jason smirked when he heard this. Yes she did, didn’t she? Now it was about time to find out how much.

"And I care about you," Jason added, his tone dropping an octave. "More than you might realise."

Her breath hitched. "Jason… Are you saying…"

"Relax," he interjected with a soft laugh. "Let’s just say I think about you a lot. I love how you make me feel. I love how you look at me, and how you think of me. How do you feel about me?"

There was another pause, and Jason could almost picture her face flushed with emotion. "I… I care about you. Deeply."

Jason’s smirk widened. "Interesting," he murmured. "So, you love me?"

"Jason!" she exclaimed, her tone a mix of embarrassment and nervous laughter. "You can’t just say things like that." At that moment Jason was a bit saddened he didn’t get a video call with her, otherwise, he might have been able to see the flush of her cheeks.

"Take it however you want," he teased, his voice soft but insistent. "Now, tell me. Do you miss me?"

Emily hesitated before admitting, "Yes. I do. Actually, last night I…" Her voice faltered, and Jason leaned in, intrigued.

"Last night, you what?" he pressed, his voice gentle but probing. This was the power of opening up. Whether it was to fill the silence or just to make sure that there was an equivalent exchange, she was going to open up as well.

Jason had shared his feelings, how he loved how she made him feel, and in doing so, it had created a subconscious obligation in her to share just as much as he did to maintain rapport. It was a simple trick but when applied in the right circumstances, it was perfect, especially when applied to a shy girl like Emily.

"I… had a dream about you," she confessed in a rush. "It was so embarrassing. I felt like a schoolgirl."

Jason laughed a rich sound that made her groan in protest. "Emily, that’s so adorable. Tell me more."

"No way!" she protested. "It’s too embarrassing." Jason heard the sound of her hiding her head maybe in some pillows and he chuckled for a moment only for her to groan as she threw a fuss.

"Come on," he coaxed, his voice taking on a persuasive edge. "If it’s in my power, I might make it happen. Pinky promise."

She took a moment before she spoke. "I just…" And then hearing her say nothing else, Jason decided to awaken te previous anchor he had set in place, of her being her own person, not caring about the opinions of others.

"Emily, you are one of the most interesting humans I have ever met in my entire life. I will never disparage you for your emotions and feelings. I hope you can share more of yourself with me so that I can see you for you. Why hide away that quirkiness? It’s really cute."

She sighed, the sound filled with a mix of reluctance and temptation. "Cute?! You... W-well… we were in my room, and you were there. We started kissing, and then things got… heated… And then… Ugh~~ I’m not saying any more than that!"

Jason’s smirk deepened. "Interesting," he repeated, savouring her vulnerability. Should he push it? He probably should, right?

"If I were there right now, what would you do?" Jason figured that now that she had told him all about her dreams, then that meant she at least wanted to see how he would react. Which meant her dream was very impactful. And if that was the case, why not put her in the same state as her dream?

Emily’s breath caught. "I don’t know… Maybe hug you."

"Just a hug?" he teased, his voice dropping lower. "Would you act on your dreams?"

Her laughter was nervous, but she didn’t deny it. "Maybe…" Jason smirked. She was so adorable.

Jason’s voice softened further, turning almost hypnotic. "Close your eyes for me, Emily. Imagine I’m there with you. Right there in your room with you. There is nobody else with us. It’s just us… What would you do?"

Her breathing grew uneven, and Jason knew he had her completely captivated. "I… I’d have you sit next to me," she admitted shyly.

"Sit next to you, where?" Jason asked, his voice deeper than ever before, and when he asked this, she seemed to skip a breath.

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"On my bed…" she said softly, her breathing picking up speed, getting heavier over time.

"And then?" he prompted, his words deliberate, drawing her deeper into the fantasy.

"I… might kiss you," she whispered. After saying that she groaned again, in a cute fashion that made Jason smirk.

Jason’s voice turned husky. "Good. Imagine it. Feel it. See my body next to yours, see yourself kissing me, feeling me up, running your hands through my hair, straddling me and plastering your body all over mine… Do you see it…"

Emily let out a soft sound, and Jason knew he had her right where he wanted her.

"Jason… Are you turned on?" she asked suddenly.

Jason’s smirk widened as he looked up at that window that showed she was still awake. "Yes," he admitted without hesitation. "Are you?"

— Meanwhile, inside Emily’s Apartment —

Emily’s slightly messy apartment had a ton of art on the walls along with paintings of anime and other things. There were all sorts of things, concept art, regalia, icons, some drawn by her, others from other people. At that moment non of those things even mattered. The only thing that mattered was the phone call she was having.

Emily lay on her bed, her phone by her ear, cheeks flushed a deeper shade of pink as she nodded, even though he couldn’t see her. "Y-yes, I’m… I’m turned on," she murmured with a tremble in her voice. The admissions sent a tremble through her voice as she felt a heated build-up at that part of her body.

Oh my god! What was she doing!?

Jason said he was aroused and so was she… did that mean, they were going to have phone sex right now? She was unsure for a moment but the next moment when she heard his words, she knew it was happening.

"Good girl," Jason whispered, his voice thick with desire, sending shivers down her back. "Now tell me… Where are my hands? I’m there with you… We’re kissing… Where am I touching?"

Emily swallowed hard, her hands running over her body without her realising it. "They’re on my waist, pulling me closer," she murmured breathily.

Jason replied immediately, equally breathy. "And then what, Emily?"

Hearing that voice, and being in the comfort and safety of her room, her voice grew more confident, her shyness giving way to the passion that he had inspired within her. "Your hands slide up my shirt, to feel my breasts," she said, her hand moving to the hem of her own shirt, her heart racing.

"Do it," Jason instructed, his voice coming to her like a coman. "I’m there in the room with you. You can see me, can’t you? Do it. It’s me, touching you, feeling you up. Tell me everything you feel when you do."

Emily bit her lip as her hands went up through the underneath of her shirt, a sigh escaping from her mouth. With trembling fingers, she obeyed, lifting her shirt to expose her soft untouched skin.

What the hell was she doing?!