As Esther made her way towards the theatre the next morning she met Rebecca on the landing. The other girl gave her a sideways glance but there was no smile or any acknowledgement of what had passed between her, Esther and Christopher during the night. Esther slowed her pace, allowing Rebecca to go on ahead of her. She felt incredibly tired and was reluctant to arrive and begin rehearsing. Suddenly she heard footsteps on the stairs behind her and turning round saw Christopher approaching. He waved and smiled happily at her. Unlike Esther he seemed totally refreshed and full of energy.
‘The big day then,’ he said, reaching out and squeezing her round the waist.
Esther stiffened slightly and Christopher looked at her in surprise. ‘What’s the matter?’
Esther couldn’t explain. It would be ridiculous for her to try to pretend that she hadn’t enjoyed last night and yet now, in the cold light of day, she knew that what she had witnessed meant that she was no longer particularly attracted to the golden boy of acting. Esther enjoyed equality during sex but she’d never felt any desire to dominate and, although last night had been a highly arousing experience, it wasn’t one she wanted to repeat. Neither had she particularly liked having Rebecca there witnessing her in her most intimate moments. What did surprise her was how quickly her body had responded to what had happened. She wondered if her sexuality was more complex than she’d previously imagined.
‘You enjoyed last night, didn’t you?’ continued Christopher as they walked through the beautiful hallway.
‘I’d have thought that was obvious,’ said Esther.
‘It certainly was!’ Christopher agreed. ‘I thought it would be a great way to celebrate when tonight’s over. Perhaps this time you’d like to come to our room. We’ve got more gadgets and things there and could make it all much more complex this time. What do you say?’
Esther didn’t know what to say. The truth was that she had absolutely no intention of joining him and Rebecca after the performance. On the other hand she knew that it must appear she was still keen on him if her plan was going to succeed. Quite apart from anything else she needed Christopher to continue helping her with her role, and she also wanted the outside world to think that the pair of them were close. For a fleeting moment she wondered if Marcus was really worth all this effort. Certainly she wanted to prove to him that she was a good stage actress but was it necessary to include a personal relationship with Christopher as well? Finally deciding that it was, that this would hurt Marcus even more than any success she might achieve as an actress, she forced herself to smile back at the waiting Christopher.
‘I’m sorry, I’m a bit distracted this morning,’ she confessed.
‘First-night nerves,’ said Christopher briskly. ‘You’ll be fine once you get going. Don’t worry, I’ve got every confidence in you.’
During that morning’s run-through Esther thought that Christopher probably had a lot of time to regret those words because her performance felt flat and stale. Luckily she wasn’t the only one, but they all knew that this was common. For a start, each of them was saving their energy for the evening. There was no point in going for broke when they’d got a full performance to give to a fee-paying audience in a few hours’ time. All this was really just a form of reassurance both for them and for Christopher and George, who had undertaken the role of deputy director since Christopher was on stage for such a great deal of the play.
When they broke up for lunch Christopher gave a few final notes but they were only minor ones. He told them all that they were marvellous and that he just knew it was going to be tremendous. They were free to do what they liked until six that evening, by which time they had to be in their dressing room.
Rosie asked Esther if she would like to join her, Noel and Michael at the local pub and she agreed because she didn’t want to be alone with Christopher and Rebecca. Just as they were setting off, since it was within walking distance, Theresa suddenly barred Esther’s path.
‘I hope you’re satisfied,’ said the red-haired girl angrily. ‘What’s your problem? Are you trying to prove that Marcus made a mistake or something?’
‘What’s all this about?’ asked Noel in surprise.
‘You’d better ask Esther.’ Theresa spat out the words.
‘No, I’m asking you,’ said Noel.
‘It’s only that Esther’s become very friendly with our director,’ said Theresa. ‘His private tuition extended beyond the play, didn’t you know that?’
‘Did it really?’ asked Michael, raising an eyebrow in some amusement. ‘Good for you, Esther. That explains why he talked so gushingly about you to the local press.’
‘Did he?’ asked Esther in surprise.
‘Sure, I overheard him telling them that you were the most exciting discovery he’d made for years. He was saying that you were going to be one of the great actresses of the next generation.’
‘That’s gilding the lily a bit, isn’t it?’ said Rosie, and then she looked apologetically at Esther. ‘Sorry, but you must admit it’s a little over the top.’
‘It’s a nightmare,’ said Esther in horror. ‘The way I acted this morning they’ll think he’s off his head.’
‘He probably is,’ said Theresa shortly. ‘What did you do to ensnare him?’
‘I really don’t see what business it is of yours,’ said Esther, trying to push past the other girl.
‘Don’t lie,’ said Theresa angrily. ‘You know perfectly well that he and I have been lovers.’
‘Darling,’ drawled Noel, ‘we honestly aren’t that interested in who you’re sleeping with. It could have been anyone, except me that is.’
‘You or Michael,’ said Theresa spitefully. ‘You always share a girl, don’t you? What’s the matter, can’t one of you satisfy a woman on your own?’
Rosie giggled. ‘Yes they can,’ she said enthusiastically. ‘It’s just that they’re so generous they like to give double helpings of pleasure.’
‘I’m sure you know,’ retorted Theresa.
‘Oh yes,’ Rosie readily agreed. ‘I know and it’s totally delightful. You’re just jealous, that’s your trouble. Anyway, Rebecca’s Christopher’s full-time girlfriend so you can only ever have been a bit on the side.’
‘Well, what does that make Esther then?’ Theresa demanded.
Rosie and the two men glanced at Esther, waiting for her to answer. ‘I haven’t a clue what you’re talking about,’ said Esther, and at last she managed to push past the angry girl and continue walking down the long drive of The Small House.
Once they were in the pub she knew that she was going to have to say something to the other three. Rosie had been totally honest with her and, although they didn’t particularly like Theresa, none of them would think she’d have said what she had if there wasn’t any truth in it.
‘Here you are,’ said Noel cheerfully, placing a large plate of assorted sandwiches in the middle of the table while Michael handed round the drinks. ‘Eat as much as you can; you won’t feel like eating tonight.’
Esther knew this was true. She always felt horribly sick before performing. It was only afterwards that she became starving. ‘About what Theresa said,’ she remarked awkwardly.
‘Oh yes, do tell,’ said Michael eagerly, not making any pretence at lack of interest.
‘It’s true that I’m having an affair with Christopher,’ Esther confessed.
‘Good for you!’ said Rosie. She exchanged a knowing glance with Esther, remembering how Esther had told her that this was one of her main aims in joining the company.
Noel pulled a doubtful face. ‘Are you sure he’s the right one for you? I’d have thought he was far too self-centred, and he’s never faithful to anyone. Let’s face it, Rebecca’s meant to be his girlfriend and it looks as though he’s been knocking off Theresa and you behind her back.’
Esther didn’t like to tell them that it wasn’t exactly behind Rebecca’s back. ‘I know it isn’t anything serious,’ she assured him. ‘It’s just one of those things.’
‘Well as long as it keeps you happy,’ said Michael. ‘I did think your performance had improved a lot.’
‘But not today,’ said Esther, the corners of her mouth turning down.
‘Today doesn’t count,’ Rosie assured her. ‘We were all hopeless today, even Christopher. He fluffed his lines several times and that’s never happened before.’
‘It won’t happen tonight,’ Noel said firmly. ‘Both he and Damon are far too professional to allow that.’
‘What I’m nervous about,’ said Michael, ‘is Theresa’s performance as Madge. I’m the one who’s on stage with her when she’s ranting on about socialism and equality, and if the main thing on her mind’s really Christopher and who he is or isn’t bonking then I hardly think she’s going to deliver one of the greatest performances of all time. If she starts vamping me again I don’t know what I’ll do.’
‘Cut and run,’ suggested Noel with a laugh. ‘The audience will probably sympathise with you.’
They all laughed and after that the conversation became more general as they discussed what kind of an audience they might get, whether the local press reviews would be kind to them, and how the following night’s potted Macbeth would go.
‘I think Macbeth’s going to be very interesting,’ said Noel as they got ready to return to The Small House. ‘Nicholas is playing Banquo as though he were Macbeth and Christopher’s going to have to pull out all the stops to match him.’
‘That’s because Nick feels he ought to have been given Macbeth,’ explained Esther. ‘He is rather being left out of things. Christopher must have taken him on for a reason but he isn’t going to have much to do. Apart from the Shakespeares he isn’t in anything.’
‘You could hardly put him in anything by Coward, could you?’ said Michael. ‘The trouble with Nick is he doesn’t accept his own limitations. He’s very good indeed at the things he’s good at, if you get my meaning. The problem is he wants to be brilliant at everything and it just isn’t possible for him. Personally, I know my place only too well. Parts like Gerald I can do standing on my head. I look right, I speak right, and the way I see it I should be able to maintain a steady if not spectacular career for a long time in these kinds of roles.’
‘What about when you get old?’ asked Rosie.
‘I shall retire gracefully and set up an agency,’ said Michael. ‘Then I shall concentrate on gorgeous nubile young actresses and finding them parts. I shall take great pleasure in that and with any luck so will they!’
‘I’m sure there are rules against agencies like that,’ said Esther with a smile.
‘By then there won’t be any rules about anything,’ said Michael. ‘The whole country will be flooded with young actors and actresses coming out of drama school and they’ll be so desperate for an agent they won’t care if I’m legit or not. Seriously though, I do think I shall set up as an agent in the end once I’ve made enough contacts and the parts start drying up.’
‘The parts start drying up much sooner for women,’ said Rosie. ‘It really isn’t fair but men improve with age and women get discarded, certainly as far as films and television are concerned. As for the stage, well there just aren’t that many parts for older women.’
‘You poor thing,’ said Noel, patting her on the head as though she were a dog. ‘I’m sure it won’t matter to you, Rosie, You’ll be married with about half a dozen children by then.’
‘I don’t want half a dozen children!’ said Rosie in horror.
‘Well, you’re so dizzy you’ll probably have them anyway,’ laughed Noel.
Having lunch with the three of them lifted Esther’s spirits considerably and she felt much more cheerful. She was grateful that she didn’t meet any of the rest of the cast as she made her way back to her room. Once there she lodged a chair firmly under the door handle and then lay down for a rest. When she awoke at four thirty she had a bath in the old-fashioned enamel bathtub and then started to prepare herself mentally for the evening that lay ahead.
It never ceased to surprise her how the hour from six to seven before a play would go very slowly but then the last half-hour, when you could hear the audience taking their seats and the hum of their voices rising steadily, flew by so that one minute you had endless time ahead of you and then suddenly you were expected to go out there and start performing.
She’d exchanged first-night cards with all the members of the cast and particularly liked her one from Damon. It was a picture card of an old-fashioned music hall singer, blonde and not dissimilar in appearance to Esther. It was titled A Bird in a Gilded Cage and Esther smiled to herself. She didn’t keep all her cards but collected the few that she found particularly unusual or striking and decided that this was definitely one for her collection.
All too soon came the call for beginners and Esther made her way slowly to the wings. She wasn’t the first to go on; Ellie and Rebecca had to open the play then Noel joined them within the first page and Esther was only a few minutes after that. The palms of her hands were damp and her stomach was churning incessantly. She couldn’t wait to begin now, because until she did she knew that her nerves would continue to overwhelm her. All at once she heard Theresa as Madge give her her cue line: ‘Look here, we ought to be starting. Kay, we ought to be starting.’ By the time she’d finished the second sentence Esther was on stage as Kay and the play was finally under way for her.
Afterwards she could never quite believe just how great a disaster her performance had been. It was probably her worst ever and the reason was that every time her eyes met Rebecca’s or Christopher’s she was catapulted back to the events of the night before. She could even feel the pair of them, feel their lips taking food from her naked flesh, and Rebecca’s fingers insinuating their way between her thighs. She couldn’t understand why it was impossible for her to drive these thoughts away and concentrate instead on the play, but she simply couldn’t and the result was mortifying.
In the intervals between the acts Esther noticed that everyone carefully avoided speaking to her. They weren’t being unkind. It was the only thing to do in the circumstances and, as she’d already had three prompts, she knew that even the most unsophisticated member of the audience would be well aware of the fact that she wasn’t doing well.
As she staggered through to the end of the final act her spirits began to lift slightly. At least once it was over the nightmare would end for tonight, if not for the whole tour. She heard Noel as Alan say, ‘No, I don’t … understand,’ and knew that now she was coming to the quotation from Blake. She tried to remember what Christopher had told her and, at last, a little passion crept into her voice as, being careful to let it break dramatically now and again, she started to recite. She thought that it was going well, and that at least the audience would remember something good at the very end, but then disaster struck. As she came to the last two lines she got the end words of the lines transposed and, to her horror, heard herself saying, ‘And when this we rightly go safely through the world we know.’
The moment the words were uttered, Esther broke out in a sweat. She simply couldn’t believe that she could have done something so unprofessional. After that her mind went blank. Luckily there were only a few moments of the play left and for several of them Esther was positioned with her back to the audience looking out of the window, meant to be lost in her own reverie. In actual fact she was perilously close to tears, and at the very end of the play, when she had to turn towards her brother, Alan, while the lights dimmed around them until only a spotlight was left on the pair, her tremulous smile was not an act.
When she came off stage Esther felt as though she were in a waking nightmare – one which would never end. She was so distracted that if Damon hadn’t caught hold of her by the hand and pulled her back on stage she would even have forgotten to take her bow. She managed to smile prettily at the audience and the applause was tumultuous but she knew that none of it was for her. She’d been diabolical; there was no other word for it.
Finally, Christopher stepped forward from the line and spoke to the people at the front. As he began to thank them for their appreciation there was a spontaneous burst of applause that went on for at least a minute and he smiled modestly and charmingly with a humility that, to those who knew him, was probably the best performance he’d ever given. At last it was all over, and the audience trooped out into the night and the actors returned to the dressing room to remove their make-up and costumes and return to their everyday selves.
All around Esther people were congratulating one another: ‘Darling you were wonderful.’ ‘Terrific, the audience loved you.’ The words reverberated in her head non-stop but no one spoke to Esther. In a way she was grateful because she would hate to be given false compliments.
Forcing herself to enter into the spirit of the thing a little, she congratulated Rosie and Rebecca on their performances because they’d both done very well. Rosie smiled her thanks but didn’t offer false congratulations in return. Rebecca merely shrugged, as though Esther’s words were of no significance to her whatsoever.
As Esther was standing in her slip removing the very last vestiges of make-up with cold cream she saw in the mirror that Christopher was standing a couple of inches behind her and their eyes met in the glass. Christopher’s were cold.
‘What the hell was all that about?’ he asked angrily.
‘I’m really sorry,’ Esther said quietly. ‘I know I was dreadful and there’s just no excuse.’
‘Was it nerves? Did you panic or something?’ Christopher demanded.
‘I don’t know,’ persisted Esther. She couldn’t possibly tell him because she needed him to believe that she still desired him if she was to carry her plan through to fruition.
‘Well, don’t let it happen again,’ said Christopher. ‘I told all the reporters at the press night how wonderful you were going to be. You’ve made me Took a complete fool.’ At that he turned and walked angrily out of the room.
‘At least you saved him the trouble of doing it himself,’ said Damon quietly.
Esther glanced over her shoulder across the room to where Damon was sitting in front of his mirror. ‘What do you mean?’ she asked.
‘You know perfectly well what I mean. He can make a fool of himself at any time without help from you.’
Esther laughed nervously. ‘That’s not very kind and he was extremely good tonight.’
‘Sure, he was OK but he wasn’t exactly challenged, was he?’ said Damon.
‘You were good too,’ Esther added. ‘I think you were more powerful than you’ve been in rehearsals. Rebecca seemed quite taken aback.’
‘Did she?’ queried Damon. ‘I imagine it would take a lot to disturb Rebecca.’
‘She was still good,’ Esther murmured. ‘I thought everyone was good except me.’
‘You’ve got to put it behind you,’ said Damon. ‘It’s fatal to dwell on nights like this. We all have them, you know,’ he added more gently. ‘It’s probably your lack of stage experience showing. I expect it’ll be a completely different story next time. Maybe you’ll outshine us all.’
‘Right now I don’t care if there isn’t a next time,’ Esther exclaimed passionately. ‘I think perhaps I’m better off in television where you get a chance to do re-takes.’
Damon’s eyes narrowed. ‘Somehow I’ve never pictured you as a quitter, Esther,’ he remarked. ‘What you need is a drink and a quiet chat. I know there’s some kind of a party going on but I don’t imagine you feel like going, do you?’
‘I certainly don’t,’ she said.
‘Then let me take you into the village. There’s a really nice little restaurant where we can get something decent to eat, have a civilised glass of wine and talk about things.’ He saw the expression on Esther’s face. ‘Not the play,’ he promised her. ‘Other things.’
She was very touched by his kindness, especially since no one else in the cast had taken the trouble to say anything in the least sympathetic to her. ‘That sounds nice,’ she agreed.
‘I’ll meet you outside. We can easily walk, then it doesn’t matter how much we drink,’ said Damon.
Left alone, Esther hurried to dress. Suddenly she was, beginning to feel better. It was the first time that Damon had been in the least bit agreeable towards her and the prospect of an evening alone in his company was very attractive. She realised once again that it was Damon she really fancied. The trouble was, Damon wouldn’t make Marcus jealous. Their paths had simply never crossed and it wouldn’t matter in the least to Marcus if the pair of them were’ having an affair. Nevertheless, she knew instinctively that she was going to have an enjoyable evening and hoped that it would help take away the memory of the night before: a night that she couldn’t deny had been a valuable experience but not one she wished to repeat.
‘Where the hell’s she going?’ Christopher demanded as he saw Esther and Damon disappearing into the night.
‘To enrol at drama school?’ suggested Rebecca.
‘I suppose you think that’s funny,’ said Christopher.
‘It is quite,’ laughed Rebecca. ‘Mind you, I wasn’t the one praising her to the skies and making her sound like the next Vanessa Redgrave.’
‘I can’t think what was the matter with her,’ said Christopher. ‘I really did think she’d got to grips with that part, you know.’
‘Perhaps she didn’t get enough sleep last night,’ said Rebecca.
‘Well, if I have my way she won’t get a lot tonight,’ said Christopher with a smile. ‘I thought it would be fun to repeat the experience. In fact I’ve suggested to her that she should join us in our room. Not that I knew then that she’d be going out with Damon Dowden for the evening. God, she’s got appalling taste, first Marcus and then him.’
‘Why do you want her to join us again?’ queried Rebecca. ‘Aren’t I enough for you?’
Christopher ran a hand through her long dark hair. ‘Of course you are,’ he reassured her. ‘It’s just that it’s so much more exciting when there are three. Maybe we could get Theresa to join us if Esther’s going to be late back. What do you think?’
‘You’re wasting your charm on me,’ Rebecca pointed out. ‘I know you’re an actor, remember? And since you ask, no I don’t want Theresa to join us. I’d like it to be just the two of us.’
Just then someone called Christopher’s name. ‘Look I’ve got to go to this damn party,’ said Christopher, irritably. ‘You know I promised them that I would. You’re coming, aren’t you?’
‘I’ll be along in a minute,’ said Rebecca, a weary tone to her voice.
‘I hope you’re not going to prove tiresome,’ said Christopher. ‘I hate it when women play games. I just haven’t got the time for it.’
Rebecca watched him go and bit on her lower lip. His charm was definitely losing its appeal for her and she was beginning to grow tired of his need to be dominated or be joined by another woman. It had been fun at first but she wanted him to start spending more time alone with her. She was still very keen to have plenty of experimental sex but didn’t see why they needed a third person for that. She could think of lots of things they could do on their own. She was also getting rather tired of pandering to his professional ego.
She knew that she could give a better performance than she had tonight but she was deliberately toning it down a little because she was due to play Lady Macbeth opposite his Macbeth the next night. Rebecca knew that if he thought for one moment that she was going to be too good he’d have replaced her without a second thought – probably with Ellie Ford.
As she wandered disconsolately in the darkness Rebecca suddenly bumped into Nicholas. ‘Are you going to the party?’ he asked her.
‘Yes, in a minute,’ confirmed Rebecca.
‘What’s the matter?’ asked Nick. ‘You sound a bit low.’
‘Tired I guess,’ said Rebecca.
‘You were absolutely brilliant, you know,’ enthused Nick. ‘I couldn’t take my eyes off you.’ He paused for a moment. ‘To tell you the truth I never can,’ he said in a low voice.
Rebecca took a step nearer to him. He’d already made his feelings for her plain, and once or twice during rehearsals in London they’d come very close to having an affair, but she’d always drawn back at the last moment because of Christopher. Now, suddenly, Nick was becoming more attractive to her and she moved her body so close to his that their hips were touching. ‘Isn’t there somewhere we could go?’ she suggested. ‘Somewhere quiet where we could be alone?’
‘Sure,’ said Nick. Then he stopped for a moment.
‘Aren’t you going to the party? It’s back at The Small House.’
‘I promised Chris I’d meet him there later on but I’m not his exclusive property, you know,’ said Rebecca.
‘I didn’t imagine you were,’ said Nick, ‘but I can’t afford to upset him at the moment. None of us can, come to that.’
‘It doesn’t matter. How could he find out?’ asked Rebecca. ‘Neither of us are going to tell him, are we?’
‘Of course not,’ Nick laughed.
‘Where shall we go then?’ asked Rebecca.
Nicholas thought for a moment. ‘I know. If we go along the gravel path by the west side of the house there’s a secluded spot near the wall with a long bench where we can sit. No one goes there; it doesn’t lead anywhere.’
‘Sounds perfect,’ said Rebecca.
Nicholas took her by the hand and as they walked together round the building she felt his thumb caressing the inside of her palm. Even before they reached the seat they began kissing, and Rebecca found his firm strong grip and demanding mouth very arousing. It was also nice to be the object of such adoration because when she was with Christopher she was always aware that the person Christopher most admired was himself.
As they reached the seat, Nicholas’s hands found the gap between Rebecca’s black palazzo pants and silver lurex top. Sliding them upwards he made a sound of appreciation as he realised that she had nothing on underneath. Immediately his hands started to caress her breasts. ‘You’re wasted on him,’ he muttered thickly, his mouth close to Rebecca’s ear.
Privately Rebecca was beginning to agree but she didn’t respond because she was trying to concentrate solely on the sensations. Nick was less gentle than Christopher but there was no doubting his enthusiasm and within a few seconds he was easing Rebecca back on to the bench until she felt the ivy that clung to the walls of the west wing of the building tickling her hair.
The night was cool but her body felt hot and she made no protest when Nick started to remove the lurex top. When the air hit her hot flesh she felt her nipples grow instantly erect and uttered a tiny cry of delight as Nick’s tongue started a slow descent from the base of her neck down between her breasts. At the same time his hands were on her hips, tugging at the palazzo pants and forcing them downwards until they finally fell around her ankles. Rebecca quickly kicked off her shoes and then managed to remove the trousers as well so that she was lying sprawled in a semi-reclining position, her upper body totally nude and with only the protection of her flimsy, pink silk bikini pants to protect her from the night.
Nick was also sprawled on the seat but he was positioned above her with one hand taking his weight at the base of the back of the seat and the other insidiously working its way through her pubic hair. In the distance Rebecca could hear the sounds of people chattering and laughing and this added to her excitement.
She felt Nicholas’s fingers wandering through her dark pubic hair. Suddenly he pulled lightly on a few strands and when she jerked in response he laughed softly before repeating the procedure several times. To Rebecca’s surprise this had the effect of bringing her very near to the point of orgasm and, as her body gathered itself together, she let out a soft sigh of contentment. Immediately Nick stopped what he was doing and instead knelt down on the path, leaving her feeling momentarily very exposed.
Then his hands were parting her knees and she felt them on her inner thighs but, instead of stroking them, he used his nails to scratch very gently at this highly sensitive area. Rebecca’s hands reached down and she tried to pull his head upwards so that he would use his mouth on her but he refused to do what she wanted. Instead he gently drew a piece of skin at the top of her left thigh into his mouth and then with great deliberation closed his teeth on it.
The result was an increase in desire that had her moving more and more restlessly on the seat. He then resumed his gentle scratching, only this time he allowed his hands to wander over the crotch of her panties until he located her swelling clitoris beneath the material and rubbed it very lightly.
Rebecca knew that the silk panties were becoming very damp. She could feel them sticking to her, moulding themselves to every nook and cranny. As he started to use his tongue on the material, her flesh beneath swelled rapidly and she thought that she had never been so desperate to come. Her sex was hot and throbbing and when he carefully grazed her clit through the panties with his teeth Rebecca’s body spasmed as it prepared for orgasm again.
Once more, Nicholas changed position, easing himself back up on to the seat so that he could pull Rebecca’s upper body against his chest and allow her to stimulate her nipples against his jumper. His right hand pulled her panties to one side and then, at last, he straddled her upper thighs and she felt his thick penis moving up and down the moist channel of her inner lips. She thought then that she was finally going to orgasm but, for some reason, her body let her down and she realised she desperately wanted him inside her; wanted to be taken for a change instead of having to be in charge, as was so often the case with Christopher.
‘I want you inside me,’ she gasped to Nicholas as his glans continued to slide up and down her sex, slowing in pace when it was near the shaft of the clitoris.
‘Are you sure?’ he asked, teasing her.
‘Yes! Yes!’ she shouted, quite forgetting that they were out of doors and that her well-trained voice would carry easily on the night air.
‘All right, then,’ said Nicholas and suddenly he thrust into her with such force that her body was slammed back against the seat. She gasped aloud, and he seemed to be lost in his own world as he pumped furiously, his hips moving faster and faster while his hands gripped her round her upper body, his nails digging into her flesh.
She was amazed at how well he filled her, and also delighted at how long he was able to continue thrusting. At last the fire that he had kindled was allowed to take light and spread. Rebecca’s whole body came alive before the sensations drew inwards, centring in that one vital spot set behind her clitoris. She was so excited now that she couldn’t control herself and, reaching round him she tried to slide a hand down the back of his jeans, which he hadn’t bothered to remove, in order to stimulate him, but he moved his body slightly so that she had to draw her hand back again.
‘I’m in charge tonight,’ he reminded her.
‘Yes! OK!’ gasped Rebecca, hoping that her body hadn’t lost its rhythm. She needn’t have worried because Nicholas now proceeded to launch an erotic onslaught on almost every part of her body using mouth, lips, tongue, teeth, hands and fingers while all the time he continued to thrust fiercely. At last Rebecca felt her belly tighten, and her internal muscles quake, and then she exploded into orgasm with a scream of delight that sounded more like a wild animal than a human being. The moment she’d come Nick came too, still thrusting fiercely into her and calling her name over and over again as his body spasmed and the veins on his neck stood out like whipcords.
When he finally withdrew, Nick helped Rebecca to dress and then pulled her roughly against him. ‘Wasn’t that great?’ he asked.
‘Terrific,’ Rebecca agreed breathlessly.
‘Are you sure you’ve got to go to that party?’ asked Nick.
Rebecca thought for a moment. ‘I suppose so,’ she conceded. ‘I don’t want to, but like you said we really can’t take any chances with Christopher right now. The tour’s only just beginning.’
‘When can we meet again?’ asked Nicholas.
Rebecca hesitated. ‘I don’t know, but I’ll make sure we don’t have to wait long,’ she promised him.
‘You will be watching me tomorrow night in Macbeth, won’t you?’ he asked anxiously.
‘I’ll be watching you all the time from now on,’ Rebecca promised him with a smile.
Taking her hands, Nick drew her to her feet. ‘I think we’re more alike than you imagine,’ he said.
Rebecca suspected that he was right but she wasn’t going to tell him as much right now. ‘I don’t know what you mean,’ she said.
‘I think you do,’ he replied. ‘You need a real man.’
‘And you don’t think Christopher’s a real man?’
‘Not if what I’ve heard’s true,’ said Nicholas.
‘Well you mustn’t believe all the gossip you hear,’ laughed Rebecca.
‘You mean I’m wrong?’ persisted Nicholas.
‘Did I say that?’ Rebecca asked him and then, before he could question her any further, she started to run down the path and away to the party.
When Rebecca got to the main entrance of The Small House she stood for a moment checking that her clothes were in order and trying to cool her hot cheeks. Her skin was still tingling and she could remember only too clearly how Nicholas had felt, as he’d thrust so savagely, almost primitively, in and out of her, satisfying her far more in those few moments than Christopher ever did with their long, complicated sex sessions. Nevertheless, Nicholas couldn’t help Rebecca get on in her profession and, for the moment, her body would have to be satisfied mainly with Christopher. Just the same, she was going to make sure that she and Nick were able to enjoy each other again before too many days had passed.
When she finally felt composed enough she walked into the house and quickly found the party.
‘Sorry I’m late,’ she said to Christopher as he frowned at her.
‘Where did you disappear to?’ he demanded.
‘I needed air and then I met some fans.’
Christopher’s eyes lit up. ‘You talked to some of the audience?’
‘Yes,’ Rebecca lied.
‘What did they say?’ he asked.
‘They thought it was terrific and they particularly liked your performance,’ she said with a smile. She knew that this would take Christopher’s mind off where she’d been.
‘Great!’ exclaimed Christopher. Then he tried to hide his self-satisfaction. ‘I mean, it’s great for the whole company, isn’t it?’
‘It certainly is,’ agreed Rebecca.
After that they mingled with the other guests for a while and Rebecca made sure that she hung on to Christopher’s arm and gazed at him adoringly every time a camera was near. This was what he expected and it was also what would help her. She was very pleased to realise that in general the first night had been a success. It seemed that despite Esther’s failure the play had caught the audience’s imagination and lots of people were promising to tell their friends to make sure they came on the Wednesday night.
It was one in the morning by the time she and Christopher were able to go back to their room and Rebecca’s body now felt utterly exhausted. As she started to undress she saw Christopher staring at her. ‘What’s the matter?’ she asked.
‘You’ve got red weals all over your back and there are bruises at the top of your left leg on the inner thigh, look,’ said Christopher.
Rebecca glanced down at her thigh and realised that it was where Nick had bitten her. As for the marks on her back, they must have come from where she’d been pressed up against the back of the wooden seat. ‘I was standing leaning against the wall when I was talking to those fans,’ she said casually. ‘It must have grazed my back.’
‘Well it couldn’t have bruised your leg,’ said Christopher.
‘I’ve no idea how that happened,’ said Rebecca. ‘Do I have to account for every bruise that appears on me?’
‘I think you owe me some kind of an explanation, especially when you’ve disappeared for half the evening,’ he retorted.
‘That’s an exaggeration,’ said Rebecca, trying to stifle a yawn. ‘Most of the evening we were performing the play, remember? The play in which you were such a success.’
‘I was, wasn’t I?’ said Christopher, the smile returning to his handsome face. ‘No,’ he said suddenly to Rebecca, ‘don’t put your nightdress on. I’d rather you put those on instead.’ Rebecca’s eyes followed the movement of his hand and, when she saw the leather boots, riding crop and black-leather mini dress laid out on the bed, her heart sank. Just the same, she knew that the sensible thing to do was go along with him. If she didn’t he’d be even more suspicious and, on the plus side, she’d be sure to have another orgasm.
She did eventually but, as she came, standing astride Christopher while his tongue busied itself between her thighs, she couldn’t help remembering how it had been with Nicholas. She knew then that sooner or later she was going to leave this golden-haired boy of the theatre.
Normally Rebecca never thought about anyone else but as she finally fell asleep that night she did wonder what on earth Esther Reid could have found to talk about with Damon Dowden after they disappeared that night. She hoped that Damon hadn’t been too hard on her because, if he had, it certainly wouldn’t help her next performance. She was pleased that he’d taken Esther out, though, because it had saved Rebecca from having to endure another long session which involved them both.
In the early hours of the morning Rebecca awoke to find Christopher lying on top of her, his penis deep inside her as he moved slowly and silently in and out of her body. He was often like this when he was riding high on success and she sleepily allowed him to bring her to a gentle but pleasurable climax. But this didn’t make her change her mind; she was beginning to realise that her sexual tastes were no longer the same as Christopher’s.