Daphne had explained how things worked. How the studio needed her to maintain appearances. Showing up with me on her arm wasn’t an option. I was, however, still there, seated a row behind her. She’d smile at something Gordon said and then turn her head to grace me with a look only the two of us shared.
Our intimacy had progressed since August when I quit fighting my feelings toward her. Mostly, the intimacy had manifested itself as heavy petting. A touch here. A caress there. The destination loomed before me, but Daphne was allowing me to choose when we’d arrive.
The Brave Few moved frame by frame until it reached the pub scene where I made my entrance. I mouthed my line along with my larger-than-life image on the screen.
Daphne’s on-screen character answered my question about her choice of “on the rocks or straight up” with, “Whatever you want to bring me. You look like a woman who knows exactly what someone needs.”
I sank a little farther down into my seat and glanced at the people around me. Couldn’t they see the want in my eyes as I stood beside Daphne? Didn’t they catch the quick quirk of her lips as she spoke her lines? How she leaned toward me with each passing second of our screen time?
Instead, the capacity crowd focused on the humour and erupted with raucous laughter. Daphne laughed with them and turned to wink at me.
The remainder of the film flew by. When “The End” appeared on the screen, the houselights came up and everyone stood. They turned toward Daphne and Gordon and applauded for several long minutes.
I moved along my row with the others filing out into the aisle. Frank and Gordon had already engaged Daphne in conversation as they inched their way out of the cinema. Hanging back, I allowed myself the pleasure of enjoying the smooth tan shoulders that peeked from her gown. The shoulders where I’d placed my lips in the fading hours of the previous evening. We’d stopped then, as we’d stopped so many other times.
The night air was cool, so I lifted my shawl up a little higher to take away the chill. Daphne did the same. Flashbulbs pulsed around her and Gordon, but neither blinked. Gordon kissed Daphne’s cheek, which set off shrieks from the young women pressed against the velvet rope in front of the cinema.
I tried to shake off the image. Tried to convince myself it was all part of the business. But my stomach clenched when she kissed him back on the mouth. In a rush, I pushed past the cinema patrons, extras, and bit actors, the screaming fans who held out their pens and autograph books to anyone who seemed like someone. Apparently, I didn’t pass inspection, because no one stopped me as I approached the curb to hail a cab. I ignored the movement of the crowd behind me as they followed Daphne and Gordon to their limousine. A cab rolled to a stop, but before I got into the backseat, their limousine cruised to a stop behind the cab. Perkins honked the horn.
I waved the taxi on and walked back to the limousine. The back door opened. Daphne gave me a “come hither” look, but this time, it wouldn’t work.
“Get in,” Daphne said.
I hesitated, still a little miffed over the second kiss.
“Come on, Ellie. I know why you’re angry. Please get in, and we’ll talk on the way home.” She slid closer to Gordon and patted the seat.
I glared at Gordon. “I don’t think you need me.”
“Oh, come on, sugar. Don’t be sore at Daphne. It’s all part of the act.” Gordon flashed one of his megawatt smiles that melted the hearts of thousands of women and moved mine enough to get inside. Perkins pulled away as soon as I shut the door behind me.
“So…” Daphne said.
Trying to ignore her intoxicating perfume, I did my best to maintain my dour expression. “So.”
We drove in silence until Gordon tapped on the dividing window. Perkins powered the glass open.
“The next turn, Perkins, my good man.”
I looked to where Gordon pointed. What could possibly be down that darkened alley? We stopped outside a nondescript door with one dim light bulb hanging overhead. Two men exited the building. I gaped as they moved off into the shadows, groping at each other, oblivious to our presence.
“Darling, this is where I bid you a fond goodnight.” He kissed Daphne on the cheek again and stepped out of the car. He walked around the back and motioned for me to roll down my window. I fumbled with the unfamiliar switch before powering it down. Leaning inside, he startled me with a kiss on my cheek. “You take good care of my Daphne.” Gordon slapped the roof of the car and waved as he entered the club.
I sat there, mute, unable to comprehend what I’d witnessed. Perkins backed out of the alley and started the drive to Daphne’s mansion.
Daphne turned to me. “There’s something you should know about Gordon.”
“Before that happened, I would’ve sworn he was madly in love with you.”
“No. He is, however, madly in love with Quinn Tucker.”
“Quinn Tucker? The movie star?”
“Yes,” Daphne said. “Quinn Tucker the movie star who makes a living playing in rough and rowdy westerns.”
“But what about the club? Why would he go there?”
“He and Quinn have an agreement. It’s an open relationship. They still love each other, but it doesn’t mean they can’t enjoy other men.”
This line of talk made me uncomfortable. Is that what she did? Kept one at home while dabbling with others? “I had no idea about Gordon.”
“You’re not supposed to have any idea, Ellie. That’s the point. Within the industry, we know who’s homosexual and who isn’t, and we do our best to protect one another. Gordon and I don’t do anything to dispel the rumours that link us together romantically.”
“I hate you have to live this way.” I was still too scared to include myself in the equation.
Daphne gazed out the window, the headlights of the passing cars reflected on her face. “You’ll need to get used to it because it won’t change anytime soon. In fact, I can’t see it ever changing. Let’s face it. How would the typical moviegoer react if they knew that when I’m up on the screen kissing Gordon or another lead actor, I’m not enjoying it and that I’d rather be kissing a woman?” Her voice held a sadness that I hadn’t heard from her before. “It’s the price I pay for being who I am and doing the work I do. But that doesn’t make it any easier on you or make this any fairer.”
“No, it doesn’t,” I said softly.
Perkins pulled up to the gate at the mansion. Dorian, the guard, swung the gate aside for us to pass through.
“I won’t need you until Monday morning,” Daphne told Perkins as she got out of the car.
He touched his fingers to the bill of his hat. “Ma’am. Have an enjoyable weekend.”
“You too, James.”
As always, the lights were already on when we entered the home. Something about Daphne not liking to come home to a dark house. She let her shawl slide off her shoulders and tossed it on the chair.
“Here. Let me take yours.” She stood behind me, placed her hands on my shoulders, and with a sensuous touch, slid the shawl down to the floor. She bent over and kissed my neck. I shuddered at the contact. Walking around me, she tilted up my chin with her finger and brushed her lips against mine. “Why don’t we take that opened bottle of wine from the ice box with us into the bedroom?”
My stomach quivered. “Okay.”
“You get the wine and glasses, and I’ll meet you upstairs.”
Somehow, my shaky legs carried me into the kitchen, which was miraculous considering the distance I had to traverse from the foyer. I reached inside the ice box and lifted out the bottle, grabbed two wine glasses, and flipped off my heels before attempting the winding staircase. My bare feet sank into the plush carpet as I walked down the long hallway for only the second time. Daphne had showed me the upstairs when we first began seeing one another, but she’d never made a move to carry our ardour up to her bedroom. Until tonight.
I cradled the wine bottle against my body and took a deep breath before opening the door.
Bent over, she was lighting a candle to join the other lit candles placed throughout the room. She turned around, and I almost dropped the bottle of wine. She’d changed into a lavender floor-length nightgown with a neckline revealing the swell of her breasts. Her long, dark hair hung loose on her bare shoulders. She moved toward me slowly. My gaze dropped to the way the gown clung to her lithe frame and to the hardened nipples pressing against the material.
“Let me have these.” Daphne took the bottle and glasses and set them on the dresser. After popping the cork, she filled both glasses halfway. She handed me a glass and clinked it lightly with her own. “To us.” The light from the candles danced across her face as she drained her wine.
At first, I took a small sip, but under the scrutiny of her heated stare, I finished the rest off in one big gulp.
“I know this might be a little frightening, Ellie.” She set her glass on the dresser, took mine, and placed it next to hers. She brushed her thumb along my cheek. “But I think it’s time, don’t you?”
I swallowed hard as Daphne leaned in and placed her lips on mine. Willingly, I allowed her to lead me wherever this night would end. Our kiss deepened. When I felt like I couldn’t stand on my wobbly legs any longer, she broke away, clasped my hand, and moved us to the side of the bed.
“We’ll take this as slow as you need to.” She reached behind my back and unzipped my dress. “We’ll go at your pace,” she whispered as she slid the dress to the floor. “You only need tell me if you’re uncomfortable.” She pulled down the straps of my bra and kissed the skin above my breasts. “Are you uncomfortable?”
I couldn’t speak. Instead, I answered with my actions. I unclasped my bra and held it in place one last second before allowing it to drop to my feet.
“My God, look at you, Ellie.”
Her gaze swept my skin like a thousand tiny pinpricks. My cheeks burned, and my nipples grew harder with each passing second.
She took one nipple in her mouth and tweaked the other until it was almost painful to the touch. The rush of heat between my legs wasn’t unexpected. I’d felt it before when we’d kissed and touched through our clothing. But the rush of wetness was new. New and wondrous. I moaned as she continued sucking on my nipple before moving over to the other. I brought my hands to her head and pulled her tight against me.
“Daphne, I don’t think I can stand any longer,” I said, my voice ragged.
“Of course you can’t, darling.” She pushed me against the bed until I fell back and felt the cool sheets against my skin. “Why don’t we shed these as well?” She hooked her thumbs into the waistband of my panties, slid them down, and tossed them onto the floor.
Before I had the chance to ask her to disrobe, she stood and moved in tantalizing slowness, baring more skin with each inching down of material. I stared at her full, round breasts. Her waist was slim and her abdomen firm, her hips perfectly curved. An image of the Venus de Milo materialised in my mind. I dropped my gaze to the patch of hair between her legs and didn’t realise how long I stared until her words shook me from my stupor.
“Do you like what you see?” Her voice was low and husky.
I could only nod.
She knelt beside me on the bed and trailed her fingertips down the hollow of my throat, placing a passing glance against my chest before continuing down my legs. I shut my eyes when she touched the inside of my thighs until I felt the mattress shift as she moved on top of me.
She kissed my throat, somehow knowing how much pressure to apply with her tongue to give me the most pleasure. I stretched my neck to allow her further access and felt her smile against my skin as she moved lower, once again taking a nipple into her mouth. I arched off the bed, gasping aloud.
Her hand dipped between my legs. “Open yourself to me, my love,” she said as she gently pressed my thighs apart.
I did as she asked, not thinking, only feeling. Her long fingers slid through my wetness.
“Oh, Daphne.” My hips jerked at her touch.
“Tell me where it feels good.”
I bit my lip hard, frightened when I tasted blood.
She rose above me, and her expression darkened with smouldering desire. She ran her fingers through my wet folds again. “Where, Ellie?”
“Oh, God, there. Please,” I whimpered, knowing what I was asking for, but not too proud to beg.
She brought her lips to mine and continued her pressure below. I was building to something exquisite as the pleasure mounted.
“Trust me,” Daphne whispered. And then she slid inside of me.
I had thought I would feel pain, but instead, I felt an intense need to move my hips higher. I pleaded with my body for her to go even farther.
She plunged deep inside while continuing pressure with her thumb against the other sensitive spot that only my own hand had touched before. “Let go. Let go just for me.”
I grabbed hold of the sheets and balled them in my hands. Stars appeared behind my clenched eyelids. As I was about to scream out her name, Daphne thrust her tongue inside my mouth and swallowed my release.
Again and again, she moved deep inside until I slumped back against the mattress.
She slowly withdrew her fingers and lay beside me, opening her arms. “Come here, darling.”
I struggled with my limp body to fall into her embrace, mortified when I burst into tears.
Daphne tensed. “Please tell me I didn’t hurt you or that you didn’t want—”
I placed my fingertips against her lips and shook my head into her chest.
“No. It was beautiful. I don’t know what else to say except your passion takes my breath away. But I want to give you the same pleasure. Tell me how.”
She kissed my forehead. “In time. For now, let me hold you.”
I shifted even closer and allowed her to do just that.
Almost complete darkness greeted me when I awakened. Disoriented, I took time to adjust my eyes until I became aware of objects in the room. They appeared almost unearthly from the dim light of the candle beside the bed. The other candles had burned out during the night. Memories rushed back to me. And with the memories came an awareness of the sexual being who lay beside me.
I rose onto my elbow and looked at her face, so peaceful in repose, her full lips blowing out soft puffs of breath. My gaze dropped to her breasts. I raised a tentative hand and placed the lightest of touches on her nipple, fascinated when it grew and hardened. She murmured in her sleep and turned her head to the side, but she didn’t awaken.
Emboldened now, I leaned over and took the nipple in my mouth and gently sucked, just as she’d done. I became lost in the moment and in the feelings this woman stirred deep inside me.
Fingers brushed through my hair. I stopped what I was doing and looked up at her. There was enough light for me to see the desire there.
“What do you like, Daphne?” I asked in a voice that sounded so unlike my own.
“You’re doing fine,” she whispered.
I ran my tongue across her nipple and held her other breast in the palm of my hand.
Daphne took my hand and pushed it lower until I felt the heat between her thighs. She opened her legs and led me to her wetness.
“Do you feel that?” she gasped.
I slipped my fingers into her folds and moaned, knowing that I had caused this reaction. My lips. My touch. Me.
Her hips rose and fell as I moved in time with her rhythm.
“Inside. Please go—”
I plunged deep inside and took her, just as she’d asked. She threw her head back, the veins pulsing in her neck as she strained for release. Enthralled, I watched the naked need play across her beautiful face.
Daphne’s body tightened as she edged closer to orgasm. Unlike her, I didn’t kiss her at that exact moment. I wanted to hear her. I wanted to hear her scream my name. I pushed into her one last time.
“Ellie! Oh, God, Ellie!”
I waited until she relaxed and then withdrew my hand, sliding my fingers up into her wetness again before I leaned over to give her a soft, gentle kiss. Her breathing returned to normal as I lay beside her.
“Where did you learn to do that?” she finally said.
“From you and how you make me feel. I want to give to you as much as you give to me. I… I love you, Daphne.”
She stiffened then. I waited to hear the same words from her. She opened her eyes, but I wasn’t certain what I saw there. I didn’t have time to think about it further because in a quick move, she was on top of me. Kissing me, touching me, in such a frenetic way that my mind couldn’t keep up with all of the feelings pulsing through my body.
That Daphne hadn’t told me she loved me slipped into the darkness, swallowed by my cries of more… more… more…