The Blackwell Lessons (17 page)

55

In the kitchen, Rodney prepares a whole menu – pastries, smoothies, porridge, yoghurt … but I can’t manage any of it. The only thing I can cope with is tiny sips of sparkling water.

Marc stays by my side, watching me with concern.

‘I don’t want you going to the film set today,’ he says.

‘I know. But I have to.’

‘Sophia—’

‘Marc, we’ve been through this. I’m not going to change my mind. If I feel like I can’t cope I’ll come home. Okay?’

‘At least let me accompany you on set.’

‘For today,’ I say. ‘But after that we have to carry on as normal.’

‘I can’t agree to that.’

‘Marc.’ I take his hands. ‘Listen. I’m going to be pregnant for a long time. We have to have something of a normal life. Will you please support me? Pretty please? I agreed to do this movie.’

‘I know that.’ Marc sighs. ‘I will support you. But the second I think something could be affecting your health—’

‘The doctor said I was fine. It’s just morning sickness. I should get dressed. I need to be on set.’

It turns out to be a long day. The sickness doesn’t go away and in fact gets much worse when I’m near coffee or the buffet lunch table.

I don’t want to admit I’m feeling sick, so I tell Nadia that Marc is here to keep me company. I can tell she doesn’t quite believe me, but she’s too polite to question it.

Every time I visit the toilet, I return to find Sigourney trying to talk to Marc.

It’s annoying, but that’s all it is. In fact, her flirting helps me realise how uninterested Marc is. He practically turns his back on her, and is clearly sick and tired of her efforts to chat him up.

My jealousy vanishes, and instead of thinking about my own feelings, I notice Baz.

He looks sad.

It’s sort of sweet in a way. This big strong man hung up over a girl. I’ve seen Baz in movies before and he usually plays ruthless, murdering psychopaths. Men to be feared. It’s nice to know he has a soft side.

‘Give me a minute,’ I tell Marc. ‘I just want to talk to Baz.’

‘Why?’ Marc asks.

‘Just … I’ll be back in a second.’

I head over to Baz and grab the chair beside him.

‘Hey,’ I say.

Baz gives me a tired smile. ‘What’s up princess? You’ve got bored of Marc already?’

‘That princess nickname really has stuck, hasn’t it?’

‘It’s well deserved.’

‘So how are you doing?’

‘Not great.’

‘How are things with you and Sigourney?’

‘Fucking terrible.’ Baz downs his Red Bull. ‘I liked her, I really did. But she doesn’t get that I could be good for her. She’s freaking out.’

‘There’ll be other girls—’

‘Not like her.’ He throws his Red Bull can in the bin. ‘I thought she could be the one. Finally.’

‘You could see yourself with Sigourney?’

Baz nods. ‘I could be good for her. I understand messed up. She just needs someone who can put her in line. Hey.’ He puts a friendly arm around my shoulder. ‘You’re a good girl, princess. You know that?’

I feel Marc’s shadow over us.

‘Is this man bothering you Sophia?’ says Marc. He’s joking. Sort of.

‘We were just talking about relationships,’ I say.

‘Make sure Baz knows you already have one.’

Baz laughs. ‘Like I’d mess with your girl. I’ve seen you fight, remember? You’re fucking lethal.’

‘I was taught by the best.’

Nadia hurries over to us with a clipboard. ‘Sophia! You’re up, honey pie. It’s time for you and Leo’s big scene. Are you ready?’

‘Me and Leo?’ I ask, glancing at Marc. ‘I thought it was me and Ruby today. And me and Leo tomorrow.’ I lower my voice meaningfully.

Nadia doesn’t catch my tone. ‘No, no, I made a change. I thought – hey, if you and Leo are going to have this big romantic moment, it should be by this fabulous building.’ She waves her hand at the Tower of London. ‘Right? I mean what a backdrop for some hot love action.’

‘Hot
love
action?’ says Marc, his voice low.

56

Nadia laughs. ‘Do I detect a little jealousy Mr Marc Blackwell? It’s only kissing. We’ll do the bedroom stuff later.’

‘I’m sorry Marc.’ I put a hand on his forearm. ‘I didn’t realise we’d be doing this today.’

‘But you’re okay?’ Nadia turns concerned brown eyes on me. ‘You’re not going to freak out or anything? Because the big bad husband is here?’

‘I don’t think so.’

‘Good.’ Nadia puts an arm around my shoulder. ‘Because I want this scene to be smoking hot, okay?’

Marc frowns. ‘Nadia, must you have this conversation in front of me? Sophia is my wife.’

‘Sorry, sorry. But Marc – hey, this is acting. You should know that better than anyone.’

Baz snorts. ‘Who, Marc? He usually sleeps with the women he acts with.’

A wave of nausea washes over me and I put a hand to my mouth.

‘Sophia.’ Marc puts an arm around me. ‘Are you okay?’

I shake my head. ‘I’m okay. Just tell Baz to stop talking.’

‘Gladly,’ says Marc.

‘Sorry mate.’ Baz holds his metal-gloved hands up. ‘Me and my big mouth. You know how I am. I see a joke, I just have to tell it.’

‘Morning sickness?’ Nadia asks.

I nod.

‘You should have said. I had it so bad with my second. You poor love.’

‘Honestly I’m okay,’ I say. ‘I don’t want to be treated any different. I’m here to do a job like everyone else. I just need to get on with it.’

‘Spoken like a true professional. Come on.’ Nadia helps me to my feet. ‘Let’s go set you up. Marc – you wait here. I don’t want you watching this scene.’

‘Why not?’ Marc asks.

‘You know why not. Sophia won’t be able to relax with you looking over her shoulder. This is the scene for the trailer, the poster shots … everything. I want steam coming off these two and I don’t want you killing it. Okay?’

‘Christ – I should never have agreed to let you do this,’ says Marc, but he manages a tiny smile.

‘You didn’t let me do it,’ I say. ‘I chose to do it. As a free thinking woman.’ I squeeze his hands. ‘I’ll be back soon.’

‘You’d better be. Or I’m coming to get you.’

57

Nadia leads me around the Tower of London to a patch of grass where ravens scratch and peck.

Leo waits by a flag pole with his hands on his hips, dressed in his handsome prince costume – leather belts strapped across his torso, sword swinging and scuffed riding boots. His blond hair is messed up and decorated with fake mud.

A few cameras are already set up, one on a rail running along the ground.

Camera and sound people stand around the clearing, waiting for Nadia’s signal.

‘I thought here would be perfect,’ says Nadia. ‘Don’t you think? Sort of dark and scary but beautiful too. So romantic.’

‘I agree,’ says Leo, grinning at me. ‘Looks great, don’t you think?’

‘It does.’ I look around. ‘So where do you want me?’

‘Here.’ Nadia leads me to Leo. ‘Right next to him, okay? Right from the start. Chest to chest.’

She pushes us together and I stumble a little, still feeling a bit nauseous.

Leo catches me. ‘Hey. Don’t fall over princess. Not in your condition.’

‘I’ll try not to.’

‘Okay. Great!’ Nadia stands back. ‘Just like that. Arms around each other.’

Leo puts his arms around my shoulders and I put mine around his waist.

‘You’ve done this before,’ says Leo, winking.

‘Enough of the jokes. You’re dating my best friend. Remember?’

‘I remember. The best girl in the world. But I wouldn’t be me without the jokes would I?’

‘We’re going to go straight into the kiss,’ says Nadia. ‘Okay?’

I nod.

Leo turns on his seductive eyes. ‘Darling Princess Sophia. I finally have you in my arms.’

‘Leo. Give me a break would you?’

‘Okay, okay. I get it. No jokes. Not with Mr Blackwell right around the corner.’

‘Let’s just stick to the script.’

My stomach is really churning now and I just want this scene over with.

‘Oh come on!’ says Leo. ‘I have to be able to ad lib a little. I’m a free spirit. I go with my feelings. That’s how all the best scenes come around.’

I roll my eyes. ‘Let’s be serious.’

‘You’re right. Kissing is a serious business.’

‘Okay you two.’ Nadia is looking at the camera now. ‘And … action.’

Leo looks down at me, his brown eyes turning seductive again. ‘How’d you get out that tower?’ he breathes.

Wow – I have to say Leo is a pretty amazing actor. The way he can go from jokey to sexy in a second is impressive.

I look up at him. ‘The same way you got up. I climbed.’

Leo really does smell good. I think it’s something to do with the pregnancy, but my senses are incredibly sensitive right now. I can smell his skin and aftershave. Even his shampoo.

‘Climbed all that way?’

‘All that way. To find you.’

‘And here was I thinking it was me finding you.’ Leo lowers his lips to mine and kisses me, leaning me back in his arms so the camera can get a good shot of my face.

I let myself be kissed and respond too. But my heart stays locked up. This is my body and this is my job – to act like Leo and I are in love. And I can make it look real. But it’s not.

I hear the camera zoom in on us and know this will be a really tight shot of our faces.

We pull back and gaze at each other, the prince and princess in love.

I swallow quickly, hoping I’m not going to ruin the moment by throwing up.

‘Bravo!’ Nadia claps loudly. ‘Great! Great you two. Hey – you know what? I think we got that first try. Let me take a look.’

Secretly I’m really hoping we don’t go again. Not because I have any problem kissing Leo. But because I know the longer we take, the more painful it will be for Marc.

I mean yes, this is my job and he has to accept that. But I still understand how hard this must be for him. If it were the other way around, I’d be freaking out.

Nadia watches the scene on the digital camera screen. Then she claps again. ‘Great! I think we got it. But let’s try a few more takes, okay? Get the best one we can do.’

58

When I get back to Marc, he’s sitting on a wooden chair, elbows on his knees, frowning.

‘How was it?’ he asks, the words stilted.

‘Fine,’ I tell him. ‘The scene went well. I managed to keep the sickness down.’

‘Glad to hear it.’

‘You know it doesn’t mean a thing. Don’t you?’

‘I know.’

‘Hey. Marc? Mr Blackwell? What I just did with Leo – that wasn’t a real kiss. This is a real kiss.’

I press my lips to his.

Marc arms come around me, his lips pressing hard against mine.

Then he pulls back, his eyes wild as they search mine. ‘Maybe I should let you kiss another man more often.’

I laugh.

‘You’re finished for the day?’ he asks.

‘I am.’

‘And you’re not feeling too sick?’

‘Not at all actually. Not when I’m close to you like this. Crazy isn’t it?’

‘Get changed. I’m taking you straight home.’

Marc carries me to the car, his hands under my backside as he kisses me.

I try to keep my moans from spilling out, but as he climbs into the driver’s seat with me on his lap I can’t hold back.

‘
Oh
god, Marc.’

We’re still kissing passionately as he closes the car door.

‘I don’t know if I can wait until we get home,’ I murmur.

Marc slides the seat all the way back so I don’t press against the steering wheel.

‘We’re not going to wait.’ He pushes up my summer dress and feels my panties, his hand sliding into the cotton material.

‘Marc,’ I murmur, my head dropping back as he kisses my neck. ‘We can’t. Not here. What if someone sees?’

‘Don’t say
can’t
. It only makes me more determined.’

Before I can protest, Marc frees himself from his trousers and pushes my panties aside.

‘Marc, we
can’t
.’

‘That word again.’

Marc slides the full length of himself inside me, and I fall completely silent, biting my lip to stop myself crying out.

‘You know,’ Marc says as he starts the car. ‘You only have yourself to blame for this. After that kiss I couldn’t help myself.’

I look around wildly. ‘What are you doing?’

‘I’m driving you home.’ Marc moves my face over his shoulder so my lips touch the soft leather seat. ‘But for that I’ll need a clear view of the road.’

He puts a hand to the steering wheel and before I know it we’re moving through the car park.

‘Marc! You can’t drive the car while we’re—’

‘Don’t move.’ He puts the seatbelt over both of us.

Marc’s length is pressing right inside me. All the way inside. And as the car moves, I slide around on top of him.

‘Oh Marc. Oh. Oh Marc,’ I moan, closing my eyes.

‘I told you not to move.’

‘I can’t help it.’

I feel Marc’s foot lower on the accelerator, and the car glides out of the security gate and towards Tower Bridge.

‘People can see us,’ I gasp, as we cruise slowly along the road.

Marc’s hand is relaxed on the steering wheel. ‘All they see is you on my lap.’

‘You’re sure you can concentrate?’

‘I’m sure. As long as you stop moving.’

‘That’s not so easy,’ I gasp, as the movement of the car pushes Marc deeper inside me. ‘Marc! Oh Marc, god. Please. You can’t—’

‘That word again.’

Marc presses the accelerator.

‘Oh!’ I practically scream the word as Marc goes deep, deep inside me.

I cling to him and his arm tightens around my back.

‘Marc. Marc!’

I can’t help myself. I begin to move my hips, my fingers slipping under his buttocks to pull him deeper and deeper inside me.

‘Sophia.’ Marc’s fingers tighten on the steering wheel. ‘I told you not to move.’

‘I can’t help it. This feels too good.’

My hips move back and forth, back and forth, getting into a steady rhythm until Marc touches all the right places over and over again.

My head tips back and I moan.

I notice Marc is driving faster now, and the London buildings fly past.

Marc’s hand goes to my shoulder and he clamps me down.

‘Stop it.’

‘I don’t know how you can drive like this,’ I gasp, desperate to move.

‘It’s getting difficult. Believe me.’