The Boleyn Effect (The Boorman Ending) (9 page)

After out meal, we walk
back to the car in the warm drizzle that's starting to fall. We are
silent once more as if we've left all the carefreeness back in the
restaurant. Our bodies close as we walk side by side and there
again is the near contact of our hands. Why can't I stop thinking
about his hand in mine? A romantic gesture that is far removed from
what my agenda is, yet, it still lingers.

'Do you want a lift back?'
he asks.

Going back into that car
means so much more, because I'm not sure how much longer I can keep
from touching him, but I don't want to walk home. He seems to sense
my indecision.

'No funny business I
promise. Perfect gentleman,' he says.

I smile. 'Since you put it
that way, then I would be grateful.'

We park outside my flat
and for a moment we sit in silence once more. The journey home
merely consisting of more small talk.

'Thanks for taking me
out,' I say.

'It was my pleasure,' he
smiles.

'Well, I suppose I'd
better go.'

I lean over and kiss him
on the cheek, but he's not letting me go that easily as he moves
his face so I meet lips. Its' a sneaky trick that impresses me. Not
such a gentleman then?

The kisses are light at
first and then pushing his tongue against mine the heat turns up a
notch. Grabbing the lapel of his shirt, I pull him closer as his
hands reach out. The heat of the kiss makes me moan and I’m
desperate to be closer as I stretch my body towards his. But it
isn't enough and I am finding it hard to control myself.

The little voice that
could even be George is saying to maintain control. Don't be over
eager. The problem is I'm not that good at listening. My body
always talks louder. I scramble into his lap and groan meeting
hardness against my dampening centre.

His hands knead my covered
breasts as I grind my groin against his. Denim against denim.
Tongues clashing in each other's mouth. Hot breath on each other's
skin. Sexual tension pungent in such a small space.

Finally, I push away with
my back against the steering wheel I try to control my breathing as
his hands squeezes my thighs and move up down not quite going where
I want them to. During our make out, he's kept his hands above my
waistline, remaining on my breasts. Maybe he's nervous of going too
far after I ignored him last time. Playing the gentleman, for now
at least. Just until the boundaries are established.

'Is this how you say
goodbye to all your friends?'

'Not all my friends are
like you,' I answer.

I shift slightly in his
lap and the action causes him to close his eyes briefly. I smile. I
can easily have him eating out of the palm of my hand.

'I should go,' I
say.

'You get me all fired up
and then leave me hanging,' he whines.

'Friends remember,' I
answer smiling.

I shuffle from his lap and
he winces once more. Reaching for the door his hand grabs mine and
holds me still.

'What we talked about
earlier about one night stands; just so you know I would never do
that to you. You are the white rose.'

'No, you wouldn't because
friends would never do that to each other,' I answer.

I pull away and climb out
of the car giving him a small wave.

'Goodbye Harry,' I
say.

I watch him drive away
before turning towards my front door. The light is on and I sigh.
What made me decide to give George his own key? He no doubt watched
all the goings on and now I have to prepare for a lecture on some
detail I missed out of how Anne Boleyn wooed Henry VIII.

CHAPTER
THIRTEEN

'So are you going to give
me a lecture?' I ask as I walk through my door.

George looks at me and
shrugs. The tense atmosphere is strong and now I'm beginning to
wish I'd stayed out longer.

'Why should I? It seems
you've got it pretty much covered.'

I frown at him
suspiciously. It's not like him to be so chilled out and with the
tense atmosphere it feels confusing and I wonder what he's up to.
So I ask.

'I just came to see how
the date went. I thought I told you that sex was off the
agenda.'

'You do know that this
isn't the 16th Century and that I can't use the promise of a son to
keep him interested. And, also I am not a virgin,' I
say.

George gives me a strange
look even though he's wearing a smile.

'Are we trying to be
factious?' he asks.

'No, but I think you need
to give me a bit more credit than you are doing. Like did you know
he's never had a mistress, only one night stands? I already know
how I'm going to play this. I am a woman after all and we haven't
changed much in all these years.'

'Well there's no point in
me being here is there?' he sulks.

I hate this, now I have to
make sure he knows I need him. It's all about control and if I give
it back to him then all will be well. I just wish he'd understand
that being a control freak is not the most attractive thing in the
world. It's a game we've always played together and I doubt it will
ever change. I grab hold of him and hug him tight. This always
works. Show a little affection and he'll be fine.

I can smell the faint
aroma of drink and my heart drops. Jesus this is going to be a long
night. He can be such a child sometimes. Always desperate for
attention and love. It's always been the same. I am always the one
to pick him up whenever he falls down and I know that's why he
wants me. He needs me and that is so far removed to loving
me.

'Of course I need you. Who
else is going to keep me on the straight and narrow,' I
reassure.

'You know I love you don't
you?'

I close my eyes. We can't
be doing this again. How many more times do we have to do
this?

'I love you too. You're my
best friend,' I answer.

'What does he have that I
don't?'

I pull away from his grasp
and get to my feet. Every boyfriend I've had has never been good
enough for him. Always picking faults until I have no choice but to
see them myself. But this time it's different. This is a different
game altogether.

'It's you who wanted us to
do this. I'm playing a game. It's not like I love him or anything.
You and me are different. We are solid. It's not fake.'

'Well you looked kinda
cosy in his car. Not like hard work at all,' he moans.

'For fucks sake, George
what do want from me? Maybe, we shouldn't do this if you're going
to be like this,' I snap.

He looks up at me with a
glazed expression and I groan. Storming to the bedroom, I pull out
the spare bedding and throw it on him.

'Sleep it off and then
decide whether you want to continue with this or not. But whatever
you decide get this, you and I are not going to happen and I will
do everything in power to make sure I win.'

I go into my bedroom and
slam the door. I know I'm being harsh, but he needs to understand
that he can't always have his own way. Climbing into bed, I wonder
what would happen if he called off the bet. Would I still see
Harry? Could I just carry on in the hope that I will be more than
his one night stand? George said no sex, but is that really
plausible in this day and age. My ego wants to find out if I am
good enough. Whether I can get him into bed despite
George.

It's not like I've never
had one night stands before. I enjoy sex and the flirtation with
different people and I am happy to be the one that climbs in the
taxi afterwards with false promises of calling back. Only a few
conquests have made me call back, but they never lasted
long.

I drift into a sleep where
I dream about Harry. We are both in the library and he's fucking me
against that rickety railing. His plunges are causing me to cry out
as my body responds to his. I can see the floor below us and the
precarious position I'm in excites me even more. I find I am barely
clinging on to the railing but trusting him to keep hold. Finally
with a few hard thrusts he's hit the spot and letting me go I'm
falling hard.

When I awake I find myself
on my stomach, hand clenching the wrought iron bedstead, biting the
pillow, barely able to breathe. My body still shuddering from my
sleepy orgasm. A little flustered, I stumble from the bed and make
my way out to the kitchen, I need cold water to cool down. I start
at the dark shadow in my kitchen and then I remember that I'd left
George sleeping on my sofa.

'Hey, you ok?' I
ask.

'Yeah, just feel kinda
stupid. I'm sorry for being a cock,' he says.

'I'll forgive you this
time, but you got to get your head together. I hate it when you're
like that.'

'That's why I've decided
that if we do this we do it properly. Paperwork, the lot. Then you
know that you'll get the money when you win.'

CHAPTER
FOURTEEN

The document sits between
us like some deeds from the gods. Looking down, I feel a little
dread. Maybe this really isn't a good idea. I've had some fun with
Harry and to make matters worse Katherine has left messages about
our appointments. Appointments I've been putting off. I'm not sure
if I can look that woman in the eye after I've had my tongue down
her husband's throat. But I can't ignore her forever, because not
only will she be suspicious, I also need the money.

'Why do I feel like I'm
going to sign my soul over,' I say.

George is sitting down
opposite and I can see there's tension in his face. What has
started out as a drunken challenge is now becoming serious. We’re
both about to embark on something that could possibly change things
between us and I'm not sure that I'm ready. Do I really need this
new studio? I'm quite happy where I am.

'Just look it over first,'
he says stiffly. 'You've got to know that I've decided against
involving Katherine. She's got to look the innocent in this. She
already knows that Harry is showing an interest in someone new, but
she's no idea that it's you.'

'But you said she wants
this?' I question nervously.

'Believe me babe, she
does. All she needs is a reason.'

'But surely the
others...?'

'Leigh, come on less of
the questions. You said you trusted me. Now look this over and
sign.'

I grab hold of it and
start to read over what I'm about to sign. My task is to get Harry
Cobain to fall in love with me within the allotted time. If I'm
successful then George would buy the studio of my choosing and
invest in my first gallery showing.

Shit! Not just a deposit,
but a full investment. I glance quickly at George and he gives me a
smile. He's up the ante and now I need to read on to see what would
happen if I lose.

If Harry Cobain leaves me
then I Leigh-Anne Boorman agree to marry George Gaskill.

Taking a deep breath, I
re-read the contract. Everything about this is wrong. Why the
deceit? Why doesn't she just list all Harry's previous
misdemeanours? And why in hell am I so damn tempted to pick up the
pen and sign my name? It's because Harry is already interested.
He's as good as mine and my ego and body loves the attention. If
Katherine Cobain wants to end her marriage then I may as well have
fun helping her and gain something from George.

George watches me sign and
with a deep breath gets to his feet and signs his name also. This
is it. The game is well and truly on. We are about to help some
woman hang her husband and I'm just the rope to do it.

'So it's all official,' I
say trying to keep the tone light.

'I suppose it is.' He
says. 'Look Leigh, your safety is paramount. If you want out then
we tear this up and forget it.'

'Why would I feel unsafe?'
I ask.

I am getting nervous. Why
didn't he mention this before I signed?

'I mean emotionally hurt,'
he answers.

I start to laugh with
relief. 'Don't worry. It's a game. Trust me this heart is well and
truly guarded.'

'Make sure it is. Leigh
it's really important that if you do this that you understand
timing is important. You can't rush this. It's six months for a
reason. It took Anne Boleyn three years. He has to love you, none
of this lust shit, but real love. Six months is your deadline any
earlier and it won't work and you still lose.'

I don't really understand
what he means, but I am sure it's all about this thesis. He wants
it to be authentic. A real case study and so it's got to be
right.

'I understand,' I
answer.

'And Leigh, when this is
over then it's over. Harry can't keep you.'

'OK,' I
whisper.

'Leigh!' he
warns.

'Yes, it's over. He can't
keep me.'

Later that day, I have no
choice but to contact Katherine and arrange another meeting. To my
dismay she asks me to meet her at her office that day. Shit, the
gods must have it in for me. Maybe that is my sign. The contract is
still fresh in my mind and I am nervous about seeing her. But I
must remember that I am doing her a favour, she doesn't know it
yet.