Chapter 18
Hester | London, present day
I can’t believe this. Will is a vampire. A fucking vampire!
The shock must be all-encompassing, or Will is manipulating me, because I find myself back in front of the audience and saying my lines and moving around and gesturing like I’m watching myself from a distance. I’m acting!
A calming energy is flowing through me, so it must be Will. But for once, I don’t care about making a fool of myself. Everything flows naturally, like when I’m practising with Floss or Sadie.
It’s exhilarating to act without fear of forgetting my lines, and of course, I can admire Will’s superior acting skills. Then it’s over. There’s a smattering of applause from the audience; and I shuffle my feet, hanging my head, relieved that it’s over.
‘Thanks, you two,’ says Jordy from the back. ‘Anyone got feedback?’
The woman who’s playing Olivia tentatively raises her hand.
‘Um, like, Viola is meant to be lusting over Orsino here. I’d like to see her give more obvious asides to the audience demonstrating that.
And, like, maybe some attempt to touch him while he remains oblivious.
That would really amp up the sexual tension and comedy. ’
I grit my teeth. What the hell does she want me to do? Pretend to hump him? This isn’t vaudeville.
‘Good feedback. Thanks, Abigail. Anyone else?’
A guy’s hand shoots up from the middle.
‘Yes, Ben?’
‘Yeah, I agree. There needs to be more fawning from Viola behind his back.’
The rest of the audience murmurs their agreement.
‘Great. Thanks, Ben,’ says Jordy. ‘Yes, and don’t forget the alternative title for the play is What You Will, which means it’s an opportunity to do anything you please.
A night where passion is paramount. What about it, Hester?
Can you make us believe you want to get Will into bed and give him a good ravishing? ’ Jordy gives a smirk.
‘Uh, I can t-try,’ I stutter, unable to look at Will right now. I bet he’s loving this. The women in the front row titter, so he must have a silly expression on his face.
Jesus, it’s bad enough finding out he’s a vampire, but now I’m his dancing sex puppet. This is so humiliating.
Will: Think of it more as an opportunity. At least you won’t be fired.
Me: Stop reading my thoughts!
Will chuckles, and I turn and look at him. Really look at him. I knew there was something familiar about his face.
Me: Have we met before?
Will (smirking): Our paths have definitely crossed.
Me: How old are you?
Will: That’s a discussion for another time and place.
‘Right. Let’s try it one more time, guys. And, Hester, please keep the audience feedback in mind,’ Jordy instructs.
I nod and take my place.
Will: I’ll try not to look too sexy or bare my neck. They want fawning, not bloodlust—
Me: Shut up. I’m concentrating.
Will: If you’re rude to me, I might not help you ...
I gnaw at my lip. I’m not sure I’m brave enough to do this without his vampiric energy. Especially with the increased sexual tension they all seem to want.
Me (meekly): Sorry.
Will (amused): Apology accepted. Prepare to be amazed by your own acting ability.
Me: So how are we going to—
Will: Just go with the flow. Do what you will ... to Will.
Me (rolling my eyes): Very cute.
Will (waggling his eyebrows): I aim to please.
This wouldn’t be so bad if I wasn’t attracted to him.
But he’s so damn good-looking, intelligent, and sexy that it’s difficult not to be.
By the way the women in the front row are giving Will moony eyes, they’re infatuated with him already.
How bad is it going to be when we’re doing this in front of a live audience? Bras might be thrown onstage!
Will gives me a smouldering look as he heads stage right, preparing to say his first line.
Will: Throw your bra at me if you like. I’ll catch it one-handed.
I jerk in horror.
Me: Oh god, did you hear that?
Will: Yup. Now I’m imagining your naked breasts.
Unadulterated arousal floods my system, and I stagger back from the force of it. I swallow hard, my body suddenly aching with need. Fuck a duck—is this how he feels about me?
Before I can analyse it further, Will strides onto the stage and delivers his first line.
I can’t take my eyes off him.
I’m not sure if it’s Viola or me that’s acting now, but slowly and blatantly, I track my eyes down his body and linger on his crotch.
He’s definitely got a defined bulge in his jeans, so I know he’s not faking his arousal.
His desire swirls around me like a sensual mist. I turn away so only the audience sees and loll my tongue, like I’m gagging for him.
‘Too right,’ Abigail whispers softly to the woman next to her. ‘He’s fucking hot.’
I say my line and saunter across the stage towards Will and stand closer than necessary to him. When he looks away, I pretend to stroke his bicep and lick my lips at the audience. I sashay even closer, sniffing his neck. God, I wish biting was allowed onstage. He smells delicious!
Will feigns surprise to find me so close to him.
He takes a step back. We say our lines. I step forward again, holding his gaze with mine a fraction too long.
Then he looks away, but my eyes follow him.
Now I’m behind him as he speaks, and I let the audience see the utter longing on my face (which, at this point, I’m not even faking).
‘That’s right, Hester. Work it, girl,’ murmurs a woman in the front row, leaning forward excitedly.
Will turns to me, and I quickly mask my emotions, playing the dutiful servant once more. It’s like a mating dance.
When he pretends to hand me a letter for Olivia, the woman he’s wooing, our fingers brush briefly; and electricity shoots up my arm (for real!), making me gasp.
Will gives me an odd look but continues speaking of love, and I can’t help it.
I go all melty, and the audience titters at the gooey look on my face.
Finally, it’s my last line; and I step downstage towards the audience and deliver the aside, my voice soft but full of angsty longing:
Yet, a barful strife! Whoe’er I woo, myself would be his wife.
Then I do a crotch grab à la Michael Jackson, like I’m burning with hidden desire. It’s not even acting. With Will’s intense arousal making me feel like a bitch in heat, I’m barely able to restrain myself from moaning out loud.
The entire front row of women erupts into a standing ovation. Clapping and whooping.
‘Fuck yeah!’
‘OMG soooo hot, Hester!’
‘So raw!’
‘Wow, I totally believed you wanted to bang him!’
The guys in the audience are less expressive with their enthusiasm, but they’re wiping their brows and pulling at their shirt collars, like I got them all hot and bothered.
I glance at Jordy, who’s clapping slowly with a smile. I look over at Will to find him grinning. Oh my god, what just happened?
He slides his hand into mine. You fucking nailed it, that’s what happened. And this is your reward. Soak it up!
Mind whirring from his praise and my body still twanging with desire, I give Will’s cold hand a squeeze and curtsy to my fans.