Chapter 11
ELEVEN
The next morning, I walked into the room as Damen read lines with an actress.
I’d watched him the previous day, mesmerized by his ability to transform himself into the given role.
His stance was different, his facial features had changed, and he’d even changed the timbre of his voice, as well as his accent.
He was more than just a pretty face, as some critics had claimed. No. He had true talent, and I was completely drawn in. I was only vaguely aware of the actress playing against him, hardly heard her. All I wanted to see and hear was Damen.
As the brief scene came to an end, he turned to me.
“Holly,” he said with a pleased and surprised smile. “What a lovely sight this morning.”
“I was told to look in on a few scenes to inspire my music. I have to say, that was a wonderful scene. So emotional.”
The actress smiled at me but seemed slightly annoyed by the intrusion. She set her hand on Damen’s forearm and said, “I’ll go grab some breakfast and come back in an hour or so.”
“Perfect.”
As she walked away, I looked at Damen. “I hope I didn’t scare her away. She didn’t seem too happy to see me.”
“No. Don’t worry about her. We’ve been rehearsing for well over an hour and I think we both needed a break.
She’s unhappy with my delivery, but I’ve tried to assure her that Keely gave me directions on what she wanted for this particular scene.
” He shrugged. Some actresses just need to have control, I guess. ”
“I heard someone say you should be shooting a good number of scenes later this afternoon. Is Keely overworking you?”
“Not at all. I love to keep busy.” He raked his fingers through his hair, a motion that was at once innocent and yet so sexy. “Keely has already begun getting a few key outdoor shots, and this afternoon, it will be my turn to introduce everyone to Willoughby.”
“I can’t wait.”
He came closer, his eyes tender. “I must say I’m feeling rather inspired. I can’t help but think you’re responsible for that. Somehow, you bring out the best in me.” He reached for my hands and held them, his thumbs rubbing over my skin.
Thrilling shivers rippled over me as we stood there, so close to one another, so alone in the world as we looked into each other’s eyes. He had a cast full of lovely ladies no doubt eager to get close to him. But I was the one his eyes were drawn to. I had never felt so lucky in all my life.
He leaned in, his lips soft yet commanding as he laid them on mine.
I’d been kissed before; Charlie and Timothy and Brandon and many others... all their kisses so childish... so forgettable. None of those kisses had ever felt like this. This, this wondrous kiss, so warm, so wanted, so wanting. This kiss was perfection.
Except that it ended too soon.
“I really must go,” he said, breaking the spell so abruptly.
With my lips burning, I nodded and silently watched him leave the room.
“Oh, my,” I finally muttered into the empty room as I fingered my swollen lips. “Oh, my, my, my.”
*****
EVERYONE WAS READY. The cast to appear in the scene, all in period attire, stood waiting for Keely’s call.
They were in the drawing room that had previously been blue with striped wallpaper and ornate molding.
Two of the windows had been blocked out, the room painted a dull taupe color with no ornamentation at all save for a large painting between the two remaining windows.
“What scene are they going to do?” I asked Abbie.
“This is the introduction of Willoughby to the Dashwoods.”
“The Dashwoods?”
She smiled. “Are you not familiar with Sense and Sensibility? I thought you were a Jane Austen fan. You were at the book club, weren’t you?”
I shrugged. “I am a fan, but... well, it’s been a while.”
“The widow Mrs. Dashwood with her daughters Eleanor and Marianne. The younger daughter, Margaret, doesn’t appear in this scene.”
“Oh, right. Yes. I remember now.” It was a bit of a fib. I was still a little fuzzy on the storyline.
“All right, everyone,” Keely called out with her strong, authoritative voice. “Everyone on set and ready.”
With a final pat of powder on their shiny forehead, or cheeks or chin the actresses moved into place. The older woman sat in an armchair, the older daughter stood by the window while the younger one sat near her mother, clearly bored.
“Action!”
The women chatted, their conversation inconsequential. A young servant came in to announce a visitor.
And Damen walked in, looking like a dream. The Dashwood actresses all seemed to appreciate his appeal as they ran through the scene. And Damen... Willoughby... he overflowed with charm and warmth.
The scene ran through with only a few cuts and before long they were done.
“Great job, everyone,” Keely said. “Ladies... wonderful chemistry, the three of you. Okay. Let’s go get ready for the next scene.”
As if reading her mind, the crew gathered their equipment – cameras, lighting, wiring – and moved to the next location. It was all such a well-oiled machine; dozens of men and women working as one.
They worked on three more scenes – two indoor scenes and one outdoors in the garden – all with effortless efficiency.
“Keely is really on fire,” Abbie said as she applauded the end of that final scene.
“How does she get them to know what she wants so easily? She barely speaks to them, but they know. They just seem to know.”
“Keely has used the same crew for most of her movies. Most of these guys have worked on all of them. They know her and they know what she needs with minimal instruction.”
As Damen left the set, I rushed to him. “Excuse me,” I called back to Abbie. “I’ll see you later.”
I reached Damen, breathless. “That was wonderful. Magical. Every scene you’re in is so beautiful. You really embody this character so well.”
“Thank you.” He took my hand in his and brought it to his lips. “As I’ve already told you; you inspire me. Just having you there watching is enough to bring the best out of me.”
“Ah, then let me inspire you more and more.”
He smiled. “What do you have in mind?”
“After such a hard day of work, I thought you might enjoy a quiet and peaceful walk through the forest.”
“That sounds lovely, but I have to admit, I was looking forward to a bite to eat.”
“I’ve thought of that. I brought a few things from the kitchen. I was thinking of a picnic by the creek.”
“Sounds like you’ve thought of everything. He released my hand. “I’ll go change into my street clothes and meet you out at the garden.”
“Good,” I said with a little too much excitement. “I’ll be waiting.”
Thrilled, I turned to the gardens enjoying the festive colors of the gorgeous blooms. Everything looked prettier. Every scent and fragrance smelled like heaven. The world was a happier place. Oh, yes. My crush on Damen was truly blossoming into something serious and it made everything better.
The sun was low on the horizon, and the golden glow of a sunset would soon be on us. We still had a few hours before darkness fell. Perfect.
By the fountain, Susan pushed Mother in her wheelchair, bringing her closer to the water that streamed down from the tall cement flowers from which water spouted. They didn’t see me, and I hoped to simply slip away. But Mother turned my way as she followed the flight of a bird.
“Holly,” she called out as she waved me over. “Holly, honey.”
No, I thought just as a petulant child would. I didn’t want to face her. Not now. Not when I was in a romantic mood. I wasn’t in a charitable, chatty mood. I didn’t want to have to discuss the doldrums of the day... of her day.
“Hello, Mother,” I dutifully said as I came to them. “Susan.”
My sister nodded but said nothing.
“I’ve hardly seen you these past days,” Mother said. “Where have you been?”
“I’ve been working, Mother. Remember, I’m not just here on holiday. I have work to do. I’ve been in Ayra’s music room virtually every morning. She suggested I walk the grounds to find inspiration and that’s precisely what I did.”
“Oh, right. I do tend to forget, dear. You’re singing in this movie. I’m so happy for you.”
Susan eyed me, a hint of disapproval in her gaze, and a touch of sadness on her lips.
I had no time for her questions or criticism and no inclination to have my mood brought down by her cynical brooding. Whatever had passed between her, and Brad was done. It was time she moved on.
“Well,” I said after a tense moment. “I’m going for a walk. Perhaps I’ll see you for dinner.”
“That would be nice, dear,” Mother said.
I left them and found Damen waiting by the edge of the forest.
“For a moment I thought you’d forgotten about me,” he said.
“Never,” I said with a laugh. “How could I ever forget you?”
He grabbed my hand and led me into the forest. His grip was forceful and determined, as was the glint in his eyes.
“I greatly enjoy my time with you, Holly,” he said as he stopped on the edge of the creek.
“Since that day, at the pond, I...” He looked down into the top of my shirt.
“I hadn’t wanted to mention it then – you were in such a sorrowful state – but, seeing you, your clothes all damp and clinging to your every curve. Every gorgeous, sensual curve.”
I smiled, happy to see that I pleased him.
“I have to tell you, I’ve never worked so hard to remain a gentleman.” He chuckled. “Indeed. The last thing I wanted to do at that moment was to remain a gentleman. But now...”
He turned to face me and inspected my face. His gaze travelled from my eyes to my nose to my chin and up to my forehead where he brought his fingers to gently push aside a few stray strands of my hair.
“Such a lovely face,” he whispered. His thumb trailed down the side of my face, over my cheek and came to pass over my lips.
I couldn’t hide my adoration for him. I longed for him and wanted him closer. These past days, talking with him, walking with him and getting to know him... none of my relationships with the boys in Bath came close to what had blossomed with Damen.
He leaned in to kiss me. Contrary to the few kisses of the past, this one was hard and demanding. His hands moved over my body as his breathing took on a sense of urgency.
“I want you, Holly,” he whispered into my ear. “These past days with you... I can’t help but want to get closer, to make you mine.”
“I am yours, Damen.” I leaned back to look at him. More than anything, I wanted him to know that I was all his, forever.
He pushed me up against a tree and I gasped as he pressed his body into mine. I could tell he wanted me. My body heated up, prepared for whatever he had to offer.
“Do you mind if I don’t exactly act the gentleman at this very moment.”
“Oh, Damen.” I ran my fingers through his hair, reveling in the softness of his curls. “Damen. Be whatever you need to be.”
He leaned in to kiss my neck as he pulled my skirt up. My eyes suddenly popped wide open.
Oh! Wait a minute. Here? Now? Like this?
“I want you,” he whispered.
I wanted him too, but the logistics of it left me uncertain.
“I want to make love to you.”
He pulled my skirt up higher, and I could feel the roughness of the tree bark against my backside.
“I want you, too, Damen.” But this wasn’t the romantic situation I had imagined.
“You’re so sexy.” His husky whisper heated me up, almost enough to make me forget about the tree bark poking into my thigh.
I wanted him, too. I wanted all of him. But...
“How about we go back to your room?” I finally said.