by Sk Quinn
‘Rapunzel wears rags in this scene. I’m sure we can construct something.’
‘Is that really necessary?’
‘Yes. It’s really necessary. You need to practise having your clothes torn off.’
I laugh. ‘Don’t you think we’ve practised that enough already?’
‘Go choose one of my shirts. I’ll get some scissors.’
‘We don’t have a hay bale,’ says Marc, leading me down into the basement car park. ‘But we do have a dungeon.’
‘We’re going to practise here?’ I say, following him down the steps.
‘Can you think of a better place? It’s dark. Gloomy. The perfect atmosphere don’t you think.’
‘I suppose.’
Marc’s carrying a handful of leather sofa cushions, and he drops them on the concrete floor, right by an oil stain.
‘They’re going to get filthy,’ I say.
‘So I’ll buy some more.’
‘It must be nice being a millionaire.’
‘I’m not a millionaire, Sophia. I’m a billionaire.’
I laugh. ‘Either way, it’s not good to waste things.’
‘These are leather cushions. Wipe clean. They may get a few scuff marks, but that just adds to their character.’
‘If you’re sure.’
‘I’m sure. I love seeing you in my clothes.’
I’m wearing one of Marc’s black shirts, which swamps me and comes to the middle of my thighs. On Marc’s insistence I’m wearing nothing underneath, because in the scene I’ll look naked.
Marc wears cargo trousers and an unbuttoned black shirt.
As I stand, bare feet on concrete, Marc turns me around and slashes the back of the shirt with sharp scissors.
‘Whoa!’ I say, as I hear cotton ripping.
‘Turn around.’
I do, and Marc artfully slashes the front of the shirt – just enough to reveal bare flesh but no x-rated parts.
‘You’re good at that,’ I remark. ‘Maybe you should have a career in sexy rag making.’
Marc stands back and looks me up and down. ‘Okay. We’ll go from the part where the prince is in manacles and you release him.’
‘It’ll be funny doing it that way around,’ I grin.
‘Won’t it just?’ Marc gives me that stomach melting smile of his.
‘Marc—’
‘We’re working. Time to be serious.’
He goes to stand by the rough brick wall and raises his hands over his head. ‘Shame there aren’t any real manacles down here,’ he says. ‘Maybe I should get some fitted.’
‘Maybe you should.’ I take a sharp intake of breath as I watch my handsome husband with his shirt undone, arms raised over his head, bare chest rising and falling.
‘Well. What are you waiting for Rapunzel?’ says Marc. ‘Come and rescue me.’
I move my body to stand more like the Rapunzel character – she’s sort of a tomboy; feisty and full of energy. Then I pretend to run through a doorway, out of breath, and desperately searching for the love of my life.
‘Prince Frederick!’ I gasp, throwing a hand to my chest. ‘Oh my god. What did they do to you?’
Marc’s stern, measured temperament vanishes, and he suddenly becomes the cocky, relaxed Prince Frederick, all flirty smiles and smouldering eyes. ‘Tortured me. It wasn’t my best day.’
‘Let me get you down.’ I run to Marc, moving my hands over his wrists, pretending to undo manacles.
Marc rubs his wrists and fixes me with playful eyes.
He is such an incredible actor. I’m just blown away by how he can transform like this.
‘Thank you, Princess.’
I take a step back. ‘You’re welcome.’
‘So tell me. Why did you rescue me?’
‘Because you’re the only one who can free this city.’
‘That’s the only reason?’ Marc takes a step forward.
‘We should go. We need to …’
Marc grabs my wrist. ‘Nothing to do with love then?’
I struggle against him. ‘I don’t love you.’
‘You know, your lips tremble when you’re lying.’ Marc presses his lips to mine, but I struggle away.
‘We need to go,’ I stammer. ‘We need to—’
But then Marc kisses me again and I fall silent.
We tear at each other’s clothes, gasping for breath as we rip away fabric.
Marc carries me to the cushions and lays me down, tearing my shirt clean off.
He simulates movement between my legs, kissing me passionately at the same time.
Oh my god. He is so incredible.
‘How are you staying in control?’ I say, my voice husky.
‘It’s difficult.’
‘You don’t have to. We don’t have to act any more.’
‘Thank god for that.’
Marc’s thumb moves in circles between my legs and I arch my back and throw my head back.
‘If Leo tries anything like this I will knock him out,’ Marc murmurs in my ear.
‘You’ll have to get in line. Jen will knock him out first. Then me – ee … oooh.’
Marc circles and circles and I move my hips to meet his hand, moaning and gasping.
‘And if he tries anything like this,’ says Marc, freeing himself from his cargo trousers. ‘I will kill him.’
He plunges inside me and I gasp.
‘Marc. Marc. Oh god, Marc.’
As he begins to move, all the warm good feelings build up and I grab his backside and pull him into me over and over again.
I see Marc’s eyes begin to close.
‘Sophia. Sophia,’ he groans as he moves with me. ‘I could watch you come all day. All day.’
When he says that I can’t hold back any more. I let my head fall back and moan as an orgasm flows through my body, pleasantly burning between my legs.
Marc keeps moving and moving, grabbing my backside and pulling me nearer.
‘God I want you. God!’ He squeezes his eyes shut and his jaw hardens as he pounds into me over and over again. ‘Sophia!’ He collapses on top of me and grabs my backside tight as he comes. Then he buries his head in my hair.
‘Just to make it absolutely clear,’ he whispers, ‘our rehearsal ended when I put my hand between your legs.’
‘I’m glad you cleared that up. I don’t want to get confused when I do it for real.’
‘Sophia!’ Marc jerks up and gives me a warning look.
I laugh. ‘Joking! Joking!’ I put my hand to his rough cheek. ‘You know I am.’
‘I know.’ Marc smiles. ‘But sometimes I like to be reminded.’
62
For the next few weeks, we shoot the movie in the studio. Mainly woodland scenes.
It’s amazing how real a fake forest can look. I’m always touching the leaves, not quite believing they’re made of plastic-coated cloth.
We do a few castle scenes too.
Baz and Leo have a sword-fight on a spiral staircase, which looks a little too real for my liking. Baz really batters Leo, and I think a part of him is still hurting over Sigourney.
It actually makes the scene turn out pretty well, because calm, easygoing Leo suddenly develops a temper and fights back.
The weeks pass, and then it’s time for me and Leo to do our bedroom scene.
I’m a little nervous, but I feel like Marc has helped me a lot.
Marc still isn’t happy about the scene of course. But as I’ve told him over and over again, it really is essential to the movie. Nadia wants to create a dark adult fantasy, and a little bare skin makes it feel much more grown-up. I won’t be naked as such. But I’ll look naked, and the camera will film my bare back.
I actually find it pretty funny that Marc, who has spent so much time teaching me to let go and act grown-up parts, is now jealous I’m doing it for real.
On the morning of the bedroom scene, Marc drives me to the studio.
‘I really think I should be there wit
h you today,’ he says, for the hundredth time.
‘It doesn’t matter how many times you say that, Marc. You can’t.’
‘Look, I can talk to Nadia—’
‘It’s not just Nadia saying no. I’m saying no because, whether you want to admit it or not, there’s a little bit of jealousy going on. And that is just not healthy. Think of it this way. I’m helping you grow.’
‘Perhaps. But surely there are easier ways. Sophia, you’ve never done a scene like this. You don’t know what men are like. Not just Leo. The crew. What they think when they see a woman lying semi-naked. And how they talk about her in the bar afterwards.’
‘So you keep saying. But if I do this scene, millions of people are going to see me lying semi-naked. What are you going to do? Stop all of them talking in the bar?’
Marc turns the steering wheel. ‘You’re lucky Nadia’s directing. There’s no way I’d let you do this otherwise.’
‘And how would you stop me?’
‘I’d tie you up.’
‘You know, you can only just about get away with that sort of joke.’
‘Who says it’s a joke?’
‘Come on Marc. You’ve always been the one pushing me to express myself. To release my inhibitions.’
‘I know. Ironic, isn’t it?’
‘Very.’
‘I didn’t factor on pregnancy.’
‘At least I’m not feeling so sick any more. Or maybe I’m just getting used to it. But either way, I don’t feel half as bad as I did.’
‘For that much, I’m thankful.’ Marc pulls the car to a stop in the car park and stares out the driver’s window. ‘Fine. I won’t be there. But only because I know Nadia. She’s very protective of her actresses and she’ll look after you. But if there are any problems at all … if you ever feel uncomfortable—’
‘Marc.’ I take his hand. ‘Don’t be like this. I know this is hard. Hey.’
I pull his arm, and he turns to face me, his eyes clear, blue and hurt.
‘I love you,’ I say. ‘Okay? It’s just one day. Try not to think about anything. Go to the college. See the students.’
Marc drums his fingers on the steering wheel. ‘You’d better go. Or I really will kidnap you.’
I laugh. ‘I love you too.’
63
For the bedroom scene, Nadia takes Leo and me to a purpose-built set.
It’s a round, stone-walled room – supposedly the Tower of London dungeon – with rusty manacles on the walls and hay bales in the corner.
What the audience can’t see, is a thick layer of upholstery over the hay bales designed to make Leo and me more comfortable when we pretend to make love.
I can’t help noticing that a lot of the crew have turned up. In fact, the set is pretty crowded.
I pull my dressing gown tighter around myself, feeling self-conscious. Underneath the gown, I’m wearing the tiniest of g-strings and some stick-on things that cover my nipples and half my breasts. But nothing else.
Leo didn’t bother with a dressing gown. He’s strutting around in g-string underpants, as comfortable as if he were fully dressed.
I have to admit the bulge between his legs is pretty impressive. I’m tempted to take a picture for Jen and send it with a message saying ‘lucky girl’. But Leo has a big enough head as it is.
‘Why are so many of the crew here?’ I ask Nadia, noticing the special effects men at the edge of the set. ‘This just a straightforward scene isn’t it? No CGI or anything?’
Nadia puts an arm around my towelling-covered shoulder. ‘They’re here to see you naked, honey. Men, huh? They want a story to tell their friends. About the day they saw Sophia Blackwell with no clothes on.’
I pull the robe even tighter. ‘I haven’t got anything anyone else hasn’t got.’
‘You have sweetheart. Because you’re famous.’
‘Hardly.’
‘Famous and modest. That doesn’t happen so often.’ Nadia claps her hands at the crew. ‘Hey guys. If you’re not needed for this scene, clear out okay? This isn’t a peep show.’
There are mutters as half the room empties out.
‘Daryl!’ Nadia shouts. ‘You too.’
‘I thought you might need an extra—’
‘No. We don’t. Out you go.’
The only crew left now are women. Nadia chose female camera, sound and lighting people for this scene, which I’m thankful for.
‘Ready for the magic to happen?’ Leo asks me, grinning and standing with his legs astride, hands on hips.
Nadia laughs. ‘If you open your legs any wider Leo, everything is going to fall out.’
‘And then you fine ladies would see something you’d never forget.’
‘Okay honey.’ Nadia pats my arm. ‘Disrobe please and onto the hay bale. We’re gonna shoot the lovemaking first, and then you can do the dialogue.’
I take off my robe quickly, so I don’t have to think too much about it, and hand it to Nadia. Then I climb onto the bed and lie down, trying to arrange myself so the camera gets the right shot.
‘Perfect. Now Leo. Let’s have you on top.’
My breathing gets quicker as Leo climbs onto me, leaning on his elbows.
He gives me a grin and a wink. ‘Well Mrs Blackwell. Lovely weather we’re having.’
‘Leo – move back just a little honey,’ says Nadia. ‘That’s it. You got it. Okay. Action!’
Leo’s eyes go from crinkly and amused to intense and seductive. They fix on mine and he puts his palms flat either side of my head as he simulates moving between my legs.
I look up at him, my hands going to his face, trying to feel crazy in love. And also like I’m totally turned on and lost in what he’s doing. Basically, I just think of Marc.
My hands go to Leo’s strong arms and I feel his muscles under my fingers.
Leo’s lips come to meet mine and his kisses me. Hungrily. Passionately. Still moving back and forth between my legs.
I let my hands wander into Leo’s hair and make my body writhe beneath him. I wrap my legs around his back and make all the right noises, moaning and sighing and closing my eyes in ecstasy.
My body acts well. But my heart knows the truth.
After a few takes, Nadia shouts, ‘Okay. We got it. You two can untangle yourselves from each other now. That’s if you want to.’
I turn and see she’s grinning wickedly.
And then I blink, because I don’t believe what I’m seeing behind the camera woman.
Marc.
64
I sit up to get a better look, pushing Leo back from me.
‘Is this how you usually act after sex?’ says Leo, rolling onto his elbow. ‘Boy – I’m starting to feel sorry for Marc. And I never thought that would happen.’
‘Marc was right there,’ I say. ‘I told him not to come today. But he was there. On set.’
Nadia turns to where I’m looking. ‘Marc?’
‘Yes.’ I scramble to my feet. ‘Where did he go?’
‘I bet he left,’ says Leo. ‘Men hate getting told off by their women. Trust me. I should know.’
‘Marc’s not like that,’ I say.
‘All men are like that,’ says Leo. ‘No matter how brave they think they are. They’re all scared of an angry woman.’
I grab my robe from the costume rail and throw it on. ‘I can’t believe it. I told him not to come. What does he think he’s doing? Where did he go, anyway?’
Nadia shrugs. ‘I was too busy watching you guys. If he saw that scene with you and Leo, I’d guess he’s feeling pretty jealous right now. Any husband would. That scene was red hot. Are you sure there’s nothing between you two?’ She winks. ‘You don’t usually see chemistry like that unless there are real feelings.’
‘How dare you Nadia!’ says Leo. ‘I’m engaged to be married.’ He puts a friendly arm around my shoulder. ‘Seriously though. Sophia and I are just good friends. We tried the other route and nothing happening.’
‘We didn’t try the other route,’ I say. ‘You tried to kiss me. That was all.’
‘And you kissed me back if I remember,’ says Leo.
‘Oh, for like half a second.’
‘Okay, okay. Listen. I’m just kidding. You’re a great actress, that’s all I’m saying.’
‘You’re not so bad yourself,’ I say, remembering the intensity of Leo’s stare and the feeling of his hard body.
I think about Marc, watching the two of us. And I feel angry. I told him not to come on set. If he feels hurt, it’s really his fault. I wouldn’t watch him doing a sex scene with another woman. Not in a million years.
‘I need to find Marc,’ I say, pulling on a pair of towelling slippers. ‘He has some explaining to do.’
I head down the studio corridor, but I don’t see Marc.
When I get to the dressing rooms, I grab my phone and call his number.
It goes straight through to answer machine.
As I’m slipping on my summer dress and flip flops, I hear noises. Kind of wailing, clanking noises. Coming from the far-away dressing room.
What is that?
I tiptoe closer and see a dressing room door is a little open.
65
Through the crack in the door, I see Baz and Sigourney.
Sigourney is completely naked, but Baz is dressed in full battle medieval battle gear and holding a broadsword to her throat.
At first, I wonder what the hell is going on and think I might have to call for help.
But then Sigourney screams, ‘Harder. HARDER! Oh yes. YES! Fuck me. Harder. HARDER!’
Her knuckles are white on Baz’s metal shoulder plates as he moves between her legs.
‘DO ME. FUCKING DO ME!’ Sigourney screams.
Whoa.
I tiptoe back, then turn and creep out of the dressing room stifling a laugh.
It looks like those two have made up. I just hope it lasts.
‘Hey,’ I ask the receptionist. ‘Has Marc been past here? Marc Blackwell?’
‘Marc? Um … someone left a moment ago. A man I think.’
‘Where did he go?’
‘Towards the car park. I heard a car leave.’
I call Marc again.
This time he answers. ‘Sophia?’
