Her pink-varnished fingernails begin drumming on the table, and one of her long legs jitters beneath the table, the slight friction causing my cock to thicken in my jeans. It’s been doing that ever since the day of the audition. Since she overheard me compliment her. It’s like something’s shifted in the air between us. But I’m not willing to give in to it. Hence why I went back to my hotel and took a long ice-cold bath. When that didn’t work, I jerked off to a couple of random porn videos (flicking past any with women with red hair). I’ve had to do the same thing several times during the last week (the porn, not the bath) after I returned to Edinburgh to sort out my affairs before the season at Shakespeare’s Globe. It’s been a huge effort to get my vampiric libido under control, but I thought I’d managed it. Until now. Fuck. This train ride with her was a bad idea. I’m going to have to say something to make her stop fidgeting. The last thing I want is to sit here with a rock-hard dick for hours, and I don’t fancy jerking off in the grimy train toilet for relief.
‘Do you mind?’ I say pointedly.
Hester’s head whips up from her phone, and her slanted green eyes lock with mine. ‘What?’
She sounds agitated, and I soften my tone, nodding at her twitching fingers. ‘You seem to have ants in your pants. Are you worried about the play? A particular scene perhaps?’
Hester’s eyes drop to my mouth, linger there for a moment; then she looks away. ‘No, it’s all good. Completely under control.’
Her leg jigs again, but she stops it when she sees me looking at her.
‘Cool,’ I say, resting my head back on the seat and closing my eyes. ‘I’m sure you know the play inside out, but if you need any extra help, just say the word. We can practise in my apartment. I would actually like to go over our final scene. We want to end with a bang, not a whimper, after all.’
There’s a heavy silence, and I chuckle to myself because I know that Hester will be salivating. All alone with gorgeous Will Knight? Practising the kissing scene? Bwahaha, it’s like taking candy from a baby.
‘Uh, sure,’ she says hesitantly. ‘I could be up for that.’
‘Great,’ I say, opening my eyes to discover she’s gazing at me like a lovesick puppy. My stomach flips at the intensity of her stare, and my dick gives a series of little jolts.No.She doesn’t get to do that to me. To make me feel like there could be a future for us. There’s only one way our acquaintance is going to end—badly for her.
So ignoring my better judgement, I stick in the sword. ‘I mean, I’m only suggesting it because it’s better if wedoiron out any issues before opening night. If you fuck up, I’ll have to go off script and carry you, which will affect my performance. And I might get bad reviews.’
Hester’s expression remains neutral. But her shoulders slump slightly, and her emerald eyes flash with pain, so I know the blade went in.
She nods slowly. ‘Of course, I understand. Believe me, I want this to go smoothly just as much as you.’ She pauses, then adds, ‘To be honest, it’s an honour to be acting alongside someone of your calibre, Will. I think you’re amazing.’
OK, that’s going a bit far. But she sounds sincere, and God help me, she certainly knows how to stroke my ego. My cock likes it too since it’s now so hard it’s jutting against the underside of the table. I groan inwardly. Looks like I’m going to have to avail myself of the stinky toilet after all if I want to get through this journey.
Hester’s eyes flutter over me when I don’t say anything, no doubt noticing I’m sitting there frozen. I’m sure she thinks I’m frozen with embarrassment because of her compliment. But really, I’m battling with my male urges as well as bloodlust because she smells fucking delicious. I’m half tempted to drag her into the toilet too and finish thisoff here and now. Yeah, travelling down to London together was definitely a bad idea.
I grip the edge of the table tightly, relying on centuries of self-control to force my hunger back into its crypt.
Hester coughs to break the awkward silence. ‘Anyway, I’m going to get a sandwich and coffee from the cafe. Do you want anything?’
Good one!I think sarcastically, but Hester’s attempt to try to appear human grounds me. My hands release the table, and my shoulders relax as my sanity returns.Yes, we’re both normal people. Nothing undead to see here. No one is getting drained in the train toilet today.
‘I’m fine, thanks,’ I say in an even tone as my cock shrinks in my jeans, and I’m able to look at her dispassionately. ‘I had a big breakfast.’
Chapter 7
Hester | en route to London, present day
I slide out of my seat and take off down the corridor towards the cafe. I told Will I was going to get a sandwich and a coffee, but really, I’m going to meet my coven in the carriage in front of that. The group chat was making me stressed, and I need to shut them up. Nicely, of course. And establish some strong boundaries with my bed, for fuck’s sake! The thread went as follows:
Floss:Carriage B to D, hello? Are you there, Hester?
Floss:Fine, ignore us.
Sadie:She’s not replying and she’s blocked us mentally. Must be enjoying her ‘private time’ with Will.
Floss:Maybe they’re practising the kissing scene?
Sadie:More likely she’s got her mouth full in the loo(tongue hanging out emoji)
Damian:(rolling eyes emoji)
Elliott:Any chance we could…
Sadie:Ewww, no! I’m not kneeling on that floor and getting some random guy’s urine on my tights!
