Dark Secret (23 page)

Now Lewis too could come and he thrust forcefully upwards, knowing that he was filling every inch of her and as her orgasm began to wane he moved her roughly up and down on him. Her sensitive nerve endings were reactivated and as his hot seed exploded into her she climaxed again, shuddering and moaning until at last they were both still.

Lewis helped her off him and drew her down to lie on top of him. ‘Does that mean you won’t leave me?’ he asked at last.

‘Not yet,’ she said with a smile.

‘We’ll go back to the States. Rowena and I will get divorced, the marriage was really over long ago. There’s so much I want to show you.’

‘I’ve enjoyed your film,’ she said softly. ‘If it’s a success, will you repeat the experiment?’

‘Using other characters, you mean?

‘Some of them could be new, but sequels are popular. Maybe the fictional Harriet and her lover could figure in the next one too.’

Lewis nodded in appreciation. ‘I think that sounds a very good idea. You’ll have to give me time to think about it though. Besides, the first film might not be a success.’

Harriet ran her hands over his chest, tweaking his sensitive nipples. ‘I’m sure it will be. How could it fail with so many twists in the plot?’

‘A good question,’ agreed Lewis, wrapping his arms around her. He loved her, yes, but already his thoughts were on the film, the script and now the incredibly exciting possibility of using Harriet in another piece of
cinéma verité.

‘What will happen to Rowena and Chris?’ asked Harriet as she drifted off to sleep.

‘I don’t think we have to worry about them,’ replied Lewis. ‘When I passed Chris’s door it sounded as though they were both very active. I imagine they’ll stay here in England and live their life behind closed doors, the way they’ve always wanted to.’

The one thing Harriet knew for sure was that she must never let Lewis become complacent about her. He was a man who liked a challenge, and although she sensed that her need for him was just as great as his was for her she didn’t intend to let him know that.

‘I hope I like America,’ she said, trying to suppress a yawn. ‘I should do. As long as I don’t get bored.’

‘I won’t let you get bored,’ promised Lewis, snuggling up behind her so that they fitted together like two spoons. ‘I have some very exciting things in mind for us both.’

Harriet smiled to herself. She hoped he had because she knew that in some ways Chris had been right. There was still a lot that her body wanted to learn, and if Lewis wouldn’t teach her then hopefully he’d make sure they got involved with people who would.

Epilogue

‘I CAN’T BELIEVE
it!’ exclaimed Mark, watching Lewis adjust his bow tie in front of the mirror.

Lewis frowned. ‘What can’t you believe? The fact that I’m getting married again?’

Mark laughed. ‘That’s the one thing that does make sense. If Harriet had ever given me so much as a second glance I’d have snapped her up, I can tell you.’

‘Lucky for me she didn’t then!’ exclaimed Lewis wryly.

‘I meant the film’s success,’ Mark continued. ‘You’re the first director ever to make an art film and turn it into a massive mainstream box office hit.’

‘If you’d known what was going to happen perhaps you wouldn’t have made such a fuss about the ending when you were writing it,’ said Lewis. ‘I nearly had to type the last scene myself if I remember correctly.’

‘It just wasn’t what I’d expected,’ protested Mark. ‘But you were right, as usual.’

‘We’d better go down,’ said Lewis. ‘I can hardly
be late for Harriet because I’m talking business on our wedding day!’

They went down the massive staircase of his Beverly Hills mansion and out on to the lawn where over two hundred guests were assembled.

‘Have you thought any more about a sequel?’ asked Mark.

‘Today you’re meant to be my best man, not my scriptwriter.’

‘But have you?’

Lewis glanced at his watch. ‘Harriet’s late. How many hours does it take to put on a wedding dress?’

‘A bride’s always late. Have you?’ persisted Mark.

‘Of course I have.’

‘And?’

Lewis glanced anxiously towards the house. ‘Where is she?’

Mark put a hand on his arm. ‘She isn’t going to run away, you know! Relax. Tell me about the sequel.’

Running his hands through his dark hair Lewis gave in. It was better than fretting in case Harriet had changed her mind. It had been difficult enough to persuade her to marry him. Now that the wheels were all in motion it would be disastrous if she changed her mind.

‘At the start of the film, Helena – our heroine from
Dark Secret –
is getting married,’ he said slowly. Mark stared at him, his eyes suddenly alert. ‘Her husband’s still a workaholic, and they go away on their honeymoon with a business colleague and his wife of ten years. The colleague, who’s also a friend, lusts after Helena and has
done ever since he first set eyes on her.’

‘Does the husband know this?’ asked Mark.

Lewis smiled. ‘Of course. But he knows, you see, that his new wife needs excitement and new experiences if she’s to be really happy so he encourages her to get to know his friend very well indeed.’

‘What’s the friend like?’ asked Mark.

‘On the surface an extremely courteous and charming Englishman. Underneath it’s a rather different story.’

‘And what happens?’ asked Mark.

Lewis shrugged. ‘Who knows? I’ll probably mail you the first few scenes while we’re away.’

‘You’re not working on your honeymoon!’

‘Here she is!’ exclaimed Lewis. ‘Doesn’t she look incredible?’

Mark looked towards the house and saw Harriet gliding across the lawn towards them. She was wearing an elegant straight white dress in taffeta with a lace bodice and peplum, enhanced by a taffeta sash. In her hands she held a spray of salmon and white rosebuds and matching flowers were entwined in her gossamer-fine headdress.

‘She looks fantastic!’ agreed Mark.

Throughout the ceremony Lewis never took his eyes off her. Later as they mingled with the guests, most of whom were strangers to Harriet, he kept her hand imprisoned tightly in his as though he was terrified she’d disappear if he released her.

Harriet was relieved when they finally found themselves alone for a brief moment. Lewis had drawn her into his study, ostensibly so that she could freshen up her makeup, but the moment
they were alone he began kissing her passionately, pressing his body urgently against hers and murmuring incoherently in her ear.

She was overwhelmed by love for him and let her head fall back so that he could kiss and nibble at the soft white skin of her throat.

‘Say you love me!’ he said fiercely.

‘You know I do,’ responded Harriet, her knees trembling at the thought of the passion they’d be sharing on their honeymoon.

‘Say it!’ he repeated. ‘You never actually say the words.’

‘I love you, Lewis,’ she whispered.

He gave a sigh of satisfaction. ‘I know I’ve neglected you over the past few weeks, but I’ve been so busy. Once we get away it will be different.’

‘I understand,’ she assured him.

Lewis straightened her headdress and teased a strand of hair down over her forehead. ‘There, that looks better, much sexier!’ Laughing she took his hand again and they went out into the hallway.

A man was standing there, examining one of Lewis’s paintings. When he heard the study door open he turned and smiled at the couple.

‘Edmund!’ exclaimed Lewis, holding out a hand. ‘Now nice to see you. Harriet, I don’t believe you’ve met Edmund, have you? He’s one of my closest friends, and more importantly a fervent supporter of my work. He’s putting the money up for the next film.’

‘The sequel to
Dark Secret?’
she asked.

‘Yes.’

‘Hardly a high-risk project then,’ laughed Harriet.

The man smiled at her. ‘No, but I did back
Dark Secret as
well, and that certainly was a risk so I think I’m entitled to a less worrying investment this time round!’

His voice surprised Harriet. She’d grown used to Americans now, but he was clearly an Englishman with the beautifully modulated tones of an expensively educated one.

‘You’re English too!’ she laughed.

He nodded. ‘We’ll have to form an alliance, Harriet.’

Something in the way he spoke caught her attention, and Harriet looked at him more carefully. He was tall, although not as tall as Lewis, and very slim with brown curly hair, dark eyes and an extremely sensuous mouth.

‘I’d like that,’ she said slowly.

At that moment a very tall blonde woman came in from the garden and slipped her arm through Edmund’s. ‘There you are, sweetie! I’ve been looking all over for you.’

‘Harriet, this is my wife Noella. Noella, I’m sure you recognise Lewis’s lovely bride.’

‘Sure I do. Welcome to Beverly Hills, honey.’

‘Do you miss England?’ asked Edmund, his eyes warm.

‘Yes, desperately,’ confessed Harriet. ‘That’s why Lewis is taking me back there for our honeymoon.’

‘Is that right? Whereabouts are you staying?’ asked Noella.

‘Cornwall,’ said Lewis. ‘I’ve always wanted to see it, and Harriet spent a lot of time there as a child.’

‘What a coincidence,’ cried Noella, glancing at
her husband. ‘We’re off to Cornwall next week too.’

‘It’s hardly a coincidence,’ said her husband quietly. ‘Lewis and I have a lot to discuss over the next few weeks. It seemed sensible for us to be close so I decided to combine our long-awaited trip with his honeymoon.’

Harriet stared at Edmund and then back at her husband. ‘You mean you’re going to work on our honeymoon?’

He squeezed her hand. ‘I wouldn’t really call it work, sweetheart. Edmund and I need to finalise a few details concerning the sequel. I know how interested you are in that, so I didn’t think you’d mind.’

A thrill of excitement ran through Harriet. Now she understood what Lewis had meant when he’d told her that their honeymoon would be something she’d never forget. She looked at Edmund again. He was definitely attractive, and she sensed that beneath the urbane surface there was much more to him than met the eye.

‘You don’t mind, do you, Harriet?’ he asked with a half-smile.

Harriet shook her head and looked up at her new husband. ‘I can hardly wait,’ she assured him. Lewis bent his head and kissed her full on the lips.

Edmund stood watching silently for a moment and then turned and left with Noella. He was content. His turn would come.