The Amateur Players (Closed for TheWorldBuilder)

[AndreaSubbie]

It was a dream. A very beautiful dream, but only a dream.

As she awoke on the settee she could tell Paul wasn't asleep, which was how she knew. He'd never actually do that, would he?

As dreams do, it was already fading in her memory though she she chased it and tried to hold on to it. The bits that still stood out were large fingers rubbing circles on her belly, and caressing her thigh, and even pressing into the front of her knickers, That had been the best bit, and in her dream she'd rocked her hips and tried to entice the fingers lower.

She disentangled herself from Paul's warm side and sat up, stretching her hands to the ceiling, and looked ar him. She must be a right mess. Again. Certainly her hair would be all over the place, so unglamorous in contrast to her lovely basque.

"Can we go to bed?"

She climbed the stairs ahead of him, and sat on his bed cross legged, fingertips exploring the soft delicate fabric of her swan costume.

"It's so beautiful, Paul, I never want to take ot off!" But she had to. Paul said. It wasn't meant for sleepwear, too delicate.

Pouting, and with a show of reluctance, she undid the basque, letting it fall on to the bed in front of her.

"Oh well, " she sighed, "at least I can wear it again tomorrow!" And she gave him a happy grin. She loved how he looked at her, like now, and when she had first tried on the gift.

Before Paul coild go into the wet room she exclaimed, "Oh! I need to tidy up in there from before!"

Bouncing up from the bed she went in to pick up her discarded underwear from the floor and ran a bowl of water to wash the blue tanga. Since the door was open she kept up a conversation with Paul, thanking him for a wonderful lunch and for her present, all the while laundering her smalls in nothing but the new swan briefs.

Noticing that she'd soiled these too from her naughty thoughts about Big Bear, she stripped them off and washed them as well, hanging both pieces on the towel rail and putting on the clean knickers that previously dried there.

She brushed her teeth, again like last time standing in the wet room doorway hand above her on the frame, knee bent, still chattering at Paul. When she was done she crossed the room and bounced over to her side of the bed, once more sitting cross legged on top of the covers.

"You don't mind if I sleep in just knickers tonight? Since you won't let me wear the basque?" And she again pouted, pretending to be miffed. Scooting properly into bed, the precious gift safely on the bedside table, she waited for Paul, wanting to spoon into his back tonight, and to run her fingers through the hair on his chest and tummy.

And have more very beautiful dreams.

 

[TheWorldBuilder]

As Paul woke from his afternoon nap, he groggily realised that his hand was no longer resting on Andi's hip but had slipped into a warm space below her tummy. His fingertips fed him more information: a damp, warm space below her tummy. Shocked by the realisation that his middle finger was pressing directly onto her mons pubis, less than an inch from her clitoris, he withdrew it hastily lest she wake and draw the wrong conclusion. Yes, he wanted her... but consciously participating in their mutual pleasure, not being groped in her sleep - accidentally or not.

The sudden relocation of his hand must have roused the slumbering young woman. She sat up, stretched and asked, "Can we go to bed?" as she began moving towards the stairwell.

Paul's heart pounded in his chest. Surely she wasn't suggesting what he thought? A snatch of the old song, 'Afternoon Delight', ran through his head. He followed her up to his room to find her cross-legged on his bed. Andi remarked that she never wanted to take her basque off and then did exactly that. She smiled at Paul as he drank in the beauty of the slim, topless, unselfconscious girl in front of him: wondering why she wanted to go to bed immediately after they had both had a two hour siesta, hoping that the answer matched his fantasy.

Suddenly crying, "Oh! I need to tidy up in there from before!" Andi leapt off the bed to run into the wet room. In the same fashion as before, she chatted from the doorway but now she was only in her tiny tangas.

Paul could hardly consider that he was getting used to her breasts, but their proximity no longer sent cold shivers chasing hot flushes down his spine. Now, they merely made him harder, as his darker side imagined how he would play with them if his desires were granted.

"You don't mind if I sleep in just knickers tonight? she asked, before climbing into the big bed.

“However you feel comfortable,” he replied, “but why do you want to go to bed at three in the afternoon?"

He wondered idly if swans kept the same working hours as larks.

"You fell asleep as soon as we got home from lunch and that wasn't even one o'clock. There's a hotpot in the oven for supper later and I thought you wanted to watch a comedy today instead of a weepy. Come on, get yourself dressed – unless you've decided to walk around my house naked?”

Even as he uttered the line, Paul wished he had bitten it back. Was it a step too far? Would it scare Andi back into her timid mouse character? Was it 'creepy'?

 

[AndreaSubbie]

Andrea laughed, a light hearted carefree laugh.

Walk around Paul's house naked? Now there was a thought, and a day dream image danced across her mind of always being naked whenever she was at Paul's. It was a nice image, only slightly naughty, but it would mean her new present was wasted, and she'd never have the pleasure of any more.

Not that she particularly wanted more presents, more lingerie, but he'd seemed so pleased with his choice and almost nervous that she might not like it. How could she not? He'd chosen it; of course she'd like it. And she enjoyed wearing it.

"Ok, ok I'll be a good girl!" In mock exasperation. "It's just I've been looking forward all day to snuggling with you in bed, and, oh well!"

Pushing the covers off her legs she put the pretty basque back on and got out of bed, stretching up to kiss his cheek before taking his hand.

"You'd really let me go naked? You wouldn't mind?" She enquired innocently, the image not yet dismissed, as they made their way back downstairs.

One day, if she was lucky, if she was especially good, Paul might take her to bed at three o'clock in the afternoon and make love to her until bed time, or even later. She had no idea how long such things lasted, and was very aware that her inexperience might weave romantic expectations that could leave her feeling disappointed by reality. And that wouldn't be fair to Paul.

All through the hotpot she reconsidered her schoolgirl illusions of what it might be like to make love with Paul, and consciously downplayed them. Eight inches? Every girl knew that six was more typical, and that five minutes of activity followed by snores or wanting food were the norm.

But that would be ok. If it was with Paul.. If ever he actually did want her like that she'd know she was a lucky girl.

The comedy they watched was good, and it had some nice scary bits that gave her a good excuse to grip his arm or his leg as they cuddled. She took every chance she could to be as close as was possible.

Eventually it really was time for bed, and after taking off her present, again, she had a wee and washed herself then brushed her teeth and waited sitting up in bed for him to join her.

 

[TheWorldBuilder]

Paul was surprised once when Andi laughed at his risqué comment and for a second time when she brazenly announced, "It's just I've been looking forward all day to snuggling with you in bed, and, oh well!"

She put the top of the lingerie set back on, looking slightly less like the incarnation of an angel as she got out of bed in mismatched basque and tangas.

"You'd really let me go naked? You wouldn't mind?" she continued, half way down the staircase.

“I've been a domestic naturist for years, but I wasn't sure if you'd be comfortable with seeing me like that. The windows have a special coating that makes it difficult to see in from outside.”

Paul continued into the kitchen to check on the hotpot and found it simmering away quite nicely. The meat was tender and the stock rich.

“Film or food?” he enquired.

She chose to eat first, before snuggling up in her usual place to his right. Once the film was over, Paul broached a subject he had been meaning to discuss for a while.

“When you stand on that stage, it isn't Andi standing there, it's Andi's character. You're telling a story, but not sat in class in a little circle round teacher. You make the story come to life by being, by doing and by interacting. You did well the other night, I was the one that made the mistake. Your whole body, your posture, said 'I'm owned, I'm controlled, but this is my body.' I held the pose a moment too long. If you can bring that commitment to everything you do, then you're going to make a fine little actress.”

They snuggled some more and then Paul suggested, “You pop upstairs while I clear up in the kitchen, I'll be with you soon.”

He climbed the stairs a few minutes later and entered his room to find Andi already changed and propped up in bed with the top sheet stretched across her bosom, half way down the tantalising slope of her charms.

Grabbing clean underwear, he stepped into the wet room to perform the necessary ablutions and returned to join her under the covers.

“Andi,” he asked with a trace of hesitation, “are you OK being this intimate with me? You won't be offended if I get a nocturnal erection?”

 

[AndreaSubbie]

"Oh!" she exclaimed, totally surprised.

The thought that he might actually get a stiffy had never ocurred to her, and of course he'd find that embarassing. What if she got the wrong idea and thought that she was the cause of it? That would be really awkward for both of them.

Thank goodness he'd prepared her.

That last comment of his distracted her from dwelling on all the nice things he'd just told her, like becoming a great little actress and how to do it, and about him moving onward towards Mike on stage so she could have her moment of Glory.

"Um, hey it's your house, your body, I'm just your guest. If you want I can go sleep in the other room?" but there was a desperation in her voice that even she could hear, a fragile plea that he not send her away.

He didn't. He was his usual warm loving forgiving self, and she snuggled into his back like she craved.

"I've been wanting to be like this all day!" she murmured, already starting to drift off, her naked breasts pressed into his lightly haired back, her hands gently stroking through his more hirsuit chest, testing its boundaries and discovering a thicker band of hair pointing lower, towards the mysterious involuntary erection. If she was lucky.

The thought of sharing a bed with Paul's erection, with Big Bear standing tall and proud and manly consumed her thoughts and became her dreams. If only he would get an erection for her, because of her, because he wanted her, to be inside her, making her his own, leaving his deposit of ownership deep in her very core.

Fast asleep her dreams took on a vividness, a reality of their own, and in those dreams her little cool hands drifted lower on his hot skin, following the trail into the denser mat of hair to search for the treasure, finding it between his legs.

She wrapped both hands around him, holding him, treasuring him, needing him, a smile on her face and a satisfied glow inside.

By the time she woke the next morning, this time on her side facing away from Paul, the memory of the dream was still there far more clear than was usual. Normally she had to chase her remembering of them but this time it was still clear in her mind, almost like a memory in her hands as well.

Rolling onto her back she stretched her arms up high and grinned, like the cat who got the cream. Or the swan who got the bear stick.

"I had the most delicious dream last night," she announced, not sure if Paul was yet awake.

 

[TheWorldBuilder]

Andi's face conveyed a completely different message to her words.

"If you want I can go sleep in the other room." she offered, but her eyes were those of the spaniel puppy that had previously come to mind. Not manic now, but filled with the sadness of the loyal companion who fears that her human is going to send her away.

“Don't be daft, girl.” Paul reassured her. “You said you want to snuggle behind me tonight, so it won't be a problem.” Turning onto his side, he felt her body pressing into his and her tiny hands stretching under his armpits to reach towards either side of his chest. They barely managed to meet in the middle, then each went their separate way to explore the furry jungle.

Her right hand had more freedom of movement and it roved further in its solo expedition. Paul felt soft fingers tracing the edges of the triangle of fur, which started below his ribcage and widened as it ran down past his umbilicus towards his groin. Her touch was already making him stir. He wasn't hard, but the blood had started to flow into his genitals.

Paul slowly drifted into a contented sleep, until that time came in the middle of the night when he had to visit the wet room. Extracting himself as gently as he could, he left the young woman resting against one of his thick pillows in place of his barrel chest. He noticed then that his cock wasn't in its usual resting state, but had a little life in it. Having returned from his enforced sojourn, he lay in bed on his back and Andi wrapped her right arm and leg over his torso and thighs. Contented, he returned to his interrupted slumber.

A sensation of unaccustomed weight resting on him lifted Paul up from a dream of picnics, cornfields and cool upland tarns. He wasn't really awake, but some part of him became aware that Andi straddled him with a cheek on one shoulder, her nipples crushed against his lower pectorals, her hands on the lower curve of his belly's unwanted bulge and her legs spread wide to encompass his muscular thighs. Subconsciously satisfied that he was in no danger, sleep reclaimed him. He was completely unaware that he was considerably more than half erect, as Andi's tiny hands continued their erratic search for the end of the furry rainbow.

He woke, still on his back, to hear Andi say, "I had the most delicious dream last night,"

“Oh really?” he replied, “Trust you to dream of food.”

Throwing the covers back from them both, Paul noticed faint stains on the upper sheet where it had covered his groin. He looked down to his soiled underpants and, glancing across, he saw that there were similar marks on Andi's panties.

“I'm not sure you were dreaming, angel.” he murmured softly as he stood up and went for a shower.

 

[AndreaSubbie]

"Dreaming of food?" She repeated, giggling a little. "Well it wasn't roast beef I was dreaming of!" And she grinned to herself, liking her little joke that Paul wouldn't understand and wouldn't be threatened by, but that reminded her of so much of her preoccupation of yesterday.

Sighing contentedly, she pushed down the sheet and slid out of bed while Paul showered. She padded downstairs in just her tanga briefs and put the kettle on, also pouring Paul a juice, then brought them both drinks up to his bedroom. Leaving Paul's by his side of the bed, and her tea on her side, she popped to her bedroom for Monday clothes. No basque today, just sensible underwear.

When he came out she went in and enjoyed a luxurious shower, emerging once more wrapped in a toweling mainsail. Chattering away happily she checked with Paul on arrangements for getting to College, and slipped into fresh knickers before dropping the towel and putting on her bra, followed quickly by jeans and t-shirt.

Ready for the day she joined him for breakfast, just toast and tea for her.

Monday at College was a normal Monday, and she actually managed to concentrate when she was meant to. But she missed being with Paul and could hardly wait until tomorrow's rehearsal so she could go home with him again.

Which made her do some serious thinking,

It was getting to the point where she needed to know. Was she going to pine forever, or was Paul going to develop feelings for her like she had for him? And if he did, how would she know? How could she find out? And what should she do about it?

It was kind of easy when it came to boys her age. She knew the rules, knew how the game was played even if she didn't particularly like it. But what about grownups? What were the rules there? They seemed so much more sophisticated and complicated, and nearly all the grownups she knew were married, so weren't in this position.

Maybe she could ask him? But in a way that didn't put him under pressure. She was going to be very upset if he rejected her, and was bound to cry, and he'd feel guilty all over again. But this time there'd be no apology. He'd said he was never apologising again, and got angry last time. If it all came to that again, then it would be over. For ever. He'd said as much.

So it was getting to crunch time. She couldn't go on as she was much longer, so close to Paul, so near to Big Bear without them finishing what they seemed to be starting. Yet she didn't want to lose what she had. She needed to find a way to ask him without actually asking him.

And that was a research project all of its own, far more difficult than any of her College essays.

 

[TheWorldBuilder]

Paul was getting nowhere. He was supposed to be drafting a proposal for a local school's science department, but he couldn't think about lecture halls with attached telescope rooms, equatorial mounts or alternate optical configurations. All he could think about was Andi.

It was less than thirty hours since he'd dropped her off at college but each of those hours had dragged. Yesterday evening had been the worst, not having her snuggled next to him. He minimised the text document, the presentation and the CAD drawing, pushed his chair back and reflected on Sunday's events.

Andi was more than just comfortable and unselfconscious around him, she wanted to sleep with him, to snuggle together virtually naked, he was certain she had laid on top of him for a few hours: could she really want to sleep with him?

Paul knew that, however eager she appeared, he had to approach the subject carefully. She might have taken on the bravado of her character, but inside the real Andi was still that part which easily took fright. He thought ahead to the evening's rehearsal, would she hang around afterwards and invite him back to her flat?

What should he do? He had to be circumspect to avoid frightening her away and losing the most enchanting, delightful and, yes, beautiful woman he was likely to find as his middle years approached. How could he suggest even more intimacy without being too direct?

She'd loved the locket and went crazy over the lingerie, he couldn't buy her anything more intimate without asking her preference in sex toys. Like that was ever going to happen.

His thoughts whirling in circles without any reasonable suggestions forthcoming, Paul made the only decision possible. He would wait until this evening and, quite literally, take his cue from her.

 

[AndreaSubbie]

Andi might have lived closest to the theatre, but she wasn't the first there. It was Tuesday, rehearsal day, and she was excited.

She could hardly forget the amazing euphoria she experienced after the last rehearsal, and knew that tonight she wouldn't freeze. She'd proved it. She had actually done the reveal. On stage. In rehearsal. It was going to work.

And, Paul had complimented her on her performance. Yes it was going to work.

As usual she tidied up the kitchen and then popped into the Green Room to check the urn and beverages, greeting everyone cheerfully, and pouring a jug of juice carried it through to Paul's office.

"Hi, Boss Bear!" she placed his drink by his elbow, kissed the top of his head, and promptly left, flinging, "See you on Stage, captain!" over her shoulder as she closed his door.

Back in the Green room she took down her costume and set it in her now usual place near the kitchen. Ignoring the humming throng of the other players she quickly and efficiently pulled off her jeans and lifted her t-shirt over her head, and in white bra and tangas stepped again into the tunica, forcing it up over her hips and hooking it over her shoulders. Reaching under she dropped her knickers and stepped out of them, placing them on her discarded jeans and top, then removed her bra from under the costume.

Ok. She was dressed. Sharing the mirror with the other girls she did her hair and makeup, then returned to her clothing.

Concentrating, she blanked out everyone else in the room and became her character. She knew nothing about acting, so she simply became the Slave Girl. facing her piled twentyfirst century outfit but not seeing it, she pictured herself on stage, Paul striding from left to centre; her cue.

And right on demand her real hands actually dropped the top of her costume to her waist, just like they were trained to do, right there near the kitchen.

She couldn't pace forward like on stage, but she imagined it, held her half naked pose, then covered herself.

She did it twice more there in the Green Room, until she was confident she'd be ok tonight on stage. She didn't want to let Paul down.

Falling back in to being herself she was once more aware of everyone around her, and found herself a little confused by their looks.

Oh well, she shrugged, just as Paul came in to get everyone on stage and ready. Joining the other Chorus girls she took up her position, once again in persona as the Defiant Slave Girl.

 

[TheWorldBuilder]

“First call, Act One, guards, villagers and chorus.” Paul made the familiar announcement to get the cast into their opening positions and followed those he'd mentioned up to his initial mark.

The hour and three quarters went by without a hitch. Every mark, every cue, every line. They were finished an hour early and at least half the Players hung round chatting and drinking Andi's hot coffee. There was a buzz about this production which Paul hoped would carry over into panto season.

Slowly, couples and small groups started to drift away until there were only Andi, Polly, Mike and Paul left. Polly turned to Andi and commented, ”We wondered what you were up to earlier, but that extra bit of rehearsal has definitely paid off. You're such a natural now.”

She smiled, shyly. Mike then took up the baton. “Old Grumpy there is keeping it close to his chest, but I believe we'll have a song together after Christmas.”

That certainly seemed to cheer her up. Paul was aware she wanted to know all about the pantomime, but he intended to reveal little surprises for her, one bit at a time. He made a show of stretching and yawning before casually asking: “Anyone want more coffee or shall we wrap up?”

It was still only half past nine when Andi took Paul's hand on the Theatre steps and gently pulled him away from the little Triumph. He'd been half expecting it and was carrying a small rucksack, stuffed with briefs, T-shirts and socks. Following her round the corner, he waited as she fumbled with her key. Something was making her either nervous or excited and Paul hoped it was the latter.

Upstairs, they partially reclined side by side on her bed, fully dressed except footwear, holding their drinks. Paul's emotions were whirling around as Dervishly as the fabled dancers, unsure of how to take the next step in establishing a proper relationship with her without simply blurting his repressed feelings, but even through the fog of his own uncertainty one thing stood out clearly: tonight Andi was even more tremulous than he was.

He changed hands to put his drink down beside the bed and pulled her slim frame against him.

 

[AndreaSubbie]

Andi snuggled in close, needing the comfort of Paul's body in contact with hers.

The rehearsal had gone well and she was delighted with Polly's supportive comment about being a natural. She'd blushed briefly at the mention of her 'bit of rehearsal', realising that anyone might have been watching as she basically stripped topless in the Green Room. But yes, it seemed to pay off.

When it had come to her bit, she decided to follow the advice and again dropped the top half of her costume before moving forward past the Guards towards Paul. She noted how nicely Mike acted his surprise at the Slave Girl stripping herself, tits bare, and again got the benefit of Paul's stare at her chest. The Guards reaction was delightful! It had all made her feel rather wonderful. Until her thoughts had reverted back to her problem. The one that needed dealing with, clarifying.

Snuggling in closer she finally got up the courage to ask what had been occupying her mind ever since the rehearsal had finished.

"Um, Paul?" Her voice was reticent, fragile, "um, can i ask you something? It's just I don't know who else i can ask, who else I trust to tell me the truth.

"Um, if a girl likes a guy, you know, that way, but she doesn't know if he likes her, how does she find out? I mean, if she's kind of plain, flat chested, the kind of girl that guys stop flirting with cos she's unattractive, how would she know if he's interested, especially if he's a nice guy, kind but normally really straightforward?"

She couldn't go on, but waited, holding her breath as Paul thought before answering. Her mind filled with dread as the obvious truth hit her. She stifled the sob that caught in her throat and pictured herself on stage. It wasn't the tunica that slipped from her shoulders, no, it was her snowy white swan feathers, tumbling off her unworthy body, stripping her bare to reveal the awful truth. Underneath was revealed the Duckling; and she was truly ugly.

 

[TheWorldBuilder]

He thought for a moment, then shuffled his body round in her tight clasp. Andi's eyes looked misty, as though her defiant stage character was slipping away to leave her fragile core exposed. Not entirely sure why she was referring to a plain, flat chested girl, when she was obviously attempting to describe herself in the flawed verbal portrait, he wondered who the fortunate student was that had swept aside all his hopes and dreams.

“Are you asking for yourself, or a friend?” he temporised. “You can't mean my radiant swan if this girl is plain and unattractive, because you're none of those things. You're a little beauty, Andi. If you're judging yourself too harshly because you think those young boys at the Theatre aren't interested in you, well I can tell you that they still fancy you but they think you're....” Paul paused for an instant, “someone else's.”

“Whoever this lucky boy is, at college I suppose, you need to....”

Paul paused, “No,” he said, “why don't I tell you what I would do if a wonderful lady stumbled into my life.”

He chuckled gently, then carried on: “I'd find excuses to spend time with her, more and more often. Maybe lunch, maybe shopping. Then I'd invite her to my house or perhaps spend time at hers. After a while, one of us might stop for the night. Little gifts, of course, and flowers. Sometimes to say sorry for being a clumsy Bear and sometimes as a surprise - just because. Maybe a little piece of jewellery, some nice clothes. Walks if the weather's nice, errrm.”

Paul hesitated for a moment and in the quietness he heard a familiar soft rumbling purr. Andi was fast asleep in all her clothes again, snuggled tightly up to him. He relaxed back into the pillows and recollected her words.

plain, flat-chested, unattractive

Surely she couldn't mean herself? OK, her boobs were small but they had a great shape and were certainly not flat. She was attractive enough to have turned plenty of heads at the Theatre, until the gossip started spreading and none of the troupe's young men wanted to risk his ire if the rumours were true.

His thoughts still jumbled, Paul gently rolled Andi onto her back and carefully undid her jeans. Once again, he put her under the covers in her underwear and undressed himself before joining her.

 

[AndreaSubbie]

"You're a little beauty, Andi ... those boys at the Theatre still fancy you but they think you belong to someone else.”

That's what she heard. She played it over and over in her head.

A little glow started low down in her belly and grew and grew, like a giant star expanding the way she heard about in school, a White Giant or something; white like a swan.

I'm a swan, she thought. I'm a swan! I'm not such an ugly duckling. Who's an ugly duckling? Not I!

She clearly heard the song from the film and glowed with relief, with joy, with hope.

She didn't care about the boys at the Theatre. Ok, that wasn't true, she liked them and valued their opinion of her, liked the possibly genuine reaction of the Guards at seeing her topless, but she wasn't interested in them. She belonged to someone else!

She belonged to Alpha Bear.

In the morning she awoke once more stripped to her underwear and snuggling her Bear in her small bed. There was a big smile on her face. She gently stroked the fur on Bear's chest and decided to wake him.

Peeling the covers back she looked at him for a moment, wishing he hadn't left his shorts on to sleep in, and that he'd stripped her completely naked last night. Climbing on top she straddled his belly, probably sitting right on his bladder which was bound to wake him up, her hands flat on his broad strong chest.

"Hey sleepy Bear." She grinned into his eyes as he surfaced from slumber, and kissed him gently on his lips, a soft simple kiss, then rolled off him and stood up, stretching high while looking at his comforting body.

"You were great last night, you made everything clear."

She went to her little kitchenette and put the kettle on, poured his juice and made her tea, carrying both to the little table near her bed, where he could reach. She gazed into those wise, knowing eyes. "Thank you", she said.

Turning for the bathroom she undid her bra and let it fall then slid her knickers down and let them drop too before stooping to scoop up both garments. Closing the bathroom door behind her she popped them in her laundry basket and started the shower.

It was so cramped after the luxury of Paul's wet room, but she sang her happy song at the top of her voice, eventually emerging wrapped as before in her tiny towel.

"I haven't yet been shopping for eggs to make your omlette, so we should go out for breakfast. How about the supermarket cafe?"

Sipping her tea she went to her dresser and dropped the towel, then opened her underwear drawer. Blue tangas, white bra. She put them on, as Paul headed for the bathroom.

She was dressed in her jeans, blue t-shirt, ankle boots and denim jacket when he came out, her hair brushed and light makeup, eyes sparkling with new found confidence.

 

[TheWorldBuilder]

Still half asleep, Paul felt a weight on his stomach and a light touch on his chest. As he roused, soft lips kissed his and he recalled the events leading up to his repose.

"You were great last night, you made everything clear." Andi said as she bimbled about the flat making the morning drinks. Placing them by the bed, she turned around and took off her bra and pants without a qualm in the world. As she bent down to pick them up from where they had fallen, Paul gazed wistfully at her firm, peachy arse. How much longer would they share these intimate moments before her new student boyfriend took her away?

When she came out of the shower in her tiny towel, she repeated the performance as she donned a mismatched blue and white combination. Paul groaned softly as he felt a stirring under the covers.

They had gone to the little café at Morrisons and spent another precious half hour together before Paul had to kiss her and head back to the Theatre to try to get some work done.

That evening, he lay restlessly in his bed. He fidgeted and wriggled, trying to get comfortable, but somehow he couldn't settle. His thoughts had never been far from Andi and he quickly realised that her absence was the cause of his blues. Not for the first time, he reflected on the rapidity with which she had become blasé about stripping in front of him and even sharing a bed with barely a stitch on. He was really going to miss that intimacy when, as it must, their 'more than friends, less than lovers' relationship came to an end.

He thought about other single women he knew. None of them combined that sense of wonder and innocence with the adventurous spirit and flirtatious nature of the youngster. He recalled her deliciously wicked use of innuendo and how she seemed to be totally unaware of the hidden meanings in her words. He re-ran that thought. When he hadn't responded as he would have with someone older, her witticisms dried up. Had he stunted her coy attempts at teasing? She shared many aspects of his sense of humour, liked curling up without having to fill the time with inanities, begged to be allowed on the Trophy, had quickly absorbed his quirky tastes in food and drink and, most obviously, was stunningly gorgeous. Not that she could see it, mind. Like many women, she had what his masculine senses considered a warped view of her own body.

Perfect? Could he really say that? He had barely known her for four months and yet every way that he rearranged the jigsaw pieces of their personalities, they fit properly and produced a harmonious picture instead of a jumbled kaleidoscope of random shapes.

He doubted that a boy of her own age would have the wisdom to appreciate exactly what kind of rare and valuable treasure he was fumbling around with. Paul hoped fervently that Andi's beau didn't break her heart.

His introspection continued until the early hours of the morning and his last coherent consolation before fatigue finally claimed him was that he would see her tomorrow night. He hoped that she wouldn't be taken away from the Theatre too.

 

[AndreaSubbie]

It was Thursday evening. Rehearsal time again.

Andi followed her now customary routine of first sorting the kitchen, then the Green Room where she greeted those Players already getting themselves ready, and finally making her own tea and pouring Paul's juice.

She idly wondered if it was this little act of making Paul drinks that told everyone she belonged to him. Which brought her back to trying to understand what happened.

Something wasn't quite right. It was like a veil of sadness had come down across Bear's heart. It was hard to fathom, but somehow she'd done something wrong. Had she inadvertently broken his heart? That would crush her. Yet it had all seemed perfect.

She had basically told Paul that she wanted him but wasn't worthy, and he'd clearly said she was, and her heart had swelled and she'd fallen asleep content like she could barely remember.

Although she couldn't recall the actual words she was convinced he'd told her she was his. But yesterday morning when they awoke, she had practically danced round her apartment nude for him, signalling she was giving him everything, and he'd ignored her.

She half hoped that when she stripped totally naked before going to the bathroom he'd be there wrapping his strong arms round her dragging her back to bed to make love to her.

But no. And again nothing when she dropped her towel and took her time finding underwear, prancing by her dresser without a scrap of clothing.

But that wasn't all. Through breakfast he'd been lovely and kind and thoughtful and witty, but also in pain. Somehow she knew it was her fault.

Taking a leaf from Paul's book, she needed to apologise.

Carrying his juice she went to his office, knocking politely and slipping inside. She placed his drink as usual and looked into those slightly melancholy eyes. Andi climbed onto his lap. It was easy; she was light and tiny compared to him. Her shins on his right thigh, her right hip pressed into his tummy, her right hand clamped between her legs, left hand and right cheek nuzzling his hot comfortable chest, the furnace burning through his shirt.

"I'm sorry. Please don't be a sad Bear?" She was apologising, and had brought him the only gift she had that was good enough. She was giving him herself.

After a moment she climbed back down, kissed the top of his head and returned to the Green Room. Stripping off her t-shirt and jeans she tugged the tunica up over her hips and knickers, up to her shoulders, and then removed her tangas and bra. Hair, makeup, back to her place.

Zone out, become the Slave Girl, picture her cue, drop her top, baring her not-so-flat breasts to her pile of clothes. Again. And again. Back to reality, nodding in satisfaction, grinning half embarrassed but secretly thrilled at those of the Company who'd watched her little rehearsal.

Then it was time to get on stage. Not much rehearsal left. The First Night was Monday.

 

[TheWorldBuilder]

Paul was sat in the office when there was a knock and Andi came in. That was unusual, for a start. She normally bounded about in her boisterous spaniel persona when she was happy, as he had left her yesterday morning. As she looked into his eyes, he saw a trace of sadness in hers and hoped that his worst fears hadn't been realised. Had the insensitive little arsehole broken her heart already? Paul felt his anger brew, he'd give the little shit such a fright that he'd never go near her again.

Andi put his jug on the table and then squeezed herself into the slim gap between the furniture and his curved belly. She somehow balanced herself on his right leg, kneeling with her head on his chest and her left hand cupping his right pectoral.

"I'm sorry. Please don't be a sad Bear?" she whispered into his chest. He waited for her to tip her head back, allowing him to kiss her, but she got back off his lap and platonically delivered a quick peck on top of his scalp before disappearing.

Paul realised that her sadness was for him, she'd picked up on his regret that their brief encounter had nearly run its course. Older and wiser? That's never how it works when infatuation sticks a needle full of hormones into your heart. He sighed, put the papers he had been working on into the desk drawer, picked up his jug and went to join the others getting changed.

He walked into the Green Room just in time to see Andi pull her tunica up and fasten the brooch on each shoulder. He costumed himself and went to the little door to the stage.

“Final dress, let's have it as good as Tuesday was. First call, Act One, guards, villagers and chorus.”

Opening the door, he led the cast onto the stage.

As the lights dimmed for the final time, Paul permitted himself a modicum of satisfaction. Once again the rehearsal had gone without a hitch. They were as ready as they could ever be.

Filing down the narrow stairs, the rest of the Players sensed it too. There was a buzz as everyone changed back into their street clothes. Paul was out of costume and into his trousers when he was aware of a movement at the other side of the clothes rail. Andi's little head peeped over and she unmistakeably nodded towards the kitchen. Paul pulled his shirt on and, buttoning it while walking, followed her into the adjoining room.

She smiled at him and asked, “Are you coming home with me as usual?”

Paul wanted to, how he wanted to, but would it be awkward now she had her new boy. Perhaps he could gently enquire about her sadness earlier and decide whether his retribution was justified? Then he selfishly thought that it might be the last time that they could be together so intimately and his decision was made.

They were, unsurprisingly, the last to leave. A few short paces and they were at her door. He followed her up the stairs and flopped bonelessly onto his bean bag. Andi went to the kettle and he plucked up the courage to ask her directly.

“Is everything OK, little Swan? You seemed sad about something when you came into my office, then you apologised. Was that because you've found a new boyfriend at the college and you know your Bear will be upset if you're not around?”

 

[AndreaSubbie]

Andi was completely confused.

Her hand held the kettle halfway between the sink and the counter as she tried to digest what Paul had just asked her. It was like the question came from some parallel universe and she was having trouble reconciling it with the world in which they both lived.

Hadn't he said she was his? Hadn't she explained clearly she wanted to be his? Was he suggesting that she should look for someone nearer her own age? Had he taken time to think through what they'd told each other, and decided to put an end to it? Was this his way of saying it was over?

She couldn't see the kettle any more, her eyes were so blurry with tears. Fumbling a little she managed to get it to the kitchen surface, and with her eyes leaking copiously she turned to him. Steeping over she wrapped her arms round his neck and the sobs took over. Finally, when she'd got his shirt collar properly soaked she asked quietly, timidly, "Is this the end? Are we saying goodbye?"

She couldn't look at him, she was so distraught. She just clung and listened, waiting for him to say that it was ok, that he wasn't leaving her before they'd even begun. The he was hers and she was his and that's all that mattered.

But he wasn't saying it. Her heart was broken. When they did the post-mortem they'd find pieces of it littering her insides, so many pieces they probably wouldn't ever find them all. She didn't want her tea. She never wanted to eat or drink again. She wanted to curl up in bed and stay there until one day in the future people came to break down her door, and carry her emaciated corpse away for disposal. Nothing mattered anymore. Her world had just crashed around her.

And the rehearsal had gone so well. She had enjoyed herself, enjoyed her moment, enjoyed the reactions she was getting, and even Paul seemed pleased with her performance. Was that the problem? Was he ashamed of her? Was it hurting him every time she undressed? Did her behaviour sadden him to the point he couldn't be with her any more? Did her undressing in front of him at home drive him away? Was she not respectable enough? Is that why he never seemed to like seeing her undressed at home? Was it like her silly jokes she'd made at the beginning that he'd hated?

She wanted to be left alone, but she didn't want him to go. Andi gripped his neck so tight her shoulders hurt. How was she going to survive until tomorrow?

 

[TheWorldBuilder]

Andi's reaction was totally unexpected.

Her eyes filled with tears and she nearly dropped the kettle. She stumbled towards him and flung her arms around his neck, pulling him close. Her slender frame trembled as the gasps and sobs escaped, seeming as if they had been too large to fit inside her. Tears soaked into his shirt, making it cling to his skin, as they dripped from her nose and ran down her cheeks.

Paul heard her say, very quietly, "Is this the end? Are we saying goodbye?"

He hoped not. Every fibre of his being wished it not to be true, but how could they continue like this when she had found a proper boyfriend? He couldn't answer her. He didn't have any words to ease her pain, so he just held her. For what seemed like an eternity.

Andi's grip tightened even more, her face pressed so hard against his collarbone that he knew it must be hurting her. What could he say? How did he reassure her that he never wanted to say 'goodbye' to her. He'd messed this up. Oh, it was worse than that. The acronym from his military days was the most appropriate: FUBAR. Fucked Up Beyond All Recognition.

He'd done this. Him and his big mouth. He knew how fragile she could be, hadn't he taken on the responsibility of protecting her? Why the fuck did he have to be so insensitive and put his size 11s straight in his stupid gob? It was hours since she'd spoken to him, or did it just feel like hours? How to reassure her? How to comfort her? What the hell could he say?

“Andi, I...”

“Please, I miss....”

“No, it isn't.”

“Darling Andi, we'll never say 'goodbye'.” He felt a slight movement as she tilted her head. “Andi, dear sweet Andi, I never want you to go away. I don't want to go away. Please stay with me, stay with the Players. I'll always be here for you, your best friend.”

 

[AndreaSubbie]

Best friend.

Not her lover. But hadn't she decided ages ago that she would settle for just friendship? Only she had been beginning to accept that they were going to be so much more, and now it was being snatched from them, or rather she'd thrown it away. She wasn't sophisticated enough for him, and couldn't pretend to be. She was useless at pretending.

Paul deserved a proper mature elegant woman who could be everything he wanted. Maybe one day if she was lucky, Andi would find someone as wonderful as Paul. She had been so close. It had been almost within her grasp, a proper grown-up relationship with Paul. But somehow she'd disappointed him, and he'd woken to knowing she wasn't enough for him.

Holding close, no longer crying, she thought it through some more. At least he'd taught her to be more confident, to be stronger. And they would always see each other at the Players.

"You are still staying, tonight? Not driving home?" she managed to avoid adding "without me" at the end, just choking it off in time. "And we are having one last lunch on Sunday?"

Although he'd promised to be there for her, always, to be her best friend, she couldn't presume to Sunday lunch every week. It would be like using him; she couldn't afford to pay her way.

Letting him go, she kissed his cheek and grabbing clean things from her dresser went into the bathroom to change into a cream t-shirt and cream tangas. She didn't want to upset him or disgust him by changing in front of him.

When he'd said back at his that she could go nude he must have been joking, and in her immaturity she'd failed to understand. She felt such a fool, but resisted the strong temptation to descend as before into a pit of self-recrimination and pity.

No, she'd behave like a grown-up. Like Paul was teaching her. Maybe he could be her confidant? The one she could tell anything to, ask about any subject? he promised he wasn't going away. There were still scraps she could hold on to.

Maybe she could ask Polly's advice? Or Mike's? He knew Paul well. He'd know how she might make the friendship with Paul work?

Coming back out in her clean sleepwear she said, "The bathroom's free, Paul. You will share my bed tonight still, won't you?" and she slipped under her covers waiting for him to join her. She was going to snuggle him like there was no tomorrow.

 

[TheWorldBuilder]

Her anguished, racking sobs quieted but Paul still held Andi close to him. He slowly tilted himself backwards as far as he could without falling off the beanbag so that Andi's face rested on his muscular upper pectoral, not the ridge of bone above it. She still clung to him, though not as tightly as before.

"You are still staying, tonight? Not driving home? And we are having one last lunch on Sunday?" she asked with a catch in her voice.

He nodded, then realised that she couldn't see that.

“Hmm, mm.” he uttered.

Andi released her hold and raised her head enough to kiss him on the cheek. She stood and went to her drawers to gather fresh clothing, then took them into the bathroom.

Paul couldn't avoid a long, slow sigh escaping. Yes, it was over. No more domestic naturism, no more sleepovers, no more Sunday escapes after this weekend. Just as his rational mind had started to believe in the promises of his desire and he was ready to release his emotions, the whole shaky edifice came crumbling away and there was the reality of cold steel and hard concrete which the fascia had been cladding.

Andi opened the bathroom door. "The bathroom's free, Paul. You will share my bed tonight still, won't you?"

A small crumb of comfort, he'd been spared the misery of trying to curl his large frame onto the beanbag or sleeping semi-reclined and waking with a bad neck.

“Of course I will. Spoons or facing?”

”Both?” she asked, shyly.

Paul took a few items out of the rucksack he'd left. He'd pack that up tomorrow morning, no point leaving stuff if there were no more sleepovers. Going into the bathroom, he performed the ritual ablution in full. 'No chance of a fuck' was no excuse for sweaty bollocks and cheesy foreskin. He looked at his hands and noticed that his right thumbnail was too long for G-spot tickling without scratching, before thinking “who gives a toss.”

He pulled on clean briefs, brushed his teeth and swirled a gulp of mouthwash. Stepping back into the main room, he saw Andi with a trace of her old smile returning. He turned out the lights and nearly fell over the bean bag that he'd left near the bed.

As he settled under the covers, she snuggled up to him and he instinctively put his arms around her. He was careful to avoid her bum, placing one hand between her shoulder blades and the other on the small of her back.

Paul made the necessary nocturnal journey half asleep, but he was conscious enough to wash his cock again before leaving the bathroom. In the dim light trying to filter through the curtains, he noticed that she had rolled over, so he snuggled in behind her to spoon. Once again he was very aware that she trusted him implicitly and he wasn't about to intentionally break that. He placed his right arm in the cavity below their adjoining forms and his left hand in the middle of her tummy.

He was trying to respect her boundaries and it wasn't his fault that his hands took on lives of their own as he slumbered. She wriggled, in her own special way, and his lower arm slid slightly under the curve of her waist. In the early twilight hours his hands moved further, the left one under her T-shirt and the right one completely encircling her as his upper arm stretched entirely through that enticing gap. He twitched as he dreamed and his right hand moved lower.

 

[AndreaSubbie]

Andi woke to grey light filtering in through her drapes. A cold light. Symbolic.

But not entirely accurate. She was warm. Very warm, snuggled back into Furnace Bear. And he was holding her close, about as intimately as was possible without actually having sex.

His left hand was clamped firmly on her breast, her tit, held in place under her top by her own hand. His right was nestled in her little patch of trimmed bush teasingly short of where she wanted it. But it too was anchored, by her fierce grip on his thick wrist. She was confident Paul knew how to use those hands to give her exquisite pleasure, a longed-for delight, but a potential untapped.

She could feel her nipple hardening against his palm and the heat building between her legs, and fought the temptation to move against the stimulation of his hands, to hump her hips, spread her thighs, engulf him in sodden lust. She needed a cold shower. No way was she going to take one.

Calming her breathing with a self control that amazed and impressed her, she lay as still as she could, as relaxed as possible and simply enjoyed the physical contact. At some point he was going to wake up. Would he be embarrassed? Cross? Angry?

She didn't want to mar their new Never Lovers friendship, so reluctantly slipped out of his embrace and went to put the kettle on. Then wrapping herself in a blanket flumped into his beanbag to watch him sleep. She'd never get the chance to do this again.

By the time she was making tea and pouring his juice he was rousing, just not the part of him she wanted. She wished she could have held Big Bear again. Did he know she'd once wrapped her hands round his penis? She wanted to hold it again, play with it, kiss it, watch it grow, please it and make it gush out its nectar, feel it splash against her skin, taste it, bathe in it.

Sighing, she placed his drink by the bed so he'd see it when he opened his eyes, then went to shower.

Emerging, she gathered clean underwear from her dresser and returned to the bathroom where behind the closed door she took off her damp towel and dressed in t-shirt, bra and briefs.

Once back in the main room she greeted Paul with a "Good morning, sleepy Bear," and tugged her jeans up her legs. She sat in the little wooden chair facing him across the small table, hot steaming refreshed mug cradled between her palms.

"Breakfast out? My treat this time?"

 

[TheWorldBuilder]

Part of Paul's mind knew that physics didn't work like that, but his disbelief wasn't sufficient to stop the dream from playing out in his head.

The universe was expanding, but not the universe.

Only Andi's bed was expanding. He tried to crawl across it to hold her as she receded into the distance - but he wasn't crawling fast enough. He stood up and started running across the weirdly distorted surface - but she was moving faster now. The topology of her bedroom was totally messed up as Andi's side of the bed strained the fabric of Einsteinian space-time and she started to appear redshifted. Paul stretched his arms as far as they would reach and watched them elongate in the crazy tensor field of his dream.

It was no use.

Andi became redder and redder, fading as she did so. Paul knew that her photons were leaving her less energetically than they should be if she were at rest beside him. Once all their energy was dissipated, she would completely fade from his view. She would be outside his light bubble and nothing that either of them did could have any possible causal influence on the other.

They would effectively be in separate universes.

Stood alone in the middle of the galaxy sized bed the big, broad-chested man cried - openly.

"Good morning, sleepy Bear,"

He heard her voice, dimly, from the other end of creation. It was just enough to pop the insubstantial soap bubble of his nightmare. She was still nearby. The quarks, the gluons, the mesons, the hadrons and all the heavier particles they constituted were behaving normally.

All except the panic quark.

Panic? No, there are only six quarks: Up, Down, Top, Bottom, Strange and Charm.

“Not this morning,” said Paul's endocrine system, as the residual traces of his fear of losing Andi lingered for a few more seconds after he awoke. “The ancients knew that everything comes in sevens.”

His conscious mind finally erased the impossible universe and he opened his eyes to see Andi sat in her tiny chair.

"Breakfast out? My treat this time?"

He groaned, long and loud. What a mixed up state he'd been in, but the residual message was quite clear. Paul wondered how he could ever stop her slipping away if she chose the student over him.

Her question finally sank into the cotton wool which had replaced his brain and a few of the stronger neurons managed to co-ordinate themselves sufficiently to produce the sound, “Mmmm.”

Eventually, the correct signals were composed and transmitted to the appropriate muscles. Paul sat up and swung his legs out of bed.

An hour later, fed and watered, they said subdued 'goodbyes' and Paul walked back towards the Theatre as Andi took the shortcut through Aireville Park to Craven College. The details of his dream had faded, but the meaning was stark: DON'T LET GO.

He wondered what the mood would be like on Sunday. Sombre, probably. He knew that he was going to miss her for every moment of the next 48 hours.

 

[AndreaSubbie]

Sunday dawned bright and clear. Andi awoke as the light changed, alone in her bed, arms and legs wrapped round her spare pillow. It wasn't as nice as having Paul in her bed, or being had by Paul in her bed. Which was now never going to happen.

She'd dreamt last night of all the places where she had wanted them to either make love or just have fun sex.That wasn't quite accurate. She'd day dreamed before falling asleep. His bed. Her bed. His shower. His settee. His car. His theatre office. The theatre kitchen. The Green Room. Outdoors in woods and on empty hillsides. Of course, those would need warm weather. In fact, anywhere and everywhere.

She sighed. Oh well.

But today was their last Sunday together, and she wanted it to be memorable, happy, a day tyat Paul would think back on with a smile on his face. Yes, she'd wear her best dress, the floral green button-front summer one, but with winter tights, knee-high brown boots and a roll neck sweater. It wouldn't be fair to try and do a sexy look, so she wanted show she was making an effort for him but being respectable and respectful. Clean hair, ponytail, lightest of makeup. And his locket over her heart. Oh crumbs, that almost prompted a sob.

She couldn't stop herself from imagining pieces of her broken heart filling the little pendant.

But no. Today she would be brave. Today she was going to try Acting. She was going to be a happy, friendly companion with no thoughts of Paul taking her home after their Pub roast to fuck her brains out bent over the back of his settee.

Damn, she needed a cold shower again.

But a warm one would have to do. She hated being cold. She liked snuggling into Furnace Bear, with the hot Big Bear ramming into her from behind ...

STOP!

She had to stop thinking like this!

By the time Paul knocked on her door, the real one not the one between her legs, she was dressed, presentable, sitting in his bean bag, and flushed. However hard she tried, she couldn't clear her head of thoughts of Paul ravaging her. She was even blushing when she answered the door.

"Hi Bear, you want to come up?"

 

[TheWorldBuilder]

It was a cool, crisp but sunny morning as Paul drove into Skipton at 9:55am. He was determined not to let his sadness spoil their time together and, having seen the forecast the night before, he'd planned something a little special for after the meal.

She answered the door looking a little flustered. "Hi Bear, you want to come up?"

Before she could move, he laid his hands gently on her shoulders, dipped his head and kissed her. Upstairs, they took their usual positions on beanbag and spindly chair. He took a good look at her ensemble, satisfying himself that it was suitable for what he had in mind. He noticed a tiny bulge under the sweater, at the top of what would be her cleavage underneath. She was wearing her jewellery. He wondered if college boy realised its significance or who had bought it for her.

They spent about 40 minutes in the flat before heading for the carvery. Having arrived early, they managed to claim their favourite table. Before Paul could stop her, Andi scooted away to the bar and returned with two large drinks: a double Appletise and a full pint of Doombar.

He knew she couldn't afford the two meals so, after a short while chatting, he slipped out from behind the table and went for the tickets. Paul made sure he ate well, fuelling up for the afternoon to come. Chicken and ham, of course, but today a little lean beef too. He was glad to see that she had a decent plateful as well.

The conversation was a little stilted, but both knew that they were comfortable just being together without any superfluous words. They ate opposite each other, then Andi moved round onto the bench. He lifted his right arm to make a space for her to wriggle into, then gently stroked the back of her head. He wished her hair was loose, then he would have run his fingers through it right down to her shoulders. No matter, the contact he had was enough in their troubled state.

Paul excused himself and headed towards the toilets. Doubling back as soon as he was out of sight, he went to the car and started the engine. It was still slightly warmed from its earlier exertions and within two minutes there was a comfortably heated stream of air entering the footwells. He returned to the restaurant and slid back in beside Andi.

He asked if she wanted to stay for another drink but, when she imperceptibly shook her head, they unwound themselves and stood to leave the building.

It only took a minute for Paul to fold and stow the convertible's top and lower both windows. He got in and started the engine, moving the ventilation fan to its middle setting. Turning out of the Craven Heifer's car park, he passed the usual turning into Brackenley Lane which led back to his house. Accelerating through the double bend and up the slight rise, he glanced left to see if Andi reacted to the departure from the norm. She looked at him a little quizzically, but seemed perfectly happy to sit back and let the hot air blow up her legs and under her dress. The October traffic was fairly light. A few hardy souls were strolling along the verges and there were enough Sunday drivers travelling towards Grassington that he couldn't travel at his preferred speed, so he settled himself into 'dawdle' mode. It would probably add fifteen minutes onto their journey, time that he wanted to spend at the destination, but it couldn't be helped. Relaxing his shoulders as they followed the other traffic at a sedate 35mph, Paul moved his left hand, palm up, onto Andi's lap. Her own right hand settled on top of it, fingers gently interlocked. Even though a few turned into Grassington village, the funereal procession continued for the next 18 miles.

Past Kilnsey Crag, taking his hand back to jink right-left over the bridge at Kettlewell, through Starbotton and he shifted down to fourth as the road straightened towards Buckden. Briskly passing three cars and getting into an open space, Paul held the speed at 50. He knew that travelling any quicker would curl cold air over the tops of the door panels into the warm bubble created by forcing air into the bottom of the passenger compartment. If he'd left the windows up, turbulence would have brought cold air onto the back of their necks at far slower speeds.

At Cray, just three minutes later, he caught up with more traffic as the road re-established its normal undulating and twisty course. He reached out and Andi took his hand again as they slowed behind the queue. Kidstones, Newbiggin, West Burton.... Paul eased his hand away, flicked the wheel to the left and the little car left Ellers Lane, dipping slightly as it entered the narrower Eshington Lane. Andi briefly noticed a white sign by a stone wall on Paul's side, the speed of their progress only allowing her to glimpse the words 'light vehicles' before they were past and following the slight curve of a shallow stream. On they travelled, curving left over an old stone bridge barely wider than the car, then right into a narrow lane flanked by a wall on her side and a tall hedgerow on his. Every hundred yards or so, a little recess allowed just enough room for two opposing vehicles to pass.

Andi remembered the barely glimpsed sign.

Moments later, they emerged onto a proper road with painted lines and catseyes, but had hardly gone any distance before again turning. This time to the right, into a narrow lane between two old ivy covered houses. Over another bridge, round a corner and left into a car park no more than a quarter full.

Andi climbed out as Paul unfolded the roof and stretched it back to the windscreen lintel. The two bolts dropped into their holes and he moved the levers to latch them. Quarterlights fastened, windows up, doors closed and locked.

Taking her hand one more time, Paul led Andi across the road and down the steps which led to the footpath beside the River Ure. Turning upstream, they walked towards the surging Upper Force, which was swollen by the previous few days' rain.

 

[AndreaSubbie]

Hand in hand they walked the footpath. It was quiet, beautiful, peaceful. She was glad she'd worn boots today, chosen because of the weather but now quite suitable for where they were.

A sudden image floated into her mind of them still doing this in 20 years time, and it made her sad to think this actually might be their last walk together. It just didn't feel right to end what they had, and Andi couldn't understand why Paul wanted her to find someone nearer her own age.

Why did it matter that she was young? She wasn't a child, it wasn't wrong. And she could be mature enough. Couldn't she?

Andi knew she'd gone over it all many times and that there was nothing new to add. She wasn't trying to rationalise it or persuade herself of anything. It was simply that her whole being rebelled against this ending. It simply wasn't right.

The way they sat comfortably in her bedsit, the easy companionship of lunch, the snuggle, the car ride with the roof down and hot air blasting round her legs and up her dress. She wanted to know how it would feel doing the same drive in summer on Paul's motorcycle.

Her imagination let her toy with the fantasy of climbing off the bitch seat in her skin tight black leather catsuit, nothing under it but a thong.

Shaking the day dream loose she gripped Paul's hand tighter and concentrated on enjoying the present and making the most of it.

"Is that a waterfall I can hear up ahead?"