Fever Pitch

by Sarah Holland

  'Poor Basil,' said Rizzio, frowning, 'he'd be heartbroken to hear you.'

  'I still say we should have locked him in the potting shed,' Elizabeth muttered irritably, spooning the last of her sherry trifle around the bowl without interest.

  The nightclub was small and lively, with bright lights around the stage and bouncy music piped through speakers. Mirrors dazzled from wall to wall, nubile young cocktail waitresses wandered around dressed in short black lace dresses and vacant expressions.

  'Did you see Maggie at the wedding?' Rizzio asked with an eager expression. 'Didn't she look awful? And just imagine—she's married to someone, poor swine. That hat she was wearing! It was like half of London Zoo on her head.'

  Elizabeth laughed, looking at Louisa drily. 'He's a real bitch, isn't he?' she said with amusement.

  Jacey was watching with a lazy smile. 'He can't help himself, Elizabeth,' he drawled, holding a cigar between sinewy fingers. 'He's an eccentric genius—you should know that by now.'

  Rizzio pretended amazement. 'Eccentric? Me?'

  Elizabeth gave him a wry look. 'Listen, kiddo, if you had a belfry, there'd be bats in it!'

  Louisa laughed, watching them. Then her gaze fell on Jacey and she felt a sigh escape her throat. He was relaxed, his lean body at ease, and she urgently wanted to twine her fingers with his across the table in the same easy way she had once been able to do when they were out together. But that had all finished a long time ago, she thought sadly. If only she had had more foresight and a little less pride!

  'How did you find this place?' Jacey asked, drawing on his cigar. 'I've never heard of it before.'

  'My nephew works behind the bar,' Rizzio told him, waving long fingers in the direction of the bar.

  'His family are like ferrets,' said Elizabeth, sighing. 'Everywhere we go they seem to pop out of the woodwork. I wish I'd married an orphan!'

  Jacey looked at Louisa grimly, and she flushed, looking away.

  'My nephew said the group is ace,' Rizzio continued, scratching his head with bony fingers. 'It's a new group, called Boulevard.'

  'Boulevard!' Louisa could hardly believe her ears. That was Pete's group! What on earth are they doing in York? she thought anxiously.

  Across the table, her eyes met Jacey's, and the grim set of his face made her heart plummet. He knew it was Pete's group.

  She looked up just then as the group came on stage. The sound of clicking microphones filled the club as they adjusted the stands, the rap of drums was heard as Steve began tapping out preparatory rhythms. Then they began to play a current hit from the charts.

  Pete was singing into the microphone, his guitar swinging at his hips as he played. Louisa ran her eyes over the rest of the group, taking in the smart appearance of them under the white moon of the spotlight.

  'We'll dance,' Jacey drawled as they began to play slow numbers later on the programme.

  Louisa stood up, her legs shaky, her eyes riveted on Jacey. His lean hand slid around her waist as he led her to the dance floor, sliding his arms around her and drawing her closer.

  Pete faltered on a line as he caught sight of them dancing.

  'I think he's jealous,' Jacey murmured in her ear, his fingers sliding through the silkiness of her hair. 'Don't you?'

  Louisa shivered as she felt his hard thighs brushing sensuously against hers. 'No. He's probably just surprised,' she said, her voice shaky.

  The long hands moved down to her waist. 'Then we must make him jealous, mustn't we, my darling?' he drawled against her throat, his mouth burning on her white skin.

  The drugging sensuality of the dance made her cling to him like a limpet, her arms wound around his neck, her fingers tangling in his hair. Their thighs intertwined, their bodies moving together like serpents, sliding against each other with sensual, heated but discreet movements.

  The music stopped and she swayed against him, dizzy, her cheeks hot with arousal. Jacey looked down at her through heavy lids, his narrowed gaze inspecting her flushed face.

  The group had come to the end of their short programme, and the applause rang out in the small club. Pete and the rest of the band walked off stage.

  'I think we upset your wealthy friend,' Jacey drawled, his mouth indenting sardonically.

  Louisa looked at him, her mind clearing. 'How can you be so cruel?' she asked, her brow marred with a frown. Pete must have been very upset when he saw them. No doubt he had thought he would be able to escape once he was out of London.

  Jacey smiled, his teeth white and sharp. 'I'm just a responsive pupil,' he said with a trace of anger. 'You taught me how to hurt. You can hardly blame me for trying out my skills.'

  Her mouth tightened at his words, her eyes angry. 'Sometimes,' she said in a low voice, 'I really dislike you, Jacey.'

  His teeth met. 'The feeling is mutual,' he said tightly.

  She pushed away from him, walking out of the club and into the foyer. What was the point in arguing with him? He had seen how white Pete had gone when he saw them together, he had seen the anguish in his eyes. How could he have been so deliberately cruel? To hurt someone like that. It just didn't add up to the Jacey she had fallen in love with.

  The foyer was cool, the air blowing through the open glass doors, cooling her hot cheeks. She sighed, leaning against the wall, closing her eyes.

  'Hey, Louisa!' A familiar voice made her look up, and she saw Steve, the drummer, approaching her. 'How are you doing?'

  She straightened, giving him a little smile. 'Hallo, Steve. I'm fine. And you?'

  'Fine,' he replied. 'How'd you like the new gear?' He twirled, hand on hip, showing off his new outfit. 'Really cool, huh?'

  Her cheeks dimpled as she watched him. 'Really cool,' she agreed, eyeing the smooth line of black jeans and white shirt.

  Steven hooted, parading about, cheeks sucked in. 'I feel weird looking nice,' he told her, grinning through his beard. 'I'm so used to everyone calling me Pig-Pen!'

  Louisa laughed, her eyes dancing. Then she saw Pete. He stood watching her, his face white, his eyes holding a sadness that made her wince. She bit her lip, uncertain whether she should stay or go. Did he want to even speak to her after what had happened?

  Pete walked over to her, his expression unassuming. 'Hallo,' he said quietly. She didn't know how to reply, just gave him a choked smile. He studied her. 'How's marriage?'

  She tried to smile, but went wrong halfway. 'Not too bad,' she said huskily, avoiding his eyes for a moment. Searching for something to say, she added, 'I liked the group—you've improved.'

  Pete shrugged. 'Yeah, we put some new numbers in the act.' He paused, watching her. 'Come backstage and say hello to the boys. They'll be pleased to see you. You know, they're always asking after you.'

  Her eyes darted to the club. Would Jacey miss her if she was gone a little too long? She shrugged, sighing. By the time he thought something might be wrong she would have returned. Besides, he had made her angry, and she wasn't prepared to go back to that hostility yet.

  She hesitated. 'Can we walk instead?' she asked softly.

  Pete nodded. 'Sure.' He took her arm, leading her away, and she looked round to say goodbye to Steve, but he had already gone. They walked out of the club together and into the dark street, the lights from the nearby shops softening the darkness.

  'How's he treating you?' Pete asked into the silence.

  The cool wind blew a strand of hair into her eyes and she smoothed it back absently. 'Fine,' she said with a little smile.

  Pete studied her intently, his eyes concerned. 'He seemed like a pretty violent guy when I met him. I wouldn't want to think of him hurting you, Louisa.'

  She looked at him through her lashes. 'Jacey wouldn't hurt me,' she said huskily, and it wasn't a lie. Jacey became violent only because his emotions ran so deeply. In her book, that didn't constitute hurting.

  Time passed while she walked along the streets of York with Pete, and she didn't notice how quickly it had flitted past. There was some
thing peaceful about the empty streets, the cool silence that surrounded the darkness.

  'We'd better get back,' said Pete, glancing at his watch. 'It'll be closing time soon.'

  'Closing time?' She was horrified, her eyes widening. 'We must hurry. He'll kill me if I'm not back in time!'

  She felt her pulses leaping with sudden fear as they ran quickly back along the way they had come, past half-lit shops, past empty roads, uselessly changing traffic lights with no cars to stop at them.

  The foyer was jam-packed with people when they arrived. They were leaving, dragging their coats behind them as they spilled out on to the pavement in a lively jumble of glittering clothes and laughter. Louisa searched their flushed happy faces for Jacey, but he was nowhere to be seen.

  Pushing through the club, she looked frantically inside the main part, but she could see neither Jacey, Elizabeth or Rizzio, and her heart gave a painful heavy thud as she stared in disbelief at their deserted table.

  'I'll explain what happened,' said Pete with concern as he took her arm and led her outside.

  Louisa closed her eyes. 'Don't do that,' she pleaded, breathing hectically at the very idea. 'Please—don't do that!'

  They raced to the back of the club, and Louisa's eyes darted around in search of Jacey's car among the lines of cars in the car park. But it wasn't there.

  'Hi!' Steve waved to them from the back of a bright orange van with the message 'Boulevard Rules O.K.' painted on it in blue letters. 'I thought you'd gone. What brings you back, then?'

  Louisa stopped dead. Slowly she walked over to Steve, eyes worried, 'What do you mean, you thought we'd gone?'

  Steve shrugged. 'Your husband was here looking for you about twenty minutes ago. I told him you'd gone.'

  Louisa whitened, swaying. She put out a hand to steady herself.

  'You bloody idiot!' Pete snapped. 'Why the hell did you tell him that?'

  Steve pulled a face. 'I didn't know you hadn't gone.' He looked at them both, frowning. 'Sorry. Have I put my foot in it?'

  Pete ran a weary hand over his forehead. He turned to Louisa. 'You'll have to come back to the hotel with us. You can ring him from there.'

  Steve jumped into the front of the van, scratching his head and looking innocent. Louisa found herself squashed between him and Pete as they rode to the hotel, the van rattling noisily as they bumped about, the instruments and other members of the group in the back of the van jumping and rattling as they drove.

  She and Pete spent long agonising minutes in the hotel foyer poring over the telephone directories in the plastic-covered telephone booth in the corner of the foyer.

  'He's not there,' Louisa announced miserably, snapping the book shut after looking in it a final time.

  Pete's thin brows jerked in a frown. 'Let me have a look.' He took the directory, leaning against the coin box, studying the columns with a frown. 'You're right,' he said eventually, putting the book back with disgust.

  Louisa studied her watch. Two in the morning. The watch face stared back at her as panic inside her grew. Jacey would hit the roof!

  'Taxis,' said Pete after a moment's thought. 'We might find a firm who'll agree to spend hours driving around the countryside looking for the house.'

  An hour later, they found a service who agreed finally to send a driver. Pete led her out of the hotel when the green mini-cab pulled up.

  'Daylight robbery,' he muttered. 'Charging three times the price just because it's after midnight!

  Even in London they're not that bad.'

  Louisa looked up at him gratefully. 'Thanks for your help, Pete.'

  He smiled. 'Idiot! You wouldn't be in this mess if it hadn't been for me.' He frowned. 'I still think I should have driven you home, though.'

  'Not a very good idea,' Louisa replied, shivering at the thought of pulling up outside in Pete's car while Jacey watched from a window. 'Besides, you would have got lost on the way back.'

  Pete watched her for a long moment as the taxi's engine hummed beside them. He slid his arms hesitantly around her, holding her close, his mouth against her hair.

  'I still care about you,' he murmured against her hair, his hand tight on her shoulders. 'You know that. Any time you need me, just let me know. I'll always be around.'

  Louisa felt guilt pressing down on her. 'I know,' she said huskily, burying her face in his shoulder. She pulled away, her eyes meeting his for a long, silent moment. The emotion in his eyes made her want to cry.

  Pete smiled, ruffling her hair. 'Go on, idiot—in you get!' He put her in the taxi and handed the driver a bunch of notes. 'Take the lady anywhere she wants to go.'

  Louisa waved out of the back window as the car pulled away, and Pete stood waving back until she had disappeared into the distance.

  It was only when he had gone that the tight knot of fear started to hurt her stomach. She felt suddenly sick with it. Jacey was not going to be pleased.

  Jacey was going to kill her.

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  Greystone House loomed up in front of her— silent, dark, laughing at her from behind its winged gables. Louisa shivered as she made her way along the path, feeling the shadows wrap around her, the air chill and silent as she stood waiting at the front door while she hunted in her bag for the spare key Jacey had given her.

  When she opened the door she felt her nerves tauten. The heavy thud of the lock as it clicked back made her jump, and her knees were weak as she stepped over the threshold, closing the door behind her.

  Then silence.

  She stood listening, the knife edge of awareness making her stiffen. Jacey was here, somewhere. She could almost touch his presence. Her pulses leapt as she heard a movement in the dark hall.

  'Where the hell have you been?'

  The low, biting voice made her jump, pulses drumming hotly. Her eyes scanned the darkness, unable to see him.

  'You left without me,' she said uncertainly. 'I couldn't find you.'

  'You didn't try,' Jacey said under his breath.

  The hair on the back of her neck prickled. 'I went to the car park, but you'd gone.'

  The silence was laced with anger, and she could almost hear him breathing. 'How did you get home?' he asked. 'Taxi?'

  'Yes,' she said, searching for his face.

  There was a low growl of laughter that made her blood run cold. 'Radcliffe couldn't be bothered to drive you home afterwards?' he said tightly. 'Too tired after he'd had you?'

  She saw his face suddenly. He looked demonic in the half light, the fleshless cheekbones reflecting what little light there was in harsh angles, his mouth tight and straight, uncompromising.

  'I didn't go anywhere with Pete,' she said, heart pounding. 'He just helped me find a taxi.'

  'It's almost three in the morning,' Jacey said tightly. 'Do you take me for a fool?'

  'I forgot the time, I didn't realise ‑'

  'No,' his lips curled back in a snarl, 'you didn't, did you? You forgot all about your husband, waiting for you. You went to your lover's bed for a few hours instead.'

  The words shot like bullets from his mouth and she backed as he came for her, fear making her eyes wide, staring pools of liquid black.

  'Please ‑' She put out her hands as he closed in on her, but his fingers were already sliding over her throat.

  'That's good,' he muttered thickly. 'I like to hear you beg.'

  His hands clamped her tight against him, and she felt the zip being pulled smoothly downwards, the silk dress falling from her body while she tried to catch it, pulling at it, but his hands took her wrists, pinning her to the wall.

  'Don't, Jacey,' she whispered, her voice pulsing with fear and excitement. 'Nothing happened. We didn't make love.'

  'Liar!' he muttered through clenched teeth, and his mouth burnt on her throat as he pulled the dress down over her shoulders, exposing her breasts, his mouth moving closer to them, his tongue snaking out over her skin, making her tremble.

  'Pete didn't touch me,' she protested, tu
rning her head. 'He didn't!'

  'Liar!' he bit out again, eyes leaping with rage.

  He pulled the dress further, baring her to the waist, his hands running fiercely over her naked skin. He pressed her hard against him, kissing her ruthlessly until her legs weakened and she swayed, putting a hand out to steady herself.

  'You went to him,' he muttered harshly, and pushed her down to the floor, kneeling over her. 'You went to him, you little bitch! Do you know how I felt when they told me where you'd gone?' His hands began unbuttoning his shirt, pulling at the buttons, his eyes gleaming in the darkness.

  Panic made her act, scrambling to get up, her hands gripping the wall as she tried to stand. 'Don't . . .!' she cried breathlessly as he whipped her back to him, pinning her down with the length of his body.

  'I wanted to kill you!' His mouth shook with rage as he bit the words out. 'I wanted to kill you, but it's all I can do to keep my hands off you. How do you make me feel like this?' he muttered hoarsely, his mouth burning on her throat. 'How do you make me hate like this?'

  Her heart stopped as his mouth clamped over hers, draining her, clinging to her with a fierce heated passion that burnt way out of control. His body slid against hers, their flesh twining as he pulled his clothes off, breathing hard, the rough hair on his thighs making her twist restlessly, gasping against his shoulder.

  He drove into her, his breath punched out in a cry as their bodies became one. 'Ah, Louisa ...' he muttered, lying still, as though he couldn't move.

  He was shaking, his whole body trembling. Then he moved, and they were clinging together, their hands feverish as they sought each other in the hot darkness, the only sounds those of their breathing, their hearts racing. Louisa clung to him, her mouth parted as she sought his, needing the fierce lovemaking, the ferocious, violent display of emotion. Their mouths met and clung as the spiral of excitement grew and she heard him breathing hoarsely against her mouth. Then she was gasping, shuddering against him as hot waves of pleasure made her convulse, clutching at him while he moved frenziedly with her until she heard the raw agony of his breathing as his fingers dug into her in the storm of a violent, pulsing climax.