Well, I kind of need him to give me an orgasm, but apart from that, he’s just a guy.
A guy with whom I’m going to have to simulate sex for the next seven hours.
Fluff my life.
Erika appears onstage and gestures for us to join her. For the purpose of rehearsal, our “bed” is simply a black rostrum covered in a sheet.
So romantic.
“Okay,” Erika says. “The marriage night scene is historically controversial because of its graphic content, so we’re going to aim for something realistic but tasteful, okay?”
Holt and I nod, but I’m not sure what she means. I’m not well acquainted with real sex, let alone the fake kind.
“Now, because we’re a drama school, we need to be seen as taking certain risks. So for that reason, I’d like to create the illusion of nudity.”
I’m pretty sure the look of terror on Holt’s face is mirrored on mine.
“Don’t panic.” Erika laughs. “You won’t be naked. You’ll just look like you are.” She reaches into a bag at her feet and pulls out what looks like underwear.
“Miss Taylor, you’ll wear this beneath your costume.” She holds up a flesh-colored leotard. “And Mr. Holt, you’ll wear these.” I smirk as she reveals flesh-toned boxer-briefs. “Now, I understand that you may be a little hesitant about this, but believe me, they’re quite modest. You’d reveal more of your bodies going to the beach.”
“I usually wear board shorts,” Holt mumbles.
“I wear jeans and a hoodie.”
Erika and Holt turn to me.
“I come from Washington state. Our beaches are freezing.”
Erika pulls out a white T-shirt with a pair of white drawstring pants for Holt and an ivory robe for me. “These are your costumes for this scene. I need you to rehearse in them, since removing them is part of the blocking.”
Oh, hell. I have to practice undressing Holt? In my current state, this isn’t going to end well.
Holt and I take our costumes and undergarments from Erika, then slink away to separate dressing rooms. When we reemerge, I swear we’re wearing identical blushes.
He looks good in his costume. Tall and lean. The stark white makes his eyes look even bluer than usual. He goes to shove his hands in his pockets, but the pants don’t have any. He sighs in frustration. I stop in front of him, and he eyes the deep vee at the front of my robe before dropping his head and muttering “Shit” under his breath.
“Okay, let’s do this,” Erika says as she claps. “We’ll begin by talking through the sequence of events. Miss Taylor, you’ll start by sitting on the bed. You’re awaiting your new husband, full of anticipation and longing. Mr. Holt, with the help of the nurse, you’ve managed to sneak into Juliet’s room. You’ll have a few short hours to consummate your love before you’re banished from the city. You both want to savor every inch of skin, memorize every part of each other’s body. Any questions?”
I shake my head and squirm as the elastic of my leotard rides up my left butt cheek. Holt shakes his head and cracks his knuckles.
“Start slowly. Take your time exploring each other. Romeo, this is your first time having sex with someone you truly love. It’s a profoundly different experience for you. And Juliet, your apprehension about giving yourself to a man for the first time is completely overridden by your desire for your new husband. As the passion builds, your movements can become more frantic. But when you come together, it’s a revelation for both of you. I’m not looking for porn here. Just simple, honest, pretend lovemaking. Are we clear?”
“Clear,” we say in unison.
My palms are sweaty, and Holt’s biting the inside of his cheek. The theater feels very small.
“Right. Take a moment to chat about what you’re going to do, then take your positions.”
Erika goes down into the auditorium, while Holt and I turn to each other and shuffle nervously.
“So…” I say, looking up at him.
He nods and lets out a breath. “Yeah. So…”
“We’re going to have fake sex.”
“Yep.”
“You and me.”
“Apparently.”
“I have to take your clothes off, and … well … touch you and stuff.”
He tries for his nonexistent pockets again before putting his hands on his hips. “Fuck this fucking play.”
“Don’t worry about it,” I say. “I’m sure after a few minutes, we’ll be bored out of our minds.”
He gives me the world’s most skeptical look.
“Are you two ready?” Erika calls.
We stare at each other for a second before Holt stalks off side stage.
Okay, so we’re really doing this. A sex scene between a virgin and the man who hates that he wants her. Should be fun.
I sit on the edge of the rostrum and bounce my legs.
“When you’re ready,” Erika says as she opens her notebook.
I take a few breaths, then Holt walks onstage, bare feet and beautiful face, eyes full of fear, need, and want.
I stand and face him as he approaches, a low flutter starting in my belly. It moves lower as he runs his gaze up and down my body.
Okay, Cassie, focus. Find your character. Juliet. It’s all about Juliet.
Dear God, Holt looks good in that costume.
Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou, Romeo.
He stops in front of me, and it looks like he’s just run a mile rather than walked a few steps across the stage. His breathing is fast, and his chest rises and falls as he locks eyes with me.