Without You I Have Nothing (15 page)

_{Suddenly the opening
bars of 'Dui Du' struck up.}

_{Jennifer felt the
pressure of Peter’s hand in the center of her back as he turned her,
unresisting, towards him and took up her other hand. In one smooth move, he
whirled her into the waltz, her feet following his as he swept her out onto the
stage. Effortlessly, they seemed to be moving perfectly in time with the
dancers around them. Peter and Jennifer had become part of the opera chorus.}

_{Peter had never
waltzed this way with any woman.}

_{In this, his first
glide onto the stage with Jennifer in his arms, he enjoyed the pure joy of
dancing with this wonderful young woman he loved. Yes, in his mind he had
thought long and hard of the word love and of Jennifer. Now, with Jennifer so
close to him, the music swelling and the opera chorus swirling around them, his
body was responding with strong reactions he had hitherto repressed.}

_{Every atom in his
body focused on her. Above the strains of the orchestra and despite the singing
he was conscious of her every movement, her every breath. Her essence filled
his lungs and his whole body filled with his love of her.}

_{He was intoxicated
with this woman as he danced. His arms held her tighter and tighter as if he was
terrified she would flee.}

_{He was desperate to
keep her for himself.}

_{At first, Jennifer
closed her eyes then she became intensely aware of every place on her body
where it brushed against Peter. Her breasts tingled where they met his chest
and her thighs rejoiced when they rubbed against this man of hers. His hand on
her back made her body exult with the strength of his firm touch.}

_{She looked up into
Peter’s eyes as they loomed closer and closer until their lips touched and they
were kissing as they danced. She was oblivious of everything but then the music
stopped and the wild applause started.}

_{Dragging her head
back to Peter’s chest Jennifer was too terrified to look over the spotlights.}

_{Then, slowly, the
strains of the waltz gathered speed and again they were dancing and again Peter
was kissing her. He felt the softness of her lips as he tenderly put his lips
to hers.}

_{The reprise seemed to
slow down as if they had been dancing for hours but Peter’s attention was
totally on Jennifer. He wanted to hold her against him forever, to protect her.
He needed her to know his tenderness and love.}

_{He admitted to
himself that he wanted this feeling with her and her alone.}

_{Returning his
attention to the action around him as if knowing what to do, Peter danced her
off stage before the waltz ended and they stood in the wings kissing, unmindful
of the world around them, until a voice commented, “No wonder opera gets a bad
name,” and one of their fellow dancers laughed his way past.}

_{Again, Peter took
charge.}

_{“Stop Peter, where
are we going?”}

_{“I saw you watching
those men in their tights with those big bulges which are really socks to
encourage wistful thinking by the women patrons. I thought you would like to
meet some of the male dancers and find out if those bulges were real.”}

_{He could not help
laughing at Jennifer’s look of dismay.}

<sub>“But just be careful
- they're renowned gropers.”</sub>

_{At the party
following the performance, Peter made no comment when the male dancers vied to
dance with her. Trying to push his jealousy aside, he watched Jennifer twist
and twirl in their arms. Then, unable to hide his feelings any longer he broke
in, smiling and taking her arm.}

_{“This young lady is
mine.”}

_{Jennifer also showed
her jealousy when later she abandoned her partner to break in as one of the
ballerinas was dancing far too close to her Peter.}

_{Happy, they walked
hand in hand across the forecourt of the Opera House and entered the elevator
to go up to Peter’s apartment.}

_{“I love the harbor
lights and the hum of the city,” smiled Peter as he moved to open the apartment
to the clear night air.}

_{“I know how
Cinderella felt at the Ball,” was Jennifer’s comment as she slid the curtains
back.}

_{Peter swung the glass
French doors wide open and the sounds of the ferries drew Jennifer to the balcony
where she stood, grasping the rail and accepting Peter’s hands on her shoulders
without flinching.}

_{She allowed Peter to
unpin her hair so that it cascaded to her shoulders. With a little more
boldness, Peter continued to caress her shoulders, letting his hand slip gently
down the length of her arm.}

_{He turned her and,
with a “May I?” slipped an arm around her waist and they continued their waltz.}

_{Nothing mattered -
not time, not their stamina - until Jennifer lifted her head from Peter’s chest
and shyly, looked up at Peter.}

_{“Can you help me?  I
need to change. Can you help me out of this dress?”}

_{For once Peter was at
a loss for words and turned Jennifer around. He made no comment as his
trembling fingers started to work the zipper. As it slowly lowered, his lips
traced a pattern of kisses across her back and his fingers joined the action
dancing a light tattoo across her shoulders before gliding down her back until
Jennifer started keening and moaning.}

_{“Oh, Peter, Peter,
Peter, please, please.”}

_{Peter said nothing
but traced the slow downward path of the zipper with his lips. He noted that
she was wearing no bra and still his lips followed the zipper’s movement. At
her panty line he stopped. Knowing he was at the point of no return, Peter took
a deep breath and put his arms around her waist holding her safe and comforting
against him. With his lips against her neck, he quietly whispered.}

_{“I love you so very
much.”}

_{Jennifer shook
herself and straightened.}

_{“I should hope you do
love me.”  Jennifer began to giggle. “What are you doing?  I asked for your
help. I didn’t ask you to seduce me.”}

_{Her hands clutched
the top of the dress to her as she ordered him about.}

_{“You get changed too,
and hang your clothes up decently. I hope to see you in them again sometime soon.”}

_{In casual clothes,
they had supper as the sun rose and Peter took Jennifer to what was to become
her bedroom.}

_{“It’s too late to
take you home. Sleep here. Lock the door if you wish. Call me if you need a
teddy bear to cuddle.”}

_{Jennifer reached up,
pulled his head to her lips and whispered to him.}

_{“Thank you, my prince.
Thank you for a wonderful night. Cinderella must sleep before she turns into a
mouse.”}

_{Kissing him lightly
she entered her bedroom and closed the door.}

_{Peter noted it was
unlocked.}

_{Later that same
Sunday morning Peter sat at the breakfast table with piles of the Sunday
editions of Sydney papers on the table. He had coffee made and a light
breakfast ready for Cinderella when she awoke.}

_{At last, his wait was
over and Jennifer appeared all fresh-faced in a silk kimono that highlighted
her coloring. Seeing the papers strewn on the table and glancing at the
pictures on the front page she gasped.}

_{He placed her
breakfast before her and grinned at her consternation.}

_{The heading on one
paper screamed 'Melbourne beauty steals Sydney’s most eligible' and the whole
page had the photographs of her kissing Peter at the restaurant table. The
second paper’s front page showed Jennifer at the top of the Opera House steps
on the arm of Peter and gave her history as head of the legal department of her
company. The only reference to Peter was a single line asking who the handsome
mystery man was.}

_{“You’d better have a
look at the society pages.”  Peter was both amused and delighted at her
response.}

_{The society pages had
picture after picture of the evening headed 'Friends of the Opera Raises One
Million for Children’s Cancer Charity'. She found three pictures of them
dancing and one even showed Peter stealing a kiss on the stage.}

_{“Whatever will Mum
think?”}

_{“Don’t worry, I’ll
send her six copies of the two papers.”  Peter could only chortle as Jennifer
blanched.}

_{Early the next
morning Bob was on the phone.}

_{“My word, you and the
Ice Maiden are a striking couple. Both papers too. You must have wowed them. Now,
have you won your bet?  How did you get on?  Is she really an Ice Maiden or did
I get it wrong?”}

_{Peter was
non-committal but Bob did not notice as he breathlessly continued to ramble on
with one of his stories about yet another imaginary conquest.}

_{“That was some
weekend. Boy, that Karen has stamina. I'm a physical wreck.”}

_{“I'm sorry, Bob, I
can’t stop. A customer has just come into the workshop and I'm sure she wants
me. She’s an old friend of yours.”}

_“Who?”

_{“Mrs. Williams.” 
Peter had noticed her slip into the workshop but Bob didn’t wait to hear more. Peter
left the office and greeted her.}

_{“Good morning, Mrs.
Williams.”}

_{“Susie,” She
corrected.}

_{“There wasn’t much
wrong with your vehicle, only a loose connection and a dead battery. We fixed
both and returned your car.”  Smiling, Peter tried to keep the conversation on
business.}

_{“Peter - about the
other night. I’ve been too embarrassed to see you but I have to pay the account.
I'm really not that...”}

_{Abruptly he
interrupted her. “You're a lady, Susie.”  They walked to her car.}

_{“But I don’t want
anyone to know that...”}

_{Peter’s hand on her
arm cut Susie’s words short.}

_{“Susie, I may have
kissed you and behaved irresponsibly but I would never tell.”  There was no
need for her to worry - Peter was no Bob.}

_{“I drove you home as
a friend should. We had a coffee and talked. I returned to work. What else is
there to tell?  Oh yes, there’s no charge. How could I charge a friend who
needed my help?”  Peter’s smile told her so much more than mere words could
convey.}

_{“I should have known.
You were so gentle and caring. Really I didn’t deserve that.”  Susie’s eyes
softened. “Thank you for driving me home. I really don’t know what came over me.
I know that I was terribly lonely, but I'm most grateful that you didn’t take
advantage of the situation. Thank you, you were wonderful.”}

_{Later that morning
Peter rang Jennifer’s extension but was surprised when her Personal Assistant
answered.}

_{“Could I speak to
Miss Blake, please?”  He was insistent.}

_{“Who is calling?”}

_{“Peter O'Brien.”}

_{“I'm afraid she’s
out.”  The line went dead.}

_{By the time evening
arrived, Peter was feeling more than mystified when he called at her apartment
to take her to the dress rehearsal and she wasn’t there.}

_{Her eyes were green,
unfriendly mirrors when Peter joined her on stage and she played the part of
the heroine faultlessly.}

_{Immediately the
rehearsal ended Peter headed backstage to collect her.}

_{She had left. Peter
believed that with the opening night looming this was just reaction to stage
jitters. However, each time he called her at the office, she was unavailable.}

_{Until Friday morning!}

_{“Miss Blake, please.”}

_{“Who, shall I say is
calling?”}

_{Perhaps Peter was
suspicious but he answered, “Mr. Brown.”}

_{“Please wait.”}

_{“Jennifer Blake
speaking.”}

_{“Jennifer, it’s me. Peter.”}

_{There was a long
silence. Jennifer was clearly determined to say nothing. Peter tried again.}

_{“Tonight’s opening
night, I was wondering if...”}

_{A frosty whisper cut
him short. “I will never allow you to play with my emotions as though I am some
kind of toy.}

_{“I am so glad you won
your bet.”  The phone went dead.}

_{Suddenly Peter felt
cold as if frozen fingers clutched his heart. His head dropped and he stared at
the floor. ‘What’ve I done?’  His thoughts raced over his times with Jennifer. He
sank back into his chair and stared at the wall as if seeking an answer there.}