Sinners Read Online Free Page B

by the time Charlie had washed and cleaned his teeth, she appeared to be asleep, bundled up beneath the covers with her dressing-gown still on. He slid into bed beside her.
    After ten months of seeing each other as often as possible, they were still complete strangers as far as their bodies were concerned.
    ‘Are you asleep?’ he whispered, trying to work his hands beneath her tightly tied dressing-gown.
    No reply.
    After a struggle he reached her breasts. He played with them gently. She lay as if still asleep, eyes tightly shut.
    It was very exciting for him to fondle this strange motionless body. After a short while he became so excited that he pulled all the bedclothes away and roughly yanked her nightdress above her waist.
    She opened her eyes rapidly and started to protest.
    She was the only virgin he had ever been with, and he became so carried away that he forgot about the fact that it was her first time. He bore down, harder and harder, until at last he came to a shuddering, shattering halt, and fell off her exhausted.
    She lay there sobbing until gradually the sound of her crying got through to him. He lazily reached out and put his arm around her. ‘It’s all right,’ he said tenderly. ‘Nothing to worry about.’
    ‘It’s not all right.’ Her voice was harsh between her sobs.
    ‘What are you talking about?’ He was genuinely surprised. ‘I love you. I know it’s not good for you the first time, but it’s best to do it quickly, get it over with. Next time you’ll love it, you’ll see.’
    But the next time didn’t happen for months, and when she finally did consent, it was only under protest.
    On the few occasions they made love she lay beneath him as stiff and as still as a board. Perhaps if she had liked it better Michelle would never have happened . . .
    Things improved when Charlie got a job in London. It was only in a run-down nightclub, but it was better than trudging from town to town week after week.
    Lorna was pleased. They rented a small flat in Old Compton Street. It was no more than one large room, but it was somewhere permanent, more or less. Apart from their unsatisfactory sex life things were fine.
    Charlie stayed at the nightclub for three years. He was sort of MC and comedian rolled into one, and although it was a clip-joint, it was a good steady living.
    He was seen there one night by an American producer, who arrived backstage. ‘I want you to come to my office tomorrow and read for the part of Bernie the Pimp in my new show. It’s a small cameo, but important, very showy.’
    Charlie started to protest that he wasn’t an actor, but the producer thrust his card at him and said it didn’t matter, he was just right.
    The next day he read for the part and got it.
    After six weeks of touring, the show finally came to London, and Charlie with his ‘small cameo’ part walked off with all the reviews. The show was panned, but he came out of it glowing.
    He got himself an agent, and slowly but surely things started to happen. Another show, in which he again stole all the reviews. A small part in a film. A television appearance which turned into a highly successful series. A play. Several more films, and then the big break – a major British comedy film in which he was the star. From there he never looked back.
    After his success in the first show, Lorna became pregnant and they had a son – Sean. Then two years later, a little girl – Cindy. They moved into a big house in Wimbledon, and everything was fine until the film with Michelle.
    *    *    *
    Charlie wondered how Michelle would greet him. It had been nearly two years since they had last met. He was so fed up with the endless procession of girls who were only too willing to jump into bed with him at the mention of his name or the thought of being seen out with him. A woman like Michelle was different. Thank God.
    He reached for one of the many scripts stacked on a table. He liked to read everything sent to him. That