Lee had fallen asleep in the music room with the TV on, and now there was nothing on but that terrible shrill noise and the station logo on the screen.  She looked at the clock.  It was past 4:00 a.m.  Earlier she was in here with George, who was working on a couple of guitar solos for the songs for the new film. 

They were due to leave for the Bahamas in a little more than a week to begin filming.  This was really going to be exciting, as they would be filming on location in different parts of the world.  There wasn’t much of a script.  It was still pretty haphazard, a sort of James Bond spoof.  The working title for the film was Eight Arms to Hold You, which they all thought was pretty lame, and John and Paul both said they weren’t writing any such song with any such title. 

George had asked her why John had flown out of here like a bat out of hell.  She confided most of the story to him, the terrible things they said to each other, her insecurities, her fear of losing him.

“You can’t go thinking like that, girl, you have to know how he feels,” George said.  “I’ve never seen him like this, the way he is with you.”

“Then why all these girls?  He can have me, you know.  I’m ready, he knows this.”

George smiled.  “As far as all the girls, you have to know it doesn’t mean anything.  It’s all part of the life.  They give it, we take it.  Nobody gets hurt.”

“I get hurt.”

“I know, but that’s something you’re probably gonna have to learn how to take in stride if you’re gonna be with us.  You’ve had early lessons with Paul.”

“I’m not in love with Paul.  But I admit I’ve gotten possessive with him too.  And I especially don’t want to see any tarts near you, either.”  She looked at him sheepishly and smiled.  “Sorry, I can’t help it.”

They both laughed.  He pulled her close and hugged her and she rested her head on his chest.  He kissed the top of her head.

“But John’s been pretty close to home past couple of months.  Ringo wasn’t around much, and he was here for you.  That says something, don’t you think?”

“Yeah, but what if you get one of them pregnant?  Then what?”

“Girl, you really do have a one track mind.  Ringo didn’t get caught by some slag.  She was his girl back in the ‘Pool.  There’s a difference.  Speaking for myself, I’m careful.  I’m pretty sure John is the same way.  Now, stop yer worrying about this.  You’ll work it out.  Come on, I’m going to meet Paul at the AdLib.  Come out with me.”

“No, I want to wait for him to come back, get this straightened out.”

“He might be with Paul.”

“No, I’ll wait.”

That was six hours ago.  She got up and turned off the TV, not knowing what to do with herself.  She wasn’t tired anymore; in fact, she was wide awake.  She heard some noise out in the foyer.

“C’mon, John, stand up straight.  You don’t half weigh a ton when you’re falling down drunk.”  Neil’s voice.

“Fuck off, Neil, you haven’t seen drunk.”

“Mal and I need to unionize, get paid overtime.  Hazard and abuse pay.”

Lee walked out to find short, slightly built Neil with John’s arm slung over his shoulder, trying to keep him upright.

“You should fuckin’ pay us for lettin’ you on this ride,” John laughed while poking him in the chest.

“Yeah, right.  If yer not careful, John, one of these days you’ll top yerself, between the pills and the drink.”

Alarms went off in Lee’s head.  She had no idea John did anything crazy like that.  She knew about the marijuana and the drinking, which seemed considerably less now that they’d discovered ‘reefer.’  But she’d heard mixing pills and booze could be dangerous.

She really didn’t know what kind of pills they were or what they did.

“Don’t get hooked on any birds, Neil, they drive you crazy,” John said thickly.  “Just fuck ‘em and leave ‘em.  Don’t let ‘em get to you.  If you do, yer fucked.”

Neil saw Lee standing across the room and said, “All right now, John, that’s enough.”

“No, no, I’m serious, man,” he slurred.  “They mess about with your head…” Neil covered John’s mouth with his hand, and deposited him on one of the sofas.

“Let him talk, Neil,” Lee said.  “He obviously needs to.”

“Oh, there it is, fuckin’ cocktease.  Meanwhile, it had other plans all along,” John jeered at her.

“John!” Neil yelled.

Lee bristled, but said, “It’s okay, Neil, I can take it from here.”

“I don’t know about that,” Neil said.

“’s okay, Neil.  You got me home, I can handle this pricktease witch,” John said, pointing his finger at Lee and squinting his eyes in her direction.

“That’s not what I’m worried about.”

“Watch your mouth, John,” Lee said.  “Go ahead, Neil, we’ll be okay.”

Neil looked at her.  “Really,” she said, taking his arm and walking him to the door, kissing his cheek.  “We’ll be fine.”

“Call me if you need me.” Neil said, and left.

Lee walked up behind the sofa and hesitantly touched her hand to the back of John’s head.  She couldn’t bear it that he was so angry with her.

“John, I know this is really no time to talk, but tomorrow I would like to explain, if…”

“Explain how you led me around by the balls?  Let me down?”

“You made those rules, not…”

“You better back off, if you know what’s good for ya, girl!” he said, getting up and staggering off to his room.

Lee followed him, and when he stumbled, she caught him from behind and kept him from falling.  She led him in and sat him down on his bed, and he lay down and immediately complained that the room was spinning. 

She went into the bathroom and returned with a wet washcloth for his head.  She removed his shoes, and undid and removed his trousers with a struggle.  She took the cloth and smoothed back his hair and wiped his face. 

“Any better, baby?” she asked.

He moaned, and mumbled, “…thought you loved me, girl.” 

The next instant, he seemed to be out cold.  “Oh, John,” she sighed, getting up and covering him with a blanket.  She spotted his contact lens case on the nightstand.   He’d recently started wearing them, and knew she’d better remove them too, or he’d end up with scratched corneas again.  They popped out quite easily and he didn’t even budge.

This ‘sleep of the dead’ concerned her a bit, and she sat down in the chair near the bed and watched him breathing for a couple of hours and shed a few tears, until she fell off herself.

***

When she opened her eyes it was close to noon and his bed was empty.  She got up and listened at the bathroom door and heard the water running.  She went off to her room to shower herself.

By the time Lee had dried her hair and dressed, she found a full house at the kitchen table.  Brian was there, along with Neil, Mal and Derek, and she was surprised to see Ringo there too.  She smiled at them all.

“Well, hello everyone!  What’s the happy occasion?”

“Bit of a meeting and discussion about the film schedule,” Brian said.  “After the Bahamas, since they requested it, we’re having a ski scene written in to be filmed in the Austrian Alps.  How does that sound?”

“Like somebody can break a leg,” Ringo said warily, and everyone laughed. 

Lee tried to catch John’s eye, but he wasn’t having it.  “Sounds wonderful, snow capped mountains, tropical islands, and all in color this time.  Should be a beautiful film,” Lee said.

“It will be.  I’m very excited,” Brian said.  “Anyway, like I said, I expect you all at the producer’s party tonight.  It will give you all a chance to meet and mingle with the other actors.”

“Me too?” Lee asked. 

“Of course, you too,” Brian answered.  “Eight o’clock -- and Lee, please see that they dress properly.  They don’t have to wear ties, but a nice coat would be in order.  Fashionably late is okay, they are the stars, after all, but don’t keep them waiting all night.”

“Right,” Lee said.

“I’ll see you tonight.  Come on, Derek, we have to work on the press release.”

“Ah, yes,” Derek said, “the solicitous and carefully worded bullshit.”

“Exactly,” Brian said as they left.

“Hate these fucking things,” George said once they were gone.

“Yeah,” John said.  “The gushers and hangers-on.”

“No,” Paul said, “we get to check out the talent.  I hear they’re going to use a lot of great-looking girls as extras.  My casting couch is open.”  He raised his eyebrows up and down.

Ringo smiled at him sardonically.  “Yours is never closed,” he said. 

“No remarks from the married men in the peanut gallery!”

At the mention of “married men”, John got up and left the room. Lee ran out after him.  She called out, “John, can I talk to you please?”  He turned to her with a stone cold blank expression on his face.

“I really hope you’re not taking any of this out on Ritchie.  None of this is his fault.”

“Ring and I will be just fine,” he said in a monotone, the implication being that this battle was between him and her.  She’s still worried about him, he thought.

“Well, can we talk about this?  I know you probably don’t understand why…it’s just that, that…”  She couldn’t get it out.  His expression was so challenging and intimidating.

“Well?” he asked, straight out.

“Don’t be so mean.  This is hard for me.”

He turned abruptly and left her standing there, feeling foolish and humiliated.       

***

That evening, Lee came out of her room at eight looking smashing in a black leather skirt and a black long-sleeved blouse, her long dark hair sleek and shining and framing her shoulders.   Her make-up was expertly applied and she wore the petal pink lipstick that John especially liked.  She was determined to win him over tonight and put all of this nonsense behind them.  She looked around, but it was especially quiet.  They hadn’t forgotten her, had they?  They would never do that.

“Hello?  Where is everyone?” she called.

“Be right out, luv.” Paul’s voice floated out from his room.

“Oh, good,” she said, sounding relieved.  When he came out, he gave her the once over and whistled.  “You look great,” he said.

“Well, thank you sir, not so bad yourself.”

“Come on,” Paul said.  “We’ll grab a taxi.”

“Taxi?  They’ve gone?”

“Yeah.  Ringo left earlier to pick up Maureen, and George and John left with Neil and Mal.  You and me, kid.”

“Paul, why is he doing this to me?  I’ve been trying to make up.  He won’t give an inch.”

“You have to know by now how extreme John is.  When he’s giving, he’s the most generous man in the world, but when he’s angry, watch out.  I wouldn’t fret over this.  He’s crazy about you.”

“I think I’ve hurt him, but I really didn’t mean to.  I guess I just wanted a declaration of…of something, you know?”

“Come ‘ead.  You’ll fix it tonight.  George said he would talk to him.”

They arrived at the party and Paul arriving last and seeming to make a grand entrance with Lee on his arm caused quite a stir and started the tongues wagging.  She actually was within earshot of some people wondering rudely out loud, “Who in hell is she?”  It was pretty crowded, and she still hadn’t spotted any of the guys.

Paul was introduced to an actor named Leo McKern, who was to have a major part in the film, and Lee recognized him, having seen him on British TV several times.

“Who is the lovely young lady?” he wanted to know.  “Are you in the film, my dear?”

Lee laughed.  “Oh, no, I’m on Brian’s staff.  But I have seen your work before, Mr. McKern.”

“This young woman must have a drink,” he said, and procured one from a waiter’s tray.

Lee laughed and thanked him.  Several more people came over to be introduced to Paul, actors, camera people and others associated with production. 

A young man with black hair and horn-rimmed glasses came over and introduced himself as Clive, and he kept looking towards Paul as he was dragged away.

“Hello Clive, nice to meet you,” Lee said.

“Are you an actress?” he wanted to know.

“No.”

“Neither am I, an actor that is, but I will be having a small part, I’m the producer’s nephew.  My cousin Eleanor is the female lead.”

“Oh really?  How interesting!”

“The Beatles aren’t actors either, so I figure I’m just as good as they are,” Clive announced.

Lee was feeling that she’d already had her fill of Clive and her eyes scanned the room.  She finally made eye contact with George, who waved excitedly at her, and she laughed and waved back.

“You know them?” Clive asked.

“Intimately,” she answered.

Instead of being rightfully embarrassed, he blatantly asked for an introduction.

“Sorry, no.  But thanks for asking.  Try your uncle.”  As these words left her mouth, she spotted John staring at her.  There was no warmth in his eyes or expression.  He turned away.  Great, she thought, now he thinks I’m chatting up this moron. 

George made his way over and gave her a hug.  “There’s some great food on a table at that end,” he said.  Lee saw Clive inching his way over and grabbed George’s arm and pulled him towards the other end of the buffet.

“Who was that?” George wanted to know.

“The most incredible bore.”

“You look yummy, by the way,” George said.

“Thank you, my love,” she said and pinched his cheek.  “My sweet George.”

At the table they found Ringo and Maureen, Neil and Mal and Brian, all getting something to eat.  Maureen said, “Try those, they’re great.”  They all smiled knowingly at each other.  She was, after all, eating for two.

Lee’s eyes darted around trying to find John again, and she spotted him having an animated discussion with Victor Spinetti.  On his left arm hung an incredibly gorgeous blonde in a paisley print mini dress, a lot more mini and a lot less print.  The heat rose up in her chest, but then she counted to ten and said to herself, calm down, Lee, girls are pushy.  It’s probably nothing.  She kept one eye on them all the same, and after a time the girl was stroking his arm with her other hand and pressing her breast against him.  No doubt what she was after tonight.  Okay, Lennon, let’s see what you’re made of, Lee thought.

It didn’t get past John how incredible Lee looked that night, and the black stockings and the leather skirt was having the intended effect, and he wanted to talk to her desperately.  When he went to approach her, she was chatting up some idiot poof and that rubbed him the wrong way.  Didn’t take much these days.  Now this bird was hanging on him.  He didn’t want to be rude as she came with Victor, but he wished she would just go away.

* * *

“George,” Lee asked, “did you talk to him?”

“Oh yeah.  Said he’d straighten it all out tonight.  Hasn’t he talked to you yet?”

“No.  Too busy having his arm humped.”  The drink George just sipped came shooting out of his mouth and he laughed hysterically. 

“Yer getting a mouth like a sailor.”

“Too many of you men around.  Hard to remain a sweet young thing, especially around the likes of him,” Lee said as she stared at John wistfully.

“You are sweet.  Don’t let this get to you.  It’s nothing.”

Lee went over to the bartender and asked for a Coke, and when she returned, she lost sight of John.  Panic set in as she immediately thought he had disappeared into some back room, but then relief flooded over her when she spotted John and Mr. Spinetti seated together in chairs in a little alcove, laughing and enjoying their discussion.   

Oh good, she’s gone, Lee thought, and decided to walk over and say hello to Mr. Spinetti.  She’d met him at the premiere party for A Hard Day's Night, and he was so sweet and even spoke to her in Italian.  She figured that would also break the ice with John and they could ease into conversation that way. 

No sooner had she started across the room, than the blonde returned to them, handing Victor a drink and plopping herself down on John’s knee and putting her arm around his neck.  Lee stopped dead in her tracks as she watched the scene, seeing fire.  John’s expression was hard to read, but she didn’t see him asking her to get up.  He had to know that she would be seeing this.  He wouldn’t tolerate her doing this with some stranger.

She didn’t even remember getting herself there, but found herself standing in front of the three of them, seething. 

“Well, hello, my dear, it’s nice to see you again,” Victor said quite pleasantly.

“Mr. Spinetti, is this woman with you?” Lee asked.

“Well you know, one must walk in with a woman on one’s arm…”

Lee turned to her and said, quite firmly, “Get up!”

“Excuse me, but who do you think you are?” she shot back, a cat-like expression on her face.

“Perhaps you’re hard of hearing, I said GET UP!” Lee repeated

When she didn’t budge, Lee promptly threw her Coke in her lap.  That got her up in a hurry.  As she stood there, shocked and sputtering, John took Lee’s arm.

“Lee, please…”

“Let go,” she said to John, pulling away from him.

“Wait -- don’t!” John said, but Lee was emotionally spent and turned to him and smacked his face.  Hard.  She didn’t wait, but turned and fled from them, hoping not too many people had noticed, and went in search of her coat.  The only thing she knew for sure at that moment was that she had to get out of there. 

She retrieved her coat, dug into the pockets and realized she hadn’t any money.  She spotted Neil lost in conversation with a very pretty brunette.  She went over to him.  “Excuse me Neil, but do you have a fiver?” she said breathlessly

“Why, are they charging for the drinks?”

“I…I’m not feeling well and I want to go home.  Please?”

“Well, wait, I’ll take you.”

“No, no.  I’ll take a cab.  Really, I’ll be fine.”  He dug in his pocket and handed her some bills.  “Thanks, Neil, you’re a doll.”

Lee got herself into a taxi and cried all the way home.

***

John came tearing into the flat looking for her, darting about like a madman.  He completely passed her by at first, as she was sitting in the dark on one of the sofas.  He would not have known she was there had he not heard her whimpering.  He turned and headed straight toward her.

“Get up!” he said when he reached her.  He grabbed both her wrists and yanked her up into a standing position.  “What are you doing to me?  What the fuck are you doing to me?” he whispered hoarsely, shaking her. 

He dragged her roughly by the arm into his room, switched on the light and locked the door behind them.  Taking her by the shoulders, he slammed her up against the door, his body melding to hers.  He was pressing so hard against her she could barely breathe.  He was more than ready, and she became a bit frightened, but not totally unpleasantly so.

“No one here to rescue you tonight.  This little dance is over now,” he said, his tone challenging her to say otherwise.

“What’s the matter?” she asked defiantly  “Couldn’t you get your little blonde bimbo to do your bidding tonight?”

“Shut up!  Just shut up, do you hear?”  He held her wrists behind her back with one hand, then forced her thighs apart with his knee, while his other hand slid quickly up under her skirt and between her thighs.  His fingers pulled at and then tore her panties.  He roughly slid his fingers inside her, his thumb finding that most sensitive little organ of hers and massaging in slow hard circles.  Her body betrayed her, and she couldn’t hide her desire from him any more than he could keep his from pressing up against her.

“Always ready, aren’t you?” he leered at her.  “You get this way for him too?  You let him do this to you?”

”No!  Stop it!” she protested, trying to pull away and feeling like she wanted to cry, yet the last thing she really wanted was for him to stop.  His fingers worked on her, so precisely and slowly, she thought she would faint from the pleasure.

“Does he make you feel this way?   Does he?”

“Bastard.  Nobody’s touched me but you.  You know that.”

“Do I?”

“You damned well should!” Her voice wavered, but she wouldn’t give him the satisfaction of crying again.

“Get on that bed,” he ordered, turning and pushing her toward it as he began undoing his trousers and quickly discarding them.  He made sure she felt him against her, pulling her behind to him with both hands and letting her know who was running this show, before he pushed her down onto the bed.  He mounted her before giving her a chance to protest, forcing her legs apart and pinning her down with his weight. 

There’ll be no pissin’ about tonight, he thought, and pushed her skirt up and out of his way, ignoring stockings and garter belt, tearing at her blouse until the buttons popped.  He clumsily grabbed her breasts, squeezing them, no sensuality in his touch tonight – he was rough and demanding, and totally blind with wanting her.

He lifted her knees, and the shock of him entering her so hard and quickly brought both intense pain and desire the like of which she had never known or imagined, the combination being both alien and surprising to her.  The breath caught in her throat and she was unable utter a sound. 

He seemed to hesitate only briefly, then his thrusts became hard and relentless, both of them now rocking and pushing at each other until they found their rhythm.  Only when was she able to recover sufficiently to be able to whisper “John” as she held tightly on to his shoulders, did he slow down a bit.  His anger dissipated as he stared down at her, suddenly forgetting the conflicting emotions that brought him to taking her so violently.  His breath came in short quick gasps.

“All right?” he asked, suddenly remembering himself.  The initial resistance he felt inside her told him he must have really hurt her, but at that point he was beyond caring, beyond denying himself anymore, and he forced himself home.  She was so warm and wet, so tight against him -- Christ, had it ever been this good?

“Please don’t stop, please,” she begged.  “Please, John,” she said, pulling at him and pushing up to meet him.

Relief flooded over him as he resumed his movements, as he was quite sure he would not be able to stop, no matter what she said.  He’d waited long enough.

He’d already brought her to orgasm countless times in the past, so she knew her goal, but this time she desperately wanted him with her, deep inside her when she finally came, part of her.  Every exquisite tug at her was a revelation, a realization that this was where she was supposed to be, and that this was the man who was meant to bring her there.  He was bringing her closer, closer, until she could take it no more and finally let go, needing her release, and broke into uncontrollable spasms as she clung to him. 

Feeling him tight in her grip as it was happening was the most amazing sensation she’d ever felt in her life.  The waves of pleasure emanating from deep within her seemed to seep their way up throughout her body and exploded in her brain.  She couldn’t believe the feeling of total completeness.

“Good girl,” he said huskily, slowing down and then waiting long enough for her to recover before resuming his rhythm.  He was moving faster, faster, slamming himself so hard into her, his whole length to the hilt, wanting to lose his whole self inside her, wanting to disappear inside her forever, before sending him over the edge.  He let out a guttural groan and she felt him shudder uncontrollably, then felt his warmth filling her and spilling over.  He needed to possess her totally, and expending himself inside her the only thing that came close.  Could she possibly understand that?

She held him fiercely and protectively to herself, as he collapsed against her, not believing the satisfaction and closeness she felt, wondering if he felt it too.

They were still joined together, just barely, both of them spent and damp with perspiration.  He lifted his head and stared down at her, not knowing what to say.

“It wasn’t supposed to be that way.  I’m…it was…”         

“So wonderful,” she whispered. 

“What?”  He could not believe she said that.

“Oh, John, you were exactly as I thought you’d be.  Please, if I didn’t do it right…” she said, stroking his back, holding him close.

“Oh baby, it was incredible, but…”

“But nothing.  You were everything I wanted since the moment I set eyes on you – just the way I knew you would be.”

He moved some hair from her cheek and said, “But I hurt you.”

“Couldn’t be helped.”  She smiled.  “But you might kiss me now,” she prodded him.

It was only then that he realized that he hadn’t kissed her at all.  What a bastard he was, a cold, insensitive shite for taking her this way after all these months of waiting.  He’d beat any other man to a bloody pulp for doing this to her.  And yet she still wanted to kiss him. 

He was at such a total loss with this girl, making him feel things he didn’t know he had in him.  She was seventeen going on forty.  His mouth covered hers and his kiss was sweet and loving and long.  He stroked her cheek with the back of his hand, and kissed her breasts before taking her mouth again, his tongue caressing hers.

“I love you,” he whispered.  “I don’t remember when I didn’t.  I think I loved you before you got here, those crazy phone calls and letters.  I was wondering how I would handle it.  That kiss, I had to let you know straight off.”

“I knew.  Or, at least, it made me know how I felt.  It scared me.  And it made me feel alive.”

“I never waited so long for a girl.  When I thought that maybe it wasn’t me you really wanted…”

She put her fingers to his lips, hushing him.  “It’s never really been anyone but you.  Even when I thought I wasn’t sure, I really was.  I didn’t want to hurt him.  I just didn’t know how to handle it, you know?”

“It’s okay,” he reassured her.  “You’re mine now.”

“I’ve always been yours, John.  I love you more than my life.”  She kissed him with an abandon and passion that only months of being his lover could have afforded her, and she realized she really became a woman the very first time he kissed her.  He gave her the whole story that night.

His desire rekindled already and he started moving within her again, his hand reaching down and caressing her where she lived, gently but firmly.

“John,” she sighed, those amazing sensations washing over her again.  She loved his name.  At that moment, she knew she would never leave his side and God help the girl that tried to come between them.  It was amazing what self-confidence one could pick up by finally being claimed by the man you love.  She held him and brushed the hair from his face, as he rocked within her.  She could just die right now, she thought contentedly.

***

They made love a third time that night, and this time John believed that he finally did right by her when they undressed each other totally, taking it slow and incredibly sweet.

***

The next afternoon they were still asleep, arms and legs wrapped snugly around each other, when the pounding came at the door.

“Yeah?” John said groggily, struggling to sit up.

“Room service, sir.” Paul’s voice came from the other side of the door.

“Yeah,” George added. “Not that we care about you, but we don’t want our girl to waste away of thirst and starvation.”

“Yer just being nosy louts,” John said, and he and Lee both laughed.

“Come on!  This tray is gettin’ heavy,” Paul complained.

John got up and threw her his shirt to put on, then went straight to the door and let them in without even putting anything on himself.

“John!” she said, but it was too late, no illusions left.  He really did mark his territory.

“Hmmm.  Just as I thought,” Paul said, coming into the room and setting the tray on the nightstand.  “We had a bet.”

Paul and George both jumped on the bed with Lee, giving her kisses, from her hands, up her arms to her neck and cheeks, like some sort of ceremonial rite of passage.  Then they started tickling her, calling her “wonton woman” and “strumpet.”  She couldn’t stop laughing, even though she was flushed with embarrassment.

“You okay, luv?  Did this horror of a man make you cry?  Or, more likely, laugh?” George teased.

 “Is everything around here for fucking public consumption?” John yelled, donning his trousers.

“YES!!” they both said.

“There’s definitely a glow about her, but he’s still ugly.  What do you think, George, does she look different?”

“She would if it was me,” George said, eyeing her appreciatively and stroking her cheek.

“Yeah,” John said.  “Horrified and disappointed – and still searching for it!”

“No, exhausted and content, and never able to let it go.” George countered.

“Oh my God,” Lee laughed hysterically, and hid her head underneath the covers.

***

A couple of weeks later, they were staying at one of the most charming beach resorts in Nassau, the Balmoral, and Lee was in tropical paradise heaven.  She’d never seen white sand beaches and palm trees or felt warm, turquoise ocean water.  The ice cold Atlantic at crowded Coney Island had been her summer haven growing up.  Even in one hundred degree August heat the water was always frigid, full of jellyfish that stung and floating garbage, and one got tar stains on one’s feet.  Here in the Bahamas the most beautiful colorful fishies came up and kissed your legs.  Amazing.

The first couple of days were spent lazing in the sun, frequenting the bar at the beach and smoking their joints out in the open.  Truly the best and most relaxing time she’d seen them have in a while.  George and John were the best swimmers of the lot and they took Lee so far out from the shore, she would always get scared and nervous.  The locals were always warning them about sharks, but the pot gave them such giggles, they didn’t give a damn.  Whenever Lee started warning them they were out far enough, they would get silly and start scaring her by grabbing at her legs under the water and making her crazy, and she vowed not to swim with them anymore.  But she always did.  George taught her how to snorkel and the fish would actually let you touch them.  Ringo wasn’t much of a swimmer and would just wade out with them, splash about a bit and run out. 

No one saw Paul much the first couple of days, as he was into indoor sports with the beautiful girls that had small parts as beach decorations.  George and the other guys at least had the graciousness to wait until evening after having dinner together to have their little dalliances.

John had been very loving and attentive in the two weeks since their ‘first time,’ and he and Lee and Ringo usually ended up hanging out together at local clubs at night or playing poker with the crew.  Even though they still maintained separate rooms for appearances’ sake, she and John always ended up together in her room for the night.  There was a lot of talk and gossip on the set, and Brian did not want it getting out that John had a live-in girlfriend.

The next day, they would begin to do some shooting at a small nearby island, Paradise Island, which had miles of beautiful empty beaches, and they would be staying at beautiful villas there right on the beach.  Later that afternoon Lee saw John wander off with Paul in a van and headed off the direction of the town of Nassau.  Sightseeing perhaps?    It didn’t matter, she would not question him and had decided that what she couldn’t see couldn’t hurt her.  Much.

She found Ringo sitting alone at the bar and sat along side of him.  He turned to her and smiled.

“What are you having?” he asked. 

“Something cold and fruity,” she answered.  “Did you call your wife today?”

“Of course.” 

“I noticed how good you’ve been and I’m very proud of you,” she said, kissing his cheek.

“Only married a couple of weeks, luv.  Not that much of a bastard.”

“Not a bastard at all.  You’re a good man, Richard Starkey.  They don’t come any better.”

                                                                ***

A scene was shot where Paul and John were wearing rubber masks made to resemble Ringo as they were acting as decoys against the bad guys, even though Ringo was actually used in the long shots as nobody could copy his body movements.  George wasn’t used at all as his body type was completely different.  During shooting, a smoke bomb went off too close to John’s face and he suffered smoke inhalation and had to be treated at the hospital.  In the film, you could actually see him struggling to be put down because he couldn’t breathe.  Never a dull moment.

That evening there was a great party on the beach with the whole cast and crew.  Everyone in the group, including Neil, Mal, Brian and even Lee were wearing the same outfits of white pants with blue and white checked shirts that were used in the scene, which they took from wardrobe.  It was great fun being all dressed alike, and they took lots of photos.

They had a great time, eating, drinking, and dancing.  She danced most of the night with Ritchie, and he told her she would always be his best dance partner.  He then got quite drunk.  She was beginning to feel really bad for him, not quite believing that she actually wished Maureen was here for him so he wouldn’t feel so alone.  There were lots of pretty girls there and she hadn’t seen him go near any one of them yet.  

They’d really had a long, grueling day and they deserved to let go and do as they pleased.  Lee decided that instead of hanging out any longer and seeing things she’d rather not, and perhaps putting a crimp in their style, she would just go to bed.  It was pretty late anyway and she was tired. 

She blew John a kiss and pointed upward and started up the stairs to her room.  He rushed over and called up to her, “Hey Ginger, where ya off to?”

“I’m tired, John, and I’m the one up early to drag all your sorry asses out of bed in time to meet schedules.”

“Oy, John, where do ya want this?” Mal asked as he plopped down a picnic basket and a couple of blankets.

“Right there, leave it,” he answered.  Turning to Lee, he said, “I thought you were going to spend the night on the beach with me and watch the sun come up.”

“When did you ask me that?”

“Just now, didn’ ‘ya hear me?” he said, giving her his little boy, chipped front tooth grin.

He wanted to skip the wild party and spend the rest of the night with her.  Sometimes his sweetness was so overwhelming and unexpected.  She suppressed a smile and started down the stairs, and when she was just two steps up she put her arms around his neck and hugged him.  “All night on the beach, Lennon,” she kidded. “Whatever will we do?”

“I’m figuring spending a lot of time getting the sand out of our arses.  Come on,” he said, tucking the blankets under her arm, lifting the picnic basket and taking her hand.

They walked hand in hand down the shoreline until they were far enough away from the villas to block out the lights, music and party noise.  They found a spot behind a boulder and spread one of the blankets out there, where they’d have plenty of privacy.  There was a full moon that night and it shone beautifully on the water.  John went into the picnic basket, removing a large candle, which he placed it in the sand and lit.

“So we can find our way back home,” he said.

“Oh?  Where are we going?”

He removed his shoes and rolled up his pants legs.  “Let’s go wet our feet.”

“Good idea,” she said, following suit.  He put his arm around her shoulder and walked her into the very calm, barely noticeable waves along the shore.  The water felt amazingly warm, even at night.  They walked in almost up to their knees, and he started kicking water and splashing her.  She laughed and did the same. 

Before they knew it, they were both pretty wet, she getting the better of him.  He ran away from her and out of the water into an area thick with trees and she lost sight of him.  “All right now, come on out,” Lee called.  “You know how easily I scare.”

No answer.  Let the games begin, she thought, he’s gonna get it.  She tried ignoring him for a while, not wanting to play into his hands.  But she had no staying power, and started to feel creepy and alone in the dark.  She knew he would jump out at her when she least expected and scare the bejesus out of her.

“Come on, John, please.  I’ll give you something nice if you come out now,” she said in her best seductress voice.

No answer.  Very sure of himself, he is, she laughed to herself.  She spotted the candle burning near the blanket in the distance.  “Okay,” she said, “I’m heading back, you’ll get tired or hungry for something eventually.” 

She started walking slowly back toward the blanket, every now and again looking over her shoulder, not seeing him anywhere.  She really was getting the creeps.  He had better stop this, and soon.

Half way back to the blanket she felt a strong arm come around her neck from behind and a hand cover her mouth. 

“Don’t scream or struggle, lass, or I’ll snap yer neck like a twig,” he said, sounding vaguely like a pirate.  “Do ye unnerstan’?”  She nodded complacently, desperately wanting to laugh, yet really enjoying this game. 

“Now, I’m gonna let go yer mouth, and I’ll have no screamin’ or funny businesss.  Ye get my meanin’?”  She nodded her head slowly, pretending to tremble.  He let go of her mouth but tightened the hold on her neck.  “What be yer name, lassie?”

“Lola.”

She felt him chuckle against her, but he kept it stifled.  “Lola, now, is it?  And how old be ye on yer last birthday, Lola?”

“Th-thirteen,” she stuttered. 

“Thirteen, ye say?  Damn it to hell, I like ‘em younger meself.  But I suppose you’ll do.”

He reached down his free hand from behind her and grabbed her crotch, pulling her back against his hardness and grinding himself hard and rhythmically against her.  She never ceased to wonder at how incredible he felt and that she could do this to him.

“You like that lass?  Feel good?  As good as the others?”

“There’ve been no others.”

He let out a wicked laugh.  “Fresh chicken.  I like havin’ me a fresh chicken now and again.  Great sport!”

He let go of her and turned her around.  “Well, mercy me, the front lookin’ better than the back!  Ye be all wet, Lola.  We can’t have ye catchin’ yer death, now can we? he said, slowly unbuttoning her shirt and discarding it in the sand.  She did the same to him, peeling the shirt down from his shoulders, and stroking and kissing his nipples.  “Yer a saucy wench, Lola, doin’ that to a man, an you bein’ a virgin ‘n all.”

“I’ve had lessons,” she said, picking up the shirts, taking his hand and walking him over to the blanket.

“What sort of lessons?” he asked, unhooking her bra and undoing her pants.  He got rid of both them and panties in one fell swoop.

“For months, this man in London took me in hand, and gently and patiently showed me all the ways of pleasing a man and in turn pleased me in all ways, yet always was very careful to keep my virtue intact.”

“Couldn’t be very much of a man, now could he?  All that teachin’ and no doin!”

“He’s the best man I’ll ever know,” she said, unzipping him and freeing everything.  “Come, I’ll show you.”  She stood on tip-toe and wrapped her arms around his neck, pressing her breasts against his bare chest.  He went to kiss her, but she turned away from his face.  “I don’t know you, sir, and kissing is much too personal.”

She pulled him over to the blanket, and with both hands on his shoulders, pushed him down until he was lying down.  She then knelt down between his knees and moved them apart with her hands and started stroking his thighs, lightly at first, then more firmly, her hands moving further and further up with each stroke.  She then bent down, kissing him gently between his thighs, taking her time, till she heard him groaning out loud.

Looking to prolong his torture for as long as possible, she continued to kiss him lightly, gently rubbing her cheek against his uppermost inner thighs and letting her hair move across his whole groin area, taking in the distinct male smell of him, which she loved.  When his moans started to sound really painful, she took him firmly in hand and began applying soft kisses to the base, her tongue then moving up his shaft on that most sensitive underside.  She moved her tongue up and down his entire length, avoiding the head, trying to cause definite insanity.

“Oh Christ, baby.  Please…”

She laughed wickedly and moved up further between his thighs, a definite adjustment needing to be made for accommodations’ sake.  She took his head to her lips and kissed it, licking from him and her lips his salty secretions.  When she was younger and heard about these practices, she never in her wildest imagination thought that she would enjoy doing this as much as she did.  But he definitely did provide quite a lot of  ‘inspiration’.  She laughed to herself as she slowly took his whole head, gently sucking at first, then taking more as he began to move her along, taking more and more with each stroke.  She could most definitely not accommodate more than half of him, and her hand took care of the rest. 

He gently held her head with both hands.  “Oh, baby, you’re so good, you drive me mad.  Nobody taught you this.”  He moved faster and faster, and she felt the very essence of him throbbing against her tongue -- she felt so alive and in control.

“You have to stop now, luv, I’m gonna spurt.”  He removed her hand from him and held himself. “No more, baby, please,” he said when she wouldn’t stop.

John was of the opinion, and she felt sure they all felt this way, that no man finished off that way with a ‘nice girl.’  He once told her, “That’s what slags are for.”  She and John had only ever used this as foreplay, even before.  She asked him about it once afterward, and he stroked her cheek and said, “Baby, I love you.  I would never do that to you, at least not on purpose.”  When she pointed out that he had no problem bringing her off that way, he said, “That’s different.  You have a sweet flower and don’t make a disgusting mess.”

He guided her off of him, taking her shoulders and landing her flat on her back.  “Just in the nick,” he said. “You’ll pay, wench!”  He knelt between her legs, stroking her hard with the palm of his hand and kissing her ‘there’ and she covered her eyes, blocking out everything except the overwhelming sensations he was making her feel. 

She felt his fingers part her, his lips and tongue making her come all unglued.  Where was the sweet control she had a minute ago?  She stared up at the stars and surrendered to it all, forgetting all else except what he was making her feel, grinding herself against his tongue, pulling at his hair.  “Oh yes, John, yes,” she whispered.  She was out of control in no time, and in a few seconds it would all be over.

He stopped abruptly and crawled up to meet her gaze.  “No, I don’t think so,” he said wickedly.

“Bastard,” she said. “Finish what you started.”

“I fully intend to, all in my own good time, dearie.”  He took her mouth and she tasted herself all over him. She kissed and licked him hungrily and threw her legs up and around his waist, pulling him into her, with no help or guidance from either of them.  “Wanton bitch.  I thought I said when I was good and ready.”

“You’re ready now,” she said, tightening her muscles around him and thrusting up against him.

“Methinks you deserve a good walloping, you bawdy hussy,” he said, giving her ass a good hard smack.  The sting felt especially and unexpectedly good.  Hmmm. He’d never done that before.  She kissed him passionately, letting him know she really liked it.

“You’re too much fer me, ya know that don’t ya?” he asked.

“A girl can only try.”

“Try this,” he said, as he began thrusting hard into her.  It didn’t take them long.  The game was played and won by both, coming almost simultaneously, he always waiting to feel her contracting against him before letting go.  He’d always wondered about other girls faking it, but he was so in tune with her, he felt it every time.  She was fuckin’ amazing.

***

Lee woke up with a start, sat up and looked out over the horizon and saw a beautiful orange line out over the water and the start of that huge yellow ball emerging out from the ocean.  The sky above her head was still black with stars and gradually faded to different shades of blue the closer it got to the water’s edge.

“John!  John, wake up!  It’s happening,” she said, kneeling between his legs and shaking him awake.

“Don’t think so, luv, but give me a minute.”

“No, no, the sun, silly.”

“Whose idea was this?” he asked, yawning.

“Your aunt Tilly,” she said, poking him.

“Oh, yeah,” he said, sitting up and lighting a cigarette.  He turned her around and sat her down between his bent knees, pulling her close.  She leaned back against his chest, covering them with the blanket and holding his legs tight to her, gently stroking them.  His hand caressed her breast and held it and he kissed her neck.   Surely this must be what heaven is like, she thought, grinning.

They sat there quietly watching out into the distance as the line of colors above the ocean became wider and more brilliant.

“I love you, John,” she said.

“Do you?”

“Yeah, I think so.”

“I think so, too.”

She gave him a back shot with her elbow.

“’Ey, you,” John said, as she felt him fumbling around a bit.

“Mmmm?”

John tapped her shoulder, forcing her to turn her head, and she saw he had his lips puckered.  She laughed and went to kiss him, and immediately felt something hard he was trying to force into her mouth.  She thought it was candy and opened up to receive it, and immediately realized by the contours that this was no candy.  She bit down and then pulled from her mouth the most beautiful ring she’d ever seen. 

It was a beautifully cut oval-shaped sapphire surrounded by small diamonds.  The color the stone picked up from the rising sun was breathtaking.  He handed her the box it came in and she timidly placed it inside.  Seeing it sitting in there in that beautifully appointed box, she knew it had set him back thousands.  It looked positively regal.  Could she possibly be worth all this?  The fact that she was there with him at all still hadn’t sunken completely in, even after all this time. 

“Oh, John.  John, it’s so beautiful…but…it’s not my birthday or Christmas…or…or…”

“Or St. Swithens’ day,” he interrupted.  “What does it mean, she wants to know.  Whatever does it mean?   It means it’s a gift, it means I wanted to, it means you’re too young to be sportin’ a diamond and I’m too young to be makin’ that kind of commitment and all that goes with it, and you’re just gonna have to understand.  But it also means I love you, and it means if I catch you with another man, I’ll break yer fuckin’ little arm.  Might not be fair, but ‘tis a fact.  Enough?”

“Enough,” she said, tackling him and covering his face with kisses.

“You are my woo-mon, get it?” he said in his best island accent, his hands lightly caressing her behind.

 “But you should know, I live with three other men.”

“They’ll break yer arm too!  Give ya up to me in a second, tie ya up and deposit ya at my feet, after killing the guy in question.  You’ll be in four times the trouble.”

“That means you trust them implicitly.”

“With me life and me girl.  Well, a couple o’ them, anyway,” he said, his expression a narrow-eyed threat.

She laughed hysterically and once again wondered why the most unromantic talk always made her feel the most loved.

“’ere.  Give it over,” he said, as he took the ring from the box and placed it on the third finger of her left hand.  “I can only promise right now to be as good as I can manage, and that I love you, girl.  You know I’m not perfect, but no matter what, nobody comes before you.”

He took her face in his hands and kissed her both passionately and sweetly, a way that only he seemed to be able to manage, and that always made her feel a quivering mass of jelly.

She’d been kneeling facing him, with the blanket around her shoulders, and he’d been sitting up.  With one swift move he grabbed and lifted her hips, making her straddle him, and he lay back and just lowered her onto his already throbbing erection. 

“See?” he said. “Perfect fit!”  They both laughed hysterically.

“I coulda told you that from day one, you miserable s.o.b.,” she said, claiming his mouth.

Stay Tuned for Further Stories in This Series!

Lena King a New York State Supreme Court Clerk, and she loves her job.  In a prior incarnation she worked as a secretary and married quite young (twenty) to a Beatle person (twenty-one), a match made in Beatle heaven, or so she thought.  Would you believe his birthday was July 7th?  Typically, he had is mid-life crisis at thirty.  He got his new trollop and she got their beautiful daughter, who ironically, is now twenty years old.  She knows almost as much about the Fabs as her mother does, whether she likes it or not.  (She does.)  "How did they get outside the train mommy?" she giggled at four.  She's been spoon fed the stuff ever since.

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