Bleed To Love Her (B.N)

The Next Day

Day two of the Gypsy shoot was no better for Lindsey. In fact it was worse. “I have to what?!” He yelled at the director. “You have to dance with Stevie.” He repeated, getting irritated.

“The hell I do! I’m not dancing with – “ Lindsey stopped mid-sentence as the goddess herself walked into the tent. Stevie, genuinely surprised by what was playing out before her, simply stared at the three men. “What’s going on?” She asked, letting the tent curtain drop behind her. “Mr. Buckingham here refuses to dance with you, Ms. Nicks.” The director said, now clearly done with the whole situation. “We’ll figure it out! Won’t we, kids?” J.C. said, looking at Lindsey pleadingly. Lindsey exhaled through his nose, intense anger threatening to burst out of him. He nodded, biting his lip and clenching his fists. Stevie kept her head down and walked past Lindsey, into her dressing room.

“Lindsey, Stevie: they’re ready for you!” Lindsey fixed his cufflink and looked up at Mick. “Where’s Stevie?” Mick asked, looking around the room. Lindsey shrugged. “Probably in her part of the tent.” He replied. “Can you go look? I’m still trying to assure the director that you two will behave yourselves.” Before Lindsey could protest, Mick was already out of the room. Sighing, Lindsey walked over to Stevie’s side of the tent. “Stevie… Are you in there?” One of Stevie’s best friends, Mary, appeared from behind the curtain. “Why do you want to know?” She asked, refusing to let him see into the room. “Mary, let him in.” Stevie said from within the room. Lindsey and Mary looked at each other in surprise and Lindsey was let into the room. He hadn’t been allowed in there so took the opportunity to look around. Everything was covering in chiffon and silk and there were candle and expensive looking lamps everywhere. It was a very Stevie-esque atmosphere: mystical and a total fire hazard. “Girls, go get yourselves some ciggies or whatever. I need to talk to Lindsey alone.” Lindsey looked at where Stevie was sat. She sat at a vanity, playing with her long blonde hair. Mary and the rest of Stevie's friends left, leaving the two ex-lovers alone for the first time in ages. After a brief silence, Stevie sighed. “What do you want, Lindsey?” She asked. Lindsey shrugged, watched her face in the mirror. “Mick said it’s time for us to – “ “No. I know why you’re here. I want to know what you want.” Lindsey struggled to answer the question. “What do you mea-“ “I know you’re not happy, Lindsey.” Stevie shot at him, her eyes locking with his through the mirror. “I can tell.” “How?” Stevie chuckled under her breath. “Because I’ve known you most of my life. You forget I know you very well.” “Well, what makes you think I’m unhappy?” Stevie started pinning her hair up with bobby pins. “Sit with me and I’ll tell you.” Lindsey hesitantly walked over, and remained standing. “I’ll stand, thanks.” He said, determined not to be drawn in again by her charm and grace. Stevie shrugged and went back to her hair. “I think you’re unhappy because you’ve been watching me again.” Lindsey was speechless. Stevie smiled smugly, knowing that she had the upper hand. “I saw you yesterday. When you watched me dancing. You drank that scotch in one gulp and then walked away...” Lindsey hung his head in embarrassment; she knew she'd gotten to him, even for just a split second. Stevie glanced up at him. She sighed. “Sit with me, Linds.” She said, moving over to give him room. Lindsey sighed, sitting on the cushioned bench next to Stevie. He watched in the mirror as Stevie continued pinning her hair up. “I never asked but why did you get rid of all your hair?” Stevie asked suddenly. Lindsey looked at his own reflection; he saw a now clean-shaven, tight curly haired, handsome man, dressed to the nines in a 1920s style suit. He shrugged. “You know I like different.” He replied. Stevie smiled. “I know. Which is why I always wondered why you picked me.” Lindsey locked eyes with Stevie before she had the chance to look away. “Because you were the different one.” Stevie blushed and looked away, trying to concentrate on her hair. Lindsey smiled. “I like to see that I can still make you blush. Could Mick do that?” Stevie tried not to remember her doomed affair with Mick in 1979, which also happened to be at the time that she and Lindsey were having an affair. It was also the affair with Mick that was the reason that Stevie ended the affair with Lindsey. She shook her head. “Not like you could.” Lindsey smiled. “Can.” He corrected her. Stevie nudged him gently. “So… Why aren’t you happy?” She asked. Lindsey sighed. He wanted to get stuff off his chest, but felt that for once, Stevie wasn’t the right person to tell his troubles to. “It doesn’t matter.” He said finally. Stevie pushed the last bobby pin into her bun and placed her left hand on Lindsey's right thigh. They looked at each other. “Linds…” “Steph?” Stevie smiled a knowing smile. “I’m always around if you need me.”

“Action!” The camera panned across the 1920s set of the Gypsy video, zooming in to the close, slow dancing bodies of Stevie and Lindsey.

“I have no fear. I have only love.”

Stevie lip-synced along to her own voice as Lindsey twirled her out, back into him. She watched as he kissed her hand; he was an awkward dancer, but would always be the best kisser she knew. The music faded out and the set was quickly changed into a rainy outdoor scene. “Alright Stevie. Action!” Stevie left an enchanted Lindsey behind as she ran out into the artificial rain.

“Enough for me to love. Enough to love!”

Stevie’s voice rang out across the studio from the tape machine. Everyone, including Carol who was stood with the director, watched in admiration as Stevie twirled around, the water soaking her through. Lindsey was given his signal and stepped out onto the wet set, playing the part of a longing lover who watches the woman he loves dancing away from him in the rain.

Lindsey watched from Carol’s side as Stevie made her way back into her part of the tent, towel drying her hair off and chatting to her friends. “Carol, why don’t you go home? I’m going back to the studio to see Ken for a bit.” Carol nodded. “Okay, baby. See you later.” She replied, kissing Lindsey’s cheek and walking away. Lindsey said goodbye to everyone, including Stevie’s friends, who all carried the same look of knowing on their faces as they unexpectedly returned his goodbye. Lindsey hesitantly walked to Stevie side of the tent. “Stevie… Can I come in?” There was a brief moment of silence. “Come in.” Lindsey followed Stevie’s husky voice into the closed off section of the tent. He found her, sitting at the end of a long loveseat, wearing a long chiffon dress; a simpler, everyday version of her ‘Rhiannon’ dress. The buttons that fastened the bodice of the dress hadn’t been done up, revealing Stevie’s thin black lace bra. Lindsey tried desperately to keep his eyes focused on Stevie’s face as she looked up at him, but she knew him too well. “Don’t let your eyes wander, Buck. I’m not your girl anymore.” Lindsey sighed at Stevie’s hard, closed off tone. He watched as Stevie softened. She patted the space to the right of her. “Sit with me?” She asked. Lindsey nodded and sat down. They both put their feet up, sitting so they faced each other. “What happened today, Lindsey?” Stevie asked after a moment of silence. “What do you mean?” Lindsey asked, though he knew exactly what she meant. “You’re never that gentle with me. You haven’t been that gentle towards me since 1975. I mean, I know I was nice to you this morning but that usually doesn't stop you from being a jackass.” Lindsey averted his gaze, concentrating on Stevie’s bare feet, which were placed between his own bare feet. “And you kissed my hand. That wasn’t in the script. Lindsey… What’s going on in that curly head of yours?” Lindsey’s bright blue eyes shot up to meet Stevie’s rich brown eyes. “Honestly? I have no idea.” They looked at each other, both of them knowing that Lindsey wasn’t being totally honest. The silence grew between them. Despite the awkwardness, they continued to keep their eyes locked on each other’s. After a few minutes, Stevie hesitantly stood up. Lindsey watched her carefully, shamefully hoping for what they both knew what was going to happen. Stevie knelt back down on the loveseat and crawled up between Lindsey’s legs. She lowered her eyes, keeping them away from Lindsey’s face. “If you really don’t want this, you should say so now. Before I start something we'll both regret doing.” She said quietly. Lindsey sat perfectly still, saying nothing. Stevie looked up at him, a looked of certainty now in her eyes. "I never regret anything we do together." Lindsey whispered. Stevie gulped. “Right…” She whispered. She put her hands on his chest, leant forward and tenderly put her lips on his. Lindsey’s mind exploded; it had been almost a year and he’d forgotten what Stevie’s kisses felt like. They felt like home to him; just so right. They deepened the kiss, Lindsey wrapping his arms around Stevie’s small frame. They both felt Stevie’s dress begin to slip. They broke apart and Lindsey watched, wide eyed, as Stevie stood up and took her dress off. She stood in her thin bra and matching panties, waiting for Lindsey to do something. “Do something now or I walk.” Stevie said firmly. Lindsey grinned; Stevie replied with a small smile. He stood up and unbuttoned his shirt. Stevie helped him pull it over his head. Once it was on the floor, they locked their lips to each other’s and continued their passionate embrace.