4 comments/ 9152 views/ 3 favorites Struck By: VvixenX Strands of golden brown hair loosened from a tousled up do, swept down over her elegant shoulders. Her skin a soft pale touched with a kiss of pink from the sun, was accented by the soft coral of her silk evening gown. Loose and gauzy around her skin and hugging in just the right places. The cut back was sexy with a demur feel. Her lips full in a light shade of pink. Long think lashes framed stormy blue eyes accented by the lightest pale ivory shadow touched with flecks of gold. She felt eyes on her as she walked into the large room. Glancing at the seating card she steadied herself and headed towards table nine. The room was decorated in the theme of love and romance. Perfectly suited as the annual charity dinner had fallen on Valentines day this year. She knew everyone at her table save for one gentleman. Apparently a very important somebody she had been told she would love to meet. Not important enough it seems to have been informed that this was a black tie affair. He stood as she approached the table, extending his hand in a polite greeting. His dark brown hair was cropped tight and short, his skin touched with a warm tone of brown from many days under the sun. His eyes dramatic in a light shade of green. A strong jaw line finished with a slight cliff of the chin. A prominent five o'clock shadow played over his face further enhancing his rugged yet polished domineer. He was a few inches taller then her, not enough to tower awkwardly but enough to show dominance. His shoulders appeared wide beneath a sharply tailored black velvet blazer. A crisp white shirt left open just a little too much at the collar finished with rich cuff links. Well fitted black slacks, and polished shoes completed his look. "You must be the lady of the evening" his voice was deep and warm. His hand gripped hers softly but with a firm command. Tucking into her seat, she turned and addressed him with a smooth thank you. Once dinner and speechs completed she excused herself from the awkward conversation for a breath of air. The wind softly swirled the soft fabric of her long gown around her legs. Just enough to bring a soft coolness to her skin. The sun barely visible on the horizon, sinking into the ocean waters in a haze of brilliant reds, and oranges. Soft music and chatter floating in from the open terrace doors, punctuated every now and again by a shrill cackle of laughter by an over indulging woman. Clinking of glass and callings of congratulations. After 4 hours of dinner and speeches, idle small talk and chatter amongst the table she hadn't been able to draw her attention away from him. The line of his neck, the strength of his shoulders. Constant thoughts and images of sensual acts with this strange man she hardly knew, kept filling her mind. He was so self-assured to the point of mildly cocky. Not someone she would have ever considered sleeping with. "Enjoying the evening?" "As much as one can enjoy a night of love when your alone." a hint of bitterness on her lips. "You haven't been struck by cupid's arrow?" he asked his eyebrow raising devilishly. "I don't believe in cupid, or that anyone can be struck blind to the world for love or lust" her voice was clipped and sharpe. "Do you want to leave?" he approached her, and stood slightly by her side. She cast a sideways glance at him taking in his posture, calm relaxed, sure of himself. "I called for a car it's waiting downstairs when you're ready". She watched the lights on the street below as his footsteps receded back inside the ballroom. Moments later she effortlessly slipped back through the ballroom, retracing her steps to the table to collect her clutch and then headed for exit. What was she doing, taking a proposal from a man she knew nothing about, was this a challenge? "Going down ma'am?" the elevator attended smiled pleasantly interrupting her thoughts. "Yes please" she stepped in and descended to the street below and the man waiting for her. His eyes followed her every step as she crossed the foyer towards him. Noting the gentle sway of her hips beneath the sheer silk of her gown. He offered his arm and walked her to the waiting car. Opening the door he turned is intense gaze to her face. "Are you sure?" "Yes" her voice was soft and touched with a hint of excitement, but she controlled her expression. She moved passed him and settled into the car, the slit of her dress exposing a long lean leg encased in a pair of strappy black heels. He allowed a hungry gaze memorizing the sight of her bare skin before closing the door and walking around the car. He commended himself on his progress so far with a slight chuckle before entering the car himself. He eased into the leather seat next to her, casually adjusting himself to an acceptable level of comfort, legs parted his knee nearly touching her leg. Hands clasped together on his lap, his head leaned back on the seat at an angle, a posture of calm and control as he watched her from beneath his slightly hooded eye lids. His eyes slowly devoured her from the soft tousled hair, her eyes, trying not to stare back at him but feeling drawn to his energy, her lips full and slightly parting hinting at her heightened senses. Long neck and elegant shoulders, the crease of her cleavage, and the soft swell of her breasts beneath the gown. The way the fabric flowed over her body then the creamy flash of thigh behind the curtains of her gown. She turned looking at him, catching is hot gaze. Slowly shifting towards him leaning back into the seat, positioning herself in front of him, legs slightly parted. Running her hands lightly over her body, enticing him to come towards her. His gaze heated, a slight smile played on his lips. His fingers softly drumming on is outstretched legs. His eyes said it all, he had won the game... She watched the heat in his eyes as he moved over her body, his scent filling her senses. Hot and moist, his breath gliding across the sensitive skin at the base of her throat. Her breathes growing more ragged, desire burning up from within, aching for a release, a surrender. Still his lips never found her flesh. His hands never once touching her body. His close presence was all. Not enough, yet it was so much more then she had ever dreamed it could be. The car pulled up to the hotel, time seemed to have stood still. "Shall I walk you to your room?" his voice thick and husky. She nodded in approval as he slid from her body and climbed out of the car. He took her hand as she exited the car and the touch was electric. Walking through the lobby and up to her room she could feel her heart thundering in her chest, wetness sliding across her swollen pussy lips. Her mind fuzzy and dazed with desire. She hardly knew this man but that made the arousal so much stronger. The click of the room to the suite opening brought her clearly to her senses, without waiting to second guess the decision she pushed him up against the dining table her hands roughly tugging off his coat. Running her hands over his arms feeling the corded muscle hidden beneath the fabric. Her lips gently slid across his jaw, the roughness of his stubble on her swollen lips sent a chill down her spine. Working up to his ear gently nibbling his lobe, sucking the flesh in between her lips, curling her tongue up along the shell of his ear. He let a low murmur of appreciation. Leaning back she focused on his face, tangling her hands in his hair and resting her body against his. Revealing in the feeling of his hard cock straining against her through their clothing. Pulling back she gazed into his face reading his desire, allowing her warm breath to fan across his lips before covering them with hers. With a low groan he parted his lips letting her explore his mouth. His arms circled her, crushing her breasts against his chest. As he deepened the kiss and took control his tongue twirling and sliding around hers. In a sudden movement he pushed his hands to the straps of her gown and roughly pushed it off her shoulders, tugging it down over her breasts, and off her hips letting it pool on the floor around her ankles. Lifting her quickly he turned and deposited her on the table top pushing her legs apart and settling them around his hips. His lips locked back on hers, then travelling over her face and neck returning the attention she had given him. His hands absently gliding over her breast, palming them feeling her nipples tighten against his hand. "Now" she breathed heavily in his ear. Her back arching, pushing herself more fully into his arms. Wasting no time he released her breasts and pushed aside her panties, sliding his fingers along her lips feeling her wetness. He thumbed her clit in strong slow circles while sliding two fingers into her pussy. Massaging inside her until he felt the muscle start to clench around him, bringing her nearly to the edge then pulling out. Staring into her eyes he licked the taste of her off his fingers while unfastening his pants and pulling out his hard cock. With one hand fisted in her hair, the other stroking his cock he rubbed himself against her swollen wet lips. She pushed against him her eyes closing head thrown back as he filled her completely. His hips grinding against her a moment before he pulled out completely and entered her again, and again in a fast forceful thrusts. Her body balanced on the table, back arched towards him feeling every inch of him inside her. The pleasure pooling inside her, quickly bringing her to the brink. His hands sliding over her body and gripping her ass increasing his pace. His breath coming in quick pants against her neck. Almost all at once her body erupted in climax under him, her pussy clenching around him milking him. Giving him the final push over the edge as he groaned in satisfaction as his cum emptied deep within her. She opened her heavy eyes and focused on him lying beside her on the floor, his shirt messed up. The collar stained with lip colour. His pants still undone. At some point they had gotten off the table and her dress had been wrapped round her. His voice soft and satisfied with a hint of humour as propped himself up on his arm and looked down at her. "Do you believe in being struck by cupid's arrow now?" Struck By Cupid's Arrow "In the Spring a livelier iris changes on the burnish'd dove; In the Spring a young man's fancy lightly turns to thoughts of love." -"Locksley Hall", Alfred Lord Tennyson * It was springtime; flowers were blooming, birds were chirping, and love was in the air. The cherubic Greek god Eros flew over Athens, observing the humans. Many young Athenian men were chasing the Athenian girls, flirting and courting in preparation for the Spring Festival. Eros smiled approvingly. Nothing made him happier than to than witness the lust of mortals. However, the mortals didn't always fall for each other on their own. That's when Eros intervened. Eros perched on a tree branch to rest. He had been flying around, matchmaking and shooting his magical arrows since morning. At sundown, he would end his day. However, the orange sun was still a short distance away from the horizon, so he scanned the forest for any would-be lovers. The Love God saw a couple in the distance, a blonde boy and a buxom lady. The young man was flirting and touching the woman, trying to get her to disrobe. She kept pushing him away, smiling. Eros smirked, pulling one of his arrows from his back quiver. Much of Eros's work didn't involve shooting arrows. Often, all that he needed to do was slightly influence possible couples' decisions by getting them to be in the right place at the right time, or by whispering suggestions into a receptive ear. Occasionally, he would ask Apollo to make the sunset come a little earlier or last a bit longer to set the mood. When all else failed, or he was feeling lazy, he would use his magical arrows. Eros first made his arrow invisible. The sight of an arrow sticking out of the object of this boy's affection would have the opposite of Eros's intended effect. The God then laid an arrow across his bow, aimed and shot. The golden arrowhead sank into the woman's shoulder. There was no blood. All the young man knew was that the lovely lady before him had for some reason ceased resisting. Eros stuck around long enough to make sure his plan had worked, leaving the two lovers alone when the boy inserted his erection into the young woman. It was getting dark in the east side of the sky, and Eros decided the day's work was done. However, as he prepared to fly back to Olympus, he noticed a young woman collecting firewood in the forest. He was awestruck by her subtle beauty. She had such fair skin and petite yet perky bosoms, but with buoyant buttocks that rounded out her physical character. Her brown hair was plain, but her porcelain face with pink pursing lips reminded him of Aphrodite herself. He immediately fell in love. Eros descended to the ground, taking the form of a human teenager, appearing roughly the same age as the young woman. His wings were absorbed into his body, giving him the appearance of a mortal man. He watched the young lady casually go about her evening task, until he felt it was time to make his entrance. "Sweet-faced beauty! Are you not the daughter of Zeus, or perhaps of Hermes? Surely, you must be some demigod, else your features betray you as at least half divine!" The girl blushed, shaking her head. "Nay, kindly stranger, I am neither of Zeus, nor of Hermes. I am but a mortal of mortals." "O Beauty! How unfortunate you are! What an cursed lot to fill!" She frowned, confused. "Why say you such things? Do you mean to mock me in such a manner after being so kind?" "'Tis not mocking. I merely proclaim the injustice of one such as yourself being restricted to the life of a mortal. To have such lovely arms, only to carry gnarled branches; to have such honey-sweet lips, never to taste ambrosia. Must thy blessed feet carry the misfortune of touching the foul ground? Were you a goddess, artisans would carve your face in marble for mortals and immortals alike to witness and admire. Alas, your beauty may only be currently witnessed by a favored few. "I must confess, fair beauty, that upon seeing your inspiring visage I fell in love. Display your true divine nature and let us kiss." "Your words are kind, good stranger, too kind for a humble girl such as myself. Save these words for someone more deserving. I must return to my mother's house; and to submit to your entreaty will not make me more or less divine." "O sweet beauty, you know not what you say! For it is I, Eros, God of Love that has fallen for your lovely figure. To let us join would allow you to have a little divinity in you, albeit only for a passing moment!" He wasn't sure whether she believed him to be Eros or not, but regardless, the young woman's countenance turned from lighthearted to apprehensive. "I fear, sir, that I must still decline. I am an honest girl whom you mustn't stay. I must hasten home before it gets dark. I bid thee farewell." Eros tried to continue, "O Beauty! Must you...," however, the girl began to walk away briskly. He walked behind her, reciting poetic words to convince her of his love, but she continued walking away. She knew that males, be they gods or men, wanted one thing in the end. She was determined to retain her virginity. Eros grabbed at her arm, and she pulled away. She began to run with the small pile of firewood in her arms. "Very well," said Eros, pulling out his bow and quiver. He truly preferred his lovers to give into his desire willingly. However, if humans could benefit from his magic, he saw no reason he couldn't use it for himself. Eros ran until he trailed a few steps behind her; he then stopped, aimed and fired an arrow. There was no reason to make the arrow invisible. They were all alone. Sure, she would realize that she had been shot with some sort of arrow, but she would know that something had struck her regardless. After all, the feeling of an arrowhead sinking into one's shoulder blade can be quite painful. The young woman shrieked. She stopped to see what had struck her. When she laid her eyes upon the shaft of the arrow that had pierced her back, she dropped the firewood and began to run as fast as she could. Unbeknownst to Eros's prey, these arrows were indeed magical, and while they did not have the power to stop a beating heart, they had the power to slow one's pace and cloud one's mind. She soon suspected the arrow's special qualities when she grew increasingly tired. Eros sometimes wished he had arrows that could make a woman willing, but he was satisfied with those that could make a woman passive. He fired another arrow. He didn't want her to get too far before she fell, lest he should have to search for her fallen body. Eros's arrow struck her right buttock. The girl shrieked, but did not stop. She did not have to stop. Her pace slowed so much that her weakened legs were barely standing, let alone running. Each step took a couple seconds to accomplish. Eros had no trouble catching up to her. "No!" she cried out as Eros picked her up and laid her writhing frame over the trunk of a fallen tree. "Please, I beseech you, let me be!" The God of Love lifted the skirt of her chiton above her waist, tearing the fabric where the arrow had landed. He responded, "Nay, fair maiden, I am in love, and there is no force stronger on Earth, nor in the Heavens." The arrow stuck out sideways from her naked rump and would not interfere with what he was about to do. He saw no reason to remove it. In fact, the proud god left the arrows in her body to remind himself of his archery skills while he performed his deed. The young woman continued to kick and thrash her elbows weakly, but the god held her fast. He lifted his own chiton and in one swift movement, Eros rammed home his blood-engorged member, splitting the maiden's maidenhead and entering her womb. "O beast! O horror!" she screamed. Eros began to make love his prize beauty, noting her reluctance. "Love is the most beautiful of dreams and the worst of nightmares," murmured Eros, holding her thin frame and slapping her round buttocks with his thighs. Her hot, welcoming womanhood felt wonderful on his pulsating phallus. "Sweet joy!" he exclaimed. "Forsooth, I immediately recognized your legendary beauty, but have I ever witnessed a woman's virtue so gloriously tight?" Dazed from the arrows' magical venom, the young woman could scarcely move. It was all she could do to cry and curl her fingers in pain and anguish. Her godly rapist was appreciative that her weeping was quiet, and he took this time to enjoy to the romantic sounds of the forest around him. The sun had set and nocturnal creatures began to make their voices heard. Soon enough, Eros came, shooting his heavenly essence into the warm folds of her quim. Having satisfied his love, he wiped himself clean with his clothing and admired his handiwork in the dim moonlight. He loved to see the red and white of a freshly fucked virgin cunt. Her pink-blushed bottom framed her worn posterior, making it look positively picturesque. In fact, her wrinkled anus was looking quite inviting. The young Athenian was relieved when she felt her tormentor finally finish, but she began to whimper when she felt him once again lay his hands upon her back. "Forgive me, sweet beauty, for I am at the mercy of your sublime anatomy and could not resist." Eros sucked his thumb until it was thoroughly wet and used it to lubricate his victim. "Let us couple in the manner of which Greek men are so fond!" And, feeling Eros's thick virile organ penetrate her back hole, the once-quiet girl began to scream and scream and scream. Struck By Lightning Sarah stared out the window as the rain fell from the dark clouds above and soaked everything it touched. She loved rainy days and could sit for hours just staring out the window. Tonight, unfortunately she had to finish an assignment for the next day. Pulling herself away from the window she got back to work. She switched on the radio and turned the volume down so she didn't disturb Ingrid, her new roommate from the Caribbean. Sarah had almost finished her work when a great clap of thunder startled her. She quickly regained her composure and went back to work. Over the next half hour or so the storm intensified with the thunder getting louder and claps getting more frequent. Suddenly two lightning bolts flashed across the rainy sky lighting up the campus outside Sarah's window. A few claps and flashes later Sarah heard a knock on her door. "Mind if join you," Ingrid asked as she poked her head through Britney's door. "I've been kinda scared of thunder and lightning since I was a kid growing up in Jamaica." "Yeah, sure no problem," Sarah replied. When Ingrid came through the door Sarah couldn't help but notice Ingrid's large nipples poking against the tight, gray fabric of her tank top. It was easy to tell by the way her tits bounced as she walked over the bed that she wasn't wearing a bra. "I thought growing up in the Carribean you'd be used to thunder storms with all the hurricanes and tropical storms." "The storms would be so bad that it was rare that someone my family knew wasn't killed or had there house destroyed," Ingrid said glumly. She looked away sadly before continuing, "I even lost a boyfriend once." The two girls continued working with Ingrid jumping with each clap of thunder or bolt of lightning. "We don't get thunder storms that often in this part of the country," Sarah said trying to comfort her nervous housemate. Ingrid seemed to have calmed down a bit, but then another clap of thunder echoed out rattling the whole building. After a few more flashes of lightning the power suddenly went out plunging the room into darkness. Sarah could hear Ingrid getting excited and tried to calm her. "Don't worry, I've got a flashlight and some candles." With the room lit with lightning Sarah found the flashlight in a desk drawer and then found her matches and lit two candles on her head board and a couple on her desk. The pale candlelight allowed the girls to at least see each other across the room between flashes of lightning. The two girls continued working by candlelight and managed to finish about a half hour later. Without her work to distract her Ingrid started to get antsy again. Sarah could her jump slightly each time a clap of thunder boomed outside the window. "Come lay down and try to relax," Sarah said as she laid down on the bed herself. Ingrid laid down down next to Sarah and closed her eyes and tried to think of anything else but the storm raging outside. "What did you do during storms back home?" Sarah asked. "We usually just sat around with a bunch of candles in the basement and trembled our way through it praying that our house would be spared," Ingrid responded turning her head towards Sarah. In the pale candlelight Sarah noticed how beautiful Ingrid was. Her mocha coloured face held deep, brown eyes, pouty lips, and a pert nose. Her straight black hair hung about her shoulders and her impressive thirty-four inch chest heaved beneath her tight tank top. Sarah then noticed Ingrid's scent, it was light and reminded her of a strawberry and orange perfume she once had. "Although there was this one time," Ingrid said before hesitating a moment, "I was sleeping over at a friend's house during a storm and we were in bed like this only the blankets were pulled up over our heads and we were trying to do anything to get out minds of the storm. We started talking about boys and describing the times we had slept with our boyfriends. And we started to get excited I guess cause the next thing I know I'm lying on top of her with my tongue jammed in her mouth and her hands were groping my tits. We eventually ended up completely naked and going down on each other until we realized the storm had passed." "Hmmm," Sarah said as she felt a twinge deep within her pussy at the thought of wrestling naked with the gorgeous creature next to her, "I guess we could do that if you think it will help." She then rolled onto her side and placed her lips on Ingrid's and their tongues quickly slid into the other's mouth. Sarah's placed a hand on Ingrid's large breast and gently squeezed it through the tight material of her tank top before sliding it down to the waistband of her soccer shorts. As she started tugging the side of her shorts of Ingrid's hip, Sarah was delighted to find that not only was her new lover not wearing a bra, but she was also not wearing any panties. Ingrid lifted her ass off the bed and pushed down on the other side of her shorts and they slid down her mocha thighs revealing her neatly trimmed black bush. Their kiss broke as Sarah moved to the foot of the bed and finished pulling Ingrid's shorts from her legs. She then sat up and grabbed the bottom of Sarah's T-shirt and pulled it off over her head. She watched lustfully as Sarah undid the clasp of her bra and released her own 34C tits with their pink areolae and hard nipples. She was about to lean forward to take one into her mouth when Sarah pushed down onto her back and spread her legs. She breathed in Ingrid's musky aroma as her face drew nearer to her moist cunt. Sarah gently extended a finger and slid it up and down the length of Ingrid's rubbery labia and felt her roommate push her crotch down towards the probing digit. Sarah removed her finger and quickly replaced with her tongue making Ingrid squirm even more and moan softly as she felt her lips caressed by the soft, warm flesh of Sarah's tongue. After a few minutes of gentle licking, Sarah's lust to taste Ingrid's sex overwhelmed her and she began pressing harder on her labia and she was rewarded as the rubbery folds gave way. Ingrid's hips bucked as she felt Sarah's tongue plunge into her liquid core. Sarah then began exploring the rest of Ingrid's crotch and quickly found her growing clit and began gently pressing her tongue against it and then taking it away and pressing against it again only a but harder each time. With each press of her magic button Ingrid moaned and squirmed her ass against the bed as she savoured the sensation building between her legs. Sarah returned her tongue to Ingrid's love tunnel and placed a finger on her clit to keep massaging it. Her skillful tongue quickly darted deep into Ingrid's snatch and she began pumping in and out while dragging the tip along the walls of her tunnel. Ingrid's pulled her tight tank top up over her impressive tits and began fondling them and pinching her hard nipples. Ingrid was eventually overwhelmed by Sarah's work on her cunt and she felt her cunt start to spasm as her orgasm rippled through her body. Sarah was rewarded with a gush of Ingrid's sweet nectar which she greedily lapped up. Isabel lay limp on the bed for a moment allowing Sarah to slide up her mostly naked body and take on her small, erect nipples between her lips. Her tongue glided over the hard poking through her lips. Isabel moaned softly and pressed her tits against Sarah's face as her hands caressed Sarah's own round tits before sliding down to undo the button and zipper of her cut-offs. Once she worked them open Ingrid slipped her long finger inside the waistband of Sarah's panties and slid them down through her pubic hair and between her thighs and began rubbing her already wet pussy slit. Feeling the fingers probing her sex, Sarah rolled off Ingrid and lay beside her. She hooked her thumbs in the waist band of her shorts and quickly slid them down her toned legs along with her underwear. Ingrid finished pulling off her tank top and moved between Sarah's legs and dove into her dripping snatch inhaling the older girl's scent as her tongue penetrated the rubbery labia guarding Sarah's tunnel. Eager to return the pleasure she had received, Ingrid slid two fingers into Sarah's cunt while her tongue searched for Sarah's clit. "Oh fuck!!! Yeah, eat my cunt," Sarah barked when she finally felt Ingrid's tongue brush against her clit. Ingrid slipped a third finger into her friend's pussy and began pumping them even harder as she felt the walls of Sarah's tunnel begin to spasm. Next she felt Sarah's abdomen begin to tremble as her orgasm took hold. Sarah was moaning loudly and her breath was coming in short gasps as she felt her orgasm about to ripple through her body. Ingrid then pulled her head from between Sarah's thighs and moved to a seated position facing her. she then slid forward until her cunt was touching Sarah's. The two girl then began grinding their crotches together as Sarah felt her orgasm getting closer and closer. Just as she felt she couldn't stand it any longer, Ingrid's clit touched against her own and her orgasm erupted from her cunt and exploded throughout her body. She screamed almost as loud as the thunder booming outside the window as her hips bucked and her the rest of her body trembled and a film of sweat formed over her smooth, white skin. After Sarah's orgasm subsided Ingrid lay beside her and took on her hard, puffy nipples in her mouth and gently sucked on it as Sarah rested. The storm was dying down now and soon after the power was restored. Ingrid got dressed again and left to finish her work while Sarah took a cold shower before going to bed. Struck by Love Have you ever been struck by love? I mean the sudden gut-wrenching, heart-pounding, dry-mouth and sweaty palms kind of love. I was forty-two years old and I had never felt that kind of love. I was even married once for ten years. We were good friends before the marriage and remained good friends afterwards, but we discovered just being friends was not enough. We were both looking for that spark and we couldn't find it with each other. On a chilled January morning I found it for the first time. I own my own roofing company. I have seven full time employees and a half a dozen temps at any one time, and mostly I drive from one job to another making sure everything is going well. It was early in the morning and I decided to start with the closest place first. We were putting a new roof on a modest little house in a quiet subdivision. I don't do houses very much because I hate the hassle of dealing with insurance companies. I like the big business places that pay on company checks and worry about their own insurance. Mrs. Childs, an elderly lady who owned the house was a distance relative of my former wife and I had agreed to take care of it for her at cost. My two guys were already on the roof when I parked on the street and when I checked the clipboard hanging from a nearby telephone pole, I saw the county inspector had been by and approved what we were doing. Everything was going according to plan. I went up to say hello to Mrs. Childs and give her a status on the work. When I knocked, Mrs. Childs didn't open the door and the woman who did changed my life instantly. "You must be Harry," the woman said. "Come on in. I'm Robin Smith. . I live next door. Lorna isn't feeling well this morning and I came over to keep her company." I followed her into the house. At that moment I would have followed her anywhere. She looked like she was in her early thirties and I could see no sign of a wedding band. She wore black stretch pants and a loose white sweater. She was not tall. Her head came up to about my neck. Her hair was brown and she wore it to her shoulders and curled up at the ends. It looked a little old fashioned. Her figure was good, nicely proportioned and she had a way of walking that drew my attention to her backside and made me feel guilty. I don't know why. It was certainly not the first lady's rear end I had admired in my life. I was something of a connoisseur. But somehow looking at hers with a tinge of lust made me feel as if I was invading her space and I didn't have the right. I can't explain it but I got a sense of something fragile about her and I felt a strong protective instinct. If I could have been objective, I would not have called her beautiful but I could not be objective. I thought she was the most beautiful woman I had ever seen and from the first moment she opened the door, I was lost. In the small kitchen Mrs. Childs sat at the table drinking coffee. She didn't look well. She was still in her housecoat and her face was pale. Her frail hands trembled as she lifted her cup. "You really should be in bed, Lorna," Robin Smith said. "I am going to call the doctor." "Don't bother him," Mrs. Childs answered. "He'll want to put me in the hospital again and it made me worse last time. I'll just rest some and I'll be fine. I just overdid yesterday." "You overdo every day," Robin said, giving Mrs. Childs a hug. "You need to take better care of yourself" She looked at me and gave me a wink. "Lorna thinks she can still go like she's twenty. I hope I have half her energy when I reach her age." "Nonsense," Mrs. Childs said. "You have the energy of two people. You're a whirlwind, child. You always have been. Grass does not grow under your feet." Robin hugged the older woman again and said she really had to go because she was expecting a phone call from her publisher and he got real cranky when she wasn't there. She said she was happy to meet me and shook my hand. Her fingers were slim and I felt an incredible heat just touching her skin, and I felt a terrible sadness when she left the room and heard the front door shut. I wanted to run after her. I wanted to tell her that I had been looking for her all my life. I was behaving like a foolish teenage boy and I knew it, and I hope it didn't show in my face. Perhaps it did because Mrs. Childs said, "she's very pretty, isn't she?' "Yes," I said. "Sit down and have some coffee and tell me how my roof is doing and I'll tell you about Robin." It was an offer I couldn't refuse. I poured myself some coffee and sat at the table. Mrs Childs sipped her coffee and looked away from me for a moment. I thought she had forgotten what she had said because sometimes her memory slipped but then she looked back at me and smiled and I knew she was remembering the distant past. "I have known Robin since she was a baby," Mrs. Childs began. "She is one of those special people. Her enthusiasm for life is incredible. She used to bring me things she'd found outside like a leaf or a bug or a simple piece of string and she'd make me see things like a child again. She was friendly and popular and everybody loved her. She was a cheerleader in high school and she also edited the school's newspaper but her real love was painting. When she graduated from high school, she went to live in New York for a while and she got a job editing children's books. I don't know what happened but something must have happened that was awful. A year later she came back home and it was as if the life had been drained out of her. I thought she was sick and she was but it was a sickness of the soul. She wouldn't tell me what happened although I've asked. She shrugs her shoulders and says it doesn't matter. It's only recently that I've seen that spark in her eyes again." "She said she was waiting for a phone call from her publisher," I said. "Yes. She now does her own children's books and she does the art for other books. Plus she has sold some of her paintings at places around town. As I said, she's a very good artist. She sees things other people don't." "She's never married," I said. Mrs. Childs shook her head. "No. Honestly, she doesn't seem that interested in men." Mrs. Childs saw the expression on my face and she shook her head again. "I don't mean that way. She dates men occasionally but I think she's given up on romance. There is sadness in her. I think it has something to do with what happened in New York." I finished my coffee. There were a lot of things going through my mind. I said good bye to Mrs Childs and I went outside and spoke to the two guys on the roof. I observed them for a while with no particular reason. I was just reluctant to leave. I finally knew I was beginning to look stupid standing there and I started for my truck. Halfway there, I changed my mind. I walked to the house next door and knocked. She looked surprised and a bit apprehensive when she saw me. "Is it Lorna?" she asked. "Is she all right?" "She's fine," I said. "She's good." Robin looked puzzled. "I know you're going to think I'm a jackass," I said. "I just figured I'd never know until I asked. I was wondering if you might have dinner with me." "You're asking me out?" she questioned and I noticed her eyes going to my ring finger. I expect she'd been hit on by more than a few married men. "I'm not married....anymore," I said quickly. "And I have good character references. My ex-wife would even vouch for me." She almost smiled but she shook her head. "I don't think so." "Please," I said. She was still half shaking her head but she said, "I don't know what you think you want from me but you won't get it." "I don't want anything except your company," I said, which was one of the biggest lies I had ever told, but I would settle for her company. I would settle for seeing her laugh and shake her head and the quick flash of her perfect teeth and looking forever into the depth of her bright green eyes. "All right," she said finally. "Friday night, sevenish. And nothing fancy. I'm a steak and potatoes kind of girl but I don't need a lot of trimmings." "Okay," I said. I spent the rest of the week in a daze. I kept telling myself that I was behaving like an idiot but I couldn't keep her out of my mind. On Friday I was torn between taking my Mercedes, which I hardly ever drove, and the truck. I decided on the truck. It's funny how a grown man can have such trouble making decisions. I had gotten out of bed and dressed every day of my life but Friday night I also had trouble deciding what clothes to wear or if I wanted to dab on after shave. I finally decided on casual and I was glad I did because she met me at the door in jeans and a green pullover sweater. This sweater was a little snugger than the first one I had seen her in, and it caused my blood pressure to rise. She looked very good in a sweater. Our date did not go badly but neither was it earth shatteringly exciting. We both talked about ourselves a little, probably me more than her. I found out quickly her New York past was not a topic to discuss. She did relax a little over a steak and a couple of glasses of wine and she told me about her love of art and music. She said she wasn't ever going to be a great artists but she was functional enough. She said she loved musical shows. I took her home and she shook my hand at the door. "I'd like to do this again," I said. "Why?" she asked me. "I had a good time," I said. She shrugged. "If you insist on buying me dinner, I'll eat. But don't expect anything else." "I promise I won't," I said. She smiled. "Yes, you will. They all do eventually. And they're all disappointed." She shut the door. Earlier she had given me her number and I started calling her the next day. She was busy. She would be busy for the week but perhaps if I'd call again before the weekend. I called more than once. I put her number in my cell phone. I knew I shouldn't seem so eager but I had never felt this way before about anyone. I doubted I ever would again. On Thursday night she agreed to Saturday and we went out again to another steak place and we had a nice time. We talked about art and music mostly, things I knew very little about. But listening to her talk was wondering. She had a lyrical voice and there were times when she would say something and the tone would jolt me like electricity, all the way down to my socks. When she laughed, which wasn't all that often, I felt lifted up somehow. On the following Friday I had another date with her and it started out like all the others. We sat and talked and ate and drank wine and laughed a little more. She was getting more comfortable with me or at least I thought she was. She actually touched my hand a couple of times when she was making a point and her fingers touching my skin felt like a heated caress from another woman. She was talking about a musical show she wanted to see in February but she doubted if she could get tickets. They were bringing the musical Evita to town and she had never seen it performed live. I knew about nothing about Evita and she explained it was a musical about Juan Peron and Evita Peron of Argentina. "You remember the hit song...don't cry for me, Argentina?" II remembered it vaguely but before I could answer, I noticed a shadow standing over our table. I looked up to see a big, red-faced man standing near Robin. He put his hand on her shoulder and she jumped back, her face angry. I could smell the booze on the man's breath. "It's my favourite little teasing bitch," the man said rudely. "How you doing, Robin? Are you getting any lately?" I could feel the anger in rising and I stood up with my fists clenched. I'm not sure what I might have done but the man moved backwards and looked at me, blinking, as if he hadn't even noticed me standing there. "What?" he asked. "You want to hit me? Go ahead. It would serve me right after I spent all that money on her and she wouldn't even give me a kiss. Not even a fucking kiss. She'll do you the same way, slick. She don't put out for nobody." I almost did hit but somehow Robin got in between us. I thought she would be furious. Instead she looked sort of sad. She pushed the man away and said something to him in a soft voice and he hung his head and she sort of propelled him away from out table back to the people he was sitting with. She came back to me and said, "Let's get out of here. I've lost my appetite." "Sure," I said. I drove her home but she didn't get out of my truck right away. We sat there looking at the moon and the haze around the streetlamps on her street. I was trying to something to say but she finally spoke first. "I don't think we should go out anymore," she said. "Why? Because of that idiot. Don't let him bother you?" "He's not an idiot. He's a very nice man when he's sober. The problem was he wanted more than I was willing to give him. More, than I'm willing to give anyone." "Robin," I said, after a moment's hesitation. "I care for you." "I know you do," she said. "I think you like me. I think we get along. I'd like to keep seeing you." "Even though it will come to a bad end eventually," she said. "Why does it have too?" I asked. I thought she wasn't going to answer. I heard thunder and a few drops of rain hit the windshield of the truck and then suddenly it was as if the heavens had opened and let the deluge through. Huge drops of rain slapped the truck's windshields like gunshots. Robin answered me finally. "I'm just a small town girl, you understand. I did all the things I was supposed too. Oh, sure, there were a few times of intense making out in the back seat of some boy's car but I was saving myself for marriage. Then I went to New York. I got a job with a publishing company and I started hanging out with some artist types. I was very stupid. One night there were drinks and mine tasted kind of funny but I didn't think anything about it." "The next thing I knew I was on my back on the floor and one of the artist types was undoing my blouse. I cried out for him to stop but he just laughed. I couldn't move my arms or legs. I couldn't seem to do anything but what he wanted. He stripped me naked. I don't know how many people were in the room. It was some sort of party. He held up my arms and he started telling everyone that from tonight on I was going to be his woman..." Her words were coming out in soft choking sobs and I wanted to hold her but I was afraid to move. I told her she didn't have to say anything else but she told me she wanted to finish, that she had never told anyone and she needed to do it now. "I heard people laughing and commenting and then he got down on me and he raped me. He was laughing the entire time. I felt ashamed and sick and humiliated and it hurt like hell. Then he grabbed me by the hair and dragged me into his bedroom where he raped me again." "God, I'm so sorry, "I said. My words seemed so shallow with the circumstances and I felt such a tremendous rage that I knew if I had been able to put my hands on the artist, he would never be capable of raping anyone again. "It must have been some sort of date rape drug," she said. "I have never told another living soul. The next day I turned in my resignation and I came home. And the thought of another man touching me, in any way, makes me sick to my stomach." "I wish there was something I could say or do," I said. "There's nothing anyone can do," she said. "You're a nice guy, Harry. I like you. But there's no future in our relationship. I'm sorry but that's how things are." The rain had slowed and she got out of the truck and ran for the house. She closed the door behind her and I thought she was probably closing the door on me. I drove home in a seething rage. I wanted to hit somebody. I wanted to hurt somebody. I wanted to save Robin from the bogey man but unfortunately I was a few years late. She didn't cut me out of her life completely. We talked on the phone and I took her out to lunch a couple of times. She even invited me into her house for lunch. She was a little more at ease with me after telling me her secret. A couple of days before Valentine's Day she told me she was really upset because she had really wanted to see the stage play Evita but the play was completely sold out. She said maybe she'd get to see it the next time it came to town. I had been thinking a lot about Valentine's Day. I wanted to give her something special and not just cards and flowers and I wanted to be careful not to give her anything which might make her think I hadn't given up the idea of us being romantically involved. Of course I hadn't given up the idea. I couldn't. I thought that maybe with time. I hoped I wasn't fooling myself but I knew one thing for certain. I just could not control my feelings for her. I had a friend who had a friend who worked in theatre. I called to see if I could somehow scrounge up a couple of tickets but Robin was right. There were no tickets available, not even from scalpers. It was a very popular show around town. I was willing to spend whatever it took and I kept calling around but I was having no luck. The day before Valentine's Day I drove down to the theatre early in the morning. The show was playing for the last time on Valentine's Day. It was the last chance I would get for tickets. There was nobody around and I just walked in. I walked down a softly carpeted hallway and into an anteroom but there was still nobody around. I went through a couple of double doors and found myself face to face with the start of Evita. She was an actress everybody was familiar with, and I had seen her in a half dozen movies. Seeing her in person was a shock, especially when I realized she was a lot older than she looked in the movies and she looked almost frumpy without makeup. "What are you doing here?" she asked. I blurted out stupidly that I was trying to find somebody to buy tickets from, that I wanted to do something special for someone for Valentine's Day and she really wanted to see this show and everything was sold out. I would probably have rambled on for another ten minutes but she put her finger to my lips and she smiled. When she smiled, her face lit up and her personality shown through and I realized why she was such a star. "This is someone you care for very much," she said, looking at me intense. "Yes. Very much." "You've come to the right person," she said. They talk about people in the movies being snobbish and often arrogant, but the star of Evita was a kind and considerate and very charming woman. I also think something else was at work that day. Maybe you could call it fate or luck or just Cupid looking out for me, but the star led me down a long hallway and up a stairs and into a small room that looked out over the stage. It had two comfortable looking chairs. "You will give your name to the box office person and they will open the doors and let you up here," se said. 'This is the VIP box but there won't be any important people but the two of you tomorrow. I am, at heart, the ultimate romantic. Now give me a kiss and say thank you." She was nearly as tall as I was and I leaned over and kissed her cheek and she smiled again and I thanked her enough times until she waved me away imperiously and went back up the steps toward what I presumed were dressing rooms. I felt lighter than air. When I called Robin that night, she seemed distant but I wasn't having any of it. "Now don't give me a lot of grief about you being a steak and potatoes girl and you don't want fancy trimmings. I want you to put a dress on because I'm wearing a tux and I'm taking you someplace fancy for Valentine's Day." "Harry...." she said. Struck by Love "I don't want to hear your excuses. Just be ready. I'll be there at seven." I hung up before she could protest again. I took a deep breath. My phone rang but I didn't answer it. I only hoped she didn't leave town. I thought perhaps I should tell her where I was taking her but I wanted her to be surprised. I just had to take the chance she wouldn't lock the door and keep me out. I called another friend and rented his limousine for the night and when the sleek white limo pulled up to her date, Robin came out wearing an off the shoulder simply black dress, stockings and high heels. She took my breath away. I thought it was going to be very hard to resist trying to put my hands on her but I knew this was some kind of break-though and I didn't want to screw things up by moving too fast. I met her at her porch and I gave her a single long stemmed yellow rose. "Your chariot awaits, milady," I said. "You're crazy, Harry," she said, but she smiled. She really genuinely smiled. I opened wine in the limo and we sipped it as we rode to the theatre. She looked so damned gorgeous. Her black dress was a little below her knees. Her legs were shapely and tanned. I realized she had always worn pants and jeans and I had never really at her legs before. They were incredible. The black dress was cut just low enough so that the tops of her breasts showed. There were freckles on her shoulder. I tried not to stare. We pulled up in front up the theatre and the driver came around to open the door. Robin really looked surprised. She kept saying there was no way I could get tickets and she had tried everyone she knew. When I gave my name to the ticket guy out front and he took the keys from his pocket and opened the side door, she looked amazed. I walked her up the stairs. I expected to find the room as it had looked the day before. Instead there was a table in the middle of the room and red roses on the table. There was a chilled bottle of champagne in a bucket. Robin looked at me incredulously and I shrugged my shoulders and I mentally thanked the star of Evita. We watched the show and drank the champagne and got a bit light headed. I saw Robin clap her hands like a child, laugh out loud, squirm in her chair and stand up to applaud at the end. I saw in her for the first time what Mrs. Childs had been talking about and I mentally cursed the man in New York who had taken that joy of life away from her. After the show I took her to a candlelit dinner at one of the famous restaurants in town. We ate and drank more wine and she could not stop talking about the show. When the dance music played, Robin looked up at me and I saw something in her eyes but I couldn't be sure what it was. "Dance with me," she said. "I haven't danced in a long time." I tried to say something about how I really wanted her to have a good time this evening and my dancing with her wasn't exactly a good idea, perhaps, especially with her in that skimpy black dress but she took my hand and said, "If I don't do it now, I may never again." I went with her to the dance floor and she slipped into my arms and we moved to the music and in a moment her body relaxed and her head rested against my shoulder and it was as if we had been dancing together all our lives. I gave into the moment and I pulled her against me tighter and I had a natural reaction and in a moment she realized what was happening and she jumped away from me as if she was burnt. I could see how miserable she was about her reaction and she looked as if she was going to try to come into my arms again but I said we should sit. We did. We sat and talked and drank a little more and then we walked out to the limousine. This time as we sat in the back of the limousine she sat beside me and she reached up and closed the window so the driver could not see into the back seat. I felt my heart pounding. She turned to me and her eyes were scared but she sort of melted into me and she kissed me. I really wasn't expected her to kiss me. I thought I would take her home and we'd shake hands at the door again and I could feel good about being a gentleman and giving her a night to remember. Instead all my good intentions went to hell when she kissed me. I was hard as rock immediately and trying not to think about what those beautiful breasts would look like if I could get them uncovered or how she would feel squirming underneath me. I kissed her back. Our tongues touched. I started thinking I was the same kind of bastard who had taken advantage of her before except I used wine and music instead a date rape drug. I didn't ever want to hurt her. I gently pushed her back. "Robin, you've been drinking a lot," I said. "Perhaps this isn't the right moment." "It will never be the right moment for us if we wait," she said and she kissed me again. Her mouth was so sweet and hot and I tasted her tongue again. I wanted to taste her for eternity. She took my hand and brought it up to her breast and I felt her, stroked her, squeezed and pulled on the dress until one shapely breast came free. She gave a gasp but she didn't try and stop me as my hand covered her. "Please," she said, pulling back. "I haven't been with a man since it happened. I haven't wanted too. I never thought I'd want too." I leaned over and licked at her nipple. She grew hard under my tongue. I thrust at her with my tongue and then I sucked her into my lips and I bit down gently and I was rewarded as she gasped again. I could have spent hours sucking on her nipple but it was Robin who pulled back and Robin a sweet cry of delight as she opened my pants and fished out my rock hard cock. She managed to get it through my shorts somehow and she squeezed and ran her fingers over the tip. At the time she was moving around in the seat and I had no idea what she was doing until she swung her legs over me, facing and I realized she had somehow moved her panties out of the way. She was looking into my eyes. I saw a lot of things in her face: fear and lust and sadness and longing and perhaps a sense of starting to heal. "I love you, Harry," she said, and she sat down on me, drawing me up inside her tight, hot sheath in one energetic movement. "I love you, Robin," I said. "I've loved you since I first saw you." "I know," she said, and she began moving in a gentle up and down movement and she pulled my face to her nipple again. I sucked and she seemed to be doing some kind of rhythmic dance in my lap in a way that I had never felt anyone do. The same joy of life she had shown as a child, she now used in her movements. Her insides squeezed me and I was having trouble controlling myself. I wanted her to come. I want her to feel pleasure but I could already feel a burning in my prick and I said, "Damn" and I was coming in her. She laughed and I had never heard anyone laugh like she did. It was as if something had broken loose inside her and all the laughter was exploding from her lips. "I'm sorry," I said. "I'm sorry. I wanted to wait for you. I just couldn't." I saw her looking at me again and she was smiling and those catlike green eyes. She moved her hips a little and I felt a stirring. I wouldn't have thought it was possible. "Harry," she said softly. "It's all right. We've got time and I think I'm going to learn to like this."