The Village

Turning the key in the lock of the door I enter the one-bed semi detached property that I now think of as home.

The property was dimly lit and held a coolness born of its stone walls even in the late August heat, the summer sun that crept through the windows cast long shadows across the modest living room. As I shuffle in, carrying perhaps one too many bags of groceries the sounds of the removal men break the silence that I have become accustomed to. My brow furrows, knowing that this could just be the start of things to come.

At my left as I had entered had been a hive of activity centred around front of the adjoining four-bedroom house. A property that had been empty for some six months now. I exhale wearily I have become used to my solitude, it suited me. The recent divorce from Selina no longer stung, the marriage that had lasted just three years was over for a reason, even if the memories of betrayal echoed in my mind. I had moved from the City to escape such memories and the hectic lifestyle.

Setting down the heavily laden bags I glance out the kitchen window. A couple in their forties animatedly instructed blue overall wearing removal men on which boxes were to go in which rooms. Could have been worse I think to myself, could have been a young couple just to rub my nose in it. As much as I had moved on, the last thing I needed was a new family building dreams just beyond his walls.

Grabbing a loaf of bread and a pint of milk I step back outside, drawn by the inexplicable pull of curiosity. Looking up, I watch as they amble over towards me and I brace myself to be civil, knowing that first impressions will last and that I have to have a modicum of a relationship with my new neighbours. They greet me with warm smiles on their faces as I brace myself for a myriad of cliches.

"Hey there... I'm Steve, and this is my wife, Bryony," the tall well-built man offers, extending a hand that I shake, his grip is very firm, yet casual. "You must be one of our neighbours."

"Your only neighbour" I offer trying not to sound too dour. "Kyle... Kyle Austin."

"Well, it's lovely to meet you Kyle," Bryony offers in response.

"So, its just the two of you then?" I offer.

"Oh no we've a teenage tearaway loitering somewhere..." Steve offers, just as a young svelte blonde steps from their property into the afternoon sunshine, " Bethany.... Come meet our neighbour."

My heart races as the young blonde saunters over. Dressed in a short black pinafore style dress over a white tee that was accompanied by long black over the knee socks, there was something refreshingly unconventional about her I noted immediately. An air of freedom in how she carried herself. A young woman brimming with potential and confidence as she smiled demurely as she stepped to her mother's side.

"Hey... I'm Bethany" Her voice was soft yet confident, her tousled bleached blonde hair was scraped back into a ponytail that ran down her neck. Her make up was a little dark and heavy but did very little to detract from her natural beauty. I offer a smile in return, my heart sinking slightly on the realisation of the age gap between us.

"Good to meet you Bethany" I offer. "Welcome to the quietest neighbourhood a teenager could wish for."

"Yeah, fortunately I've a few friends who live down in the Village" she offers with a sincere smile at my insinuation.

After a few minutes of fairly natural friendly chatter, Steve and Bryony retreated to help the removal men, leaving me to walk the short distance back along the path to my front door, realising I'd stood talking to the three of them clutching a loaf of bread and large carton of milk that had been intended as a paltry moving in gift.

I steal one last glance at Bethany as she laughed at something her mother said, the sound carrying through the air as I watch the two removal men pay the eighteen-year-old attention that is far from subtle.

Closing the door, my mind does not fixate as much on the intrusion of new neighbours as it does the intrigue I feel towards their daughter. Feelings I struggle to shake as I mundanely pack away shopping into the cupboards and refrigerator.

Over the weeks and months that follow I am aware of the Lomas presence as neighbours, but they largely keep themselves to themselves. Bethany would rarely fail not to garner my attention though, often I would find myself watching her, carefully, quietly so as not to be seen as I hid behind drawn curtains to observes as she left or returned to their home. Feelings tugging at me in ways I dared not fully acknowledge.

'Far too young for you' was the constant thought I kept reminding myself.

Even if the sentiment was born of an increasingly heavy heart and an overactive imagination, I made a resolute determination to respect the boundaries of her youth and the fact that we were neighbours. I could not quite resist full temptation though, allowing young Bethany to become a thing of fantasy, my sordid imagination often drifting to her in moments of solitude as I masturbated.

There was no harm done by looking and imagining.

***********

~Four Months Later~

The knock at the door stirred me from a slumber on the sofa.

I look to my watch not appreciating that it was gone half ten on a Saturday evening, as the knock at the door sounds again. Confirming it was real and not imagined.

Rising from the sofa I head towards the front door, which leads directly into the living room, rubbing my hands over my face to push away the effects of sleep.

Lowering the door latch I was surprised to find Bethany standing there, not least as she was obviously upset. Her eyes were a little red and slightly puffy and she seemed out of breath. My eyes soon left her face thought to take in the rest of her appearance. A short sleeve sheer t-shirt sat over a black bra, from the waist down a short denim skirt and dark denier nylon tights clad her legs which led to little black ankle boots. It was a powerful strong look in keeping with how I had often seen her dress. Bethany was not one for stereotypical fashions I had fast concluded.

Her shoulder length blonde hair was worn down and revealed the long dark roots of her hairs natural colour. I realise I am staring or have been staring for far too long, although I cant help but look back up her body as I meet her eyeline once more, Bethany didn't seem to notice as she stood there perturbed by whatever brings her to my door in the darkness of the night.

"Bethany..." I finally offer, "...everything alright?"

"Can I... do you mind if I come in?" The young bottle blonde enquired, "I've lost my keys, and I'm locked out... Mum and Dad are out and it's..."

I gestured for her to come into the house, only fully appreciating that its raining.

"Of course..." I offer without hesitation given her plight as the rain starts to lash down heavier, her hair already appears a little damp.

Without thinking, she closes the door behind her, and I lead the way through the untidy living room that the front door opens into to the somewhat tidier kitchen. Still sat on the kitchen table were the remnants of my pitiful Saturday night, spent home alone. My laptop sat open next to the plastic dish that I had eaten a particular meagre and tasteless curry and rice from around an hour earlier. Hastily I tidy the dish into a bin alongside of two empty bottles of lager.

"Can I get you a drink..." I offer, "... a hot chocolate or maybe something stronger?"

"Thank you Mister Austin... you don't know how good Hot Chocolate sound right now." Bethany replies ambiguously.

She seemed to be relaxing now, even if she paced the floor a little, the heel of her boots echoing off the hard tiled floor as I filled the kettle and scooped chocolate powder onto a wide rimmed white mug. Her slightly erratic nature on arrival played a little on my mind, and I wonder how insensitive I am being by not mentioning it.

I kept glancing towards her, in truth I could barely take my eyes off of her, and the revealing outfit that she wore. The attention I had paid her in the past was always on fleeting, surreptitious glances whilst I had seen her coming and going from the adjacent property. We had never really talked, this was possibly the longest I had spent in her company since the day she had moved in next door.

"First of all, call me Kyle..." I offer as I turn and pass her the mug filled to the brim with hot warm liquid. "So... what happened to your keys?"

"I... I don't know," she exclaimed setting down the mug on the counter at her side, given it was too hot to consume I assumed. "I must've ...must've left them in The Crown... my friend made me leave after.... After... what happened."

Her answer is enormously vague at best. I know the Crown as a venue of course but have rarely ventured into the premises.

"What happened?" I enquire, sensing something not quite right.

"Just... Oh it was just a little unwarranted attention I guess... I'm alright... it's just..." she left her sentence hanging in the air.

From her opening gambit on the matter, she suggests despite us being relative strangers that she needs someone to talk to, and whilst I hopelessly qualified to talk to the teen about the boy troubles she has had I feel a little obliged.

"So, how'd you get here from The Crown?"

"My friend Seren drove me home." She offers as she grasped the mug and cupped her hands around it, warming them. I notice the unconventional black nail varnish that paints her fingernails.

"Shall I call your Mum and Dad... let them know you are here?" I offer as I fish my phone from my pocket and find Steve's mobile number, prepared to give him a call.

"I've... I've already called them," Bethany states, "Which is great... seeing how they don't really trust me going out as it is... they'll be home about half eleven."

Acknowledging her with a nod I notice for the first time how dark and wide her pupils are, wide to the point that they almost eclipse her pale blue eyes. Looking away but intrigued as to what would cause such a reaction I slip my phone onto the kitchen table before turning back to her, my eyes now casting over her sheer top that reveals her slender body through its barely opaque material. Her dark eyes meet mine and a little smile come smirk etches her lips. Once again I cannot help but notice how her eyes are all but filled by the dark glassy pupils and I immediately cannot help but wonder if she has taken anything alongside of the alcohol she has presumably consumed at the local public house.

"You mentioned trouble... with a boy.... " I enquire, awkwardly breaking the silence since her revelation about her parent's trust in her.

Bethany pondered for a moment, holding the white mug close to her soft dark red lips as she looked across the warm milky brown contents as a whisp of condensation passed her face. Tears well in those dark pools of eyes.

"I'm not exactly sure I can talk to you about it ....but then I who the fuck can I talk to my friends didn't want to know?"

Her eyes were glistening as they filled with tears and there was a threat of a sob as she looked to me.

"Try me..." I offer sincerely "....although it's been twelve years since I dealt with teenage angst." I chuckle, my comment meant to lift the uncertain mood only underlines the fourteen-year age gap between us.

"There... there was this guy at The Crown... don't take this the wrong way... he tried to touch me tonight. You know, he pushed his hand in my bra and touched my... and then we went outside and... well I wanted to ...but as soon as Serene interrupted us ...I ...I just knew like it didn't feel right."

She held my intrigue immediately, I feel an inappropriate envy for whoever has gotten close enough to young Bethany.

"What do you mean it didn't feel right? I eventually enquire, not realising how close I have stepped towards her.

"Well... He was... He was older..." she paused, and I watched as her cheeks blush a little. She started again, averting her eyes, "And well ...Fuck well I'm a virgin... most of my friends ...and I just..."

Bethany sniffles now as she spoke, her head bows in shame and embarrassment and obviously upset by the memory of what has happened. A crushing awkwardness constricts my breath not just at her revelation of what has happened, or not happened tonight, but also that the beautiful young creature stood before me is still a virgin. I move back from her towards the table as I genuinely tried to think what I should say for the best, my mind dwelling only on the one matter that I cannot break away from.

"Shit Bethany.... I'm sorry if you had an unpleasant experience," I barely believe the conversation I engage in but steel myself to offer the most appropriate advice I can. "I'm about to roll out the cliches here but sex shouldn't be like that... you shouldn't feel pressured into..."

As I speak I feel hideously out of my depth. Bethany looks over at me, brushing a tear from her left cheek. I wanted to reach out and hold her, but did not, in the moment that felt a hideously inappropriate action to take.

"It... it just feels like a burden." she offers with brutal honesty.

"You shouldn't think that way... you'll know when the time is right... trust me." I offer.

"I'm fed up of waiting..." she offers taking a sip of the hot chocolate suddenly asked. "...Is there something wrong with me?"

Her question triggers a thousand answers in my mind, all of them hideously inappropriate. Especially given how she is dressed as she stands before me in my kitchen. A deluge of different fantasies trigger in my head as I try not to leave my gaze on her for too long.

Bethany must see my reaction, "Sorry Mr Austin... I... I mean Kyle, I just hate to think I always feel this way."

I paused while I thought. I looked at pretty young Bethany stood across the kitchen from me, her ample breasts pushing against her sheer top, my eyes inadvertently drawn to the soft skin of her ample cleavage beneath the opaque material. A desire, I fight, building within me.

A desire born of a conflicted longing as I look at her I cannot fight the thoughts that streak through my mind. Bethany might be tired, confused, and vulnerable but all I could think of as she stood before me was how little time I had to either seduce her or make her see me as more than just a neighbour. My mind stirs at the thought of taking Bethany myself as she looks at me with those dark almost lifeless eyes. I should be offering her solace, comforting her but all I can think of is stepping closer to her, and discovering for myself how her young virgin body would feel and react.

Even if reciprocated how would such a matter remain secret, my mind cartwheels on how to manipulate the circumstances and fuck the blonde eighteen-year-old, I do not consider the consequences as I move a couple of steps closer, standing before her, looking down at her. My eyes on hers. My thoughts are my own, even though I realise they are immoral.

"Boys... Men... will always seek to take advantage" I offer, "You need to be sure... that the moment is right for you."

I finished my sentence almost as a question, to see how she responds, she does not say a word, she just cups her drink in her hands and continued looking into it. I am conscious that as I move toward her my arousal is growing.

"Why don't you show me...." Her dark eyes narrow on me, "...Just a glimpse of how it might feel."

I am wary as my eyes fix on hers before she sets the mug down at her side. Bethany keeps her gaze on me with an intensity that is hard to interpret as anything other than desire.

Stepping forward, I react on instinct, my hands cradle her face as I press a kiss firmly to her lips. A kiss the young teen responds to almost immediately. Her tongue pressing into mine as her arms reach around my neck. Bethany pulls me against her body, I am held so close to her as I hear her breath rising through the enthusiastic kiss, as she drapes her arms around my shoulders I lift her and perch her on the edge of the counter. Her body relaxing as we kiss.

Slowly I run my hands up her spine under the loose sheer top, as my fingers trace along the strap of her bra I move my hands across her sides. The deep kiss does not relent even as my hands move across the front of her bra under her top and I feel her body start to tremble at my touch. As my hands move across her young body they drift back up pressing gently over her firm young breasts, I feel her nipples stiffen through the black satin bra. Her breathing starting to hitch in anticipation of what was happening to her.

She then breaks the kiss and turns her head away, I hold my position as her shoulders rise and fall. I do not even think to question why before my desire takes over and clutching her jaw I turn her face so that she looks back towards me. Her dark sparkling eyes look to the floor, looking down as if she is not certain about what was going on. As my eyes fall across her perfect young body, primal instincts start pulling at my consciousness. I appreciate I act no better than whoever who had earlier tried to coerce young Bethany as I struggle to fight the urges that tear through my mind.

My hands slip from her body to find the base of her sheer top as I press my lips to hers once more, she returns the kiss again as she raises her arms and I peel the garment up across her body. Unquenchable now thoughts fuel both my actions and my desire as I drop the top to the floor, my hands pressing up over her firm breasts through her black satin bra as I kiss her once more, she slips down from the counter, but I offer no escape and pin her up against the edge of the kitchen counter.

My kiss leaves her lips, peppering her neck with vicious kisses that fall toward her shoulders then across her exposed chest. I hear a soft breathy whimper when my mouth kisses across her cleavage. My hands slipping over then eventually pulling down the cups of her bra, she responds with further gasps as my mouth moves over her right nipple, and I feel it stiffen in my mouth as I suck on her breast.

Emboldened I reach round and undo her bra, pulling the underwear down her arms by the cups down to reveal her young breasts as I drop it next to her top at her feet. I return my mouth to suck once more on her pert young breasts, she gasps loudly at the touch of my mouth and tongue on her bare skin.

"Don't... oh god don't stop," Bethany breathlessly whimpers.

I do though my mouth leaving her breasts as I crouch then kneel before her. There is more of her that I want to discover as my hands press between her nylon clad thighs and I encourage her legs to adopt a wider stance. As she alters her position I ease myself fully down on to my knees so that I am knelt before her young body. My hands on her thighs as I force her legs wider apart while I move my face closer to her crotch.

My hands press firmly up the backs of her thighs from her knees before they move up over her hips under the tight fit of her denim skirt. Bethany trembles in anticipation, I know what I am doing is immoral, but her lack of resistance and my burning desire prevent me from stopping what I want, what I now need in this charged moment.

My heart beating faster as my fingers find the waistband of her nylon tights and the black underwear that sits beneath them. I drag them both down from off her hips as I feel her hand gently slip over the back of my head through my short hair. I watch as she voluntarily parts her legs even wider, her heels scraping on the kitchen floor as she rests her arms back against the kitchen counter. Lifting her loose skirt with my left hand I graze the fingers of my right hand teasingly over the soft plump lips of her labia, noting the patch of dark trimmed pubic hair at the top of her inviting tight looking slit. Bethany gasps again at my touch, her pert ass pressed now against the edge of the counter.