Excuse Me Read online

  Blood flushed to Sasha's cheeks, “Oh, I'm not, trust me. I'm the one at parties who sits in the corner and doesn't talk to anyone."

  He laughed, “Now, I don't believe that."

  "It's true,” Sasha tried to convince Sam as she pulled the arms of his overalls lose and let them fall to his sides.

  Sam lifted his buttocks and wriggled out of his overalls, forcing Sasha forward so she had to put her hands onto the grass on either side of his head to stop from falling. Her face was inches from his, her hair fanning out around them to block the sun, and the rest of the world.

  "I've never had a woman undress me in public before,” he whispered, his hands moving back to her after casting his overalls aside on the ground. His fingers moved up her spine to her shoulders, pulling her gently down towards him. Her mouth moved over his as they kissed, and she pressed her body closer, her fingers finding the soft hairs at the base of his neck while her other hand cupped his jaw. The sun beat down on her as Sam's hands caressed her, gliding slowly to the small of her back where her shirt had ridden up to expose bare skin. She arched her body against him as his fingers, warm and soft, crawled beneath the material of her shirt.

  "And you haven't yet,” Sasha murmured, “This place is just a little public for me to be going that far."

  Sam smiled, “Spoil sport,” he was teasing her, “Imagining you in this position with no clothes on is extremely arousing right now."

  Sasha giggled, “You don't beat around the bush, do you?"

  "Nope. What's the point? I think everyone should say what's on their mind."

  "Well, that works well in theory, but it doesn't always pan out. I think there are certain times when being diplomatic works better."

  "Hmmm,” Sam looked thoughtful, “What about now?"

  Sasha smiled, “No, I think in this situation honesty is a good idea."

  "Okay, so tell me then,” he let his lips brush against hers before he continued, “Do you think it's a good idea for two complete strangers to sleep with each other at their first meeting?"

  Sasha sat up and surveyed him from her perch, her hands finding the gap between his t-shirt and jeans. He looked even more stunning since he had lost the overalls, the shape of his legs beneath the blue denim was aesthetically pleasing.

  "Normally, and logically I would say no, I don't think it's a good idea. And that's being honest,” she smiled sheepishly, “However, if you're asking me if I want to sleep with you right now, then the simple answer is yes."

  Sam pushed himself up, his arms extended back onto the ground in support. Sasha was sandwiched between his upper legs and his chest, his face only inches away from hers.

  "Good answer,” he grinned, his eyes filled with passion as he studied her face. Sasha threaded her arms around his neck, unable to tear her gaze from his green eyes. He leaned forward and kissed her hungrily, his tongue sliding into her mouth with urgency. She shifted her weight and moved her legs so they were behind his back, and Sam pushed his weight towards her, letting his arms come up off the ground and around her middle.

  "Well,” he murmured breathlessly, “My place is out of the question."

  Sasha pulled back and frowned, “God, you're not married are you?"

  His shoulders shook with laughter, the sound of his voice velvety and molten, “No, I'm not married, and I'm not an axe murderer. I can promise you these things Sasha.” Her name was like heaven from his lips and she smiled at the sound of it rolling off his tongue.

  "Then I guess we can go to my place."

  * * * *

  Sasha's fingers trembled as she fumbled her keys into the front door of her apartment. The reality of the situation was really hitting home, now that she was back in her sanctuary. When they were on the bus, and in the park, she could pretend it was some fantasy, easily slip on the guise of someone she was not. But in her own home she was grounded, she knew who she was, and more importantly who she wasn't.

  Bringing a man home she had known barely two hours, was not who Sasha was. But she was in too deep now to back out. Not because she felt she couldn't, but because she didn't want to. Just for today; if only for today, she wanted to be the kind of person who did bring a stranger home, who did act on her fantasies and instincts.

  "You have a nice place.” Sam smiled as they entered the comfortable lounge. Sun streamed in through the ranch sliders, cutting wide strips of yellow onto the faded brown carpet. A leopard print blanket was draped over the second hand couch, covering the worn threadbare cushions underneath. It had been a hand me down from her parents five years ago, its existence justified because it had been able to withstand the abuse Sasha and her brother served to it when they were younger. In the corner of the room stood a large wall unit, packed with dinner sets she never used and ornaments from various family members. On the far wall she had installed an entertainment system; widescreen plasma television, surround sound stereo and DVD player. Her brother was an electrician so everything was wired seamlessly into the walls; no unsightly leads hanging around.

  "It's small, but it's mine,” Sasha dropped her keys onto the table, next to a tiny kitchenette which was just big enough for one. Then she went over to the glass doors and slid them back on their railings, letting a warm breeze inside. A small balcony looked out towards the street, white painted railings separating the edge from a ten foot drop to the ground below.

  "You're lucky you have your own space.” Sam crept up behind her and put his hands around her waist, pulling her back to him. She turned to face him and curled into his arms, letting her head fall against his chest. She could feel his heart beating through the thin white material of his shirt; hear its steady rhythm against her ear. She wondered what he meant by the statement, and was curious to find out more about him, but recalling what he had said earlier made her think twice about it. Today he just wanted to forget about his life, so she would let him.

  Sam bent his neck and kissed the top of her head. She lifted her face to his, the warmth of his stare taking the very breath from her throat. She felt a lump take its place and she swallowed hastily, feeling it disappear to a knot in the pit of her stomach.

  Her fingers found the hem of his shirt and she slipped her hands underneath, running them across the silky hairs on his firm belly.

  His hands dropped to her behind, and he squeezed her buttocks as he kissed her hungrily, taking her bottom lip softly between his teeth at the last moment. Sasha gasped with delight, her fingernails curling into the malleable flesh of his stomach. He walked her backwards to the couch, lowering her to sit while he pushed his tongue inside her mouth. Breathing heavily he forced her knees apart and knelt between her legs. She wrapped her ankles around his legs and pulled him to her, feeling the warmth of his body against her inner thighs. A warm glow crept inside her as he fumbled with the buttons on her blouse, all the while kissing the lobe of her ear, her neck, her collarbone, down to the pale flesh that emerged from the top of her bra. She closed her eyes and leaned her head back on the couch, her fingers in his hair, then down his solid shoulders, raking his shirt from his body and over his head in one swift movement. She tossed it to the floor then reached around her own torso, her fingers finding the clips on her bra and releasing them with minor effort. She felt Sam grow tense against her as she dropped the garment to the floor, his pleasure transferring to her as he took her hardened nipple into his mouth. With his thumb he found the other and rubbed it teasingly, his tongue flicking over the first in short strokes. Sasha moaned and arched her back, pushing her pelvis forward against his swelling crotch. The heat in her abdomen intensified as she yearned to have him naked against her, inside her. His bare muscled chest felt hot against her stomach as he tortured her nipples into sweet submission, making her cry out with pleasure.

  "Take me to the bedroom,” she whispered hoarsely.

  Sam obeyed, and standing he lifted Sasha with him, her legs wrapping tightly around his waist, his hands firmly under her bottom. She wrapped both arms around his n
eck as he found his way past the bathroom, to the only door left in the tiny apartment.

  Again it was a simply furnished room, with a large queen size waterbed she had acquired for a steal, at a local auction house.

  Sam placed her on the bed and she sat with her legs over the edge of the black leather surround. He towered over her while she found the button on his jeans and pulled them loose from his hips, the bulge in his silk boxer shorts evidence of his growing excitement. With her fingers, she gently stroked the protuberance from head to shaft, and Sam moaned as he closed his eyes and thrust himself fully into her hand. She grasped him firmly and lowered her head, blowing warm air from her mouth through the cloth of his boxers. Sam responded ingratiatingly, his hands finding her shoulders and grasping her tightly. Releasing her grip, she pulled his shorts down and he stepped out of the remainder of his clothes. Sasha took him into her mouth, her fingers tightened around the base of his shaft as her tongue meandered delicately down the length. She withdrew, slowly, until only the head was between her lips, then firmly she thrust her head down again, taking as much of him into her mouth as she could.

  "Holy Shit,” Sam muttered. His grip on her shoulders tightened as he pushed his hips against her. He was powerless to resist and his body swayed in time to her own as Sasha repeated the movement again and again. The motion of his own pleasure rippled through her, heightening her own excitement.

  Finally, when she thought he couldn't take much more without losing control she slowed to a stop and looked up at him with eyes full of blue lust. Gently, she continued to work him with her hand.

  He pushed her back onto the bed and unfastened the button on her trousers, pulling them and her clinging underwear from her body. She lay naked before him, her hands clutching at her own stomach impatiently, as he crawled onto the bed. She pushed herself up over the covers to find a pillow and Sam followed. They lay side by side, facing each other, every inch of their length touching, caressing, exploring. Sam gently pushed his hand between her legs as they kissed, his fingers finding the warm, moist space he was longing for. Sasha groaned as he pushed his fingers inside her, teasing her compassionately, his other hand cupping her breast and kneading it eagerly. She lifted her top leg and swung it over his waist, then moved herself closer to his hips. She could feel him now, right beneath her, hard and eager. He grasped her bottom briefly then let his hand run down to her thigh. Rolling to his back, he hoisted her on top of him and she found herself in the same position they had been in on the river bank. Except now they were completely naked. She thrust herself back onto him in one swift movement then lifted herself into a sitting position, her hands braced against his chest. Her hair cascaded down her back, tickling her skin. She pushed her shoulders back, her nipples hard and her breasts full. Sam thrust his hips forward beneath her and moaned, his hands gripping her waist as he stared lustfully up at her.

  Sasha loved being in this position. There was a feeling of power in straddling a man, her naked body pinning him to surrender, his bulging manhood deep inside her, to do with what she wanted. She leaned forward slightly, taking her weight onto her hands. She lifted her hips then ground them back down against him, her own pleasure more than she had expected in doing so. She found herself at a point where she was being carried by a wave of gratification, and she repeated the movement almost autonomously, her body taking over the controls from her mind. She felt Sam's hands around her waist, lifting her, pulling her down to him again, and she drove her hips in time. Her breath quickened as they moved together, faster, their eyes locked in a raging gaze.

  "Oh, God.” Sasha moaned. She could feel him pulsing beneath her, dangerously close to ecstasy. Pleasure rippled through her, draining the blood from every part of her body to collect in a molten pool of desire at her core. She burned over him, her hips grinding against him, unable to stop.

  "Sasha,” Sam uttered breathlessly, “Oh, Sasha.” His expression changed and he closed his eyes, looking instantly like he was in pain as she felt him explode inside her. At the last moment she stopped, her muscles tensing around him, his orgasm delighting her own senses to near crescendo. He moved his hands from the death like grip they had around her waist and cupped her breasts, his thumbs finding her nipples as she moaned and ground her hips against him. She wanted more, she wasn't done yet. He pushed her from him and she collapsed onto the pillow, watching him as he hovered over her. His fingers found her, engorged and wet, pulsing at his touch. Eagerly he circled her, swollen and twitching, as she fought the wave which overpowered her senses. She heard her own voice crying out, felt his lips on her damp skin, saw him staring at her with passion, but it was all drowned out by the ocean that roared against the relentless movement of his hand. Her climax pounded through her body as he covered her mouth with his, stifling her sighing admittance of bliss.

  They collapsed together on the pillows, in a mass of heavy breathing and sweaty remains. Sam grinned and stroked her cheek, thin lines of sunlight filtering down through the vertical blinds onto his face.

  "Are you still wishing you'd gone to work?"

  Sasha smiled, “No. That was better than any day at the office."

  She snuggled into the crook of his arm, letting her head rise and fall with the movement of his chest as it slowed to a normal rhythm.

  "I have to say,” Sam started, his fingers tracing long slow circles onto her back, “I haven't had a day this good for a long time, and it's not even lunch time yet."

  There was that tone back in his voice, making Sasha curious. This time, with what they had just been through, she was not about to let it lie. She wanted to know. If he got up and left then so be it. If all he had wanted was sex then she would soon know.

  "Sam?” She rolled to her stomach and rested her chin on her hand, gazing up at him.

  "Uh-huh?"

  "Tell me why this has been the best day you've had."

  He smiled, “You mean aside from the obvious?"

  "Yes, aside from the great sex we just had."

  He frowned, “You really want to know about me?"

  "Of course,” she was perplexed, “Am I not entitled now?"

  "Hey,” Sam said softly, “It's not about that. But we just met, and everything up to now has been fantastic, every man's fantasy,” he grinned, “It's like I can be someone else today, here with you."

  "I know what you mean,” Sasha smiled, “But tomorrow we have to face the real world, whatever that is."

  Sam sighed, “Time to burst the bubble then."

  Sasha smiled, “That's very melodramatic, I'm sure it's not all that bad."

  "Do you have family Sasha?"

  "Yes, I have a brother."

  "Tell me about him."

  "His name is Callum, he's two years younger than me. He lives in Auckland with his girlfriend,” she shrugged her shoulders, “Not much to tell really."

  Sam smiled sadly, “I have a sister, Marie. She's three years older than me. I have two nephews, Toby and Kyle. Marie married their father when she was barely nineteen. Like plenty of people they had their good times and their bad, but the last few years Jordan was pretty rough on Marie. He got in with the wrong crowd, was never home, drank too much, dabbled with drugs, you know, all the text book off the rails stuff."

  Sasha nodded with understanding, but she wondered briefly what his sister had to do with his life.

  Sam continued, “She left him one night, deciding she'd had enough, took the boys and went to stay with my parents. I was nearly twenty at this stage, working an apprenticeship as a mechanic and still living at home. When Jordan found out Marie had left him, he lost the plot. He turned up in the middle of the night with a mate and they set fire to the house. I remember hearing the boys first, Kyle was just a baby and he was crying, Toby was coughing and banging on the door because he couldn't reach the handle. I raced out to see what was going on. The smoke was so thick I couldn't see anything."

  Sasha's eyes widened with horror at Sam's story, but she remained quiet, l
etting him finish without interruption. She could tell it was hard for him to get it out.

  "I managed to get the boys out, a neighbour had alerted the fire brigade and I left the boys with him while I went back for everyone else.” His eyes glazed reminiscently, “I found Marie in the hallway, she'd broken a window to get out but had been overcome by the smoke and was unconscious. I dragged her outside. Emergency services arrived just as I was about to go back in the house. It took three of them to physically hold me, they said it was too dangerous to go back in. Have you ever seen a house burn Sasha?” He didn't wait for an answer, “It goes so quick,” he swallowed the lump in his throat, “They said our parents were found in their bed still. The smoked got them even before they had a chance. Marie was devastated, not that I wasn't,” he smiled weakly, his green eyes misting up, “But she couldn't cope. She ended up having a breakdown and being committed for about six months. With Jordan in jail, I was the only family the boys had, and there was no way I was putting them in care. So I looked after them; quit my apprenticeship and became a solo Uncle until Marie came home. She has her good days and her bad days even now, she's on heavy anti-depressants. Needless to say, I'm there most of the time, and when she is having a good day, or a good week, I work for a temping agency. I can't take full time employment, knowing I'd have to drop it whenever she needs me,” he smiled down at Sasha, “So today, being a good day, I headed off to work. But I got half way there and just couldn't do it. I realized for my own sanity that I needed to have one day, just one day, to catch my breath. Then I saw you in the coffee shop, and the rest is history."

  Sasha ran her hand lightly over his chest and kissed him softly on the neck. Her eyes were filled with such compassion, for a man who told his sad story and carried the weight of it with him every day.

  "I don't know what to say Sam,” she smiled, “I can say sorry. I can say how horrible that all is, but you already know that."

  "You don't have to say anything Sasha. I can tell just by looking at you what you're thinking. Besides, you've already given me what I wanted and that's enough. I don't expect anything from you."