Some more coffee at my table ....

He sat fuming on the stool in his bedroom. This gatecrasher was getting braver by the minute. She dared to come into his private abode and threaten him? Of course she had the patronage of his grandmother and that was what made her so bold. Where would she otherwise have the temerity to continuously thumb her nose at him and get cheeky? In her hurry to get away from him, she had forgotten to bolt the front door. He had re-entered his bedroom when he realised that she was taking a shower in his bathroom. How he hated a messy wet bathroom!

"Come out of there this instant!" he bade her, "no one uses my bathroom."

"Oh I shall come out…….," she answered, "but I need my clothes."

He glanced around and saw her open bag. The little twit had left her clothes on his bed and gone for a shower. He began to whistle softly. He had her exactly where he wanted her……… right under his thumb.

"Sure," he said, "come and get them."

"What? Won't you pass them to me?"

"No"

"How mean!"

"Yes I am mean," he couldn't help smiling for he knew she was squirming.

"I shall come out then."

"I know you won't. You are too shy…….. so spend the rest of the night in the bathroom, while I get a good night's sleep!"

"Ok I am coming out ….."

"Without your clothes? Wow….. c'mon I am waiting. But I know you, you won't do any such thing."

"If I do, what then? Will get out of here never to come back? That's a fair wager."

She espied his shirt and shorts on the clothes-stand. He thought she was coming out naked? The presumptuous beast! Well she was going to make a fool out of him and kick him out of here.

"I make no wager……..just get out of there and out of my house."

The door slowly opened just a chink. He saw her feet and the red toes that she had polished rather hastily. Her ankles were fine……. His eyes ran up the length of her exposed shin to calf.

The phone bell rang……..damn! Who could it be? He chose to ignore it. He was intrigued by this girl's seven veil's dance! But the ring was persistent and he left his room to answer it. It turned out to be a wrong number. He cursed beneath his breath. He came back into the room only to find her in his clothes. His clothes! His clothes? His eyes turned to slits angrily. Did she take him for a fool? He looked at her. She was twirling round and dancing quite oblivious to the world around her. It was obvious that she was dancing the jig in triumph.

"You!" he hissed.

She was careening as she came out of her trance and lost her balance. Her feet got entangled in the towel on the floor and she almost crashed into the door. But he caught her before that happened. He had his arms round her waist to hold her from hitting the door. She was jolted by the sudden movements. She felt her body pressed against his. Her expression changed. From triumph it turned to uncertainty. She felt some power, some force pull her to him. Her chest heaved and she could feel the heat pulsating between them.

He was as disturbed as she was but he had that much experience to be able to cover it up with a bland expression. He felt her soft body melt into him. Her brown eyes had widened and the irises within had enlarged with some primeval excitement. Her breath was short and came out in little gasps. Her fingers spread out on his chest and of their own volition began to slide over his muscles. She could feel the strong beat of his heart. She looked at him as he looked deep into her eyes.

He saw the fear in her eyes, the fear of passion. He arms slowly pushed her towards him. He was so close he could get the fresh fragrance of her bath soap and feel the imperceptible trembling of her body. He suddenly wanted her like hell. But not like this. He pushed the curly strands of moist hair from her steamy forehead. He bent his head as lifted her lengthwise from the floor. She threw her arms round his shoulders for balance. She buried her face in shoulder. She didn't care. He silently took a few more steps. He placed her on her feet and gently pushed her away. Before she could regain her balance, he saluted her and wished her goodnight. Then he firmly closed the door on her face.

********************