“Princess?” I whispered. “It’s me!”
There was a rasping sound as a match was struck and light flared at the bed head. In the red-orange light of the flame I saw my daughter carefully lighting a low, thick candle. Its flame caught and the light in the room brightened a little.
Sophie put the candle down on her bedside table and looked up at me. I was speechless. In the low light her red hair, brushed till it shone, glowed like gold. Her pale skin appeared soft and milky in a picture of sweet, yet definitely accessible innocence.
She was sitting upright in the bed, the single white sheet covering her knees which were drawn up almost under her chin. The sheet’s embroidered hem rested on her breasts hiding them from my eyes, but I could clearly tell that, beneath it, she was already naked.
Her mother must have spent some time preparing Sophie for this encounter. I felt a warm glow within me and a pain in my groin as my erection strained against the towel which constrained it.
Closing the door firmly, I crossed the room to her side and sat carefully on the edge of the divan, my towel uncomfortably still over my unconcealable erection. I kissed her on the forehead.
“Mum told me. I’ve been an idiot, haven’t I?” I said.
Sophie looked sheepish.
“I would never call you that, Dad?” she replied, looking very young and very innocent. She looked down at her knees. “I was upset when you didn’t say anything though. I thought you might hate me and…”
I put a finger across her lips.
“Princess!” I whispered earnestly. “I could never hate you no matter what you did. And to think you were offering me……” I couldn’t finish the sentence, my throat felt so choked up.
Sophie took my hand in hers and squeezed, smiling at me.
“Are you sure? Really sure you want this?” I asked.
There was a pause just long enough to make me believe she really was thinking it over one last time, and then she nodded.
“I’m really, really sure Dad.” She replied, squeezing my fingers again.
I smiled indulgently and raised her hand to my lips. I kissed her fingers, then her hand and her wrist as my other hand stroked her cheek. I drew a finger along the line of her jaw, then across her lips, which opened to let her teeth nibble my fingertip.
Releasing her hand, my arm snaked loosely around her neck and drew her towards me until our lips met.
For the rest of my life I will remember every second – every fraction of a second of that kiss; the moment when my lovely stepdaughter changed from my little girl into my lover.
Her lips were cool; her mouth was hot; her tongue astonishingly active against mine. A virgin she might still have been, but she was certainly no stranger to kissing. I pressed my lips onto hers and her hair fell backwards over my arm, its clean, fresh smell filling my nostrils.
Slowly she lowered her arms, and with them the white bed sheet leaving her breasts naked in the candlelight.
My hand rose instinctively to caress them. They felt small and firm under my fingers, with the nipples already erect. I cursed the rough skin of my hands as my palms cupped and gently kneaded them.