It all started on my thirty-second birthday. A lot of women of this age by now are married with families, but things weren’t quite the same for me. My upbringing was fairly strict; mum didn’t believe in sex before marriage and whenever we watched television together and people started doing unmentionables’, she would lean over and switch the set off.

When I met Ray, I was twenty-five and had never had a boyfriend. Ray was mum’s best friend’s son and like me he’d led a sheltered life. When his mother died; mum, in one of her only acts of kindness, took him in. Made us sleep in separate rooms and told the neighbours he was a lodger. And that’s all Ray’s been really; the lodger who reckons he’ll marry me one day and occasionally visits my room when mum’s taken a sleeping tablet and is unaware her daughter is being taken advantage of.

You might ask why I put up with this, well I know if I left, mum would write me out of her will and I would lose the house. A wealthy aunt had left mum a small cottage in an exclusive square in Chelsea. Our neighbours were rich and kept themselves to themselves and the house backed onto private gardens. If I remained with my mother, this would be mine one day.

Maybe I should fill you in on what happened prior to my birthday, to make more sense of the whole thing.

Ray had gone to visit a cousin in Wales and I lay in bed, safe in the knowledge he wouldn’t creep in, climb on top of me and poke inside my dry, unyielding body, leaving me sore and dissatisfied. It was a hot, summer’s night and I had to sleep with the window open; when I say sleep, I mean more lay wide awake, trying to cope with the heat. Added to this, I was distracted by a noise; at first I thought the squealing was coming from rutting foxes or the local cats, but on closer listening, I realised it was human.

Getting out of my bed and creeping over to the window, I opened the curtains and gasped at what I saw. The house opposite me had the lights one and the French doors open and for the whole of the square to hear, the couple occupying the room were having sex. The man was obscured but I could see he was sitting on a chair and straddling his meaty thighs was a black girl dressed only in a thong, which was pushed to one side, so his cock could slide in and out. He held her around the waist, bouncing her up and down upon him and every time she lifted up, I could catch a glimpse of his red cock. I was horrified two people could give such a public display, but at the same time I was hypnotised. I watched as the girl arched her back, her hands gripping the sides of the chair while she moaned and cried in pleasure. My breathing quickened and my nipples hardened as I imagined it was me being rammed with that mighty weapon. I couldn’t even see the man’s face, but somehow that made it more erotic.

Feeling I’d seen enough, my head wondered if I should call the police. But my body was on fire. Getting back into bed I tried to sleep once more, but I couldn’t erase from my mind the site of the two of them having sex. I slipped my hand between my legs and as quickly and discreetly as possible I brought myself to orgasm. My body shuddering with pleasure as I imagined those big hands around my waist, moving me around, treating me roughly.

A few days later I was cleaning my bedroom window when I finally got to see the actor in the performance a few nights ago. He was leaning against the French window, wearing nothing but a pair of khaki trousers and I concluded I’d never seen anyone so desirable in my life. His chest was broad and hairless, his muscles defined but not like a bodybuilder, more like a brawler. His face was somehow battered and yet well-boned, his eyes deep and hooded and his hair dark blonde and swept back loosely. Squinting to get a better look, I could see he wasn’t as young as his physique made him seem and I estimated him to be at least mid-forties. Somehow, behind the safety of the glass, I hadn’t realised he could see me as clearly as I could see him and when he threw his cigarette onto the ground and gave me a wink before turning and going inside, I turned the deepest shade of crimson. Embarrassed that he’d caught me staring.

So, back to the current day my birthday. The hot weather showed no signs of abating, so I took the fifty pounds mother gave me for my birthday and went to Kings Road to buy myself a sundress to wear. I found a small boutique on Duke of York’s Square and fell in love with a lemon yellow dress with thin straps and buttons down the front made to look like daisies. It was innocent and yet provocative at the same time, the colour complimented my auburn hair and even though it cost the full fifty pounds, I bought it.

I made the gravest mistake in thinking the dress would be suitable for my annual birthday tea with mum and Ray. We sat around the small dining table, where mum had laid out cakes that would have been more suitable had it been my fourth birthday. All the time she made cutting remarks about the dress, saying it showed too much skin and I looked like a hussy. When I looked to Ray for support, he merely nodded in my mother’s direction, indicating he agreed with her.

Hurt and disappointed with them both, I declared I wanted to spend the rest of my birthday alone and I left the house. I walked round to the gardens in the middle of the square and sat on a seat that had the most shade being a natural redhead, I burn easily. So ensconced was I in my misery, at first I didn’t even noticed someone else enter the garden. It was only when I felt someone sit beside me, I looked round and noticed it was the handsome exhibitionist from across the way. Blushing, I was too nervous to even get up and scurry back home, so could only sit there hoping he wouldn’t talk to me.

“That’s a pretty dress, he said. He was American and in a strange way, that made it easier for me to accept his exhibitionism; although that is a dreadful stereotype.

“I bought it for my birthday, I replied quietly. “Is it today? “Yes. “Many happy returns of the day. “Thanks.”

“You look kinda sad for someone who should be celebrating.”

“I’ve nothing to celebrate.”

“Garbage. Everyone likes their birthday. “I don’t. It’s the same boring routine every year. My mother makes tea and we sit and eat it with my boyfriend and that’s it.”

“You live with your mom? I nodded. “And my boyfriend.”

“Cool mum to let her boyfriend sleep with her daughter.”

“We have separate rooms.”

“I see.”

All the time I’d been speaking to him, I hadn’t once dared to look at him. He was so devastatingly handsome; I somehow felt I had no right to lay eyes on him.

“Why you sitting out here? he asked.

“They kept saying my dress was inappropriate and I had enough.”

“Well it’s a pretty fine dress to me, he said. Why don’t you come in with me? I’ll fix you a cold drink. “I’d better not, they’ll be wondering where I am.”

He chuckled.

“How old are you?”

“Thirty two.”

“Well you’re a grown woman

“Sarah.”

“You’re a grown woman Sarah, you can do the hell you like. Now come on in. I’m new around here, I need to make some friends.”

“Well what’s your name? You know mine?”

“Ed, he replied with a lazy smile. It’s Ed.”

Knowing I’d end up regretting it, I obediently followed Ed across the square and through the French windows into his house. We were in the living room and I straightaway saw the chair where he’d been having sex that night. It made me feel strange to be in the presence of a stranger I’d seen in such an intimate act. He told me to sit down and I chose a sofa instead; watching as he sauntered into the kitchen, trying hard not to look at his rippling muscles under his white vest. “Do you live here alone? I asked.

“Sure do, he replied. Wouldn’t have it any other way.”

I wondered who the girl had been? I’d assumed she was his girlfriend or wife.

He returned with two cans of coke, cracking mine open for me and sitting beside me. Being so close to him, my heart started to race and I could feel myself blushing, wanting him so badly. Up close I could see just how rugged his face was; he wasn’t a young man and yet his maturity seemed to make him all the more handsome and sexy.

“So what plans have you got for your birthday young Sarah? he asked.

“None. And I’m not that young. “You’re a lot younger than me honey. I’m nearly fifty.”

“Fifty! I gasped, hoping I didn’t sound rude.

“Yeah, he laughed. I’m an old man.”

“I never realised you were fifty.”

“Nothing wrong with being fifty. You get kinda bold as you get older. You stop caring what people think and you just live for the moment. Like, when I was twenty five and I’d have been sitting here with you in that pretty dress, I’d have just been a gentleman and kept my thoughts to myself. But now, being old, well I just do what I like. I suddenly realised his hand was pushing its way up my skirt and to my absolute horror, instead of pushing him away, I remained stock still, feeling a rush of lust shoot to my groin. I hardly knew him, my mother and my fianc were just yards away and yet I didn’t care.

His hand pushed further up my thigh, his rough fingers brushing against my skin. I did not respond in any way, just sat rigid, not knowing what was going to happen now. He leaned over, I thought to kiss me, but instead he whispered in my ear.

“How bout I give you a birthday treat? he asked.

“O-Okay, I replied, not even sure what I was letting myself in for. He stood up, reaching down and pulling me up. His huge hand crushed mine as he led me up the stairs and into a bedroom. He stood before me and one by one undone the buttons on my dress until it fell open. I felt conscious of my naked body but at the same time liberated. He pulled the dress off and left me standing there in just my bra an knickers.

He ran his hands over my nipples through the silk of the bra and a thousand darts of pleasure shot to my clitoris. I felt it grow and start to feel heavy, aching with relief as Ed eased each of my breasts from my bra cups and started to suck on my hard, taut pink nipples.

Laying me upon the bed, he opened my legs and came between them and I lay hypnotised, watching as he pushed the crotch of my panties to one side. I could feel my cunt exposed and free and this just added to the arousal. Ed lay down on his stomach, his face close to me and I wondered what he thought of me; what did I look like? Did I smell? Ray had never done such a thing to me and I didn’t know what to expect.

With expert fingers, Ed prised my lips apart and I gasped in shock and delight when I felt his tongue upon my clitoris. With tiny, butterfly movements over it, within moments he was starting to cause ripples of pleasure to engulf my body; feelings I’d only ever been able to achieve myself. I felt one, then two of his big fingers slip inside me, gently moving within me while he still licked away. The pleasure was so intense I felt I was going to pass out. He persisted until I lost all sense of awareness and came against his face, my hands in his hair, keeping him where he was.

Afterwards I lay in a delirium, shocked at what I had just done and anticipating what was going to happen next. Ed knelt up, undoing his trousers and that huge, dark red cock sprang forth. He reached down and pulled me up so I sat facing him and with one hand on the back of my neck, he guided my mouth towards his dick. I’d never done anything like this, the thought of it repulsing me and yet here I was, instinctively sucking him, his hand remaining in my hair, moving my head back and forth.

His breathing became laboured, he gasped for air and by now, with my hand upon his buttocks, I could feel his muscles quivering. This feeling of him losing control was arousing me once more, making me feel powerful.

As if he realised this, he pulled my head away and I saw his cock; wet and hard, dripping with my spit and his own juices. Like I was a rag doll, he managed to flip me over onto my stomach, gripping my hips and pulling my arse up in the air. There was a momentary pause. I heard the tear of paper and I guessed he was putting on a condom. Once he was done, he grabbed my hips and pulled me to him, ramming his cock right up to the hilt. It was delightful and painful at the same time.

Just as he had that girl, he gripped hold of me, working my body back and forth for his own pleasure, but it was pleasurable for me too. Soon the feel of his big cock ramming in and out of me was too much to bear, I pushed myself back onto him, wanting it in me the whole time. We came together, our bodies quivering together, our cries mingling and filling the air.

Ed pulled out of me and as he did, common sense returned. What had I done? I had just had sex with a stranger. Acted no better than a common tart. I couldn’t move, traumatised by the horror of what I’d just done. Wouldn’t Ray and mum be wondering where I was?