Foss
Wallyfoss@btinternet.com
Fold in the Hills 9
foldint9.txt
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mf, mmf, ff, novel

CHAPTER NINE

The year drew to a close and Sarah found that during November and December she
spent far more time on William's work than with the farm administration. She
enjoyed working, even indirectly, for the oil company as the work was varied and
interesting and William, being a kindly man, was easy to work for and both
sympathetic and understanding while she struggled to learn new skills and the
language of business.

She spent most afternoons and occasionally, when things became hectic, long
evenings with William in his study as he made the necessary changes to the
Queensferry part of the organisation.

His need to produce quite complex and detailed reports for head office allowed
him little free time to socialise during the first few heady months following
his promotion and, when the demand for a cost cutting programme was introduced,
he began to push more and more administration work in Sarah's direction, for he
had quickly realised that the more proficient Sarah became, the less time he
would need to spend on routine tasks in his Queensferry Office. Instead he
switched his report preparation to Bryn Aber where he often found it easier to
work on an evening, without the constant interruptions from telephones, faxes
and visitors.

This left Olwen almost free to do as she pleased so that, when the Autumn
ploughing and winter seed sowing was completed she would leave Sarah a list of
work for the farm hands and arrange more and more visits to relatives or farming
associates.

During mid November, she suddenly announced that she was taking a ten day break
in the Canary Islands, and Sarah was welcome to join her if she wished. Knowing
that William was still busy with an important financial report, Sarah explained
that she couldn't be spared at this time, but hoped that they could both arrange
a break together in the new year when William would be less pressured and the
farm would be quiet before the Spring activity began.

Olwen went ahead with her plans, encouraged by her husband, who had sensed his
wife's restlessness over the last week which had ended November and ran into
December and both William and Sarah drove Olwen to Manchester Airport to catch
an early morning flight to the island of Gran Canaria.

On their return William stopped off at his office and asked Sarah to come in
with him while he collected some documents. She was impressed by the design of
his office suite and, while he searched and rang round for the information he
required, Sarah chatted to his personal secretary.

Lindsay David was a small attractive young lady, in her late twenties who was
both smart and friendly. The two talked about their roles within the company, as
they often spoke together on the phone and had met briefly when Sarah had driven
over to collect some data she needed to put in a report she was writing for
William.

Sarah asked to meet Bill Hellier, a man she knew only as a voice on the
telephone, but a man she had spoken with on numerous occasions. He was a
mathematical wizard in the finance office and it was to him she always turned
before committing figures and data to the graphs and reports she was working on.

They always got on well and, though she had a mental image of what he would look
like, she was amazed when she shook hands with a rather short, red headed little
man who wore creased clothes and spectacles with strong lenses fitted.

He grinned at her obvious surprise and laughed,

"Sorry. Did you expect a Robert Redford type?"

Sarah coloured and covered her embarrassment as she thanked him for the help and
encouragement he'd afforded her over the past weeks.

"You are quite beautiful," he said admiringly. "I pictured someone a good deal
older and not at all like you," and she blushed again, but before long the pair
were at ease and laughing together over some of her earlier mistakes.

William finished by lunch time and, after a chat with Lindsay, he took Sarah by
the farm and they left for the car park. On the way home he suddenly turned
inland and before long they pulled up at the vary place where John Llewellyn had
brought her some little time before.

Over lunch the chatted casually and William talked about his plans for
continuing work for the next year or so and then retiring on his pension and
devoting more time to the things he'd wanted to do for himself.

He intended writing a book about the Middle East as he'd spent much of his life
there and she was surprised to learn that he'd kept a daily journal since his
late teens and there was a good deal of information and personal thoughts and
anecdotes to form the basis of a book.

"Might even try my hand at a novel. You never know! It's an exciting area and
all sorts of things go on that most people would find amazing."

"Wonder if Olwen's arrived yet?" she asked.

"Probably, but I doubt if she's reached the hotel by now. She said she'd ring
tonight so we'll know soon enough."

"Pity you couldn't have gone with her William," said Sarah.

"I believe she wanted you to go," said William. "Thanks for saying no, we really
have got to get this document completed and off by next Friday and then we
should have a much easier time of it until well into the New Year."

"What are you doing over Christmas?" she asked.

"Usual programme, I suppose. A family Christmas, with you of course, and then
the New Year's Eve shindig."

"Olwen's told me about that. It all sounds great fun."

"Oh it is, if you're younger than me. I'm usually so tired or so full of drink,
that I rarely see in the New Year, and I depart for my bed before then end of
the old year. Still, that's the way it is and I've no complaints."

Sarah didn't respond, for she sensed the sadness in William's voice and she
poured him another coffee from the cafetiere and waited.

"I can't stand noise, you know - all those people and the music. It's offensive
to me! I'm a very old fashioned person, I suppose, Sarah, and I prefer the
mornings with a leisurely breakfast listening to classical music on the radio.
But, that's what happens when you marry a beautiful woman young enough to be a
daughter, though I wouldn't change things and Olwen has made me so happy."

Sarah smiled, thinking of the scene she'd observed in the bedroom of Penmawr a
short time ago when Olwen was entertaining the two soldiers, Carl and Dave in
her big brass bed..

Then William got up and excused himself, and Sarah's mind drifted back to their
last adventure with the soldiers. Olwen had referred to it on a number of
occasions, for the incident had really excited her, and she made it abundantly
clear that she'd love to repeat such an encounter.

Sarah had listened but could only guess at what had occurred in her bedroom, but
she was content with her own experience, for Danny had been a most considerate
partner and she had no desire to discover the truth of what Olwen had been up
to.

Since then they had both been so preoccupied that no further incidents had taken
place and, though Sarah guessed that Martyn Peters and Olwen were still an item,
she resolved to behave herself and wait until her divorce decree came through
which would mean that that her marriage to Tim had finally been annulled. It was
only a matter of time, she'd been told, but Sarah felt no need to try and rush
things, for her life was once more ordered and fulfilling and she looked to the
future with more optimism than she had done for a number of years.

Back at Bryn Aber, she and William thrashed out another section of the report
and left her with a whole mass of numerical data to sort out and organise so
that it would accompany the report in the form of both Bar Graphs and exploded
Pie Charts.

She worked until late, and only paused when William came in at about 7.00pm with
tea and cake. He told her he was meeting some friends in Conway and she wasn't
to work too late.

By 9.00pm she had broken the back of the work and left for Penmawr, knowing that
she only had to look at the order of the paragraphs and type up William's notes.
and could, at long last, see the report beginning to take shape and had the
feeling that it might be finished by the time Olwen returned from the Canary
Islands.

As it turned out she completed the last section of the document on the day Olwen
flew home and William was able to take it through to his office in Queensferry
for copying and then drive on to Manchester to meet his wife.

When she finally arrived home, Olwen was delighted to find Sarah there with a
cold buffet prepared for the three of them, and talked non stop about her
holiday until Sarah began to yawn and excused herself, thinking the two would
want to be alone, and suddenly realising how very tired she was after the
continuous work she'd been so involved with over the past couple of weeks.

Olwen looked very tanned and fit and, as she walked Sarah to her car she linked
arms and whispered,

"We must have a chat. I've loads to tell you."

Sarah giggled and said,

"I hope you behaved yourself, Olwen."

"It's been wonderful. We must go together early next year. It's a fabulous spot
and no end of young men from all over Europe."

"I see! You haven't changed one bit but it certainly looks as though the change
has done you good as that tan really suits you," said Sarah.

"I got much more than a tan, and I can't wait to tell you!"

"I'm afraid you'll have to," said Sarah yawning, "I'm practically dead on my
feet. That report's finished, thank goodness, and William says that there's no
more rush jobs until the new year."

"Good. So I can take you in hand again my girl. We've a New Year's party to
organise and I've got such plans."

"See you later," yawned Sarah as she turned the key and drove out of the farm
yard and up the narrow track.

Twenty minutes later she was fast asleep in her own bed while her friend Olwen
now completely naked, was sitting astride her husband and giving him the present
she'd promised him when she'd telephoned home a couple of nights earlier, and
one which William had been waiting impatiently to receive!

He noticed, without comment some red patches on her left breast and wondered
about a little bruising on her upper arms. However, his curiosity was quickly
forgotten as he felt his weapon swell and then he suddenly cried out as he
discharged his hot libations into his wife's eagerly waiting cunney.

Some days later Olwen and Sarah were having a coffee break in Bryn Aber kitchen
and listening to the rain beating down heavily on the roof and windows. Outside,
the stone flagged yard was awash and Bob and Ewan were servicing the tractor and
sheltering from the rain in the far shed.

The weather had been quite atrocious for the last two days and Sarah was pleased
that the local builder had finished her roof repairs and pointed up the long
line ridge tiles. He had noticed that the mortar was loose on the chimney and
managed to point the stack up before the rain had started. Sarah had paid him
there and then, having kept the cash under a loose floor board in the alcove of
her bedroom and, when she put together the money she'd received from Danny and
his pals for the dinner she and Olwen had provided, together with her letting
fee and some expenses for trips to Queensferry and back she had just sufficient
to pay for the repairs without the need to dip into her savings.

She was still very keen to keep a tight rein on her spending for she'd mentally
promised herself a holiday in the sun in the new year. The nights seemed very
long to her when she was alone in Penmawr and most evenings she saw no one
between 5.00pm and her return to the farm at 9.00am the next morning.

One day, after Olwen had been to see a play in the theatre at Bangor, she'd
telephoned Sarah to ask her to join her for coffee after William had gone off to
work at 10.00am the next morning and, when Sarah arrived William was still
there, and the two chatted in the sitting room about farm business until he
called to say goodbye and drove off towards Queensferry.

Later Olwen took her through to the kitchen and made a coffee and once they were
settled she began to regale her with her holiday experiences. Sarah learned that
she'd met a young Finn, Mikel, who was holidaying with a group of friends and
they had got on so well that, for the last few nights, he'd stayed in Olwen's
hotel room and had been quite devastated when she had to return home before his
holiday was over.

"What was he like?" asked Sarah, not in the least surprised by Olwen's news.

"Absolutely adorable. Very fit and a really expert lover," and she went on to
describe him and reveal some of the things they'd got up to.

One night the two had been so tipsy and so desperate to have sex that she'd let
him take her in an alley against a wall however, at the crucial moment a car had
turned into the alley and lit up the two with its headlights. Within seconds
they were surrounded by laughing and whooping holiday makers, who'd applauded
their efforts and told them to carry on as they all disappeared into one of the
villas.

As they'd walked away, rather embarrassed and frustrated, a couple of the
revellers had returned and invited them to join their party and very soon Olwen
and Mikel had found themselves part of a drunken orgy.

Olwen still wasn't clear in her own mind precisely what had happened to her, but
she remembered entertaining two men who said they were brothers and came from
Bremen in Germany, but next morning she woke up in the same bed as a husband and
his wife who were from Holland and, when she finally located Mikel, the young
wife had begged her to stay, insisting that she was deeply in love with her.

Another night she and Mikel had watched as a couple made slow and expert love on
a balcony below and to the left of their apartment. The couple seemed quite
unconcerned about the fact that they might be seen and, as Olwen and her lover
observed the two, Mikel had softly caressed and slowly undressed her so that, by
the time the writhing pair below had reached their mutual climax, Olwen had been
on the edge of hers and had to snatch her knickers from Mikel's hand and stuff
them in her mouth to stifle her agonised cries of release!

Later they had tried to re-enact the scene they had observed and again Mikel
brought her to the very edge of oblivion before allowing her to tumble into the
abyss of ecstasy. Olwen then showed Sarah a photograph of herself and Mikel, and
Sarah admired the blonde Adonis and could well imagine that love making with
such a man could well sweep a girl off he feet.

"Will he write to you?"

"Hope not. I don't believe in holiday romances. Anyway the only thing we had in
common was sex, and I guess that when the novelty of that wore off we'd soon get
bored with each other. How about the two of us going over there next January or
February, Sarah?"

"As long as it's not Tenerife. It"d be my luck to have been in an alley with
someone and for Tim's parents to be in the car and seeing all that I was up to."

"Now that might give them a little surprise," said Olwen, laughing at the
thought of such a situation.

Later that day Sarah asked about Olwen's plans for the forthcoming new year
party.

"This year I'm going to have a sort of masked ball idea. Everyone will be asked
to come in fancy dress and wearing something to hide their faces and then, on
the stroke of midnight, everyone removes their mask or disguise and reveals
their true identity. What do you think of that?"

"Sounds fun," said Sarah. "Who are you inviting?"

"Well, I've thought I might keep that a secret too, and then it'll be
interesting to see how many folk cane be identified. I reckon if I offer a prize
to the couple who can hide their identity until after midnight, will encourage
everyone to the think seriously."

"How many are you inviting?"

"About a dozen or so, I thought, and if we ask folk to turn up at about eleven,
we shall have time for everyone to play the game of guessing who the other
partygoers are before the clock strikes then we'll be ready to reveal all, as it
were, and have something to eat and drink. What do you think?"

"It sounds good, and gives those who need it a chance to see family members
before coming out for the evening. There's just one thing though."

"What's that?"

"When does the party end?"

"When everyone's had enough, I suppose. Last year's shindig lasted through the
night and some didn't leave until after lunch. I don't mind that at all as some
folk slept, or whatever, where they could find a place. Two couples slept it off
in the barn, another two crashed out in the back of the Volvo. Everyone seemed
to think it was a good do and I'd no complaints.....except from Bob Roberts who
was on early milking that morning and hadn't been invited to the party. Mind you
he was more disappointed that the half naked female in the barn woke up while he
was having a look and her partner, who was a very big lad and a rugby forward,
told him to get lost or he'd rearrange his face for him!"

Sarah smiled, imagining the look on Bob's face at the thought of being deprived
of such an opportunity.

"He'll not be coming to this year's do either, so you needn"t consider him as
one of those in disguise."

Sarah began thinking of what she might come as, and Olwen mistook the look for
one of apprehension.

"What's worrying you now, Sarah?"

"Nothing, honestly. I was just wondering what to wear. I'm not worried at all
Olwen, in fact I'm quite looking forward to the party, it'll be great fun."

"I take it that you'll give a hand with the food again?"

"I'll be glad to," said Sarah, quickly.

Christmas was a lovely time at Bryn Aber farm, for William and Olwen were loving
and generous hosts, and though neighbors and friends dropped in from time to
time, the three of them spent most of the holiday together.

Sarah spent Christmas Eve, Christmas and Boxing Days at the farm and they opened
their presents like excited children on Christmas morning and Sarah was
astounded at the generosity of her two friends. William had bought her a thick
woollen bed quilt and an ankle length stockman's coat which would keep off the
rain and deflect even the most penetrating of winds.

"For those wet mornings we get so often," he said.

He also gave her a bottle of very expensive perfume and told her that it was to
thank her for all the effort she'd put in on his reports.

From Olwen she'd found warm jumpers and a pair of designer jeans and in another
package she turned bright red when she discovered a really sexy little number
with wispy ties and curious openings.

"For those really hot nights," said Olwen. "If you ever get any!"

William cooked the dinner and Dylis Mason joined them. Sarah liked the hard
working widow, but was surprised to observe the amount of alcoholic drink she
put away both before, during and after the meal.

At 4.00pm William helped Dylis back to her house and saw her safely indoors and
finally left her asleep on her sofa and had covered her with a blanket. When he
returned he told them with great amusement that she was expecting her sister for
tea, but doubted that she'd be in any fit state for tea or anything else before
the next day.

The trio spent the evening talking and reading and, when William switched on the
television and they began to watch a film, they were all so tired that not one
of them saw the intense dramatic action as it came to its violent conclusion,
for they could not keep their eyes open, as the drink, the food and the heat
took its toll.

They walked into Conway the next day and had lunch in one of the inns. Sarah
wanted to get back to Penmawr that night but Olwen and William were so insistent
for her to stay that she felt it would have been churlish to refuse and they
spent their evening together playing monopoly, which William won quite easily
because he was cheating in a most outrageous way.

The next morning Sarah motored up the track to Penmawr Cottage and quickly lit
the fire and, when the room was warmed through, changed into her cosy dressing
gown and began to read one of the books she'd borrowed from William's small
library. She found it so engrossing that she continued to read in bed that night
and fell asleep half way through one of the chapters. She enjoyed her isolation
during the next couple of days and walked two of her favorite routes in the cold
December afternoons, returning with bright eyes and rosy cheeks.

She twice tried to telephone Tim, but there was no reply and, when New Years Eve
arrived she began to get excited at the thought of the party she had been
invited to in the farmhouse below.

She spent the morning with Olwen, William and Dylis , helping with food
preparation and repairing the decorations in the main sitting room and, by mid
afternoon everything was ready and she returned to Penmawr to put the final
touches to her costume.

Sarah had, some time before decided to go to the party as Janus, the Roman God
of doorways, passages and bridges. She had worked on two identical papier-mâché
masks, and painted them both white before giving them thick, black eyebrows and
black lips. She cut out small eye sockets and a thin mouth and when she looked
at herself wearing them she smiled with satisfaction.

She'd hunted around the local charity shops and eventually bought a man's white
shirt and a morning suit which she altered so that it fitted her really well.
She had then attached a home made collar to a white shirt and starched it so
that it would set off the black bow tie she'd made from some black ribbon,
picked up at the local haberdashery.

She'd thought about buying a pair of men's black shoes, but when she'd seen a
pair of heeled black ladies lace up ones in the winter sales. She offered the
sales lady a five pound note, explaining that they were for a fancy dress party,
and a deal was struck. The whole outfit had cost her a little over £12.50 and
she thought she'd made a bargain.

As she took a last look at herself in the bedroom mirror, she was astounded by
the stranger standing there and looking back at her with such an unnerving gaze.

Sarah had first bound her fair hair with a black silk scarf and, as the two
masks fitted together quite neatly, and gaps would show only as dark lines thus
hiding her fair hair, her identity would be kept secret.

She drove down to Bryn Aber wearing only the rear mask and, when she had quietly
parked her car behind the barn, she fitted the front mask, checked herself in
the car mirror and stepped outside.

Keeping to the shadows she walked over the main door and read the sign, "PLEASE
ENTER STRANGER AND BE WELCOME" and, smiling to herself she opened the door and
stepped inside.

She could hear the voices from the main sitting area and, taking a deep breath
she moved confidently into the light of the party. No one seemed to notice her
entrance and the dozen or so folk who were there seemed to talk in weird voices,
afraid to give away their secret.

A dragon's head appeared from her side and a deep male voice asked,

"And to which side do I speak?"

Sarah coughed, and answered gruffly in a dead pan voice,

"Whichever you wish, my fiery friend."

The dragon laughed with delight, and Sarah thought she recognised the laugh, but
couldn't recall who the owner could be. She looked around at the bent figure
with a horrific dwarf's mask with wispy white hair and shuddered as the glinting
eyes beneath swept over her.

In one corner sat an old witch with a long pointed nose and wart covered face
who cackled at everyone and everything and, when the witch stood to refill her
glass, Sarah glimpsed that, beneath the cloak, the witch was dressed in sheer
black stockings and suspenders.

"Could it be Olwen?" she wondered immediately but, as she examined the creature,
she felt that it was too skinny for Olwen and wasn't even sure whether it was
male or female.

Sarah's eyes took in all manner of figures, from the green tree creatures, blue
and silver water sprites, Long John Silver with a really cruel face mask and
sporting a black eye patch and dreadful scars, a headless cavalier with shiny
red bloodstains where his head had once joined his neck, a deep sea diver in a
round diving helmet, a diaphanously clothed princess with silver claws and a
cat's face and Cyrano de Bergerac with a large bulbous nose and a face so
heavily made up that it was impossible to guess his true identity.

Sarah stared and studied, remembering to speak in a gruff, expressionless voice
when anyone approached and challenged her.

The guests circled each other warily attempting to evade each other's probing
eyes and at the same time trying desperately to recognise height, bearing or any
tiny clue which might reveal the others" identities.

On the table were pads and pencils and instructions that they were to guess the
names of their fellow guests. Sarah thought that the witch might be Martyn
Peters and guessed that Olwen could quite possibly be the Cat Princess. She
tried to think of who Olwen might invite and looked at each person from that
point of view, but it was so difficult. She put William down as the dragon and
Joe Balfour the solicitor as the horrible little dwarf, and his wife as one of
the water nymphs.

After that she was stuck, for she couldn't imagine who might be there and, as
for the headless Cavalier and Cyrano de Bergerac, she hadn't a clue. She did
notice that Cyrano was paying her quite a deal of attention and, whenever she
caught sight of him he was staring hard at her from beneath his large black,
feather-plumed hat.

Suddenly the television was on and everyone turned towards it as a Scottish
voice announced excitedly that there was only a minute to go before midnight.
Some hands reached over the table for the waiting bottles of champagne and
fingers, or claws, removed the cork coverings foils and began to loosen the wire
fastenings.

A strange cry came from the assorted creatures ordering everyone to have a
glass, and as the television audience began their countdown, the party guests
joined in and their strange voices got louder until by the time reached
three....two....one, they were shrieking like possessed demons.

Big Ben boomed out, corks popped and flew towards the ceiling and champagne
flowed down bottle necks until eager hands thrust glasses out to catch the
bubbly liquid. Minutes later, when the dragon had kissed the princess, nymph
embraced dwarf, and Janus had touched faces with Cyrano, the television was
silenced and, with a grand gesture, the headless Cavalier held his hands up for
silence before removing his blood covered collar, pulling down the loose shirt
and revealing the smiling face of their hostess, Olwen Roberts.

There was a loud cheer and more champagne was drunk until Olwen managed to get
everyone's attention an asked,

"Well, who guessed it was me?"

"I did!" squeaked the dragon, and everyone laughed as he showed his paper.

"Is that all?" Olwen asked, smiling victoriously.

There was general laughter until she managed to regain her authority once more.

"Right, my friends, when I call you, will you please step forward and reveal
yourself after everyone has made their guess?"

One by one the guests went through the procedure of standing there while people
called out who they thought it might be and then unmasked themselves to the
jeers and cheers of the onlookers.

The dragon was William, Long John Silver turned out to be the solicitor, Joe
Balfour and his wife was the water nymph. The horrible dwarf turned out to be
Olwen's London friend, Glyn Edwards, who had found time to leave his city
colleagues after all and attend Olwen's celebrations.

The deep sea diver was John Llewellyn and, when he removed the helmet, Sarah
blushed when she remembered their brief, passionate encounter at Penmawr some
weeks ago. He had brought a young friend with him who turned out to be the wart
covered witch with the stockings and suspenders and Sarah could see what a
handsome couple they made when they removed their disguises.

Then it was her turn, and there were cries of amazement when she discarded her
twin masks and one or two applauded and Sarah was pleased to find that no one
had thought her to be the Janus.

The tree nymph was Ruth France and her husband the cat princess and this caused
much amusement and again fooled all who knew the couple and, as they took their
bows, they embraced and, for a moment, Sarah's mind went back to the memory of
the two writhing in sexual agony on her dining table some months before.

Moments later the last few had revealed their identity and were mostly strangers
to Sarah, and then a last there was only Cyrano to remove his disguise.

Some of the guests were tired of the game and were busy at the table, filling
their plates with the bite sized canapés and other spicy tit bits but Sarah
watched eagerly, for she felt that Cyrano was someone she knew and, as the nose
came away and the hat was removed she frowned, for his face, though strangely
familiar, was not instantly recognisable beneath the heavy make up.

She sensed Olwen at her shoulder and as she turned to her with a puzzled frown,
Olwen whispered,

"Now there's a blast from the past for you, Sarah Thompson! Don't you recognise
him?"

Sarah looked again as the stranger moved to the table and took a bite sized
pizza square.

"Should I know him? I feel as if I should, but I can't remember."

"Probably because he hadn't any clothes on last time you met," giggled Olwen,
"and neither had you, if I recall correctly!"

Then it came to her and she gasped when he turned to face her and she whispered
in amazement,

"Johnny Applepear! My God, it's Johnny Applepear!"

"Met him at the theatre in Bangor a couple of weeks ago," said Olwen. "He came
over to us in the interval saying he'd spotted me just before the play began and
we didn't go back inside for the second act."

Sarah listened, watching Johnny as he chatted to Alan and Ruth France and ate
his food.

"We stayed in the bar for a while and then walked over to a pub and renewed our
acquaintance. I thought it was going to be a lusty reunion, until he asked if I
still kept in touch with you, and that was the end of my hopes.

He was really excited when I told him that you were living near me and working
for William and myself and he got me to tell him everything about you and begged
for me to arrange a meeting for the two of you and that's when I came up with
the idea of a masked party and here you are. You lucky beggar."

Sarah couldn't take her eyes from him and when he looked across towards her, she
held his gaze and smiled as he raised a questioning eyebrow and then Olwen left
her and Sarah looked at him, spellbound, as he excused himself from Ruth and
Alan and moved towards her.

She blushed a little as he held out his hand and as they touched, he pulled her
to him and kissed her on the cheek and looked into her eyes.

"This has been the longest two weeks of my life, Sarah. I desperately wanted to
see you as soon as Olwen told me that you were living so close, but I made a
promise that I wouldn't do anything to spoil her party surprise. How are you,
Sarah Thompson?"

"Sarah Brooke," she corrected. "At least, for a little while longer."

"Olwen told me about your divorce. I'm sorry to hear that it hasn't worked out,"
he said. "God, listen to me! I'm a liar, aren't I? To tell you the truth, I'm
absolutely delighted as the man doesn't deserve someone as lovely as you and
must be some kind moron!"

Sarah laughed at his serious expression and said,

"Well I suppose I haven't been perfect if I'm honest, Johnny Applepear. I can't
believe it. Olwen told me a little about what happened to you, and I'm sorry
that what we were up to led to you having to leave home and go away."

"It's all in the past, Sarah and, as it turned out, I did all right, but it
killed poor Mam, and Dad, I suppose. You wouldn't believe how cruel people can
be."

"Oh yes I would," she answered bitterly. "The trouble is it might be the very
people you trust the most who let you down."

"Then you can't have had the right friends, Sarah."

"Maybe. But for sure, Olwen and William have been true friends, Johnny. They've
kept me going with an income until I got back on my feet and I will never forget
their kindness and support for as long as I live."

"And that's as it should be."

They chatted on until Olwen and William joined them and Sarah seemed to glow
with happiness.

"You're going to explode if you don't control yourself, Sarah. You look just
like the cat who's got the lot!"

They all laughed and when someone put a CD into the music centre they all broke
into couples and danced to the slow beat. Johnny held Sarah to him and she
melted into his arms as they swayed together in the cosy room. He was more than
happy to be holding a girl from his past, a girl he had so often thought about
during his long period of training at Dartmouth and the long nights aboard his
ship far from home.

He had tried so many times to write to her and tell her what had really happened
on that warm afternoon on the Bryn Aber farm, but each letter had remained
unposted as he feared that she wouldn't understand and become disgusted by what
his accusers had said.

Later he'd learned of her marriage and forced her image to the back of his mind
and learned to control his emotions and get on with his own life, until the
chance meeting with Olwen in the theatre at Bangor.

"I was sure that I caught a glimpse of you at one of the agricultural shows,"
she said, "but Olwen told me what had happened and that it couldn't possibly
have been you."

"Why didn't you come over?" he asked.

"Because you disappeared on your horse and I didn't know where to start looking.
I wish now I'd tried harder," she said sadly.

"That doesn't matter now, Sarah. We're here, and that's what's important," and
he bent and kissed her soft cheek again and she pressed herself into his embrace
and the music played on.

They hardly spoke to anyone else and when he said they should find somewhere
quiet, she unhesitatingly agreed and they said their good-byes to an amused
Olwen, who came to the door to see them off.

Sarah turned to her friend and kissed her,

"You're an angel. What a start to the New Year! I'll never forget this Olwen.
I'm so happy, you'll nev............"

"Off you go. It's freezing out here. See you later, Johnny," she called out to
him.

They found Sarah's car as Johnny's was blocked in, and Sarah drove out of the
yard and up the track to her cottage and, once inside she lit the fire which
she'd laid earlier in the day and soon had a good blaze going in the cosy
sitting room.

She poured two glasses of brandy and they sat together on the settee, enjoying
the amber liquid by the light from the blazing logs. She told him about her life
before and after she married Tim, and how they had grown apart over the past two
years. She didn't try to lay all the blame on her husband, but he soon learned
how hurt she had been when her husband had taken up with her best friend, Ann.

She didn't mention how she and Olwen had caught the two together, but made it
clear that her marriage was over and that there was no possible chance of a
reconciliation.

Then Johnny told her a little of his life, both in the Navy and since he had
come home to reclaim is inheritance. She was surprised to learn that he had no
intention of selling the family farm and was determined to carry on working and
living there and using his own money to improve the house.

After another brandy Sarah tried to stifle a yawn and Johnny saw that she was
very tired.

"Let's call it a night, Sarah. I'm beat, and so are you."

"But I don't want to lose you again, Johnny!" she said.

"You won't lose me, Sarah. I'm not going anywhere very far," he said softly and
then he kissed her before poking the blazing fire down and switching off the
lamp on the small occasional table. He held her round the waist and led her
upstairs and, when she walked into the bedroom, dreamily contented, he kissed
her softly and turned away.

"Good night Sarah," he said.

"But...where are you going?"

"I'll borrow your car and drive back for mine. I'll arrange for it to be driven
back up to you in the morning, so don't worry."

"Worry! I'll never sleep knowing you're not here. You can't go away again,
Johnny, not now I've just found you!" and she began to cry so Johnny move to
her.

"Don't cry, Sarah. I'll stay if that's what you want."

She dried her eyes and turned off the light.

"I want you to hold me, Johnny. I want to know that you're still with me. Just
let me get out of this stupid costume and you do the same."

When she was undressed she hurriedly donned a night dress and got into bed but
the sheets were cold and she shivered as she lay listening to the sound of him
undressing in the dark.

Moments later she felt him beside her and she turned to hold him and warm him as
he shivered from the cold.

"Soon be warm Johnny, I promise."

They held each other tightly and before long their body warmth and the brandy
combined to relax them, and minutes later Sarah's eyes were too tired to stay
open and they slept, happily entwined in each other's arms.

Next morning Sarah woke, and yawned and stretched out luxuriously. For a moment
it seemed an ordinary morning, but then she remembered Johnny and sat up. There
was a note on the pillow next to hers and she read,

'You look beautiful. Sorry to dash off, but the cows need milking. Back soon as
poss. Love Johnny A/P' and she lay back, disappointed that he'd left, but
understanding that he'd little choice.

When she glanced at the clock showing 8.40am she leapt from the bed, pulled on a
pair of jeans and top and set to making the bed and cleaning the bedroom before
rushing downstairs, clearing out the fire grate and setting and relighting a new
fire and tidying the sitting room.

She put on Wellingtons, hurried round to the end of the cottage and opened up
the wood room. It was bitterly cold but thankfully there was a good deal of wood
cut into handy sized blocks, but she had to cut up one or two of the blocks for
kindling. Soon she had a basket filled with wood and kindling and dragged it
back to the hearth.

Later she ran upstairs, showered, washed her hair and then put on a clean pair
of jeans and a jumper and, as she sat in front of the fire with a coffee, having
rushed a bowl of cereal and toast, she went over the events of last night's
party.

She could barely contain herself and kept glancing at the wall clock between the
two windows and when she was washing her few plates, cup and glasses she heard
the phone ring and dried her hands on the way to answer it.

"Penmawr Cottage."

"Hi, Sarah," came Olwen's voice. "Everything alright?"

"Yes thanks. Have your guests all gone?"

"Not quite, we're still on with breakfast. How did your night go, Sarah dear?"

"Alright, Olwen. I did enjoy the party ever so much."

"We all gathered that. Goodness, your face when you realised Johnny was there.
Everybody could see that you were fairly pleased!" and Sarah laughed, blushing
when she realised what they must have thought when she saw her old friend.

"You couldn't have given me a bigger or a better surprise if you'd handed over a
cheque for a fortune."

"Some people are easily satisfied," laughed Olwen. "May I take it that yon were
nicely satisfied, Sarah."

"Now that would be telling. How was your after party entertainment, Mrs. Jones?"

"Interesting, I feel is the right word," and then she lowered her voice a
little. "Can't talk now Sarah, but we'll meet soon enough, and we'll have so
much to tell each other."

As she replaced the phone Sarah's heart leapt at the sound of a car approaching
and, rushing to the window she saw her Golf fording the drainage stream and
coming to a halt by the cottage.

She opened the door to Johnny, who was carrying a small canvas bag and then he
stamped his feet and removed his boots as he spoke.

"It's going to snow, Sarah. I can smell it in the wind. Look at those clouds
over Tal-y-fan," he said.

"Come on in Johnny, you look frozen. Have you had anything to eat yet?"

"Not yet . There wasn't time, but I've seen to the milking and had a word with
Robert and Jonas, and they're happy to cover me for a couple of days if need be.
I said I'd phone them later if that's alright with you."

"Of course it is. Does that mean you haven't to go back for a while?"

He nodded and smiled as he struggled out of his waxed jacket and old woollen
cardigan.

"Sorry about these love, but I've been in a bit of a rush to get back here
before the snow started. Do you mind if I clean up a bit before I have a drink?"

He went upstairs and she heard the shower running and soon his deep baritone
voice sang an unfamiliar Welsh ballad. She listened to the tune and smiled at
the optimism within the lovely melody. Busying herself in the kitchen, she soon
had a breakfast prepared and when he reappeared, pink faced and clean shaven,
she led him to the kitchen table and served him bacon, eggs and toast and she
drank coffee and watched as he ate, smiling when he caught her looking at him,
and saying not a word until he had finished.

He sat back and grinned.

"Now that's what I call a breakfast. Treat me like this too often and you'll
never be rid of me, so be warned."

"Who says I want rid of you?" she asked. "You don't know how happy I am to see
you here with me."

He grinned again and caught her hand in his.

"What a lot of wasted time there's been, Sarah Thompson. If only things had been
different all those years ago, eh?

"That's life, I suppose Johnny." she said sadly.

They sat in silence for a while, both thinking their thoughts and neither
wishing to presume too much at this stage.

"We're not the same people, Johnny," she said quietly.

"Underneath we are Sarah. It's only life that's coated the surface with
experience. I'm still Johnny Applepear. I've had to wear different masks to cope
with circumstances, but in here," he pointed to his heart, "I'm no different to
the Johnny you knew during those lovely summers back there."

She looked at him and knew that it was true and then she saw the large flakes of
snow falling outside.

"Look. You were right, Johnny. It's snowing."

They went to the window and he put his arm around her waist, and they watched
the heavy snowflakes as they began to cover the grass and coat the leafless
branches of the wild damson tree by the path.

Later, when there was a break in the snow shower, they put on boots and
Wellingtons and ventured outside and soon reached the derelict cottage above the
bridge and Johnny laughed at the sight of a hundred or so sheep crammed into the
cottage and broken doorway.

"They're not as stupid as people think. I bet it's lovely and cosy, all huddled
together in there," but Sarah blushed and turned away, for she remembered just
how cosy the cottage could be when creatures huddled together.

Once at the summit of the hill, way above the cottage, Johnny left her and began
looking around for something and Sarah waited for him, admiring the stunning
view over the foothills and beyond to the flat, grey sea. She saw more snow
laden clouds approaching from the North West and called out to him.

"Better be getting back Johnny, we're in for a real snow fall by the look of
those clouds. Johnny! What on earth are you up to?"

He suddenly appeared from behind, whistling and carrying a large, empty plastic
sack.

"Just the thing," he said grinning.

Sarah looked on, puzzled for the moment as he flattened it, placed it on the
snow covered grass and sat down with his legs spread.

"Hop aboard Sarah, you'll find that this is the quickest way down!"

She understood and sat between his legs while he reached for the front corners
and held them tightly.

Soon the pair were racing downhill as the first giant snowflakes fell from
above. She screamed with exhilaration and he laughed as they began to pick up
speed and then the snow began to obscure their view and Sarah pointed
frantically to her left as the derelict cottage came into view and she felt
Johnny's arms about her and soon they were rolling over and over until they came
to a halt in a small depression.

Laughing happily they stood and knocked the snow from each other and, hand in
hand, followed their earlier, and fast disappearing, footprints leading back
towards the iron bridge, the cottage and home.

Once indoors they built up the fire and made spicy spaghetti bolognaise together
and later, as they ate, and drank from a bottle of red wine, Johnny told her
about his life in the Royal Navy, his ships, his friends and his journeys
overseas.

Sarah thought it would be wonderful to have see so many places and to have
sailed across the world's oceans. She liked the sound of his comrades and was
surprised that he had given up such a life.

"It was exciting, and interesting," he agreed, "but there was something missing.
I couldn't get the mountains and the green valleys of Wales out of my mind and,
wherever I went in the world, they were always with me. You know, Sarah,
scorched hills and waterless valleys are interesting for a time, and the hot
countries are fine for a holiday, but they weren't home, do you understand?"

Of course she understood and she reached for his hand and squeezed it
reassuringly.

"What about girls?" she asked. "You must have met many on your travels."

"I suppose so, but again there was never one to make me hope for a permanent
relationship. Oh, they were tanned and some of them very beautiful, but not for
me. Their dreams weren't my dream. What about you, Sarah? Have you met anyone,
besides Tim, to steal your heart?"

She couldn't look at him as the thought of her recent activities came to mind so
she took a drink and patted her mouth with her napkin.

"No. No one special, Johnny. If you want to know I've........."

"I don't want to know," he interrupted. "In fact I don't want us to ever talk
about what's happened before last night. Let's start from now, shall we? All the
past is forgotten, and out lives begin from this point."

"Is it as easy as that, Johnny? The past has a nasty habit of turning up at the
worst possible moment and........"

"Then when it does, we'll promise to discount it, for it won't affect our
relationship, as we've only just met. What's happened has happened and can't be
changed, so it's of no importance."

"But what if I'm a murderer or done something really wicked?"

"Have you?" he asked simply.

"Well, no."

"And neither have I, so what's the problem?"

Sarah thought it over.

"Could it really be as simple as that? What if he found out about her recent
lovers? What if Bob Roberts or Olwen said something about her?" and she looked
at him and he seemed so determined that it should be so that she lifted her
glass and said,

"To a new beginning, Johnny Applepear."

"A new beginning, Sarah Thompson. That's the spirit!"

Later as the light faded and the snow fell steadily from the darkened sky, they
went together to the wood room and, as he split more logs with the axe, she
loaded the basket and together they dragged it into the room and stored it to
dry on the hearth.

Three times they made the trip and, as they closed the door behind them and took
off their coats he asked,

"How's the food situation?"

"Not too bad. We'll not starve for several days, I promise."

"Then that's that. I'll give my men a ring and see that everything's organised
and then I might find something to drink in my little canvas bag and we'll have
a long chat about the future. What do you say?"

"I'll have to let Olwen know that I'm alright, but you use the phone first while
I go and freshen up."

When she returned and telephoned Bryn Aber, Olwen was at her most wicked and
tried to get as much detail as possible from her friend and Sarah couldn't be
angry, for she knew very well what Olwen was like, but refused her pleas for
information and was somewhat relieved when she reluctantly agreed to leave Sarah
and Johnny alone for a day or so.

"Until the snow melts, and no longer!" she threatened. "The forecast gives you
tonight and tomorrow before the thaw begins so be warned and anyway, I can't
wait to tell you my news, Sarah, you'll never believe what happened after you
two left so early."

When she had replaced the phone, Olwen wandered to the sitting room at Bryn Aber
and sat on the opposite side of the fire to William, who's head was buried in a
book he'd been bought as a Christmas present. He looked up and asked,

"Sarah alright up there?"

"Yes, she's fine and Johnny Owen's with her. Can't move out because of the
snow."

"Good," said William. "They'll be good for each other. Well suited those pair,
take it from me," and he chuckled and went back to his book.

"You old romantic, William Jones. Who do you think got them together again?"

"You did," said William. "Well done. It's time the pair of them forgot the past
and got on with the future, don't you think?"

Olwen smiled and watched him as he once again became absorbed in what he was
reading.

"Coming to bed?" she asked.

"Later. Let me finish this chapter."

"Don't be long William. You know I don't like to be kept waiting!"

Once in bed, her mind went over the events of the party. It had been a huge
success and everyone complimented her on her ideas and hospitality. The last
guest had left just before the snow began to fall and, as Olwen waved them off
she had seen Johnny Owen driving Sarah's VW towards the track that led up to
Penmawr.

She tried to recall the scene with Johnny in the barn so many years before when
he and Sarah had finally decided to take off all their clothes for the first
time, but she failed, for the events of the previous night intruded and she felt
her heart begin to beat as she recalled what had taken place............

William, of course, had thoroughly enjoyed the festivities and excused himself
just after Sarah and Johnny Owen had left and, as some of the others drifted
home Olwen's guests were reduced to Alan and Ruth France, Glyn Edwards, Martyn
Peters and herself.

They laughed at Glyn's stories about London life and then Ruth said that she
couldn't keep her eyes open and they all decided to call it a night. Alan and
Ruth had been given the room which Sarah used while Martyn, helpful as always,
offered to sleep on the settee in the sitting room and Olwen brought out a
sleeping bag, pillow and some blankets.

When he returned from the bathroom he crept up behind her and snuggled into her
back and she turned, laughing and said,

"Behave yourself, Martyn, or you'll have to go home."

"Can't," he said. like a scolded schoolboy, "I'm too drunk, Miss."

She hugged him to her and they kissed, and as his hands enclosed a lovely breast
she sighed.

"Too many people about for that, Martyn. but there'll be plenty of opportunities
another time."

He held on, pleading with his eyes, and al, the time caressing the soft mound
and pushing his hardness at her bottom.

"They'll soon be asleep," he whispered, "can't you come down in a little while?"

She felt her nipples harden and, beneath her costume, a familiar dampness
between her thighs.

"I'm not promising anything mind you but I'll try, if everything is quite. But
don't stay awake too long, there's bound to folk nipping to the bathroom and
noise travels at night you know."

"I'll be as quiet as the dead," he promised.

"If it's dead, it's no good to me!" she laughed and pushed him away, "now get
off to sleep Martyn and don't be silly."

She left and made her way to her own bedroom and, as she walked along the
landing she heard a door open, but when she turned to see who it was, there was
nobody at all on the corridor.

William grunted when she switched the light on and off, and soon he was asleep
again and gently snoring. She went to the bathroom, took off her costume and
removed her make up. She showered quickly and, returning to her room, put on a
short transparent nightie which didn't quite reach her knees, brushed her hair
and sat on the bed.

For a long while she listened in the darkness of her room for any sounds coming
form the landing outside and hearing none, she donned her dressing gown, opened
the door and slipped outside.

Feeling her way along the landing she crept down the carpeted staircase until
she reached the hall below then, searching for the door to the sitting room she
turned the handle and move inside.

She stood in the darkness for a moment with her back to the closed door, trying
to picture where everything was.

"Over here, darling," whispered a voice, and she walked towards the sound and
nearly jumped out of her skin when a hand touched her arm and pulled her
forwards.

"I knew you'd come," he said. "How could you possibly leave your Martyn with a
thing like this to cope with?" and he took her hand and pressed it to his groin
and Olwen gasped when she felt the size and stiffness of his weapon.

"Goodness me," she whispered sympathetically, "you poor man, let me see if I can
take the swelling out of it. You'll feel much better if I can!"

He kissed her and slipped the dressing gown from her shoulders and, when she
felt the settee against the backs of her calves, she sat down and rested her
head against its

back while Martyn knelt before her and squeezed her breasts for a moment until
she breathed at him,

"We can't be too long, Martyn. William may waken or one of the others might be
about. I'm more than ready for you, love, so please hurry!"

His hands left her breasts and she felt him lift the thin negligée up above her
hips and she lifted he bottom to assist him and waited while his probing fingers
confirmed just how ready she was.

She heard a rustle of clothing and then his urgent hands pulled her naked
buttocks to the edge of the settee and she quickly parted her thighs and waited
until he positioned himself above her and, feeling for his weapon, she located
it, pulled it a couple of times until he groaned with desire, and quickly guided
it to her waiting vagina. She felt it's delicious slide into her hot depths and
closed her eyes.

They settled themselves comfortably and he began to thrust, slowly at first, and
then gathering speed until she wrapped her legs about him and tried to push up
to meet his quickening rhythm. Her hands gripped his shoulders and soon she
sensed that he was holding back and lowered them to clench the cheeks of his
buttocks.

"Come on Martyn!" she whispered fiercely, "I'm nearly there. Don't stop, Love! I
can't hold on!"

He quickened again and once she had raised her knees to her chest, affording him
complete access she was lost and, as her own climax swept through her pulsing
loins, she felt his cock begin to twitch and he uttered a low groan of pain as
he too lost control and emptied his passion deep within her.

Later, when they had both calmed, they listened in the darkness and, hearing no
sound, Martyn eased himself from her and helped her to her feet.

"Was that good?" he asked.

"Wonderful, Martyn, but I really ought to go now before we're discovered."

He didn't protest, knowing that she was right, and feeling that he really was
too tired for another bout of lovemaking.

"Happy New Year," he whispered, and kissed her tenderly. "I hope this is the
first of many sessions, Olwen."

"Of course it is, if we're careful, and don't take too many silly risks. Now I
must go, love."

She pulled on her robe, kissed him and he helped her to the door and moments
later she was alone on the dark stairs and creeping upwards towards the landing.

As she turned to walk to the bathroom so that she could clean herself of
Martyn's juices, she felt a hand round her mouth, stifling any sound she might
make, and a strong arm at her waist.

Her assailant lifted her bodily and carried her down the landing, away from her
room, and pushed her into the spare bedroom and then she was lowered onto her
feet and then she heard the door close quietly behind her.

"What the hell are you......."

But her words were silenced by a kiss so hard and passionate that it forced her
lips apart, took her breath away, and when it ended she was left gasping for
air.

"You kept me waiting!" said Glyn softly. "I know where you've been and what
you've been up to you bitch. Didn't you think that I might need some attention
after such a long journey to see you?"

"My God!" gasped Olwen. "You could have given me a heart attack Glyn, grabbing
me like that in the pitch dark. How long have you been waiting for me?"

"Too long. I heard you go down and followed you, but that other fellow got you
into his room before I could catch you. Didn't you think I would want you?"

"No! You hardly spoke to me all night and I thought you'd only got eyes for
Ruth."

"Ah, but the silly girl is still in love with her husband."

"So, I'm second choice, am I?"

"Not at all. It was you I came all this way to see, wasn't it? And now I know
I'm too late. I foolishly stood at the door and listened to what the pair of you
were doing and, damn it Olwen, I'm too excited to sleep!"

He turned on the small bedside light by the neatly made bed and Olwen blinked as
the light came on and then looked at him, naked, apart from a pair of soft, dark
under shorts. She saw how handsome and powerful he was and her eyes were drawn
to the jumping bulge in his pants.

He sat on the wooden chair by the window and examined her with narrowed eyes,
noticing her ruffled hair and swollen lips and thought she looked the very
picture of wanton desirability. She soon recognised the dark desire in his half
closed eyes and licked her lips slowly then, without a word she unfastened the
belt of her robe and cast it aside, and as she exposed herself to his lusty
gaze, dressed only in her thin negligée, the lines of her lovely body were
sensuously revealed to him in the soft light of the lamp.

He smiled, briefly, gesturing with his index finger for her to join him, and she
approached him as he stood, pulled off his shorts and sat down again. Olwen's
eyes took in the proud jut of his cock and admired its thickness and the raw
power of it. She trembled as her own cunney began to tingle and her hard nipples
rose like red berries as the burning excitement coursed like hot liquid through
her perspiring and aching body.

When she finally stood before him he lifted the sheer garment and examined the
wetness of her swollen and abused cunney and the obvious signs of her recent
sexual games with Martyn and she stroked his coarse hair and felt his unwavering
gaze.

"Do you want me to go and clean up for you?"

"No. There isn't time!" he said simply.

"We can't be too long, I might be missed," she begged. "I must get back soon
Glyn."

"Shut up!" he said fiercely. "What you want is of no concern to me at this
moment. Now, get this thing off!."

She trembled at his voice, knowing from past experience his need for total
control, and wondered what he had planned for her and, when she was naked she
waited for the first move, sensing the flow of juices slipping onto her inner
thighs. Soon enough his strong fingers squeezed her lovely buttocks and she
could feel the pain as they dug into her soft flesh. Biting her lips to stop
herself from crying out she endured his agonising caresses and was relieved when
he pulled her to him and lay his face against her stomach.

She held his head and gently stroked his neck and they stayed like that for a
time until his hands reached up and stroked the swollen fruit of her breasts and
teased the hard nipples between his thumbs and forefingers.

Olwen soon became aware of the excitement building inside her and bent to kiss
his head. She smiled as his hands dropped and urged her thighs apart and, as she
stood astride his legs, he took her by the hips and pulled her down towards his
waiting erection.

The engorged cock entered like a piston into warm oil, for her recent bout of
love making had left her love passage slick with juices and open to his deep
thrusts. She used her feet to raise and lower herself on his manhood and, as
they settled to a comfortable rhythm she felt his mouth at her breast and the
sheer sensuality of the passions running through her body caused her to open
herself even further and throw back her head.

She felt him move to the edge of the chair and the new angle caused his hard
shaft to scrape against the slickness of her pubic bone and she was lost. She
begged for release, but time after time he brought to the very pinnacle of
paradise before stopping his powerful drive and relaxing his hold on her.

"Please! You've got to! Please! I can't go on! You must let me.....!"

But his control was absolute, and his complete understanding of her levels of
desire gave him total power which he exploited to the full.

Olwen was close to the very edge of oblivion and felt that if he didn't allow
her release she might die and, as he began to slow his driving hips once again,
she made a supreme effort of will and squeezed her pelvis around him so that, as
her grip tightened around his swollen stem, he felt the slide of soft muscle
over his sensitive end and cried aloud at the heart stopping sensation it
created.

"No! You bitch! Damn you, I'm lost!"

Olwen gasped at his response and as he picked up the rhythm once more she rode
his cock with such skill that she knew he was broken and the end was in sight.
Throwing back her head she felt the waves of rapture wash through her and, as
his scalding seed shot deep into her drenched depths, she held his head while he
jerked and strove for his own satisfying completion.

Olwen was the first to move and, as she stood from him, her tired eyes saw his
limp manhood collapse and rest wetly on his reddened thighs. She pulled him to
his feet and helped him into the welcoming bed where he looked at her with
defeated eyes as she leaned over to kiss him softly before slipping on her robe,
turning out the light and leaving the room.

Showering quickly she cleaned herself before making her way back to her own room
and sliding slowly and silently beneath the cool sheets and laying back against
the pillow.

William turned in his sleep and put an arm about her and she moved to face him
and kissed his forehead softly.

"Good night, William. Go to sleep, my love."