The opportunity to put some of these thoughts into action came around mercifully soon. He was working on some meeting reports in his study when there came the familiar pattern of knocks at his front door a little after school closing time.

"Hello Miss," he smiled, opening the door to let her in. "You are funny." Still standing on the threshold, she looked up at him quizzically.

"What?" she said. "What's funny?" Robert laughed and ushered her into the house. As he did so, he noticed the man directly opposite peering rather intently out of his living room window at the unlikely pair. Need to be careful about who sees her coming and going, he thought to himself, as he tried to figure out whether it was a disapproving expression.

"You, you silly sausage. You always knock, when I have a doorbell?" As she was crossing the threshold, Charlotte stepped quickly back to inspect the lintel. Eyebrows raised,

"Oh yes! I never saw that before." In she skipped and immediately turned about face and stood in a childish imitation of a fashion model, pouting. "Hey, do you like my new stuff?" Robert, no expert on female apparel, looked her up and down uncertainly. A white blouse? The pale blue cotton skirt? Shoes? Seeing his hesitation, she immediately offered in a jokingly faux-scolding tone, "The skirt! My new skirt? Do you like it?" She twirled around on the spot as if that would grant him some fresh insight previously hidden.

"Oh...yes. Lovely." He tried to sound convincing. To him, whatever she wore was lovely, because of the person within and her soft girlish smell.

"Very nice, that."

"Mommy got it for me. In town. A present for being good." Charlotte was clearly more impressed by this rare gift from her mother than was really justified. Surely just another indication of her emotional impoverishment. Robert thought. They went together into the front room of the house and Charlotte plonked herself down on the sofa.

"Charlotte, I have a special treat. Have you ever seen High School Musical?" He had spent some time choosing that one. He had it on good authority that Charlotte was the prime target audience.

"ooh!" she squealed, excitedly. "Goody! I wanted to see that. Can we watch it now?"

"Sure! It's there on the table," he pointed to the side table by the TV on which lay a mail order DVD rental envelope. "Pop it in the machine while I go and get you some juice."

"Could I have a cookie too?" she called through after him as he disappeared into the kitchen. "I'm starving! I didn't like my lunch so I only ate the yoghurt."

"You naughty thing!" He called back. "You'll never grow up to be a big strong girl!" He returned to the room with a glass of cranberry juice and a small plate of biscuits. She looked up at him and put her tongue out as she fired the DVD player to life and it loaded the main menu. Robert made a face of mock outrage which produced a giggle from his young companion. "I hope digestives are ok?"

"I don't know what those are. Are they the ones with chocolate on?"

"No, sweetheart. I am afraid they are just the plain ones. They're nice though." It wasn't clear who was more surprised by this suddenly intimate word. Robert had used it partly accidentally, but partly also form a desire to indicate his affection for her. Charlotte - not used to such displays of tenderness - was momentarily surprised by it, but decided she liked the way it felt.

Having fully expected to hate the movie (and having picked it purely as an excuse to have Charlotte on the sofa with him), Robert found himself quite charmed by the teenage antics. Not as charmed as his guest, however, who chuckled, cooed and sang along, clearly loving every minute. After about forty minutes, she looked up at Robert and smiled warmly at him.

"This is reeeally good, Mr Robert"

"I'm glad you like it, sweetheart. I picked it specially for you." Hearing that special word again made her feel so nice that she instantly cuddled up to him on the sofa. She brought up her knees to cradle with her arms and leaned in close to him. Instinctively, Robert put his arm around her and as the settled down to watch the film he heard a barely perceptible sigh of contentment. The position of his arm around her brought his hand into contact with her bottom. He dared do nothing at first other than merely rest it there. Occasionally, he would shift his weight slightly which gave him an excuse to reposition his hand more snugly around her soft curves. She made no objection. Indeed it seemed to him that she had barely noticed, so he continued to gently explore. The thin cotton of her dress gave the impression that it was her naked flesh he was caressing and through it, he could also feel the edge of her panties. He lowered his head slightly so that his face brushed her head and inhaled the soft smell of her hair. She seemed entirely content with his gentle affections and he was encouraged to caress her bottom with more conviction. He felt his penis stiffen as he did so, and found himself unable to resist lifting his pelvis ever so slightly, pushing it in closer to Charlotte's slender frame. He longed to take her in his arms and kiss her, press his body to hers, make love to her as the heady rush of passion rose within him.

But he knew that to make any more positive move at this point would be fatal. As it was, he just about managed to exercise his will and tame his ardour. Soft caresses and tenderness seemed to be just fine with her, so he left it on that level as they watched the rest of the movie. The time came for her to go home, at last, and to Robert's immense surprise, Charlotte jumped up and gave him a delightful little peck on the cheek before leaving the house.

"Bye, Mr Robert!" she chirped, happily. "That was fun. Can we do that again?" The ambiguity made him smile to himself, even if he knew what she was really referring to. He savoured the kiss, though and the glimpse of hope it gave him for what might be possible.

"Goodbye, sweetheart. Yes, of course. I would love to. I enjoyed it too. See you! And I told you...it's just Robert!" That night, he found his enjoyment of the usual masturbatory routine hugely augmented by his memories of the afternoon. He recreated every moment, every smell and every touch of what had taken place on the sofa. He constructed elaborate consequences to the relatively innocuous encounter and his culminating climax was all the more intense as a result. After the frenzied excitement of his own orgasm had subsided, however, he still remained aroused. This was unusual as he usually found that release was followed by a period of relative freedom from sexual thoughts; a time when he could turn his mind to other tasks. But this time, his desire continued to smoulder within him and he tried to imagine how he might not only repeat the experience of the sofa as often as possible, but even develop it. He decided that a softly, softly approach was essential and that he must keep things at the current level of intimacy for a little while at least. He would need to make Charlotte feel completely comfortable with his advances so that he might then judiciously escalate them without alarming her.

One day, about a week later, he was out walking Midge when he encountered Charlotte again on the path along the side of the park. It was a grey, overcast day and he had been lost in a reverie of his own thoughts when she had tapped him on the sleeve as she approached him, unseen, from behind. As he turned around to greet her, he could see immediately that something was wrong. Her habitually doleful expression was more pronounced even than normal and her eyes appeared to be red from crying.

"Hello, sweetheart," he said, trying to be slightly more upbeat that usual in an attempt to counter her negative mood.

"Hullo." She merely looked at the path, rather than Robert, and thrust her hands firmly into the pockets of her jeans. He thought he could see the start of a pout which both amused him slightly and aroused him (emphasizing as it did her full, soft lips).

"What's up, Charlotte? You don't look very happy today." He kneeled down to her height and took her right hand in his as Midge sniffed along the grassy border. She did now look up at him, but wasn't giving much away. Indeed, she probably ha scarce idea herself as to the reason for her mood.

"I'm not," was all she could manage.

"Oh deary me," replied Robert. Looking at the dog, he continued, "Midge, I think this young lady needs some cheering up! What do you say we take her home and look after her?" Charlotte managed a half smile at this performance and Robert proceeded to walk her, and Midge, back the way he had come. Once inside the house, Charlotte just stood in the hallway with her hangdog expression had to be coaxed into the sitting room where Robert sat down on the sofa. "Come here, young lady and tell uncle Robert what's the matter," he said as he beckoned her over to him. Reluctantly, she approached and, standing before him, allowed him to take both her delicate little hands in his. "Mmm...?" he added in a plaintive tone attempting to coax her into speech. However concerned he was to help, he was also somewhat distracted by the close proximity of her slender, young frame just a foot in front of him. He looked her up and down trying to imagine what loveliness lay beneath the light Summer dress as he considered his next move.

"I don't know," came her almost inaudible response. "I just feel sad." As she spoke, she raised her face slowly to look at him. Her long face seemed sadder than ever, but her downcast eyes were as bewitching as always and he longed to take hold of her.

"Charlotte, sweetheart, do you speak to your mummy or daddy about these sad feelings?" She shook her head yet he felt he had known the answer already. The minimal response only served to confirm his suspicions that the parents had little clue about how to love and care for their precious charge. He felt sure that she didn't even try to share her troubles at home knowing the disinterested reaction they would produce. "Why not, darling?" Robert pressed.

But she just shrugged, "Dunno. They don't really talk to me much." Her tone of resignation broke his heart and he could not resist taking her in his arms, hugging the small body. Wrapping his arms around her, he pressed his face into her chest and could smell the freshness of her cotton dress. An innocent smell of soap and fabric conditioner.

"Oh sweetheart, you have Uncle Robert. You can always talk to me, my darling." He looked up at her oval face. "Whenever you need me, I shall be here. Don't you forget that, eh?" He shook her playfully and she gave him a beaming smile. With that he took hold of her waist and lifted her bodily up and onto his lap. She opened her legs and straddled him so that they were face to face. As she wriggled into a comfortable position and nuzzled her face into the angle of his neck, Robert was keenly aware that as she sat astride him, her dress no longer lay between them. Her crotch, covered only by her panties, was now pressed right up against his swelling crotch. The instinct to press his pelvis forward and more forcefully up against her was irresistible and as he felt his hard manhood against her softness he let out an involuntary grunt which did not go unnoticed.

"Are you ok. Mr Robert?" she suddenly looked up at him with surprise.

"Oh yes, dear. Of course. I am just fine," replied Robert momentarily shaken out of his trance. "Just that it's really nice to cuddle you like this.

That's all." As he said it, he was aware of the boundary he had crossed and the thinness of the ice he was on. But his desire was overwhelming and his hands now slipped down her back and onto her petite bottom which he gently pulled down against himself feeling the waistband of her underpants through her pale blue dress. He felt sure that she must be able to feel his erection as it pressed against the crotch of her underwear, but if she did, she gave no hint of it. Instead, she cuddled up against him again with a soft hum of contentment and he felt her hair brush against his cheek. Robert was getting more and more excited as he started to kiss the child's soft neck and he began a slow rhythm of pelvic thrusts into her crotch. He hoped he might be able to take advantage of her innocence to rub against her, surreptitiously serving his own base needs. He imagined it was an adult woman in his arms, rather than this innocent child and that he was making love to her passionately.

His breathing became heavier and more laboured as he lunged back and forward against Charlotte's most intimate spot. He did his best to aim the tip of his iron erection right at her vagina as if he really was fucking her. The image of it pushing against the small, virginal opening with only a few layers of thin fabric separating them was immensely arousing to him and it was all he could do to contain himself.

But at this point Charlotte surprised him. Not, as he might have expected, by crying out in confused alarm at what he was doing, but rather she began a rocking motion of her own with gradually increasing intensity. Scarcely able to believe it, Robert was nevertheless becoming aware that what was happening between them was now unmistakeably sexual. He was rubbing his bulging penis against her and she, in turn, was grinding her vulva against him in return. Neither of them spoke to acknowledge what was happening (she perhaps did not even fully understand it). Instead they just held each other tight, each breathing heavily and rhythmically in the other's ear as they nuzzled close. The sensation and the atmosphere of eroticism was so overpowering for Robert that he soon realised he would reach the point of no return. Before he could even consciously process what was happening and make any move to draw back, he felt that unmistakeable sense of release and he ejaculated into his pants in a series of powerful surges. With each pulse he was unable to prevent himself from emitting a grunting pant which, rather than alarming Charlotte, appeared to spur her on to even more feverish thrusting herself. It occurred to him that if she were not also experiencing an orgasm, however innocent, then she must be extremely close. Tiny beads of sweat began to form on her brow and he could see that she was now barely even aware of him as a person, so intent was she on pursuing her own pleasure. It became clear to him in that single instant that she was no stranger to masturbation and was probably using him as she might use a stuffed toy in the privacy of her own bed. He had read somewhere that children neglected by their parents often discover masturbation early as a substitute form of comfort. Her face was flushed now and Robert felt their bodies fuse into one as they pulsated in time to each other's feelings.

"Oh yes! Oh sweet Charlotte. My darling..." he cried, simply unable to prevent himself from uttering such passionate words as if he had just made love to an adult woman. His utterance seemed to wake Charlotte from her trance and she slumped forward against him with a contented sigh as the dampness cooled in Robert's trousers. She smiled up at him, her pupils widely dilated. He tenderly kissed the side of her flushed cheek and gently lifted her off his lap. Robert knew he had only a short time to get changed before his semen would seep though his clothing and he got up awkwardly, hunching forward in an attempt to conceal his erection and made for the bedroom. But Charlotte emitted a guttural complaint - nnnn - and tightened her embrace around his shoulders making it clear he did not want to release him just yet. It was as though, for her, their intimacy and shared arousal had forged a closeness between them that she now craved and was reluctant to let go of. She nuzzled closer into his neck and softly moaned, "No. Robert. You can't go." He in turn was deeply moved and felt a stirring of real love and affection replacing his slowly subsiding passion. He kissed her and held her tighter too.

"Oh my darling. It's so lovely to cuddle you. You are such a precious girl."

"I like your cuddles, Robert. It felt very nice and I have never had a cuddle as nice as that before. Are they special cuddles?" Her innocent question was touching and it was clear that she had no clear understanding of what they had just done.

"Yes, my darling. That's it," replied Robert. "Special cuddles. That's a good name for what it is. Because you are special and I want to be extra nice to you." She beamed at him and hugged him tighter to her.

At length, he was able to prize himself from her tender embrace on the pretext of going to the bathroom. Once upstairs he looked at the front of his pants and noticed a small slick of moisture. But it was not his own. It could only have come from the crotch of Charlotte's panties and was the clearest possible evidence of her arousal. When he returned some minutes later (having dried himself off and changed his underwear) he found Charlotte curled up sweetly on the sofa with her thumb in her mouth. She looked the very picture of comfort and contentment. She was also blissfully oblivious to the fact that her dress had ridden up over her bottom to expose her cotton panties and Robert could see the little bulge of her sex nestling between the back of her thighs. It crossed his mind that she must be feeling a little wet there too after her experience, but she gave little sign of minding. But it was getting late and he felt he should rouse her to get back home.

At the door, he leaned down to kiss her goodbye. The little angel stood on her tiptoes, flung her arms around his neck and pressed her lips enthusiastically against his saying, "I feel much happier now I've had a special cuddle, Robert. I'm not so sad now at all. Could I maybe come again and have one if I get all sad again maybe?" Robert could scarcely believe what he was hearing, yet he was both touched and amused by her childlike way of expressing herself.

"But my darling girl, of course! You must come as often as you like. I have as many special cuddles as you want. They are nice for me too remember." She chuckled briefly to herself with an air of satisfaction. It had not occurred to her that she could be giving pleasure as well as receiving it. "Goodbye sweetheart! You had better get off home now." She smiled broadly at his before trotting off and called back over her shoulder. "Goodbye! See you soon!"

...to be continued