To look at Katarina, one would never guess that she was the daughter of the head of the household. To be brutally honest, many would think that she was too poorly clad to be even a servant. In the five years since Katarina's mother had died her father had changed. Baron Hardup still loved Katarina dearly, it was just that his new wife totally dominated him. He was not able to argue with her. On the infrequent occasions that he had argued with his new wife, she had flown into a rage which had taken days to dissipate. Harpietta, Katarina's stepmother was a vengeful and spiteful woman. It was no surprise that her two daughters were growing up to be just the same.

'Katarina...... KATARINA!' Gertrude, Katarina's step sister, swished into the room. She had absolutely no taste; her clothes were a garish mix of styles and bright primary colours. Her hair, died purple, was piled high in a teetering mass. Of course, Gertrude thought she was the darling of the "in crowd". In fact, she and her sister were merely tolerated with mild contempt by the pillars of society.

'Yes Gertrude....?' Katarina looked up at her step sister.

'You're not still cleaning the hearth are you? You spend so long playing with those Cinders we should call you Cinderella. Yes Cinderella. That fits you perfectly.....'

'Was there anything you wanted?'

'Yes, I need my best dress pressing. Do it by tonight.' She leaned close, pinching the soft flesh of Katarina's upper arm. 'And make sure you do it properly this time you lazy slut.'

Gertrude lurched gracelessly out of the room, leaving 10 year old Katarina hunched, crying, at the hearth.

Guy Dawkins walked up the path to the Hardup family home. He was whistling a jaunty tune, his irrepressible good humour matching the bright buttons of his uniform. As he was about to knock on the door, he heard a sobbing coming from the open window. He looked inside and saw his little friend Kate. She was on her knees by the fireplace, her slim, 10 year old frame, barely covered by the threadbare dress she wore. The dress had to be at least two years old, and was now a very tight fit.

'Hey Kate' he called. 'Don't cry, it might never happen.'

Katarina looked up and sniffed. 'It already has.' Wiping her forearm across her eyes, she got up and went to open the door.

'Hello Buttons, how are you?' She smiled bravely at her only friend.

'I'm fine Kate. But what's the problem with you. A lovely girl like you should be happy, not sad.'

'It's my sisters. They are always mistreating me. I never get a moment to myself.'

Guy held his arms open and the young girl melted into them for a hug. Gently he stroked her hair and, leaning down, he kissed her gently on her forehead.

Katarina hung on to her friend Buttons with all of her strength and pressed her face to his chest.

'And now Gertrude has started calling me Cinderella' she sniffed.

'Never mind my dear. I think Cinderella can be a nice name. I'll call you Cinders.'

'Oh Buttons you're so nice.' Katarina said with a little smile.

Buttons hugged her closer. He couldn't help it, but the contact with the lovely girl started to excite him. His penis began to grow, Running his fingers up and down Katarina's spine he pulled her closer, surreptitiously pressing his hardening member against her flat chest. Leaning down he breathed deeply, smelling the fragrance of her silky hair.

Katarina pressed closer to her friend. She could feel his hardening manhood pressing against her, and it sent a thrill of excitement through her young frame. Softly, almost as if she didn't know she was doing it, she rubbed her flat chest against the hard peak in Buttons' trousers. Her little arms were around his waist and she dropped her hands down to the cheeks of his bum, gently squeezing them.

Buttons gasped! The gorgeous little girl was responding! He leaned down and, putting a finger under Cinders' chin, lifted her face. He looked deep into her eyes and spoke gently to her.

'Do you know what you are doing?'

'Oh yes Buttons. I know. Apart from my father, you are the person I love the most in the world. I want to love you properly.'

'But you are the daughter of a Baron; even if you are not treated like one. You have to save your virginity for your wedding night.'

'I know Buttons, but there are other things we can do aren't there?'

'If you truly want to, there are lots of things we can do.....'

'I truly do.....'

Buttons leaned down further and gently kissed Cinders on her sweet lips. Almost immediately, the little 10 year old opened her mouth, inviting him to probe inside. Taking her face in his hands, he slowly, tentatively, slipped his tongue inside her mouth. Gently he ran his tongue over her teeth, the roof of her mouth, and then concentrated on her honeyed tongue. Her responses were hesitant, but soon their tongues were intertwined in a hot, passionate kiss.......(cont)