John Biggs

Naked with her dog

CHAPTER ONE

"Come on, Duke!" Janey yelled, taking off across a wide grassy block of parkland. The dog scampered after her and soon caught up and passed her with his long surging leaps. She put on a new burst of speed but stopped soon and just walked and watched as the dog horned in on some other dogs being walked by their masters near the end of the block. She'd had Duke since he was a puppy, and now he had reached his mature form. As she put it, humorously to friends, Duke was now in the full bloom of his young manhood. He was a good-looking Great Dane with a flawless tawny coat and good bone structure. He looked noble and handsome, and when he and Janey were outside like this, he, seemed to smile at her, and laugh as they played. His long big-toothed mouth open, his long pink tongue hanging out as he panted through the pleasant exertions of their play. Some of her friends thought Janey should enter him in dog shows, but so far she could see no good in the idea. Why put him in a competitive situation where his behaviour would have to be restricted through training to conform to the rules. Anyone could see his beauty and that was enough for her.

Now as she approached the place where he'd stopped and was attentively checking the odour of the other dogs as they checked him, she wondered about this practice dogs had of sniffing each others' crotches. You'd hardly think that was the first place strangers would touch when they first met. Yet it told the dogs something about each other. It was simple and bestial. Lusty and yet not lustful. It was innocent. Imagine two people meeting and sniffing each other, even on the neck. Dogs operated with their noses on a low level. From a distance there was something invigorating about it.

She came up to where the dogs were frisking and parleying and put a possessive hand on Duke's collar. The owner of the other dogs turned out to be just one person, a big jolly old fat lady whose pumpkin cheeked face was split by a big smile. "Is he yours?" she asked Janey, who nodded. "Quite a beautiful dog. I've seen him in this park before, from a distance. Danes always do." Janey nodded and thanked the lady.

Then she excused herself: she and Duke had been out for a while and now she wanted to go back and make supper. They waved goodbye.

Janey and Duke ran back toward the other end of the park. He began making wide arcs and circles around her as she slowed to a walk, the leash dangling beside her. Actually he excited as much attention as Duke, for she was a good-looking blonde in her early twenties with a fine, slim well-developed figure. She was wearing light blue slacks and a furry white sweater. Her high full hips made her walk especially alluring, and from time to time she felt the eyes of distant men focusing on her body. It was nothing new, and I didn't bother her. There were times, when she was looking for a man, that she would accentuate her slow sensual movement. Nowadays she had regular boyfriend who satisfied her well. Rodney, an electrician, a strong young man, a good guy. She'd been with him more than two months, and their feelings for each other were a deep and strong as any they'd ever known. He was a good companion, too. He liked to go dancing with her, take her to certain shows and exhibits, go hiking, and picnicking and swimming. He also liked to watch sporting events on TV and drink beer, and bull-shit, too, that wasn't bad, and his friends never got obnoxious. But more important than anything, she guessed, was the fact that he was the first man in a long time who'd been able to satisfy her sexually in what looked like a long-term way.

She gazed down at Duke's handsome flank. The strong leg tensed from paw to hip as he raised his other hind leg to piss on a tree. Her gaze flickered over his tight black scrotum. His balls were almost as big as Rodney's.

They'd met at a party, a large crowd full of unattached people. She'd danced with a number of men, felt their bodies tense against hers and press forward aggressively but for some reason she let Rodney drive her home. They necked for a while in the car, rather passionately, too, but for some reason she didn't invite him to share her bed. She liked him, though, and was kind of impressed by the fact that he didn't try to go any further than she wanted him to. He was obviously very passionate; she could tell that. And they liked each other. She gave him her phone number, and they got together several more times.

Walking slowly home brought her out of her reverie. Duke kept close to her on the sidewalk and followed her across the streets. She never had to use the leash. He might tense at times when strange dogs appeared, but a single word from her, was enough to keep him from dashing after them. He never barked or growled strangers either when she was with him. At home it might be a different matter, especially when she was sleeping. Any suspicious noise near her their door brought a quick response from Duke.

When they got home, she opened a big can of beef dog food and spooned it into Duke's plastic dish on the kitchen floor next to the refrigerator. She stroked his back and ribs for a while, watching his big square jaw snatch the food and chew it vigorously. Her hand moved down his backbone and petted his rear and the beginning of his tail firmly. Then she fixed her own meal.

After eating, she went into the other room and reclined on the daybed. She lit a cigarette, her first and probably her last of the day. She didn't feel like watching TV and she didn't want to hear any music. She felt day-dreamy. The sun was almost down now, sending a pale dusty gold light into the room under her drawn shade. She smoked her cigarette down and put out the stub. Her thoughts turned to sex, to Rodney, to her past.