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From: TBD <tbd@hushmail.me>
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Subject: {ASSM} Trust Me? (zoo/best, MF-bitch-dog ) TBD (1st in a HUGE flood)
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Date: Sun, 01 Apr 2012 22:10:14 -0400
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Newsgroups: alt.sex.stories.moderated,alt.sex.stories
Followup-To: alt.sex.stories.d

This one is the opening shot in a HUGE flood.  I'll be reposting
almost all of my posted work, for a final time, to make sure they can
be found.  Missing, will be about 400,000 words of unfinished work,
and some working notes and canon that I didn't save at an off site
archive.

Still, there will be be about 1,500,000 words (probably a low
estimate) when I'm done, so most folks should find something to read.

Take care,
TBD
======

Trust Me?
---

He called me into his study and frowned when he saw me.  "Sit."

"Yes, Father."

At my meek agreement he laughed.  "Relax.  You haven't done anything
wrong."  

He frowned again and this time I realized he was not really looking at
me when he did it.  "Kenneth?  Aren't you a little young yet, to keep
insisting that you won't get married?"

I sighed and squirmed a little in the chair.  "Aren't I older than you
and mom were?  You've always insisted that the two of you knew..."

"Enough."

I knew that tone of voice, so I shut up.

Then he sighed and turned his chair away so he could look out the
window.  "Maybe I'm making a mistake..."

"Mistake about what, Sir?"

"You'll see."

He spun to face me suddenly, and I recognized the look of resolve in
his posture.  He nodded when I stiffened, then he reached into his
desk drawer.

When his hand came out he was holding a set of keys I recognized. He
nodded.  "Your mother and I agreed it was time to take the hold off
your inheritance, and we both know how much you and Missy enjoy
traveling in the fifth wheel.  It's yours, now, but there's a
condition attached for the first three months."

I was wary, and angry.  They'd tried this ploy before.

He smiled at my suppressed anger.  "Relax.  We're not insisting you
give serious consideration to getting married, this time.  Just..."

Was he crying?

When he stood and held out the keys, I could see the tears in his
eyes.  "Valerie needs your understanding, ok?  Take good care of her.
I hope you treat her as well as you do Missy."

 I took the keys gingerly and he smiled oddly when his eyes dropped to
look at my latest bitch.  "It's a good thing Missy gets along well
with other dogs."

He shook his head tiredly and resettled at his desk.  Without looking
up he spoke softly.  "Go.  And Kenneth?  I hope someday you'll forgive
me."

I knew it was a dismissal, so I left, with Missy at my side.

We stopped at my room so I could grab some clothing and other small
items I knew we'd need, then we headed for where we stored the truck
and trailer.

When we got closer, Missy realized there was someone and another dog
in the yard and she stiffened briefly, then yipped happily and ran to
greet the dog as it ran towards us.

They met each other and did the usual doggy greetings, then started
romping together.

I sighed at my father's obvious attempt to manipulate me, then fought
down my irritation and held out my hand stiffly when I was close
enough to the girl who was obviously my 'arranged date' for the next
three months.

"You must be Valerie.  I'm Kenneth."

We shook hands gingerly, then I sighed.  "Let me put my stuff away,
ok?"

She sighed.  "May I call you Ken?  People call me Val, especially my
friends."

"Yeah.  You can call me Ken if you want."  I suddenly realized how
surly I sounded and I apologized.  "Sorry.  My father is trying to
manipulate me into getting married, again.  Not your fault."

She squeezed my hand lightly.  "No, he's not.  I manipulated our
families into this.  I think at the end he figured out why even though
I never said anything that I know of, to let him know my real
reasons."

"You *wanted* to spend three months with me and Missy?"

She ducked her head and looked away.  "Let's get going, then I'll
explain."

"Ok.  I think I'm going to need to hear it pretty soon, though.  And
where's your stuff, anyway?"

"Already loaded in the trailer, while we waited."

I shrugged at more evidence I was being manipulated, then let go of
her hand and went to toss my stuff in the trailer.  Valerie shared the
final walk around with me, then we loaded the dogs and ourselves,
before I fired up and headed us out.

While the gate was opening I looked sideways.  "Whither away?  We're
stuck with each other for three months, and I don't care where we go,
as long as it's away from here."

She nodded.  "I have a Class B non commercial so I can help with the
driving, and I enjoy exploring new things."  

She paused to scratch her dog's head thoughtfully when he nuzzled her.
She had a strange smile on her face when she looked out the windshield
dreamily.  "You really want me to pick where we go?"

"Yes.  I'm ok with it.  Missy and I travel a lot, so we've seen most
of the country already.  Really, we don't care where we are, these
days, as long as we're together."

She nodded.  "Take us someplace special, then.  I want to see you make
love to Missy in your favorite place."

My head jerked around and my jaw dropped.  "How?"

She touched her dog again and this time she was serious.  "Takes one
to know one."  She giggled.  "Now look what you've done.  You're going
to have to reopen the gate."

"Uh.  Right."  I resisted the impulse to glance over my shoulder to
see if we were being watched, then retriggered the gate and pulled
out.

We traveled in an awkward silence until we were on the freeway and
headed out.

Missy stuck her nose past my left ear and snorted in the way she used
to let me know she wanted the window down, so I cracked both back
windows on the assumption that Valerie's dog would want to smell
things while we traveled, too.

When I glanced sideways, Valerie was smiling.  "Thanks.  He'll get his
fill after awhile and then settle.  He usually licks my ear and then
goes to the window he wants open."

I sighed.  "I guess there's no point in trying to deny what Missy and
I do?"

"Not really.  Max is six years old--and I've been screwing him for
four.  Does that help?"

I drove for awhile in silence while I thought about her words.  "It
does.  Missy is my second bitch.  She's four and we've been fucking
ever since her second estrus."

"Thanks, Ken.  I was pretty sure you were.  Hearing it though..."  She
hugged herself and stared out the window for a long time.  "I can't
believe you're for real."

I had to laugh.   "Yeah.  It's weird.  I'm scared, but I'm relieved,
too.  I don't have to hide anything from you, do I?"

"No.  What about me?  How do you feel about watching me, or talking
about what I do?"

"Scared, but I'm fascinated, too.  I've never met a girl who wanted to
talk about sex, or anything that wasn't related to having lots of
money."  

I couldn't hide my bitterness.  "Dad and mom have been pushing girls
at me ever since I was a kid.  They keep hoping I'll fall for one with
the right 'pedigree'.  

"All the girls I've been stuck with ever talk about is their plans for
the future and how it would be nice to live with a man who has enough
money so they never have to worry again.  A few have even admitted
they're not looking for love, just security.  What about you?"

She sighed.  "I don't care about money.  I refuse to be some asshole's
'pedigreed brood mare', just so he can perpetuate his line."

I winced.  "I don't have to ask what made you turn to dogs.  That
brings me to something else though.  What made you so sure I was a
zoo?  Oh, yeah.  I'll make you a deal.  I'll be completely open if you
promise to be the same way.  No taboos between us.  Be sorta silly,
wouldn't it, to set limits?"

She giggled.  "I bought a dildo when I was fourteen, then used it
after I let one of our dogs take my cherry.  Then I hid it where my
mom was certain to find it--after I 'forgot' to clean it completely.
You should have heard her scream when she realized my future husband
wouldn't be marrying an intact virgin."

"You're kidding!"

She was laughing and I noticed Max came up to check on her.  She
leaned against his head and got a dreamy look.  "Dead serious.  I knew
I couldn't let any guy do it, 'cause my parents would have insisted we
get married.  It was my way of telling them to go fuck themselves if
they thought they were going to control my life completely.  Would you
believe she talked to the doctors to see how much it would cost to
replace my hymen, before dad finally decided that he'd heard enough
about it and made my mom leave me alone?"

"I thought that sort of stuff went out at the turn of the nineteenth
century.  I know none of my friends would have cared.  To tell the
truth, I think most of us were frightened by the idea of marrying a
virgin."

She sighed and leaned over so she could touch my arm.  "Ken?  Aren't
you being pretty blunt about things?"

"Hang on.  I need to go through the scales."

She straightened.  "Why?  It's only a fifth wheel."

I laughed.  "I know.  But I have to check in if I want to park on the
other side of the inspection area.  Relax.  I do it all the time, so
whoever's checking will probably just wave us through."

When I got to the booth I rolled my window down.  "Hey, Jim.  Ok for
me to park in my usual spot?"

"Sure, Ken.  Just keep the dogs on leashes.  Who's your passenger?"

I laughed.  "Valerie.  We're headed out for a vacation together and I
want to take a break and check the rig before we hit the long road."

He nodded.  "Wish more folks had your sense."  He waved us through.
"Go.  Folks are stacking up."

"Thanks.  See you next time."

I pulled through and headed for the parking spot furthest from the
inspection area.

Once we parked I shut down and turned to see Valerie smiling at me.
"Smooth.  If I hadn't helped with the walk around, I'd buy it."

I chuckled.  "I really do want to check things before we get out of
town, but there's another reason I like to park here."

"Oh?  And are you going to answer my original question?"

I sighed. "I'm blunt because I don't like games.  Most girls and women
are ready to go home by this point and it gives them an excuse to get
me to turn around and take them home, which means I don't have to put
up with them and 'honor' has been satisfied since we've had time to
decide we aren't suitable for each other."

She frowned, then put on a little smile that let me know she wasn't
going to be gotten rid of that easily.  "The other reason?"

"You wanted to go to my favorite parking place and watch me fuck
Missy.  This is it."

"Here?"  She sounded like she thought I was crazy.

"Yes.  Everyone here is used to me, nobody will bother us.  They also
know I make long drives with the rig, and like to make sure everything
works ok.  I can set the levelers and take as long a break as I want.
I usually spend one or two nights a month here when I'm home, just so
Missy and I can spend the night together doing whatever we want.
And..."  I grinned.  "Who's going to hear anything unusual with all
this noise?"

She finally grinned back.  "Devious.  I like it."

"I thought you might.  Let's take the dogs for a walk, then relax and
have dinner.  Ok?"

"Yes."  She looked at me oddly and then shrugged.  "You sure you're
going to be ok with me watching?"

I sighed.  "Not really, but I figure it isn't going to be any easier
for you to fuck Max in front of me, so we'll be even."

She blushed and then busied herself with putting Max's leash on.  I
hooked up Missy and then we took the dogs over to the dirt area next
to the fence after I got the scoop out of the toolbox.

Missy was used to stopping when we traveled, so she marked a few spots
and 'did her thing' fairly quickly.

Max was obviously uneasy with all the noise and activity, so it took
him longer to relax, but eventually Val coaxed him to go.  I cleaned
up after them, emptied the scoop into the five gallon bucket that was
in the back of the truck and then we all climbed in the trailer and I
set the levelers.

At that point there wasn't any excuse for avoiding it, so we hugged
each other awkwardly before I gestured at the cupboards. "Freeze dried
or canned?  We'll have to stop at some point and stock the fridge with
perishables."

She settled at the table and thought about it.  "What are you having?"

It was my turn to think.  "Freeze dried stroganoff."

"Fine with me."

I nodded and got out the bowl and the package of food, added the water
and then stuck it in the microwave to cook.  

Then, without looking at Val, I sighed.  "This is scary."

"Worried about trusting me?"

"Yeah."

"If I was going to do that, I wouldn't be here.  Remember you asked me
how I guessed?"

"Uh huh."

"It was one of your facebook vids.  If I was going to turn you in,
that's all I needed."

"What?!"  I dropped heavily into the seat across from her.  "Those are
innocent!"

She looked away and blushed.  "Not when you know what to look for."

"Oh.  Crap."

When she turned back to face me her smile looked forced.  "Relax.   I
had to step through it frame by frame, and there're only a couple
frames that give you away, and who's going to look that close at a
happy, playful bitch when she's chasing a Frisbee?"

"So why'd you check that close?"

She ducked her head.  "Something my mother said when she was telling
me how fine a catch you'd be.  She was overselling you, and then she
did this little dig about 'He's as obsessed with that damn dog as you
are with Max.  Should be easy for you to get on his good side'."

I winced.  "I guess some of the girls have been comparing notes."

She sighed.  "Yep.  Parents, too.  Let's face it, most of them don't
care about you, just the way you reek of money when they find out
about your inheritance.  Getting you to marry someone, anyone, is
becoming a community project."

I slumped further.  "Gods...  I'm so tired..."

She leaned across the table and touched my face.  "What does *Kenneth*
want from life?"

I sighed and looked up.  "I don't really know.  Nobody has ever asked
me before."

She made a little snort.  "That makes two of us."

She slid her hand along my cheek and then lifted my head until we
could look at each other.  "Your father and I had quite a row last
week."

I couldn't stop my smile.  "You stood up to him?  I've never been able
to."

She blushed.  "I was already in a bad mood after listening to my
parents, then he started in about duty and responsibility and all that
crap our parents like to use to control us."

I laughed harshly.  "I can imagine.  I've seen him when he's in one of
his 'proper match' moods and lecturing about what's right and wrong."

I shrugged.  "He's been doing it so many years I can make all the
proper responses and keep him happy.  What'd you do?"

"You really want to know?"

"Was it that bad?"

"Um."  She bit her lower lip.  "Probably worse."

"Err...  Go ahead."

"I told him that if he didn't shut the fuck up and quit trying to
relive his miserable mistake ridden life though his kids, I was going
to convince you that it was time for you to start thinking for
yourself, until you realized you don't need his damn money and..."

Her face was flushed and I could tell she was making a deliberate
effort to control herself.  "Well, I think the part that hit home the
hardest was when I told him 'Just because you didn't marry for love,
doesn't mean all of your sons and daughters have to be the same way.
Maybe Kenneth has a different kind of strength, that doesn't need
money behind it--and that's what I want in the man I marry'."

I winced.  "Ouch.  That hurt."  I sighed.  "Isn't anything I haven't
wanted to say, though.  Thanks.

"Valerie?  Did you have anything to do with them deciding to release
my inheritance early, before I got married?"

Her eyes widened and I nodded.  "I'll take that as a no."

She shook herself slightly, then reached for Max when he came over and
nudged her worriedly.  "After we cooled down a little, I asked him to
give me three months before he made any decisions about my
'suitability'.  We shook hands, then I left.  By then he knew I wasn't
after you for your money."

I sighed and slid across the seat until I was leaning against the
wall, then called Missy over and made room for her between my
outstretched legs.  She settled on her back and I started petting her
gently while I thought about the situation.

"I thought my father suspected I'm zoo.  He's just being manipulative
again."

"Oh?"

"Yeah.  He couldn't figure out why you wanted me, but I  bet he knew
you came in planning to get me to marry you--and that you figured you
had some sort of edge, a plan, that would get past my defenses.
Right?"

It was her turn to sigh.  "Only one 'edge'.  After that, all I have is
being honest and bitter.  Do we have any choice about getting married,
if we want to find a way to fit in and hide who we really are?  I know
it isn't love, but at least we can start with understanding each
other, and that's more than anyone around us has started with, isn't
it?"

"Cynic."

She laughed.  "Well matched, aren't we?"

I sobered, then spoke deliberately, with all the cynical bitterness
I'd been hiding since my first arranged date shortly after puberty.
"Our families are going to want kids."

Her head tilted slightly, then she giggled.   "That *has* to be the
oddest marriage proposal I've heard, yet.  You captured the distaste I
feel about my parents' attitudes, *perfectly*."

I laughed sourly.  "Do you really think I'm stupid enough to think I'm
going to meet another woman I can be open with, and who won't be
pissed off if Missy says we can't fuck each other?  And didn't you
just propose to me?  At least I have lots of nieces and nephews
already, so the pressure hasn't been real bad.  You?

She smiled a bit sadly.  "I don't know how Max will react.  I've
always left him home before this.  Do you think my parents are worried
about grand kids?  All they want is the prestige and power.  Hell with
my future, it's about their needs and I've always been nothing more
than a way to get more of what they want.  They'd only want grand kids
because they would help them fit in with the crowd they want to be
in."

"Val?  I'm sorry I don't love you yet.  I always wanted to be in love
when I proposed and this is just too damn cynical.  Try not to hate me
for using you as a way out, but I won't be upset if you do.  Ok?"

She held out a trembling hand.  "The use is mutual and we understand a
lot about each other, right?  Maybe we'll learn to love each other."
She giggled again.  "We *do* know how to love, after all, and that's
more than a lot of our friends could say when they got married."

I took her hand gingerly at first and then squeezed it hard and
started laughing by the time she finished.  "So call your parents and
let them think they've finally won."

She giggled some more.  "What about yours?"

I grinned.  "I thought I'd let you handle them, too.  I want to watch
your face when you tell my father you were right and he was wrong."

"You have a mean streak."

"No.  I've never enjoyed the way he uses people, and I want him to
know that he's not going to be able to use you to manipulate me."

She nodded.  "I don't think he understands the power of love.  If he
did, he wouldn't have told me how weak you are, and that I'd have to
always manage your life for you.  You let them think you're weak,
don't you?"

I shrugged.  "I learned early that it was easier to hide from them if
I let them think they had control of the 'important' things in my
life."

She smiled and squeezed my hands.  "So let's learn who we are,
together.  Right?"

"Yeah.  Maybe in a few years I'll know who I am and what I really
want."

She laughed.  "Well, you know what you don't want, so that should
help."

I was saved by the microwave buzzer.

I divvied the food between us and then we resettled at the table to
start eating.  Naturally, we made pauses to pass out snacks to our
partners, and while our own dogs got most of what we handed out, we
did give some to the other one.

It was a beginning, anyway, and at least the two of them were good
natured about sharing us.

It was a good sign.

I was starting to hope we really could make this crazy situation work
when I set my plate on the floor for Missy and leaned back against the
wall.  "Val?"

"Umm.  Nervous?"

"Yeah.  Usually, I'm fucking the girl and I've closed the door so
Missy wouldn't embarrass me.  You know how it is..."

She giggled.  "Uh huh.  I bet.  That's why I've never had Max with me
before.  Can you imagine what happens when I get home from a date?  He
goes crazy and won't leave me alone until we've found a secluded place
somewhere so I can at least let him lick me real good."

I nodded.  "On the trips I always take Missy, and she's learned to
maintain control when we have company.  She's been good about that.
Bet she's going to think I'm nuts, this time."

Val laughed.  "I solved that with association training.  Nothing
intimate unless I make the right moves, then he's usually all over
me."

I smiled.  "Yep.  I bet our parents would be upset if they knew how
much extra training time we've put in to get them bonded and well
behaved."

She giggled.

I sighed slowly and then stood abruptly.  "Hell with it."  I stripped
until I was naked and then looked at Valerie.  "Well?"

Before she could answer I looked at Missy.  "C'mon, Missy.  Let's
spend some quality time together."

She hesitated and looked at me, then Valerie.  I smiled at her and
made the special gesture I used to let her know I really was serious.
She got up, squeezed past me and landed on the bed with a thump.  Then
she settled facing us and I chuckled.  "Eager Bitch."

I heard a bad case of the giggles and decided to ignore them.  "It's a
big bed.  Up to you."

I guess Val watched us from where she was sitting, until Missy and I
were settled together, because when I remembered to check on her she
was still there and smiling oddly.  "I wonder if Max and I look like
that when we're alone and I don't have to worry about getting caught?"

I sighed.  "Do me a favor?  As much as I'd love them, no pics or
videos.  Too risky."

She got up and headed in our direction, then stopped at the base of
the steps and blushed before she started taking her clothes off.  "Of
course.  I don't want any either."  

Eventually she was holding her clothes in her hands and had a
tentative smile on her face when she spoke again.  "Only fair that I
get naked, too.  Any closet I should use?"

"Take your pick, or toss them on the floor for now and you can put
them away later.  I don't care."

She smiled.  "Ok."

She wound up piling them next to the bed before she and Max joined us.

Missy and I made room for them by shifting to one side, then I went
back to giving Missy her attention.  Every once in awhile a soft moan
would distract me into looking over to watch Val and Max together.  He
was being pretty pushy about licking her and if I'd had any doubts
that Val was a zoo, the way they were acting made it obvious they had
lots of experience together.

However, if I let my attention wander for too long a light slap with a
paw let me know I was forgetting my duties, and I'd have to go back to
doing all the little things that Missy and I enjoyed doing together
when we had the chance to relax like this.

Eventually though, Missy got tired of my hesitation and made it clear
that if we were going to cuddle, it was going to be while we were
fucking.  By then I had mostly forgotten about having company, unless
they bumped into me.

Missy wasn't paying them any attention either, and had rolled to her
back and spread her legs.  I chuckled at her.  "Horny bitch."

A giggle startled me and I blushed..

Valerie touched me lightly.  "I couldn't help it.  Maybe someday we'll
be the same way.  Ok?"

"Mmm...  Yeah.  Maybe.  Hope so, really, but it scares me right now.
I've fucked girls, but not for love.  It was too mechanical, you
know?"

She spoke softly.  "No, I don't know.  I'm not a virgin, but I am.
Understand?"

I sighed.  "Yeah.  Wish I didn't."

She pulled away and resettled to one side.  "Sorry.  I'll leave you
alone."

I thought about it while I knelt and pulled Missy into my crotch and
onto my penis.  Once I was in her and able to let go so I could run my
hands over her stomach, I looked at Val and took a deep breath.  "It's
ok.  One of my fantasies..."

I blushed.  "You know those dreams you get when you want to believe in
a perfect world?"

She nodded.

I sighed and looked back at Missy.  "Well, I've always wanted to be
totally involved in fucking Missy, and have my wife doing whatever she
wanted to at the same time because she didn't have a problem with it.
That would make it so...  Perfect..."

When I looked up again Val had an odd smile on her face.  "You'd be ok
with me exploring?"

"Yeah.  Scared, but ok with it, I think."

"Will you do the same for me?"

"Want me to?"

"Of course."

I nodded.  "If Max will let me."

"Good.  Let's see how he does with you fucking me, first, before you
try doing anything while he's tied."

I chuckled.  "Good point."

Then I shut up and got serious about fucking Missy and lost myself in
the whole experience.

It wasn't a quick fuck, but it wasn't one of our slower ones, either.
Eventually I orgasmed in her and while I was recovering I felt the bed
shake and that reminded me we had company.

When I looked to my side my jaw dropped.  Valerie was on her back with
her legs off the edge of the bed.  Her head was next to my thigh and
her eyes were closed but that wasn't really what got my attention.

Max was straddling her body and hunching himself at her.   She must
have been impatient because she reached down and helped him line up.
He hunched real strongly, and she moaned and went limp as her legs
came up to wrap around him.

Then her eyes opened and she was watching me.  "He got pushy, and I
was in no shape to protest.  What you and Missy did...  It was HOT,
Ok?"

"Err...  Yeah.  If you say so, I guess.  I've always wondered about
something."

"What?"

"Can you orgasm just from the tie?"

"Mmm...  Sometimes.  If I work myself a lot first.  Usually I don't.
That happens before or after, usually after, when he cleans me.
He's...  Sorta hard to stop when he's turned on."

"Um."  I gingerly touched Max and started petting him.  He seemed ok
with it so I just rubbed his ears a little and then quit and went back
to petting Missy, who hadn't moved to break our connection.  "Weird,
Val.  Really freakin' weird.  This is all mixed up and strange and
scary and yet it feels so good..."

She managed to reach and touch my face.  "Me too, Ken.  Let's make it
work?"

I shivered, then captured her hand with one of mine.  "Yeah, Val.  I'm
in."

"Good.  I wasn't going to let you back out, anyway."

We stared at each other seriously, then started laughing at how absurd
the situation had become.

I was still chuckling while I used one hand to pet Missy and the other
to run my fingers through Val's hair.  "Val?  I don't know about you,
but I think I'm going to be able to love you at least as much as I do
Missy.  Shouldn't take long, anyway.  Not with the way we started."

"Umm...  I never dreamed I could feel this good.  I'm glad I decided
to take a chance on you."

"Thanks.  I'm glad, too."

Like I'd told Val, I'd fucked a few girls, but nothing that had been
serious between us.

This situation was really, really strange, and I couldn't believe how
nervous I was.

I guess she was sorta nervous, too, because when Max finished and
pulled out to clean her up she sighed and just stayed where she was
after scooting back a little so her head was on my thigh and she could
watch my face.  "Do you mind?"

"Nahh...  Guess not.  I've seen lots of the pics from the net, and
even a few vids, but never anything like this."

I ran my fingers over her hair and chest like I was petting her.  "It
was hard, but it was easy to do, you know?"

She sighed.  "I think I know what you mean.  Oh, I hope you don't mind
the mess on the edge of your bed.  We'd better get some towels next
time."  She hesitated and then rushed on.  "Will there be a next
time?"

"Yeah.  Hope so."  I blushed when I watched her face.  "Umm...   I
don't have a lot of experience with women, ya know?  Right now I'm
tapped.  Hope you don't want me to..."

She grabbed my hand.  "No hurry, no worries.  Later, ok?  This isn't
what I dreamed about, but it's fine like this."

"Yeah.  Glad Missy isn't like my first bitch was.  She liked to bounce
and play right after.  Missy likes to just lie there and suck more
attention."

She smiled.  "Do you like to cuddle?"

"Yes."

"Good.  None of my dogs ever have.  They fuck me and then leave me
after they are done.  I want to..."

I nodded.   "We've gone to sleep together and she's stayed.  Sometimes
I'll wake up and fuck her again, then go back to sleep."

She got a dreamy look.  "Mmm...   Do that with me our first time?"

"If you want me to."

"I do."

"K."

"Um.  Val?"

"What?"

"May I...  You know."  I blushed again and stared at her crotch.
"Explore?"

She giggled.  "Sorry.  You think Missy would let me pet her during the
afterglow, while the two of you are still together?"

I looked at Missy and had to smile at the look of satiation she wore.
"Probably.  Usually she's nearly impossible to get to move right
after."

I took Val's hand and gently put it on Missy's stomach.  I knew it was
an awkward position, but Val didn't seem to mind.  "Go ahead.  Pet her
and see what happens."

Her hand moved a little and all Missy did was sigh contentedly.  When
I glanced at Val she had her eyes closed and was still smiling.  "Ken?
Go ahead.  Pet me.  I want to know how it feels to have my lover
appreciate me."

"I didn't..."

"Shhh.  Don't spoil this."

"K."

I reached and started petting Val just like I would Missy.  It was
strange to feel skin instead of fur.  Nice though.  While I stroked
her chest and stomach I watched Max until he finished licking her.
When he was done he headed for the other end of the trailer, drank
some water and then settled on the floor and started cleaning himself.

I finally took a deep breath and moved my hand between Val's legs and
started probing with a finger.  Her body spasmed when I found her clit
and she whispered "Gently.  I'm not ready yet.  Too sensitive."

I froze.  "You orgasmed with Max?"

"Mmm.  Nearly.  Just be careful right now."

I sighed and she laughed.  "Relax.  I want it, too.  It's real
different.  Nice feeling, like I always hoped it would be."

I finally laughed along with her.  "Know what I'd like to do right
now?  Eat you out.  I do it all the time for Missy.  And yeah, she
gets tired of it and makes me stop, too, sometimes before I'm really
ready to quit.  If I wasn't worried about her and want to finish what
we started, I'd like to be eating you out."

She giggled.  "What, while I'm still dripping?"

"Yep.  Best time."

"You're weird, but I like it."  She opened her eyes again.  "Do you
want to move and take care of Missy?"

"Don't know.  Like it like this, feels a lot different.  Nice."

She smiled and touched my face.  "Not nice.  Special.  Hope our first
time feels as good."

I nodded.  "Hope so, too."

I sorta drifted in and out while I spent time petting Missy mostly,
but once in awhile I'd reach over and touch Val lightly to just kinda
remind myself she was really there.

Val eventually shifted until she was lying stretched out along the bed
so she could settle on her side and watch us.  She did lots of
touching and exploring.

It was a really, really strange experience, but I got used to it and
after awhile, when Val would look up at me I'd smile back and she'd
nod and touch one of us lightly.

It was as if her touches were some sort of validation for the years
I'd spent hiding what I was.

Eventually I repositioned myself so I could lie next to Missy and
cuddle her.  Val spooned against my back and something in me let go.

I started crying into Missy's fur and Val stiffened, then hugged me
and asked me what was wrong.

"Nothing.  It just feels so damn good, to quit pretending."

She kissed my shoulder.  "Ah."

I let go of Missy and rolled in Val's arms.  Then I wrapped my arms
around her and cried myself to sleep.

* * *

A tongue in my crotch woke me and I was still pretty much asleep when
I stretched and moaned.   "Mmm..."

Val's giggle startled me and I froze in a panic before I remembered I
had company.  "God!  For a few seconds I thought I was living my worst
nightmare."

Her voice was serious.  "Nope.  More like my idea of heaven."

I woke up some more and realized there was something different about
the way Missy was cleaning me.  She was way more enthused than
usual...

I looked and wound up staring in shock.  It was Max.

When I looked up Val had a strange looking smile on her face.  "Like I
said, once he gets started, he's hard to stop."

I finally laughed cautiously.  "Yeah.  I can tell.  No fucking though.
I'm not bi.  I think."

"Think?"

I kept staring at Max and trying not to flinch when he added more
pressure than I was used to when he found something he really just
*had* to clean up.  "Yeah.  His tongue feels good but I don't want him
in my ass."

She finally laughed a little.  "I think he enjoys the taste of Missy.
While you were asleep he wouldn't leave her alone until she snarled at
him a few times."

"Umm.  Ok.  She won't be in heat for a few months yet.  She's had
other dogs bother her after I fucked her, so she's learned to handle
it without getting in fights."

"K.  Ken?  I don't care as long as were in private, but it looks like
one of us is going to have to teach him what the rules are.  I didn't
expect this."

I blushed.  "I'm still trying to deal with Missy not being jealous.
She's always been laid back, but this..."

Val giggled again.  "She's busy getting petted right now."

I rolled my head until I could see the two of them.  Missy was on her
back with her legs spread.  Val was busy petting her and it looked
like Missy was so content she was falling asleep.

Max finally must have been satisfied because he got up and resettled
on the foot of the bed, then curled up and looked like he was going to
take a nap.

I stretched again and stared at the ceiling.  "Did all that really
happen, Val?"

She rolled and snuggled against me.  "I'm in bed with a man, and
naked, for the first time in my life, so I'm pretty sure it did."

I laughed.  "Yeah.  I guess that would make it real, wouldn't it?"

Then I realized the inside lights were on..  "Shit!"

"What's wrong?"

"Sorry, Val.  Everything had me so distracted I forgot to put the
solid shades on the windows before it got dark."

She giggled.   "Relax.  I've traveled with Max, so I know all about
that sort of thing.  I dug around after you and Missy went to sleep,
and found them.  They've been in place for hours."

I shuddered with the release of tension.  "Thanks.  Gods...  I hate to
think about what would happen if someone saw the shadows on the
curtains."

I rolled to face her.  "May I kiss you for that thoughtfulness?"

She sobered and looked at me seriously.  "Please."  Then she laughed
self consciously.  "But kiss me like a lover would.  I'm tired of
chaste kisses.  Ok?"

I blushed again.  "Yeah.  Lovers.  We are, aren't we?"

"Yes."

Our kiss was tentative at first and I guess the best way to describe
it was that we slowly experimented.  I tried doing the things I
usually did when I kissed Missy and I guess Val did the same thing.

There was a lot of fumbling around at first and maybe it was because
we were both used to kissing dogs and not people.

Whatever.

We got things sorted out a little, and then we both must have decided
to add in more of the things we were used to doing, and I was a little
surprised when it seemed to work when I ran my fingers along Val's
spine because she moaned into my mouth and pressed against me like it
felt good.

When I stopped she returned the favor, and then I understood why she
moaned, because I felt it too.

And that was all we did.  Explore each other without any sex.

Ok...

We cuddled erotically, if that makes sense.

It does to us, when we look back and remember that evening.

It was a rattled dog tag and a sneeze that brought us out of the
semi-sleep we'd fallen into.

I sighed, because I recognized the rattle, and Val must have known
what was going on too, because she giggled first, then sighed.  "Ken?
I don't want to move."

"I don't, either, but Missy's gonna hit the bed next, if I don't get
up and take her outside."

"Max is the same way.  That was his 'you aren't moving fast enough'
sneeze."

"K."

There was another rattle and I laughed.  "Ok, Miss Impatient.  I'm
coming."

I got up first and slid to the end of the bed, then levered myself up
and went down the steps.  When I looked up after putting on my robe
and sandals, Val was sitting on the edge of the bed and watching me.
"That's it?  A robe, here?"

I nodded.  "Yeah.  You can do the same if you want.  Might get honked
at or teased, but nobody's gonna do more.  Lots of women drivers, and
some guys bring their wives or girlfriends.  During the summer, it's
not unusual to see women in bikinis out here and sometimes they've
stopped by to chat and pet Missy while I've been in a robe or swim
trunks."

She giggled again.  "What's it like?"

I shook my head.  "Odd, at first.  When I first started driving the
rig for a living and stopping here overnight, I used to get teased a
lot because I was easily embarrassed."

I chuckled.  "Now, though, it's no big deal.  Most of the folks we'll
meet know Missy and I, and in a strange way, we're all a big extended
family that keeps up with what we're all doing."

She smiled.  "I wasn't expecting that."

I stiffened slightly.  "Expecting what?"

She sobered.  "Sorry.  That came out wrong.  Nobody told me what you
do for a living, so I didn't realize this was usually more than a rest
stop for you and Missy."

I sighed.  "I should be the one to apologize.  I've been driving the
fifth wheel around since I was old enough to drive and pass the tests
for a commercial license.  Never thought to mention that these trips
are usually more than just a vacation."  

A nose nudged me and I looked down, then back at Val.  "Later, ok?
Somebody is tired of waiting for me."

She laughed, and I noticed it was a lot different than her giggle, so
I grinned at her and then turned away to find Missy's leash and hook
her up.

Once he realized what was going on, Max pushed past us and went to nag
Val while she dug in her things for her own robe and sandals.

Once she had everything settled the way she wanted, she joined us and
hooked up Max.  "Ready."

The sound of the idling rigs had been a muted rumble inside the
trailer but when I opened the door the noise hammered at us at first.
Missy and I ignored it and headed for the area by the fence after I
grabbed the scoop, just in case.

When I remembered to look, Max was walking nervously, and staying
close to Val's side.  He was moving though, so I figured he'd
eventually get used to all the noise and activity.

Both dogs peed and then started playing tourist, so we knew they
didn't have to do more.  I laughed at Missy and called her to heel,
then waited until Val and Max joined us before we headed back to the
trailer.

I laughed when Max forced his way past all of us to get back in the
trailer, then I stood back while Missy bounced in.  I gestured for Val
to go, then followed her and closed the door, shutting out most of the
noise.

Val settled at the table and sighed before she leaned against the
wall.  "I've spent nights at rest areas, but the noise here..."  She
looked at me after I settled on the other side of the table.  "Our
trailers were never good at keeping the sound out.  The volume out
there surprised us."

I chuckled.  "We special ordered this one with extra insulation.  The
ones we owned when I was a kid were bad.  Sometimes I felt like I was
sleeping inside somebody's speaker cabinet--with the volume all the
way up."

She laughed again, then idly scratched between Max's ears while she
watched me.  "Ken?  That break left me wide awake for now.  You?"

I thought about it while I watched Missy get a drink of water and then
head for the bed.  After she was out of my sight I turned back to look
at Valerie.

"I'm awake for now, but I don't know how long that will last."  I
smiled wryly and held out my hand in front of me to watch it shake
slightly.  "That tells me I may not last long.  Truth is, if it were
just me and Missy, we'd be in bed cuddling until we fell asleep
together."

She smiled.  "Sounds good to me."  Then she blushed and looked away.
"And now?..."

I sighed.  "I'd like to get back to cuddling with you.  Missy should
be good for the night, now."

"Good.  That's what I want, too."  She looked down and shoved at Max.
"Move it, dog.  I need to get up."

I laughed and slid out, then stood, took off my robe and sandals and
tossed them on the seat.  After that I held out my hand.  "Shall we?"

She reached and took my hand, then let me help her up.  She kept
moving until she was hugging me.  "I've always wanted to do this.  It
feels a lot better than I imagined it would."

"Mmm.  Yeah.  Hands make a big difference, don't they?"

She giggled, then pulled away and undressed before she grabbed one of
my hands and tugged urgently.  "Come on.  I want to find out what it's
like to cuddle with a human."

I blushed, and let her lead me to the bed.

Since it was late, and the air had turned cool, we decided to get
under the blankets.  Missy looked at me with a bit of disgust and
left.  Max, on the other hand, insisted on getting in the way by
settling on top and refusing to move unless Val peremptorily told him
to get out of the way, at which point he'd shift slightly and resettle
again.

My only comment while they were sorting things out was a mild "Pushy,
isn't he?"

She sighed.  "Sometimes I think he does it just to irritate me.  Or
it's a game of some kind.  Missy surprised me when she left."

I laughed.  "I think she figured out that if she leaves right away,
and waits for me to go to sleep, she can come back to bed later and
not have to move until I wake up.  I think she got tired of me
shifting all the time until I get comfortable."

Val spooned against my back and cuddled.  "What about when you want to
cuddle with her or have her under the covers?"

"Has to be a lot colder than this before she'll get under the
blankets.  She'll come back to bed while I'm awake if I invite her
back.  Sometimes she'll stay until we fall asleep together, other
times she decides she's had enough attention and moves so I can't
touch her, or just leaves again."

"K.  Ken?  Can I just...  Do whatever I feel like doing, even if
you're asleep?"

"Sure.  Same for me?"

She was silent, then she hugged me. "Don't know why I hesitated.  Max
does it all the time.  Yes."

I touched her hands.  "Thanks."

* * *

Sometime during the night I woke up to the feeling of Val's hands
exploring my body.  When she realized I was awake, she applied gentle
pressure to roll me over so we were facing each other, then she
whispered:  "Now?  Please?"

I kissed her and whispered back.  "Guide me?"

"Umm...  Ok."

We shifted a little until she was ready, then she slowly inserted my
tip until she sighed and removed her hand.  "Do it."

I pushed home slowly, then started moving in and out gently, until I
couldn't pace myself any longer, then my hips drove more forcefully
until I froze and orgasmed deep inside her.

She mmmed some and wrapped me in a hug, then we went back to sleep.

* * *

The next time I woke up it was to movement of the bed, and giggles.
"Go 'way, goof!"

That made me open my eyes and I started laughing.  Max was licking her
face enthusiastically, and she was trying to fend him off.

I decided to roll on my back and stretch, then discovered I couldn't
roll easily.

Missy had settled on the bed and was obviously ignoring the
shenanigans going on behind her.

I chuckled and twisted so I could get my hands free to start petting
her.  "Morning, Missy."

She responded by rolling to her back, and then twisting her head so we
could share a morning kiss while I slowly rubbed her stomach.
"Beautiful."

She groaned and sucked up the attention until she'd had enough, then
twisted to her feet and stood so she could look down at me.

Then she shook her collar at me.

I sighed.  "Outside?"

She stretched, then turned and left.

I sighed again and rolled back to face Val.  "Somebody wants out. I'll
be back."

She touched my face lightly.  "Thanks for last night.  It was more
than I imagined it could be."

I blushed.  "Welcome, Val.  Sorry I forgot about using a condom."

"Relax.  I've been on the pill for years.  My fault for not mentioning
it."

"K."

She shoved at Max, who had settled across her chest and wanted to keep
licking her face.  "Move, Goof.  I need to get up, then you can go
out."

I laughed when he launched himself off the bed.  "Guess he knows
'out', doesn't he?"

She giggled.  "Something like that.  Morning habit, too, because it
isn't unusual for us to cuddle and screw after he comes back in and
eats."

I smiled.  "We sometimes fuck before we get up.  I guess she can't
wait this time."

I pulled the blankets to one side.  "I can wait until the dogs are
done, so I'll get dressed and take Missy.  You?"

"Mm.  I'd better go now,"

"Ok."

I found my clothes and put them on while I waited for Val, then
chuckled when Max nosed his way into the bathroom to check on her.  I
heard her laugh, then she came out, untangled her clothes, and got
dressed.

By then I had Missy hooked up and she was impatiently staring at the
door.

Val hooked up Max, then gestured at the door.  "Ready."

I opened it, let the leash fall from my hand as Missy pushed it open
the rest of the way, then had to grab for the jamb when Max started to
push past me.  He froze with his front teet on the step, then must
have decided it was ok because he finished getting out.

Val wound up next to me before she could brace herself.  "Sorry."

"No problem.  I'll expect it next time, and at least I didn't lose my
balance."

She touched me gently.  "I'm still waking up, and forgot he likes to
lunge through open doors when he's in a hurry."

I nodded and exited.  "Don't worry about it.  I'm not."

She joined me, closed up and then we headed for the dog area.

This time we relaxed and walked around to loosen up and to give the
dogs a chance to stretch before we hit the road again.

Eventually they got tired of exploring and returned to our sides, so
we went back to get our breakfasts.

Somehow we managed to feed the dogs without tripping over each other
too much, then I dug my electric razor out of my travel kit and
settled at the table to shave.

Val watched me until I was done, and then smiled.  "Do you do that the
same way every day?"

"Huh?"

She gestured at the razor.  "You know.  Above your lips, left side,
right side, chin and then trim your sideburns?"

I thought about it.  "I don't have a clue.  I just shave until I'm
done.  Never tried to figure out if I have a pattern.  Any reason for
asking?"

"Not really.  Never watched a man shave before, and I was curious."

I shook my head and chuckled.  "Maybe someday I'll figure out
something equally odd to ask you about.  Like shaving your armpits or
something."

She giggled.  "I don't shave them.  I'm naturally light haired.  Would
you get upset if I shaved my pubic area?"

I thought about it and then shook my head again.  "Nope."

Then I grinned at her.  "I'm used to fur, though."

She blushed before she relaxed and laughed.  "Fair enough.  So am I."

She leaned back and smiled at me.  "Do we eat now, or get something
later?"

I shrugged.  "I usually eat light for breakfast and stop for a longer
break at lunchtime."

She nodded.  "Mind if I cook something for us?"

"You're my guest and I'm not expecting you to, but sure, go ahead."

She reached across the table and waited for me to clasp her hand.
"We're going to be wife and husband, right?  Let's start sharing the
chores now."

I smiled back at her.  "Yes, Dear."

"Arrr...   Goof!"

I laughed.  "Too early to be serious."

She sobered.  "Your father said you didn't know how to relax."

I looked away.  "He's never asked, so I let him see what he expects to
see.  When I've been on the road, I've lived my own life.  They've
never taken the time to ask me what kind it is."

"Sounds lonely."

I sighed.   "Not lonely.  I've had my bitches."

"That's not what I meant."

I sighed and faced her.  "Yeah.  You're right.  It's been lonely."

She nodded, then stood without letting go and came around to kiss me
full on my lips before she straightened and let go.  "One more thing
we have in common.  What would you like for breakfast?"

"Rummage and pick.  No preferences."

"Got it.  Two orders of 'whatever', coming up."

I laughed, then slid sideways and invited Missy up for some attention
while I waited.

After Val settled again we ate and idly chatted about nothing in
particular, just filling in the time without worrying about what might
happen next.

Finally, though, we were done, the dogs had cleaned our plates and we
had to decide what to do next.

First was get the dogs settled in the truck, and then we shared the
chores by Val prepping the trailer while I checked the truck.

Together we checked the lights, then I rechecked the hitch, declared
it safe, and we clambered in to settle and wait for the engine to warm
up.

Val finally broke the silence with a question.  "At some point soon,
I'd like to drive for awhile, if that's ok with you?"

"Sure.  Mind if we do that after we get out of the city?"

"Not a bit.  I hate the headaches of driving with a trailer during
rush hour.  I'm not at my best in the morning, either."

I laughed.   "I've logged so many miles I no longer care what the
traffic is like, I just drive in it."

Her voice turned droll.  "Lucky you."

"Yeah.  Maybe.  Sometimes I feel like I've been on the road all my
life, but I know better.  My brothers were glad to let me take over.
They prefer the full size rigs, not this 'toy', and the
responsibilities that go with it."

She laughed.  "Well, let's get moving again, and you can tell me what
those responsibilities are, since I plan on sharing them, if I can.
I'm not a homebody, and neither is Max.  We both love to travel,
probably for the same reasons you and Missy do."

"Uh huh.   Privacy, right?"

"That and the freedom of being able to be myself since I usually wound
up driving alone."

I laughed.   "Point to you."

I pulled out and back on the freeway, then once I was settled in my
lane, I resumed our conversation.  "Val?  Something doesn't make
sense.  In all the selling and the talk with my father, nobody
bothered to tell you that Missy and I really do earn our way?"

"No.  Should they have?"

"I'm not certain, but every girl they've thrown at me, until you, has
insisted there was no way they'd live out of a trailer for six months
out of the year.  They'd stay home, 'thank-you-very-much'."

"So what is it you do?"

"We have people all over the country who raise sheep or goats for us.
Some have farms, but others are the traditional sheep herders who
drift with their flocks.
  
"Missy is a working dog when she isn't being lazy and sucking up
attention from anyone who will give it to her.  She helps herd the
flocks onto the trailers for transport twice a year."

"And your job?"

"I get to travel around and spot trailers, bring in supplies and
generally make sure we know where people are when it's time to collect
the animals.  Plus, once in a great while, we watch a flock if the
herdsman has an emergency and there's nobody else to do it.  That's
only happened twice in ten years, though, and the first time it was
one of my brothers who got stuck with the job, since I was too young."

She thought about it.  "So.  Essentially, you folks are meat brokers?"

"More or less.  Both my brothers are line haulers.  My father runs it
all as a specialty trucking outfit with him as owner, and agent for
the independent drivers if they want extra work during the off
season."

I shrugged after making a lane change.  "I've seen the books, since I
somehow wound up being the one who will eventually take over the
business, and while there's a huge cash flow and the business sucks up
most of it, there's enough left that even if we were to shut down
today, the family would survive comfortably, and every year we stay
afloat, that reserve gets bigger."

She laughed.  "Prices go up, but people still have to eat, and you're
established enough that when things get tight, you're the folks people
trust to get the job done?"

"Pretty much.  We're all over the country, but our drivers are local,
mostly, so we don't have the expenses of a fleet that has to deadhead
a lot when it's working.  It's cheaper for us to keep me and Missy on
the road with this rig, than it would be to have someone use a small
car, then rent trucks and live in motels."

She was silent a long time while she thought about what I'd told her,
I guess.

Then she laughed quietly.  "I can see why my parents never mentioned
exactly where your money came from, other than the inheritance that
makes sure it will always be there for you, and whoever you married.

"Working for a living offends them, even though I know they had to, to
get where we are now.  They'd rather play and live the lifestyle of
the idle rich, and that's what they wanted for me."

I chuckled.  "Sorry.  We're 'new money' and I believe in earning my
keep.  If not in the family business, I'd be working for someone else.
I've had job offers from people all over the country.  At least this
way I get paid for doing what I enjoy most, traveling with Missy and
pretty much doing as I please as long as it all gets done, until I
have to take over the business."

She laughed and reached to touch my arm.  "We."

I blushed.  "Oops.  Right.  I'm not used to having someone who wants
to do the same things I do."

"Don't worry about it.  I never dreamed I'd wind up with a husband who
*wanted* me to travel with him, and understood how I feel about Max,
too."

She sighed.  "If you must know, I never expected to get married."

I matched her sigh.  "Yeah.  I'm still getting used to the fact I
won't be alone, myself.   Thanks again for taking a chance on us."

"You're welcome."

I let the silence last awhile, then I chuckled.  "Ok.  You know part
of my story.  How did you wind up with money in the family?  And, I'm
*really* curious about how you wound up with a Class B license."

She sighed.  "One word:  'Horses'.  I can't stand them, but my parents
dote on the damn things.  Show horses, too. not ones that do honest
work for a living.  Pampered, over groomed, spoiled,
'ignore-your-kids', HORSES, are where our money comes from, and goes,
too.  Only reason we have dogs is because they are a calming influence
for the horses when they travel."

I was cautious.  "You sound bitter."

"I AM.  I also resent them, because my parents insisted I take part by
helping, as soon as I could walk.  Always time for them, but when I
wanted something it's always been  'It will have to wait, dear.
So-and-so needs his hooves trimmed, or 'this one got sick last
week'...

I sighed.  "I never had that problem, other than it being assumed I'd
find a place in the family business someday, and the constant match
making."

"Ken?  I envy you that but at the same time, I can see how painful
it's been for you.  Shall we call it a wash, and move on together?"

"Yeah, Valerie.  Works for me if it does for you."

"It does."

She stared out the window for awhile before she answered my other
question.  "I have a Class B because I couldn't avoid it, and acting
as the chauffeur for all that walking dog food was better than having
to take care of it all the time.  Even my parents had to admit that
driving left you too tired to give proper care to the horses when you
stopped.  They were *ecstatic* when I agreed to take over the driving
chores when we had to travel.  It left them able to give proper
attention to their meal tickets."

I mulled over her words and finally decided to take a chance.

I chuckled quietly.  "Feel better, Love?"

"YES!"  And then I heard her surprise.  "Love?"

"Yeah.  Why not get used to that, too?"

"Huh.  That's gonna take some work, since I'm used to hearing it when
somebody wants to persuade me to do something for them."

I sighed.  "Save it for private, like I do with Missy?  And I mean it.
Maybe I don't feel it the same way I do for Missy, but I feel a lot
more than just wanting to get laid, if that makes any sense."

She sighed and I noticed she hugged herself.  "No.  Don't save it. Our
parents are going to expect it, so keep doing it whenever you think
you should.  I'll get used to hearing it when it means something, ok?"

It was my turn to sigh miserably.  "Yeah.  Ok.  I guess."

I brightened.  "Hey!  Maybe we can use it often enough so people think
it's a joke when we accuse the dogs of being jealous.  You know.
Things like the silly 'Yeah, Missy, I love you too' when she can't
restrain herself.  Who's going to think we're serious if we're
laughing about it?"

She giggled.  "Never thought about it that way.  They can love us
'cause they're just dogs, but since we're married, obviously we care a
lot for them, but serious love?  Not a chance since they're dogs.  And
everyone already teases us about how much we care for them anyway,
right?"

I laughed.  "Yeah, I get that a lot already, but at least they know
we're a working team and we spend a lot of time together because of
all the traveling we have to do."

She nodded.  "Sorta like that for me.  I saw to the dogs, and as long
as they got along with the horses, nobody worried about them paying
more attention to me than anyone else.  Division of labor, I guess,
since I've made it clear I can't stand the horses and they feel about
the same way towards the dogs.  'Necessary evil'."

That made me think of something, but it had to wait while I got us
through a major interchange.

After we were resettled in the truck lane, I picked up the
conversation again.  "You said you took care of the dogs.  What's
going to happen to the others?"

She smiled.  "I learned a long time ago that it was best to have only
one favorite.  Most of the others have attached themselves to the
hired help, so they'll be ok.  Max has spent enough time with me that
none of the horses ever got real attached to him, like they have with
some of the other dogs.  They'll be fine."

I sighed with relief.  "Good.  Glad to hear it.  I don't think Missy
would travel well with more than one or two dogs.  She's always been
pretty obvious about resenting it when we've had to move a bunch of
herding dogs when there was no choice about loading them up for a long
trip."

"Don't the herders have their own trucks or something?"

"Some do, some don't.  Mostly, one of the locals will help, but not
always.  If we're there, I do it instead of wasting time trying to
look for someone else.  I drop the fifth wheel someplace and we cage
the back of the truck for the move or I rent a livestock trailer and
call in one of our drivers with their equipment when we have to move a
fair sized herd."

"Sounds like a lot to keep track of."

I laughed.  "It was at first.  Been doing it since I graduated from
high school, so I don't have to think about it any more."

We passed a mileage sign and I shook my head slightly, then glanced
sideways before I refocused on the road.  "We'll be going through
Vegas.  You sure enough about us that we could stop at one of those
wedding chapels?  I'm willing."

I heard her inhale sharply.  "Ken?  I'm sure, but that just made it
too real.  I wasn't ready."

"And?"

She sighed.  "What about our parents and friends?  They're all
expecting a big wedding and that stuff.  In a way, so was I."

"Good point.  Do we have to tell them about Vegas?"

"Noo...  I guess not.  Aren't you a little worried that we might
discover we can't get along with each other?"

We were coming up on an exit that I knew had enough room for us to
pull off and walk the dogs, so I ducked her question.  "Hang on.  Let
me get pulled off the freeway before I answer that one."

"K."

We got parked and I turned to face her.  "Of course I'm worried about
that, but everyone tells me that if you really want to, you can work
past the problems.  Besides, you and I both know that we can destroy
each other if we wanted to.  Is there any point to NOT staying
together, with that in mind?"

She was looking at me oddly.  "Pretty cold blooded.  You know I wanted
to marry for love, not self interest."

I sighed.  "Me, too, but who was it that pointed out the odds aren't
good that we'd find anyone else?  I like you a lot, and no matter what
happens I want to be able to relax with you for the rest of my life.
Except for a few people on the net, who don't know who I really am,
you're my only chance to have some sort of 'real' life."

I looked away and spoke to the windshield.  "Is it really any
different than what we did when we got the dogs?  Lifetime commitment?
I made myself and Missy a promise I'd never get rid of her for any
reason, then we learned to love each other.  I want to do the same
with you, but the system insists we have its approval, even though our
word should be enough."

I felt her touch my arm gently.  "I'm sorry, Ken.  I guess I'm still
feeling a little forced, even though I wanted this to happen someday.
Illusions lost, huh?"

I winced and covered her hand with mine.  "Yeah.  Something like that.
All my dreams answered, and I'm afraid to believe in a future that
includes both a woman who loves me, and who accepts my love for Missy,
and any future bitches I'd have.  Part of me still has to have that
'state seal of approval' before it will let go and accept it all."

She undid her seat belt and slid over to snuggle against me.  "I
understand, really I do.  I want it, too.  Let's stop, and then not
tell anyone we did it.  If they find out later, we'll tell the truth.
Let them deal with the rest.  None of their business, anyway, is it?"

I chuckled tiredly.  "Guess not, since once they took the hold off my
inheritance, they can't take it away from me.  Us.  You, once we're
married, and if something happens to me.  Be hypocritical of them to
call you a gold digger, since that's why my parents got married.  It
was more a business merger than a love match.  Still is."

"Cynic."

"I prefer realist, and they've never denied it when anyone asked
directly.  There's love, now, but it's still got a lot of pragmatic
self interest behind it."

She reached for her purse and pulled out her phone.  "I know we
planned on three months together, so any time after that for the
wedding?"

I thought about it.  "Dad knows the schedule after that better than I
do, so let them set the date and call us in when they're ready for
us."

She laughed bitterly.  "We're not the real focus anyway, right?  So
all we have to do is show up, dress fancy and say a few lines, then go
away?"

"Yeah.  Society wedding.  How'd you know?"

"Been to a few.  Looked like the bride and groom were happy to escape
once it was over, usually.  Especially when it looked like they really
cared for each other."

I smiled and hugged her.  "Well, it's the bride who has any sort of
control.  Do it however you want.  I'm just the groom."

"Thanks...  Honey.  Now, keep quiet and try to stay sober about this."

"Ok."

She lifted her phone, found the number she wanted and hit send.

"Hi, mom."

"You ok, dear?"

"I'm fine.  Ken and I are getting to know each other, but that's not
why I called."

"Oh?  Something wrong?"

Val grimaced.  "No, Mother.  Everything's fine.  He proposed and I
accepted.  I just wanted to let you know that we've decided to let our
families organize the wedding.  Any time after the three months we
planned on being away, will be fine."

There was a long silence, then, suspiciously.  "How did you get him to
propose when nobody else has?"

She grinned at me and winked.  "Mom, it was easy.  All I had to do was
agree to let his dog sleep on the bed, as long as he'd let Max up
there, too."

"Don't get flippant with me, young lady."

"I'm serious.  That's all it took, just agreeing to let him keep her
around."

"Hmmph...  You've never lied to me before, that I know of, but I know
when you're hiding something.  Is he there?"

"Yes, mother, he's right here."

"Young man.  What made you propose to my daughter?"

I managed to suppress my derisive snort and speak calmly.  "She
doesn't seem to be interested in my money, and like she said, she
doesn't mind letting the dogs on the bed with us.  Plus, she says she
doesn't mind being a trucker's wife and living on the road for most of
the year.  I'd be a fool if I let her get away, so I proposed and she
accepted."

"Hmm.  Selfish, aren't you?"

"A little.  It's how I was raised.  Will I have to supply a
replacement driver until you find one, since she's moving out?"

There was a longish silence during which Val had to suppress some
giggles.

Finally.  "No, Kenneth.  We'll just hire the substitute full time.
Thank you for your concern."

"You're welcome."

"Let me talk to Valerie again."

"I'm here, mom."

"Six months, at least, before we'll be ready."

"Thanks, mom.  I'm sure you folks will do a good job.  Call us when
you're ready for us, ok?"

"Somebody will.  Don't let him get away, ok?"

Valerie was calmer than I expected.  "I wasn't planing on it."

"Love you.  Bye, dear."

"Love you, and dad too.  Bye."

She hung up and went into hysterics.

"Gods, Ken, that was such a beautiful touch. 'Will I need to provide a
replacement?'..." 

She giggled some more.  "That must have stung badly, since they don't
want people thinking they can't afford to provide for themselves, and
I know she was tempted to accept."

I laughed.  "We have plenty of idle drivers available and it really
wouldn't have been a problem if she'd accepted.  I admit though, it's
not often I get a chance to legitimately flaunt our money like that
and get away with it."

She sobered.  "Thanks.  It probably eliminated a lot of questions."

I sighed bitterly.  "Yeah, I know.  'Marriage as a business
transaction.'  That's another good reason for Vegas.  We can avoid the
lawyers and keep it simple."

She actually snarled her anger and Max came up to check on her.
"Prenuptial agreements.  Would you believe there are courses on how to
write them?  I was forced to take one and I hated it.  Seems to me
that if you admit you need all that, you're already admitting that
when things get bad, you're going to bail out.  Always felt they are a
recipe for failure."

I sighed.  "Yeah.  To me it always felt like people were over
emphasizing the bad things about marriage.  I don't want my life over
planned like that.  I have little enough freedom as it is.  That would
make it impossible for me to relax and let myself really love
someone."

I reached and touched Missy's nose where it was resting on my shoulder
in a hint that she wanted out.  "Missy never asked me for any
agreements, and I never asked her for one, you know?"

Val sighed and leaned against me again.  "You know they'll bring the
lawyers in."

"Yes.  I'm willing to tell them to go away if you are.  I'm already
used to being thought of as an emotional fool."

"But you're taking over the business someday?"

"I'm already responsible for most of the field coordination, and
that's what makes us the money.  Dad and Mom handle the books and
scheduling, mostly.  If it's going to stay in the family, I guess I'm
the only choice, since nobody else has taken the time to learn it as
well as I have."

I sighed and squeezed her gently.  "We'll have to see what happens. We
do have other options, and most of them I had before they turned the
money loose."

She sighed and snuggled.  "I like the way you say 'we'."

Missy nosed me and I laughed.  "I think someone is tired of waiting."

She laughed.  "Max has learned patience."

"Good.  There's nobody else here, and Missy is fine off leash, so I'm
going to carry one but not use it unless someone pulls off and parks.
You?"

"Max will be fine as long as nobody parks next to us with a trailer
full of horses.  He thinks they're all his friends, and he likes to
get acquainted with them.  He's controllable though.  I won't need the
leash."

"K."

We got out and let the dogs relax while we ambled and stretched our
legs.

Eventually I sighed and reached for my phone.  "I know I asked you to
call my parents, but maybe I'd better talk to them first."

"That's ok with me."

"Thanks."

I sighed and hit send.  It was my turn and I wasn't looking forward to
it.

"Hello, Kenneth.  Is everything ok?"

"Hi, dad.  Everything's fine.  Just wanted to let you know that
Valerie and I talked things over, and we've already decided to get
married."

"That was quick."

I shrugged even though he couldn't see me.  "We have a lot in common
and we both agree that we're not likely to find anyone better for each
other.  Since she doesn't mind living on the road and isn't interested
in raising a family, I won't have to give it all up.  Looks like we
won't have to settle down until I have to take over the business, or
she and I decide it's time to settle."

"Pragmatic.  Maybe I didn't raise the fool I thought I did."

I winced.  "Speaking of pragmatic, neither one of us wants prenuptial
agreements.  Why make the lawyers any richer now, when they'll get the
money anyway if we decide to get divorced?  We'll settle things then,
if it ever happens.  No point in anticipating failure.  It has a way
of being self fulfilling when you do that."

"Maybe.  If we don't do it your way, you'll run off and do something
more foolish, right?"

"We discussed that option before she called her parents and told them
to set things up, then call when you're ready for us.  Her mom said
something about six months.  We'll leave it to you folks to schedule
things since you know when it will fit."

I had another thought.  "Oh, and dad?"

"What is it?"

"From what Val said, and after listening to her mother on the phone,
her parents are social climbers who were using Valerie for
themselves."

He actually laughed.  "How refreshing.  Thought so.  We'll keep an eye
on them.  Now, go enjoy yourselves, and try to remember to check in
once in awhile.  We won't call unless it's about the wedding, or
there's an emergency."

"Thanks, dad.  Say hi to mom for me."

"I will.  Bye."

We hung up and I put my phone in my pocket, then stared off at nothing
in particular.

Val came over and hugged me before she pulled away to watch my face.
"That wasn't the conversation I was expecting."

I sighed and hugged back.  "Habit took over.  I'm bitter sometimes,
but I don't really hate them any more.  He understands business deals,
so that's what I gave him.  You heard his reaction."

She sighed, then shifted to stand next to me so she could watch the
dogs investigate the area.  "You never said you love each other."

I shook my head wearily.  "I don't think we do.  Care, yes, but more?
No, and I'm not going to embarrass him by saying the word.  I haven't
made that mistake since I was a kid."

"What about your mother?"

I sighed and shook my head.  "We've never been close.  It's not that
she loves my brothers and sisters more.  It's more like she was worn
out by the time she got around to raising me, and she kept things
slightly impersonal because there was little left for me by the time
she dealt with dad and everyone else."

She sighed.  "He cares for you a lot, you know."

"Maybe.  Not in the way I always wanted, though."

"Sounds too familiar.  You mentioned Missy is your second bitch.  Who
taught you about love?"

Memories made me smile.  "Margo.  Missy's grandmother.  She and I went
through puberty together."

She giggled.  "Reminds me of Spike.  We had a lot of dogs around, but
he was the one who attached himself to me when I went through puberty.
He was also the one I let take my virginity."

She put her arm back around my waist.  "So how'd it happen?"

I glanced around nervously to make sure we were still alone, then went
back to watching Missy.  "Lust, I guess.  Margo was papered, and she
was from a line of herding dogs we raised and sold at the time.  I
don't know what made us adopt each other when she was a puppy, but we
did and we were pretty inseparable, much to my parents' frustration."

Val giggled.  "Went everywhere together?  Snuck her into your bedroom
and all that?"

I laughed.  "Yeah.  All the 'boy and dog' cliche's.  Separation
anxiety, too, when she was a puppy.  If she was left outside she'd
howl until I went out to get her or someone let her in, then she'd run
and scratch at my door if it was closed. 

"Eventually she grew out of it but for the first few months she made
everyone's life miserable while I was at school."

Valerie laughed and hugged me.  "Ok, you were attached to each other.
I can relate a little.  Spike was never that bad though.  He was
already full grown when he attached himself to me."

She giggled again.  "That's if you can call sneaking up and goosing me
every chance he could get, 'attaching himself'.  I sure didn't
encourage him to do it.  First few times I screamed and tried to hit
him or kick him, but nothing I did seemed to convince him to quit for
very long."

It was my turn to laugh.  "I've seen horny dogs chase bitches.  Like
you said about Max.  'Pushy'.  Anyway, she matured and went through
her first estrus and the only thing I really paid attention to was
needing to put an extra cover on my bed until it was over.  That, and
keeping the male dogs away from her, were about the only things that
changed between us at the time.

"I hadn't entered puberty yet, so while I was naturally curious about
sex, a little, I wasn't focused on it.  Since we had to watch the dogs
when they mated, so we could guarantee the bloodlines, I'd had a lot
of my interest blunted anyway."

I looked at Val and smiled.  "Have you read many 'first time'
stories?"

She smiled back.  "A few.  Who seduced who?"

I shook my head.  "Neither of us.  I was mostly through my own puberty
when she had her second estrus.  By then I was absolutely fascinated
by sex of any kind and had discovered masturbation.  In fact, it was
already normal for Margo to watch me masturbate and then clean me up
afterwards.  

"I didn't plan it that way.  I usually slept nude, and it was summer,
so we shared the top of the covers unless she was under the air
conditioning vent.  One night I masturbated and went to sleep without
wiping myself off.  I woke up to Margo's tongue and nose.  It felt
pretty good, so after that I just made sure my door was locked and let
her clean me because I didn't have to worry about hiding the
evidence."

I shrugged.  "She went into estrus and one night she nosed my crotch
and flagged me.  I knew what she wanted, so I fucked her."  I looked
at Val and grinned.  "It was a no brainer.  I was already bored with
masturbation, horny as only a pubescent can be horny--and here was
this female who *wanted* me to fuck her.  I never thought about right
or wrong, I did it, she cleaned us up, then we both went to sleep."

I laughed gently while I remembered that week.  "You think dogs are
the only ones who get pushy?  By the end of the week she had decided I
didn't undress fast enough to suit her and she'd try to drag my pants
and shorts down as soon as I closed and locked the bedroom door."

Val was laughing so hard I could see her tears.  "Someday I'll let you
watch while Max 'rapes' me and tears my clothes off.  One time I had
the place all to myself, so I put on some old clothes and teased him
more than I usually do.  He got tired of the game and started grabbing
whatever he could and ripping it away until he could get to my body."

Her voice fell to a whisper.  "It was an awesome experience, I'd never
dreamed I'd enjoy having him dominate me like that.  He frightened me
at first, but once he nosed me I just sorta...  Gave in and let him do
whatever he wanted.  It was the first time I orgasmed when he tied."

By the time she finished I was shaking my head slowly.  "That scares
me."

"Oh?"

"Yes.  I'm afraid of anything that suggests that sex might be rape."

She hugged me.  "It wasn't rape.  I trusted him, that's all.  I knew
he wasn't going to hurt me, and he didn't.  But he did dominate me,
and use me as his bitch, and something in me responded to that.  It
excited me to know I turned him on that much."

I finally shrugged again.  "Ok.  I guess that isn't any different than
the lust Margo and I felt while she was in heat."

I went back to telling her what had happened.  "I've read about guys
who had to spend time stretching their bitch before they fucked her,
but it wasn't like that for us.  Maybe it was because I hadn't
finished puberty, but when I decided to fuck Margo, I fumbled around a
little and then I went in without problems because she was swollen and
wet.  After that first time, I knew I could, so when we wanted to
fuck, we did."

I chuckled.  "I don't remember if I thought about her losing interest
when she went out of heat, or not.  We must have been doing something
right, because we never slowed down after she was out of season.  By
then I'd tasted her and was used to licking her before we fucked, in
sort of a primitive foreplay, I guess, so I don't remember noticing
that she'd stopped lubricating on her own, either."

I laughed.  "It was almost as bad as when she was a puppy.  She'd
greet me when I got home, we'd play and do everything like normal,
then when it was time for me to go to bed, I'd lock the door and
usually she'd be all over me until we fucked, then we'd settle and go
to sleep for the night.  Mom and dad got to where they'd use my
obedience as an example when my brothers and sisters argued and wanted
to stay up late.  They *hated* me for that but I didn't care."

By the time I finished Valerie was doubled over by her laughter.  "Oh
gods...  I can picture how that must have been.  I did something
similar, except I was always willing to stay up late in the barn with
the horses if there was a problem.  I *did* keep an eye on them, of
course, but I was almost always enjoying the attention of one or more
of the dogs, too."

It was my turn to laugh and when we recovered we grinned at each
other.  "Val?  Thanks.  It's wonderful to be able to share the good
memories, finally."

She finally recovered and caught her breath.  "Oh, yes!"

She called Max in and Missy followed and settled in front of me with a
smile and her tongue hanging out.

Val reached to scratch between Max's ears before she let go of my
waist.  "Come on.  Let's hit the road again.  I wonder if any of those
wedding chapels allow dogs?"

I shrugged.  "Guess we'll find out, won't we?"

"Yep!"

* * *

After we got back on the freeway Val started bubbling over.  "Oh gods,
Ken...  I can't believe this is happening.  I never dreamed just
opening up like that would feel so good!"

"I'm feeling pretty euphoric myself."  I turned my head slightly to
make sure she could see my grin.  "What do you think of stopping in
Baker for lunch and...  Whatever?"

She matched my grin.  "Do we have to wait that long?"  Then she
reached over to touch my arm.  "Teasing.  I know we can stop any time
we want to, but we're early enough there might be some trees available
in the truck area, and it would be nice to sit in the shade while we
eat."

I laughed.  "Now I know you're used to traveling with animals.  Most
people wouldn't pay attention to that detail."  Then I sighed.  "The
motel next to the Bun Boy quit allowing dogs, or I'd suggest we get a
room."

She laughed.  "We have the trailer, why get a room?"

I chuckled.  "No good reason I guess, except the air conditioning, TV
and long showers."

Before I could say more she went on more seriously.  "Kenneth?"

"What?"

"I don't care where we are, you know?  As long as people can't see
what we're doing, that's all I need.  Tell you the truth, I'm more
used to making do with things like horse trailers and the 1-ton with
the curtains up, than I am with using hotel rooms and stuff like that.
Remember what I said about my mom having to give serious consideration
to accepting your offer of a driver?"

"Yes..."

"Well, their attitude was always use the money for the welfare of the
horses, and even they didn't rent a room very often when we were on
the road.  Then, too, as much as I resented the horses, even I wasn't
stupid enough to deny that it was better that someone stayed near the
dogs and horses unless they were in stalls in a barn somewhere, when
we stopped for the night."

She turned away to look out the side window for awhile, then she
sighed and hugged herself.  "Guess I'm trying to say that I'm used to
living primitive when I'm on the road.  It's going to take awhile for
me to get used to not doing that any more.  As long as we're together,
and the roof doesn't leak, I'm not going to complain about where we
sleep.  Ok?"

She laughed at my sour expression.  "Relax.  It wasn't quite as bad as
you must be thinking.  We didn't use pickups.  They're one ton van
type haulers, with sleepers.  Limited space, but pretty comfortable,
actually."

She giggled.  "Besides, as long as I had enough room to cuddle with
whichever dog I had with me, I didn't care about anything else."

I couldn't stop my sudden laughter.  "Now that's a good point.  And I
have to admit Missy and I seldom stay in motels.  I'm more likely to
find an RV park and hook up for the night if I want to take a long
shower or bath and not worry about getting dressed afterwards."

I grinned at a few memories and Val must have been watching my face
because she asked me what I was thinking about.

I chuckled.  "Just remembering some of the times Missy and I have
fucked during a bath or shower.  There's this one dog shampoo that's
like an aphrodisiac to me..."

"You're kidding!"

"Nope.  Maybe it's the memories of Margo that do it.  Sometimes I
deliberately open a bottle and sniff it.  Instant hard on."

She giggled.  "Sounds like fun.  Maybe we could get a bottle and bathe
each other with it."

I choked, then started laughing.  "I was taught women don't get as
turned on by the physical stuff as men do.  They want the emotions."

She leaned over and touched me.  "I was taught that, too.  But I've
always been a rebel, and I learned to enjoy the whole experience.  You
have to admit that getting fucked by a dog is intensely physical."

She sighed and settled back pensively.  "Unfortunately, as much as I
enjoy it, I'm greedy and always want more, if that makes any sense. So
I always push things a little, and explore when I have the chance.
Does it make sense that I want to explore everything with you?  It's
all new to me, and I really don't know what I want, or would enjoy
with a man."

I smiled.  "I don't have a problem with that.  Like I said, my sexual
experience with women is actually pretty limited, too, so I'm just as
curious.  You just took me by surprise with the idea."

She laughed.  "Be dogs, huh?  Don't think too much about it, just do
it and see if we like it or not?"

I grinned.  "Yeah.  That's something I can relate to."

We stopped in Baker and found us a tree to park under, then I fired up
the generator so we could run the air conditioning.  The batteries for
the inverters usually stayed charged enough for the microwave and
fridge, from the truck's alternator, but using the AC wasn't going to
give us the option of not using the generator.

It was hot, but not that hot, so we talked it over and Val stayed with
the dogs to keep them out of trouble, then I walked over to the Bun
Boy and got us enough take out to last a couple meals.

By the time I got back Val had found the table and chairs and set them
up in the shade.  The dogs were on leashes already, so all of us
settled and relaxed while we ate and shared our food.

With the edge taken off I was feeling lazy so I leaned back and took
the time to look around.  "This is strange."

Val looked up from feeding Max some of her food.  "What is?"

"Every time I've been here, Baker's been dusty and a bit dreary.
Nothing more than a place to stop and rest, really.  Today it looks
brighter, though.  Lots of  people live here, and really, the place
has changed quite a bit since the first time I was here as a kid.
Never noticed that before."

I reached down to idly pet Missy's head.  "I wouldn't want to live
here permanently.  Hot doesn't begin to describe this place in late
summer.  We've been here when it was 115F at midnight.  But still...
There's a feel to it I like.  If we ever settle, I'd kind of like to
be around the same sort of people, but I doubt if that's a very
realistic idea.  Just idle thinking, really."

When I looked at Val she was shaking her head and smiling.  "My
husband, the philosopher."

I blushed and she giggled.  "Well, you are!"

"Yeah, right.  Maybe I just like to take the time to smell the roses,
if they aren't wilted from the heat."

She leaned over and touched my arm gently. "Ken, you're the only man
I've met who hasn't closed himself off and kept his emotions inside
when he's around me.  Thanks.  That's...  Very special."

I sighed and looked down at Missy after I'd checked around us to see
if there was anyone nearby.  "That's why I'd rather be on the road all
the time, even when I don't have to be.  Never had to hide from Margo,
then Missy.  Besides, how can you hide things when they know how you
feel anyway?  It's almost like throwing a switch.  At home I turn
myself off, and as soon as I'm back on the road, I turn myself on
again, unless there's someone with us."

I shrugged, then faced her.  "Get my drift?  Sometimes it's just too
painful to be at home, hiding who I am.  Not Missy and me, I don't
have to think about that any more.  But me, the inside me.  The real
me.  Would you believe that if you hadn't decided I was worth being
around, after I left you wherever you wanted to be left, I would have
turned around and just got back on the road and picked a direction at
random?"

"I can understand that.  Been a few times I would have liked to drop
the horses and just turn around and go back on the road."

I nodded to let her know I understood what she was saying.  "Anyway,
it's a relief to forget about that, finally.  Hope you're able to deal
with it."

She had been watching me intently, sometimes nodding and smiling a
little, at others, frowning a little.  When I stopped she just
squeezed my arm and shrugged a little.  "Lot of things pent up waiting
for release?"

"Yeah.  That scares me as much as last night did.  More, I guess."

"Same for me.  We both know it's ok for a man to explore more than a
woman does.  When he does it, it's worldly, or some other positive
sounding bull shit..  When she does the same thing, she's a whore, or
worse.  Right?"

I sighed and touched her hand.  "Yeah. Stupid, huh?"

She surprised me by imitating a dog's sneeze of disgust and I couldn't
stop my laughter.  "Oh, that was good!  Teach me how to show disgust
like that?"

She giggled.  "It helps a lot, too.  Nobody's ever figured out what
I'm saying, except sometimes the dogs have looked around and tried to
figure out what made me do it."

She grinned.  "Well, nobody except you, of course.  All it takes is
practice with a mirror, and some of the dogs have been good teachers."

I was still trying to catch my breath so I just smiled and nodded.

She went on.  "I think that sound proofing in our trailer is going to
be real useful, and not just because...  Of the normal male-female
stuff."

I finally had my breath back so I nodded slowly.  "Yeah.  You have a
real good point.  Are you in any sort of hurry to get to Vegas?  One
nice thing about stopping here is that nobody really minds if you stay
awhile.  It wouldn't surprise me to have someone I know stop and say
hello, but they'd only do that if we were visible.  Otherwise they'll
leave us alone.  One of those unwritten rules of the road."

She leaned back in her chair and took the time to scratch Max between
his ears.  "We could skip Vegas for all I care. I've been on the road
for years, and stopping just because we feel like it...  Never done it
before, and I've always wanted to.  More of that 'horses come first'
stuff kept me from exploring while I was on the road.  Anyway, yes,
let's stay awhile.  I want to find out what it's like to travel
without a schedule, for a change." 

She leaned back and stretched. When she noticed I was watching her she
arched even more and grinned at me.  "Hey, trucker?  See something you
like?"

"Yeah.  Kinda fun watching Max keep track of you."

She started to blush but managed to force it back.  "Is he that
obvious?"

I let myself grin when I finally repaid her for the shock she'd given
me yesterday evening.  "If you know what to look for."

Her jaw dropped and she looked scared, then she closed it and shook
her head.  "Guess I had that one coming, didn't I?  Fun doing it, but
not when you're receiving it, is it?"

It was my turn to reach and touch her lightly.  "I'm teasing, but
yeah.  It wasn't any fun when it happened.  Done with, ok?  Took a lot
of trust to do it.  I understand that, now.  Didn't before.  Not
really."

I leaned forward a lot more and pursed my lips in front her face.
"Love, you, Val.  Kiss and make up?"

Her eyes widened a little and she gasped slightly.  "Hey.  We can do
that in *public*, can't we?!"

I wasn't too surprised when her lips met mine, hungrily.

When we finally separated so we could catch our breath, we both
settled back to look at each other.

I knew I was grinning but I had to ask...  "Hey, Val?  Is my grin as
silly looking as yours is?"

She giggled.  "Like looking in a mirror."

We both laughed and our hands met before we looked around to see what
was going on around us again.

She sighed.  "I want to go inside, but it's so nice out here, and I
want to get something said now, so it doesn't screw up the mood,
later.  With me?"

"I sighed.  Yeah.  Think so.  I'm having a hard time thinking about
anything except you and the bed, though."

"Thanks, Ken.  I'll be quick."

Then she sighed and squeezed my hand, hard.  "If I know my mother,
she's going to want to milk this for everything she can.  That means
she'll want to go all out for a big traditional wedding, with all the
trimmings. You've been one of the most notorious eligible bachelors
for far too long, and she's going to want to make sure everybody knows
it was *her* daughter who landed you."

I was shaking my head and doing my best to hold back my laughter, but
she must have been able to read me because she just grinned.  "This
had to catch her by surprise, so I know she hasn't been keeping track
of which big churches are available for folks like us.  I think the
'six months' was to give her time to figure out which one she wants to
use, then make the arrangements to use it..."

She jerked upright as she muttered a snarled "Shit!  She wouldn't!"
and Max flinched, so she reached to soothe him.  "Sorry, Max."

Once he resettled she faced me and her eyes were wide with her shock.
"Six months.  She would.  She and dad are those types of people."

"Val?  I'm clueless."

She shuddered.  "I wish I was!"

"Oh?"

"She wants bragging rights.  I guarantee that much, ok?"

I winced.  "I know the type."

"Good.  Now, add one thing: 'Horses'.  In just over six months, one of
the biggest national meets on the show circuit is going to take place.
Care to guess where we'll wind up getting married?"

I groaned.  "I don't know what you're talking about, or where it is,
but wherever it is, we'll be there, right?"

"Probably."

I thought it over for a few minutes, then shrugged.  "Val, if it
happens, it happens.  I can't see any point in worrying about it,
except that we'll just have to make sure we and the dogs are on our
best innocent behavior when the media gets hold of us.  Might be more
intense than usual for a society wedding, but that was guaranteed
anyway, considering the parents involved.  Mine have been waiting a
long time for this, so I know they're going to go all out, too. 'Last
one and they'll be able to relax after it's over, so let's go crazy to
celebrate' type stuff."

She winced.  "Max and I usually have that week to ourselves once the
horses are delivered."

I lost it and started laughing at her look of frustration.  She turned
on me with a hurt look and I waved her off.  "Relax.  We'll have had
at least six uninterrupted months no matter where the wedding takes
place, and we'll have this nice, well soundproofed trailer with us.  I
know things will be hectic while we're wherever, but nobody's going to
be surprised when we insist on 'Gee, thanks, this is all really
wonderful and nice of you but we'd sorta like to get out of here and
be by ourselves...'  You do know how to blush when you want to, don't
you?"

She'd been staring at me, then she blushed, tried to force it down,
and failed.  After she realized it was a lost cause, she decided to
give up and giggle instead.  "You gonna paw me a little when you say
that?  You know, sorta impatient, and really, really trying to be
proper about it but the hormones are kinda taking over and you forget
once in awhile?"

I laughed, looked around carefully, decided it was safe enough, then
spoke barely above a whisper anyway.  "I'll keep an eye on Max and let
him teach me how to paw you properly.  Ok?"

Her eyes went wide, then her hands came up and she buried her face in
them before she let her giggles become laughter that brought tears to
her eyes and doubled her over.

She was still trying to choke off her laughter when a rig parked on
the other side of ours and shut down.  I hadn't been paying much
attention, so I jerked my head up with surprise when Missy woofed
happily and Max went off along with her.

I wasn't too surprised when I saw a woman I recognized even though we
hadn't seen each other for over a year.  "Hey, Caitlin.  Where's
Roger?"

She gestured at the rig.  "From the wheel to the sleeper.  Been one of
those trips."  She kept her distance and pointed at Max.  "He safe?
And what's going on?  Why's she got her head buried like that?  You up
to your usual tricks and embarrassing people again?"

I shrugged and gestured at Val.  "He's her dog.  Valerie?  Meet
Caitlin.  She and her husband haul sensitive electronics, most of the
time."

Valerie brought her head up and wiped some of the tears off her face
before she smiled.  "Max is fine with people. Don't let him near your
face though, unless you want your makeup removed."

Caitlin raised her eyebrows at that, then stepped within reach of
Missy and knelt to pet her while keeping a wary eye on Max when he
came over for some attention.  "Hi, Missy.  Good to see you, too." She
rubbed Max's head a little, then smiled at Valerie.  "Thanks for the
warning.  I'd prefer to remove my makeup myself, thanks."

She looked at me questioningly.  "Didn't expect to see you on the road
this time of year.  Anything going on I might be interested in?"

I shook my head mock wearily.  "Never give up, do you?"

She smiled.  "Not if it means we don't have to deadhead home when
we're done.  Things have been a little tight this year."

I shrugged at that.  "Yeah.  I can believe it.  We've been getting a
lot more requests for work, from the independents, than usual.  A lot
of them have parked their rigs for now and a few have sold theirs to
be able to pay the other bills.  We're getting requests for drivers,
but there's been a lot more load consolidation than usual, so we
haven't had enough work for everyone on the waiting list.  Can't say I
know of anything, but check in anyway and let my dad know when you'll
be available.  Something might come up."

She nodded, then grinned at me.  "Thanks.  Now answer my question.  I
don't think I've ever seen you on the road with anyone other than
Margo, then Missy.  Must be a story in there that I can share with
Roger."

I turned to watch Valerie's face.  "I told you we're a big family that
keeps track of each other."

She nodded  "I can see that."

I turned back to Caitlin.  "Dad was playing matchmaker again, and I'm
stuck with her for three months if I want to own the rig, finally.
We've been talking things over while we were on the road, and decided
that since I couldn't get rid of her before we hit Barstow, she might
as well call her parents and let them set the date.  We don't know
where it will be, but if you want to be at the wedding in about six
months, call dad and tell him to put you on the short list."

Caitlin's eyes went wide and her jaw dropped.  "Married?  You?
Finally?  Oh my!  That really is a good story!  Mind if we share it?"

I shrugged again.  "Ask Val.  I'm just the groom."

Caitlin laughed.  "Wise man!"

Then she focused on Val. "So.  You really want to be a trucker's wife?
Long hours and lots of hiway covered if you're going to ride with
Ken."

Valerie's eyes got a strange glint to them.  "I might know a little
about that.  I'm a Class B Non Commercial, myself.  Hauled the family
show horses since I was old enough to get the license, until I got
lucky and met Ken.  You can pass on the word he's finally spoken for.
Might make my life simpler if I don't have to fight for him every time
we stop somewhere."

Caitlin actually rocked backwards slightly, then recovered and held
out her hand.  "Used to be a truck stop waitress.  Tripped and spilled
hot coffee all over Roger. When his arms went around me as he caught
me from bashing my brains out on the corner of a table, I decided they
felt so good, I married him.  Hours have been about the same, but the
company is lots better."

They shook hands, then Caitlin stood and stretched after giving a last
pat to Missy.  "Nice seeing you Ken, and meeting you, Valerie.  I'd
better take care of getting some food.  Don't want my man to starve."

We watched her stride off, then Val laughed.  "Are they all like that?
And was all that true?"

"No.  They're not all like that.  I knew Caitlin before she married
Roger, so she tends to use that friendship when we see each other."

Then I grinned and shook my head.  "Technically, It wasn't coffee.  It
was my dinner salad, with a side of extra ranch dressing, that she
spilled.  A *large* side of it.  Covered me, the table I was sitting
at--and the folks in the booth behind me.  Roger happened to be in
front of her, and the flying tray knocked his coffee backwards when he
grabbed for her.  Pretty spectacular, really."

When I turned back to Val she was wide eyed.  "You're kidding!"

I laughed.  "Nope."

Then I sobered.  "Did I hear some possessiveness in there somewhere?"

She giggled.  "Sorta.  Kinda setting an example, too.  You're going to
have to figure out how to deal with the guys who will want to flirt
with me, if we ever stop at the right places.  Got my own road friends
who are going to be shocked, you know."

My jaw dropped, then I recovered.  "I should have seen that coming,
and I didn't."

I chortled.  "You know something, Val?  I hadn't thought about what's
going to happen when I show up at my usual haunts and you're with me.
Going to be fun, wouldn't you think?"

She decided to giggle, after she'd stared at me with something like
shock in her eyes.  "That's going to work both ways, isn't it?  You're
right,  it *will* be fun."

Then her eyes started laughing before she grinned at me.  "Ken? What's
your handle?"

I blushed.  "You have to understand...  It just kinda happened.  Too
many people use the one I really wanted, and it was back when I was
new to being on the road and folks teased me a lot and..."

"You're waffling.  If I didn't know better I'd think you're
embarrassed."

"I am.  I've tried to change it a few times, but someone always
deliberately tries to embarrass me with it, eventually, so I gave up
and use it all the time, now."

"So tell me."

I sighed.  "I always wanted to use 'Fifth Wheel', ok?"

She nodded slowly.  "Makes sense.  So.  What'd you get stuck with?"

I sighed again.  "Fifth Leg."

Her eyes went wide, then she started giggling, my blush must have
gotten darker and finally she lost it completely and started laughing
so hard she started hiccoughing.

I waited her out, and after she caught her breath she looked at me,
giggled some more, managed to get a little bit of control and reached
to touch my hands.  "It's perfect!"

"Huh?"

"Mine just sorta happened, too."

I was watching her warily.  "Oh?"

She nodded and had to suppress some more giggles before she could
explain.  "Right after I started driving the horses around, this
trucker passed me, blasted his horn, then got on the radio and called
for 'That little filly driving the fifth wheel'.  'Little Filly'
sounded good so I used it back, and it stuck.  By the time we stopped
for the night, damn near every trucker that saw us was using it. So...
Do you see the connection and why our handles are perfect for each
other?"

I tried for a disgusted sneeze and did ok, I guess, because Max lifted
his ears a little, glanced at me, then went back to watching all the
activity going on around us.  Missy didn't even twitch to show she'd
heard me.  "Yeah, I know that 'fifth leg' is slang for a horse's dick
when it's erect.  That's why it always embarrassed me at first."

She grinned.  "I hope I get a chance to tell Caitlin what my handle
is.  I'm looking forward to seeing her reaction."

I stared at her, then finally decided the only reasonable thing to do
was laugh about it, so I did and tried to keep my voice matter of
fact.  "Val?  I really, really like your sense of humor.  Do me a
favor?  Don't ask me which I like more, though.  That or the feel of
your body next to mine."

She stared at me, slowly blushed, then shook her head.  "I see what
Caitlin was talking about, now.  'Old tricks'.  You're a lot more
experienced at this male-female stuff than you let on."

I sighed.  "It's true, sorta.  I've had to learn how to do the teasing
and innuendo, in self defense.  Serious relationship?  Not a clue,
really.  I was being honest about that."

Her head tilted, then she sighed.  "Ok.  I see what you're saying. Fun
is one thing, isn't it?  Serious..."

She hugged herself briefly, then stood suddenly and held out her hand.
"Let's grab the dogs and go inside where we have some privacy."

I let her help me out of my chair after I unhooked Missy's leash from
it.  "Sounds good to me,"

She grabbed Max's leash, then sighed.  "Should we worry about the
tables and chairs or leave them out?"

I finally shrugged.  "Nobody has stolen them yet.  I bought them at a
yard sale, so I've never worried about them.  Might as well leave them
out for now.  I'll hand the food to you after you get in.  Ok?"

"Fine with me.  Are you always that casual about them?"

"Not really, but Baker is a special case of sorts, and to be honest, I
wouldn't mind an excuse to replace them with something that stores in
less space."

She had one foot on the step when she hesitated and looked at me
oddly.  "You need an excuse to replace them?"

"Yeah.  Weird, huh?"

She smiled, then finished stepping inside the trailer and faced me
again after Max worked his way past her.  "A little.  Hand me the
food.  Tell me later?"

I handed her the leftovers and shrugged.   "If one of us remembers,
yeah.  I can do that.  Not much to tell, anyway."
					
She took the food, then smiled sadly.  "Ken?"

"What?"

"You know how most folks talk about 'if only we'd met back then'?"

"Yeah?  So?"

"I'm glad we didn't.  If we had, neither one of us would have known
about the other, and we'd probably just have talked or something, then
gone our own ways.  So let's not talk about 'back then' like that
around others.  ok?"

I sighed.  "Weird.  I wouldn't have seen it that way.  Been wishing
we'd managed to meet and realize what we were, somehow, but that's a
stupid wish, isn't?"

Our eyes met and she sorta shook her head a little.  "Inside, before
we go much further.  It's not a stupid wish.  I've always had it but
it keeps getting harder to believe in every year.  Now I don't have to
dream.  Scares me, too, because reality is...

"Way different."

She moved to put things away and I let Missy get in, then I followed
her, closed the door and locked it.

When I looked around and sighed, Val looked up from rearranging things
in the fridge.  "Something wrong?"

"A little.  Happens every time I stop and park for anything more than
a brief break.  Tired of closing out the world so I can relax, that's
all.  Just another dream, wanting to be able to do whatever I want
with Missy and have people treat it like they would..."

I shrugged and turned to get out the window covers.  "When it happens
between us."

Val finished before I was done, so she closed off the windows on the
upper deck, while I finished the rest of the windows, then checked the
water and food for the dogs.

When I straightened after covering the last window she was behind me
and I felt her arms go around me, then she started unbuttoning my
shirt.  "Hold still.  I want to unwrap my wedding gift, ok?"

I held still and only moved when she asked me to, until I was naked
and she'd wrapped me in a hug from behind again, then put her head
against my back.

She finally pulled away slightly and kissed the back of my neck.
"Mmmm...  You taste salty.  I like it."

"Thanks, I think.  When do I get to undress you?"

She giggled and let go, then went to the bed, with Max following her.
She let herself fall on it, turned over, and then grinned at me after
she pushed Max's head out of her way when he tried to kiss her. "Now."

She giggled when he pushed his nose under her skirt, then she spread
her legs to give him better access, and me a better view, before she
spoke softly.  "If you don't mind competing with Max."

I laughed.  "I don't mind.  I'm going to enjoy sharing you with
him--if he'll allow it."

I'd been moving towards them, so I still had a good view of her legs
and thighs when they turned a bright pink.  When I started taking her
shoes off I looked at her half closed eyes and grinned.  "I never knew
a woman's legs and thighs could blush."

Her eyes went wide, her thighs got redder, then she giggled.  "I
didn't know that, either."

I laughed some more, then settled to watch Max and try and figure out
a way to get Val's panties off.  "I think you'd better help me with
your panties, until Max gets used to me being so close."

"Mmm..."

I chortled.  "I guess that's a yes  Ok. When you bridge, I'll grab one
side with you, and reach under to grab the other side.  Then we'll see
what happens..."

She reached and got her hands in place.  "Ready?"

I sighed after I got next to her and put my first hand in place.
"Yeah.  Guess so."

She bridged and Max kept his nose in her crotch.  I reached under,
grabbed, and together we started working her panties off while I spoke
to Max.  "Here, guy, let's get these out of our way."

He fought briefly when they started pulling his nose away, then he
shifted so they slid past and he stuck his nose back and kept licking
enthusiastically.

Val dropped when they were far enough that I could work them off the
rest of the way.  After that I tossed them out of the way and sighed
with relief.  "I see what you mean when you say 'focused'.  He ignored
me."

Still, in the interest of avoiding problems, I shifted until I was
settled next to her before I unfastened her skirt and slid it out from
under her.  It joined her panties and I took a break to reach under
her blouse and explore her stomach with my hands while I leaned down
to kiss her.

She mmmed, then put her arms around me and pulled me down more before
she pulled away enough to murmur "Lie with me, Ken.  I want to cuddle
until I'm ready for Max.  Is that ok?"

"Mmm...  Fine with me."  I moved my hand until I was working it under
her bra and my fingers were pressing and sliding over her.  "This ok?"

"Mmm!"

I laughed and repositioned myself, then wrapped a leg over hers so I
could press my penis against her hip.

Then I went back to kissing her while my hand slowly petted her
wherever I could reach while I deliberately avoided getting too close
to her pubic area, and Max's nose.

At some point, I realized Missy was on the bed and trying to nuzzle my
face for attention.  It seemed the most natural thing in the world
when I turned my head so Missy could lick my lips and face.

Val reached and touched her gently, and Missy spared her a few licks,
then went back to paying attention to me.
  
I smiled.  "Guess she got tired of being left out."

Val giggled.   "I don't think she's bi, either."

Before I could think of anything to say I felt some toenails slide
over my leg.  I looked down to see what had happened.  Max had
straddled us, and was still licking Val, but now he was hunching
slightly.

Val noticed where I was looking, looked, then turned back to me and
smiled.  "I think he wants more."  Then, tentatively.  "You be ok if I
fuck him first?"

I put my top arm over her and applied some pressure in a one armed
hug.  "Didn't bother me last night.  Not going to bother me now."

"Thanks."  She pulled me back for brief kiss, then pushed slightly.
"Ok, Mr. Octopus.  Unwrap so I can change positions for Max."

I blushed and rolled to my back.

She twisted in place until she was on her stomach, then with what had
to be an often used motion, raised herself until she was lifting Max
on her back.

He wrapped his front legs around her as he came off the bed, then
pulled himself forward the rest of the way and hunched a few times
with short strokes, until he lined up, then his hindquarters flexed
powerfully and with a single thrust he must have buried himself in Val
and knotted, because she gasped and moaned--loudly.

The whole thing took seconds and I was amazed.  None of the movies I'd
seen had a sex scene anything like it.

I don't know what expression I was wearing, but Val must have enjoyed
it because she smiled.  "Well?  He'll be tied for awhile and stay
where he is unless I shift to let him know I want him to pull out, or
he softens enough he can't stay connected."

I didn't say anything at first, then I whispered:  "Max?"

He turned his head to look at me, and panted softly.  

I reached slowly, and when he didn't do anything, I touched between
his ears lightly and then ran my hand slowly along his body.  "Max,
guy, you're incredible."

He just kept panting.

I smiled, then flinched when a paw hit me demandingly.  When I looked,
Missy was standing next to me and looking down her nose.  When she
knew she had my attention she sneezed and settled with her chin across
my chest, pinning me in place.

Valerie giggled quietly.  "I think you'd better forget about us, for
now."

I laughed and started petting Missy with the hand that wasn't pinned
between our bodies.  "Yep."

Eventually I freed my pinned arm from between us, then started petting
Missy with both hands and slowly working my way to her hindquarters,
with my fingers nibbling at her fur.  "Ok, girl.  I still love you."

She showed no signs of wanting to roll to her back so I worked my
hands under her and slowly worked her onto my chest with her hind legs
spread so her vulva was in contact with my penis.

Once I had her positioned I worked a finger into her a little, then
removed it and let her lick it.  When she had it wet I carefully found
her vulva again and moistened it a little before I brought my finger
back and applied some of my own saliva to it.

I alternated between our mouths several times, until I could easily
work three fingers into her, then I let her lick my fingers until they
were glistening with her saliva.  After that I applied copious amounts
of my own saliva to my hand and reached down to grab my penis and coat
it.

Then, at last, I wrapped my other arm around her to steady her while I
lined us up.  Once I was partly inserted I brought my knees up.
Braced...

And slid her backwards while I lifted my hips to sheath myself in her
warmth.

When I was in as far as I could go I paused and we kissed each other.

I was lost to the outside world and had completely forgotten about Val
and Max, until Val's whispered comment reminded me we had company.  "I
never dreamed that a man and bitch could love each other as deeply as
you two love each other.  I've seen some movies, but only a few of
them even hinted that it could be so...  Tender and caring."

I smiled and kept hugging Missy.  "We're even, then.  I've never seen
a movie where the woman and her dog worked together so smoothly and
gently.  I've seen some fast ties, but none that were so...
Confidently done."

"Thanks.  You and Missy looked pretty confident, too.  Turn your head
this way, please?"

I turned so I could see her and when I stopped, her lips touched mine
in a tender and lingering kiss before she pulled away and smiled.  "I
didn't think it would be this quick, or in such a crazy situation,
Ken.  But...

She hesitated and took a deep breath.  "I love you.  I'm sure of it,
now.  I think I really fell in love with you when I was searching
those vids for proof you are a zoo.  I just didn't want to admit it to
myself, if that makes sense."

To give myself time to think I kissed Missy again and started fucking
her slowly, not reaching for my orgasm, but just gently making love to
her.

When I finally slowed to a stop, a barrier had gone down somewhere in
my mind, and all my hesitation and uncertainty had vanished, to be
replaced by something I'd never felt before, but wanted to keep
feeling for the rest of my life.

It was crazy and I didn't understand it, and I wasn't sure I wanted to
yet, so I faced Val again and smiled.  "You're right.  It's all pretty
crazy.  I love Missy, deeply.  Always have.  But what I'm feeling
right now, with the four of us like this..."

I took a deep breath and let it out.  "Love is such a simple word, and
it doesn't say what I feel, but I don't know any other word I can use.
I don't have any doubts, either."

I carefully removed one of my hands from Missy and used it to lightly
run my fingers through Valerie's hair.  I stopped moving when I was
touching her cheek.

Then I whispered the words I needed to hear, the ones that made all
the years of hiding who I really was, worthwhile.

"I love you, Valerie."

She closed her eyes, brought a hand up and covered mine, then mmmed
again.  We stayed like that briefly, then she opened her eyes again.
"Fuck Missy."

I knew my eyes widened in surprise.  "Now?"

"Of course now, silly.  Make love to her like Max and I weren't here.
I want to be tied with Max while I see what you and I will be doing
together, someday."

I hesitated and she noticed.  "Something wrong?"

"You won't be jealous or anything?"

She nodded slightly.  "A little, probably.  Envious, too.  But you
know what I'll be feeling mostly?"

"What?"

"Smug!"

"Huh?  Smug?"

"Sure, Goof.  Think about it.  All those other women had their
chances, but I won.  I'll be getting all the love you've had saved up,
waiting for the right person.  All those years of experience that
you've kept hidden from the world, and now, what Missy and Max don't
get, I will.  Of course I'm feeling smug, because not only that..."

She swallowed nervously, and then whispered.  "It's gonna be the same
for me.  You'll be getting everything I have saved up, too, and that's
gonna make things so intense...  And it scares me a lot because what
I'm feeling now is way more than I ever dreamed it could be and...  Ya
know?"

Suddenly she grinned impishly.  "Or at least I'm scared when the rest
of me isn't horny and wanting you and Max fucking me at the same time,
or doing something equally fun."

I jerked my head up so I could stare at where Max was connected to
Valerie.  Then I swallowed and decided I wasn't ready to explore that
yet, so I refocused on Missy, without saying anything more.

This time, instead of holding Missy on my chest, I lifted her until
she was in a siting position, and then held her steady so most of her
weight was pressing our pubes together.  Then I started fucking her,
and built to a rhythm that kept us coupled, yet used her weight to
drive us together when I hit the bed.

I don't know how long it took until I drove upwards and froze,
emptying myself deep inside her.  I held us like that a few seconds,
then let myself fall back to the bed before I gently lowered her into
a cuddle and a lingering kiss.

"Love, you, Missy.  Always."

She licked my mouth and face, then sort of sighed and shifted so she
could get up.

When I realized what she wanted I held her front legs and slid her
sideways until she could plant her front feel before she raised her
haunches and carefully went sideways until her inside hind leg cleared
my body enough she could plant it and step away.

She curled, gave herself a cursory check and a few swipes with her
tongue, then she settled on her stomach and began cleaning me.

I watched her a few seconds and then turned my head to smile at Val.

She reached and stroked my face while we shared our afterglows without
saying anything.

Missy finished first, and decided to go get a drink of water, then she
came back and settled by my side for some more attention, and her nap.

By then Max had pulled free of Val, checked her out briefly, and then
moved to settle on the bed and clean himself before he rolled to his
side for his own nap.

At that point I turned back to Val and smiled.  "May I finish what Max
started, and clean you up some more?"

She giggled.  "Oh, my.  So formal, aren't we?"

I laughed.  "Would it be better if I'd said 'Get on your back, Bitch,
so I can suck Max's cum out of your dripping cunt'?"

"Umm..."

She rolled to her back and spread her legs.  "I don't care what you
call it, just do it!"

"Sure!"

In spite of my enthusiasm, I moved carefully, so Missy wouldn't have
to get out of my way.  Once I was between Val's legs I blew gently and
then started licking her carefully.

She mmmed a few times, so I started getting more serious about things
and experimented with tongue fucking her and doing all the other
things I used to tease and pleasure Missy.

Some worked, some didn't, and eventually I settled for covering her
with my mouth and using my tongue to probe while I tried to keep up
with the amount of liquid that was flowing from her.

Eventually Val grabbed my head with her hands and shoved, hard, while
her hips curled up and her legs tried to close.

I rode her orgasm out, then, after she let go and collapsed limply, I
raised my head and grinned at her.  "Wow!  I wasn't really expecting
to get you off, but I'm glad I did."

She giggled tiredly.  "Sorry.  I forgot you weren't Max.  Sometimes,
when it's really, really, intense, he lets me work the tip of his nose
as deep as it will go, then he sticks his tongue even deeper..."

I laughed.  "No wonder I couldn't pull away, with you wanting me to go
deeper."

I ran my hands over her inner thighs.  "Would you be ok with fucking,
now?  I'm ready to go again and I've always sorta wondered what it
would be like..."

"Let me be on top?"

"Sure.  You going to try for another orgasm?"

"Uh huh.  I've never had multiples with Max.  Only when I masturbate."

Then she had another one of those weird thoughts I was getting used to
hearing from her.  "Hey...  That's right.  He's gonna be insatiable
when Missy's in heat.  And I just remembered, sometimes I've pulled a
train when nobody was around to catch us.  So maybe this is what's
going to work out best, we fuck them first, then we have time for
ourselves before we all share the afterglow."

I sighed and glanced at Missy, then slid up until I was between her
and Val.  "I guess you're right.  I hadn't really thought about it
that much because I'd given up on ever meeting a woman who was ok with
how things are between Missy and I.  She's been pretty clear about her
needs coming first, hasn't she?"

Val ran a hand over me.  "No worse than Max.  I'm ok with it if you
are.  Maybe we have to think like we're two couples already married,
and we're figuring out how to become swingers..."

I laughed.  "Yeah.  That does describe it, doesn't it?  I'm ok with
it.  Glad you're not going to get upset when Missy demands her share
when we have other plans..."

Val giggled.  "I was a little frustrated, but it helps to know that
it's going to happen to you, too, when Max gets pushy.  They come
first, huh?"

I slowly petted Missy while I thought about it.  "Yeah.  And we've
only known each other for less than a day, so there's no reason to get
in a hurry, is there?"

She giggled.  "I want it all, but you're right.  We're going to have
the rest of our lives together, so we can afford to be patient."

Then she raised herself to watch me pet Missy. before she reached
across to stroke her a little.  "Hey, girl.  I'm going to use him for
awhile, then you can have him back.  Ok?"

I laughed when Missy just stretched and rolled to her back before she
wagged her tail slowly.  "She's an attention slut.  She'll probably
let you do anything you want, as long as one of us keeps petting her
until she's ready to quit sucking it up."

Val and I looked at each other and then she leaned down to kiss me
lightly.  "I'll keep that in mind.  Now, you shift a little so I can
straddle you without making her move, and then we'll see what
happens..."

After I shifted she moved until she could study my crotch.  Eventually
she looked along my body and grinned at me.  "Turn about."

Then she ducked her head and started sniffing and tasting me until she
had swallowed my full length a few times and I'd arched my hips in an
attempt to fuck her mouth.

She rode with me for a few strokes, then used her hand to fondle
underneath my balls before she came off and licked her lips
seductively.  "That was fun!  You don't taste a bit like Max does
after he's fucked a bitch."

I blushed and she laughed.  "As much as I want to give you a blow
job,"  She stroked me slowly a few times while she kept grinning.  "I
have another use for this."

Then she let go and moved to straddle me.  "You just lie there while I
do all the work.  If Missy will let you, feel free to explore."

I shook my head and decided that if she wanted 'casually horny', I'd
give her some back.  "Maybe I should see if Missy will let me eat her
out while we're fucking."

Val's eyes got real wide, then she started to blush but managed to
force it back.  "Eat her while you're fucking me?  That would be..."

She looked over at Max.  "He's out of it, isn't he?  Maybe someday we
can do all four of us..."  She turned back to me with a huge smile.
"Do it, if she'll let you.  That sounds...  Hot!"

It was my turn to blush, again, then I held still while she impaled
herself with my penis.  Once she'd done that I twisted my head to
watch Missy while I slowly shifted her until her cunt was accessible.

After that I lost myself in the sensations of avidly giving Missy
cunnilingus while Val used my penis to fuck herself.

I even helped after I got used to it, because eating Missy only made
me imagine it was her I was fucking and not having to masturbate
myself made it easier and real different...

And then I jerked my hips upwards and drove myself deep into Val when
a nose and tongue hit my balls.

Then Val moaned real loud and shuddered as she ground her hips on mine
as she orgasmed.

She did that for what seemed like forever, then she fell forward on my
chest.  I could feel her shiver every once in awhile and she'd gasp
and moan some more.  I didn't have to ask her what was going on
because I could feel her move when Max must have jammed his nose into
her to lick her more.

He didn't really care which of us he hit, either, because his tongue
or nose would sometimes hit me and make me flinch from the jolt of
pleasure.

It didn't take much longer before I arched and jammed my dick into Val
as far as it would go.

Then I orgasmed.  It was all I could do to remember not to bite down
on Missy, but I managed to maintain enough control to just stop what I
was doing and moan into her while I kept my mouth over her.

When I came back from wherever it was my orgasm had taken me, Val was
still shuddering and moaning weakly while Max kept licking and nosing
both of us.

Neither one of us had the strength to make him stop, and at least he
couldn't get to all of my penis, so I was able to tolerate his
attention until he decided he'd had enough and left us alone.

Val went limp on top of me and when I shifted to move my arm so I
could hug her, she moaned and seemed to wake up.  "Don't move."

I let my arm fall back  "Better?"

"Mmmm..."

We lay like that for awhile, then she finally opened her eyes and
found my lips with her mouth so she could kiss me lightly before she
turned her head and rested her cheek against my face.  "A woman could
get spoiled if she always had multiple orgasms like those.  I think I
passed out, and I've never done that before.  I know I didn't have any
energy left over to make Max stop what he was doing.  I've always made
him stop when I've had enough."

I laughed weakly.  "I was busy sucking on Missy and close to my own
orgasm when he hit my balls with his tongue.    Never felt anything
like it, even when Missy has licked me to orgasm.  I was too far gone
to care who was doing it, but if he ever wants to do it again, I'm not
going to object."

She giggled weakly.  "Umm.  I might complain.  I usually like to
remember mine, and all I know about this time is that I'm ready to go
to sleep right here while we share the afterglow."

I hugged her.  "You're heavier than Missy, but I should be able to go
to sleep and keep you there."

"Mmm!"

So that's what happened.  I used one arm to steady Val, and the other
one wound up angled so I could lightly pet Missy until I fell asleep.

* * *

I woke up to find Val straddling me again and exploring my chest with
her hands.  "Uhh...  Hi."

She smiled.  "Good evening.  The rest of us have eaten and gone to the
bathroom, so I thought you might enjoy dinner in bed, since we wore
you out.  'Reward for services well done', or something like that..."

She giggled.  "I got to meet Roger.  He's worse than Caitlin, isn't
he?"

I was still mostly out of it, so she got my most brilliant response.
"Huh?"

She laughed.  "Prop yourself against the headboard so you can eat."

"Yeah.  Ok."

I repositioned and then she started hand feeding me.  "I took the dogs
for a walk.  Caitlin and Roger spotted us and came over to visit.
Roger noticed how I was moving gingerly and he started teasing me
about how a horny bitch like me shouldn't be allowed around decent
folks.  I might give them ideas."

I laughed weakly after I managed to swallow.  "He can be like that
sometimes."

She nodded.  "Caitlin was worse though, I think."

"Oh?"

"Yes.  She told him that if she'd known you were that good between the
sheets she'd have dumped him a long time ago, or maybe they should ask
you for lessons."

She frowned.  "I'm not sure, but she sounded pretty serious."

I choked.  "Ah!  With her you never know.  Or, at least I've never
been able to tell when she's doing some serious teasing, or being dead
serious.  Unless something has changed since the last time we met, she
was pretty adamant about only having sex with Roger.  And no, we never
did anything together, although she did ask me a few times back when I
still had Margo.  I was still pretty shy from all the matchmaking, and
was afraid of getting seriously involved, so we agreed to stay close
friends.  Then she met Roger and she quit chasing me."

Val nodded slowly and fed me another bite of food.  "I guess she was
teasing me.  Anyway, they wanted to let you know they're happy for
both of us, and hope their schedule lets them attend the wedding. Then
they apologised for not being able to stay until you woke up, and
pulled out."

I paused in my eating to smile and nod thoughtfully.  "I'd like to
have them there.  There are a few other people I'd like to make sure
are there, too.  You?"

She sighed and looked away.  "Lots of casual friends from being on the
road, but none I can think of right now."

She faced me and shrugged a little.  "I had some close friends in
school, but I haven't seen any of them in years.  With mom playing
match maker all the time, I lost interest in forming close
friendships.   Besides, I had the dogs for my friends, you know?"

I sighed and reached to stroke her face lightly.  "I do know, in a
way."

Then I had a wild thought and I blurted it out.  "I bet Caitlin would
be a bridesmaid if you asked her."

She stared at me in shock, and then giggled.  "No way!  She'd drive my
mother crazy, if they could even stand to talk to each other.  I want
a big and *peaceful* wedding, ok?"

I laughed.  "Ok.  Just remember, if you change your mind, we can
afford to fly her and anyone else in at the last minute, if we have
to."

She stared at me.  "You're serious!"

"Yes.  It's *our* wedding, and since we're only going to do this once,
let's do whatever we have to, ok?  Sure, our parents will be paying
for the wedding itself, but if there's something special we want done,
let's do it, and the hell with them and their plans.  They can adapt
to us."

I smiled and touched her side.  "Valerie, Love.  I still don't know
who I really am, or who I want to be, but I do know this.  I haven't
had anything except vague dreams of getting married to a woman I love,
someday.  You're supposed to have all the plans and dreams about the
wedding.  All I'm telling you is that if you want to indulge those
dreams, do it.  If our parents argue, we can afford to pay for it all
ourselves."

I took a deep breath and watched her face.  "It's all up to you, Love.
Whatever you decide, I'll go along with it."

Her eyes got a strange look to them and she narrowed them to stare at
me...  

Hungrily?

"Anything?"

"Yeah, Val.  Anything.  We already know how much we mean to each
other, right?  So the wedding is just a formality?"

"Umm..."

She leaned back and grinned.  "How controllable is Missy in a crowd?"

I stared at her with surprise at the change in subject.  "She's a
trained herding bitch.  I've never seen her get confused or rattled."

She nodded.  "And Max has grown up with show horses.  People don't
bother him, either."

She smiled.  "Mom's gonna want to kill me, but there's one small
change I've always wanted to make in the ceremony, if I ever got
married to the right man."

"Oh?"

"Yes.  I want Missy and Max there, at our sides, as 'ring bearers'."

I was cautious.  "What else?"

She giggled a little, then sobered and I detected some pleading in her
eyes.  "Instead of exchanging rings, we take off their collars and put
them on each other.  I get the one Missy is wearing now, and you get
the one Max is wearing now.   It will be our way of saying we're as
committed to each other as we have been to taking care of our dogs."

I thought about it.  "If the media is there, like we figure?"

"So?"

"Point.  The only problem I see is that they will have to have other
collars on, or we'll have to have new ones available.  Missy gets
upset when I try to take her collar off and not replace it with
another one, first.  Probably be a good idea to have their tags
already on the new ones, too."

She stared at me.  "You're ok with the idea?"

I smiled.  "Sure.  Why not?   If people want to read in dom and sub
stuff, that's up to them.  I bet most folks will just see it as a bit
of craziness, to liven up an otherwise boring ceremony."

I grinned at her.  "Besides, rich folks do weird things anyway, don't
they?"

She giggled.  "Dad's crazy enough he might wonder why we aren't using
bits and reins."

I goggled at her.  "That's..."  I shook my head.  "Yeah.  You want
collars, so there's not any room to call that any nutsier, is there?"

"Nope!"

I thought about it some more, then grinned.

It was her turn to watch me suspiciously.  "Why are you grinning?"

"What if the dogs are really our ring bearers?  You know.  Hook the
rings to their collars and let them carry them in for us.  Our parents
would be ok with doing that much, right?  We're going to have to do
something for practice, and I really think we'd have problems with
insisting on exchanging the collars as part of the ceremony."

She finally matched my grin.  "Then we do the collars during the real
ceremony.  I *like* it!"

She bent down and kissed me.  "Thanks.  I'll call later and tell them
about the changes.  Maybe  I'll suggest tossing hay instead of rice.
Not as wasteful."

I laughed.  "You expect it to be an outdoor ceremony?  Held in a barn,
maybe?"

She giggled.  "Do you know how to ride a horse?  It might be in a show
ring."

I sighed.  "I know the basics."

She looked at me suspiciously.  "Basics?"

"Uh huh.  Missy's a herding bitch, remember?  Wouldn't be fair to her
if I tried to keep up with her on foot when she's loading a larger
herd, so I have to play at being a cowboy when that happens."

She glared at me.  "I walked into that one, didn't I?"

I tried to look innocent.  "I have to borrow a horse when that
happens.  We don't keep our own."

She fed me some more while she thought about it.  "Do your parents
know?"

"Of course they do.  We talked it over after I graduated, and decided
that I don't have to do it often enough to justify the expense of
owning my own horse, so we checked around and made agreements
locally."

She thought about it some more, realized she'd fed me all the food
she'd brought, and offered the plate to Missy, who decided it was
worth cleaning.

Once Missy was done Val studied me again.  "So you're telling me that
you're a good enough horseman you can get on an unfamiliar horse and
ride herd while loading the trailers?"

I nodded.  "More or less.  I've been doing it over ten years, and most
of the horses I use, and I, are used to each other, now.  They're all
working horses from ranches with lots of ranch hands, so that helps,
too."

She decided to giggle again.  "You ever...  You know, get curious
about a mare?"

I blushed.  "I was flagged and winked at once, but it was in public
and I had to ignore her.  The other guys thought it was funny and they
teased me about it during the rest of the job.  That's the only time
it happened.  Sure, I've wanted to explore a little, but I decided I'm
no fence hopper, and the chances of getting caught have always made it
too risky, so I've never done more than sneak peaks or deliberately
looked when someone has tried to tease me about it."

I grinned.  "Nobody hassles me for long when I tell them 'Mares aren't
my type.  I'm not into that stuff."

She blushed, then laughed.  "That sounds a lot like what I have to do
sometimes.  Some people always wanted to tease me because I wasn't
married yet, and I never traveled with a boyfriend or girlfriend."

She put the plate on the floor next to the bed, petted Missy a little,
then stretched out along the side away from  Missy and snuggled after
I slid back down.

She sighed.  "You think any of those people would let us borrow a
couple of horses when we're in the area?  I said I hate them, and I do
hate ours, but I just realized I'm going to miss being able to go
riding whenever I feel like getting away."

Before I could say anything she laughed.  "That doesn't mean I'm going
to want us to have our own!  I'm NOT going to miss being tied down and
taking care of them!"

I laughed and hugged her.  "If we can't borrow, we can look for local
riding stables.  I've ridden for pleasure, some, so I know what you
mean about the freedom.  At a few of the places, it's likely we'll be
teased a little, but it will be good natured, and I bet some folks
will go out of their way to tell us where the 'best' private places
are.  Horseback picnics are still popular, and my parents were never
the only ones playing matchmakers."

She rolled and kissed me.  "Get laid very often?"

I blushed again.  "A few times a year, but it was always agreed we
were just doing it because we hadn't met the right person to get
serious about, yet.  Most of them are married, now, and when I'm in
the area, I'm supposed to call ahead so we can all get together for
dinner or something.  I'm sure they'll be glad to meet you."

She sighed.  "I've hated being untouchable for sex.  There've been a
lot of guys I would have liked to do something with, but I never
dared, because of mom and dad.  They both 'tolerated' me masturbating
and using my few toys, but if they'd found out I'd let some guy do
more than hug me and maybe cop a few feels, they would have gone crazy
and insisted we get married, no matter how we felt about each other."

She snuggled and explored me a little.  "It was easier to hide what I
was doing with the dogs, because while they sometimes got a little too
nosey, at least they didn't talk to all their friends about what it
was like to fuck me.  Some of them even made good chaperones and kept
guys from going too far, because they tended to get jealous when a man
was paying too much attention to me.  'Guard dogs', and everybody was
ok with it when it happened.  In fact, Mom loved it when she heard
about one or more of the dogs 'protecting' her precious daughter."

I captured her hand.  "I still think that's stupid, wanting you to
stay a virgin.  Speaking of guard dogs, where's Max?"

She raised herself a little.  "Settled at the other end of the trailer
and sleeping, it looks like."

"K."

She resettled and we just lay there in silence for awhile, then she
rolled to her side and snuggled again.  "How come you have to have a
good excuse to replace the table and chairs?"

"It's a weird story, ok?"

"Ok."

"When I first started doing this, I was pretty casual about having
enough money to do whatever I felt like doing.  Then I found out most
people resent it when I try to give them something I was going to
replace even though it wasn't worn out or broken.  They don't want
charity, either, so they usually insisted on paying me for things I
would have happily thrown away.  In fact, some people tore strips out
of me for throwing things away when they could have been used by
someone else, and they quite often knew of someone who needed what I
had tossed."

I sighed.  "It took me a few years, but I got the message, and now,
whenever I want to replace something, I check around with folks to see
if someone needs it.  If nobody in that area does, I wait until I can
find someone who can use it, then we make some sort of deal and I go
buy what I want, or trade for it.

"I bought the table and chairs at a yard sale being held by one of our
herders, and if I got rid of them before they were broken, I'd get in
all kinds of trouble.  Part of the agreement I have with them is to
pass them on if they are still usable, or bring them back and they'll
find someone who can use them, if I can't."

I smiled, even though I didn't think Val could see it.  "And it's like
that with most of the stuff I have now.  If it isn't broken or worn
out, I keep the peace by making sure I pass it on to someone who can
use it, before I replace it.  And I have to be replacing it because I
genuinely need to, not because I think someone can use what I no
longer want."

Val hugged me.  "Can't you donate things?"

"I could, sometimes, but some folks resent that, because they have
little liking for most charities, and prefer to give directly to the
people who need help.  It's been easier to put the word out, and wait
until someone lets me know they have a needy person located."

She was quiet a long time, long enough that I thought she might have
gone to sleep.  "Ken?  Do your parents know about that side of you?"

I sighed.  "I don't know.  The rig and most everything in it is a
business expense of some sort, so they see all the paperwork for it. I
know it looks good when I can get money for something I was replacing
anyway, and I imagine dad is happy when that happens, because it's
evidence that I have some sort of hard headed business sense.  That's
not why I do it that way though, and I have no idea if they've figured
that out."

She sighed and stroked my body lightly for awhile.  "That sucks.  You
really care about people, yet you've never let them see that part of
you, have you?"

"Not really.  I imagine they hear about it when folks call them, but I
guess it gets lumped into 'smart pr that's good for business."

"I hope I can learn to be that way.  I've never had anything of my
own.  Not really.  Oh, I've claimed a few of the dogs, and my
clothing, and some personal stuff like my things in my room at home,
and my computer and laptop.  But that's it.  Even my cell phone is
considered a business expense, and on the business account.  I guess
we should transfer it into my name at some point."

I smiled and hugged her tightly.  "Relax.  There will be plenty of
folks willing to help you adjust."

She laughed.  "Including you, I hope?"

Yeah."  Then I chuckled.  "Going to be a lot of women who will take
you aside and grill you about how you managed to land me, then give
you advice on how to manage me."

She giggled.  "Really?"

"Yep.  I think most of them are going to be relieved they don't have
to worry about matching me up any more."

"Any jealousy?"

"Not a clue."

"Ok.  Hey, Ken?"

"What?"

"We've all been, but if you gotta go, you'd better go now, 'cause I
don't plan on letting you get up later, once I get comfortable."

I laughed.  "Let me up, then I bet you'll have to get up, too, because
Missy will want another walk now that it's cooled off, and it's
something we usually do in the evenings, anyway."

She let go and stretched languidly.  "And if I decide to stay here and
wait?"

I raised myself and grinned at her.  "I suppose I could put Max on a
leash and take him with us."

She snorted.  "Not likely.  Once he realizes you're going outside,
he'll be bugging me.  Now go!  I'll get dressed and we'll be waiting
when you're done."

* * *

While we were strolling and stretching our legs as the dogs enjoyed
the walk, I glanced at my watch and Val noticed.

"Some reason you need to know what time it is?"

I laughed and pulled her into a hug.  "Nope.  Just making sure it's
really only been just over a day since you were forced on me.  Don't
take it wrong, but I feel like we've been together for years.  Feels
really strange, but really good, too."

She kissed me lingeringly.  "Thanks.  I've always wondered what it
would be like to be in love and able to show it in public.  You going
to be able to handle me being wild for awhile?  I'm way too giddy to
want to control myself and be a proper young woman, except when I have
to be."

I chuckled.   "In spite of what's happened so far, I do need to
recharge once in awhile.  I'm not always going to be able to get it up
when you want me to."

She laughed.  "That's not going to be a problem.  We can always
cuddle, right?"

"Yep!"  I remembered Missy and looked down.  "Don't be surprised if
she wants some of the cuddling.  You'll probably have to share me
until she figures out just how much of me she wants to let you have,
and when."

Val giggled.  "It's going to be strange, to be able to do anything I
want with Max, when the mood strikes us."

I laughed.  "Maybe that's what I should get you for a wedding present.
A custom fifth wheel with remote control window shutters."

She giggled.  "Sounds like it's something you've already thought
about, for you and Missy."

"Yeah.  It is.  Been times I've wanted remote control of everything,
so I didn't have to break the mood.  Never been able to figure out a
way to justify the expense."

She sobered.  "We could, couldn't we?  Newlyweds and privacy?"

I nodded.  "Yeah.  But do we want to do that?  And if we do, when
should we order it?  Before or after the wedding?"

I hesitated and sighed.

Val noticed.  "Why the sigh?"

"Reality check.  Obviously, anything we get is going to be used partly
for the business, right?"

She nodded slowly.  "Right.  I don't see how you can avoid it, and you
shouldn't."

"Good point.  We're also going to need a place we can settle
sometimes, I think, or there will be times when the rig will be down
for maintenance, and I can't see living with our parents when that
happens, can you?"

"Umm...  No."

"Ok.  So what if, at some point between now and the wedding, we find
us an RV park somewhere, and then, when we get the new trailer, retire
this one into that park as our 'permanent' home?"

She frowned a little.  "Will we be able to afford it?"

I sighed.  "Nobody told you the size of my inheritance, did they?
Relax.  The monthly interest payments on it will pay for parking this
one, and cover the payments on anything new, with money left over,
even at today's low interest rates."

She sighed and nestled against me.  "Sounds like we could pay cash for
the new one."

"We could, but it wouldn't make sense to do it that way.  Make
payments from the interest, and track how much we use the new one for
business purposes, and we'll save more."

I sighed a little bitterly.  "Sometimes I resent having so much money.
No matter what I do, I just keep getting richer.  It all hit self
perpetuating shortly after I was born, and dad and mom were pragmatic
about the few investments they made over the years, so we never got
hurt when everything collapsed."

She matched my sigh.  "Sounded like you know people who would put you
to work, as long as you could make it to them."

"Yep.  I guess some of them are more family than my own.  At least
with them, I'm certain they want me for who I am, and what I can do,
not what I represent or the money I have."

She hugged me.  "Ken?  That's scary, but I bet it must make you feel
pretty good, sometimes.  Think they'll include me in that welcome?"

"Don't see any reason they won't.  As soon as they see us together,
and realize we're seriously in love, you'll be adopted and included in
any of the family type stuff I usually get invited to when I'm in the
area."

I laughed.  "And if Max follows Missy's lead, he's going to get
spoiled beyond his wildest dreams of being spoiled.  Been times when
Missy's demanded I let her back in the truck or trailer, just so she
can get away from everyone for some peace and quiet!"

Val laughed.  "Max's idea of heaven is being around horses he can run
and play with.  He prefers them to kids, usually, although he doesn't
hesitate to beg food whenever it's available.  I have to short leash
him at the shows, just to keep him from stuffing himself.  He's got
these big brown eyes he likes to use on anyone he meets..."

I chortled.  "Missy uses her ears and a slow tail wag most of the
time.  Sometimes, when she's feeling really pushy, she'll lightly
touch people with one of her front feet, just to remind them she's
there and feeling neglected."

Val suddenly sobered.   "Do you think any of them know or suspect,
about you and Missy?"

"I...  Don't think so.  I used to get teased a lot about that, back
when I had Margo, but Margo was a working dog, and so is Missy, so as
far as I can tell, everyone takes it for granted that we're closer
than usual because of all the time we spend together."

I shook my head slightly.  "If anyone suspects, they've never said
anything, and since word got out years ago that I'm a 'safe' fuck for
women who aren't really serious about settling with me, people tend to
assume I'm more sexually active with women than I really am."

Val turned me slightly so she could watch my face.  "And you've
encouraged them to think that way, haven't you?"

I slumped.  "Yeah.  I've never really enjoyed the lies and
misdirection, but I was never stupid about what could happen if
someone figured out I usually preferred to fuck Margo and Missy,
instead of any of the women I've met."

She hugged me tightly.  "Relax.  It's going to be a lot easier for
both of us, now, because I've got lots of damn good reasons to make
sure nobody ever realizes we love our dogs, too."

I took a deep breath and let it out.  "Thanks, Val."

I looked down when a paw hit my leg.  "I think I'm being told someone
is being neglected again."

Val let go and I knelt and petted Missy.  "Yes, girl.  I know."

She licked my face and then stood and faced towards the trailer.

Val laughed.  "Not very subtle, is she?"

I shook my head.  "I think she's either jealous, or she has other
things than being outside, on her mind."

Val blushed and I grinned at her.  "I bet you and Max haven't been
here as often as we have, so he's still excited and wants to be a
tourist, right?"

She sighed.  "You're right.   We've never had the chance to slow down
and explore like this, and he's definitely enjoying himself.  He'll go
back if I do, though."

I shrugged.  "Well, I'm going back.  That decision's been made for me.
You?"

She smiled.  "I'm only out here because you are, and Max would have
insisted on joining you two, anyway.  Since you're headed back, so are
we."

Then she casually looked around before she turned back and grinned at
me.  "I want some more of that naked cuddling.  Pretty nice stuff, you
know?"

"Uh!  Right."

I moved Missy's leash to my left hand and held my arm out invitingly.
"Care to get an early start, at my side?"

She laughed and nestled against me.  "Sure!"

I laughed and looked at Missy.  "Ok.  Let's go back to bed for the
night."

She sneezed at me, then stepped out confidently when we did.  We
caught Max by surprise, but he quickly settled in, to pace next to Val
while he kept scanning the area for anything of interest.

* * *

After we got in the trailer, the dogs quickly settled for the night,
then Val and I stripped each other and settled on the bed to cuddle
and visit while we waited for the nervous energy to leave us so we
could go to sleep.

"Ken?"

"Uh huh?"

She turned my head so she could kiss me, then she pulled back to watch
my face.  "Kinda quick, huh?"

I smiled wryly.  "Yeah.  Not a bit like any of my fantasies."

She giggled, then nestled against me.  "Huh!  Understatement!"

Then she sobered.  "Think we'll last?"

I sighed and pulled her a little closer.  "Honestly?  Hell if I know,
Val.  Being apart from you and Max is something I'm trying not to
think about, but I can't stop myself, you know?"

"Uh huh.  Can't leave it alone?  I can't, either.  Scares me."

"Two of us, Love.  Best I can say, I guess, is that I know I'm going
to make a lot of mistakes I wouldn't do if I was normal.  You going to
be able to deal with them?"

She giggled.  "Like I'm not going to make my own mistakes?  Maybe it
will help us.  You know...  Kinda like the normal mistakes won't be
mistakes, because we aren't normal, anyway, so they'll really be the
right things to do, even though everyone else will see them as
mistakes."

I chuckled.  "Maybe.  No.  I don't know.  All I know is that I want to
know when I do something you think is wrong for us.  Any of us, not
just you and I.  Make sense?"

She shivered.  "You mean like if I think you're doing something to
hurt Missy, when you think you aren't?"

"Yeah.  Exactly."

"Will you do that for me and Max?"

"Want me to?"

"Yes, of course.  I've read a lot, and been doing it with dogs for
years, but sometimes I'm still not sure..."

I hugged her, then shivered.  "Know what you mean.  Would she and I
love each other just as much, if we weren't fucking?  What about you
and I?  Could we give up the sex if the dogs made it clear they wanted
us to, someday?  Could we do that and wait...  Until they changed
their minds or died?"

I sighed.  "Do you think we love each other enough to survive
something like that, if it happens?"

Then I whispered my greatest fear.  "What if *I* decide that I'd
rather fuck you instead of Missy, and stop fucking her even though she
wants me to?  Am I *really* a zoo, or have Margo and MIssy been
substitutes all along?"

Val shifted so she could look down and study me a long time before she
bent her head and kissed me.  "Morbid thoughts, Love.  What triggered
them?"

"Not sure.  No.  I *am* sure.  I'm scared, because I don't want to do
anything to make us, any of us, leave each other.  This feels too
perfect, and suddenly I feel like I don't deserve to feel this good
about myself, and life."

Instead of answering right away she straddled me and settled on me
without trying to do anything else.

Then she bent down while she cradled my head in her hands and kissed
me solidly, without any sexual overtones, just love, before she pulled
away slightly.

"Kenneth?  Maybe it's something only a woman can feel at first, but
we're too much alike in this.  We've earned every bit of happiness we
can get from life, together.  We paid for it in advance, every day
we've loved our dogs and wondered if we'd ever meet someone we could
be honest with."

Then she smiled real tenderly, but with a questioning tilt to her head
that reminded me of Missy.   "Trust me?"

I closed my eyes and shuddered, then reached blindly to pull her
against me.  "Yeah.  Sounds weird, but that's gonna be real easy to
do.  Thanks, Val."

"Good.  Because I already trust you, ya know?"

I couldn't stop my smile.  "Guess I do know that."

Then I had a strange thought and opened my eyes so I could watch her
reaction to my next words.

"Shoulda been obvious all along, since we're a dog and bitch instead
of a man and woman, huh?"

She blushed, then giggled and relaxed on top of me.  "Wanna see if we
can get a Ripley's entry about us, or maybe sell the story to a
scandal sheet?"

"Uh...  No.  That's ok."

We smiled at each other, then she snuggled while I wrapped my arms
around her to hold her in place as the tension finally left us both
and we fell asleep.
---

End: 'Trust Me'

-- 
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