“Shit,” I pant, filling her to the brim with my seed.
Pleasure clings to every inch of my body, and I shake while holding Jude close against my sweaty chest until both of our breathing returns to normal. Then, I slowly ease out of her, turn her around and cup her by the cheek.
“Was I too rough?” I ask softly, hoping that I wasn’t. For a brief moment, I lost control, and I never want Jude to think I would hurt her intentionally.
“No,” she shakes her head, sending blonde locks of hair across her face, “it was good, perfect.” She smiles, her eyes glittering. “We should probably take a shower now.”
“Yeah, we should, I’ve got plans for us today.” I press a kiss to her forehead and turn the shower on.
An hour later, with a shower and breakfast under our belts, her questions becoming more and more outlandish as she tries to guess where we are going, we step outside and head for the truck.
I live in a quiet neighborhood, one of the reasons I love it here. It’s uneventful and familiar. Normally, I even see the same cars parked out on the road. But today, a white SUV sits half a block down the road, and something about it sets me off. It seems out of place. It makes me uncomfortable, and I don’t know why.
I look at it one more time and don’t see anyone sitting in it, so I shake it off, thinking I must be imagining any concerns I have. Reminding myself that it is a pretty standard vehicle, I let it go. There is no need for concern. I close her into the passenger side of my truck and walk around to get into the driver’s side.
“Hey, you like dogs, right?” I ask as I turn on the truck.
“Sure, who doesn’t like dogs?”
“Well, the SPCA has a program that allows you to go visit dogs and pet them, and sometimes they will even let you take them for a walk.” I glance at her, smiling. “You up for that?”
A beam lights up her face. “Heck yeah, I’m up for that. What kind of dog do we get?” Her energy becomes bouncy, and I’m glad to see I picked the right date. I went back and forth, trying to figure out what I should do. Jude is different than any of the other girls I’ve dated, and I didn’t want to give her a typical dinner and movie date. She deserves more than that, she deserves something special.
“They’ll give us whatever they’ve got. We don’t really get to pick when talking about a shelter, we just get to see what they have and pick from that group. That fair enough?” I hope that’s not a deal-breaker.
“I love it.” She smiles and looks out the window. “Is this what you would consider something ‘normal?’ Do people really do this for dates?”
“Not everyone, but we’re not really normal, you and I, Jude, and I don’t want to take you on the typical date. You deserve more than that. I want you to remember this, I want to see you smile, it’s the only thing that matters to me.”
Her head spins back to me, and I wink at her and grin. She tucks her head and goes back to looking out the window without responding, but in the reflection of the window, I can see her grinning from ear to ear, and that makes my day.
When we arrive at the shelter, we talk to the lady up front, and she takes us back to the animals. After we visit and pet all the available pouches, Jude finally settles on a fairly even-tempered beagle named, Lady Loo.
The dog is already in love with her, and I’m pretty sure it’s mutual. The name alone makes us giggle every time we say it, but it’s her backstory that is the real kicker.
Lady Loo was tied and left in a roadside gas station restroom for a day and a half, abandoned by her owners. She was mangy, had a heart full of worms, was pregnant with at least her third litter of pups, despite being less than two-years-old, and there were scars where someone had beat her multiple times. The extraordinary thing was that despite her horrendous conditions, and her cruel abandonment, she never once, in that day and a half, urinated or pooped inside the restroom where she was chained. She waited, like a lady, until someone came and took her outside. Hence, Lady Loo.
The SPCA had helped Lady Loo recover physically, but because of the scars on her back, no one wanted to adopt her.
Jude gives me one look, and I’m a goner. Lady Loo, it is.
Once we sign our lives away in blood, we head out, and I realize I could have not picked a better day, weather-wise. It’s sunny, and Jude tips her head back, basking in the warmth of the sun. After a moment, Jude, who is holding Lady’s red leash, turns to me, confused but happy.
“Where to?”
“Anywhere we want,” I chime back.
“I know, but where?” She laughs.
I look left and right, and an idea pops into my head.
“There is a park a couple of blocks over. We can start there and see what the day brings?”
“Yes.” Her blue eyes light up, and then we’re off.
Lady Loo immediately starts pulling us forward, eager to get on with whatever adventure we’re about to go on.
“Maybe she knows the way?”
I shrug and grin. “She’s a harlot, no loyalty whatsoever. I bet she goes anywhere with anyone,” I tease.
“No!” Jude’s laughter tinkles and expands around us. “She’s a lady!”
The day is easy and comfortable. We visit the park and let Lady Loo romp around off-leash for a bit, take her down to trail along the river, and then through the town center, where we stop and have some lunch at an outside café table as Lady snoozes at our feet.
It is as if we are a real couple, and Lady Loo is our dog.
Eventually, I get up the nerve to reach out for Jude’s hand, and she smiles at me before ducking her head shyly, which only serves to make my heart swell.
“It’s strange, but today, I felt like we were something other than what we are,” Jude says shyly. She is very self-conscious in public when it comes to letting me express my feelings for her or concerns. She doesn’t want to have to rely on me, and she doesn’t, but she should be able to lean on me when she needs to.
“We haven’t really put a label on what we are yet, and that’s okay, we’ve got time,” I reassure as we walk back toward the shelter.
“Thank you, Lex. For today, for being there even when it seems like I don’t want you there. You’re a good man.” Her words make my heart clench in my chest, and out the corner of my eye, I see a white SUV pass us; its passing ruins the moment completely.
Though the day has been good, there is a shadow lingering. I cannot shake the feeling of something ominous, but, other than Jude’s parents, can’t fathom a reason we might be under watch. I could swear I’ve seen that same white SUV several times today. I think I’m going crazy, but what if I’m right. Is Jude safe? What if I was not with her? Are they following me, or her? Or am I just imagining the whole thing? It has to be nerves or just a need to protect her, that’s what this is. I shake the feeling away for now, and we continue our walk back to the shelter. When we arrive, I can see how sad Jude looks, and I know I have to ask, because if I don’t, I may regret it.
“Do you want to keep the dog? She can stay at my place.”
Jude nibbles on her bottom lip, and I can see that she wants to say yes but shakes her head no instead. I’m a little stunned if she wants the dog, then we can get the dog. I already told her I would give her the world.