Chapter 6

It was more anger than guilt that had churned continuously inside Jeff since his infidelity with Aunt Claudia, not that he hadn't felt a good measure of remorse at his spineless betrayal of his beloved sweetheart, but the fact that the red-headed woman treated him like less than a serf ever since, made his blood hot.

Worse still: in his transgressive wretchedness, he had unwittingly punished Toni in the chastisement of himself saying little to her since that romp in the hills one day ago. He'd acted sullen, and above all, had acted as if making love to dear Toni was the last thing on his mind. Damn, he wasn't worthy of her devotion and innocent love, and until he could get his head straight... muster up the courage to confess the whole lurid story to her, he wasn't going to degrade her further with sex.

What surprised him most last night, through, was her apparent acceptance of his evasive reactions in bed to her inviting little caresses, lying there and asking no question almost as if she understood the anguish gnawing at him... as if she had sorrows to match his. And he wasn't sure he approved of that, either

He stood in the bedroom now drying his water speckled body with a towel. Christ, tonight was the party, a surprise birthday party for one of the kennel's clients, and he's spent I afternoon combing out the German Shepherd hair and shampooing the fully mature animal's coat, making it slick and satiny. Damn, Claudia had even insisted he polish the dog's nails and brush his teeth. Man, you would have thought those fucking dogs were human the way they fussed over them.

"I didn't think I'd ever say this," he addressed his blonde haired sweetheart sitting on the vanity stool, combing out her long tresses. "But I'll almost be happy when the summer is over with. Don't ask me why now... wait till we're back in Mobile.

Toni merely stared at his reflection in the mirror, her wide green eyes filling with compassing, her mind ever-conscious of her own shame, knowing the full extent of his meaning and the burden of unfaithfulness he was carrying, for God knows, wasn't she suffering the same inner agony and perhaps even greater, for at least he wasn't of flesh-and-blood. But maybe tonight at the play something would give them the distraction from their burdens they sorely needed. Once they were out of the clutches of her evil relatives they could penitently and lovingly confess and everything would be all right again... she was confident of that.

Jeff was dressed and ready to leave for the kennel before Toni had her eye make-up on.

"Well, I guess I'd better get down there and comb out that dog again before he messes up his do! Christ, you'd think they were selling slaves or something." Toni's mouth dropped open with astonishment and for a second, she considered telling Jeff about the photographs she'd seen in Uncle Milt's library, but she dismissed it, keeping the lurid secret to herself. Jeff was the jealous type, and God only knows what he'd do if he found out about Uncle Milt raping her.

Jeff shrugged, moving around the bed to the door and Toni bolted to her et and stood in front of him, raising her lips to be kissed. He did, but reservedly, then stepped back with a shake of his head, most as if he were trying to dear his mind.

"Jesus," he said, blinking his eyes. "I feel kind of weird... kind of light-headed and woozy."

"You okay?" she questioned anxiously.

"No... no, I'm all right. Just too much sun, I guess," he answered, smiling pinchedly. "I'll see you at the party? What role are you going to play? Cocktail waitress?" she laughed.

Alone, Toni pressed her hand to her own forehead, wondering perhaps if she, too, were coming down with something. For the past fifteen minutes, ever since she'd helped herself to the plate of warm brownies on the kitchen table, she'd been feeling a bit giddy and light headed. an most euphoric sense of floating, but she'd stubbornly refused to give in to it. There was too much at stake, for tonight she would actually get to see what her aunt and uncle did at those swinging parties that had caused such a stir in the family tree.

The Baline home was abuzz with caterers, maids, and valets, for tonight was to be the surprise birthday party for one of the dog trainers' most influential clients--Harry Weinstein's wife, Margaret. Her present from her loving husband was none other than the well-trained Poker.

The living room, decorated in crepe paper streamers, was softly lit now with coloured lights and, in the far corner of the large room, next to the hallway entrance, a buffet table adorned with freshly cut flowers and a three-tier birthday cake, sat untouched, waiting for the guests to arrive.

Everything had to be perfect for the occasion, for there was money to be made off those fat old swingers who, once they tasted the delight of animal tongue, would certainly buy a dog of their own. And if they weren't fortunate enough to get a taste of that animal love themselves, there would be plenty of voyeuristic delights to pique the appetite with Diana, Sharon, and especially the honey-haired Toni to demonstrate.

Claudia Baline sat on the vanity stool of her luxurious dressing room, a stiff brush pulling through her thick red hair when she heard Toni's knock at her door. With a pleased grin, she called out for the girl to come on in. The note on the kitchen table had made it explicit that Toni was to check in with the madam of the house before the guests arrived. At least, thought the scheming aunt, she didn't eat too many of those hash brownies, or she wouldn't have made it up the stairs. She knew when she offered her niece some of the warm goodies, that she wouldn't have the resistance to turn them down. The little girl in Toni was still there somewhere, hidden under the sexy veneer of a maturing girl.