Chapter 1

The big German shepherd sat back on his haunches with ears erect and eyes aglow, watching the shapely blonde girl move busily about the kitchen. Her visible, soft white flesh, even that hidden beneath her skimpy bikini, like the tossing of her shoulder-length golden hair, pleased him with its quivering apples to her every graceful motion. Her aromatic feminine scent filled his keen nostrils, stirring his interest more than the smell of the foods she prepared, and occasionally lie would wander close to her, brushing against the silken warmth of her long naked legs.

Shirley Douglas hardly noticed the lovable dog's ingenuous display of affection, except when she nearly stumbled over him and reprimanded her animal house-guest to lie down in the corner. His flattened ears and tail-between-legs reaction as he obeyed also went unseen by the curvaceous, twenty-five year old bride of six months -- her flustered young mind was that preoccupied with unhappiness.

How long could she go on this way? God, she could hardly call it a marriage, nor had it been anything faintly resembling one from their wedding night on... unless security and material wealth could replace conjugal bed relations. Long since, Shirley had distressfully concluded that they could not, though they had been prime reasons in her marrying a man twice her age. Not that Frank Douglas had been any stranger to her. She had served as his private secretary for over two years, but aside from business, their close association had never gone beyond the platonic stage, even when she accompanied him on week-long business trips of the small electronics firm he owned and operated with an efficient hand.

He had always treated her with the utmost respect -- a gentleman of the first order, as her dead mom would have said -- and perhaps that was why Shirley's feeling toward him slipped into the category of extreme admiration without ever touching at love. A widower of five years himself, Frank Douglas had astounded her that evening at dinner when he had very quietly proposed that they marry. He knew she could never love him, that is, not in the same manner she would undoubtedly feel toward a younger, more desirable man, he had calmly admitted, but he vowed security and abundant kindness, plus the very limit of his ardent capabilities, should she want them. Sex was of relative unimportance to him, he'd shyly assured her, promising that he would always leave that department up to her. In short, he very much needed and wanted her, no longer as a secretary, but as his wife!

Remembering it all vividly, the dazzling, blue-eyed young blonde recalled how thrilled and honored she had felt, and how stupid she must have looked in her wordless astonishment as she sat there in dazed silence listening to his quiet and almost humble proposal. Lisa, his daughter, was seventeen, he had gone on, graduating from high school in June. She would either be going off to college or, if she had her way, marrying young Paul Fulton. In any event, shortly she'd be flying from the nest to leave him rattling alone around that big house. Above all, he abhorred the thought of that aloneness, but not anyone could eliminate it. Some might lessen it... but she, as his wife, could make it an impossibility!

Shirley had been too dumbfounded, overawed by his offer to answer him that night, and gently smiling he'd said that he understood and was willing to wait for a few days for her to consider. Of course, what he could not have known, for she had never discussed her personal life with him, was that the only man she had ever loved would be his age had Viet Nam not claimed him!

Shirley had lived the life of an Army brat. Her father had been an army career officer and most of her life was spent on U.S. posts throughout the world. By the time she'd reached eighteen, she had attended so many different schools she couldn't remember them all, hated the military existence with a passion, and especially the young shave-tail Lieutenants a girl had to date if she wanted any social life. Invariably, they had been conceited and arrogant, all with one main objective in mind: To strip a girl's panties away as soon as possible and plunge their lust- hardened penises up between her defenseless legs. She'd been no prude, but neither had she seen the necessity of dropping to the level of a camp follower, and that was when she had met Major George Waldon. He'd been handsome, straight and slender as a bayonet, looking ten years younger than his forty-five, and finally, a genius at making love. Whatever she'd learned or knew sexually, George had taught her... that beautiful man she had immediately fallen hopelessly in love with... taught her carefully and with the ultimate of skill, keening her young passions on the whetted edge of never-ending desire. Their plans together had been lifelong... and then he had suddenly been torn away from her, never to come back!

Was it any great wonder that she should draw a parallel between Frank Douglas, a man of similar age, and the lover who had brought her so much happiness? That same night and with few second thoughts, Shirley had excitedly made her decision. Security and kindness Frank had offered. There'd been no doubt in her mind of their assurance, but more important, she had measured by memory the experienced ability of an older man who knew how to truly love a girl! The following morning in his office she had given him her "yes" answer... and he'd not even tried to kiss her!

It'd been a private quickie wedding in Las Vegas without so much as Lisa's knowing, a weekend in which Shirley had eagerly looked forward to the intimate dynamics of sensual love once more, but... they'd never happened! All else had been heavenly, up to that moment when he'd possessively cradled himself between her hungering thighs after kissing her all over in almost reverent exaltation... and suddenly she'd realized that his huge penis was almost limp! Shocked disbelief could hardly explain the frustrated feelings she had known at that moment. Earlier, it'd been like some remarkable phenomenon the equal of which she'd never seen in its long, sinewy thickness, as hard and erotically menacing as a God's promise... then... nothing!

He'd embarrassedly wept, moving away from her and turning his back. Shirley had tried to console him, forcing her own needful arousal into the background with soothing whispers of understanding. He'd been so long without physical love, she'd breathed into his ear; there was nothing for him to fret over or be ashamed of... in the morning it would be different... but it hadn't been, nor were the dozen attempts that followed, no matter how she tried to inspire him. Once, in near-desperation, she'd begun to move down over his big, age-softening body with oral intentions, but he had caught hold of her and stopped it there, suddenly bolting from the bed and their room to leave her not only in frustration, but shamefully so. He'd despised her sincere aggressiveness as perverted and wanton, she felt certain, and although there were a few more futile tries made on his part, Shirley had forcibly controlled her desire, resigning herself to the fact that their marriage had been a terrible, terrible mistake.

Lately, he had taken to sleeping in another room, or drinking himself into oblivion after dinner, and that generally in his study. How he managed to carry on with his company demands amazed her, he was drinking so heavily, but he did... and now Vincent Rivers, with his dog, Nomad, had arrived on the scene as business house-guests... a business Shirley didn't like the least little bit.

The beautiful animal, she had immediately taken to; who wouldn't? He was a handsome, lovable dog. There was actually an acute sense of over- intelligence about him which gave her an odd sensation, almost as if she were in the presence of a human being when he was with her. But his master... ?

Frank had told her Vince Rivers was coming, nothing more. The moment she'd seen the white Continental swerve into the drive and the too- handsome, sleek-looking, well-dressed young man alight with an athletic flourish of movement, something unpleasant had happened in her sex-starved belly. There hadn't been time to analyze it then and in the three days he had been with them, Lisa's belligerent attitude had kept Shirley so on edge that she could concern herself with nothing else. The vivacious young teenager despised her stepmother -- there was no denying that, anymore than she could question the fact that Frank Douglas' resentful daughter was using every means she could devise to drive her from under their roof.

And Vincent Rivers gave her a distinct feeling of sexual uneasiness, made her blush and squirm beneath the steady gaze of his lewdly undressing dark eyes. She guessed him to be between thirty-two and thirty-six, an unscrupulous bastard with women and as shady as an elm tree. Yet he had Nomad, a magnificently lovable speciman of animal, and their association confused her. The beautiful dog was not in keeping with Rivers' obvious rakish character. Nomad was gentle and love beamed radiantly from his big brown eyes, not exactly the emotion a man like Vince Rivers would inspire, nor be able to instill in such a noble beast. Where or how Frank had met this man, Shirley had no idea, but the basis of his being there had to do with his buying a half-interest in Douglas Electronics, a very disheartening thought!

Perhaps it was that questionable gift called woman's intuition which had made her cringe at Frank's revelation, or maybe it was the fact that she'd been associated with the business herself that long. Anyway, she'd tried to talk to her half-drunken husband, not necessary to discourage the affiliation with Rivers as much as to make Frank realize what he was doing! After all was said and done, Douglas Electronics was his baby!

"I've had it! Had it... you hear, Shirley? Right up to the top of my head I've had it!" Frank had replied, never looking in her direction, never really raising his voice in emphasis as he walked around their... her... bedroom finding the clothes he wanted. "Rivers wants Douglas Electronics. He sits on a fortune left to him by his grandfather. He's young, vigorous, full of hopes and ideas! I like that... because he reminds me of myself... but I'm too old to do the things I want for the company. He shows his money and he's in, Shirley... top man! I... we, if you want to, we'll go to Europe... play in the sun-lands... anything, I don't care! But... I've had it! I want to get away from Los Angeles and the Valley altogether!"

Shirley hadn't pressed. There'd been much more in the tone of his voice than what he'd actually said. She knew he felt uselessly old and incapable, but perhaps more than he, Shirley realized why. At that moment, she could have cried for him, for both of them, because she did love him in her own way... she did! But the company was his, all his to do with however he pleased. Not once in their six month marriage had there been anything but the indulgent husband offering security and the kindness he had proposed to her. Drunk? Yes, most of the time lately, until it had become nearly unbearable between Lisa and herself, and without any way Shirley could conceive of easing that building tension...

The distraught young wife could hear her husband's daughter splashing in the swimming pool as she finished with the canapes. The girl's boy friend, Paul Fulton, had not come by as he'd promised earlier that morning on the telephone. Shirley had overheard part of Lisa's conversation and the teenager's mention of a two o'clock swim date. It was now nearly four and the blonde girl imagined her stepdaughter to be as razor-sharp angry as the jagged edge of a tin can, the way she usually found her.

From the beginning, Lisa had not tried to hide her open contempt for Shirley, invariably addressing her as "Stepmother" whether they were alone or the house was filled with people. Shirley doubted that Frank had even noticed the venom that literally dripped from his daughter's pretty lips, or the bitterness gleaming in her lovely onyx eyes when the seventeen year old came in contact with her. There was no question but what she thought Shirley had married her father only for the money and security he offered, partial reasons the vibrant blonde woman would never deny, but never in the cold calculating light she knew that Lisa saw it all. How could she explain to an embittered girl who hated her the truth of her feelings toward Frank, and this... unexpected torment that was ruining both of their lives? God, she couldn't! No matter how hard she tried, and Lord knows, she'd never stopped trying -- there was just no way of reaching Lisa. Even at that moment, the preparations she was engaged in were for her stepdaughter's graduation pool-party only a few hours off.

Shirley turned away from the counter, wishing that Frank hadn't insisted on making an almost social event of it. She, herself, had wanted to confine the affair just to Lisa's teenage friends, but her husband had felt it was a good time for parents and neighborhood friends to get together for a "blast" as he put it, and there was no reasoning with him these alcoholic days.

Actually, it hadn't been necessary for her to bother with any of the preparations. The hired help who were due any minute would have looked after it all. Frank had endowed her with ample people to keep her from ever using her dainty little hands in the kitchen, but she had done it because she wanted to! God, she had to keep doing something to occupy her mind... either that, or start running as fast and as far as she could away from there... and she wasn't quite ready to throw in the towel yet... but how much longer could she go on this way?

Nomad whimpered from his corner of the kitchen, attracting her attention and Shirley smiled over at him, remembering her unnecessary shortness with him moments before. He was such a sensitive animal. His big brown eyes seemed to be pleading with her for just one kind word, his beautiful ears like regal spires on a crown.

"Oh, come here, baby... Shirley's sorry," the curvaceous, long- haired girl half-whispered, dropping onto her lushly rounded haunches as he quickly trotted toward her and she took his handsome head between small, slender hands. "She didn't mean to scold you, darling, you're such a lovable guy." She leaned close, kissing him between the eyes, the affectionate act actually surprising her... but he was such an adorable animal. Instantly, his long, pink tongue licked out to brush warmly over her lips in answer, a second surprising emotion flickering inside her. "Well... you old lover, you!" she softly exclaimed, smiling as she straightened up, still fondly petting his massive head. "Let's see if we can find something for you in the fridge before Shirley takes a bath."

Nomad trotted along beside her, brushing against her naked thigh as if he couldn't get close enough, she thought, pleased at his warm display of attachment. She found the left-over end of a roast, little more than a tidbit for his gargantuan appetite and she couldn't help but laugh as he gulped it away in several bites of his powerful jaws. Then, he went to his bowl of drinking water while she stood watching, at the same time deciding against the swim she had planned on earlier. For certain, Lisa wouldn't welcome her presence, and she doubted their relationship would stand much more strain without bursting at the seams. Better that she bathe and rest a little to be ready for whatever stress the evening could hold in store.

Nomad whined behind her when she walked off toward her bedroom with a heavy sigh. Shirley heard it and turned to see him staring questioningly after her. Again, she smiled, her mood immediately brightening at the longing expression on the big darling's handsome face. "Well, come on if you want to, baby," she invited him. "I guess we both need each other's company."

He barked, not loud, but as if he were actually answering her. He quickly responded, brushing his strong, furry body against the smooth naked flesh of her leg every step of the way into her bedroom, a welcome feeling of companionship stirring pleasantly inside the forlorn young bride. She couldn't help but think of his master as she closed the door behind them, then again petted his great head.

"How did that sleazy man ever come by you Nomad?" Shirley asked aloud, reaching up behind her back to unfasten her bikini halter. "Somehow, you two just don't go together... unless I have the charming Mr. Vincent Rivers figured all wrong..."

Nomad sat back on the soft plush bedroom carpeting to watch her quickly stripping away her swimsuit, knowing from past experience that she would be soft and white-looking to him, the nakedness of her with nothing hidden causing his mouth to open as he began to quietly pant. He watched her full-rounded curves quiver and sway to her undressing movements, her pretty smile for him warm and real. Then he saw that the long golden hair of her head was of a lighter shade than the fringing curls between her smooth white thighs, and the sight of those long tresses tossing with the ripples of her softly curved body pleased him.