Barking Maddy's Puppy Love

by S M Mala

  ‘Yeah, but that article I read was about swallowing on a full stomach, and I can only guess what it was full of! Do you write things like that? Are you mean about women?’

  ‘I am never mean to anyone. It’s just my opinion.’ Maddy could see his cheeks were starting to go red. ‘How I feel. Sometimes I have been a little rash, but it was never done to hurt anyone.’

  ‘I’d like to write about how I felt.’ Then she remembered the day before and let out a deep breath. ‘Not today though. I don’t feel that good. What were you saying about your column?’

  ‘It doesn’t matter,’ he replied, kissing her cheek. ‘It can wait for another time.’ Stan glanced over at Honey whose eyes sprang open, followed by her mouth. There was a little cry. ‘And there she goes again.’

  ‘So sweet!’ Maddy smiled and pushed Stan away, whose hand was firmly placed on her inner thigh. ‘Fun will have to be kept on hold. I can only have sex in my bed which is lucky as I still haven’t been invited to yours.’

  ‘One day,’ he sighed as she rushed over and picked up the bundle of softness. ‘Auntie Maddy is here. You don’t worry about a thing. You’re safe and warm. Mummy and daddy-.’ There were no words coming out of her mouth. She looked at Stan sitting up in bed. ‘I’m here, little one. Forget about everyone else. Just rely on me.’

  Biting her bottom lip, she knew she was going to cry, but held on while looking at Honey who was now smiling.

  ‘Beautiful child,’ Maddy whispered.

  A sudden wave of sadness hit her, and she knew she was going to be sick but pushed it away.

  Her happiness had been replaced with an intense dark stab of despair, and it was bad. Then she felt his arms wrap around her body while holding her close.

  ‘Are you okay?’ he said, pulling her hair away from her neck and kissing her skin. ‘Maddy, you’re not alone. You’ve got me.’

  And for that, she was frankly very happy.

  ‘I’m sorry.’

  Pearl was sat on the sofa late that afternoon looking shell-shocked. There was no colour to her skin, and it was evident the whole situation had left her deeply traumatised. ‘Maddy, I’m so sorry. I don’t know what I was thinking. I thought… I thought-.’

  Then she cried as Maddy’s heart twisted for her friend’s pain.

  ‘It’s okay,’ she whispered. ‘I’m pleased you came to me.’

  TJ sat next to her, an arm around his wife’s shoulders, looking intensely at the woman.

  He too seemed shell-shocked.

  Honey was sleeping in Maddy’s arms as she stood in front of the pair and didn’t know what to say. Then it suddenly clicked.

  ‘Are you sure you should be home? Isn’t this a little too quick?’ she anxiously asked, glancing at the baby. ‘Did they assess you? Can you-.’

  ‘Maddy, please?’ TJ said gently, glancing up. ‘Ask questions later. We need to get Pearl to bed. They said she could come home and there was no real damage done.’

  ‘Accept to my head,’ Pearl mumbled, smiling weakly. ‘I shouldn’t have put you through it. I’ll never forgive myself. Is my baby okay? Did I hurt her?’

  ‘Of course, you didn’t.’ Maddy pushed TJ out of the way and sat next to Pearl. ‘Here she is.’

  ‘She’s so tiny, and-.’ Pearl wept silently touching the child’s head. ‘I don’t know what I’m thinking from one moment to the next. But I need help. I can’t do this. I’m so good at doing everything but not the one thing that means more to me than anything else.’

  ‘I’ll help you for one week,’ whispered Maddy, resting her head on Pearl’s shoulder for a moment. ‘I don’t think Heidi should come back. Let me show you how to do things, and we can work as a team. I’m ever so good with babies and dogs.’

  Pearl smiled wearily as Maddy grinned. Her friend placed a kiss on her cheek.

  ‘Are you sure?’ Asked TJ. Maddy turned to frown at him. ‘Don’t start. I can see you’re angry with me.’

  ‘To put it mildly!’ she hissed. ‘I told you, and you didn’t listen. Had anything happened to either one, I’d have come at you.’

  ‘I know!’ he said, holding his hands in the air. ‘Don’t you think that crossed my mind on the flight back?’

  ‘Don’t go away again.’ Maddy gritted her teeth. ‘Two people make a baby, and two people look after it, well, three if you count me.’

  ‘Oh, you beauty,’ Pearl said, stroking Honey’s forehead and gazing at her. ‘I do love you, I really do, it’s just I don’t know how to.’

  ‘Hold her, and you’ll see. If she cries, it doesn’t mean she doesn’t like you. It’s just because she was comfortable. Here.’

  ‘Are you sure?’ TJ said, sitting on the edge of the sofa.

  ‘If Pearl wants her baby, then let’s help her, don’t you think?’

  For six days Maddy stayed with her friend, watching and helping. TJ decided to stick around. Maddy mainly thought because he was still concerned for Pearl and was also full or remorse for misjudging the situation.

  Their GP came to visit, and Maddy sat with her friend as Pearl described how she felt and her inability to bond. It seemed to have the child was far more monumental an upheaval than she had imagined.

  In all this time Maddy ran their house, cooked their meals and watched them look after their baby.

  On the seventh day, Pearl was changing Honey’s nappy more successfully than a few days earlier. She glanced at Maddy then grimaced.

  ‘Ted said you know about what happened with Tara. Maddy, have you let him explain?’

  ‘You’re not well,’ she sniffed in response. ‘We will discuss when you’re better. I forgive him though I don’t think you should have.’

  ‘That doesn’t make sense.’ Pearl lifted Honey onto her shoulder, giving a gentle cuddle. She inhaled the baby’s scent and smiled. ‘I’m getting there.’

  ‘Thing is, he got there in Tara’s knickers, and you didn’t tell me. Why are you even speaking to him?’ Maddy folded her arms. ‘That makes me cross and the fact you didn’t tell me.’

  ‘Very much like how I am now, you were fragile, and he didn’t want to say. Look, Ted and I had fun, but we were teenagers, so it wasn’t meant to be. When I found out about Tara, I was angry, yes, but not surprised. He likes them a bit wild.’ Maddy response was to grunt. ‘And he cares about you as much as I do. Back then, we knew it would tip you over the edge. That’s when the bulimia started.’

  ‘Then I would have thrown up in disgust!’ Pearl shook her head and stepped closer as Maddy rubbed Honey’s back. ‘I don’t like secrets especially those kept from me.’

  ‘You don’t go getting sick over what happened. I’d hate to know I tipped you over the edge.’

  ‘I’m fine and-.’

  Madeleine, if I find out that this has kick-started the illness then both of us will end up in psychiatric units, you do know that.’

  ‘I can hold it together,’ she lied, knowing how she had felt for the past days, trying her hardest to control the urge to purge her unhappiness and concern out. ‘It’s okay. Stress is doable.’

  ‘Not for you,’ Pearl said, handing over Honey. ‘TJ said Stan stayed the night when I was in the hospital.’

  ‘Did he?’ she replied, turning her back and walking away with the baby.

  ‘What? You didn’t know? That’s not like you.’ Pearl let out a little laugh. ‘Where did he sleep?’

  ‘In the spare room.’

  ‘Where you were sleeping?’

  ‘Probably in here,’ she sighed, missing Stan and Phyllis.

  There had been plenty of texts and face time with the pair, but Stan knew he had to keep away, mainly so Pearl could get better. And this made her fall for the man, even more, seeing he had a kind and caring heart.

  ‘And?’ The next thing she knew Pearl was standing in front of her. ‘Is that it?’

  ‘I’m going home tonight so all should be good. I’ve left a lovely meal in the fridge, and I’m on call twenty-four- seven. Have your drugs
kicked in?’ Maddy knew changing the subject might deflect her friend’s interrogation.

  ‘You don’t want to tell me? And don’t go mentioning the medication. It’s short term until I get balanced again.’ She let out a sigh. ‘That was very good of him to keep you company.’

  ‘As I will cut through the crap, we didn’t have sex under your roof, if that’s what you want to know.’

  ‘That’s not what I wanted to know!’ laughed out Pearl. ‘Were you planning it? I wouldn’t think you’d do anything as you have this strange idea you can only make love in your bed, except Ronald who was just a shag.’

  ‘Just put it this way,’ she said, walking off and wiggling her bottom. ‘He makes my tail wag if you know what I mean.’

  From Pearl’s hollering laugh, she certainly did which made Maddy smile on hearing it.

  It had been missing for a long time.

  ‘You see, I told Stan I make people happy, and tonight I intend to make him bark with delight!’

  ‘Hello, stranger!’

  Stan said, pouncing on her as soon as coming through the door. Phyllis just pounced onto the sofa. ‘I’ve missed you.’

  ‘Hello, Stanley Franks.’ She felt his hand go straight up her dress and caress her bum. ‘Are you feeling up to it?’

  ‘Up to what?’

  ‘Up me?’

  ‘Maddy, Maddy,’ he said, starting to kiss her lips. ‘You certainly say the right thing.’

  ‘Well, you’re going to have to wait,’ she said, seeing he was lunging for a big snog. ‘I have to give some attention to Phyllis.’ Maddy pushed him away. ‘Hello, my little one.’

  The pup barked and was standing to attention as she ran towards her, giving a big cuddle.

  ‘Animal first and man second, I take it,’ she heard Stan say. ‘This I accept but how long do I have to wait?’

  ‘Another week if you start moaning.’

  She glanced at him and knew he only needed to be patient for five minutes once she had set Phyllis up. Her knickers were squeaky with excitement just looking at the man. Maddy got the snacks for the pooch and put it on the floor before turning to her.

  ‘Phyllis, I’ve got a recording of ‘Pet’s do the silliest things’,’ she smirked switching the television on and saw the dog circle around before sitting down to watch. ‘Now I’m going to do silly things with your pet.’ Maddy walked towards the stairs then glanced over her shoulder. ‘Are you coming?’

  Stan smiled and kicked off his shoes before taking his hat off. He ran his hand slowly through his hair before replying, ‘I hope we do.’

  ‘Cheeky!’ she said, flashing her knickers at him as she ran up the stairs into her bedroom.

  He slowly walked in and pulled off his t-shirt, closing the door but keeping it slightly ajar.

  Maddy smiled at seeing him as she undid her dress slowly, making it drop to the ground. Then she remembered her phone was in the pocket, so pulled it out and put it to the side of the bed.

  Stan then undid his jeans and took them off.

  She undid her bra and threw it to the floor.

  Slowly, he pulled off his socks, and she realised the only garment left was her knickers. Maddy was about to pull them off.

  ‘No, let me,’ he said, walking over. ‘I want to unwrap the final layer.’

  ‘Then I’ll unwrap yours, and talking about wrapping, I have some condoms. Quite a few to be precise.’

  ‘Are you thinking about how many times?’ he asked, letting out a massive sigh.

  ‘I’m thinking over coverage. You know more than one.’

  ‘Are you serious?’ Stan stepped back and shook his head. ‘You want me to wear two?’

  ‘Unless you’re telling me that Giselle is a good girl and didn’t get up to mischief,’ she replied watching how the look of lust was replaced with a scowl. ‘You can never be sure, can you?’

  ‘I’ve put my-.’ Stan held his breath then nodded. ‘If that’s what you want.’

  ‘Stanley Franks, you are easy to wind up!’ she laughed gleefully and jumped onto the bed. ‘Come and get me!’

  ‘Why you!’

  He tackled her down to the bed as she laughed loudly.

  Then they kissed, and everything changed. It got passionate and heated as they removed their remaining clothing.

  Maddy looked at Stan then smiled as the kiss he gave her filled her mouth, and his hands gently caressed her body. She felt her heart beat fast in her chest knowing what this meant to her.

  More than she could ever let on.

  And she wanted him to want her, to like her and eventually, if she was really lucky, to love her as she loved him. The previous week of uncertainty and upset simply disappeared as she looked into the pools of his eyes.

  ‘I’ll put two on if you’re unsure,’ he whispered. ‘I don’t want you to worry about-.’

  ‘I’m not worried, Stan,’ she said, gently grabbing his face. ‘I trust you.’

  He smiled at her, as she shuffled towards the side of the bed and flipped open the lid of a metal box, taking a condom out.

  ‘I’ll put it on,’ he sighed, smiling brightly as she lay back down and waited.

  Maddy reached out and stroked his back as she mouthed ‘I love you’ when he couldn’t see. Stan was concentrating on preparing his body for her.

  Then he looked over his shoulder and wasn’t smiling.

  It was an expression she had never seen before and wondered if he was having second thoughts.

  ‘We don’t have to if you don’t want to. I don’t mind if you’ve changed your mind. I’ll understand,’ she said, trying to hide her disappointment but knowing her voice gave it away. ‘I’m quite good like that.’

  ‘Why wouldn’t I want to make love to you?’ he asked, stroking her cheek. ‘The last thing I want is to disappoint you.’

  ‘You could never do that.’

  ‘Oh, Maddy,’ he sighed. ‘That’s what people do, but not tonight. Not with me.’

  The words were simple as they were beautiful.

  She sat up and kissed him gently, stroking his shoulders while looking into his eyes.

  Stan would never let her down.

  Frankly, it wasn’t in his nature.

  He pushed her back down and lay next to her, kissing Maddy’s face and letting his hands gently stroke her body.

  And she kissed him back and how. Making sure he could feel what was going on in her heart. Stan’s eyes opened before closing again. His body pressed down against her as she opened her legs and wanted him.

  Slowly she felt him pull at her inner thigh and when he entered, she groaned, knowing it was the most wonderful thing she had ever experienced.

  Stan was in her arms, and they were making love.

  She searched for his mouth and felt his tongue in her mouth, his hands on her breast and arse. The quick pumping of his hips and hearing how his breathing got heavier and heavier. Little groans and gulps coming from his throat and she held onto his shoulders, hoping he liked what he was feeling, wanting him to want her as much as she wanted him.

  Then she closed her eyes and ran her fingers through his hair, feeling the hardness inside, moving to please her; to please him.

  Their hips rocked together, and she knew that first time sex with someone new was never mind-blowing. It was a small starter before the main course. Mainly the man got the satisfaction, rarely the woman.

  But the idea of being so close to Stan made her overwhelmed with happiness.

  He looked at her, kissing her lips gently as he carried on. Maddy smiled at him, then he stopped.

  ‘Is something wrong?’ she asked, wondering if even her insides were as tight as Giselle’s arse.

  ‘It is about you, not just me.’

  ‘It’s wonderful, it really is.’

  ‘But you need to…’ Stan smiled. ‘I need to make sure you do have a wonderful time, and I know I can do that.’

  ‘Forget about me,’ she laughed. ‘I want to make you happy.’
/>   ‘I can’t forget about you.’ He rested his cheek against hers.

  Maddy realised he was completely sincere and grabbed his head, kissing him hard and grabbing his arse. He pushed his hand down the front of her pelvis, looking for her magic button.

  ‘I want you to come,’ he whispered, the words turning her on at the same time as his fingers. ‘To turn you on.’

  She propped herself up on her elbow with her arm around his shoulder, watching their hips move together and feeling his deft touch. He was using two fingers and rubbing her off quite hard as his mouth reached down for her nipple.

  The lips pulled, and he sucked hard, using his teeth.

  All she did was groan, feeling her hole tighten hard around his dick and knowing she was close.

  ‘I’m going to come,’ came the yelp from her mouth as he pushed her back down and rubbed her.

  ‘I know.’

  The explosion made her feel like passing out, as she squeezed against the muscle humping her slowly then fast, knowing her fanny was throbbing.

  Shudder after shudder as she knew he had come because he smothered her mouth and squeezed her breast firmly before wrapping her legs around his back, pushing deep inside.

  Maddy was lost for words.

  First-time sex was usually awkward and meant she faked it an awful lot but not with him. Stan had got to know her body, how to work it and he did it well.

  ‘You’re not going to say anything,’ he said while catching his breath. Maddy shook her head from side to side, trying to recover. ‘Is this the only way to keep you from chatting?’ That’s when she nodded frantically and grinned. ‘I’ll have to remember that in future, won’t I?’

  She hoped he always would.

  ‘This is nice.’

  An hour later they were all three sat on the sofa, watching television but she couldn’t keep her eyes off Stan.

  And he knew it because there was a little smirk on his lips.

  Her body tingled at the thought they would make love again. The only thing that had prevented them from giving it another try was Phyllis jumping on the bed after her show had finished.

  ‘Don’t you think this is nice?’ she asked, seeing him grin and turn his head to look at her. ‘You want me to stop talking.’