"I'm really sorry. She's ten, and Bella has never done anything like that before," Gary said apologetically.

Denise thought about the mischief her dog, Wilma, had engaged in, and she knew some of it was just as embarrassing.

"It's not the first time my shoes have been peed on, and I'm sure it won't be the last. My dog's probably busy doing something she shouldn't right now, too," Denise replied with an understanding smile.

As a supplier of conversation icebreakers, Gary and Denise agreed that Bella had excelled herself. Gary explained that Bella was about to be picked up by his friend, who was getting his first dog and wanted to get an idea of what he and his partner would be taking on.

"It's a shame Bella couldn't have waited for your friend to show up before doing her party piece, really," Denise said with a giggle.

When Gary's friend Peter appeared, Gary decided to gloss over Bella's indiscretion, and Denise hid her feet out of sight to support him.

"What will you do with yourself without your best friend in tow?" Denise asked Gary.

"It's only for the weekend, but it will still feel odd; I won't be able to stay indoors, as not being bothered constantly will drive me crazy!" Gary admitted, feeling certain Denise would know what he meant.

Denise laughed at Gary's explanation and understood perfectly what he had said about missing the high-maintenance nature of their only company at home.

Gary didn't think anything of Denise's lack of further comment on his solitary weekend ahead, although the reason became apparent once she finally spoke.

"I'd like you to spend the weekend with us, Gary. That's not something I ever imagined saying to someone within an hour of meeting them, but perhaps Bella's pee was a sign. If that sounds all too weird, that's not a problem. However, I'm in unfamiliar territory here, so be gentle if it's not for you," Denise said, feeling rather proud of herself, regardless of how Gary responded to her offer.

"I feel very guilty as I was plucking up the courage to invite you over, but you beat me to it. I hope you'll forgive me for leaving it up to you," Gary replied, seeing a smile spread over Denise's face to match that already on his own.

With no reason to delay their departure, Gary and Denise chatted as they walked. They agreed that sharing laughter was the most important part of their weekend plans and that they were old enough to have realistic expectations for anything else they might decide to share.

"The most grown-up way to behave is to know when you don't have to be one," Denise said in summary. Gary told her he couldn't match the quality of her comment and that it would be a mistake to try.

Denise felt entirely at ease discussing matters with Gary that she could not imagine doing in any situation she had encountered for a very long time indeed. Gary tended to hide behind his own shyness using humour, and he asked Denise to tell him if she ever felt he had overstepped the mark in his efforts to entertain and amuse.

"I will, although if I tell you to spice it up a little, you've got to promise me you'll know I mean it," Denise said in response to Gary's concern.

Although Gary felt comfortable with everything discussed, he explained to Denise she needed to tell him how she thought Wilma might react to a stranger turning up with her mistress at home. Denise laughed, explaining that if you tickled her sweet spot and kissed her, she'd let you do whatever you wanted.

"I'm exactly the same," Gary replied, sending Denise into a fit of giggles that Gary hoped to reproduce at some point in the not-too-distant future

Once Gary had convinced Wilma he wasn't the bogeyman, she was soon happy and left the humans to do whatever it was they did. At the same time, Gary received an update from Peter advising him that Bella had settled in well and that, as far as he knew, all of his shoes remained pee-free and exactly where he'd left them.

"Dogs sorted. It's time to think about making sure the humans are, too," Gary said as he prepared to find out exactly how Denise wanted to spend the evening.

Denise was delighted to hear Gary's question, even if it meant expressing things she wasn't used to. What Denise did know was that Gary had shown all the signs of being the type of man who would show understanding, even if he found some of what he heard strange.

"I've never seen myself as a victim and never will. The possibility of something being a disaster was enough to make me put it to one side for years, but life can make you rethink what's important. My time might be short, or maybe I'll be a nuisance and drag things out, but Bella's little incident and meeting you because of it just seemed too comical to ignore. I swore blind it would take someone to laugh their way into my chamber. Being right doesn't matter to me, but it can still be nice." Denise said, knowing instantly that Gary grasped the reality behind what she had told him.

Gary looked at Denise, feeling this was no time for words that might fail to carry his understanding. Instead, he leaned forward as Denise did likewise, and their lips met and sank into a slow kiss.

***

Although Denise had held fears that speaking about her degenerative condition would kill the mood she craved, they were banished almost as soon as the kiss she had shared with Gary had paused.

Gary asked Denise if she had an itinerary planned or if it was a mystery tour she had enticed him on with her unique sales pitch. Denise knew the question was a reasonable one, although she was too happy to hear Gary retain his determination to make it a fun trip to be worried over knowing what to expect or not.

"Whatever you think I'd enjoy will be perfect, although I prefer you over my vibe stash tonight. They can't run off if I become too high maintenance like you can, and you're still here," Denise said, her giggles returning as she spoke.

"I am; you're right, even if you've locked us in and hidden the key," Gary replied as he ushered Denise to her feet. placed a kiss on her lips and began to slowly undress her.

Denise felt Gary's fingers and lips working together to please and arouse her. It wasn't extreme or dramatic or anything new, but its effect was everything she had hoped it would be and more. Gary was as pleased by the sounds of laughter as he was by those of contentment, and when Denise told him where the first aid box was, in case her bra bit him when it was time for it to come off, it was a line he knew he'd never forget as soon as he heard it.

When Gary eased Denise slowly and gently out of her bra, he did so to the sound of her joyful giggles. When he asked Denise if there was a prize for completing this part of his challenge without bloodshed, he was told he'd need to wait to find out. This meant his planned massage duties were put on hold until the laughter of those present had subsided.

Denise had felt sure that feeling Gary's touch on her breasts and nipples would add significantly to her pleasure, although she was surprised by the speed and intensity with which it did. Denise didn't think Gary needed to be told that his attention was having the desired effect, but she did anyway because she could.

"Mission control reports high levels of activity in the sensitive access zone," Denise announced as she redirected Gary's kisses onto her breasts and guided his hands onto her lower body.

"Units redeployed," Gary replied, as Denise felt her body heating from within.

Although Denise expected moments of misunderstanding and misinterpretation, any that occurred were wrapped in humour, making them invisible. Her decision to relocate to the bedroom and for those present to dispense with the rest of their clothes, however, was impossible to misconstrue.

"Kits off, bedroom, slippery finger time," Denise shouted, feeling there was no need to make anything more complicated than was necessary.

As soon as they had relocated, Gary's kisses fell onto Denise's breasts, and his touch eased slowly down her body. Gary slid Denise's jeans and knickers off, despite her wriggles of laughter, and his efforts received congratulations when completed.

"I'm just horny; I'm not being unhelpful!" Denise explained.

Although Denise realised Gary knew what was expected of him, she took his hand and eased it where she needed it. Holding his hand as it slipped between her legs felt particularly special to Denise, as it had been something she had done with a sense of anticipation and with no negativity whatsoever.

"Time to stir the cauldron of joy," Gary whispered as his touch slipped into Denise's body.

"Docking mission completed," Denise replied with a dreamy smile.

Denise felt Gary's fingertips move with exactly the care and focus she had expected. She could sense his attempts to read every signal her body made to bring as much joy as he could, and he was nailing it. Denise felt sure her sounds of pleasure would convey her happiness, although she still wanted to leave Gary in no doubt, so she voiced her thoughts, too, as she saw fit.

"The spoons are rattling in the galley, Captain," Denise called out as she began to thrust against Gary's touch, having suddenly felt the overwhelming desire to do so.

Gary did his best to ensure his laughter at Denise's running commentary didn't distract him from the mission, although he was still determined to keep both smiles and erotic excitement coming. His storm warning and siren imitation did this to perfection as Denise felt her body take another lurch toward her dream port of arrival.

Denise sensed the time had arrived to tell Gary to turn the heat up, and he was on the case immediately. Denise felt the effect almost instantly and squirmed with an outburst of giggles as her body responded to the heat of her arousal burning inside it.

Denise greeted the onset of her climax with a joyful cry, followed by loud bursts of laughter. Gary continued to circle and plunge his touch, but he did so with a sense of excitement that was equal to that felt by Denise.

With a smile lighting up her face, Denise welcomed wonderful rhythms of pleasure that swept around her body to bright lights flashing through her head continuously. Her noises of joy filled her bedroom until every beat of her climax had been enjoyed, after which she felt Gary's arms around her as she lay spent but elated.

Once Denise finally spoke, she chose a single word to express how she felt.

"Special," she said in a whisper.

It was clear to Gary that Denise had taken a lot out of herself in her determination to enjoy her climax. He didn't suggest further activity apart from sharing an embrace, and Denise knew she needed nothing more.

***

When Denise woke from a dream-filled sleep, she did so with Gary's arms around her. She felt so fortunate that they had found themselves thrown together, but what struck her most of all was the perfect balance between pleasure and ensuring her welfare. Gary had treated her as the erotically charged woman she was, but he understood the limitations of her reality with the same commitment.

"Good morning, Gary. A new day. Who knows what excitement awaits?" Denise said with a smile, seeing Gary already awake.

Denise decided she needed to keep Wilma sweet after the drama of a visitor, and so she invited her into the bedroom as Gary sent a message to make sure a night of Bella's farts hadn't seen Peter reconsider his decision to join the dog set.

Peter replied to Gary's message, explaining Bella had been the perfect guest and that she had shown him cupboard love almost immediately. Gary was delighted to discover Peter appeared to have had a worthwhile night despite it having been somewhat different from his own.

Very soon after meeting him, Denise felt relaxed in Gary's company, so she experienced no awkwardness about discussing plans for the day that had begun. She realised Gary might have his own ideas, but she decided voicing hers would be useful in cementing the understanding that had been formed so well and so quickly.

"I have a picture in my head. I can't get rid of it, but I don't want to, so that's fine. It will sound odd to anyone but you, but there's only you and I here, apart from Wilma, and she'll want to get away from the noise anyway. I'd like to take you in my hand and rub your excitement all over my body. I'd love to feel the energy in you. I want you to feel comfortable with any consequences of your arousal and understand experiencing it is a picture I have in my head I want to enjoy. You knew you'd bagged a weird one already, so it seems fair to show you that you were right." Denise said with a giggle she hoped would rid Gary of any doubts he might have had that this was how she wanted to spend time with him most of all.

"That sounds wonderful from where I'm lying," Gary said with honesty and a smile.

Denise was delighted with Gary's enthusiasm for her plan and told him she'd be on the case shortly. However, she explained she needed to deal with a rare moment of seriousness first. Gary told Denise to say whatever was on her mind.

"One day, I will either wake up and know I can't give Wilma the life she needs or not wake up at all. When that happens, I want you to sort out finding someone who can. You're the only person I've ever met who I've felt I could give that job to, Gary, which I hope you take to be the highest praise it is meant to be. It's a liberty, and most wouldn't grasp how I could say this to someone I've only just met, but, as I've said before, I'm not most people, and neither are you." Denise said, realising her words had brought tears not only to her own eyes but also to Gary's.

"Wilma will get along fine with Bella and me if she needs somewhere. It would be a privilege, Denise, and it's an issue you now know is resolved."

As he finished speaking, Gary took Denise into his arms, and Denise made sure that Gary understood her tears weren't based on sadness in her heart.

Within a few minutes of her discussion with Gary, Denise had slipped back into her positive and comical style. She told Gary to sort out Wilma's breakfast for her and perhaps fix something up for the humans, too. Gary completed his tasks with a smile, and he resolved to be as upbeat as Denise wanted and needed him to be. Denise made this task easy for Gary and used her humour and cheekiness to good effect.

"I need to rest my hands for later," Denise said as Gary delivered the toast and coffee he had made to her.

After breakfast, Denise, Gary, and Wilma went for a walk. Although Wilma seemed a little confused when the walk lasted longer than she was used to, Denise felt it was a good plan to ensure Wilma's nap was sound after the exercise.

"She'll sleep through anything now," Denise said, throwing a cheeky, suggestive look at Gary as she did so.

***

Just as she had expected, Denise saw Wilma roll her eyes at her before settling down for a long sleep in her own bed. Her dog's reaction made Denise break into laughter, the sound bringing a smile to Gary's face. Wilma's nap was all the encouragement Denise needed, and she placed a kiss on Gary's lips after telling him she felt more than ready to put the plan she had spoken about into action.

Denise saw pictures in her head of what she hoped to share with Gary as they eased each other out of their clothes. It didn't matter to either of them that what had been agreed would seem an anticlimax to many. They knew it wasn't to them, and nothing, or anyone else, mattered whatsoever.

Seeing evidence of Gary's already present arousal wasn't a surprise for Denise, but it was a part of her unfolding pleasure to cast her eyes on it nonetheless. As she began to kiss his lips, Denise placed her fingertips on him. before withdrawing her kiss so she could raise his erect cock onto her breasts. Denise carried out her plan with a contented and relaxed smile on her face and a sense of anticipation that was already escalating.

"In my head, at least, this is going everywhere, and I mean everywhere," Denise said, prompting shared laughter and smiles.

As Denise began to rub Gary's cock against her breasts, she started to speak about where it went on the journey she pictured in her head. It was a fantasy, but one she wanted Gary to hear as a reminder to him of how much the experience meant above the simple mechanics of what was happening in reality.

"Very sexy pictures," Gary whispered to Denise as she spoke.

Denise felt her breathing labouring and her heart thumping as her excitement intensified. Her desire for Gary to get a sense of her level of arousal drove her touch upon him to speed up. Both bodies twitched as they felt themselves racing towards a climax, and it was a scene of tremendous anticipation.

Denise greeted the flow that shot from Gary's cock with a gasp, followed by a cry of delight, as she squirmed into climax to the sound of groans of pleasure from Gary's lips that she was thrilled beyond words to hear.

The beauty of her release inspired Denise to ensure Gary took everything possible from his own. Coordination and expertise might not have been evident, but the shared joy was etched on the reddened faces of those sharing something only they would ever know the meaning of.

Gary and Denise spent a beautiful period of reflection after their joyful experiences. They did so with their arms wrapped around one another and communicating with sounds of contentment. Denise realised she would have plenty to say when the time was right, but Gary understood this would follow in due course, along with his own attempts to put anything into words.

***

Once Gary and Denise decided to speak, they reflected equally on the joys and comic mishaps they had shared. Their conversation celebrated both elements and was filled with laughter. As they lay on the bed, Gary and Denise listened to Wilma scratching a reminder on the door to say it was time for a walk.

When Gary went home, Denise knew he would be around whenever she needed him. Nothing, apart from Wilma's future, was set in stone, but knowing Gary would be there in whatever capacity was necessary brought her the most pleasure.

Peter returned Bella to her loving home with nothing but praise for his guest. Gary was delighted to hear this and explained that once Peter had taken charge of his new pet, he would be happy to return the favour Peter had done for him whenever necessary.

When Peter casually asked about his weekend, Gary explained Peter would soon learn about what happened when dog lovers got together. Gary knew his joke would mean nothing to Peter, but he saw a picture in his mind of Denise laughing, which reminded him of how much she would always mean to him.

Gary and Denise spent time together during a part of most weekends. When Denise began to find getting around increasingly difficult, Gary stepped in to walk Wilma without hesitation. Denise found spending time in Gary's arms to be the highlight of her day, and when she asked him to look after Wilma full-time, she knew it wasn't something to feel sad or angry about.

When Gary turned up with Wilma to see Denise one evening, he saw activity around her house that needed no explanation. Denise never made it out of the hospital bed she was admitted to, although Gary visited her every day with news about Wilma and to share a closeness that was impossible to describe.

Gary had been out walking Bella and Wilma when he received a call to inform him that Denise had passed away. Those who had cared for her told Gary Denise had spent a great deal of time telling them about his wonderful nature and that he should be proud of the way he had made the end of Denise's life as happy as he had done.

Wilma's presence constantly reminded Gary of Denise, which brought him happiness rather than sadness or regret.

When Peter welcomed Tizer into his life, his new dog quickly became friends with Wilma and Bella. Although Gary never became acquainted with anyone else in the dog crowd in the same way he had Denise, her brief part in his life ensured he always knew what to look out for in the wider world in other women he found interesting. Denise had set standards Gary knew were high, meaning he understood anyone else coming even close to meeting them was someone he had been very lucky to meet.