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Dale's laughter was silk on naked skin. "Goddess, no! Twenty-first-century women are the freest since pre-Christian times. We would be idiots to not enjoy the freedom from oppression that women have fought long and hard for. I'm a suffragette. Give women more rights and confidence to be the sexual beasts men fear. All the better for the men who don't suffer ego issues."
Doubtful of Dale's statement, I lifted a brow. "You don't have an ego?"
"Of course, I do. Every man does, but I'm secure enough to know that I don't have to beat a woman down to make me feel better. Men have been doing that for thousands of years because they feel it's the only way to have power over a woman. But oppressing women isn't the answer. Mistreating women doesn't make you a man, it just highlights an inferiority complex."
Raising a brow at his jovial passion, I tilted my head assessing him. "Feel strongly about this, do you?"
"Don't you?"
"But no one has ever raped or beaten you, so we care about this for different reasons."
"I had a mother, Vera. My father never harmed her, but her father..." Dale drifted off. "I've lived for a long time. I lived through a time when women and children were possessions. As long as you didn't kill them, you could beat them or do whatever you wanted with them. I've watched spirited girls lose the light in their eyes as pathetic excuses for men broke them. All in the guise of protecting them or family pride."
We took a few steps in silence with Dale's eyes focused ahead. "When I became strong enough to draw my pack-mates to me, I made it clear; in this pack, we adore and cherish women. They are never harmed." Glancing ahead to Jeremy, Dale shrugged. "Yes, we enter casual liaisons. When Jeremy ends it, he will make it about him, and their age difference. Or he will be honest and say she needs more maturity before it could work. He won't be mean or an asshole about it. I've seen him do it in a way that the girl thinks she's the one ending the relationship."
Watching ahead, I could see Jeremy having the capability of ending things well. "Juliet seems lovely. She said she and Bob have been on and off over the last four years?"
"Juliet came from a bad home. Whenever things get serious between them, she panics and ends it. The first few times, it hurt Bob, now he takes it as a turn in the season. They've agreed to be in a relaxed relationship. They see other people, but it's never serious."
Watching how Bob let Juliet sneak a few licks of his ice cream when Heidi wasn't looking, my stomach warmed. "Do you think they'll make it?"
Dale gave my waist a squeeze. "I would wish for any of my pack to find the happiness of love and family."
Happiness flooded my system, but there was a little sadness too. Malcolm and my father stole twelve years of life, of love, of belonging to this pack. Learning about my own people was fascinating, I wanted to know more, and yet, I hesitated to ask. Trepidation of knowing why we were different from humans. The dread of finding out things that would haunt me, about myself and these men I was starting to like. Fear that someone would take it all away. So, I stayed quiet and let my questions build in my head, slotting clues together.
Returning to the yacht, we set sail home. Already exposed to more sun than I had in my entire life, I stayed in the inside. Sitting by me, Dale talked with the others. Every now and then, he tried drawing me in on the conversation, but I was happy to answer and return to listening. Arriving back at the port in the late afternoon, we disembarked towards the carpark.
"Why don't we get dinner here?" Jeremy suggested. "Saves me cooking when we get back."
"Sounds good to us." Bob smiled.
"We'll pass. Vera already had something out for dinner."
Dale's answer serving as a reminder that I'd offered to cook for him tonight. The others decided to stay for dinner, so we waved goodbye, and Dale drove me home.
"I'll duck home and get changed, then come down for dinner, if that's okay?" Dale checked as he pulled up out the front of my place.
"That would be good actually. Will give me time to get it on and have a moment to myself." Stepping out of the car, I let myself in as Dale drove his car up the drive to his place. Locking the door behind me, I set my bag from the sailing trip in my room. Rushing into the kitchen, I spent fifteen minutes getting dinner started.
In my bathroom, I frowned that my skin was a little pink. Stripping, I showered before rubbing aloe in and dressed in a fresh set of clothes. When I came into the lounge room, Dale was standing on the back porch looking over the yard. Opening the door, I watched as he walked in with a black gift box.
"This is for you. I meant to give it to you for the last week, but it wasn't the right time."
Frowning, I accepted the box and locked the door again. Placing the box on the coffee table, I opened it. Inside was the stunning and expensive robe I'd seen at the lingerie store. Glancing up at Dale, I was speechless.
"Jeremy saw you admiring it. He called me, and I asked him to pick it up for me to give to you." Taking the seat opposite me, Dale observed the way I fingered the black satin. "It's to replace the one I destroyed."
"Dale, it's beautiful, thank you." Standing up, I took the box into my room.
While I prepared dinner, Dale sat at the kitchen bench. He asked about my love of cooking, discussed specific recipes with me, and then told me more about his hobbies. After dinner, Dale helped me clean up. "Thank you for a fantastic meal." Dale held my hand as I walked him to the door. "Could I see you tomorrow?"
"I need to run in the morning, but I'm free afterward."
"That's right, Jeremy mentioned bringing you up to the gym and teaching you a few moves. How about we have lunch together?"
"Sounds doable."
Smiling, Dale kissed me on the cheek. "Goodnight, Vera. I'll see you tomorrow." Brushing his lips across mine as he pulled back, Dale stepped outside. Waiting for me to lock the door, he walked to the path.
