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It was an early departure, and I wondered why he didn't even try for more of a kiss. An hour later, the howls sounded up at the main house, and I understood, Dale had responsibilities. Kissing me would have led to a delay, and we didn't need a repeat of last night.
Thinking about last night, or today in the shower, made me squirm. Turning off the lights, I retreated to my bedroom. It's about time I found out how that toy the sales assistant at the lingerie store talked me into worked.
Chapter 16
"You okay?" Jeremy stood above me as I coughed and rolled to the side.
Feet entered my peripheral, then Bob's voice scratched my ears like a bad itch. "Isn't she meant to be learning to defend herself, not getting thrown around like a rag doll?"
"All part of the process." Offering me his hand, Jeremy tilted his head, assessing me. When I stuck my finger in my ear and tried to get rid of the unhappy itch, Jeremy sighed. "It's okay, Vera. None of us like to see you mistreated, so even though Bob knows I'm training you, he can't help but get defensive."
Peering at Jeremy, I didn't understand the consoling tone he used. Maybe I'd flinched, and he worried I was going to spook.
Exhaling hard, Bob shifted his feet. "Well, Dale is waiting for you when you're ready, Vera."
Blinking at Bob, I was glad the itch had let up finally. "We agreed on lunch?"
"It's already eleven. You two have been at this for three hours."
Checking his watch, Jeremy lifted his eyebrows. "So it is. Okay, Vera, I want you to practice what we did this morning. We can have another session after I do the shopping on Wednesday." Nodding, I sat down to put on my joggers. "You got enough energy for the run home?"
"Yes, I'll be fine." Absentmindedly, I scratched my scar on my side. It tended to niggle after exercise.
Observing me, Jeremy clenched his jaw, and the sound of an angry hive of wasps filled my head.
Sighing, I stood up. "I stabbed him with a smashed bottle before he did this. It was self-defense on his part. He'd never cut me up before."
"Don't ever defend him, Vera. He should never have had you for you to get desperate enough to attack him."
Swallowing, I stared at the floor, trying to stop my eyes from filling with tears or retreating. The last was easier. Years of learning not to run or backstep from Malcolm. Still, survival instinct could undo any amount of resilience you tried to have.
When Jeremy snarled, I flinched, that made him scowl harder. "Fuck, I hate this! I'm sorry, Vera, I'll go calm down." Storming out of the room, Jeremy punched the wall on the way through.
The door slammed shut, I flinched again. Peering through my brows at the door, I found Bob standing with his back to me as if he'd stepped between Jeremy and me.
Bob turned his chin to his shoulder. "Grab your shoes, Vera, I'll see you out." His voice was terse as if he too were on edge. Shoving my feet into my shoes, I followed Bob out to the driveway.
We passed Howard on the way, he glared at me and all but spat at me. When he glared at me, I whimpered. "Oh my god, you're so weak and pathetic!" Howard launched at me. Backing into the wall behind me, I avoided his attack.
Grabbing Howard around the throat, Bob slammed him into the wall opposite me. "Go, Vera!"
Not needing him to tell me twice, I ran out of the house, down the drive, and then the length of the driveway to my cottage. Inside, I locked all the doors before crawling into my wardrobe and huddling into a tight ball. My heart was racing, and body trembling like I was outside in a snow storm. Any minute now, Malcolm would come through the door, drag me from my hide, and beat me unconscious.
This amount of fear wasn't healthy, but I'd had fourteen years of living on adrenalin. My heart jumped into my throat when two black boots below denim jeans stepped into the doorway. The owner inhaled, exhaled with a sigh, then they squatted down to peer into the wardrobe.
"Vera?" The plump lips below indigo eyes called a foreign name. "Vera, breathe, honey. Recognize where you are, who I am, that you're safe."
Those eyes were so gentle, so calm. They begged me to trust them. Something about them soothed me like his hands were rubbing down my back. Taking a deep breath, his scent intoxicated me, relaxed me, and without a doubt, I knew he'd protect me.
Crawling forward, I burrowed in against his chest. "Dale!"
Wrapping his arms around me, Dale put his nose into my hair and inhaled. "How am I meant to leave for the city tonight with you in this state?"
The idea of Dale leaving made me cling to him. Goddess, I didn't want to alone here with Howard next door. I didn't want Dale to let me go.
"Come with me? You can stay in my apartment, go shopping, we can go out to dinner, or you can cook for Jeremy and me." Dale waited for a few breaths. "Think about it. The idea of leaving you alone here kills me."
"Howard scares me. I don't trust him."
