Page 39 of Boundary

"Damn, straight it is." Throwing his arm over my shoulders without warning, Bob tried to pull me into his side. Jolting, I winced, dropping my cone. Moving quickly, Dale caught it.

"Shit, sorry, Vera." Removing his arm, Bob pouted and cursed under his breath.

"It wasn't your fault. I'm sorry, it's a habit after this long."

With a nod, Bob moved away to take Juliet's hand. Offering me back my ice cream, Dale focused his eyes on mine. It took me a moment to realize I was about to cry, and that's why everyone was now avoiding looking at me.

Ignoring the ice cream, I stepped into Dale. Wrapping my arms around him, I buried my face against his chest and breathed. His earthy scent filled my nose, my lungs, then diffused into my system. My heartbeat slowed, and my tears evaporated.

Shifting his stance, Dale pressed both his strong hands into my back, firm, and reassuring. By the time I stepped back from him a minute later, the others were outside. Even the sales assistant was at the far end of the store, his back to us as if we needed the privacy.

Swallowing with discomfort at the public meltdown, I looked around. "Um, what happened to my ice cream?"

"Jeremy took it." Dale glanced outside where Jeremy was finishing off my cone. "I'll get you a new one." Lips brushing my brow, Dale tucked my hair behind my ear.

"Thank you for holding me." In case he thought I cared about the ice cream more than what his scent did for me.

Stroking my cheek, Dale gave me a gentle smile. Stepping up to the counter, he ordered my ice cream again, before ordering his own. When the clerk handed us our cones, he also gave Dale a bag with several tubs in it, I raised a brow at the bag.

"Whenever we come here, we stock up on our favorites for home. I got you a tub as well." He grinned at the smile on my face.

"Dale, don't get me used to you spoiling me if it's going to stop once you have me."

Dale's smile faltered. Caressing my cheek, he brushed his mouth across mine. My breath rushed out of me; my head dizzy. Staring into my eyes, his were focused and intent. "Vera, I already have you, so get used to me spoiling you. I haven't even started yet."

"You haven't?" Could he spoil me more than he had already today?

"Oh, no." Dale shook his head, his eyes darkening. "Just you wait until you allow me to fill your body."

The desire to be in Dale's arms naked destabilized me until I felt boneless and limp. In my head, I saw me screaming my pleasure as he filled me, and I collapsed sated to his chest.

"Then, I will give you whatever you need. And, if your prediction from our bonding proves true, you will never want for anything ever again."

Staring up at him awed, a switch clicked, and I frowned. "What prediction?"

Dale's eyebrows lifted, his eyes lightened as he straightened. "You don't remember?" Leading me out of the shop, Dale frowned when I shook my head. "What do you remember?"

"You bit me, it felt wonderful, and then I fell asleep. Why, did something else happen?"

Considering me, after a moment, Dale relaxed. "You murmured something, but I won't ruin the surprise if you can't remember."

Opening my mouth to object, Heidi cut me off.

"Do you know how much fat there was in ice cream? If I don't want to bloat before my shoot next week, I can't touch a lick of it."

Brows low over his eyes, Jeremy seemed unimpressed by her attitude. I couldn't help but notice Heidi was eyeing me and my ice cream the entire time she ranted.

Wrapping his arm around my waist, Dale slowed our walk, so we weren't within hearing of the others. "Jeremy can't stand it when women go on about their figures, or if they criticize another woman. Don't expect Heidi to be joining us on our outings anymore."

"Why not?"

"Because I know that look on Jeremy's face. He'll be shaking her free this evening." Considering something, Dale smirked. "Or tomorrow morning."

"Wait, so he knows he's going to break up with her, but will let it go for another night so he can get laid one last time?"

"I dare say it will be more than once." He put his mouth to my ear. "The girls usually leave walking funny on Sunday's. We like to get as much as we can when we can, even if that means very little sleep."

Eyes wide, I tripped remembering how often Dale and his ex-wife had sex in the vision he showed me. "So, being a hundred years old hasn't dampened your sex drive?"

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