Gage snorted. “We save the world all the time, but she's impressed with you grabbing a dog.”
“Don't be bitter because he reacted first,” Garret said. Then he shoved Gideon. “Show off.”
Gideon held out his arms and gave Garret a WTF look.
“You saved that dog and you saved me from nightmares,” I said. “I think that deserves ice cream.”
“It's like fifty degrees,” Gage said.
“And we just ate,” Garret added.
“Yes, please!” Gideon took my hand, and we headed down the sidewalk together toward our favorite ice cream shop. Gideon and I loved ice cream. Any time of day or night, in any weather, and no matter how full we were.
I smiled at Gideon and all the people who complimented him on saving that dog. The accolades kept coming, word spreading as we walked. By the time we got to the ice cream shop, they already knew what Gideon had done. Helena wasn't what I'd call a small town, but it had a small-town mentality, and, as Garret said, they loved their dogs.
“The hero is in our shop!” a guy exclaimed from behind the freezer. “Ice cream is on the house! Whatever you want, man.”
“Wow. Thank you,” Gideon said.
“Unbelievable,” Gage muttered as he came in behind us. But he was smiling a few minutes later when we were all seated at a table, eating our free sundaes.
The camaraderie between the men was unmistakable, and I couldn't help thinking, yet again, that they couldn't be demons. I don't care what you say about the Devil being beautiful and the King of Lies. These guys were just too real and true to be demons. Too normal. It was obvious that they'd been human once. And that humanity was in their souls. It came with them into their new bodies.
As we ate and talked, I watched them and really considered being with them. Not as their mate. As their girlfriend. I needed to simplify things. Take it one step at a time. I think that's what my problem was. I couldn't accept either situation because they were both too much. Too out there. But I'd been around the hounds long enough to be desensitized to the strangeness of what they were and who I might be to them. Now, I could take a step forward. Turn up the strangeness just a touch.
I decided I was going to have sex with them.No, wait. That's not turning it up just a touch. Reel it in, Indie. Second base. Maybe some oral. Oh, God! What am I thinking? They're going to scent my arousal.
I jumped up and excused myself to go to the restroom. Once I was out of smelling range, I relaxed a little. I went into astall, did my business, washed up, and then stared hard at myself in the mirror over the sink. In there, I could consider things without worry.
Am I really going to do this? Yes. Yes, I am.I still didn't think I was their mate. That would be too wonderful to happen to me. But that made it even more important that I have sex with them. I wanted to have that memory. I had a feeling that no other sexual encounter would be as great. Maybe that would make the rest of my life a letdown, but I didn't care. You had to rise before you could be let down.
When I stepped out of the bathroom, someone grabbed my hand. I was about to shout and jerk away when I saw it was Jake.
“Jake?” I asked in surprise.
“Indie.” He let go of me, then glanced over my shoulder. The corridor curved sharply, hiding us from the shop. “I'm so sorry.”
“Jake, I'm glad you're here.”
“You are?”
“Yes. I couldn't call you since you tossed my phone out of my car.”
He winced. “Sorry about that too.”
“Jake, I love you.”
“I love you too, Indie.” Jake grabbed my hand again. “So much. I was just scared. I'll never be like that again. I swear. And I'll never let Michael near you again.”
“I don't think that last bit is possible,” I said. “He'll use you until he's finished.”
“He's not here now. Michael doesn't need to be inside me constantly. I asked for some space, and he gave it to me. I've been following you all day, waiting for a chance to get you alone.” He glanced behind me again. “They take you out a lot but not to places I can sneak into. This is the first shop that had an unlocked back door.”
“Look, Jake, I'm done.”
“What?”
“I don't know for absolute certain who's telling the truth. From what I've seen, the hounds aren't demons. They're—”
