I smiled, wondering why I didn’t feel awkward about having this conversation with him. But then...this was Brandt. I’m not sure anything we ever discussed could become awkward between us.
“So...you prefer total control, huh?” I said. Then I lifted my eyebrows with a curious interest. “Like...restraints...kind of control?”
He was slow to answer, but after a moment, he gave a reluctant nod. “Sometimes, yeah. That’s been known to get me off. I don’t want to forcefully subdue anyone or hurt a girl, nothing like that. I just like...doing all the work, you know, while she lays back and takes in the pleasure.”
Air seeped from my lungs as I soaked in the mental picture he drew. It sounded...nice.
Very nice.
Finally, when I had phased out for too long, he whispered, “Sarah?”
I licked my dry lips and glanced up to meet his worried gaze. I knew I needed to answer, but oh my God, what could I say to that? That I actually liked the idea of what he thought was fucked up?
“Sorry, uh...I think I just had a mini-orgasm there. I’m okay now.”
“Orgasm?” He sat up straighter. “You mean you—”
“Yeah,” I muttered, cutting him off. “Sorry. What you described sounded like, well...fun. But whatever. We should probably head back in now...” He opened his mouth to respond, but I wasn’t sure if I could take another sex rejection from him, so I rushed to add, “I have a bad feeling your family’s trying to watch us out the window.”
Simultaneously, we shifted our gazes toward the house, and sure enough, about half a dozen silhouettes loomed at the back windows.
Brandt blew out a shuddered breath and spiked his hands through his hair. “I don’t know what to say to them. I don’t want to talk about it. I don’t even want to think about it. God, I wish Colton had kept his fucking trap shut.”
“It’s okay,” I murmured, petting his arm. “I got this. Let’s just...we’ll get this one confrontation out of the way, and then you can come home with me tonight, okay?”
He nodded, looking relieved. “Okay. Thank you.” Leaning in, he pressed his mouth to my temple as if trying to eke some courage from me before he let out a breath. Then he slid me off his lap and pushed to his feet.
I didn’t want the wheelchair and when I said so, he didn’t argue. I think he kind of wanted to stay close to me, anyway. Looping an arm around my waist to support me, he made himself my crutch while we took painfully slow steps up the ramp and back inside through the rear entrance.
As expected, all his siblings, plus their spouses, but no children, were still loitering in the kitchen.
We pulled to a halt and faced them together.
Noel took one look at Brandt’s still-incredibly-pale face and swollen, bloodshot eyes before he erupted. “That fucking bitch! I’m going to kill her.”
His words uncorked the pressure brewing in everyone, and they all started talking at once, threatening all manner of disembowelment and torture to their mother, and promising justice for Brandt.
Knowing this was exactly what he wanted to avoid, I held up a hand and shouted, “No!”
The family actually quieted, which made me blink, a little shocked my command had worked. But now that I had everyone’s attention, I was going to steer the conversation to where Brandt wanted it.
“Here’s what’s going to happen,” I started. “Each of you will have a turn to say whatever you need to say to him. There will be no questions about the actual event, but you can let him know that you do not blame him for anything, and love him no matter what. And then, after that, we’ll never speak of this again. Got it?”
This time, I think my authority managed to shock everyone else too. Even Brandt gazed at me with raised eyebrows. But at least they followed my rules.
Ten was the first to clear his throat and wave a hand before stepping forward. “Can I go first?” When I realized he was asking me, I raised an eyebrow and gave him a nod.
He turned to Brandt. “Dude... You’re my wife’s brother and my daughter’s uncle. You’re family, and you always will be, no matter what. I got your back, man.”
When Ten reached out a fist to pound it out, Brandt tightened his grip on my waist but used his free hand to bump his knuckles against his brother-in-law’s.
Following right behind her husband, Caroline threw her arms around Brandt’s neck and hugged him hard. He had to let go of me to hug her back, so I shuffled toward the kitchen counters and leaned against them to support my weight as his sister cried, “I love you, bubba. I’m so sorry I didn’t save you. I wish I’d known what was happening. I would’ve torn into that room and broken her fucking neck.”
Nodding, Brandt took her words with a small smile that dropped as soon as Colton stepped forward.
“I’m sorry,” his younger brother choked out. “I’m so sorry.”