You want to have sex with me while I’m unconscious?
“It’s been a while.” Her voice is steady enough, but her fingers shake as she drops them. “But I’m pretty sure I got the gist.”
River and I are frozen in place, the panic in his expression undoubtedly matching my own.
“Asleep.” The low, steady voice has all of us looking at Jenson. There’s a slight flush to his own face, but he meets Briar’s gaze steadily. “And not without your permission.”
And not right now, I hastily add.We’re not going to hurt you, or do anything to make you uncomfortable.
“Semantics,” Briar murmurs. She’s still pale, and I glance behind her to the chair. “They’re the same thing.”
Maybe, but asleep sounds a hell of a lot better than unconscious. Especially when she’s still staring at us, shell-shocked and trembling. None of us move. I’m not sure River is even breathing.
“Do you want us to leave?” Jenson asks quietly. “We will. Immediately, if you ask us to.”
This is it.
In a moment, the power dynamics in this room swing in favor of a still-silent Briar, and she doesn’t even realize. Maybe we didn’t discuss the exact way we’d ask – not when we didn’t know who it would be – but we understand the parameters of this arrangement inside and out. Went over it, over and over again, to make sure this could be something our unknown partner might be comfortable with. To make sure they could put their trust in us and know exactly what that meant.
She holds the power. She has to, in order for this to work. Everything is now on her terms. Everything begins and ends withher.
The room is still silent.
“Briar,” River says finally. She jolts, as if lost in her own thoughts. Her arms wrap around her waist as she slowly turns. He holds out a hand, his face pleading. “Sit down. Please.”
She looks as if she might pass out. Eyeing River’s hand warily until he pulls it back, she retreats back to the chair we found her sleeping in when we first arrived.
Her eyes drop down, and I wonder if she’s realizing the same thing. “Was that – why? Because you found me like that?”
And fuck, she soundsscared.
“No.” River looks agonized. As if he can feel her slipping through our fingers. “God, no. We – it’s a long story, Briar. But we’ve been looking for someone for a long time. Someone who might… be interested in an arrangement. A temporary one, with clear limits. Everything would be planned out to make sure you were safe. This isn’t a whim.”
“Someone.” She whispers it as if tasting the word. “And you think I’m that person.”
“Only if you wanted to be.” Jenson steps up. He may have his own insecurities, but I know he’ll allow none of them to show right now. Not when she looks so fragile. “There is no pressure, either way.”
She studies her fingers, her face unreadable. “But you…want me to be that person.”
He doesn’t hesitate. “Yes.”
I’m holding my breath. She’s wary, and rightfully so.
But she hasn’t saidno.
I wait for her to glance up. Her eyes move straight to me, drop to my hands.Do you have any questions?
She takes a deep breath.I have many, many questions.
Obviously. But her lip twitches slightly at the corner. The three of us watch, staying back and giving her space as she straightens. “How would it work?”
Fuck.
Hope. It bursts to life inside my chest, as if my ribcage is stretching out and giving my lungs room.
River clears his throat when Jenson glances at him. It’s a good choice, given they’ve already met. Barely, but he has a head start on either of us.
“There is a draft agreement,” he says softly. “It sets out everything we could think of, but it’s only a draft. It’s supposed to be a starting point, and anything you wanted to change, add or remove is up for discussion. The agreement would set out the boundaries for all of us – what you’re comfortable with, how we would approach it, the time given – everything.”
