“Briar.” Jenson doesn’t moderate his voice, doesn’t soften the harshness in his tone. She jerks her gaze to him. “The one thing you should know is that everything about this – every single thing – is in your control.Everything.”
“How…,” Her brow wrinkles in confusion. “I don’t understand.”
Jenson crouches, so they’re at an equal eye level. “You don’t want something? It’s gone. Not going to happen. You want to add something? Done. You’re uncomfortable at any time? It stops. Whilst we each have our own boundaries – lines we will not or cannot cross - every single action during this agreement would be yours to dictate.”
When she looks at me, I nod.You would be at the center of this in every way.
When she flushes, I belatedly realize what I’ve said and cringe.I didn’t mean it like that. Only that whilst you would be asleep, this whole process is based on your consent. What you tell us we can do, and what we can’t do.
I hold her eyes as I continue.Where we can touch you. Use our mouths on you. Undress you. Before, after and during. Every small aspect would be something you have given us permission to do.
Fuck. I have to stop. The way she watches me – her lips parting, her breathing a little heavier - is making me want to throw all of the rules out of the window. Shaking out my hands, I take a breath.
Finally, she swallows and looks away. “I need to think about this.”
“A good idea.” Jenson nods. “And if you would prefer not to hear from us again, we’ll respect your wishes. If you do decide you might be interested, we can meet and go over the agreement in detail.”
Her lips twitch upward. “The ball is in my court, right?”
River winks at her, his face a mixture of nerves and relief. “Exactly right.”
She nods, twisting her fingers. “Can I… how would I contact you?”
River gives her all of our numbers. “Just in case. One of us will always answer.”
She turns her phone over in her hands, her eyes cast down. “This is all very… businesslike.”
The three of us exchange glances. Jenson holds up his hand when River opens his mouth, stopping him. “Because these boundaries are important. This is a formal agreement, Briar. We don’t take it lightly, and neither should you. If you decide to go ahead, then things will be different. But there will be an end date. This is not a permanent offer. But everything is set out to protect you, and us.”
River scowls at him, but Jenson doesn’t move. “I need you to understand that.”
This is his line. His only boundary, since he’s already pushed his other one aside for us.
Not someone we’ll grow to care about.
Briar nods. “But you do…wantme?”
Jenson looks as if someone’s punched him in his kidney at the small, self-conscious words. He almost takes a step toward her before pulling back, clenching his fists. “Wanting you is not an issue. If you sign the agreement, we’ll show youexactlyhow much.”
“But only while I’m sleeping.” She sounds thoughtful as she peeks up at him.
He nods. “We’ll wait for you to decide. Take your time. And for the love of God, lock your damn door.”
With that, he strides to the door and yanks it open, disappearing into the street. River smiles down at Briar, unusually gentle. “Thank you for the jacket.”
He slips his hands into his pockets before he leaves, his whistle reaching us just as the door closes.
I wait until she looks at me.We really didn’t mean to hit you with this today. R met you, and he liked you. We just wanted to meet you too.
Briar’s fingers move.Did you… like me too?
A quick movement.Yes.Very much.
She smiles, then. Just for me.I’ll think about it. Kai.
She fingerspells each letter of my name, pausing when my fingers land on hers.Use this instead.
Her hand is warm underneath mine as I draw back, sketching the sig.
