Page 70 of Truth

Unfortunately he didn’t get very far before Jade and Brianna strolled back into the room. They took one look at the two of us and reacted. Jade ran to Ross’s side, and Brianna to mine. She surprised me, though. Instead of standing behind me or beside me, she stood in front of me, facing Ross.

“Get out of my way, Anna.”

“No.”

“Anna, I don’t know what he’s conned you into believing, but it isn’t true. You don’t have to let him touch you. You don’t have to let him beat you, or whatever it is he likes to do. I promise you, you don’t. You can stay with me if you want. I’ll make sure your father stays away. He won’t bother you.”

“He doesn’t hurt me.”

“I know what he is.”

She cocked her head to the side. I couldn’t see her face, but I could imagine the confused look she was giving him.

“He’s a Dominant, Anna. He admitted it to me himself. He likes to tie women up, beat them, and have his wicked way with them.”

Ross’s declaration was met with silence. The only sound that could be heard in the room was his ragged breathing. Everyone, including me, was waiting with bated breath for Brianna’s response.

When she finally opened her mouth, she shocked all of us. “I know.”

Chapter Nineteen

Stephan

“You know? What do you mean you know?” Ross’s chest moved up and down rapidly. I could tell he was trying to rein in his emotions so as not to upset Brianna, but I wasn’t sure he was winning the battle.

“I know.”

Ross ran a hand over his face and sighed. “Anna, I need you to explain this to me, please. If you know, as you say you do, then why... how could you possibly want to stay here with him? Haven’t you been through enough? Or on some level did you enjoy having the shit beat out of you?”

Brianna jerked at his accusation. I took hold of her shoulders and pulled her protectively against me. She was stiff beneath my hands. “Watch it, Ross. I’m not above throwing you out of my house.”

He glared at me.

“It’s not the same,” Brianna whispered, bringing everyone’s attention back to her. She was nervous. She held her body in such a rigid position that her limbs began to tremble.

“Then explain it to me.” Ross crossed his arms and stared, waiting for Brianna.

“He... he doesn’t hurt me.”

When she didn’t continue, Ross began to get impatient. “You keep saying that, Anna, but BDSM is all about whips and chains and pain. If you really know, how can you say he doesn’t hurt you?”

I was once again considering throwing him out and being done with it. Did the man not understand the meaning of boundaries? How was what Brianna and I did any of his concern as long as it was what she wanted?

“I don’t know what you want me to say.”

That robotic sound was creeping into her voice, but she appeared to fight it. The pride I had in her at that moment nearly knocked me off my feet. I realized it was Ross she was talking to, not some stranger, and that she was defending me rather than herself, but she was doing so without falling into a spiral of panic.

Ross glanced at me and then back to her, flexing his fingers. “Has he tied you up, Anna? Has he hit you?”

She shook her head. “No.”

I saw his Adam’s apple bob up and down as he took a deep swallow. Whatever he was going to ask next, I doubted I was going to like it.

“Has he made you have sex with him?”

Brianna cringed, leaning against me. Other than that, she didn’t respond to his question.

“Answer the question, Anna.” His voice was demanding and tainted with barely controlled anger. “Is he forcing you to have sex with him?”

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