Page 18 of Cookies and Control

Bull and Rocky’s conversation stops. I glance toward the doorway as they stare at me in horror. They heard the book, but do they understand what I’m trying to tell them?

Bull bursts into the kitchen, thrown to the side by Rocky as they rush to me. They talk over each other, demanding to know what kind of trash I’m listening to.

Bull reaches for my phone. I try to stop him, but he overpowers me and shuts it off. “What the hell was that?”

“Betsy…” Rocky’s voice and expression are full of concern, and possibly, disgust.

I try to find the words. “It’s just a story. It’s consensual.”

Bull’s face hardens. “Forcing a woman to have sex isn’t fine, Betsy. It’s not something to fantasize about.”

“Women do all the time. It’s safe.”

“It’s not.” He reaches out, grabbing the knot in my t-shirt. He’s torn between his attempt to release it and to avoid touching me. My shirt falls partway, caught uncomfortably between modest and revealing, leaving me feeling embarrassed.

“You don’t understand.” I bite my fingernail. “They have safewords. It’s all agreed upon.”

Bull slams his fist on the counter, making me jump. “That’s not how the real world works, Betsy. You can’t say a word and make everything stop. You could get hurt.”

Rocky nods, siding with Bull. “He’s right. Whatever you’re listening to is dangerous.”

Bull runs a hand through his hair, his voice firm. “I’m sorry if I made a mess of things by winning you at the club, but maybe I saved you from actual harm. This stops now.” He turns and walks away, leaving me exposed and speechless.

Rocky’s brow furrows as he studies me, his expression a blend of concern and confusion. “Betsy, I’m trying to wrap my head around this, but what I heard…” His gaze searches mine, pleading for an explanation.

His mental wheels turn as he tries to reconcile what his innocent niece enjoys.

“It’s a kink.”

“It’s not a safe one.” He paces away from me, his fingers dragging through his hair.

“Please let me explain. It’s called consensual-non-consent.”

He pauses, slowly turns, and says, “Non-consent… Do you know what that sounds—”

“But it’s consensual.”

He starts to say something then turns and leaves.

I really screwed this up.

Twelve

Rocky

I grab my phone and set it back down several times before typing and retyping a text to Betsy. I’m not sure how or what I want to say.

Casually bringing up kinks isn’t something I ever imagined doing with my niece. Well, I’ve imagined it, but there are no repercussions in my dreams, and Bull hasn’t banished me from his home the way he did in the few days since the blowup.

He demanded a truce on sex discussions until after Christmas. It’s the only thing all of us were able to agree on.

I’m treading on thin ice reaching out, but I have to. I can’t let him freeze her out the way he has, and I have my own apology to give.

And I need her to know how much I love her. I wouldn’t be worthy of her if I waited.

Fingers tapping nervously on the screen, I keep the text simple:I did some digging on that CNC thing. Can we meet?

Using the acronym should be a hint that I’ve done research, without saying anything obvious in case Bull sees the message. I leave out the part where my cock gets hard at the thought of her resisting while I take control. I’m still wrapping my head around that being a thing.

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