Page 9 of Cookies and Control

No hesitation. Interesting. “What if the things I want sexually are… not so nice? Would that be confusing?”

He takes a deep breath. “In a relationship, it’s important that you speak up, be clear about what you want… your kinks. A responsible partner will listen. Have you tried talking to the men who won you?”

Admitting my kinks to the owner of a sex club, whom I’ll never see again, seems safe enough. I start with the most basic problem. “My dad won me, but he refuses to have sex with me, much less hear me out on kinks.”

Laz’s eyebrows raise. “Your dad?”

“Stepdad,” I clarify.

He nods, understanding softening his features. “There were two guys. Who is the other one?”

“That’s Rocky, my stepuncle. Bull won’t let him have sex with me either.” I sigh, frustration bubbling up. “The contract says if we don’t have sex, I’m offered to the next highest bidder, but that’s the guy who won Sabrina. I don’t want to ruin her special night.”

Laz processes this. “So, your stepdad and your uncle… Where’s your mom in all this?”

“She died a few years ago,” I say, grateful he has the decency to clarify the ethics.

He shakes his head sympathetically. “My condolences.”

“Thanks. I barely remember her.” And I don’t want to right now given the topic at hand. Maybe I am a terrible person. “Do you think there’s any chance we can salvage tonight?”

“Let’s go talk to them.”

I lead Laz back to the room, the tension making each step feel like a march to the gallows. Bull and Rocky wait inside, their expressions full of concern.

Laz steps in, his presence commanding, and the room suddenly feels smaller. “Gentlemen,” he starts politely, “let’s discuss the contract.”

Bull abandons politeness. “I’m not fucking my daughter.”

Laz gives me ayou weren’t kiddinglook, then takes a step closer to Bull. “You’re herstepfather. You knew the terms.”

Bull’s jaw clenches and the corded muscles in his neck tighten. “I’m the only father she’s known. I won’t have sex with her, and neither will my brother.”

Rocky jumps in. “I would—”

“No.” Bull’s voice is firm.

Funny feelings wiggle through me. It might be possible to pull this off with Rocky even if Bull isn’t willing.

Rocky shrugs. “Maybe?”

“Still no.”

“If it comes down to making good on the contract—”

“I said no.”

Ugh! The contract. Instead of getting upset that a legal agreement might be Rocky’s only reason, Lazovski’s kind words remind me that I might be prettier than I think. What if Rocky is hiding his feelings behind the contract?

Laz waits for other options, and when none present themselves, he says. “Then you forfeit, and Betsy goes to the next highest bidder. I’ll bring the form for you to state your refusal.”

Sabrina’s going to hate me. I try to think. Oh no! What if Hottie refuses me too? I mean, I want him to be madly in love with Sabrina and refuse me, but that would make me the first failure of the auction.

Bull squares up with Laz. “No one—”

Rocky steps between them, his hands raised in a calming gesture. “Let’s all take a breath.” He turns to Laz, his voice smooth and persuasive. “We’re snowed in, right? No one’s going anywhere.”

Laz nods, his expression unreadable.

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