Page 10 of Cookies and Control

Rocky flashes a comforting smile at me. “Give us until morning. Let us figure this out as a family.”

Gratitude wells up inside me. He’s buying us time, giving us a chance to navigate this mess. Giving me hope.

His thick physique and courageousness don’t exactly leave mesettlingfor a consolation prize. He and my stepdad look a lot alike—ruggedly handsome with dark, captivating eyes and a commanding presence, rounded out with broad shoulders and hard bodies. We just have to get a few minutes away from my pesky stepfather.

I turn to Laz, my voice steady. “I’m okay with that.”

Laz looks at Bull who nods, then says, “Until morning. But if neither of you fulfill the contract to please Betsy, someone else will.”

Six

Rocky

Left to sort out our dilemma, Bull attempts to sit on a leather seat that looks more like a sculpture than a chair then gives up and checks out another piece of furniture.

“You’re not gonna find a recliner here, Bull,” I say, amusement lacing my words. “That one’s a spanking bench. The first one is a tantric lounge chair. Not designed for… regular sitting.”

Betsy’s eyes widen as I state the names, and she studies the items. I can’t stop my imagination from visualizing how she’d look on each one. Her gaze shifts to me, landing on my pants where it’s obvious I’ve failed to keep my cock from thickening against my thigh.

Bull steps away from the furniture like it might bite him, and moves to the side of the room, taking a wide stance, arms crossed as if standing guard.

With a look of defiance, Betsy sits on the kneeling pad of the spanking bench.

Wrong way Betsy, you’re supposed to turn around and stick that ass out for me to enjoy.My thoughts are enough to make my brother hate me forever. And if I can’t talk some sense into him, I’ll have to face that option. But surely he sees that having sex with her is better than passing her to another bidder.

I need time to think. Bull needs time to calm down. And Betsy needs me to get rid of Bull so she can get what she came for.

I know her too well; she’s feeling small and vulnerable.

I’m torn between wanting to comfort her and navigating my brother’s mental state. All the more reason I can’t let my thoughts tumble from my lips.

Following her lead, I claim a spot on a bondage chair, leaning forward, elbows on my knees. “Let’s talk this out.”

Betsy’s fingers toy with the fur on her top, while her gaze flicks from me to Bull and back again. She’s nervous, but she’s thinking. Good. We need ideas, not panic.

She says, “Please don’t send me to the next bidder. He won Sabrina, and I can’t risk messing this up for her.”

Bull paces. “You have so much going for you. I give you a huge house to live in. Rocky and I are funding your friend’s coffee shop franchise that you’ll eventually buy into—hell, I offered to set you up with enough money from the start. You’re the one who refused it, wanting to earn your business opportunity. Why can’t you be grateful for everything I’ve done for you?”

Has he completely disconnected? She says, “Tonight has nothing to do with running a business.”

He stops pacing. “It’s my job to protect you.”

“Forever? I’m an adult.” She pauses then adds, “I’ll move out if that’s what it takes to prove it. And next year you’ll have to put up your own Christmas decorations.”

She does love decorating for holidays and baking. She keeps their house homey and smelling delicious. She keeps him alive.

My fists ball. I can’t let him push her away. “I think what he means to say is that he wants what’s best for you. He doesn’t want you to move—”

“I can speak for myself. I can’t believe the child I raised was willing to sell her body to a stranger.”

I have to step in with a few points he missing. “Let’s be clear. Betsy’s not a child. We won her in a sex auction. She’s having sex with someone tonight. Wouldn’t it be nice to know it’s someone who cares about her?”

Tears well in her eyes. It breaks my heart that he’s so bull-headed, one of the many reasons he got that nickname. We agree on one point though… she can’t sell herself to a stranger.

I’ve never revealed my feelings about her, and while tonight isn’t the time to tell Bull I want to claim her as my own, I’m determined to make this work. “What if we go with the lesser of evils?”

Bull stares as if I’m waving a red cape. He’s too angry to see straight. The only option may be to negotiate this so that he hates me instead of her.

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