Page 6 of Bliss, Part 2

Bliss

Being back home felt strange at first, but comfort quickly settled in after a few hours.

The few days at the hospital had been bearable, but only because my family was there the whole time. They didn’t leave me alone for more than a few minutes. They didn’t crowd me either. They just existed around me, filling the space with calm instead of questions.

Tia and Tyler came to visit too, and that was also a moment I cherished. They were so sweet and kind, brought me chocolates and a new romance book. I appreciated their visit. It showed that they truly cared.

The forensic exam had been the worst part of the entire ordeal. I knew it was necessary. I knew they were professionals, and they were kind, and they weren’t there to hurt me. But still…I hated every second of it. I hated being touched there again, even if it was just clinical. Even if it was for justice.

I let it happen because I wanted the bastard who did this to pay. I wanted them to catch him. Officer Holloway had looked me in the eye and promised they’d do everything they could. She said they had leads. That they were close. That they just needed this last bit of proof to make it stick.

I nodded along at the time, but deep down, I wasn’t sure what I believed anymore. I hoped she was right.

Back at the house, the guys gave me room to breathe. They didn’t ask questions. They didn’t push. But they were always nearby. Someone was always in the kitchen, or out on the porch, or walking past the hallway just loud enough for me to know I wasn’t alone. If I needed someone, at least one of them would be there.

It helped. More than anything else.

I started therapy.

It didn’t take much convincing to go either. I agreed to go mostly for Dad’s sake. I could see the way he looked at me. He needed to know I was doing something to take care of myself, so I said yes.

And the therapist was fine. She said good things. She listened well. But honestly, nothing she said helped me as much as just sitting on the porch in silence while Dash leaned his shoulder against mine. Or hearing Ashby call me “sweet girl”

when he handed me a cup of tea. Or having Tripp sitting by me without saying a word while we read books. Those things made me feel like I could keep going, and the world wasn’t completely ruined.

It didn’t take long before I let myself be close to them again. Dash was the first. He was always around, always watching out for me without making me feel smothered. Two nights ago, I asked him to stay in my bed. I didn’t want to be alone. He didn’t hesitate. He climbed in next to me and just held me. His arm around my waist, his breath steady against the back of my neck.

The second night was the same, only something changed. I turned around to face him. He touched my cheek gently, brushed my hair back. And I leaned in and kissed him like it was the most natural thing. I had missed it, although I had been worried I would never feel this way for them ever again.

He looked surprised, but he wasn’t confused. And he didn’t pull away. He just kissed me back, because he clearly still felt the same, too.

It was the same with the others after that. We didn’t plan or talk about it. There were just small moments of closeness when I needed comfort, and they gave it without asking questions.

Their kisses didn’t erase the pain or fix what had happened, but they did something else. They reminded me that I wasn’t broken. That I was still wanted and loved. And that I was still allowed to feel something good.

Dad had made something simple for dinner earlier. Grilled chicken, mashed potatoes, and vegetables. It was the kind of comfort food I needed. After insisting on helping Dad with the dishes, I headed upstairs to take a shower. I lingered in the bathroom longer than I needed to, then I finally dried off, pulled on a clean pair of pajamas, and headed downstairs.

At the bottom of the steps, I saw Dash by the front door. He was bent down, untying his shoes. He smiled when he looked up and saw me.

I smiled back.

“What are you doing?”

He kicked one shoe off and straightened up.

“Just got back from the barn. The guys are over there setting up the projector. They want to watch a movie.”

“Are you not going?”

He shook his head, rubbing the back of his neck.

“Nah. I’m tired. Figured I’d crash early. You?”

I nodded and shrugged.

“I’ll stay here. Hang out with Dad and Odin.”

Dash didn’t try to change my mind. He just stepped closer and cupped my face with both hands. His thumbs brushed lightly over my cheeks, and then he leaned in and kissed me.

“Alright,”

he whispered against my lips.

“I’m in my room if you wanna come up later.”

He kissed me again, soft and slow, then turned and headed upstairs. I watched him for a second, then walked into the living room.

Odin was already on the couch. He looked relaxed, one arm thrown over the backrest, remote in hand. When he saw me, his face lit up a little.

“Hey, sweetheart.”

“Hey,”

I said, sitting down beside him.

“What are you watching?”

“Nothing. Just flipping through random stuff.”

He held out the remote.

“You wanna pick something?”

I nodded. “Sure.”

While I scrolled through the streaming options, Dad came in and sat down on my other side. He leaned back slowly, his body finally relaxing. I picked something random—an old Adam Sandler movie that probably wouldn’t hold my attention but might at least make me laugh a little.

Dad glanced at the screen and gave a soft grunt.

“That’s a good one.”

I smiled and leaned into him a bit, tucking my legs under me on the couch.

“You want a blanket?”

Odin asked. Before I could even answer, he reached over, grabbed one off the back of the couch, and spread it over my legs.

“Thanks.”

I pulled it tighter around me and tried to focus on the movie. I really did try. But after a few minutes, I wasn’t watching it anymore. My eyes were on the screen, but my thoughts were somewhere else entirely.

I could feel their bodies next to mine. Their warmth and protection. And it stirred something in me I’d tried to ignore.

Though, these feelings didn’t start after what happened to me. They weren’t some twisted byproduct of trauma. They were there long before I was ever touched by a stranger. Before therapy. Before I even had words for the way I loved them.

The things I did with my cousins and brothers…I used to believe they were wrong. I told myself I needed help. That I was messed up. But now, I wasn’t so sure. Those moments were real. And in some ways, they were the only thing that made me feel whole again after everything fell apart.

So I started wondering if getting close to Dad and Odin would help even more. If letting myself feel that kind of love from them would fill the space I couldn’t fix on my own. It wasn’t lust or some act of desperation. I just wanted closeness and safety. I wanted them. All six of them.

I turned my head and looked at Odin. His hands were clasped in his lap. His shoulders were relaxed, his attention on the TV. I watched him quietly, then I turned to Dad. His eyes met mine right away.

His face softened when he noticed something was up. Then he looked concerned.

“You okay, sweetheart?”

“Yeah,”

I said, my voice small.

“I’m okay. I was just…”

“You were just what?”

He reached up and brushed a piece of hair from my face, his touch careful.

“You know you can talk to us. Whatever it is, we’ll listen.”

“I know.”

I hesitated, then sat up straighter. My hands twisted in my lap.

“I don’t want to freak you out.”

Dad’s eyebrows pulled together. Odin shifted beside me, sitting up straighter too.

“What’s going on?”

Odin asked, his voice calm but tense.

“Did something happen?”

“No. Nothing happened.”

I tried to laugh, but it came out wrong.

“I’ve just…been thinking a lot. About everything.”

Neither of them said a word. They waited for me to elaborate.

“It’s, um…”

I cleared my throat and took a breath.

“The guys have been helping. A lot. More than I expected. More than therapy, honestly. I’m still going to see her, but it’s not the same. The guys…we’re still kissing.”

Dad gave a small nod. His jaw was tight. “We know.”

“Okay. That’s good. I wasn’t sure.”

I pressed my lips together.

“And I was thinking that maybe…it would help if—”

“Don’t,”

Dad said sharply.

I flinched. His voice wasn’t loud, but it cut through the air like a slap.

I turned to him, eyes wide.

“I’m sorry. I just thought—”

“I know exactly what you thought, Bliss.”

He sighed and dragged a hand down his face.

“And I need you to listen to me right now.”

I didn’t speak and just watched him until he continued.

“This is what trauma does. It confuses everything. It makes closeness feel like a fix. And it’s not always a healthy one. When Odin and I were kids, when our dad hurt us, we did the same thing. We clung to each other. Crossed lines. Because no one else was there.”

The words hit hard, but I kept listening.

He went on.

“When you told us what you’d been doing with the boys, we asked if something happened that led to it. You said no. You told us it came from love. Not pain. That’s why we didn’t interfere. But now…”

He trailed off.

Odin leaned forward, elbows on his knees. He turned to look at me directly.

“Bliss, do you really understand what you’re asking for?”

“I think I do?”

Dad looked over at him, then back at me.

“We can’t help you the way you think you need us to. It’s not because we don’t love you. We do. But what you’re asking us to do…it comes with so much heaviness if there’s regret after. We don’t want to cause any more damage.”

“You don’t understand,”

I said quietly.

“I think I need this. I need you. All of you. It’s the only thing that makes me feel like I’m getting better. Like I’m safe. The therapist can’t give me that. She can’t hold me. Can’t make it stop hurting.”

They exchanged another long look, and the silence was getting heavy.

Then Dad spoke again.

“If anything ever happens between us, it has to happen naturally. Because it feels right. Not because you think it’ll save you.”

I nodded slowly.

“We’re not saying no. But we’re not rushing into anything either. It has to come from a place of clarity. Not confusion. Not pain. Despite how…complicated it is.”

“Okay,”

I said, my voice a faint whisper.

“Naturally,”

he repeated.

“That’s the only way.”

“Okay,”

I said again, leaning back and pulling the blanket up to cover my body.

Naturally.

I could agree to that.

***

Dad had fallen asleep on the couch. His breathing was heavy, the TV still flickering in front of him. I stood there for a moment, watching him in the dim light, my mind turning over what had been said earlier.

Odin lingered for a minute, too. He glanced at me before heading down the hall toward his bedroom. Before he disappeared behind his door, he told me it would be alright. He told me I should get some rest.

They both believed I hadn’t thought it through. That I was reacting to emotion and not making a reasonable choice. But I had thought about it for a while now. Over and over. I knew exactly what I wanted and exactly what I needed. And until things played out on their own, I would keep taking what I needed from the ones who already gave it to me.

I walked quietly upstairs until I reached Dash’s room. I opened the door to find his room dark and him asleep. He was sprawled under the covers with his back to the wall.

I slipped inside, careful not to wake him, but the second I climbed onto the mattress and lifted his blanket, his body stirred instantly. He was so aware of everything, even in his sleep.

“Lissy…”

His voice was low and rough with sleep. He reached toward me without opening his eyes.

“Yes, I’m here.”

I moved closer until my body was pressed against his, my face buried into the side of his neck.

“I didn’t mean to wake you.”

“It’s fine,”

he murmured. His arms came around me, pulling me closer.

“You’re tense. What’s wrong?”

“Nothing.”

“Liar.”

I sighed, closing my eyes.

“It’s really nothing, Dash.”

He let out a quiet groan and pushed himself up onto one elbow, leaning over me. His face was still soft from sleep, but his eyes had sharpened, his expression a mix between annoyed and concerned.

“You might not realize this,”

he said, his voice low but clear, “but I know you better than anyone in this house. Better than you know yourself. When something’s wrong, I know. When you’re not telling me something, I know. So you better talk before I go downstairs and ask my dad.”

That caught me off guard. I felt a smile tug at my lips, though I tried to hide it.

“You think this is amusing?”

“A little,”

I admitted, pressing my lips together.

“Fine,”

he said, his tone shifting.

“If you won’t tell me, I’ll just have to bring out the big guns.”

I frowned, confused for only a second before realizing what he meant.

“Stop!”

I squeaked, curling into myself as his hands dug into my sides.

“Dash, stop!”

“That’s what you get for lying to me,”

he said, his voice lighter now. His fingers moved faster, tickling without mercy.

“Are you going to talk to me?”

I couldn’t answer. Laughter took over, my body jerking as I tried to push him away.

“Dash, please—”

I gasped between laughs, my hands against his chest, trying to push him away.

“I w-will tell you, I promise!”

“Say you swear,”

he demanded, grinning as his hands kept moving.

“I swear! I swear I’ll tell you—just stop, please!”

My laughter turned breathless.

The muscles in my stomach ached, but the sound coming out of me was real. It had been days since I’d laughed from somewhere deep inside, and for a moment, all the weight I’d been carrying felt lighter.

He finally slowed, the grin still on his face. I caught his wrists, making sure he didn’t go for my waist again.

“You think you can just sneak into my bed, wake me up, and refuse to talk without consequences?”

he asked, still teasing. He freed one hand, cupped my cheek, and kissed my forehead.

“Tell me what’s on your mind.”

He shifted, leaning back against the headboard. His arm stayed around me, guiding me against his side, while his other hand rested on my thigh and pulled my leg over his lap.

I let my cheek rest against his shoulder. My breathing finally slowed.

“I told Dad and Odin that I want to have sex with them,”

I blurted out.

I felt the change in his body immediately. He went still, except for his fingers lightly brushing my thigh.

I didn’t rush him. I knew the reaction was coming.

When he finally spoke, his voice was quiet.

“Because you think it’ll help you deal with everything?”

I nodded.

“It does with you and the others. I don’t know how to explain it without it sounding wrong. But I know I need them the way I need you guys. Maybe that’s selfish. But it’s what I want.”

He looked down at his hand on my leg, his jaw tight.

“Shit,”

he muttered, rubbing his face with his hand. “Okay.”

“Would that cross a line for you?”

I asked. His discomfort was subtle, but it was there.

His hand dropped back to my thigh as he gave a small shrug.

“It’ll be weird, seeing my dad do that with you. But if it’s what you need, and they’re okay with it…”

“Dad said we need to let it happen naturally. So maybe it won’t ever happen.”

Dash let out a dry laugh.

“No. It’ll happen. They’d do anything for you. They’ll give in eventually.”

“You think so?”

“Yeah.”

We sat there in silence for a moment. I watched his face until a small laugh slipped out of me.

“We’re sick.”

“That’s debatable,”

he said, his own laugh breaking through.

“Thank God none of this leaves the house. We’d be dead if it did.”

I touched his cheek lightly.

“That’s what makes us different. Our family. The way we love each other. I don’t think I could’ve made it through without you guys.”

Dash nodded.

“I think we’d still be this close even without the other stuff. We’ve always been this way. The sex just…happened.”

“Are you saying it was a mistake?”

“No, Lissy. That’s definitely not what I’m saying. You know I’ve always loved you differently before the others even thought about it.”

He lifted his hand and cupped the side of my head, brushing his fingers through my hair.

“I’m just stating facts. No harm in that. I just needed to say it out loud for once.”

“Okay.”

I searched his face.

“So you’re not mad?”

“No. I just need a second to picture my dad—and yours—fucking…”

He stopped himself.

“When you put it like that, it sounds wrong,” I said.

“Because in a way, it is,”

he replied.

“But we’re all choosing this. We do it because we love each other. Because it keeps us together.”

“I know.”

We were silent again, just taking in everything we just said to each other.

“Don’t worry,”

he said eventually, squeezing my leg gently.

“We’re all here. Always.”