Page 20 of Briar

Jenson shrugs at my question.No idea.

Behind us, I hear the low murmur of River’s voice. He’s buying time.

We did not think this through.

Because how the hell do you broach a conversation like this one?

Did you bring a copy of the agreement?

Jenson raises his eyebrows.What the fuck do you think?

But his eyes slip away from me, searching for Briar. I understand his worries, even if I think they’re unfounded. But he doesn’t seem torn now as his eyes return to me.We’ll need to talk it through, the three of us. We’ll come back.

Now that we’ve actually found someone. This idea always felt like more of a suggestion than anything else. Until now.

I resist the urge to turn and look for her. We’re already overwhelming her. I can see it in her face.

We could always shred our wardrobe like River. I can hear him digging around in the bag now, pulling out all of theaccidentaltears he created this morning with the tip of his knife and a heap of his suits. Jenson and I watched on with confusion and more than a little entertainment.

It doesn’t feel so funny now. I get it.

Do you really think this will work?My heart is in my throat as I sign the words.She doesn’t even know us. We’re strangers to her. Do you really think she’s going to agree to just let us put her to sleep so we can fuck her?Do whatever we want with her?

It sounds like madness, even as the words form.

Thetrustit would take for someone to agree to our arrangement – and not just one of us, but all of us. To come to our home and make themselves vulnerable on such a basic level. Drug themselves, for our use.

Any sane person would run screaming.

Jenson’s eyes lift. I keep signing as I follow his gaze.She’s perfect. But she’d have to be insane to sign up for us—

“Kai.” Jenson’s voice is sharp. A warning.

My fingers stutter, the movement stalling.

Because Briar is watching us.

But her eyes aren’t on our faces.

They’re on my fingers, her face a lot paler than it was a moment ago and her eyebrows drawn into a deep frown.

My heart flips inside my chest, so loud I can hear it. Can she—?

Slowly, I sign.Can you understand me?

She sucks in a breath, and my heartbeat becomes louder, drowning out every other sound. I take a step forward.

You can sign.

It’s not a question, as her eyes slowly move up. Behind her, River stands, looking between us. And the tension in the room rises until it prickles against my skin as her eyes widen.

“You want to…,” Briar pauses. Takes a breath. “Put me to sleep? While you—,”

Her tanned skin flushes a deep shade of scarlet.

Fuck. Fuck, fuck,fuck.

Slowly, her fingers move. She’s hesitant, but the sigs are perfectly legible, even as the bottom drops out of my stomach.