Chapter 63
CHAPTER SIXTY-THREE
KNOX
Three Days Later…
Carter and I sit in the office going over the cars we have coming in.
“Three more Supras. It’s weird, because we went a year without any, and now they’re coming in constantly. I wonder-”
I stop mid-sentence, as I realize my brother isn’t listening to a word I say.
“What’s going on?” I ask.
He doesn’t respond, so I try again.
“Carter, what’s going on?”
His eyes snap to mine, and he swallows nervously.
“I’ve been thinking about things. I-I think I want you to tie me up.”
I’m sure I heard him wrong.
“I’m sorry. What?”
He leans back in his chair and repeats his words.
“I want you to tie me up.”
I close the laptop and focus my attention on Carter.
“Okay, but why?”
He arches an eyebrow and flashes me an expression telling me the answer should be obvious.
“For her.”
“For her,” I repeat, still confused.
Carter nods and says, “So she can touch me, Knox. I need this. Maybe I can learn to tolerate her touch.”
I shake my head, refusing his request.
“Have you lost your fucking mind, Carter? This is not a ‘mind over matter’ situation. It will not end well.”
He leans forward, placing his elbows on his knees, and puts his head in his hands.
“I need you to help me. You can make sure we are both safe. I have to at least try this. She should be able to touch me. I see how things are between you two, and I want that. It’s so fucking normal. Please, Knox, I need your help with this.”
I blow out a long breath and rub my temples. This is a terrible fucking idea. You cannot cure mental health issues this way.
“This is not the way, Carter. This will do more harm than good.”
Shaking his head, his expression shows so much pain and I fucking hate that I can’t take that away from my brother.
Releasing a loud sigh he says, “Please, Knox. I need to do this in a way that she’ll be kept safe. I need to know no matter what happens, Heather will be okay. I need you for that.”
There’s no way around it. Carter will not let this go until he sees for himself that this won’t work. And he’s right. If I’m not there, she may not be safe.
“When?”
His response is immediate, as if he knew the answer, without time to think about what to say.
“Now.”
I nod and rise from my chair.
“Get Heather and bring her to my room. We can talk to her together first. If she refuses, we will accept it. Consent first, Carter.”
“Knox,” he says, as I turn to walk out the door. Looking back at him over my shoulder, he says, “Thank you.”
I don’t say anything back because what can I possibly say? You’re welcome? He’s going to regret this. I can protect them both physically, but not emotionally. I have very little doubt he’s going to regret this decision, but it is his decision to make, so I go to my bedroom to get things ready.
I attach the restraints to the bed, and they walk through the door. Heather looks at me with a sweet smile, probably assuming the restraints are for her, like they usually are.
Carter motions for her to sit on the end of the bed, and she does.
“I’ve asked Knox to tie me up. I want to learn how to tolerate your touch.”
Her face shows the same horror I feel about this situation. This is a horrible fucking idea.