“Of course she did!” Patrick’s voice grew angry and Katie looked at him with big eyes. “She signed all the forms!”

“I’m Liam,” the big man said to her, speaking softly as he worked the leather strap on the side of her mouth loose. “You’re safe.”

“What are you doing?” Patrick was mad-practically hopping mad, shifting his weight from foot to foot. “She wants to be here. She-”

“Take another look, little brother.” Liam sneered over his shoulder at Patrick and then turned his attention back to Katie, taking the ball-gag gently from her mouth, glistening with her saliva. “She’s sobbing.”

“Aardvark! Aardvark! Aardvark!” Katie croaked hoarsely, her face full of tears and snot and, she imagined, a great deal of mascara.

“Your safeword?” Liam guessed, using the sleeve of his black turtleneck to gently wipe her cheeks.

She nodded, looking at Patrick, her chin quivering. “I tried to say… I tried…”

“But we hadn’t even started,” Patrick whispered, his expression moving from anger to confusion.

“You need to pay attention!” Liam roared and Katie shrank back from him as he shifted focus to his brother. “Every minute. Every second. Every single fucking breath. ” Liam’s jaw clenched as he turned back to Katie, his massive hands gentle as he loosened her wrist straps, moving more carefully when he saw the fear in her eyes.

“I told you that you weren’t ready for this!” Liam’s words were meant for his brother but she felt them resonate in her belly like a tuning fork.

Patrick stood, blinking, his crop forgotten, falling to the floor. “Rookie mistake?” he whispered, his face pained as he watched his brother take Katie down from the restraints, her body collapsing. Liam cradled her against his chest.