“Not to her,” Liam snapped, his voice growing quiet as he shifted his attention. “What’s your name?”

“K-K-Katie…” she managed. She was shivering now, uncontrollably, although she had no idea why. She tried to speak, to tell him what had happened, that it was just a mistake, she’d made a mistake, but no words would come out, just little hitches in her throat from crying so hard.

“We’re going to get you dressed now, Katie, okay?” Liam stroked her hair as he reached behind her to unfasten her leg restraints one-handed. She clung to him-he was solid as a tree trunk, but far more pliable and warm. He got her other leg undone and pulled her fully into his arms.

“Patrick, hand me that blanket.” There was a black one in the corner, meant for sensory deprivation, Katie guessed-she’d read extensively about the subject. It was soft and Liam wrapped it around her shoulders, pulling her slowly to a standing position, but her legs felt like jelly and wouldn’t hold her, so he scooped her up, his arm under her knees, like she was just a little bit of fluff, carrying her over to the big bed in the corner.

“Patrick, get me a glass of milk,” Liam ordered, sitting on the edge of the bed. Katie couldn’t quite grasp what was happening. Her mind felt as if it was going in slow-motion, not able to catch up.

“Milk?”

“Go!” Liam growled, waving his brother away. Patrick left, looking for all the world like a puppy slinking away with his tail tucked between his legs. Even still in costume, shirtless with his leather pants and snakeskin boots, to Katie, he looked like a little boy playing dress-up in his father’s clothes.

“I’m sorry.” Liam apologized, letting out a pent-up breath and wrapping the blanket more tightly around her. “Your first time?”

Katie nodded against his chest, not wanting to open her eyes and look at him-at anything. She wished she could disappear, or wake up from this crazy dream she was having.