Chapter 6 The next day after work, I sat at the dock with my feet dangling just above the surface of the lake. The breeze pulled strands of my hair across my face, while the sun slowly lowered in front of me. It would take a few more hours before the sun would set, and I intended on staying here until it was fully gone. It was quiet here. Peaceful in a way that made it easy to forget what had happened last night and this morning. But forgetting wasn't really what I wanted. I propped up one foot and wrapped my arms around my leg, resting my chin on my knee. Everything felt like a forbidden lullaby in my mind. Every touch. Every sound. And Dash's face...the way he looked at me like he wasn't sure if we'd just done something wrong or found something real. I felt the same initially, but I chose not to worry too much. I was scared of the consequences. The things my brothers, Dad, and Uncle Odin would do if they found out. Surely, they couldn't all be okay with what we did. Maybe Ashby and Dash were just different. Like me. Maybe we didn't fully understand that being intimate with each other was wrong. It didn't feel wrong. Not really. But if I didn't understand, I wouldn't be thinking so hard about it. I heard footsteps behind me on the wooden planks. Without looking, I knew it was Dash. "You didn't come back to the house after work," he said quietly. I glanced over my shoulder, he was barefoot, wearing a faded shirt and low-hanging sweatpants, hair hidden under a maroon baseball cap. His eyes were soft, guarded. He looked as uncertain as I felt. "I didn't feel like it. I wanted to come here and think," I said, turning back toward the lake. He sat down beside me without saying anything for a while. The silence between us wasn't uncomfortable, just heavy with things neither of us knew how to name. "Do you regret it?" he finally asked. My stomach tightened. I didn't want to lie, but I didn't want to hurt him, either. "No," I said truthfully. "Do you?" Dash exhaled slowly and leaned back on his hands. "No. but I keep thinking...about what happens now." I turned to look at him. His face was tilted toward the sun, jaw set, eyes shadowed by thought. "You're scared," I said softly. He didn't deny it. "Not for me," he said. "For you. If anyone finds out...Rhys and Tripp. Hell, Owen...I don't know what they'd do." I offered a faint smile. "They'd probably send me off to some reform camp." He chuckled without humor. "Not sure there's reform camps for what we did." I pursed my lips and shrugged. "They'd be so disappointed and angry." "Yeah. Or worse." I took a deep breath and tilted my head so my cheek was now resting on my knee. My eyes were on him, taking in the side of his face. The warmth of his body made my heart ache a little. "Do you still think Ashby will tell?" I asked. "Eventually," he said. "He likes to stir things up. I don't think he'd mean harm, but..." He trailed off, then looked at me. "You're not just some girl, Bliss. You're our girl. Their little sister. You matter to us." "What are you saying?" "I'm saying...maybe it won't be so bad. Maybe we're worrying for nothing." I bit the inside of my cheek. "Maybe." "Let's push this aside for now. It's taking up too much space in our minds, and I don't want you to hurt." I didn't want to hurt, either. And as hard as I tried to ignore it, it would still stay at the back of my mind. I took another deep breath and turned more toward him, folding one leg under me while keeping the other dangling over the water. "I want to say one more thing. It didn't feel wrong. It felt right. You were gentle. You made me feel safe." He gave me a tight smile and placed his hand on my thigh, squeezing gently. "I just don't want to mess you up." "You didn't mess me up, Dash. You made me feel wanted. And so did Ashby." He knew I wasn't innocent. He saw the way I flirted with those men at The Old. He knew I liked being physical, kissing and touching and all that. "So...you don't want me to stay away?" he asked. "No." I placed my hand on his, sliding my fingers through his. "I want you to stay close." He turned his hand around to thread his fingers through mine, giving them a squeeze. "Then I will." We sat there together, watching the sun set slowly, fingers entwined. The silence felt nice, but it didn't stay this quiet for long. Rhys walked toward us, his blue eyes narrowed as he took us in. Dash didn't pull away his hand, probably noticing the sudden tension in my body. When Rhys came to a stop behind us, he looked down and just glared for a moment. He knew. He definitely knew. Why else would he be look at us like this? "Get up," he demanded, tipping his chin at Dash. I looked at Dash, then back up at Rhys. There was anger in his eyes, but he was holding it back. He was trying to mask it, and I sensed something bad coming. "Rhys." "Dash, get up," Rhys repeated. "Don't," I whispered, grabbing Dash's hand with both hands. "It's okay," he assured me with a tight smile before pulling his hand from mine and getting up to stand in front of Rhys. I watched from where I sat, my heart pounding as I prepared for the worst. I expected everything. From a scolding to a punch in the face. Maybe even worse. But I sucked in a sharp breath when Rhys' fist slammed into Dash's stomach. "No!" I jumped up and caught Dash as he folded over, air knocked out of him, and his arms wrapped around his body. "Rhys, what the hell?!" "I deserved that," Dash choked out. "Sure did." I glared at my brother, trying to keep Dash on his knees. "That was so unnecessary!" "Was it?" Rhys tilted his head, looking rather amused. "He's lucky I didn't punch him in his pretty face like I did with Ashby." "You punched him in the face?!" I couldn't keep up with everything that was happening. And I hated that everyone else was getting punished instead of me. I was involved too. "Dash, stand up straight. You need to get air into your lungs." He stood up straight, and I lifted both his arms over his head so his chest was open. His breathing was shallow for a moment until he managed to suck in enough air. I glared up at Rhys again. "Are you done?" "Not really." He studied me for a while, then added, "Was it your idea?" "What?" "You know what, Lissy. Don't play dumb." His eyebrows lifted. "So?" "Ashby dared me to do it." "Is that right?" Rhys asked Dash. "Yes." "Hm." Rhys looked at me again. This time, his eyes weren't filled with rage and anger. Instead, there was amusement and challenge. He studied me closely, letting his gaze move over my face and down my body. When his eyes met mine again, he said, "Would you have done it if Tripp or I had asked you to do all that?" "Rhys..." "Answer me, Bliss. It's not like cousins and brothers are distant relatives," he stated almost mockingly. I looked at Dash and saw the pain lingering in his eyes. He wanted to protect me, but in this case, it wouldn't be necessary. I felt a sense of excitement. A rush of something fun. Forbidden. I turned my head to look up at Rhys again. "I probably would if you'd want me to." "Which...would allow me to punch you, too," Dash added. "The fuck it would." Rhys looked at Dash. "You made my baby sister suck your cock. I get to punch you whenever I want to from now on." "But you want her to suck yours too," he countered, earning a laugh and a headshake from Rhys. He looked at me again. "I don't know what I want yet." That made things even more exciting, and more nerve-wracking. "Does Tripp know?" I asked. His reaction was the one I was most worried about. Rhys shrugged. "Don't know if Ashby told him already. I sure didn't. But I think you should tell him." "Me?" My eyes widened. "Uh-huh." Rhys grinned. "But before you tell him...I think I want a taste too." "Rhys." Dash took a step forward, standing right next to me with his tall frame protecting me. "Don't play the hero now, kid. It's her decision. I'm just offering." So...we were all sick here. Got it. I placed a hand on Dash's arm and stepped next to him. "Are you messing with me?" "You think I am?" Rhys challenged. "You think after hearing that you gave head to our cousins, I would stand here and talk this calmly to you?" "You punched him in the stomach..." I reminded him. "Could've done far worse. But I didn't." No, he didn't. And he truly wouldn't mess with me like this. "You gonna answer me now?" he urged, his brows raised. My body tensed as I stared up at him, trying to come up with a good-enough answer. One that would satisfy him, but also myself. I was a rational person. I knew not to do or say things that could be harmful. Deep down, I knew exactly what I wanted to say and do. And I would regret pushing him away when I let Ashby and Dash get this close. And truthfully...I wanted it so much, I felt desperate for it. I wanted to know what it would be like. To kiss Rhys. To explore things with him just like I did with Ashby and Dash. "Here?" I asked, watching him closely. Rhys shrugged. "Why not?" He smirked and looked at Dash. "Mind giving us some space?" Dash sighed and took a step aside. He didn't say anything, but he wasn't pleased with this. Not because he was jealous, but because he was still worried about me. My eyes were on Rhys again, and I waited for him to make the first step. But he didn't. Instead, he said, "Come give me a kiss." Discover our latest featured short drama reel. Watch now and enjoy the story!