Come Home

Chapter 45

Alice placed the bowl in the sink then started drying her hands. She draped the towel on the oven door then looked at the kitchen counter to see if anything needed to be put away. Spotting the block of knives, she started staring at it. "No," she gasped snapping out of the swirling thoughts. "No."

She rushed toward the doorway and face planted into a hard chest. Arms gripped her shoulders, and she instantly clutched the sides of a grey shirt. The scent of Irish Spring soap started to surround her, "Whoa, Alice," his stern voice filled her ears.

"Owen," she gasped as she tried to blink back tears, "I need...I...I need..."

"Come here," he said calmly as he wrapped his arm around her, pulling her out of the room. "Where's Marc? He is supposed to be with you."

"Bathroom," she whispered pressing her fingertips into him even more. "Went put bowl—"

"I saw," Owen admitted as he led her into the barn. "Sit right here," he pointed to a bale of hay, "while I quickly grab something." She nodded and sat on the hay. He came back out of the office a minute later and she gasped spotting the brushes in his hands. "Here," he said holding one out.

"My brush?" She asked, shocked that the brush she used on Jack was in his hand.

"Yes," he nodded, "it didn't seem right to get rid of it. Now come help me."

"Okay," she whispered taking it from him. He followed her over to the brown mare that was patiently waiting. "Hi Belle." The mare bounced her head as Owen took Alice's hand that was holding the brush and helped her brush the horse.

"Beautiful?" Marc called out as he rushed into the barn.

"Here," Owen called out as he continued maneuvering Alice's hand over the horse's body.

"Everything okay?" Marc asked cautiously.

"No," Owen said honestly, "but she will be okay eventually."

Marc watched for a bit then cleared his throat, "Can I try something please, Alice?"

"What?" she asked suspiciously.

"I would like to try some shibari on you," he said honestly.

"What's that?" she asked curiously.

"Let's go inside so I can explain it properly," he said pushing off the wall.

"Come on, Darling," Owen said taking the brush out of her hand. Marc went to put it up while Owen gave Alice a carrot to give to Belle. He grabbed her hand and led her back to the house.

Once they were inside, he led her to her room then started braiding her hair, so it was out of the way. Marc entered the room a few minutes later with a blue rope in his hand. "Shibari is a Japanese type of rope bondage," Marc explained as he held it out. "It can be used for many things and one of those things is that it can be used as a way of comfort for someone that suffers from depression, anxiety, PTSD, any sort of trauma. In fact, Gabriel likes it when he is having an anxiety attack because it feels like a way of hugging, according to him."

"It helps in letting our minds go so we don't feel so overwhelmed," Owen admitted as he nodded.

"You?" She asked and he nodded again.

"Yes, we all like it," he confirmed, "most of the time just for some play time, but there have been times we have asked Marc to wrap it around us as a way to help when we are struggling with something."

"I can create beautiful designs on you," Marc said as he watched her look at it suspiciously. "I can restrict your hands so you can't move them but I can also wrap it around you under your clothes without restraining your limbs so you can go about your day without anyone knowing you are wearing it except you and me." He held his hand still as she trailed her fingers over the material. "Can I try putting it over your shirt and see how it feels to you, please? If you don't like it, it's perfectly fine."

"But you said—" she said confused as she looked up at him.

"I don't have the right to ask you to undress just yet," he shook his head. "Besides, in the state of mind you currently have, you may accidentally try to make the rope irritate your skin without realizing it and I won't take that risk. Having the rope over your clothes for the first time protects you mentally and physically. If you are willing to try, then I will ask you to change into some leggings and a long sleeve shirt, it's up to you, Alice."

She stared at him for a few minutes then over at Owen, "it really helps?"

"For some yes," Owen nodded, "but each person is different. He wouldn't have brought it up if he didn't think it could help, that is why he asked if he could try. We will never lie to you, Alice, and he will explain everything he is going to do before he does it, so you will have a complete understanding of what is happening. Right now, at this moment, we don't know how you will react to it, that's why we have rules in place so we can try and minimize any kinds of triggers you could possibly have. If you are unsure or in any way uncomfortable then we will not try this or if you agree and start to show any kind of uncomfortableness, then we will stop immediately."

"But you think it will help," she said going back and forth between them.

"Yes," they said in unison.

She gulped then nodded, "I guess we won't know unless we try it. It'll either help or it won't, at least now we can't say we haven't tried."

"Okay," Marc smiled happily, "please go change."

She froze for a second then nodded, "thank you for saying please."

"Thank you for giving us a chance," he replied as she headed to her closet. Once she shut the door, he let out a low breath, "I honestly didn't think she would agree."

Owen stared at the door before murmuring, "neither did I."