Come Home

Chapter 46

"Keep your eyes on me, Darling," Owen said when he noticed that she was looking everywhere around in the basement. She instantly locked eyes with him and he noticed her breathing slow down a tiny bit.

"Hey, why is the basement door open?" Jackson asked from upstairs curiously.

"I don't know," Silas asked as multiple footsteps headed to the door.

"Tread carefully and announce yourself," Owen commanded while never removing his eyes from Alice's gaze. "We are trying something new and I will not have you disrupt the atmosphere."

"Yes Sir," multiple voices spoke softly as people came down the stairs.

"Marc is going to start weaving the rope across your chest now, red or green?" Owen asked as Marc placed his hand on her back to let her know he was there.

"Green," she whispered.

She started to turn to see who was entering but Owen cleared his throat, "Eyes on me, Alice."

"It's Silas, Jackson, Jasper, and Axel," Silas said as they came into the room. "What is going on?"

"Trying shibari on Beautiful," Marc explained as he wove the rope over her black long sleeve shirt. "It might help her."

"Oh, fuck do me too," Gabe said rushing down the stairs. "Please, my mind needs fucking silence."

"Is that okay with you, Alice?" Marc asked as he stood in front of her waiting.

"It might–" Jackson started to speak.

"Silence," Owen demanded as he continued to stare at Alice. He ignored Jackson's glare, "It is her decision and we will not persuade her one way or the other, no matter what we think is best for her."

"Can I please join you, Alice?" Gabe asked, watching her.

"It really helps?" she asked nervously.

"Fuck yes it does," Gabe sighed in relief. "It's like a hug even when they aren't fucking with me and it also helps me remember that I don't have to fucking think of everything at once. It like fucking forces me to stop and relax and fucking let everything fucking go. I'm able to do it because I trust Marc to help me let go of everything and protect me. Honestly Alice, there have been fucking times I've asked him to wrap me and he's told me no because I wasn't in the right state of mind. I was fucking livid at the time but looking back he was right, I wasn't thinking properly and it would have caused me to hurt myself. I appreciate it now, it's all about trust and I trust him, I trust all of them."

She took a shaky breath and nodded, "okay, alright."

"Thank you Alice," Gabe beamed.

"Go pick your rope, Gabriel," Marc said as he looked at Alice, "I want to wrap around your breasts, yes or no?"

"Yes," she nodded, "green."

"Thank you," Marc said with sincerity in his voice. "I want to bind your hands to your sides so you can't move, Alice. It's to help reinforce you to let go. If you can't move then it may help with accepting us caring for you. If it becomes too much I will instantly undo the knots, I promise."

"I will also be watching for any signs it is too much for you in case you can't say so," Owen said, catching her gaze. She nodded and held still as Marc started binding her wrists to her sides. She flexed her fingers and internally sighed in relief when she could still use her hands. She looked back up and saw Owen watching her closely.

She stared into his gray eyes and her breath hitched when some of the pressure in her mind suddenly lessened. Her lungs felt like she could inhale better, it was like there was a weighted blanket covering her. She felt warm all over.

"Just a moment Gabriel," Marc said as he knelt, wrapping the rope around Alice's thighs. "Are you wanting the rope over your clothes as well?"

"What the–" Nathan asked as he descended the stairs with others behind him.

"Hush," Silas said as he looked up to see the rest of the family following Nathan. "We're just observing," he murmured, "and it seems to be helping."

"Her breathing is better," North whispered as he watched her stare into Owen's eyes. "Her body is more relaxed too."

"Please sit Beautiful," Marc said as he helped her step back up to the bed that was there. "I am going to move you back so you can sit comfortably. These knots are on pressure points so it is kind of like acupuncture and it may make you light headed." Once she was sitting against the pillows Marc bound her ankles together so she couldn't move her legs. "Color?"

"Yellow," she admitted, "but it's just weird."

"Take a breath, Alice," Marc said as he watched her while he began weaving the rope around Gabe's wrists since he had his hands together, fingers interlaced. He waited as she took a few deep breaths then asked, "Now what is your color?"

"Yellow green."

"That's a new one," Gabe chuckled, "but I like it."

"Go sit beside her," Marc demanded as he worked faster on Gabe's rope.

Gabe sat beside Alice and Marc quickly bound his legs together. "Look at us, Trouble," Gabe smirked winking at her, "being forced to relax and have these men take care of us. It's such hard work being us right now."