“No one, I don’t even know why I keep it to tell you the truth…”
He stroked her face. “I think I understand your eating disorder now Brie, even if he didn’t actually rape you, he violated your faith in him, your trust, he left you wondering if he wasn’t right about what he said. You need to tell your family Brie, you should have never hidden it from them. And Brie, I think Fleur is the first one you should show it to you. I know she cares about you; will do all she can to help you through this, and so will I.”
“Why would you…?” She didn’t understand.
He bent his head and kissed her ear. “Because Fire Queen, I have no intention of letting anyone find out if you are or are not a virgin but me.” His cell phone went off and he looked at the text message. “They’re on the way back, the boys being nice enough to bring us breakfast. I suggest while I eat you talk to your sister. Be honest with her Brie, and remember I’m going to be close by the whole time. You’re no longer alone in this.”
She looked at him wondering if for once her sister had done something that wasn’t going to backfire on them both. “Michael, I…”
He smiled, as he hushed her, “Shh, my fire queen, I have tried in my life to find out all I can about the world, but I’ve never found anything in it that I’ve wanted to hold and protect as much as I do you. Even as drunk as I was when Fleur directed me in here, and I saw you sleeping so intently, I decided that no matter what happened once you woke up I was actually going to sleep with a woman who interested my brain as much as she did my body. Even if you had thrown me out, I would have come back and kept coming back until I wore you down enough to at least talk to me.”
Reaching up she put her fingers to his lips. “Michael, do you think maybe you could stop talking long enough to kiss me again and give me some of your confidence?”
He smiled wider then, showing a single dimple and nodding. “Your wish is my command your highness.”
The kiss he gave her was deeper, harder and more searching then anything he had given her before. She moved in to the feel of his hands moving over her body and groaned as loudly as he did when the knock came on her door, announcing the return of the others.
Day Two:
Brie settled on the couch with her head in Michael’s lap and he stroked her face and hair while Fleur moved around the room cursing and damning Greg to the lowest pits of hell for what he had done to her. Edward and Robert were watching her as well, both their faces lit up with admiration for the words she used and her indignation for the family loyalty she showed. When she began to wind down they kept her going with cheers and more alcohol from the bottles on the breakfast bar.
The first thing her sister had done as soon as she had finished listening to the story and watching the damning video, had been to call their parents and the rest of their numerous siblings as well as other interested family members. It was agreed all of them would come as soon as possible and Michael and his brothers had offered them use of their family jet to fly to Portland and deliver them to Chicago as soon as they were ready to go. They would be staying at the Livingstone Towers, one of the most high end hotels in Chicago at no expense and after their arrival and a chance for them to rest up, would gather again on Monday night at the Livingstone mansion for a dinner party and conference for decisions on what to do.