Free Bound & Teased by Marie Tuhart

The darkness encompassed her. Oh God, she couldn’t do this. She began pulling at the restraints. “Yellow.”
    “Katie.” Ry’s voice was right next to her ear. “What is it?”
    She fought to breathe. “Blindfold.”
    “Easy,” Jed whispered in her other ear. “We’re right here.” Fingers brushed against her cheeks. “Breathe, Kitty Kat.”
    Katie took a deep breath and let it out, trying to quell the panic.
    “That’s it,” Jed said. “Do it again.”
    “You’re perfectly safe, little one,” Ry said, his fingers caressed her neck and shoulder.
    “He’s right.” Jed stroked her cheek again.
    Her breathing got easier, and slowly her muscles unclenched as they talked softly to her and touched her. It was just them in the room, no one else.
    “What scares you?” Ry asked, his fingers massaging her arm in the restraints.
    “I...” How could she tell them? This was something no one knew about, not even her grandmother.
    “You can tell us,” Jed whispered.
    “I can’t talk like this.” She couldn’t. She wanted to see their faces when she spoke about what happened. To know they didn’t take her fear lightly.
    Ry and Jed released the restraints and helped her sit up before the blindfold was removed. Katie blinked several times.
    Jed scooped her up and walked across the room to the bed, setting her down next to Ry before joining them. Jed slipped his arm around her shoulders while Ry’s arm encircled her waist.
    “Tell us,” Ry said. It was a gentle command, but a command all the same.
    “It happened when I was nine.” A shiver chased up her spine. She really didn’t want to remember, but they needed to know. “I don’t know if you two remember the horrible storm we had that spring.”
    Jed’s lips brushed her temple. “I do. Lots of thunder and lightning.” He glanced over at Ry. “Remember the lightning struck the old barn, and we were all out there making sure the fire was out.”
    “Yes,” Ry said.
    Another shiver hit her.
    “What happened, little one?” Ry squeezed her waist.
    “Mom and grandma were both out.” Her voice trembled. You’d think by now she’d be over this, but there was something about it she couldn’t get past. “The storm started, and I hated storms. So I went up to my room and curled up in my bed, hoping it would pass quickly.”
    “And if I remember, it didn’t,” Ry said, his arms giving her a squeeze.
    “No.” She closed her eyes, trying to force back the fear. “And then the power went out.”
    Their arms tightened around her, trying to give her comfort while encouraging her to continue.
    “It was so dark I couldn’t see anything. I crept out of bed, carefully making my way to the door. I figured if I could find my mom’s room I could find the flashlight.” Her breath hitched. She’d been so scared, so alone.
    “You’re safe, baby,” Jed whispered.
    “I’d just gotten into the hallway when I heard a noise.” She’d frozen in place, afraid to move. Afraid of the noise. Her heart raced with renewed fear. “Then I heard footsteps. I didn’t know what to do.”
    Ry and Jed moved together, propping her up with pillows. Their faces held concern as they sat on each side. Each picked up one of her hands.
    “I was so afraid,” she whispered. “It was so dark and there was someone in the house, I wanted to call out but was afraid it wasn’t mom or Gran.” Her stomach rolled as the fear coiled there.
    “The bottom stair creaked.” She couldn’t stop the quiver in her voice. “I somehow scooted back into my room, but the steps were coming closer.” Tears filled her eyes.
    “Fuck,” Ry whispered.
    “How could we have not known this?” Jed asked.
    “Because no one knows,” Katie whispered.
    “What do you mean, no one knows?” Ry asked.
    “I was trying to find the closet when the lights flickered back on.” Her voice was a bit steadier now. “I saw a shadow outside my room.” She fought against the fear.
    “Who was it?”