Rory couldn’t be talking about what she thought he was talking about. But a glance at his face said otherwise. Her heart sped up. She didn’t want or need BDSM. Her sister played with her husbands. They hadn’t discussed it much beyond Piper assuring her it was consensual. Tori hadn’t understood the point, so Piper had equipped her with a stack of romantic BDSM novels. These fictional lovers explored and indulged their darkest desires. They played hard and loved well.
Tori wasn’t certain she could handle that from them.
“Do you understand where you and Oliver went wrong?” Callum kissed her foot, then set it aside.
“I opened my bloody mouth,” Oliver said with sigh.
She nodded. “Yep. He opened his mouth.”
“Not precisely. Neither one of you said enough. Ollie, you said all the wrong things at the wrong time. Tori, my love, did you bother to mention that little gem you were gifting him with?” Callum asked.
Her virginity. She didn’t want to talk about it, but somehow she didn’t think Callum would let it go. He seemed so much more serious and confident than usual. Callum was often an adorable goofball. Except when he’d gotten her alone and practically stripped her down and gave her the sort of orgasm she’d dreamed about.
She should tell him it was none of his business, but for some reason she found herself answering him. “No. I tried, but things moved too fast.”
“I wasn’t listening and I didn’t ask,” Oliver admitted. “And I was very surprised to learn the truth.” He knelt beside her, taking her hand into his. “Tori, I’m sorry for the way I treated you. I’ve got no excuse except that I was upset. The whole time we were together, I told you it was only one night, but I was already thinking of ways to keep you. I wanted to make you my mistress. When I realized you were a virgin, I suspected you would say no to that.”
Anger flared again. “Yes. I mean no. I mean yes, I would have said no to that.” She pulled away and started to stand. This chat was over. “I think I’ve made enough of a fool of myself for one evening.”
“Oliver, step up.” Callum instructed, looking to his brother. “Top her.”
The eldest brother flushed and she wondered why. After surviving the fallout from Yasmin, he’d always seemed utterly untouchable. “I don’t know if that’s a good idea.”
“Then this won’t work.” Callum shook his head.
Why was she sitting here as if waiting for their permission? She could make a clean getaway now before they hurt her again. Tori grabbed her shoes.
“You have to help her, Ollie. Tori’s pride is telling her to walk away as fast as her sore feet will carry her,” Rory explained. “She’s hesitating because she doesn’t actually want to leave us. If she did, she’d already be halfway out the door. If you top her, you’ll help her past her pride so the two of you can talk.”
“I do not need anyone to top me. I know what I want,” Tori blurted. Then she paused.
Perhaps she was being incredibly stubborn. She was thinking with her pride and didn’t know how to get around it without making herself vulnerable. They’d ripped her apart once. She wasn’t sure she could handle being crushed again.
But maybe if she was careful with her heart, she could have a night with them. Just one, that voice in her head whispered to her, luring her like an addiction. One more night, and she could move on.
If she listened to that voice in her head, it would lure her to doom. She was saving herself.
Tori jumped, scanning the room for the nearest exit.
“Oliver?” Callum prompted, his tone deeper and darker than she’d ever heard.
Suddenly, Oliver grabbed her hand and led her to the dance floor.
She struggled against his hold. “Let me go.”
“Not until we’ve talked,” Oliver insisted. “If you still want to leave here alone, I’ll let you go. I can’t speak for my brothers. I think they’ll hunt you down and persuade you, but if you tell me plainly you don’t want me, then I’ll leave.”
“I don’t want you.” She didn’t. Not really. How could she want him after the way he’d treated her?
The orchestra played a slow song, and she found herself in Oliver’s arms, against his body. “I said after you listen to me. This behavior doesn’t suit you, Torrance.”
“What behavior?” She wouldn’t let him shame her. She hadn’t torn his heart to shreds.
“You’re acting like a spoiled brat.” His hand tightened on her waist, pressing her against his body. “My brothers are certainly right about that. I’ve come thousands of mile to apologize and make amends. Are you telling me I don’t deserve a few moments of your time? We were friends once.”
Okay, maybe she was going to let him shame her. She couldn’t forget the way he’d faced down a thug with a knife for her. And yes, they had been friends. “Fine. I’m listening.”
“Are you?” He kept moving, his long legs graceful as he led her around the dance floor. “I’m starting to think Callum is smarter than I gave him credit for. You and I should have talked, especially before anything happened between us. But neither of us wanted to do that.”