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Marly’s face was white. She stared at Sarah, unblinking, almost dazed.
“How long did it last?” It was the voice of horror, speaking in a whisper.
“Months, I know that.” Sarah breathed deeply. “The result was that it destroyed their ability to be brothers. To show affection to each other. Especially the twins. Brock called it isolation. They were mentally and emotionally isolated from one another after they escaped. The only thing that brought it back was when they were with a woman. Together.”
Her hand trembling, Marly pushed back the stray strands of curls escaping from her braid. Tears filled her eyes, but she didn’t let them fall.
“When Brock told you about all this,” she whispered. “He told you about me? About being with me?”
Sarah’s heart softened. She was well aware that the men had raised Marly, and each loved her in some sense. She could see Marly’s fear of censure, her fear of hurting any of those men.
“Brock told me it was an extension of his love for his brothers. That through you, through your bond with them, he can be close to them again,” she told the younger woman. “He cares for you, Marly.”
“But he loves you,” Marly replied, her voice just as soft. “In essence, Cade needs to be with you, to express his love for Brock. His bond with him. That’s why he wants you.”
It wasn’t a question. At least not the kind that required an aye or a nay.
“I don’t lust after Cade, Marly. I love Brock. I always have. “ Sarah fought to explain, even though she didn’t understand.
“Sarah.” Marly laid her hand on her arm, her eyes too understanding. Too sympathetic. “I know. I know, because I don’t lust after Brock either. But neither do I refuse him.”
Sarah took a deep, nervous breath.
“I’m scared, Marly,” she could admit this to the woman, but not to Brock. “I’m terrified of this.”
There was no anger now, no sadness in Marly’s expression.
“Because you know you’ll enjoy it. Because you know you want to take that sadness from his eyes, that pain, if only for a while. And the acceptance he has of it, makes you wonder at his love.” She knew.
Sarah bit her lip.
“I love Cade, Sarah, more than you know. But I had to know why, before I could bear the thought of him being with you.”
Sarah shook her head desperately. She wanted to deny it would happen, but couldn’t force the words past her lips.
“Oh Sarah, you don’t know the August men very well.” Marly smiled sadly. “They are seductive, dominating. When you least expect it, when you are at your weakest, they’ll be there for you. Once they touch you and you look into Brock’s eyes and see his pleasure, his joy, you won’t be able to resist. Just as you couldn’t resist last night.”
“How do you stand it?” Sarah whispered.
“You’ve accepted that Brock has sex with me, haven’t you Sarah? You saw his need when he told you, and you let it go. That’s all I can do. I can’t let Cade be destroyed by this.”
“And I’m supposed to just give in?” Sarah asked her incredulously.
“When the time is right, and it happens, you won’t want to stop it.” Marly shook her head, her expression resigned. “I know where Cade’s heart is. I know who fills his soul. I can handle this, if you can.”
“And if I can’t?” she asked Marly with exaggerated patience. “Marly, they want to share their women. That isn’t natural.”
Marly shook her head.
“It’s not natural for normal men. But they aren’t normal, Sarah. They are strong and brave and they’ve survived where others would not have been able. If this is what it takes for them to survive, then I won’t deny them.”
“You talk as though you want me to do this,” Sarah burst out, incredulous. “He’s your lover, Marly.”
“And I’ll have to leave the room and let my lover be a brother, through your body,” Marly bit out. “Do you think that’s easy for me, Sarah? It’s not. But it won’t be for you either. Because you’ll have to do the same. You’ll have to leave, or watch it happen. Which will be easier for you, loving Brock as you do?”
Sarah stood to her feet, trembling, hating the curiosity in herself, the knowledge in Marly’s eyes. Hating the acceptance slowly building within her. None of it was natural. None of it should be acceptable. And yet, in some small way, she was beginning to understand, and that terrified her.
“Sarah.” Marly stopped her as she turned away. “Loving Brock won’t be easy. But I do know he’s loved you, ached for you for years. Can you just walk away from him? And if you stay, can you bear to see this need eating at him, day after day? Can you do that, knowing you can wipe it away? Knowing that in one act, one that will bring you no pain, only pleasure, you can take his pain away? Don’t you understand why I can allow this? That I would love Cade enough to give him this?”
