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“Watch me.” Liam raised a brow, then turned and walked away. He left the door open in his wake as he headed back to his own room. And to Raine.
She sat on the bed with a towel still wrapped around her, staring at her feet. Her eyes were red. At least she smelled of soap now rather than the animal who’d used her sorely.
He shut the door. Seething, he made his way to his dresser, yanking out a fresh robe. He helped Raine to her feet and gently removed the towel. Wrapping her in the robe, he picked her up and grabbed his suitcase, then carried them both from the room, past a gaping Hammer, and out of the dungeon. He didn’t stop until he’d reached the car, tossed the case in the boot, and secured her in the seat beside him. Only then did she turn to him.
Her big blue eyes filled with tears, and Liam gripped the steering wheel as he peeled away from Shadows. A glance in the rearview mirror showed Hammer panting in the door, looking all but ready to run after them. Well, after her.
Liam reached behind Raine’s seat and extended his middle finger in the air. Hammer wouldn’t miss it through the back window.
She was oblivious to the drama taking place behind her. She dropped her gaze to her clenched hands folded in her lap. Her delicate profile was taut and so fucking sad...
He gritted his teeth. She’d chosen to fuck Hammer without giving her supposed Sir so much as a heave-ho first. But if his former mate had treated the girl carelessly before he’d taken her to bed, he’d treated her far more wretchedly afterward. Liam didn’t need to be a mind reader to see Raine was breaking.
“I’m sorry,” she said so softly he could barely hear. “I know it’s not much. I don’t have a good explanation, except that I was stupid. Impulsive. And I thought it was love.” She drew in a shuddering breath. “I’ll answer whatever questions you have. I owe you that. Then you can take me back and wash your hands of me. I’m going to leave Shadows. I have an old friend who might be in Vegas. I’ll find her, and I’m sure she’ll take me in…help me find a job.”
How long would she be homeless in the meantime? The very thought filled him with anxiety he probably shouldn’t feel. He clenched his jaw.
“Never mind.” Her face closed up even more. “I’m sure you don’t care.”
She paused, and he sensed that she worked up the courage to look at him again. When she did, the pain on her face stabbed him. Liam cursed under his breath.
“For what it’s worth, I really appreciate everything you tried to do,” she whispered. “I wish I could have deserved you more.”
Some logical part of him thought he should be happy at how bloody the girl was beating herself, but it only burned anger through his veins. And made him want to take her in his arms more. For now, he’d use it to his advantage.
“I’m not so sure I’ll be taking you back there, Raine. Whether you meant it or not at the time, you gave me your commitment to be my submissive.” He felt her gaze again, but this time he stared straight ahead, paying attention to the traffic. “You and Hammer both seem to have had no compunction whatsoever about letting that wee fact slip your minds. But now you will submit to me. Have no doubt that you will learn well what it means to be mine. That’s what you owe me.”
“Why would you want… I did everything wrong, just like I always do. I would have thought you’d want to sever the collaring and tell me to go to hell.”
The lass was defeated and self-blaming, and he’d have to fix that over time. “You weren’t listening when I told you that I don’t back down from a challenge, were you? Best mark my words from now on.”
She went a bit wide eyed. “Oh. Okay.”
Liam could read her so easily. She didn’t think he’d last long with her, that he’d grow tired of her after a few days or weeks and cut her loose. Raine didn’t know him well yet, but she would.
“You know damn well that you need not fear me. Every time I touch you, you’ll have your safe word, but by christ, I’ll not be played again.”
“I never meant to—”
“I’m not finished.” Of course she hadn’t meant to cross or upset him. She hadn’t thought of him at all last night. And that burned bitter in his gut. She meant far more to him somehow than she should after a handful of days. And he wouldn’t let her go until he figured out why. “You and I will spend some time together, just the two of us, until we share an understanding. Do you hear me, Raine? I was as clear as I could be yesterday when I told you that you were mine and I would not share you with another.”
