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“Fuck off, Beck.” Hammer scowled.
“I deliver her back to you twice and that’s the thanks I get.” He shook his head. “We need to talk about the concept of appreciation, man.”
“Where’s her suitcase?” Liam snapped.
“Still in the SUV.” Raine made her way across the room and sat in one of the overstuffed chairs adjacent to the sofa.
Beck followed and patted her on the shoulder before he took his place beside Seth. “Hand them their balls, princess.”
She turned to stare at her friend over her shoulder. “Can you behave?”
“We’re sorry, precious,” Hammer began. “We never meant to upset you.”
“No,” she corrected. “You never meant for me to hear. If you expect me to be honest, you should be as well.”
He and Liam exchanged a glance before he nodded. “You’re right.”
“Good.” She leaned forward, bracing her elbows on her knees. “Tell me, are you two done fighting?”
“We are,” Hammer promised.
She nodded, then turned to stare at Liam. He was too quiet, and that worried her.
Her tender Irishman hesitated, then nodded. “We talked through a lot of things tonight. We’re back on the same page, love.”
Raine sincerely hoped that was true. “In order for me to stay, I need to put that to the test. I understand the final task you had planned for me was about trust. No offense, Seth, but I’m not bottoming for you. I’m definitely not sleeping with you, either. I love them, but right now trust is a little thin, and I don’t think I could respond in a way that would please anyone.”
Seth looked impressed. “That’s honest. Fair enough. By the way, they weren’t going to let me touch you.”
“Told you,” Beck put in.
She sent him an impatient glare.
“Sorry,” the doctor murmured. “You’re doing good. Carry on.”
Raine gave him an absent nod, then addressed Liam and Hammer again. “I came here wanting you both in my life. After two days here, I realize that’s what I need. I also know I can’t stop you from fighting, and making you promise to get along was never going to work. But I don’t think it’s too much to ask that you not hit one another.”
“You’re right,” Hammer admitted. “We’re done.”
“I threw the first punch. I’m sorry,” Liam added.
They both looked so contrite with their proverbial tails tucked between their legs. It wouldn’t last long. They’d soon be big bad alpha Doms again. But at the moment, it was nice to see that distressing her had unsettled them deeply.
“So, here’s what I’m thinking: We should all work on our trust. I have a proposition for you.”
“We’re listening.” Liam’s eyes looked sharp, his body taut.
Hammer lounged against the back of the sofa, but he was no less attentive. “Tell us.”
“For us to work, you two have to trust one another, believe that you’ll do the right thing, and have my best interest at heart, right?”
They both nodded.
“I have to trust that you’ll take care of me and give me the experience I need.”
“As always,” Liam answered.
“But now we have a new component. You need to trust me not only to submit myself totally, but to love you equally. You have to believe that I will come to you openly and never choose one over the other. And I assure you, I won’t, not ever again. Do I have any of that wrong, Sirs?”
They looked at one another in a seeming silent moment of communication.
“You’re right.” Hammer nodded at her. “Go on. What’s your plan?”
Now the conversation got more difficult. If this didn’t work, she could never try to love just one of them while cutting the other out. She’d have to walk away from them both. Raine understood the huge gamble she was undertaking…but didn’t see another way. If this plan didn’t work, they would never last.
“Before I get into that, I need your promise that communication and honesty also run not just from me to you, but from you to me. If I have questions, you’ll give me answers.”
Another hesitation. Another glance. Then Liam nodded. “Of course.”
“Later, I’ll want answers about some of the things I overheard tonight. If you’re not prepared to give me those answers, then I’ll know you’re not ready for this level of trust and Beck will take me down the mountain.”
“And then what?” Hammer challenged.
“Nothing.” She shrugged. “Because we’d have nothing. You both made it very clear how important communication, honesty, and trust are. It’s so clear that I get it now. We have nothing real without them. I won’t settle for less.”
Hammer scrubbed a hand down his face. Liam shifted in his seat. Neither looked very comfortable with her request. Beck and Seth didn’t move a muscle. The sense of anticipation turned thick in the air.
“All right,” Hammer said finally. “I’ll answer your questions in the best way I can.”
“I will, too.” Liam nodded her way.
