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Did Raine need him at all? Would she ever?
Furious and wrung dry, he stared at the bathroom door. Never had the temptation to walk away from someone equaled his determination to stay and see it through to the bitter end.
The time had come to force this intolerable situation to a head. His conversation with Seth circled through his brain again. And Hammer pounding on the bathroom door, demanding Raine let him in so he could care for her… Liam shook his head. Hammer didn’t want him here, either. It was the final bloody straw.
“Go away,” Raine protested weakly from behind the door.
“In your dreams. Open the door,” Hammer yelled.
She didn’t budge.
“Open the fucking door, Raine, or I’m busting it down!” Hammer pounded on the wooden slab again.
Liam shoved Hammer aside. “I’ll take care of her. She’s my responsibility. Bugger off.”
Hammer flipped him an incredulous stare. “Do you know how to take care of her when she’s sick like this? Do you know what she needs?”
“Stop screaming.” Her frail voice cracked with pain. “You’re making it hurt worse.”
Then Raine’s retching came, a terrible choking hurl. The sounds of her suffering breached the door. Once, twice, she emptied her stomach. Liam closed his eyes. He felt so bloody helpless.
Hammer growled, then shoved his left shoulder into the portal.
The wood creaked, but held tight—until Liam pushed him aside and kicked at the handle with all his might. The lock gave way and the door opened, flooding the dark room with light.
Raine knelt on the floor totally naked, one hand braced on the porcelain commode. The other held back her raven mane. Her dress was a puddle on the floor. As Liam rushed in, she turned and winced, squeezing her eyes shut.
“Love?”
She turned to sag limply against the nearby wall, her knees curling to her chest. Even in the dim light, she squinted, looking spent and pale and defeated. “The light. Hurts.”
The sight of her cut him to the bone. He ran to the blinds and yanked on the cord, muting the afternoon beams filtering through the window. But he had no fucking idea what to do next.
Hammer skidded to his knees at her side, stroking her hair. “Precious, are you feeling better?”
She nodded weakly. “Bed.”
“Of course.” Hammer’s tone sounded almost like he spoke to a beloved child.
Ignoring her nakedness, he flushed the toilet, grabbed a glass of water and a cold cloth, then set them on the basin before he helped her to her feet.
Liam stared. How could he protest? Raine needed care, and he didn’t know how to give it to her. All he could do was watch and absorb the never-ending nightmare.
Hammer wiped her face gently and instructed her to rinse her mouth. She did it slowly, her eyes half closed. Carefully, Hammer gathered Raine’s long hair in a gentle grip, searched around for a band, then secured it inexpertly away from her face.
Why hadn’t he bloody thought of that?
Then Raine’s strength seemed to give out. As she melted against him, Hammer scooped her up and took his woman to the bed they shared. Liam raged at the sheer injustice of the moment. Though Hammer was helping her, it chafed.
It would be easy to turn and walk through the door, leave the two of them to sort everything out and catch that red-eye to New York Seth had suggested. Had that been just yesterday? But the Dominant inside Liam roared, as did his heart. Mine!
“That’s enough, Hammer. She can thank you for your care and consideration once she’s well. I’ve no doubt she will. But I’ll see to her from here. Anything I don’t know, I’ll figure out. Once she’s settled, I’ll meet you in the kitchen.”
He didn’t raise his voice, but the hard tone brooked no argument as he tore off his shirt and toed off his shoes.
Hammer gave an angry jerk of his head. “Fine. Raine needs another pill since she threw up the one she took earlier.” He fished out the bottle, set one tablet on the nightstand, and pocketed the rest.
Liam glared. “What if she needs more?”
“Then come find me. I’ll start cleaning the dishes.” Hammer walked out before Liam could object.
Unfuckingbelievable.
After retrieving another glass of water, Liam climbed on the bed and drew the blankets over her naked body. Curling up beside her, he drew her into the circle of his arms. Holding her close now felt so bittersweet.
“Take another pill, lass.” He lifted the glass of water to her white lips and held her head up so she could swallow.
Pain had carved itself into her features. Raine could be so strong that he’d never imagined seeing her this weak.
Bloody hell…
“There, love,” he crooned. “Can I get anything else for you?”
“No.” Her voice was barely above a whisper. “Thank you. Will you hold me?”
“Of course. Rest now.”
