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“Go on,” Hammer urged, seeing the benefit of keeping Raine off-balance.
“Though she’s been to the lodge before, the surroundings aren’t nearly as familiar to her.”
“She has?”
Liam sent him a sheepish grin. “It’s where I brought her when I took her from Shadows.”
So that’s where the son of a bitch had spirited her away after she’d spent that mind-blowing night in his bed? He’d wondered more than once.
“It’s quiet there?” Hammer asked.
“Very.”
“Secluded?”
“Extremely.” Liam smirked.
“Then it sounds ideal. We’ll talk to her early, then. If she chooses us, we’ll pack her up and head out at dawn, before the traffic gets bad. I’ll call a few trusted club members to see if they can watch the place for a few days. But before we do any of that, I think we should agree on exactly how we’ll get her to learn these three lessons.”
Liam flashed a mischievous smile. “Now you’re talking.”
The following morning, Raine woke to a warm hand cupping her shoulder and a deep voice in her ear. A familiar scent wrapped around her, instantly transporting her back to happier times and comfort. Love. Liam.
With a lazy smile, she rolled over, bleary-eyed, and faced him. Hammer stood at his side. Both men wore tense expressions.
The jolt of surprise shoved away her vestiges of sleep. Raine blinked. Why were they here and dressed before a single ray of sun had brightened her room? And why were they together, watching her?
Pulling her blankets to her chin, she pushed her hair from her face and sat up. “What’s going on? Is something wrong?”
“No, love,” Liam assured. “We came to tell you first that we’re glad you decided to come home. I know you were upset when you left.”
And they didn’t seem angry that she’d fled. They had every right to be. Instead, they looked resigned. No, decisive. Their odd demeanor confused her.
“It’s good to have you home, precious. Now, on your feet.” She couldn’t miss the command in Hammer’s voice.
Liam wasn’t trying to tear his head off for that? Or objecting to his dominance? She stared at the pair of them, blinking.
“Raine?” Liam prodded. “Hammer asked you to do something. Acknowledge him and obey.”
Was he serious? She frowned, Liam’s words not fully computing. But the two of them were looking at her with the same expectant expression and standing side by side. Together.
“All right, Sir.” Tossing the covers back slowly, she climbed from the bed. They stepped closer, crowding her against the edge of the mattress. She trembled. “Did you wake me up to say that you found a Domme for me?”
Neither answered. Their silence made her nervous. She looked up to find them exchanging a glance. If she didn’t know better, Raine would swear they were in on some conspiracy together.
“We woke you to tell you that we discussed your request at length last night,” Liam finally began. “We agree that you need to learn—a great deal, in fact.”
She would have loved being a fly on the wall for that conversation. “And?”
“You’ve asked for a Domme, and we’re willing to grant you one.” As a bittersweet relief began to slide through her, Hammer went on, his stare unwavering. “But we have another possibility for you to consider.”
A silent tension gripped them both and squeezed her lungs. Whatever they had on their minds meant something to them. They wanted her to say yes. Their impatience must be the reason they’d woken her up so damn early.
“What is it?” she asked cautiously.
“We’ll get into the specifics in a moment. Before we do, we have a few questions to determine if this alternate option is right for you.” Hammer glanced at Liam like he waited for the other man to begin the next part of this rehearsed speech.
What the hell?
“No doubt you’ll want someone who will devote their time and knowledge to you. Yes?” Liam prodded her with a watchful stare.
“I think I’d make more progress that way,” she admitted. “I’d like her to be understanding and compassionate. Like Mistress Hillary, maybe?”
“Unfortunately, she’s out of town for the next two months.” Hammer didn’t look at all unhappy about that. “But let’s not talk about any certain individual until we’ve identified all your needs.”
“This isn’t as easy as plucking a name out of a hat, love,” Liam chided. “There should be a special bond between Dominant and submissive. If you don’t click with the first choice, you’ll soon be back to square one. So you should choose cautiously, agreed?”
“Yes, Sirs.” They were right. If she gave her all to the wrong Domme, then had to start over with someone new, it would waste time and cause her frustration. At the thought of opening herself up to a stranger, a sludgy lump of vulnerability caught in her chest.
“Good. You’ll want someone you feel comfortable with.” Hammer raised a brow at her as if daring her to contradict him. “A top you can talk to, who understands you.”
