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“Liam…”
As if he realized he’d all but pounced on her, he pulled back and did his best to smile. “Did you rest well?”
The warmth of his body matched the concern in his voice.
“Yes,” she assured. “Did you get some breakfast?”
“I’ll eat a hearty lunch,” he promised.
Raine hated the thought that he’d gone without food. “I can make you something.”
When she moved to roll out of bed, he pinned her beneath him. “Stay with me.”
It was a command, brooking no refusal. She didn’t often see this side of her indulgent Liam. The only time she’d seen him uncompromising, he’d been very upset.
As if he realized how out of character he’d behaved, he tried to smile. “Tell me about your breakfast with Hammer.”
It set off all her alarm bells. “It was fine. I’m sorry you weren’t able to join us. Did you get everything taken care of?”
Liam tensed. She felt the spike of his anxiety all the way to her bones, especially when he nuzzled her neck again, as though needing the comfort of her skin. Raine wanted to give it to him, but she desperately needed answers.
“What’s going on?” She struggled to put some space between them so she could sit up.
He used his body to keep her down. “The business I need to attend to is more complicated than I thought. I don’t like that it’s made you doubt how I feel. I hate that I’ll be busy—and probably preoccupied—for another day or two. Hopefully, no more than that.”
Searching his dark eyes, she felt a flutter of fear low in her belly. “You’ll still be with us at night, right?”
“I’m hoping so. I promise I’ll do my best. I’m clearing my schedule tonight so that Hammer and I can take you out for a romantic dinner. Would you like that?”
Normally, she would, but the thick air of tension rolling off Liam made her insides knot. Something told her this invitation was more likely an apology or a precursor to bad news, rather than simply an amorous gesture. Raine didn’t like the worry notching up inside her…but she couldn’t seem to kill it.
She pressed her lips together. “Will you have to go back to New York?”
Liam cocked his head, then brushed his fingers down her cheek. “Don’t be putting the cart before the horse, love. Relax, will you?”
Liam wanted her to believe everything was wonderful when it wasn’t. Because he’d reached out to her, she was trying to give him the benefit of the doubt. She was certainly willing to hold and love him if he needed her. But she refused to be placated.
Raine pushed at his shoulders until she made enough space to roll away and sit up. “What’s happening with you? With us? I’m scared.”
He cupped her chin. “There’s nothing to be scared about. The last thing in the world either Hammer or I want to do is leave you. I don’t know of any reason I’ll have to return to New York, so set that worry from your mind. Like I promised, I’ll do my best to be with you as often as possible. Trust me, I don’t feel whole when I’m away from you.”
His words warmed her. She felt the same.
Raine bit her lip and nodded. She’d let her insecurities get the best of her again, even though they’d both tried to reassure her. Maybe she just had to stop waiting for the worst and believe that whatever was happening didn’t mean the end of them. Maybe they were trying to protect her from something. No idea what, but God knew they both had the instinct.
“Can I do anything to help? I feel useless.”
“No. This situation will work itself out, but I’ll have to be on hand to steer it in the right direction. Believe me, I’m not leaving you. I never want to.”
The heartfelt vow made her sigh before he swallowed the sound with a searing kiss. He held her lips captive under his as if nothing in the world mattered more than making love to her mouth and cocooning her heart. Her uncertainty began to melt away.
Then he urged her to her back, covering her body with his own. He stroked her waist, easing down to the curve of her hip with his big hands before drifting up again to caress the plump weight of her breasts. Her breath stuttered. Her body caught fire again.
He loves me. They love me. It’s going to be all right.
She repeated the litany in her head, wanting so desperately for it to be true.
Raine caught his face in her hands, stilling his invasion as she held his gaze and lost herself in his dark, compelling eyes.
Tension tightened his face. His expression turned somber. “Nothing matters more to me than you, Raine.”
She tried to treasure the moment, but she still felt his disquiet churning the air between them.
