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“With that attitude, it probably will.” She slapped at his thigh playfully.
Liam watched their byplay with a big smile and a grateful heart. They weren’t perfect people, but they were perfect for him. “You never have to worry about me, lovely. I’m a saint.”
Raine rolled her eyes. “Not even close. The very first time you got me alone behind closed doors? You had me naked in two minutes with your lips all over me and your hand up my hoo-ha.”
“After that terrible public punishment I gave you with Beck?” Hammer winced. “That’s something else I should apologize for. He really was supposed to just scare the shit out of you, along with giving you a mild paddling.”
“I know,” she assured. “But that’s not what I mean. I’m talking about the morning I threw that huge tantrum.” She buried her face in her hands. “Sorry. That was terrible of me.”
“Waking up to a blow job was fantastic. Only time I’m going to object, by the way.” Macen glanced over at Liam. “You fooled around with her right after that?”
“I did. Couldn’t keep my hands off her, mate.”
God, that morning seemed like a lifetime ago. So much had happened since then, yet he clearly remembered luring Raine to his bedroom, knowing he needed to keep her at Shadows to make Hammer happy…then realizing as he kissed her and felt her shatter for him that he wanted her for himself.
Liam stared at Raine, sat back. Blinked. Couldn’t breathe.
Dear god, she didn’t know any of that.
She bounded off Hammer’s lap instantly. Liam tried to wipe the guilt off his face, but Raine had already seen that something troubled him.
“Liam?” She dropped a hand to his shoulder, bent to peer into his eyes. “What…?”
What was wrong? Something he should have confessed long ago. He frowned, cut a stare to Hammer. His friend had obviously followed the conversation and seemed to have grasped Liam’s dilemma. If he confessed now, would Raine feel totally betrayed? Would it even matter that everything in his heart had changed?
Macen sent him a nod. Keeping her in the dark about the man’s suicidal thoughts was for Raine’s own good. Hiding this truth from her now would mostly save his own skin.
Liam rubbed at the back of his neck. “Well…I’ve got something to confess, love. I should have come clean about this a long time ago, and I’ve no excuse.”
“What?” she demanded, the joy draining from her face. Wariness took its place.
“I offered to train you because I wanted to help Hammer. My best friend was lost, and I thought the only way to help him at the time would be to give him a wee nudge toward the woman he loved. Trouble was, I didn’t see the danger until it was too late. One taste of you, and I was hooked. Hammer knew it, too.”
She inched back from him, a furrow of confusion settling between her brows. It soon turned to anger. Her lips pursed. Hurt flared in her eyes. “You…” She shook her head. “You only wanted me so Hammer would be jealous enough to do something?”
“For the first…thirty seconds. Then I kissed you. In the kitchen. That’s when it started.”
“I remember.”
But she didn’t look inclined to accept his words or forgive him just now. Liam looked over at Hammer, who winced like maybe they’d screwed the pooch after all. Bloody fine time to have second thoughts, mate…
“I told you that morning where my heart was.” She nodded slowly, then peered at him, eyes going wide. “I said it would always be with Hammer.”
“I tried not to let it bother me. Hell, I remember telling you that I needed your trust, not your love. I’ve never before wished I could take something I said back so badly. God, I tried not to want you, did my best not to feel anything…but when I claimed you in the dungeon, I fell hard. Before I knew what hit me, I was in love. In my eyes, you were mine as much you were his, and I was ready to fight for you. I still am.”
She blinked at him, her eyes swimming with pooling tears. “I don’t know why. I fought you. I slept with your best friend the night we got together. I didn’t give you everything I promised when you collared me. I wouldn’t tell you I was pregnant. I ran away.” She winced. “I almost chose a woman over you two. I haven’t always been easy or trusting. And through it all, you’ve stayed.” Raine lowered her head, shook it. “I’ll bet you had no idea what you were getting yourself into that morning you sauntered into the kitchen, determined to make Hammer see me.”
“None.”
Suddenly, her entire body shook. Liam put his arms around his wee wench, slightly panicked. He didn’t want her sobbing. “It’s water under the bridge, love. It doesn’t matter how or why we got here, just that we made it. Don’t be angry—”
