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“You’re right,” Hammer agreed without hesitation.
Then she turned to Liam. Six freaking sisters she’d never heard of until today…
With that thought, she zipped a gaze back to Hammer. “Wait. How many siblings do you have?”
He arched a brow at Liam and smothered a laugh. “None, precious. I’m an only child.”
Hammer might have been guilty of a lot over the years, but at least he hadn’t intentionally buried his family tree.
Raine tucked her arms over her chest and pinned Liam with an expectant stare. “Did you remember anything else I should know?”
“Watch yourself,” Liam warned. “You’re likely to end up with a smacked bottom.”
“Promises, promises.” She sent her two men a saucy stare, then threw her arms around them.
Surrounded by the two people she loved and trusted most, Raine let their warmth sink into her and tried not to think about River. But he lingered, and she hated to imagine that the last surviving Kendall male might possibly become her next nightmare.
Wednesday, February 13
By Wednesday morning, Raine was ready to escape her own house.
Beside her, Hammer steered his Audi down the street, toward her highly anticipated, hour-long respite. She was grateful Liam had stayed home. She didn’t need another over-testosteroned protector hovering.
“I could have driven myself,” Raine pointed out. “I have a standing appointment and I always manage to find my way.”
“No.”
She sighed. “It’s just a massage.”
“It’s also not a negotiation. I had to pick a few things up at the grocery store anyway. So I’m driving you.”
Who did he think he was fooling? “Name one time you’ve done your own grocery shopping in the last six years.”
As Hammer breezed through a yellow light, he sent her a warning glower and gripped the wheel tighter.
“Be reasonable. River isn’t going to snatch me away. If he shows up, I promised I’d have nothing to do with him. Don’t you trust me?”
“It’s him I don’t trust.”
“I get that, but you haven’t let me out of your sight in four days.”
“I’m letting you spend an hour away now, aren’t I?” he snapped as he turned right into the parking lot.
She held in a groan, reminding herself that Hammer was simply afraid for her. “I can protect myself. Bill came out of that fight in far worse shape than I did.”
He sent her a stern glower. “Don’t remind me about that day.”
“I don’t have to. Neither you nor Liam are trying to forget. It’s hard for me, too. But you’ve got to lighten up. Nothing is going to happen in a public place with the massage therapist the obstetrician recommended. Gloria is great.”
Hammer’s nostrils flared. Raine knew that look. She might as well be talking to a cement wall.
“First of all, you shouldn’t have to protect yourself. That’s a responsibility Liam and I take very seriously. Second, no one knows what could happen, and we’re not eager to take any chances. Call me a hard-ass if you want, but either I’m driving you to and from this appointment or we’re cancelling.”
Do you want to watch Gloria work out the knots in my muscles, too? The sarcasm perched on the tip of her tongue, but Raine bit it back. Hammer might actually take her up on that offer.
“Seriously, River hasn’t been back since last weekend. He forgot that I existed for twelve years. For all we know, he’s decided I’m worthless because I’m a knocked-up slut or whatever, and he’s written me off again. Fine. His loss. I don’t need him.”
“I told you, he’s not giving up.” Hammer pressed his mouth into a severe line as he pulled up to the curb in front of the spa. “That much I know.”
The fit couple Raine always saw heading into the fitness studio before her late morning appointment caught her eye as they ducked in next door for their session. Their burly personal trainer greeted them with a wave.
“I have to go or I’ll be late. We’ll talk about this later,” she promised and kissed his cheek.
He sent her a steely warning. “Yes. In an hour, when you’re over my knee and you remember you’re not the one giving the orders.”
Hammer hadn’t touched her since Saturday morning’s debacle, and they hadn’t had sex in weeks. He’d been particularly edgy since she’d freaked out about his ropes. She still felt terrible about that. Hammer and Liam were Doms; they might worry she no longer trusted them. Nothing could be further from the truth. Now that she knew being restrained triggered dark memories, she would mentally steel herself so she wouldn’t lose her shit again—hopefully.
Raine worried this would come between them. Hammer craved having complete control, and if she couldn’t give it, would he lose interest?
She opened the car door. “We both know you won’t do that.”
Once he would have, but now…
Hammer snagged her arm. His hazel eyes flashed a darker warning. “That’s where you’re wrong. Would you like me to hold you down now to make my point, precious? Either way, I’ll be giving you a rosy ass before the sun goes down. Then count on Liam and me keeping that insolent mouth of yours busy all night.”
