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He glowered at her. “I understand you believe—”
“You don’t understand anything,” she lashed out. “How can you? I don’t understand this shit. I don’t understand why this happened. I don’t understand what the hell I’m supposed to do. And I definitely don’t understand why you’re trying to be my big, bad Dom right now.”
Oh, she didn’t?
Liam slid into a brutally familiar headspace. Dominance filled his veins. He embraced his darker, uncompromising side. And once he uncaged it on Raine, the submission she gave him in return would be a balm vital to them both.
“You think I’m acting?” A humorless chuckle rolled from his lips. “Until now, I’ve only shown you my tender adoration. It’s what you needed when you first accepted my collar. When Macen and I took you to the lodge. When my ex-wife returned to wreak havoc. After that monster of a father kidnapped you. All these months Hammer’s been running from his ghosts. But make no mistake, I will show you just how demanding a taskmaster I can be. So either voluntarily hand me your concerns or I’ll pry my way inside your head and twist you inside out until you give them over.”
She’d paused, staring at the waves gathering and rushing toward them, breaking thunderously on the sandy beach. The sea foam spreading messily as it caught in the onshore breeze, while the gulls screeched as they dove and circled on high. The wind whipped at her hair. She tossed it back absently.
She sniffled. “I know you’re worried about me and the baby. I worry about the little one, too. But how do I not worry about the man I love? I’m scared Macen’s never coming back.”
Her lashes fluttered closed as tears trickled from the corners of her eyes. Liam didn’t have the heart to lie and tell her everything would be fine.
“He will. Barnes will make sure of it.”
“But for how long?”
“That’s out of our hands, Raine.”
“I don’t…” She crossed her arms tightly over her chest. “I don’t know if I can live with that. I…”
Suddenly her fury churned the air. She broke away from him and started to run. Startled, he watched her for a moment.
See how she sped away like the goddamn fucking wind. Jesus. That’s it, love. Get it out of your system.
Liam started after her.
Acting on pure instinct, Raine darted like a wild thing. She glanced over her shoulder, sensed she was being hunted by a bigger, stronger predator. Arms and elbows pumping madly, hair flying about her in all directions as her legs propelled her forward, she dashed, her feet kicking up sand and wash.
Fast twitch. But she’s a sprinter. Won’t last long.
In fact, she didn’t get far before the burst of fury ran out and she nearly tripped on her own feet, collapsing on the wet sand with a sob.
Liam was a second behind her, scooping her up in his arms and dragging her against his chest.
“Put me down,” she insisted even as she wrapped herself around him and held tight.
He sank to the sandy grains beneath him and dragged Raine into his lap, rocking her. He muttered soothing sounds in her ear and rubbed her belly, trying to calm her upset—and the baby’s. “It’s all right.”
“No.” Raine beat weakly at his back with her fists in between ragged cries. “It’s not!”
“Is that all you’ve got?” he prodded, his tone deceptively mild.
“What do you mean?”
“Sir,” he corrected. “You will address me as Sir until I say otherwise. Do you understand, sub?”
She stubbornly refused to answer.
“Do you?” he prodded. “C’mon, Raine. You’re itching for a fight. Let me have it. Let’s bleed off your fucking attitude. Or do I need to blister your ass right here and now to make my point? Because I will.” Liam grabbed her by the hair and yanked until he knew her scalp tingled with a sensation just shy of pain. “Think carefully before you answer. I can be your greatest comfort or the most relentless bastard you’ve ever met. That’s up to you.”
“What the fuck do you want from me, Sir?” She spit out the words as more tears swam down her face. “I’m lost. I’m scared. I’m angry. And I know I have no right to throw this goddamn hissy because you’re hurting every bit as much as I am and…” More sobs took over. “I’m sorry.”
He stroked her hair. Now they were getting somewhere… “I know. Scream.”
“What?” She stared at him incredulously.
“You heard me,” he growled in soft warning. “Scream.”
“How is that—”
“Do it now.” He cupped her chin, forcing her face upward, and dragged her mouth open. “Scream!”
She let loose a whimper.
“Oh, come on. You’re stronger than that, Raine. I expect more. Give it to me.”
Her second attempt went the way of the first, swallowed up by the crash of waves and the stiff morning wind.
