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“No. ”
“We’re completely united on this,” Liam added. “We know you’re worried we’ll start arguing and tossing fists, but it won’t happen, love. Tell me, is there another reason you’re hesitating?”
“It’s a huge decision,” she insisted. “I need time to think. ”
But about what? Aside from their quarreling, it would be heaven having the two men she loved molding her. Hell, it would be a dream come true.
Hammer reached out and pulled her close to his chest, his warm breath caressing the shell of her ear. She felt herself melt.
“Do you really need time to think about being the center of our world, precious?” he challenged in a low, hungry voice.
Liam pressed in behind her, and his lips skimmed a path up her neck. “Open up and let us in. We won’t let you fall. ”
A quiver of need slammed down her spine. She had no trouble envisioning what it would feel like to be at their mercy. Desire hummed. Pressed between them, the fantasy that had spun through her head for weeks paled in comparison to the decadent reality. She sucked in a ragged breath.
They were trying to put aside their differences for her. No way to think otherwise or overlook that fact. They were giving her the chance to grow. Hell, the chance of a lifetime.
Her fantasy come true.
“I accept—on one condition. ” Negotiation was part and parcel of BDSM. No way was she entering into this without them hearing her concerns.
Liam eased back from behind her before sidling next to Hammer. Shoulder to shoulder, the two most important men in her life stared down at her, waiting.
Hammer slowly released her. “We’re listening. ”
“You two have to get along. The minute there’s any arguing, name calling, backbiting, jealous rants, or strife of any kind, I’m done. I mean it. I refuse to come between you two again. ”
They exchanged a glance, then Liam shrugged.
“Done. ” Hammer sent her a sharp nod.
“Our disagreements are over,” Liam vowed.
She wanted it to be true. Whether they could make that stick remained to be seen, but short of calling them liars, Raine had to believe them. “As long as we’re clear…”
“Crystal, love,” Liam assured.
“Thank you. ”
“You’re welcome. Now you’ll hear our terms. ” Hammer nodded. “You will not question the methods we use to help you achieve submission,” Hammer warned in his deep, growling Dom voice. If the man knew what that did to her girl parts, she’d be toast. “They will not always be easy, but they will be effective. ”
Liam picked up. “You will never doubt that we want anything but the best for you. And every time you curse, we’ll add it to your list of infractions. ”
“Your little f-bomb has been duly noted. ” Hammer glared. “You will also never try to pit one of us against the other. Ever. Your training starts. . . ” He looked at his watch. “Now. Raise your hand if you have any questions or do not understand our terms. ”
Their dual expressions of determination told her they were deadly serious. Though she couldn’t help but worry their idea was doomed to fail, she was so damn touched.
“No, I understand. ”
This was really going to happen. God, she didn’t know if she should be terrified or thrilled. More than a little of both swirled inside her.
“Good. Shower now. We will pack your bag. I’ll come collect any toiletries you’d like to take and give you additional instructions then. ”
She blinked up at Liam. This wasn’t the Dom she knew. She’d expected this sort of strict control from Hammer. But right now, Liam was all demand and no cajoling. It was sexy. Raine bowed her head for a moment, trying to wrap her thoughts around this morning’s events. But there was only one answer in her heart. “Yes, Sir. ”
“Then I suggest some action,” Liam urged. “If you dawdle, we’ll add that to your list of infractions, too. ”
“And I guarantee you won’t like it,” Hammer added.
Then in unison, they turned toward the door.
That was the end of the conversation in their minds? “Wait!”
They turned back, Liam with a dark brow raised in warning, Hammer with an impatient stare.
“Why are you packing me a suitcase? Where are we going?”
Liam smiled. “You’ll find out. Time’s a wasting, Raine. I suggest you move. ”
Then they walked out. With a quiet click, the door shut behind them.
Raine shut off the water, anxiety humming through her veins. Liam’s badass Dom mode earlier had been arousing as hell, but she’d found herself more than a bit intimidated. He’d instructed her to get herself ready quickly, but for what? All the uncertainty zipping through her was making her damn near dizzy.
Shoving the shower curtain aside, she shrieked, startled to find Liam standing before her with her towel draped over his arm. His stare raked her possessively, as though he meant to devour her in one big bite. Her nipples pebbled. Heat erupted deep in her womb. Just one look from the man and she was aching. This imposing side of him only served to make her more nervous about the surprising scheme he and Hammer had cooked up.
After last night, Raine had no doubt that Liam was mad—and hurt—that she’d run away. She adored his sweet side. His tender, nurturing compassion made her turn all gooey. But now he’d reverted to the reserved control he’d used with her at the lodge. It was effective and disquieting.
“Come here. ” His voice was thick as he opened the towel, inviting her into his arms.
A flutter of excitement scurried up her spine. Oh, she’d missed his warm embrace. Fighting the need to surge into his arms, she tiptoed closer. He enveloped her against him. Closing her eyes, she inhaled his spicy, familiar scent. She loved it every bit as much as she loved him.
“I can’t begin to tell you how good it feels to hold you again. ” His silky Irish lilt slid over her like warm honey. “I’ve missed you. ”
She snuggled deeper. She could feel every hard inch of his body pressed against hers as he squeezed her tight. “I missed you, too. ”
Reaching up, he dislodged the clip in her hair and feathered his fingers to loosen the strands. All the while he stared down at her, not uttering a word. As he captured her with his gaze, the worries that had plagued her for the past few days faded into the background. But her guilt and insecurities still niggled her, seeping past the comfort of his embrace.
“Why?” Her unguarded question slipped out before she could curb it.
“Why what, love?”
“Why are you doing this for me after the way I left you? When you removed my collar, I panicked. I ran. I-I’m sorry. I didn’t think you wanted me anymore. ” She hadn’t planned to open up and show him her vulnerabilities. Now that she had, Raine searched his eyes, desperate to know what he thought, felt. His unreadable expression left her feeling more exposed than her nudity.
At Beck’s condo, she’d believed that she’d cried all she could, but new, hot tears threatened, proving Liam owned something deep inside her.
“Shh. There now, love. Of course I want you. I never stopped. ” He stepped back and pulled her down with him as he sat on the toilet lid. “I’m trying to help you in the ways I know you need. This isn’t about me; it’s about you. ”
Raine curled up, sliding her arms around his steely shoulders as he placed a sweet kiss on her forehead. She sank into his embrace with a sigh. Being here felt so right.
“I didn’t mean to snap at you last night,” he murmured.
“You had every right to. ”
Liam gently rocked her, smoothing her hair back from her face. “You surprised me with your request. Just know that I love you. I’d do anything for you. Well, except watch you give your submission to a Domme. ”
Despite her anxiety, she laughed. So gentle, so loving…so Liam.
“Come on. ” He smiled down at her. “Stop you
r worrying and show me that you missed me. ”
With a sudden shyness, she leaned up and pressed her lips to his, feeling small and treasured in his arms. Liam moaned as he took her lips with a fierce tenderness that made her toes curl and her body dissolve with arousal. She squirmed, but he held her in place with firm fingers on her nape. With his free hand, he gripped her hip and pulled her tighter against him.
He was like a drug shooting straight into her veins, and the surge of “instant Liam” made her heart thump wildly. God, how she’d missed him. Missed this.
Their tongues tangled. A moan of desire bubbled and rolled up from her throat. Though the days she’d spent apart from him were painful and empty, they’d been healing, too. And coming back to him—to the comforting fire he roused—centered her.
Easing back, she saw a gratified smile sparkle all the way to Liam’s eyes. Then he plucked her from his lap, tore away her towel, and swatted her bare ass.
“Now get a move on. We’re waiting. ” With a wicked grin full of promise, he turned. “Bring me your toiletries after you’re dressed. And make sure you wear a skirt. Something short. ”
With that, Liam left the bathroom.
Nerves jumping, Raine dashed to her closet and dressed, then applied some tinted moisturizer and lip gloss. Pausing to look in the mirror, she noticed her lips were swollen from his kiss. All the energy buzzing inside her merged with the joy she felt at being with him again.
As she stepped back into her room, she noticed Liam sitting patiently on her bed. An empty suitcase lay open beside him. He stood and accepted the items she held out in offering. After unloading them into the bag, he led her to the door.
“I’ll finish packing for you, love. Right now, it’s time to eat breakfast. Hammer is waiting for you. ”
Raine’s eyes widened. Liam was voluntarily sending her to Hammer? Yes, they’d both agreed to be her Doms, but everything seemed surreal.
“And you want me to find him?”
“Yes. He’s waiting in the kitchen. ”
That made Raine’s heart stutter again. Lord, if Hammer was cooking, she hoped he was preparing dry cereal. Anything more complicated could be catastrophic. Absently, she kissed Liam, then darted out of the room, almost dreading what she’d find. Hammer had proven he could set the kitchen on fire.
As she scurried down the hall, Raine felt a tingle roll through her and glanced back to see Liam watching, his seductive stare promising more than a kiss—soon.
As she rounded the doorway to the kitchen, Hammer stood at the stove, cursing as he hissed and shook a splatter of hot bacon grease from his hand. Raine bit her lip, trying not to laugh.
Remembering the last time he’d attempted to cook, her thoughts wandered years back, to the third morning she’d awakened at Shadows. The scream of a smoke alarm had sent her racing down the hall, panicked that the entire building was going up in flames. What she’d found instead was the sharply perceptive man who had taken her in. He fanned a dish towel at the shrieking alarm. Flames flickered behind the glass window of the oven as more noxious smoke rolled from its door.
With a gasp, Raine had raced around the room, turning off the oven and searching numerous cabinets until she found a box of baking soda. Yanking the door open, she dumped the powder over the flames, snuffing out the fire from the frosting-laden Danishes he’d tried to broil.
Hammer, despite seeming so tall and intimidating, had given her a smile of pride. “Thank you, precious. ”
She hadn’t known why at the time, but her heart had soared and her stomach had flipped over completely.
Her heart nearly melted in from her chest now as she watched him attempt to cook for her again. Raine hoped that meant he was on the road to forgiving her. She sure hadn’t thought he would be last night when he’d refused to speak to her. Hammer cutting her cold would be like losing a limb. This morning, she still wasn’t exactly sure where she stood. They weren’t strictly friends. But they weren’t exactly lovers, either. Like Liam, he wanted to help her. That had to mean something.
She wondered if he knew that Liam had pulled her naked into his lap minutes ago and kissed her. Or if he’d care. Would Hammer kiss her, too? Do more? Or had the only way he and Liam been able to stop arguing and make her this offer was to take sex off the table?
Damn, she should have asked what boundaries they’d set for themselves before she’d agreed to let them guide her. But she intended to ask as soon as she had them alone again.
Easing toward the stove, she placed her hand over his and reached for the fork in his grasp, looking up into his face. For recognition. For approval. Would he push her away or welcome her?
“Do you want me to take over?” she asked softly.
“It would be safer for us all. Here. ” He handed her the fork with a grin.
Instantly, that set her at ease. She took over at the stove with a wistful smile. “Remember the last time you tried to set the place on fire?”
