The Brink by Shayla Black

The little bit of Liam still capable of rational thought understood that he’d lost the plot. But Hammer sceneing with Raine—without him—felt like a boulder breaking his back. Suddenly, logic had left the building. And he didn’t give a shit.

Would their relationship always be like this, him feeling like a third wheel in their twosome? Yes, Raine claimed to love him, too. Why didn’t he quite believe it? Probably because he couldn’t figure out what the hell he gave Raine that Hammer didn’t. Liam couldn’t think of a single thing. Now it seemed as if they’d just been waiting for him to piss off somewhere so they could fuck without him.

They’d done more than fuck, though. Hammer had claimed her with the members of his club as witness, and Raine had probably been all too eager to kneel for Hammer in front of everyone they knew.

Liam cursed. He sounded like a maudlin pansy. Time to shove down his heartache and man up.

As he stomped down the hall, he tried to clear his head, but all he imagined were the sounds of Raine’s moans and pleas for Hammer to take her in every way. Jealousy flared hotter than a furnace. Were Hammer and Raine laughing at him? Rolling their eyes at how fucking predictable and gullible he was? He must be, after all. How else could Gwyneth have succeeded in duping him for nearly two years?

Raine didn’t need him. She had her house now—and the one man she’d always wanted.

But she needs you, too.

And his best fucking mate?

Hammer loves you. He’s still your friend.

Who happens to want your girl.

But all to himself? Hours ago, Hammer had insisted that Liam spend some much-needed time with Raine. Had Macen thrown a hissy when he’d realized that Liam had made love to her? Not at all.

Liam didn’t know what to think anymore as he made his way toward Hammer’s private rooms.

When he reached the door to the office, he opened it and crept inside. The soft glow of a muted desk lamp lit the place. He stood frozen as he strained to hear the sounds of sex from the adjoining bedroom. When only the tick of a clock intruded, he crossed the room and carefully opened the door to Hammer’s quarters.

The heavy aroma of sex filled his nostrils and slammed into his brain. When he’d last touched Raine, he’d found that scent erotic as hell. Now, it choked him, cloying and thick.

As he forced himself into the room, he saw that half of Hammer’s bed lay empty. Light seeped under the bathroom door as he stepped closer to where Raine sprawled out in sleep.

She’d kicked off the covers and lay naked on her stomach. The pale light of a bedside lamp illuminated her body. At first, Liam couldn’t wrap his mind around the numerous mottled bruises in the shape of fingertips and palms, the myriad bites impressed into her skin everywhere, and her bright red ass.

Raine looked a lot like she had the first time Hammer had taken her to bed and used her so brutally, just before Liam had swept her away from Shadows to protect her at the lodge. This time, Macen had welted and marked her even more.

Son of a bitch…

A red haze spilled through his head. His fists curled in rage, nails biting his palms. The bathroom door opened, and Hammer came toward him. Liam didn’t pay him any attention until the man stood almost in front of him and braced a hand on his shoulder.

Liam jerked away. “Don’t fucking touch me, you bastard.”

“I—” Hammer scowled and sighed. “Oh, hell. Not here. Let Raine sleep. Let’s—”

“I’m not ducking into the damn bathroom again,” he interrupted, struggling to keep his voice low. “I’ll need room to knock your fucking block off.”

“Fine. Let me get my pants. I’ll meet you in my office.”

Even now, Hammer thought to dictate to him. I don’t bloody think so.

Instead, Liam stared at Raine, completely covered in Hammer’s marks of possession—the impressions of his teeth, the imprint of his fingers, the welts from his flogger, the chafing at her wrists and ankles from his cuffs. She looked like she’d been mauled by a beast.

Liam shook his head. All those marks, and none of them his. Just like she would never be…

That reality smacked him in the face with the force of a two-by-four.

He staggered out of the bedroom, through Hammer’s office, and into the corridor outside. Liam slammed the door and braced himself against the wall, struggling against the urge to plow his fist through the drywall.

Hammer hadn’t been satisfied by merely claiming Raine in front of everyone when Liam hadn’t been around to show her—or anyone else—his Dominance, too. Of course not. The wanker had dragged her back to his room and fucked her like an animal, savagely marking her all over.

The door beside him opened, and Hammer stuck his head out.

“What are you doing out there? Come in here where we’ll have some privacy.”

“I’m done listening to you, you rotten bastard,” Liam cursed. “How could you?”

“Calm down,” Hammer urged. “We’ll talk about this.”

“Save your breath. I already know about your public claiming of Raine. The whole damn dungeon is talking about how incredible it was. You couldn’t fucking wait for me to leave, could you?”

Hammer snorted. “What? I started the scene in the dungeon because she needed it.”

“Raine did? Ha! More likely, you needed it. I know you, Macen. You couldn’t wait to unleash your inner beast on her.” He gave in and punched the wall in a satisfying crack. Agony exploded across his knuckles—and he didn’t care. “I’m thinking you didn’t quite finish, mate. You missed branding a few spots. Shall I leave you to it?”

A tic in Hammer’s jaw was Liam’s only indication that his mate felt anything. “Oh, goddamn it. You had your chance to mark her this morning, but you—”

“Didn’t attack her like a fucking animal.”

“What’s going on?” Raine poked her head out the door, belting a robe around her small waist. “Liam! Oh, thank god you’re back.” She sighed in relief and stepped toward him, arms outstretched.

Liam pinned her with an angry stare that warned her not to touch him.

She stopped in her tracks and glanced between him and Hammer. “What’s going on?”

“Why do you care? I can plainly see who you’d rather be with,” Liam accused. “Don’t mind me. I’ll go on being invisible.”

“Don’t you dare make her feel guilty because you can’t get over your shit,” Hammer roared.

Liam snapped his gaze back to Macen. “My shit? And have you gotten over yours? You’re pulling all the same tripe you did with Juliet, but now you’ve gone off the fucking deep end.” He grabbed Raine and ripped the robe open, flicking his gaze over her marked skin. The imprint of Hammer’s teeth on the soft pad of her pussy made him want to hit again—and not just the wall. “Look at her. Bloody hell…”

Raine grabbed the sides of the robe and belted it again, hiding herself from him. She looked chastened and guilty and furious all at once.

Fine time to care that you stabbed me in the heart.

Hammer stepped in front of her protectively. “You don’t get to make her feel small or regret what she needs.”

Gaping, Liam stared at the two, then stepped back. He’d been pointing out how wretchedly Hammer had treated Raine, yet the man acted as if she needed protecting from him. Liam would never raise a hand to her, never hurt her. But Macen already had.

Raine peeked around Hammer’s shoulder. The look in her eyes said he’d wounded her tender heart. How the hell had he become the bad guy?

“Liam,” she began. “We never intended to upset you.”

They hadn’t, he realized. He ducked his head and shook it as cold reality slipped over him. “Because you never thought of me at all. I’ve been a fool, actually believing I was an important part of our threesome. I see now that you’re a couple, and I’m just in your way.” He looked at his bleeding hand, a symbol of his bleeding heart. “I can’t be second choice for you, Raine. Or just your third, Hammer. You have what you both want: each other. I’m done.”

He turned his back on them and walked down the dark hall. He wanted nothing more than to shut out the rest of the world. If this wretched torment was love, they could have it.

“Liam, wait! Please listen…” Raine. He heard her footsteps scampering after him.

He just kept walking.

“For fuck’s sake,” Hammer bellowed. “Pull your head out of your ass. We need to talk this out.”

Liam didn’t answer, simply shut the door between them.

Once alone, he flipped the lock and sank onto the bed. He couldn’t breathe. He felt like he’d run into a solid wall of pain. His chest felt constricted. Panicked, Liam tore open his shirt, convinced he was having a heart attack.

Bracing his elbows on his knees, he bent his head and pulled in a rough breath. Maybe he was overreacting to Raine and Hammer. But no matter whose collar she’d worn or who had taken her to bed first, she would always be Macen’s girl. That knowledge imploded his chest. But hadn’t she told him that from the start?

He trembled. A sweat broke out across his brow. What the fuck would he do next?

Hammer began banging on the door. “Don’t pout like a bitch. Get out here and talk to our woman like a man.”

She’s your woman.“Go fuck yourself.”

“Jesus, you called me a fuckwit last week. If the shoe fits, buddy…”

So now Hammer wanted to insult him on top of it all? What a pal.

“You’re going to wake up tomorrow and feel like an asshole,” Macen continued into his silence.

You’d know all about that…

Hammer sighed impatiently. “You need time? Fine. You know where to find us. I’ll be taking care of Raine’s crushed heart, fucker. Thanks for that.”

Heavy footsteps receded down the hall. A door slammed. Of course his best mate was leaving him and taking the girl. He’d expected that all along.

Silence closed in on Liam. Now what the fuck did he do with himself? He supposed he could go take that shower he’d wanted on his drive home. Alone. He’d climb into bed alone, too. And wake up alone. Maybe it was better that way.

But it felt fucking terrible.

Liam stared at the blank wall in the dark room. Nothing here was his. The mattress and the bedding? Hammer’s. The furniture? Hammer’s, too. Even the four walls belonged to the man. Suddenly, Liam felt as if he didn’t belong here at all. He’d drive to the house he’d bought…but that wasn’t his, either. He’d given Raine the keys. He felt too bloody tired to drive back to the lodge. Besides, her ghost would be in every room. The lodge would be temporary, anyway. Where would he live? He’d closed the apartment in New York.

No idea how long he’d sat there, staring into oblivion. Next thing he knew, Raine eased into the room and sat beside him. Fucking Hammer. The bastard must have given her his key.

He couldn’t deal with her right now, couldn’t bear for her to see him so raw. “Raine, just go back to Hammer. He’ll take care of you. He always has.”

Liam wanted to do right by her. Even now, when his heart was breaking, he tried to find the courage to let her go so she could be happy. After all, it wasn’t her fault she was in love with someone else. She’d told him that before he’d ever once kissed her. He’d been stupid to hope he could snare her heart, too. He had no one to blame but himself.

“I need you every moment of every day, Liam. I’ve been going crazy with worry for you. Please, listen. I’m sorry. This is all my fault—”

“Every time my back is turned you’re fucking him, giving to him in a way you’ve never surrendered yourself to me.” The accusation slipped out, fueled by a mix of fury, ugly jealousy, and fatigue.

“That’s not true,” she protested.

“We both know it is. Whatever you feel, you’ll never love me even half as much as you love Hammer.”

Raine sent him a horrified stare, then threw her arms around him. “If I’ve done anything to make you think that, I’m so sorry. It’s not true. Will you just listen?”

Liam didn’t answer. Maybe she’d feel better saying whatever she needed to. Or maybe she’d finally realize he was right. He’d rather gouge his eyes out than hear this, but he shrugged.

“I was worried sick about you with Gwyneth. I didn’t know what she could do to hurt you more, but I’m sure she could think of something. I couldn’t be with you and I couldn’t do anything for you. I hate feeling helpless. So I began baking and…Hammer found me. He realized I’d worked myself up. He helped me get out of my head and—”

“What did you bake?” Liam wasn’t even sure why he asked.

“Sugar cookies. And muffins.”

“What kind?”

She hesitated. “Apple spice.”

Hammer’s favorite. Of course. That just pissed him off more. “Did you ever once ask what I like? No. Date scones, Raine. Not that it matters.”

“You always ate whatever I put out and I thought…” She closed her mouth and drew in a breath. “You’re right. I didn’t ask. I’m sorry, Liam. I’ll make date scones for you.”

“Don’t bother.” Would she? He hated feeling this vulnerable. And angry. Christ, he was snapping at her for acting on her feelings. Liam closed his mouth. Better to stop now.

“It’s not a bother. I bake Hammer’s favorites because I want to please him. I would gladly do the same for you because I love you.”

Now she was just feeling sorry for him.

He stood. “It doesn’t matter. Just go. I need a shower and—”

“Something to eat, someone to take care of you.” She rose beside him and put her arms around him. “That’s why I’m here. I’ll give you whatever you need.”

Liam couldn’t miss the soft persuasion in her voice.

He broke from her hold and swiped at his face. “It’s Hammer you want. Look at yourself, Raine. Christ, you’re so bloody in heat for him. Do you even care what he does to you?”

“I’m fine,” she assured. “He didn’t hurt—”

“You all but accused me of treating you like a whore earlier. Hammer’s the one who treats you that way. There’s barely an inch of you he hasn’t branded. Next you’ll be telling me you liked it.”

“I did.”

Those two words went off like a bomb inside him. She loved Hammer so much that she’d gladly wear the symbols of his touch. Liam shook his head. He’d treated Raine so gently—like a fucking princess—and he’d held back for so long because she looked delicate. Her feelings were even more fragile. He’d been afraid to hurt her.

What an idiot he’d been.

“I won’t lie.” She’d dropped her chin and said it so quietly he almost didn’t hear it. “I needed it.”

From Hammer. Just not from him. “And you got it.”

“I needed what he gave me, Liam. And he needed to give it to me.” She raised her head to meet his stare. “I’ll take him in any way he chooses—soft, sweet, hard, passionate, rough, dirty—because he touches my soul.”

“Well, then you should go.” He gestured her out the door. “Hammer is more than capable of seeing to your every craving and desire.”

“You do the same for me. I’d be proud to wear your marks, too, Liam.”

He couldn’t bear her mollifying words as he looked at her sadly. “I’ve already given you my whole heart, Raine. It’s obviously not enough.”

“Not enough?” she asked in teary incredulity. “Liam, you’re everything to me. I love you with every beat of my heart. I need you more than my next breath.”

The impact of each word reverberated like a blast through him. God, he needed her, too.

“And you know how hard that is for me to say,” she sobbed.

Liam did. He held back his own tears.

Even when he felt abandoned and betrayed, he feared crushing her heart. He loved her more than he’d ever loved Gwyneth or anyone else. Raine might be the submissive in their relationship, but she wielded so much power. She could annihilate him.

Instead, she smiled tremulously at him. “I love Hammer. I admit it. But I love you, too, Liam—every bit as much.”

He wanted to believe that and didn’t know if he could. And he was too fucking overwrought to deal with it now. “It doesn’t feel that way, Raine.”

“Then let me prove it,” she insisted. “Don’t tell me no because I’ll fight for you, the way you fought for me.”

“Christ… Stop.”

“Punish me if you want to. I’ll take whatever you mete out. But I need you to understand one thing.” She took his face in her hands and melded their gazes. “Any time either you or Hammer wants me, together or alone, I’ll submit to my Masters because I belong to you both. You’re the two halves of my heart.”

He struggled to put distance between them, get away from that insistent stare delving into him, seeing all his bleeding insecurities. Even as he stumbled toward the shower, Liam felt the gut-deep need for Raine to wrap her arms around him and love him the way she did Hammer.

Raine followed him. “Tell me what you need, Liam.”

“I’m fine.” Would she ever give him the same open body, heart, and soul she gave his friend? If he let her in again, could she?

“You’re not, and I won’t leave you when you’re half starved, exhausted, and hurting. You never left me to drown in my own worries, even when you felt as if I’d betrayed you, even when I wasn’t giving my submission to you. Even when you uncollared me, you tried your damnedest to stay by my side. I won’t do less for you. You want to know what you give me? Why I love you? Because you listened, you understood, and you loved me no matter what. I’ve never had that once in my life. No one has ever just held me and accepted me as I am. I’ve learned about love from you. I may not have been good at showing you, but you’ve taught me more about the kind of person I want to be. I’m not leaving. And I’m not letting you go.”

Her words touched him in places he didn’t want her to reach right now. His first instinct was to grab her and clutch her like a lifeline, take comfort in her nearness. But she stood before him bruised and tear-stained and defiant. He didn’t bloody know what to do. He didn’t even know what to think. A few weeks ago, at the first sign of his rejection, the girl would have run away. Now, she was a woman, standing her ground, refusing to give up on him. That had to mean she felt something.

“Raine…”

“Do you want to keep arguing or let me help you undress and get showered? I’ll do whatever pleases you, Sir.”

Against his will, her concern for him burrowed under his skin. There was the lass he’d first fallen head over heels in love with.

“I’ve been taking care of myself for years, Raine. I can still manage.”

“Of course you can. But you don’t have to,” she replied softly. “I’m not here merely to see to Hammer’s needs. You have them, too. Do you have any other objections before I take care of you?”

He didn’t have the energy to keep arguing. And in truth, he didn’t want to. “Fine. Run me a bath, sub. While I’m soaking, I’d like a grilled cheese sandwich and a glass of cold stout.”

She gave him a radiant smile. “I’ll be happy to do that, Sir. While I’m gone, think about what else you need and how else I can serve you.”

Her words bowled him over. Never had he expected the spitfire to give him this sort of total submissive devotion, especially after all he’d blurted in a fit of furious jealousy. Now, Liam couldn’t find a word. He might have given her a house, but Raine had just handed him her soul. And he knew damn well she didn’t give an iota of herself easily. Nothing could have told him more eloquently that she understood him, trusted him…loved him.

Remorse burned through his veins. Still, she stood before him, radiating her willingness to give him anything, everything. His Dominant side thrilled with a million possibilities. If he weren’t so tired, he’d savor every damn one. Right now, he simply wanted to touch her.

“Raine…” He cupped her face, his thumb caressing across her cheek. “Love.”

She closed her eyes and nuzzled into his palm. The visible relief on her face amazed and humbled him.

What the hell had he done to deserve her?

When he dropped his hand, Raine sent him a shaky smile, then stepped to the soaking tub and started the taps. As she waited for the water to turn warm, she approached him on soft footfalls. Her silky pink robe caressed her unbound breasts, belted at her tiny waist, brushed her thighs. Lace framed her lapels and wide cuffs. Soft, feminine…so like the woman herself. Despite being wrung out in every way, he ached to sink deep inside her again.

Never taking her stare from his, Raine stopped before him and fingered the top button of his shirt. “Can I undress you, Sir?”

Liam swallowed. “You may.”

She smoothed her palms across his chest, all the way to his shoulders, before working his buttons. One by one, she freed them from their moorings, not so slowly that he’d call her actions seductive…but not so clinically that he’d call them sterile, either.

The gravity in her stare pulled him in deeper to her as she released the second button, the third… Then he lost count, reveling in Raine’s attention.

As she pulled the last one free, she fanned her palms up his bare chest, pushing the shirt off his shoulders. He shrugged out of it, letting it fall to the floor. Liam felt his breathing accelerate, his heart start to thump.

Raine turned away long enough to check the temperature of the water and set the stopper down in the tub. She rummaged around in the cabinet and found some vanilla bath beads and some sort of oil. After pouring both into the filling water, she stashed them away again and turned her entire focus on him once more.

Liam felt it in her stare as she approached him again, then dropped to her knees. The thump of his heart became a drumbeat of a thud—hard, fast, insistent. She bowed her head, and he couldn’t resist running his fingers through the silky hair at her crown as she worked at his laces and pulled his shoes free. His socks followed.

Then she reached for his zipper.

Fifteen minutes ago, he would have thought he’d be too exhausted for this. But she’d barely touched him, and he was hard as a post. Bloody hell.

Raine dragged the little tab down. Liam held his breath as the teeth hissed in the silence, looking at her as she stared up at him, her eyes big blue pools of surrender.

His chest expanded as he dragged in a rough breath and curled his hands into fists as she eased his pants down his legs, past his feet, leaving him bare. Neatly, she folded every garment and set them on the counter behind her, then rocked back on her heels to give him another submissive glance.

“Let me double-check your bath water so I can see if it needs adjusting,” she murmured.

He didn’t really want her to leave his side. In fact, he was ready to ditch the bloody bath and give her all his attention. But her expression told him that she not only wanted to give to him now, she needed it. God knew he wanted to be on the receiving end.

He dropped his palm to her crown again and caressed her. “Go ahead.”

Raine gave him a little smile before she rose to stick her hand in the bath. After taking more than a few showers together, she knew what temperature he preferred. The fact that she cared for his pleasure, down to this level of detail, warmed him.

She fussed with the taps, increasing the heat from the faucet. Liam watched her bent and diligent in assuring his comfort. Why did that turn him on so damn much? He’d never noticed whether Juliet had cooked or bustled after him. Gwyneth hadn’t possessed a caretaking bone in her body, and he’d never missed it a whit. But for as long as he’d known Raine, the sight of her doing anything domestic for him had lit some flame inside him.

Maybe because she’d always shown her feelings for Hammer by taking care of him and he wanted the same for himself. Maybe because, despite what he’d told himself in the beginning, he’d always wanted Raine forever.

That realization set Liam back on his heels.

She turned to him. “I think it’s ready. I’ll make your sandwich.”

As Raine walked past him to swish out of the room, he grabbed her by the wrist and pulled her against him. His hard cock bobbed between them, brushing against her silken robe as he took her by the waist and thrust another hand in her hair, then captured her lips with his own.

She yielded to him instantly, bracing herself by clinging to his shoulders and tilting her head to accommodate his stroke inside her mouth. He tugged on the robe and pulled at her hair as he ate at her, starving for her taste. He bit at her lower lip, then seized her, gorging on the sweet, giving flavor of her kiss again.

Raine moaned, trembled in his arms, and opened herself to him. He could almost feel her working to keep her walls down. Liam couldn’t remember a time she’d ever put so much effort or heart into her submission.

Panting, he broke away and stared down into her face, her flushed cheeks and swollen lips. Besides being so beautiful she blinded him, she lay so open to him in every way. It stilled his heart. With every move and touch, she stoked the Dominant need inside him.

The past twenty-four hours had been one blindsiding shock after another. This had to be the most amazing of all.

She didn’t move or say a word, just blinked up at him as if awaiting his every command.

Damn near moved to silence, he cleared his throat. “I’d like that beer now. And the sandwich.”

Raine nodded. “I’ll be right back. If you’d like to start soaking, I’ll be in to help you soon.”

Help him?Liam wasn’t sure what that entailed, but it sounded bloody nice. He could think of a thing or two he needed help with… As he glanced down at his engorged cock, he thought it might be a great idea to start there.

Shaking his head, he stepped into the deep tub with a sigh. Perfect. Raine knew him well, and he took comfort in that.

He sank back, eyes closed, and let his spine melt against the back of the tub. He wasn’t sure whether he’d had his eyes closed for two minutes or ten when he heard the water cut off.

Raine bustled over to him with a steaming sandwich oozing cheese and well toasted, just the way he liked it. In the other hand, she carried a frosty mug of black beer.

With a smile, she set both on the wide ledge of the tub. “Anything else?”

“Stay with me.”

Maybe it wasn’t a fair request at nearly three in the morning, but Liam didn’t want her to leave, couldn’t fathom spending the rest of the night without her.

“Of course.” She didn’t hesitate. “Can I wash your hair?”

He all but sighed with bliss. “I’d like that.”

“Then I’d like to do it for you.”

As he took a bite of the gooey sandwich with a hint of crusty sourdough and chased it with a gulp of the stout, he watched her flit to the cabinet to find his favorite shampoo, then disappear. He’d scarfed most of the sandwich and downed the beer by the time she returned with a big plastic cup and knelt by him at the side of the tub again.

Without a word, she turned on the tap once more and filled the cup with water. Liam watched her as she rose and protected his eyes with her hand, tilted his head back, and sluiced warm water through his hair. He groaned at the slice of heaven.

Raine lathered his hair, massaging his scalp, lingering at his temples, easing the knots at the base of his neck. Everything she did somehow soothed and invigorated him at once. He’d been wiped out when he’d arrived at Shadows, but the longer she touched him, the less he had any interest in sleep.

After long minutes of her luxurious care, she rinsed the suds from his hair, then swept the empty plate and glass onto the counter. She stood on her tiptoes, reaching into the cupboard above the toilet for a fresh towel. He smiled. Such a wee thing, and so willing to please.

When Raine turned back to him, she held the towel open, inviting him to walk inside. “If you’re ready…”

Beyond ready.Liam jumped to his feet, displacing the water in the tub with a mighty whoosh. He stepped out and into her open arms, every part of him softening to her touch except one. She patted the water off his shoulders, chest, and back before he ducked to let her soak up the excess moisture from his hair. Circling around him, she dried off his back, his buttocks, his legs, even dabbing at his feet before she crawled around to the front and dragged the towel down his abdomen, up his calves and thighs, circling his impatient cock.

The moment she dragged the terrycloth over his raging staff, he moaned. Jesus, the woman pushed every one of his buttons. He wanted the chance to push hers.

Raine set the towel aside, then prowled in the cabinet again. Her little robe whispered up the back of her thighs, barely covering that lush ass.

“Almond or honeysuckle lotion?” she asked over her shoulder.

“Fuck the lotion, lass. I want you in my bed.”

She flushed a sweet, rosy pink. “Any way you want me.”

Liam grabbed her by the hand. He couldn’t lead her out of the bathroom fast enough. Even that seemed too slow, so he turned and lifted her against his chest, fusing their lips together. Automatically, her legs wrapped around his waist as she opened to his hungry onslaught. God, she was such a tiny thing against him but so full of passion.

He begrudged the dozen steps it took to reach the bed before he set her on her feet and sprawled across the mattress. He propped his head up on one hand and stroked his cock with the other.

He heard her breath hitch and smiled. “Raine?”

At the side of the bed, she sank to her knees and bowed her head. “Yes, Sir.”

There she went, pushing his buttons again. She’d never bowed for him voluntarily, and here she was, offering him all of her so beautifully. He watched her, roughing his hand up his cock a bit faster, trying to assimilate all his thoughts and yearnings into a coherent sentence. Bloody hell…

“You say you love me?”

She lifted her head long enough to meet his stare…and sneak a glance at him palming his cock. Then she jerked her head down again. “I do.”

His breathing picked up, and his heart beat so fast already Liam wondered if it would rattle out of his chest. “Show me. Make love to me. Tell me how you feel with your body.”