The Betrayal by Shayla Black

Fuck off, was it?Liam watched Hammer shut himself away and shook his head. Through the past decade, he and Hammer had shared so many good times, so much laughter, untold quantities of liquor, and of course for a time, Juliet. The man was the closest thing he had to a brother. Sure, they’d exchanged a cross word or two, but never anything like this. Clearly, his friend didn’t appreciate his interference. But he needed it.

Since Macen had moved to California eight years ago, Liam only saw the man every November seventh, but they’d talked on the phone often. Hammer had acted as if he’d grieved and moved on, and from their conversations, Liam had never imagined otherwise. So when Hammer had invited him to visit after his divorce, Liam had jumped at the chance, eager to avoid the coming winter and painful memories.

An hour after arriving at Shadows, Liam knew Hammer had hoodwinked him. Why the fuck hadn’t he realized how truly damaged Macen was? About two minutes later, he’d discovered Hammer was in love with a girl he wouldn’t let himself have.

Liam more than saw Raine’s appeal. Besides being a striking beauty, she was smart, fiery, good with people. And terribly in love with Hammer. Liam had pulled her aside once or twice to ask about his friend. She’d been skittish but had guarded Macen and his privacy fiercely. They’d suit well.

Getting the thick-headed man to see that, however, was proving difficult.

Tiptoeing around Hammer’s issues for the past two months had accomplished nothing. Talking about them this morning hadn’t helped, either. Clearly, Macen wasn’t ready or willing to exorcise his ghosts.

Running a hand through his hair, Liam paced down the hall. He missed the laughing mate he’d once known, one with life and vigor pumping in his veins. If Hammer didn’t know how to move forward, Liam would give him a serious shove—starting with his size thirteen up Hammer’s ass.

And Raine would provide the force behind that kick.

About her, Hammer was intensely protective and possessive—in a way Liam had never seen his friend behave. Macen hoarded the lass and snarled at any other Dom who dared to touch her. Liam had every intention of forcing him to choose between hiding behind his walls or watching Raine blossom under another man’s dominance.

His own.

He’d been considering this for a few days now and was convinced he stood a good chance of healing not just one heart, but two. Though he hadn’t spoken to her about anything other than Hammer, Liam sensed that Raine was broken, like the china she’d carried in her hands. And she was starved for affection. Any idiot could see that she needed caring more than discipline, but she would thrive for the man who gave her the proper measure of both. Granted, Raine might turn him down, but he could be persistent for both their sakes.

Then once she’d gained a bit of confidence and Hammer had pulled his head out of his ass, Liam planned to be on his merry way and let them live happily ever after.

But he had no illusions; the moment he took Raine under his wing, Hammer would see it as a betrayal. Their friendship could get ugly before common sense prevailed, but he’d risk it rather than standing aside and watching the man self-destruct.

As Liam crept further down the hall, he heard Raine bustling in the kitchen. Slowing his step as he reached the door, he watched her bowed head and shaking shoulders. A shuddering sob later, the girl reached for a stainless steel bowl, grabbed a few cups of sugar, some eggs, and butter.

A fond little smile curved his lips. Raine was rarely predictable—except in this. The short-fused firecracker often flew off in ways he’d never seen in a submissive, and Liam was never sure when or how she’d explode. Obviously, she’d had no formal training, and no one took her to task. But when she started thundering like a summer storm, Raine always came to the kitchen as if being one with the dough soothed her.

Seeing her tears and defeated posture, Liam itched to rattle Hammer into next week for closing himself off from the very woman who could save him.

Raine cracked an egg over the bowl and sniffled to hold in her tears. He drew in a bracing breath. What to say to the distraught girl? If he barged in, she’d bristle and give him a cold shoulder. He had to tread carefully since he didn’t know exactly what ran through her wee head. And that meant he couldn’t let her in on his plan. Raine needed to feel valued, not like she was simply bait. Nor would she truly learn to submit if she believed what lay between them was only an act for Hammer’s benefit. It had to come from her soul or Macen would see straight through it. His friend’s jealousy must spur him to act. Most of all, he didn’t want Raine hurt. If he made her his conspirator and the ploy failed, the defeat would crush her delicate heart.

“Maybe I should just quit.” She grabbed a wooden spoon and attacked the dough, adding in brown sugar. “Leave. There’s nothing holding me here, that’s for damn sure.”

His gut clenched at the finality in her miserable words. He refused to let her go without doing everything in his power to persuade her to stay. He had to act now.

Raine yanked a fresh dishtowel from the drawer, pressed it to her face, and took a few deep breaths to calm herself. A long moment later, she threw the towel down, flipped on the faucet, and shoved her hands under the stream of water. She hissed in a breath, and he frowned. How badly had she cut herself?

“Except…this is home. Where would I go?” she muttered as she cut off the water. “But how can I stay here?”

That was his cue.

Liam raised his fist and knocked on the door. Raine whipped her head around, hope brimming in her eyes. It visibly died when she realized he wasn’t Hammer.

She surprised him when she cast her gaze to the floor submissively. “Hi, Liam. Sir. Um, if you’re here because you’re worried or something, I’ll be fine. I’ll bake a batch of chocolate chip cookies and be as good as new.”

So sweet. And lying. Eventually, he’d both soothe and paddle her until she learned to be honest, but for now he simply tried to set her at ease. “While I’ve little doubt about your culinary skills, since your baked goods are most excellent, I doubt they’ll mend your woes, lass. Show me your hands.”

Obediently, Raine held them out. Liam stepped closer, taking her wrists in his grip and examining her fingers. “You’ve a few wee cuts, but nothing serious.” He gave her a smile and gently kissed her palm. “I think you’ll live.”

She stiffened. “I told you I’m fine.”

“Your hands, yes. What about your heart?” He watched her shoulders slump. “I’ve come with a proposition. Would you hear me out?”

He had to win her consent—and give her hope—or she would leave and take Hammer’s only chance of healing with her.

Raine sent him a wary glance. “I guess.”

Liam sidled closer cautiously, careful not to give her cause to bolt. “Would you be adverse to me training you?”

At his words, her startling blue eyes widened, sucking him in like a whirlpool. He’d surprised her. Almost an instant later, she opened her mouth, regret already softening her face.

Before she could refuse him, he cut in. “How much longer will you let your own happiness be denied? Why not seek it with someone ready to appreciate the beauty you are?”

He watched her, following her every nervous gesture: her slight shrug, the tilt of her head, the rise and fall of her chest, the cant of her hip as she leaned back against the counter. Her innate grace and the subtle feminine scent he inhaled as he drew closer sent blood rushing to his cock unexpectedly. The primal reaction surprised him, but he was male, and Raine was lovely, after all.

As he looked into her haunting eyes, he knew yet another reason Hammer had kept this one for his own. Innocence. Fear. Hunger. A swirling mirror to her soul lay just beyond reach. Interesting. A heady challenge.

She bit the fullness of her lower lip. It only took that instant to make him want to comfort her. But that wasn’t all. Lust to taste her sweet mouth, touch her, lay her back and—

He shoved the urge down and told his stiff cock to take a rest.

“I don’t understand.” She blinked up at him. “You want to train…me?”

“I think you need it. And you deserve it. I admire your spirit and your grace. I can’t imagine that you want to wilt away, pining for unrequited love.”

Her mouth pinched. “What’s in it for you? You saw my stupid display earlier.”

The girl needed reassurance. Liam reached for her and pulled her into his arms. The act nestled her pillowy breasts against his chest, her soft curves against his body. An intriguing musky lily scent wafted from her pale, smooth skin. A vision flashed across his brain of Raine beneath him, crying out as he fucked his way deep inside her.

Liam sucked in a shocked breath. He forced himself to think about something else—anything else. Absently, he rubbed her back, his thoughts racing. What the hell? Sure, he’d thought Raine was stunning when he’d first arrived at Shadows. Her inky hair and eloquent blue eyes turned heads every night. But now that he had her close, everything about her called not only to the Dom in him, but to the man as well. He needed to get his head screwed on straight, for Hammer’s sake.

“It isn’t your fault. You care for Hammer, and he’s...well, he’s got a few issues he needs to be sorting out, for sure. While he does, wouldn’t you like to learn about true submission so you might be ready for him? Have you ever wished to stretch a bit, find out if you truly have the courage to submit?”

The way her breath caught before she blushed and jerked her gaze to the floor again suggested that his idea intrigued her.

Liam curled a finger under her chin, raising her face to his once more, and had to steel himself against another shocking jolt of lust. “You have, haven’t you?”

“I want to be what Hammer needs, but I don’t know for certain that I have the self-discipline to kneel and hold my tongue. I’ve never had the opportunity to try.” She swallowed, honesty paining her expression. “But I still don’t understand what’s in it for you.”

“You’re a beauty, for sure. Touching you will be no hardship, lass.” Right now, he hated how true that was. “From what I’ve seen, you can be a mouthy wench who would benefit from a red ass now and again.” He forced himself to wink and grin.

After a split second of waiting for her reaction, her eyes flashed wide. Then she bestowed on him the sweetest sound he’d heard in months, her unbridled laughter.

“There’s a girl.” His smile became real. “Let me help you. I see your need. I enjoy molding and teaching.” He cupped her cheek. “You should be cherished and nurtured, and I’d be honored to give that to you, Raine. Are you game?”

Indecision washed over her face. Liam found himself holding his breath, praying she’d say yes. Hammer needed her…and Liam staggered with his own need to touch her—at least once. It wasn’t noble, and he wasn’t proud of it. But she was so damn fuckable, and he was just a man. This lust would pass.

“You don’t seem like the sort to do something halfway. You’ll want to lay my soul bare, won’t you? Make me show you all the broken parts?” She crossed her arms over her chest, nudging him back. “If I show you, are you going to run like Hammer, too?”

He uncrossed her arms and leaned closer. Now he could hear her softly indrawn breaths, see her fine trembling. Desire surged. Liam couldn’t stop himself; he curled a hand around her shoulder, eliminating her personal space, and brushed his palm down to fasten on the curve of her waist. “I never run from a challenge I’ve set my mind on. Yes, I intend to split your soul wide open like a ripe peach, study you until I know well every piece of the intriguing puzzle you are, down to the last detail, lovely. Then, I mean to put you back together with my touch and make it worth your while.”

Raine looked half terrified. “Wow, that’s awfully honest.”

“Best to set the expectation up front.”

She let out a deep breath and fidgeted, trying to drop her gaze once more. He didn’t allow it, lifting her chin again and bending until their eyes met. “Answer me, Raine. Yes or no?”

“I-I’ve wanted a good Dom. I thought it would be Hammer, but…” She closed her eyes and frowned.

Liam bit his tongue. She wanted to feel valued above all else—needed it. He tucked that knowledge in the back of his head and let her continue. “But?”

“I can’t be less than honest with you. You know where my heart is. As much as I would love to explore everything you could teach me—really, I would—I don’t know if I could give you the devotion you deserve. And I doubt Hammer would ever give his consent, even for you. It might be better for us all if I just left.”

He trapped her against the counter in an instant, pressing his body to hers. Her lips parted in question. Her wide gaze jumped to his, then she focused on his mouth. An electric jolt rattled down his spine. Damn, she was potent.

Yanking her soft curves flush against the hard ridges of his body, he ached to dig his fingers into her hair, pull her lips under his, and eat away at her mouth until she moaned. Liam forced himself to stop. This wasn’t about him, but Hammer. And Raine.

Dragging in a rough breath, he palmed her nape tenderly with one hand, fingers teasing the perfect pink shell of her ear with the other before trailing down to caress her throat. Finally, he settled his hand on her chest, just above her plump breast. Her breathing changed to soft pants. He could feel her heart beating madly under his palm. She wasn’t immune to him. An intoxicating rush of power filled him.

Then he took her wrists in his free hand and brought her arms up slowly, bracing them against the cabinets above, her breath caught. A triumph he didn’t welcome spiked inside him. Still, he bent to Raine, giving her ample time to push him away. She didn’t. Her tongue swept nervously across her upper lip. His cock jerked. Then he couldn’t stop himself from seizing her mouth with his own, capturing her gasp.

Soft. So fucking soft. And sweet. Bloody hell… Pleasure fired through his blood like a potent drug as he delved inside. She melted beneath him.

Curling his tongue around hers, he feasted on her addicting flavor, hungry to memorize it. One kiss melted into the next, and he devoured her, inhaling her into his lungs. She turned to liquid desire against him, wild and tumultuous. One leg slid surreptitiously around his, capturing his calf, pulling him in tighter against her small frame, splitting her thighs open. He should pass up that perfect invitation, but he didn’t. Instead, he ground himself against her pussy, leaving her no doubt that he desired her. Despite Raine’s little skirt, her flesh burned him. A low groan ripped from his throat. He didn’t need air or space or tomorrow, just more of her. Right fucking now.

Liam imagined her body welcoming him, her cunt opening to him. He groaned. Lust thundered through his veins. The urge to possess her burst in his brain as she surrendered to the moment. To him. He curled his fingers into the top of her blouse, ready to rip it wide open. Her little startled whimper brought him back to sanity. He tore his mouth from hers, breathing hard.

Raine was his best friend’s girl. But even knowing he must secure her trust if he intended to resurrect Hammer from the depths of the past, he couldn’t deny that something about her had shaken him down to his very bones.

“Don’t worry about Hammer’s consent now,” he managed to spit out. “I’ll see to him. You need training, and I’ll give it to you. Can you deny the passion sizzling between us?”

She swallowed. “No.”

Good.He needed to kindle Raine’s desires to keep her here, but the kiss had proven that arousing her would be a double-edged sword. The more she responded to him, the more he wanted her.

Liam pushed the thought away. “Be aware, lovely, if you say yes to my offer, I’ll test your submission and expect you to give me everything, no less. You deserve some happiness. God knows, I could use a little myself. Think about it. Find me when you’re ready.”

Liam released her, turning away and striding out of the room as quickly as he had come. Nothing more he could do now. And if he stayed, he feared he would do far more.

The ball was in Raine’s court.

* * *

Sleep was impossible, and Raine was tired of trying. The night was warm for November, and she couldn’t get comfortable in any position in her bed. In fact, nothing about her life felt comfortable now.

Liam O’Neill had to be brave. He’d thumbed his nose at Hammer’s no-touching rule and kissed her. Actually, he’d more than kissed her. In that shocking moment, he’d owned her, and she’d been desperate for his mouth on her own, to feel his naked body sliding against hers as he spread her legs with his powerful thighs and filled her completely. He’d do her the way he did everything else: well and with a single-minded purpose. She might love Hammer, but Liam was very easy on the eyes and he intrigued her. No denying it had been forever since any man had touched her, but Liam had proven he could more than take her breath away.

More importantly, he was offering her something she needed: A chance to see if the submissive path was truly right for her.

She swallowed. It was probably time to give up on the dream of being Hammer’s. But Raine could barely remember a time she hadn’t loved him. He’d not only taken her in as a runaway, but given her a roof over her head, food in her belly, and a job she loved. He’d also taught her to drive, urged her to get her GED, and helped her pay her way through college until she had earned her bachelor’s degree. Hammer had held her and listened to the bits she’d confessed about her terrible childhood, then reassured her with his compassionate words that she wasn’t to blame. In many ways, he made her feel safe and cared for. And utterly treasured.

Just not as a woman.

The painful realization that he didn’t love her as anything more than a little sister made her soul bleed. And so her life had come to a fork in the road. Stay on the same path she’d dogged down for six years? Leave Shadows altogether? Or take a new trail to explore her submission with Liam?

Hammer probably wasn’t going to suddenly fall in love with her, not when he had women like Marlie at his beck and call. But if she gave up before she ever gathered her courage to show him that she was a woman who could please him, wouldn’t she always regret it? Could she say yes to Liam’s offer in good conscience if she was always haunted by the thought that Hammer might have come around if she’d just waited a bit longer?

Then she had to show him. Now. And she couldn’t do it halfway. No more coffee and muffins, like she was a damn waitress. She finally had to lay it all on the line and demonstrate that she could be everything he could ever want.

The clock said it was nearly four in the morning. She could take Hammer by surprise now, so he’d simply react, not think. His response when he wasn’t guarded would tell her all she needed to know.

She showered quickly. After hair, makeup, and lingerie designed for seduction, she was ready. After adding silk stockings and a pair of sexy stilettos, she slipped from her room by quarter ‘til five. Nerves scraped and knotted her stomach as she reached for her keys and made her way down the hall to Hammer’s room.

Opening the door to his private office and bedroom with a trembling hand, she tiptoed to minimize the clattering of her stilettos on the marble tiles, wincing with each little click. She prayed he was alone.

It seemed like forever before she reached his sleeping form, looking so strong and male, moonlight streaming in across his bare torso. And not curled up with someone like Marlie, thank god. Silvery beams highlighted the ridges of his shoulders, chest, and abdomen. His black boxer briefs barely concealed his cock.

For a moment, she couldn’t breathe. She rarely got the treat of seeing Hammer this bare. Her mouth was suddenly dry as she imagined sliding into bed with him and melting into him as he thrust inside her.

If she did this right, maybe she would finally know the joy of being Hammer’s. Really, truly understand what it meant to be taken and satisfied by the man she loved.

She eased into the bed beside him. The incredible slab of male occupied most of the mattress, but she didn’t let that deter her from curling against him and inhaling his scent. Musk, leather, sex, fresh cotton. Everything about him was so familiar, so sexy. Anticipation danced in her stomach as she trailed her fingers from the deep line between his rigid pecs, down his torso, watching his muscles bunch and flex with each touch. A curl of excitement pressed against her clit as she gently pushed his boxer briefs down to the tops of his thighs.

Her eyes widened. He was big, the head of his cock wide even while flaccid. His balls hung heavy. She wished she could see him better in the moonlight. But hopefully, they’d still be in bed long after the sun rose.

God, she’d dreamed for years of this…of him. She savored the moment, achingly aware of her pussy weeping.

Then, lowering her head, she licked her way up his shaft with the flat of her tongue, basking in the manly, salty taste of him, in the feel of his cock stiffening for her. In seconds, he was at full staff, and holy hell, he was a sight to behold. Thick, long, and ready, he would fill her needy body and then some. Raine shivered at the thought and closed her mouth around his cock, taking him all the way to the back of her throat with a groan.

As she sucked and laved her way up to the head, he arched his hips, slamming into her mouth. She engulfed him completely, and he cried out in agonized pleasure and wrapped his fingers in her hair, using his grip to thrust harder against her throat.

“Yeeessss. Deeper.”

Raine ached to take him there, so deep that he’d never want to leave. She stretched her lips to open completely for him.

“That’s it. Hmm…precious.”

When she glanced up, his eyes were still closed. Her heart quickened. Had he ever called anyone that but her? Not that she knew of. Was he thinking of her? Maybe, deep down, he wanted her, too.

With a whimper, Raine hollowed her cheeks as she sucked harder, moaning appreciatively at his masculine taste. Marveling as he stiffened even more between her lips, she closed her eyes and shivered when his grip in her hair turned rough, then he plowed into her mouth with another unrestrained thrust.

She opened her throat and breathed through her nose, as she’d heard other submissives describe a thousand times, licking the entire length of his shaft with her tongue, circling the head and teasing the sensitive underside. All the way down, a slow, thorough cradling of his cock until her lips pursed around the base. Then she bobbed back up even more slowly, working toward the crest once more.

This was where she belonged, serving him, pleasing him. He seemed pretty damn pleased, too. Yes, he might protest that she’d taken matters into her hands—and mouth—but he couldn’t deny how good this felt, not when his entire body tensed, his balls drew up, and his cock twitched on her tongue.

As she retreated and licked the head once more, she whispered, “Yes, Macen…”

He finally lifted his heavy lids, confusion evident in the shimmering moonlight. Then he zeroed in on her and recognition dawned. His eyes widened. He pulled harder on her hair, then slid deeper into her mouth as a moan tore from his chest. Raine clasped his shaft with her red-painted lips, lavishing all her attention on him, worshiping his cock as she looked up at him with her heart in her eyes.

Horror spread across his face.

“No, Raine!” He choked out between harsh breaths and shoved away from her as if he was on fire. “What the hell do you think you’re doing? Christ!”

“I-I wanted to make you feel good. I was…” Showing you how I felt.

He leapt from the bed, his hard cock still glistening with her saliva as he yanked up his underwear and flipped on the lights. His eyes darkened like a thundercloud. “Why are you giving me head in the middle of the night? That’s not the sort of relationship we have.”

She looked at him hopefully, but felt exposed in her next-to-nothing lingerie. She found herself slinking under the covers to hide. “It could be.”

“No, Raine…precious.” His voice softened. “Never.”

Hammer’s gaze wasn’t unkind, but full of a shaming mixture of alarm and finality. It crushed her. And it pissed her off.

Raine shot him an accusing glare. “You liked it. You moaned. You called me ‘precious,’ like you always do. You fucked my mouth like you were desperate for me, even after you knew who I was. I’m here because I need to show you that I can please you as a woman. Just one chance.”

But Hammer was already shaking his head. His denial made tears stab her eyes. Raine tried desperately to shove them back. “Why not me? Why every other goddamn woman who steps foot in this club except me?”

“I won’t touch you, Raine. And I don’t owe you an explanation. Leave!” He pointed to the door. “Go to your room and go back to bed. We’ll forget this ever happened. Don’t step foot in here again without my permission.”

“I don’t want to forget!” She jumped from the bed and stared. His cock still bulged hard and angry beneath his boxer briefs. Longing melted her. “It looks like you want me, at least a little. I’m not tall like Marlie or as experienced, but I’m eager and I can learn. If my blow job technique isn’t good enough, then you can teach me. But I’ll love you like she never will. Doesn’t that mean anything to you?”

“Goddamnit, Raine! We’re not talking about this. Later, when you’ve got some fucking clothes on, I’ll determine a proper punishment for breaching my privacy and barging your way past boundaries you have no business crossing. Go!”

‎Every word stabbed her, and he didn’t seem to notice. Or care. “I’m not a child. I’d be so good to you. Why can’t you want me?”

“Stop trying my patience, and for fuck’s sake, Raine, stop topping from the goddamn bottom. Now go!”

Raine tried to hold back her tears. Topping from the bottom. Yeah, she could see how he’d think that. Maybe she needed a different tactic...

She scrambled to her knees, dropping her gaze, palms up on her thighs, doing her best to appear supplicating. “I’m sorry, Sir. Let me make it up to you and ease your discomfort. Let me serve you.” His big cock rested inches from her face, still hard and about to burst from his underwear. Her mouth watered as she craved another taste. “Please.”

A growl tore from his chest. He wrapped his hand around her arm and yanked her to her feet. He didn’t once look at her as he dragged her to the door, opened it, and shoved her out of his room. “Stop pushing me! It’s never going to happen. Get that straight, girl.”

He slammed the door in her face and locked it, sliding the deadbolt in place.

Blinking at it with horror and desolation, Raine choked on a sob, then sank to the floor and covered her face with her hands. She’d offered him everything with an open heart, and he’d brutally refused her. Apparently, he wanted the Marlies of the world, with their fake boobs and even faker intentions. Hammer excelled at fucking with a woman’s head, not at treasuring her heart. Yet she’d hoped that his concern and caretaking for her translated into more. He didn’t love her; he pitied her. And she’d humiliated herself in the most cringe-worthy way by throwing herself at him.

Fine. So she would leave, start over. Yes, she loved it here. The people, the energy, the genuine concern the employees shared for each other—it was home. Shadows was the only place she’d ever felt safe. She had nowhere else to go, and Liam had offered her a reason to stay, along with most everything she’d ever wanted. But Liam wasn’t Hammer. In fact, she barely knew him. How the hell could she devote herself to another man?

On the other hand, how could accepting Liam’s offer make her hurt worse than she already did? Maybe she should grab what happiness she could and accept that she’d never have what she truly wanted. After all, it wouldn’t be the first time. And if watching her with another man bothered Hammer at all, well…even better.

* * *

Hammer didn’t take a deep breath until he’d locked the door with Raine on the other side. Knowing her, she’d storm away to lick her wounds. Then somehow, he’d have to repair them—but not until he’d gotten this fucking clutch of lust under control.

Furious and frustrated, he rammed his fist against the solid wood until his knuckles bled. If he’d allowed Raine to stay one second longer, he would have grabbed her, slammed her to the bed, and fucked her into next week—no question. As it was, he could barely stop himself from opening the door now, then dragging her back and beneath him.

The vision of her sinful mouth wrapped around his cock was burned into his retinas.

“Motherfucker!” He closed his eyes and curled his fist tighter, trying to shake the pain from his knuckles. They throbbed almost as much as his dick. Because of her. Damn it, and he still had to see her every day. Watch her smile, see the flash of her eyes, fucking smell her. He wouldn’t be able to resist her if he didn’t take care of this throbbing need now.

With a savage curse, he snagged a tube of lube from a nearby shelf and squirted a healthy dollop into his hand. Then he wrapped his fist around his aching cock and stroked it in rapid, graceless jerks. Visions of Raine sucking him into the mind-bending heat of her mouth were unraveling him. Damn the little minx! She’d stripped him of every shred of self-control and reduced him to jacking off, desperate for the girl he couldn’t touch.

He pumped into his fist frantically.

At first, he’d been dreaming of Raine laying in a field of fresh cut grass, her raven mane thick and silky, draped over his stomach as she worshiped his cock. When he’d awakened, reality had been so much better. She’d tongued an enticing trail over the distended, throbbing veins of his shaft and taken nearly every thick, hard inch down her throat.

And fuck, then… Raine on her knees, offering herself to him to use in every rough, dirty, possessive way he could think of. A fiery streak of lightning slammed down his spine.

He panted her name as his body quivered, and his cock jerked in his grip. Stroking faster, harder, his head swam with desire so thick he thought he’d choke. Hammer chased pleasure, his elbow banging the door with every pull on his dick until he exploded with dizzying force and a hoarse groan. “Raine!”

Stream after stream jettisoned from his shaft, splattering onto the tile floor. He panted, gasping for breath. The immediate need for orgasm faded. But his yearning for her remained.

Then a feminine growl of fury broke the silence.

“Oh my…are you kidding me? You’re masturbating!”

Hammer froze. Raine. Shit! She’d been listening outside his door? After the callous way he’d rejected her, it seemed unfathomable that she hadn’t run to the safety of her room. But no, she’d stayed and heard every wretched moment of his self-pleasure, even the way he’d shouted her name so desperately as he came.

“How dare you, you bastard!”

The pain in her voice sliced him in two. Hammer slumped against the door, hanging his head with a sigh. What the fuck should he do now? What kind of bullshit excuse could he possibly give her?

Stepping over the mess he’d made on the floor, he donned a pair of trousers and hastily fastened them, trying to force his sluggish brain to come up with some halfway believable excuse.

Before he could, a crash and a clatter resounded in the dungeon. What the…?

Muttering a curse, he yanked the door open and raced down the hall. As he rounded the corner, he watched Raine reach into the bins of new and freshly sterilized toys, then throw them to the ground. They scattered everywhere, bouncing, breaking apart, and sliding across the decorative concrete.

Hammer tried to swallow back his shock as Raine heaved boxes of condoms and tubes of lube through the air like a rookie pitcher. Then she whirled on him with blue eyes blazing like a beacon through the shadowed room. He’d seen her angry before, but never, ever like this.

Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned.

“Fuck you!” she hurled at him. “No, never mind. Fuck yourself. You’d obviously rather do that than fuck me.”

He swallowed down her barb and narrowed his eyes at her. “What do you think you’re doing, besides throwing one hell of a fit?”

In her hand, she gripped a huge purple dildo. “Enjoy shoving this silicone dick into your little fuck toy Marlie’s plastic pussy.”

She raised the toy and heaved it at him, and Hammer barely jolted from his stunned silence fast enough to duck as the heavy torpedo sailed over his head.

His ire rising, he pointed to the floor in front of him. “Get over here, girl. Now!”

“Piss off. You had your chance.”

Arching a brow at her rebellion, he watched her face tighten as anger rippled through her bristling form.

“Raine…” he warned.

She scoffed at him, the sound dripping contempt. “I’m not listening to you anymore. You wanted me, but you jacked off instead of coming in the willing mouth I offered, and why? I’m starting to think it’s because you’re not man enough for me. So if you want me over there?” She cocked her head in challenge and crossed her arms over her chest. “Make me.”