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.”
“Really, precious? You want me to make you?” Hammer’s voice lowered dangerously. She’d trampled over every submissive rule. Insulted him utterly. Challenged him in a way he couldn’t let pass. And damn if he didn’t want her even more. The girl had fire; she would burn him in bed.
The way she’d thrown herself at him told Hammer that she was crying out for attention. But if he gave Raine what she sought, she’d be damned. All he could do was punish her defiance and pray it drove some extra distance between them. Hammer didn’t lie to himself. The thought of spanking her bare ass made the pervert in him get hard all over again. He’d do the job thoroughly, too. Sitting would prove painful for days.
With long strides, he prowled toward her, gripped her silky hair in his fist, and yanked her head back. As he pressed their bodies together, her lips trembled right beneath his. He fought the urge to kiss her. Why did Raine stir such insatiable hunger? What was it about her that drove him to crave her? Made him want to rip her clothes off and sink into her over and over?
As Hammer struggled for control, he stared into her tumultuous eyes and looked past her anger, through her soul, all the way down to her shattered heart. He’d done that, and her agony split his chest. He wished to fuck they could go back in time, when his relationship with Raine had been easier. Guiding her had given him great joy when she hadn’t been quite a woman. But he’d been unable to ignore her passionate beauty for long, and thoughts of claiming her had begun to plague him relentlessly. Rejecting her now made him feel like a first-class asshole. This was hardly the first time he’d questioned whether he was protecting her from himself or simply hurting her more, but the answer was always the same. Keeping her at arm’s length was for her own damn good. Her dented pride would heal faster than her crushed soul.
So he had to step carefully. If she suspected for a second how close he was to throwing all caution to the wind, Raine would never stop trying to break through his walls. The tenacious little vixen would wear him down because he wanted her too badly to fight her off for long. And that would make him a completely selfish bastard. Despite what Liam thought, he was never going to be whole again. He didn’t deserve to be.
Raine would have to be content with his guidance from afar, and he’d pray that someday, she found the right Dom to treasure her as she deserved. Even if the thought made him homicidal.
“Just what do you think you’re going to accomplish by throwing toys at me? Have you lost your mind?” he demanded in low tones. “On second thought, don’t say a word. You want to be treated like a submissive? You got it,” he snapped, releasing her abruptly. “Strip!”
Yes, he was a stupid bastard, testing his already precarious control. But any Dominant would have to peel back the defenses she hid behind so desperately. He needed her naked, physically and emotionally. Exposed. Maybe then he could make her comply.
Her eyes widened, then suddenly narrowed as she glared daggers at him, crossing her arms tighter. Her breasts lifted in a mouthwatering offering. Forcing himself to ignore the view, he snatched her wrists, flung her arms to her sides, then wrenched the skimpy black lace bra from her chest. It hit the floor. Her breasts bounced free.
Raine rushed to cover herself with her hands, but he blocked her—and tried not to stare at her luscious breasts with their perfect rosy nipples. “The rest, precious. I said strip. Not when you feel like it. Not when it suits you. Now!”
Her plump red lips pursed as she scowled. “You let your opportunity pass, sport. Since you have no intention of doing anything more than pulling my hair and stroking your own cock, we’re done here.”