“Chill, Conan. As much as I wanted to introduce her to my most amazing skill...” Seth licked his tongue over his teeth, slurping nosily. “We just talked.”
“Damn good thing because I would have cut your tongue out,” Hammer vowed. “You should have asked her to teach your pansy ass how to make coffee.”
“Busting my balls isn’t going to help Raine, so zip it. Would you rather the girl stayed fucked up? Or do you want to help her?”
“You already know the answer,” Hammer grumbled.
“I’ve been trying for weeks now. You’re not leaving me out, damn it!” Liam insisted, looking up with bleary eyes at Seth.
“Good to see you both agree.” Seth looked between them. “How long do you think you can act like big boys and play nicely together?”
“About five more seconds,” Beck piped up with a mocking grin.
“Get stuffed, you bastard,” Liam barked.
Beck just shook his head as he laughed.
“We’re getting along fine right now.” Hammer glared. “Spill it before I lose my patience.”
“Here’s the deal…” Seth began. “Raine is about the most torn woman I’ve ever met.”
“It’s that asshole father of hers,” Liam blurted.
“No, I don’t mean broken, though I suspect she’s that as well. I mean she’s in love with you lug nuts, and your constant, hellaciously annoying bickering has torn her heart in two.” Seth shook his head. “Can’t imagine why she loves you both, but…”
Liam plunked down on his barstool, grabbing the bar to balance himself and stay upright. “Because we’re dashing and handsome and—”
“Good in bed, goddamn it,” Hammer added.
“That, too.” Liam raised his bottle, and Hammer clinked it again.
“And so modest,” Beck drawled.
“Do you think you two could sober up so we can discuss this?” Seth arched a brow.
“Hang on. I’ll be back. But don’t say too much,” Beck announced, then sauntered from the bar. “I don’t want to miss this.”
“I’m not dunk. I mean, drunk.” Liam thrust his shoulders back and raised his chin.
Hammer elbowed him and tried to decide which of the two images of Seth swimming in his vision was real. “We’ll keep up.”
“Just a guess here…” Seth said wryly. “But neither of you wants Raine with a Domme, right?”
“Absolutely not!” Liam pounded his fist on the bar.
“The whole idea is bullshit,” Hammer agreed.
“Congratulations. So far, you’ve both scored a hundred percent on the quiz.”
“Quiz?” Liam blinked, then looked at Hammer, his eyes wide. “Shit, we didn’t study, mate.”
“If Seth is giving the quiz, we’re good. He can’t be smarter than us,” Hammer said in a stage whisper.
“Spare me sloppy drunks.” Seth shook his head in disgust. “This will wait until tomorrow.”
“Nah, this might help.” Beck set down two steaming mugs of coffee.
Hammer pounced on it and took a sip, moaning long and loud. “Son of a bitch! You know how to make good coffee?”
Beck scowled at Hammer. “You’re so helpless that you don’t?”
“I used to like you,” he muttered.
He and Liam sipped their steaming brews as fast as they could. When they’d drained their mugs, Beck refilled them. Staring at his watch, Seth waited impatiently.
Before long, Hammer’s thoughts turned right-side up. The glazed look in Liam’s eyes began to dissipate.
“We’re sober enough. Get on with it,” Hammer demanded.
“Finally… Here’s the deal,” Seth said, staring first at Hammer, then Liam. “Like I said, Raine is in love with you both. If her heart is torn in two, how do you expect her to heal with just one of you?”
Hammer froze. Share Raine? That’s what Seth was suggesting. Beck had, too. It wasn’t a foreign concept. Hell, he’d had a woman between himself and Liam. But the thought of sharing Raine… Hell no. The possessive caveman in him wanted to drag her off by the hair and keep her for himself.
Then again, Seth asked a really good question, and there seemed to be only one answer. He turned to look at Liam.
“We have to work together?” His old pal grimaced.
“You don’t have to like it, but yes,” Seth answered. “I came because you asked me to help you reach the girl. I think this is the only way it will work. If you can’t handle that, take your bottle and stumble on down to your room. I’ll help him instead.”
“The hell you will!” Fury thundered across Liam’s face.
Hammer couldn’t stand the thought of being shut out of her recovery either. No way would he roll over and play dead.
“Then fucking agree and get along already,” Seth insisted. “It’s what she wants. You’ll have to figure out specifics, but if you would stop thinking with your pride—” he glared at Hammer “—and your jealousy—” he shot Liam a pointed look “—you’d know I’m right.” Seth rolled his eyes. “I told you this shit a month ago.”
“Exactly. I talked to Raine about this, too” Beck said. “She didn’t hate the idea at all. So stop pissing on her like she’s a damn hydrant and do what real Dominants do. Help her.”