“Five days.” Her voice shook. “I’m late by five days.”
Liam sucked in a breath like she’d punched him with her words. Raine closed her eyes.
“I told you to look at me.”
She swallowed hard and did as he’d commanded, wishing he wouldn’t force her to see his disappointment.
“Are your cycles often irregular?”
“Not since I lived with my dad. I think stress caused it. I’m under a lot of pressure now.”
“Finally, some bloody honesty. Was it really so hard for you to tell me that?”
She bit her lip. “I didn’t know how to start the conversation. ‘Hi, honey. I’m worried I might be pregnant by your best friend.’”
“Take the test.”
“I’m scared the results will disappoint you. I hate that.” Tears flowed again. “So much.”
The silence dragged on. Pain and frustration filled his face. God, she just kept hurting him. Maybe it would be better if she left. She hated to stay where she only made matters worse, and the urge to escape now pressed down on her chest until she couldn’t breathe. But he and Hammer were both right; she always ran. She couldn’t honestly say that she’d done her part to hold the relationship together if she left now.
“Say something. Please...”
Liam sat back on the bed, his face closed. “Put yourself across my lap and spread your thighs for me. Show me your cunt. I want to see what’s mine.”
Raine rose from her knees and stepped closer, knowing any display of uncertainty would only make the punishment more painful—not physically. She wasn’t concerned about that. But mentally? Emotionally?
She tried to snare his gaze, but he looked right through her. Disquiet filled her all over again. Still, she dredged up the courage to sprawl across Liam’s lap.
“Tell me your safe word.”
“Paris,” she breathed.
Liam gave her a sharp nod. “Count until I stop.”
Raine drew in a rough breath, knowing he’d light into her ass at any moment. Instead, he made her wait. She twitched, wondering when he’d get on with it. The seconds dragged into minutes, which seemed like days. Still, he did nothing for a long, silent while but stare at her vulnerable bare backside. She resisted the urge to fidget.
Finally, he smacked her ass, his hand branding her with the feel of his palm and each finger. It burned into her like fiery, oozing lava. And it was oddly soothing.
“One.” She sobbed.
He kept going.
Today, he didn’t warm her up and he didn’t hold back. Each slap stung like a bitch. Pain sizzled over her skin, burned down into her flesh. He scorched her through and through. She focused on the sensations he gave her and welcomed them.
Slowly, with each rhythmic smack, the cacophony of thoughts all yelling through her brain quieted. Suddenly, there was a blessed peace, broken only by the whoosh of his hand, the slap and its echo reverberating through the room, the high-pitched sounds of her crying out the count, his heavy breathing...before the cycle started again. Somewhere along the way, she lost count and lost herself, fading out to a lovely place where she began to float away from all her problems. From everything but Liam, her anchor. Her love.
Raine didn’t know how much time had passed when the spanking abruptly stopped. Her muscles felt like melted chocolate, her thoughts like oozing honey. She breathed him in as he grazed his big palm over her hot flesh.
Long moments passed as she curled her arms around his leg, holding tight. “Thank you, Sir. I feel calmer.”
As he sat her up on his lap, Liam ran a soothing hand down her spine and cradled her to his chest. Her head lolled back, and she stared up at him, feeling her heart in her eyes. That didn’t scare the hell out of her as much as it used to.
“How do you do that?” Raine whispered. “How do you always know what I need?”
“I wish I did. I don’t pretend to have all the answers, but I’m here and I can bear the burden. Do you not realize how much I need to do that for you?”
“I promise, I’ll try harder.”
He sighed. “Stop telling me what you think I want to hear. Show me.”
Raine wanted to please him. “How?”
Liam didn’t answer her, just lifted her up and laid her out on the bed, bound her wrists in the cuffs attached to the frame, then grabbed her ankles and spread her legs wide. Despite all her angst, arousal bloomed. She ached for his attention, but stilled her writhing to please him. Raine knew she didn’t deserve to be rewarded, but she needed him desperately.
He tore free of his clothes, dropping them where he stood. She watched hungrily. The sight—strong jaw, broad chest, corrugated abdomen, muscled thighs, and a hard cock in between—made her yearn for him. His rigid flesh jerked in need as he crawled between her splayed thighs.