“Watch yourself,” Hammer warned with an arch of his brow. “Don’t forget, your lily white backside is going to be in our hands soon.”
Their broad, strong hands. And the visual of them all over her blasted through her brain—of them stripping off her clothes with those hands, binding her to their bed, dragging their lips across her skin, driving their cocks deep inside her, pounding, claiming, overwhelming... God, she hoped they’d give her that chance.
The room felt hot, or maybe it was just her cheeks. Biting back a moan, she zipped her gaze down to the bacon sizzling in the pan, hoping Hammer couldn’t read her thoughts. Raine ached for something that might never happen, and she had to accept that. Or did she? The question that had haunted her earlier roared back with force. They’d said they would both top her…but what exactly would that entail?
Raine gathered up her courage and changed the subject. “Can I ask you a question?”
“Of course.”
“Why are you trying to bury the hatchet with Liam and help me?”
Hammer moved in behind her, his warm breath caressing her ear. He pressed every hard inch of his body against her back, and his cock prodded her backside. No mistaking that he wanted her. Though she tried not to shiver, his closeness made that an impossible feat. He wrapped his big hands around her hips in a commanding hold and pressed into her. Raine gasped and melted into him. Desire flashed over her skin. God, he felt so good.
She wanted more—of both of them.
“Because you’re worth it, precious. You’ve asked for help, and no one on the goddamn planet is going to lead you down your path except us.”
Twisting from his hold, she turned and met his solemn stare. “But why? I mean, I know why Liam wants to guide me. He says he’s in love with me. But you…you’ve already gone above and beyond taking care of me for years. I would have thought that you’d be happy to cut me loose and let Liam teach me what I need to know.”
Resolution stamped across his face an instant before Hammer slid a hand around her back and skimmed it up her spine. Then he gripped his fist in her hair and tilted her head back, his stare intent. He meant to get some message across to her.
“Whatever you think, whatever has happened in the past, you belonged with me the minute you walked in the door.”
Hammer swooped down, his lips capturing hers. Impassioned. Reverent. The kiss branded her with fire…and something almost desperate. She’d never felt him so ardently gentle. Hell, she’d never known he was capable of it.
Beneath her tank top, her nipples drew up hard and ached as every muscle in her body went soft. The potent claim of his mouth soon had her dropping the fork to grab his shirt in her fists with a sigh.
Hammer poured himself into this one euphoric kiss. It held all the markings of a silent confession, and Raine wondered if she were imagining this touch to be Hammer’s nonverbal proclamation of love. Was that even possible? Or was he simply trying to provide caring so she’d let him “fix” her? After he had, would he slam the door shut between them again?
Immersed in his raw emotion, Raine stopped trying to answer the questions swirling in her head and gave herself over. She lost herself in his kiss, pouring out all the longing she’d barely had the opportunity to release in six years.
Hammer growled in approval. She savored each exalted second until he slowly pulled away. Still, he allowed his lips to linger on hers for another bittersweet moment.
Then she jerked away. Could she return his affection without Liam’s permission? Should she have kissed Liam without consulting Hammer? What were the rules of their new partnership?
As if he could peer into her soul, as he so often had, he sent her a reassuring smile and took her hand, pressing a delicate kiss in the center of her palm.
“Everything is fine, precious. Finish fixing breakfast. Then we’ll start fixing you.”
As the sun hid just below the horizon, Liam led Raine outside toward his SUV, with her hand tucked in his. Hammer trailed close behind, his palm resting at the small of her back. The guys were so quiet. Tension hovered in the air. Now wasn’t the time to ask questions—but she wanted to.
Liam opened the back door. “Get in.”
Raine frowned. Two men occupied the front seat. Were they letting someone else take her somewhere? That didn’t sound like Liam and Hammer at all. She sent Liam a questioning gaze, then bent to see who sat in the car.
Beck swiveled in the driver’s seat and grinned. “Hop in, princess. Your chariot awaits.”
“Why are you going…wherever it is we’re going?” she blurted. “Aren’t you on call?”