The significance of her austere surroundings didn’t escape her. They didn’t want her distracted by anything. They could please or punish her at will. And they probably wanted her to rely on them for everything—food, comfort, companionship.
This room put her on notice. They meant business.
Turning slowly, she pinned Beck with a questioning gaze. Raine didn’t want to second-guess herself, but…could she really do this?
“They’re giving you what you asked for, princess,” Beck pointed out. “It’s yours for the taking. So are they, if you do this right.”
“I’m scared,” she whispered. “What if I fuck this up?”
“Language.” Seth scowled.
“Sorry, Sir.” She had to watch her tongue. “But you know what I mean.”
“Yep.” Beck pulled her closer and cupped her shoulders. “Princess, you can do this. You know what you want. You know the stakes. You have the strength.”
“We’ll be here after…if you need us,” Seth promised.
“Got it.” Raine nodded resolutely, trying to ignore the way her stomach flipped. “Thanks.”
“Good. Wait here. Don’t leave this room,” Beck commanded.
“Yes, Sir.”
He shut the door, leaving her very much alone. The temperature was as cold as the décor. The air blowing from the ceiling fan overhead caused the shadows cast by the candles to dance on the walls. She turned in a slow circle, studying the room. She saw no closet, no bathroom, no window, just a strangling quiet that poked at her anxiety.
Raine paced. The urge to run and hide swamped her. The insecurity pumping through her veins was uncomfortable but deeply familiar. And she was growing weary of being off-kilter, but she knew that wasn’t going away anytime soon. Above all, she had to stop fearing that she would never be what they wanted and start learning how she could be everything they needed.
As she nibbled on a ragged nail, the snick of the doorknob stopped her in her tracks. Spinning toward the sound, she held her breath. Her heart stuttered.
Hammer and Liam prowled into the room.
Let the games begin…
They eased the door closed in a whisper and stepped toward her, inches away. Almost in unison, they clasped their hands behind their backs and widened their stances as they squared their broad shoulders. Identical solemn expressions filled their stern faces. An absolute sense of their command rolled through the room, sliding over her body. Her breath caught. She shivered.
Her Doms—at least for now—were united.
“I’m glad—” Their lips tightened in displeasure, and she stopped in mid-sentence. Right… On your knees.
Raine swallowed tightly, then lowered herself to the carpet. Resting her backside on her heels, she drank in one last glimpse of the men she loved, then cast her gaze to the floor. Cool air swirled around Raine’s shoulders as the tips of four Italian loafers came into view. She waited, her entire body tense. Vulnerability and yearning washed over her. What did they see? What did they think? Why didn’t they say or do something? Despite all the worry and uncertainty, a joy she’d only ever experienced once, here at the lodge with Liam, resurfaced. The sense of rightness that seemed so familiar with them settled over her.
“Such a lovely sight,” Liam praised, trailing his fingers through her hair. “Thank you for remembering our instructions. You make us proud.”
“Very pretty, precious.” Hammer cupped her shoulder.
She drew in a relieved breath and smiled to herself. “Thank you, Sirs.”
Then Raine bit her lip. Was she supposed to speak? They’d never told her that she couldn’t, thank goodness. She wanted no part of Hammer’s ball gag.
“Welcome to your first task.” She heard the challenge in Hammer’s tone. “Lie on the mattress for us.”
Task? Her mind whirled with possibilities as she rose and padded to the bed, sliding onto her back and looking up at them. What would they expect her to do?
With a curious stare, she watched Liam ease down onto the mattress on her left, Hammer on her right. Both men watched her intently.
“Do you like your new room, precious?” Hammer asked.
He was joking, right? But since there wasn’t a hint of playful in his tone, she knew better.
“It’s… um, different from the bedroom you put me in after lunch, Sir.”
“I didn’t ask for a comparison,” Hammer pointed out. “I asked if you liked it.”
“Not really.” Raine saw the subtle shift of their expressions and hastily added, “Sir.”
Liam leaned closer. “Tell us why, love.”
She stared between them. Now that they loomed closer, their dominance pressed in, thick and overpowering. Raine could almost taste it. Her pussy fluttered. She sucked in an uneven breath.
“There’s almost nothing here, Sir,” she replied, shivering. “It’s bare.” And freezing.
“That it is.” Liam caressed her cheek.
“Are you moving me in here?” she asked.
Hammer shrugged. “That’s up to you.”
“This isn’t really a bedroom.” She frowned.
Liam nodded. “I converted and expanded a closet into a playroom for the two of us since we were last here. I intended to surprise you for Thanksgiving.”