“Oh, really?” She arched a brow in disbelief.
“No, we were just having a little discussion,” Macen assured.
“About?”
Liam shook his head, gripped her arm, and led her toward the car. “Hammer is just being a mite pig-headed.”
Oh, that was smooth. Macen closed his eyes briefly and gnashed his teeth. Liam couldn’t see the forest for the trees. If he wanted to keep Raine from asking questions… Oh, that’s right; he didn’t. Liam wanted to spill the whole fucking story, minus a few key facts, and send her into a tailspin.
Raine shrugged from Liam’s grip. Turning the tables, she wrapped her fingers around his arm. “About what?”
Liam stared down at her, considering. “Love, I didn’t want to worry you, but I think you should—”
“Beck’s going to take off without us. We need to hustle up.” Hammer pulled Raine to his side and pinned Liam with a pointed stare.
“Is everyone pissed, packed, and ready to roll?” Beck asked.
Seth smiled. “Damn. And it was just getting interesting.”
“No one asked you,” Hammer growled.
The undercurrent of tension swirled between him and Liam. Hammer knew Raine felt it, too. She’d grown totally suspicious, and the situation would soon spiral out of control if he didn’t do something—fast.
Liam muttered a curse under his breath as he stomped to the rear driver’s side door and opened it. “Let’s go.”
“Wait. What is it I should…do? Know?” Raine anchored her hands on her hips. “What’s going on?”
Shit. “Nothing. At least nothing more important than this.” Hammer pulled her into his arms and slanted his lips over hers, pinning her against the door. The air rushed from her lungs as he deepened the kiss. Taking total possession, he swept a hand to her nape and filtered his fingers through her hair, pressing every inch of his hard body to hers.
Any second, he expected Raine to bite his lip like a hellcat. Damn it, he wanted to redirect her attention, but kissing her in broad daylight with a honking trucker speeding past just wasn’t his style, and Raine knew it. Even inside the club, with members’ eyes constantly watching, he kept his personal life separate. But in private, he didn’t hold back. Even if Raine believed his sudden rush of affection, she’d be quizzing Liam again before they reached the highway.
She gave him a little shove and a suspicious glare. “What was that for?”
“I can’t stop thinking about last night,” he answered in a husky, hungry voice.
“And you couldn’t wait?”
“I’ve waited for years. I won’t wait anymore.” He opened the back door and nodded her way. “Get in.”
Leaning down as Raine bent to enter the backseat, he watched Liam extend his hand to help her.
Before he could distract Raine again, she focused on Liam. “What were you going to say? What is it you didn’t want me to worry about?”
She had one knee poised on the buttery seat, her ass arched in the air. Hammer slid his hands up her thighs and settled them on her backside, squeezing her soft, bare flesh.
Raine reached back and swatted his hand. “Stop that. I’m not going to let you take me here at the gas pump.”
“If I want to, I will.” Hammer landed a sharp slap across her ass.
With a little yelp, she crawled closer to Liam and tossed a piqued glance over her shoulder. Macen eased in next to her and shut the door.
“Talk to me, Liam.” Raine cupped a slender hand to his face. “What’s upset you?”
Hammer sent his friend a look of warning, then clenched his jaw. “Nothing you need to worry about.”
Raine glared back at him. “You keep answering for him. What are you up to?”
“About eight inches.”
Liam scowled as Beck barked out a laugh and pulled the car onto the highway. Raine tsked at Hammer, shaking her head, before she turned back to Liam. Macen did the same. And damn it, he knew that look. Liam was waging a fierce internal battle. Thankfully, the man’s cell phone rang again, diverting his attention.
Gritting his teeth, Liam yanked it from his pocket and punched a finger at the screen to decline the call.
Liam rarely showed his anger to Raine. A Dom should always be in control of his emotions, but now fury rolled off his friend in churning waves.
Turning off the phone entirely, Liam shoved the device back in his pocket.
“Who on earth was that?” When Liam didn’t answer, Raine pleaded, “Talk to me.”
“Just some things I need to deal with later.” Liam sounded tightly wound.
“What kind of things?” Her voice trembled.
Hammer heard the worry in her tone. Oh, hell…
Liam paused and stared at Raine with both warmth and resignation. “Love…”
Fuck, his friend was going to cave.
“He’s having some issues with his company, precious.” Hammer interrupted. “That’s all.”
Macen, you son of a bitch. What the fuck do you think you’re doing? Despite their audience, he’d been ready to tell Raine everything and let the chips fall. But Hammer had wrested control of the situation—again—forcing Liam to either refute him in front of Raine or join the subterfuge.