but I’ll be all right for a night. I can doze in a chair if I need. Don’t worry about me. Just keep working on all the things we’ve discussed here. Will you do that for me?”
She sent him a slow nod. “Or I could come with you, help out—”
“No,” he and Hammer both answered at once.
Raine reared back, looking a bit hurt. Liam took her hands. “There’s nothing you can do there but worry, and I’d rather do that for all of us.”
“Besides…” Hammer cut in. “You met Gwyneth. She’s a vicious, scheming cunt. I don’t want to give her the chance to hurt you again.”
“Precisely.” Liam nodded.
“She took me by surprise. That’s all. I can handle—”
“But you shouldn’t have to,” Liam shot back.
“Precious.” Hammer turned her to face him and stroked her cheek. “That woman is probably already thinking of other ways to run you off. Don’t make it easier for her. It’s tempting to say that you simply wouldn’t believe her, but she’s a master of manipulation.”
“And your heart is far too delicate to have to deal with the likes of her.” Liam handed Raine her clothes. “Let me drop you and Hammer off back at the club. Cook him some dinner. He’s looking a little peaked,” he tried to tease. “I’ll be back in two shakes.”
She clearly didn’t like it but nodded and pulled on her clothes. Hammer followed suit. Within a few minutes, they were all walking out the door and locking it behind them.
Hammer buckled her into the front seat again, and this time Raine reached out for Liam’s hand—a far cry from their drive over. He and Hammer were opening her soul. Maybe not as quickly as they’d like, but he had to believe that someday she’d feel deep in her heart what he knew: the three of them belonged together.
“I’ll make you a hot meal when you get home,” she promised. “And I’ll miss you.”
“I’ll miss you, too, love.”
Hammer clapped a hand on his shoulder. “Don’t worry about a thing here. Just make sure Kyle is all right and deal with the bitch.”
* * *
Down the hall, Evanescence pounded as Raine glanced at the clock in the kitchen. Though working the dungeon, she’d escaped for a few calming moments in the kitchen. She stirred the batter for Hammer’s favorite apple spice muffins. Just after midnight. She pressed the phone lying beside her on the counter to make sure she hadn’t somehow missed hearing from Liam. Nothing. She’d left two voice mails and half a dozen texts. She’d received no reply.
Her stomach tightened. It wasn’t like him not to respond at all.
As she prepared the muffin tin and dished the batter inside, Raine wondered what could be taking him so long. Yes, the emergency room could be slow and crowded, but he’d been gone over three hours. Did that mean the little boy was seriously ill? Or… Frowning, she slid the pan into the oven, then tapped her palm nervously against her thigh. What if Gwyneth had somehow manipulated or lied her way back into Liam’s good graces? Raine couldn’t imagine him falling for that. But she was clever.
What if the woman had done something more sinister than merely deceive Liam? Gwyneth seemed awfully determined to have her ex-husband back, and Raine had no idea why. How far would she be willing to go?
Setting the timer on the muffins, Raine turned and took her sugar cookies off the cooling rack, then headed to the pantry and the refrigerator to see what other ingredients she had. And honestly, she’d really like to know if she only had enough time before Liam returned to make brownies…or whether she should start something more involved like a lemon meringue pie.
She wrinkled her nose, wishing he’d just walk through the door and put her out of her misery.
“Raine?” Hammer walked into the kitchen and shut the door behind him, taking in all her cooking with a scowl. “You’re baking in fet wear?”
Her heart skipped, and she ignored his question. “Did you hear from him?”
“Not yet.”
“So he didn’t call or text you? I’ve been trying for the past few hours, but I’m not reaching him at all. It’s beginning to freak me out.”
Hammer relaxed a bit and pulled his phone from his pocket. “Neither of us has had a spare second to charge our phones for over twenty-four hours. Mine is just about dead. I’ll bet his is, too.”
That made sense but somehow didn’t comfort her at all. “True.”
“So…you’re baking?”
Raine understood his question and hated to worry Macen, but if she lied about this, especially after their time together earlier today, he’d be beyond disappointed and have every right to punish her but good. Besides, they’d all had enough drama for one day. “Just a little.”
He sniffed. “Apple spice?”
At his almost hopeful question, she managed a smile. “For you.”
“Hmm…” He sidled closer and dropped a kiss on top of her head. “I knew there was a reason I loved you.”
She gave him a little elbow. “It better be for more than my kitchen skills.”
“You have other stellar qualities.” He slid a hand under her skirt and cupped her pussy. “Are you sore?”
Discerning the point of his question wasn’t hard. She flushed. “Nothing I don’t like and didn’t enjoy.”
Lust lit his eyes, and he looked ready to pursue something more appropriate to the bedroom than the kitchen. “Well, precious…”
But Raine just couldn’t focus when she was this worried. “Macen.” She pulled away and began to pace. “What’s taking him so long?”
He shook his head. “We don’t know yet. He’ll tell us when he comes back.”
“What if he doesn’t?”
Hammer frowned. “He bought you a house for the three of us to live in. What part of that says he’s bailing on you? We really have to work on your trust and confidence—”
“That’s not what I meant.” She huffed, then crossed the kitchen again. “I believe he wants to be here with me, with us. It’s her I don’t trust.”
Understanding lit his eyes. “You shouldn’t. But Gwyneth can’t do anything to Liam. He’s in public and he’s far bigger than her. They have armed security there. He’s fine.”
“I’m having a hard time believing that she would somehow acquire a baby who looks enough like Liam and is the right age, fly halfway around the world to rekindle whatever she thought they had, only to give up the second he said no.”
“You understand he completely humiliated her, right? I doubt she’ll keep pursuing him after what happened this afternoon.”
“I don’t think she’ll just shrug it off and go home. She’s after something.”
Hammer sighed. “Well, it’s not money. I offered her a chunk to go away. She refused.”
Raine shook her head. “I don’t think it’s about money, either. If Gwyneth never loved Liam in the first place, why go to so much trouble to trap him into a relationship? What is she up to? Revenge?” She paced again. “I don’t like any of this. It gives me a bad feeling.”
“Raine…” He cupped her shoulders and tried to give her a soothing caress down her arms.
She refused to be placated and shrugged him away. “It’s all I can think about. I’m worried. If she’s half as terrible as you say, then she’s got some trick up her sleeve. I just know it.”
Before he could waste his breath trying to calm her with another platitude, Raine crossed to the pantry and grabbed the ingredients to start a piecrust. She suspected it was going to be a long night.
Hammer grabbed her arm, exerting just enough pressure to make her pause. She glanced at him over her shoulder.
“Don’t.” She bristled.
“Put the flour down. Now.”
That low and commanding tone grabbed her belly and squeezed. He’d given her an unequivocal order. Raine really wanted to argue that she needed the distraction baking provided, but that voice wouldn’t let her.
With a little sigh, she set the flour back on the shelf and turned
to face him, head bowed. “Yes, Sir.”
He crooked a finger under her chin. “Let me take your worries away. Come with me.”
Chapter Thirteen
After seeing the state of the kitchen and the anxiety humming off Raine, Hammer knew his assurances were falling on deaf ears. She’d convinced herself that Gwyneth posed Liam some imminent danger and nothing would keep her from worrying.
Raine needed a break from her disquiet, a way to get out of her head. Hammer had the will and the means to provide that.
Holding her hand, he led her down the hall.
She resisted. “Where are we going?”
“To the dungeon. I intend to give you what you need.”
A little frown wrinkled her forehead. “What I need is for Liam to come back.”
“Until he returns, I’ll take your mind off your worries…and everything else.”
Raine took a moment to sort through his words, then gave him a breathless nod.
As they entered the dungeon, members glanced their way. Hammer ushered her past most of the equipment inside, then pulled her to a stop at the same spanking bench on which Liam had claimed her virgin ass a few short weeks ago. Then, he’d seen his friend take what Hammer had always hoped would be his, and caustic anger had rolled in his veins. Feeling cheated, he’d watched, barely blinking, until the deed was done.
Now, Hammer gripped the sturdy frame of the spanking bench and began dragging it to the center of the dungeon, beyond eager. Around him, the club members did a double take. Their stares skidded off him, then came to a screeching halt on Raine, waiting self-consciously beside him. As he came through with the bench, patrons parted like the Red Sea, acting as if they were about to witness a miracle. Hammer felt the OMG hanging in the air.
In six years, he’d never once scened with Raine. No one had since he’d declared her under his protection…except Liam after the disastrous public punishment Hammer had assigned last month when she’d tried to seduce him. Beck had botched that, of course, giving his Irish pal the chance to step in and claim the girl. As far as the members knew, she belonged to Liam—and him alone.
Hammer intended to set the record straight and nurture the bond of love the three of them finally shared. Besides, publicly staking his claim on Raine using the same piece of equipment Liam had held a certain poetic symmetry.
The sound of paddles and whips from surrounding scenes faded. Doms paused, moving closer to caress their subs and stare. Some long-term members simply smirked as if they’d been waiting for Hammer to pull his head out of his ass and acknowledge his feelings for Raine.
He clenched his jaw. He’d fucking give them something to see.
“Everyone is looking at us,” she murmured.
Hammer turned and quirked a brow at her. “Because you’re stunning, precious.”
“I’m sure it’s because you rarely play in public anymore. And to them, you’ve never touched me.”
“It doesn’t matter why they’re staring. Let them,” he whispered, noting the flicker of nervous excitement on her face. “You’d like that, wouldn’t you?”
Raine scanned the crowd. “Maybe. I don’t know. The time Liam took me in front of the others, he had me so focused on him the crowd faded away. I hardly remember anyone there. Just him. And you.”
Hammer already knew she was going to love it. He bent close to her ear. “Come on, my little exhibitionist. Let’s get you splayed out and cuffed up so we can fuel more speculation.”
Raine set tentative fingers on his chest. The way her gaze clung to him, uncertain yet seeking reassurance, stirred his Dominance.
“I’m not here to please anyone but you and Liam. I don’t give a dam…um, darn what anyone else thinks as long as they know I belong to you two.”
“By the time we’re done, I won’t leave a single doubt in anyone’s mind.”
She blinked, and he caught the heartbeat accelerating at her neck. “What exactly do you—”
“Plan to do to you?” Hammer interrupted with a wolfish grin.
“Yes. I’m excited, but I don’t think I can… No whip for me, please.” She shuddered. “That scares me.”
Because it made noises that convinced her he’d inflict tremendous pain and leave gashes in her flesh. He could—but not with her. Never. Naturally, he’d respect her limit…for now. It was a Dom’s nature to push, but he’d do that later.
“I know pain isn’t going to enhance your submission.”
Raine nibbled her bottom lip. Worry and nerves ate at her composure, but she nodded.
Hammer palmed her face and snared her gaze. “Talk to me. What’s going on inside your head?”
“I’m still worried about Liam,” she answered in the same hushed tones. “Why hasn’t he called?”
“If something were wrong, he would find a way to reach us.”
“But… shouldn’t we wait until he can join us?”
“Liam is with you, precious. Right here.” Hammer patted her heart. “I want you to feel him through me. Do you understand?”
More tears formed in her eyes. “I’ll try, Sir.”
“You’ll succeed. Now make us proud.” Macen brushed away a tear that had spilled over her thick lashes.
She sniffled, surprisingly tense. “What if I can’t do this, Macen? I mean, the right way.” She struggled with her quiet words. “I want this. God, I’ve wanted it since I first started fantasizing about you.”
A rosy blush stained her cheeks.
“And when exactly did you start doing that?” Hammer drew the pad of his thumb over her bottom lip, desperate to know.
Raine darted a shy glance away. “Since I understood what this place was and why I was so drawn to you. Probably about two weeks after you found me in the alley.”
She’d begun to star in Hammer’s fantasies even before then. Once the bruises and cuts from her father’s abuse had healed and Raine had stopped looking at Macen as if he were another monster with a cock intent on hurting her, he’d started dreaming about the beautiful girl handing herself over to him. Two thousand three hundred and some odd days—and the same number of long, empty nights—he’d burned to bring her to his dungeon and stake his claim.
“You weren’t the only one,” he confessed, then scowled. “But lusting after a girl who hadn’t yet reached the age of consent made me feel like a sick fuck.”
His desires had only increased as he’d watched the girl finish growing into a woman. For years, every day had been an exercise in restraint and creativity, conjuring new ways to deny himself the pleasure of Raine.
“That didn’t make you a pedophile, Macen. I was seventeen, not five,” she reminded pointedly. “I still ache for you, you know.”
“I hope you always do, precious. My feelings will never change.”
“Then help me, please.” Raising those big, trusting blue eyes to him, she curled her fingers around his lapel. “My head is whirling with what-ifs. What if I fail you because I can’t turn off my brain?”
“Let me worry about that.” The weight of him taking her to subspace for the first time rocked Hammer deep. No way would he fuck this up.
“I want to, but you’ve scened with so many subs over the years, most of them far more experienced. I don’t know exactly what to expect,” she whispered.
Conscious of all the eyes still on him, Hammer pulled her into his arms and pressed a kiss to her forehead, longing to push the