The Bold and the Dominant

  “Me, too. I love you, Raine,” Liam murmured.

  Hammer joined in, brushing a strand of windswept hair from her lips. “We both love you, precious.”

  “I love you both, too.” She smiled tremulously.

  “Go get ready,” Hammer instructed with a caress to her back. “I’ll come find you in a few.”

  Beck nudged her toward the portal. Raine peered back over her shoulder, almost reluctant to leave.

  “We’ve got her,” Seth assured before he swaggered by, and the wooden door closed behind him.

  As soon as they disappeared inside, Hammer spun around to glower at Liam. “What the hell happened in the car?”

  Liam threw his hands in the air. “I have a lot on my mind. Then you lied to her, which I can’t say I’m happy about. And when you started mauling her…I lost it.”

  Mauling? “At the time, I thought I was saving our asses.”

  “By almost fucking her in the car?” Liam sneered. “Please… I was all but invisible to you.”

  “Invisible?” Hammer gaped. “We both asked you to get involved. Raine herself asked you three times, and you tuned her out. Did you want her to beg?”

  Liam’s face closed up. “You two were doing fine on your own.”

  The green-eyed monster still choked him, nice and tight.

  “I thought we worked through this shit last night.” Wasn’t that why he and Liam had pounded the crap out of each other in the snow? If it hadn’t worked, he’d ruined a great pair of Vuitton loafers and sported several bruises for nothing. “Remember how right it felt to get Raine between us? In the car, I tried to remind you of that—and everything we’ve worked so hard for. You wouldn’t have a thing to do with us.”

  “Sex wasn’t foremost on my mind.”

  “You couldn’t have touched her? Kissed her? Let her know you cared a little?” he shot back. “You saw the complete rejection on her face.”

  “I didn’t mean to hurt her. But there was a bit of a crowd in the car, mate.”

  “Beck and Seth?” Hammer resisted the urge to remind the man that he’d fucked Raine’s ass with a watching crowd—including him—not terribly long ago, but that argument served no purpose except to prolong this fight. Instead, he clenched his teeth, reaching for the last thread of his patience.

  In the span of a few hours, they’d eroded too much of Raine’s progress. Gwyneth now breathed down their necks. Liam might be a father. And Hammer realized that his friend’s jealousy ran far deeper than he’d imagined. Goddamn it, they were supposed to be working together. They couldn’t afford to let rancor fester between them.

  “I’m not blaming you,” Hammer promised.

  “Good. You’ve got some responsibility in this, too,” Liam said. “When she figures out you’ve lied, it will blow up in our faces. What do you plan to tell her then?”

  “That I did it to protect her,” he shot back. “I’ll take full responsibility for my lie. But you have to own up to yours as well.”

  “What the hell are you talking about? I’m not the one who told her I was stressed out because of my business,” Liam spat.

  “It wasn’t that long ago you turned on that Irish charm and played Raine so you could trick me into claiming her. If she finds out, she’ll be heartbroken.”

  “That’s ancient history. Besides, I just meant to help you.” Liam stabbed a finger in his chest. “She needed some confidence and affection. Where would all of us be if I hadn’t put my plan in motion? You’d still be fucking Marlie with your eyes closed, pretending she was Raine.”

  Hammer shuddered. Liam was probably right. “Would it make you feel better if I said I was grateful?”

  Liam sent him an exasperated glare. “I didn’t seduce Raine to hurt her. Besides, I wasn’t in love with her then.”

  “That won’t make a damn bit of difference to her.”

  Liam bristled. “I meant well.”

  “So did I. Look, I didn’t see how else to avoid the truth,” Hammer returned. “You’re my fucking best friend.”

  He sighed. “You’re mine, too.”

  “Then get it through your thick skull that I’m trying to share a girl with you, not stab you in the back. I have absolutely no intention of taking Raine away. If you thought that earlier…” He sighed, rubbed at the back of his neck. “I-I’m sorry.”

  Surprised flickered across his face. “Say that again.”

  Apologies didn’t come easy to him, and everyone knew it. “Fuck you.”

  Liam cracked a smile, then sobered. “I’m sorry, too, mate.”

  Before the moment could turn totally awkward and bromancy, a surprisingly frazzled Pike rushed out the door. “What took you so long? Holy shit…”

  Macen extended his hand. “Thanks for holding down the fort and handling our little problem.”

  “Little?” The Dungeon Monitor scoffed.

  “I appreciate all you’ve done,” Liam offered. “If I’d known Gwyneth had plans to show up, I never would have left. Thank you for keeping this situation under wraps.”

  “Don’t ask me to deal with her again unless I get to shove a ball gag in her mouth.” Pike smiled grimly, then turned to Hammer. “Before I forget, you had a visitor last night, too.”

  Hammer frowned. He hadn’t been expecting anyone. “Who?”

  “Some old wino-looking guy. Said his name was Bill and that you owed him money.”

  Hammer’s heart stuttered, and he clenched his fists. “Big guy? Beer belly? White hair?”

  “Yeah, that’s him.” Pike nodded.

  Raine’s father. He and Liam shared a seething glance. For years, Bill had known where to find her, and Hammer had paid the asshole to stay away. The moment he’d stopped paying, Bill had darkened his door.

  “Fucking hell.” His friend looked ready to punch his fist in the door. “Bill knows he’s not welcome here. We don’t need this shit, too.”

  Pike looked confused. “I told him you’d be back soon. Sorry, man. I didn’t know he was trouble.”

  “He is, but nothing we can’t handle,” Hammer assured. “Go home and get some sleep.”

  With a nod, Pike dug his keys from his pocket before sauntering to his motorcycle. They watched in silence until he rode away.

  “Why would Bill think you’d give him more money?” Liam asked. Hammer noticed a new line of worry creasing his friend’s face. “You told him you were done.”

  “I’ll remind him of that shortly. But the way Raine retreated into herself in the car is exactly what I feared would happen if we told her about Gwyneth.”

  “Don’t be daft. She was upset because she thought I’d rejected her.”

  “That’s part of it, but she also knows we’re keeping something from her. It’s crushing her, and I can’t stand to see it anymore. So I’ve changed my mind. We need to tell her what’s going on. You were right.”

  “I think you’d better repeat that.” Liam arched a brow. “I’m not quite sure I heard you.”

  “Get your ears checked, prick,” Hammer grumbled. “You were right. There. I said it. Gloat all you want. But it doesn’t matter if we have all the facts, we owe her the truth about Gwyneth, the baby, her dad sniffing around…everything.”

  “We do,” Liam agreed, then glanced at his watch. “I’d love to tell her now, but I don’t dare keep Gwyneth waiting anymore. She might go back to my room and find Raine in the shower.”

  “Then I’d have to bury the bitch,” Hammer agreed. “And I promised to feed Raine. I could explain the situation to her at breakfast, but it’s something I think we should do together.”

  Liam nodded. “Yes. Gwyneth is my ex-wife.”

  “And the lie about your business woes is mine, so I need to apologize for that.”

  Liam frowned. “When you take Raine out, she’ll ask more questions. Try to be honest.”

  “I’ll do my best.” But Hammer didn’t expect that to be easy. “Before we go, I need to deal with Bill. That’s something we can’t afford
to put off.”

  “You’re right. My first priority needs to be keeping Gwyneth away from Raine long enough to get that baby swabbed and the sample dropped off at the hospital.”

  “Fuck yes. Do you think that baby is yours? Really?”

  Liam grimaced. “I’m afraid to find out.”

  Hammer was, too. “You also need to get Gwyneth out of Shadows and moved…somewhere. A hotel, the local Y, a freeway underpass—I don’t care. As long as she isn’t under my roof and near Raine.”

  “I can’t just dump her off anywhere. The kid might be my son.” Liam sighed.

  “I know.”

  “We’ll keep in touch via text. When we get everything squared away, we’ll explain this mess to our lass.”

  “Maybe we’ll take her to a nice, romantic dinner. Make sure she knows she’s important.”

  “I think she’d like that,” Liam agreed. “Once we come home, we sit her down and explain, let her ask questions.”

  “Then we’ll make sure she knows she’s loved,” Hammer vowed.

  Liam smiled. “That we will.”

  They’d made a plan. The time to execute had come. Now Hammer just hoped everything fell in line.

  * * *

  Why couldn’t she, Liam, and Hammer just be happy for five freaking minutes?

  Raine made her way down the hall inside Shadows and headed toward the room she’d been sharing with Liam, wishing she could just enjoy a bright new future with the men she loved. Instead, something had gone terribly wrong.

  If Liam had business issues, why the hell had Hammer been trying to feel her up in the car, almost flaunting her at Liam? If he’d meant it as a distraction, the ploy had failed miserably. Her gorgeous Irishman almost never turned down the opportunity to touch her. This morning, he hadn’t seemed interested in the least.

  Was the fact that he and Hammer had shared her last night troubling Liam now? Or had something else entirely upset him? She hated not having any answers.

  Since Liam and Hammer had spent days with her to open up communication, promote trust, and focus on honesty, she’d really hoped they wouldn’t lie. But she suspected they were.

  At her side, Seth held her elbow, guiding her down the hall.

  Aching to be alone, she tried to shrug out of his hold. “I can find my way.”

  “Please prove to me you learned something at the lodge.” It wasn’t exactly a request, as evidenced by the bite in his voice.

  Just behind him, Beck carried her suitcase and barked out a laugh. “That’s the thing about the princess. Her temper sometimes overrides her good sense.”

  Over her shoulder, she shot Beck a dirty look. “Since when is being factual a problem?”

  “It’s all in your tone,” the doctor said, his voice full of soft warning. “If Hammer and Liam haven’t pointed that out yet, I’ll make sure they do.”

  Seth tightened his grip on her elbow, scanning the halls tensely, as if he expected a ghost to jump out at him. What was up with all these men this morning? Whatever it was, they had no intention of telling her. She couldn’t blame Beck or Seth. They were simply following Hammer and Liam’s lead.

  Raine sighed. “Sorry I’m cranky. I’ll feel better after some food.”

  “Hammer will take care of that,” Beck said. “Shower up. He’s got to handle a few things with Pike, then he’ll get cleaned up and take you to breakfast.”

  And what would Liam be doing? She couldn’t stand not knowing. She already missed him and had no idea when—or if—he’d be back. Yes, he’d told her that he loved her, that no one was more important. Why did she have so much trouble believing it?

  Raine really hated being whiny and insecure.

  “Is Liam leaving me?” Tension knotted her belly. “I’m a big girl. If he’s packing his bags, just give it to me straight. I can handle it.”

  Some of the stiffness melted from Seth’s face. He shifted his arm around her waist. “No. I’ve known Liam almost ten years. I stood up with him the day he got married. I’ve never seen him love a woman as completely as he loves you.”

  Those words should have made her feel better. She wanted them to.

  Though Liam had sworn his mood this morning had nothing to do with her, she couldn’t forget that he’d removed his collar less than a week ago. Yes, he’d done it to foster her growth. But after being abandoned by her mother, her siblings—everyone important to her except Hammer—believing that Liam really meant to stay simply wasn’t easy.

  Raine knew Seth meant what he said. “Thank you.”

  Beck touched the small of her back. “Trust me, no one could pry those two away from you with a crowbar. Liam is just working through some stuff, princess.”

  “Is it all business?” Because he seemed affected pretty personally by a strictly professional problem.

  The doctor shrugged his beefy shoulders. “I’ve got a major surgery to prep for, so I didn’t ask too many questions.”

  Raine turned to quiz Seth, who just shrugged and continued leading her to the bedroom. “I’m not usually up at such an ungodly hour. Mentally, I’m still asleep.”

  These guys stuck together. They knew something and weren’t about to tell her.

  Beck gave her a reassuring smile. “I’d warn you if they intended to pull the rug out from under you.”

  The dungeon’s resident sadist could be a big, ol’ teddy bear. Funny that she used to fear him. In a few weeks, he’d become an essential friend.

  “Thanks.”

  “I have to head to the hospital. You’re in good hands,” Beck promised, nodding Seth’s way as he handed off the suitcase.

  Raine moved into Beck’s personal space, opening her arms to him. He enfolded her against his chest, like the warm embrace of a protective older brother. “I wouldn’t have survived these last few days without you.”

  “I’ll let you talk me up next time I find a new sub I’d like to scene with.” He winked.

  She gave him a little laugh. “You got it.”

  As Beck backed out of the room with a wave, Seth shut the door behind them and nudged her toward the bathroom. “Shower up.”

  His posture made it clear he wasn’t leaving.

  “Liam and Hammer asked you to babysit me?”

  He shrugged. “They don’t want you alone when you’re upset.”

  “I’m not going to run off again.” She’d been completely miserable those few days without them. As long as they had any chance of building a future together, she’d put her all into it.

  “Good to hear. Quit stalling.”

  She sighed and made her way into the bathroom, shutting the door behind her. Seth had seen every bare inch of her at the lodge, and she wasn’t embarrassed by her nudity. But she wanted a moment alone to try to piece together what was going on.

  A good shampoo, a deep conditioner for her hair, and a razor across any stubbly skin later, Raine didn’t have any new theories.

  When she emerged from the shower, she grabbed Liam’s robe from the back of the door, inhaling his deeply familiar scent. She closed her eyes, and a slew of memories assailed her.

  The night Hammer had introduced them over beer and seafood—and she’d felt a surprising zing of attraction. The morning she’d made a fool of herself over Hammer after his fling with Marlie, and