The Brink (Unbroken Raine Falling 3)

He raised his hand to knock. Fuck that. Instead, he turned the knob and sauntered into the room.

With her blond tresses falling down her back, Gwyneth hummed a soft melody. Her relaxed posture looked smug. In fact, the succubus had a serene air, as if she believed her conquest was imminent. If Hammer let her anywhere near Liam, she’d suck the life out of him.

But she was on his turf, and Hammer intended to get the answers he sought and put her in her place.

He cleared his throat, and Gwyneth turned with a start. When her gaze fell on him, her warm greeting vanished. Ah, she’d been expecting Liam. He gave her a cold smile.

She snapped her polite mask in place over all her flawless ivory skin, big eyes, and plump pink lips. But he saw the calculating cunt lurking underneath.

“Macen, I wasn’t expecting you. I’d ask you to come in, but since you already have…” She sent him a little shrug. “What a surprise.”

Sauntering to the bed, Hammer studied the dark-haired boy. Cute kid, but he saw no particular resemblance to Liam. But then, he knew shit about babies.

“It’s a surprise to see you, too.” He raised a brow at her. “But since you’ve come all this way to my club to see Liam, didn’t you think you’d have to deal with me?”

“I didn’t anticipate you barging in. I see now that I should have.” Gwyneth’s tone, while passive, held censure.

Time to draw the battle lines.

“My place. My rules,” he pointed out.

“Indeed.” Her expression looked placid and matched her noncommittal tone.

Hammer bet she was biting back what she really longed to say. Once upon a time, she wouldn’t have bothered, but Liam was right; this 2.0 version of Gwyneth seemed stealthier.

“If you’ve come to talk, I’m sorry. Now isn’t a good time.” She swept a hand toward the sleeping baby. “Jet lag has taken its toll on Kyle. He’s just like his father. You know how Liam needs his sleep. Another time.” She glided forward as if to usher him out the door.

Hammer met her halfway and wrapped his fingers around her arm. “I prefer now.” He hauled her into the small bathroom and closed the door behind him, leaning against the wooden surface to trap her in. “Here will do. So we don’t wake the baby.”

Gwyneth’s eyes narrowed almost imperceptibly. “Kyle will be unsettled if he wakes alone in a strange place.”

“We’ll make this quick, then, sweetheart.” Hammer slid a slow, appraising stare down her body, before settling on her breasts. “I see you spent Liam’s alimony on a good cause.”

The air around them shifted slightly, and he sensed her subtle rise of temper. He smiled again.

“I know that isn’t what you came to discuss.”

Macen licked his lips and stared as he captured a few strands of her blond hair, rubbing them between his thumb and finger. He dragged her closer. Heat rose from her body.

As much as he hated the whore, he’d play the seduction card if he needed.

When he glanced down at her breasts again, her nipples had peaked. A pink flush blossomed on Gwyneth’s cheeks. He spied a barely perceptible tic of her arm, as if she fought the urge to cover herself.

Bingo.

“What exactly did you want?” She tried to jerk away.

Hammer didn’t let go.

“Remember the night you tried to seduce me?” he murmured as he continued to fondle her hair. “Do you still think about it? Wonder what if—”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about. I’m sorry if you misunderstood my attempt to make my husband’s best friend feel welcome.”

“You know, the year I came to visit Juliet’s grave after you and Liam were married. Surely you haven’t forgotten that night.”

Gwyneth refused to meet his direct stare. The pulse point at the base of her neck accelerated. The blush in her cheeks darkened.

Hammer released her hair and brushed his knuckles across her jaw. He relished the opportunity to make her squirm.

She jerked from his touch. “I’m afraid I have.”

“Liam and I were in the study, hitting the scotch hard. You joined us.”

“You must be mistaken.”

Funny how breathless she sounded.

“Oh, but you did, sweetheart. Liam went to bed not long after that. And you climbed in my lap. That ring a bell?”

Her face tightened for a moment, then smoothed again. “I do recall tripping on the leg of the coffee table and falling onto you. Is that what you mean?”

Hammer laughed—long and loud and totally at her expense. “So you just happened to straddle me? And rub your pussy all over my cock?”

She tossed her head primly. “I merely attempted to stand again and had difficulty finding my balance.”

“For nearly seven minutes?” Hammer scoffed. “I’ve had shorter lap dances.”

Another flush swept up her face, this one angry. “You think rather a lot of yourself. I never tried to seduce you.”