“God, yes.” On fire and feeling like a desirable woman, the words were out of her mouth before she could think. He devastated her with his voice, his deft touch. Her body reacted as though he plunged his cock deep and sure inside her. And her defenses began to crumble.
When his thumb circled her little pebbled clit, her dormant body ignited, the fire so painfully scalding that she couldn’t hold back the torrent of release rolling inside.
As if sensing the rushing wave cresting higher, he brushed his lips up her neck. “Feel me, my warmth and sincerity. Feel with your heart, not your head. Yes…” he moaned. “You’re surrounding my fingers like a hot, silken glove. Come for me, Raine. Let me feel how the woman and the submissive long to be freed. Shatter for me hard!”
Inside her, the wave of ecstasy crested and broke. She was helpless to do anything but give her pleasure over. Here, in this moment, she felt more protected and cherished than she ever had. Her mind and body splintered, fracturing to pieces before him. Screams of joy tore from her throat and with it, the blissful hope that he would never let her fall.
He held her in his arms as she trembled in the aftermath, gently brushing back the hair from her face and whispering praise. He smiled warmly as she slowly focused back to their images in the mirror.
“Beautiful, lass. Your submission is a bounty beyond compare. I’d all but resigned myself to the status quo of subs here at the club. But a bonnier woman with such fire I’ve never seen. If you let me, I will comfort you and cherish your submission. Hold your head high for me.”
She raised her chin.
“Yes, like that. Now wipe your tears and be brave. Stop your worrying about whatever it is you think I need. Give me all you can so you can be whole.”
No doubt he must see that she was a bigger challenge than he’d intended...but it wasn’t turning him away. If anything, he seemed more determined to have her. She had no idea why he’d turned his goodness her way if it wasn’t for the sex. Maybe he wanted to stick one in Hammer’s eye. Maybe he just liked helping wounded doves. Whatever. She was done looking a gift horse in the mouth.
He wrapped his arms beneath her breasts and pulled her tightly against him. The warmth of his body enveloped her with a comforting promise of protection. His hard, thick cock burned into her lower back, but he made no move to ease himself.
She closed her eyes and savored his touch—the touch of a man who seemed to both want and appreciate her. It was far more than she’d ever had before. Than she’d dared to hope.
“Thank you.” Raine didn’t know what else to say to express all the gratitude in her heart. This man would be so easy to kneel for.
“Will you give me a bit of your trust, then?”
Whatever happened next, Liam had given her a precious gift: hope. She had to stop being so defeated and hold her head up. Face life. She’d always done that before. If Hammer didn’t want her, she wasn’t going to let the son of a bitch break her.
“I need a bit of time to be sure. I’m not in the best frame of mind to make decisions. A day or two... Is that too much to ask?”
“No, that’s wise. Take a couple of days, then give me your answer. For right now, come. Lay with me on the bed and let me hold you. Try and get a little sleep.”
He stepped away, taking the soothing veil of body heat with him. Shivering softly, instantly missing his reassuring warmth, she watched as he held out his hand. She turned and took it, allowing him to lead her to the bed. “Just sleep?”
He settled against the sheets, bringing her close, then stared into her eyes. “You need it, but I’m still a man. I want you naked against me. Rest your weary head for now. We’ll work everything out.”
With less than an hour to go before this travesty was set to begin, Liam prowled into the bar, looking for Beck. Hammer had avoided him all afternoon, knowing Liam would do his best to talk him out of this public humiliation. It was meant to strip Raine of her considerable pride, and Liam understood. But tearing the lass down wasn’t the way to correct her. And if his friend wasn’t going to listen, maybe Liam could convince Beck to see reason. Raine certainly didn’t deserve what the sadist would dish out in Hammer’s name, and unless Liam missed his guess by a mile, Raine wouldn’t like it, either. He’d held and reassured the girl enough all morning to know that the last thing she needed was more pain.