“Why don’t you go downstairs and get started?” Liam suggested. “I’d like to clean up a bit before I join you.”
That was Liam’s code for let’s talk.
“Same here.” Hammer sent Raine a reassuring smile and kissed the top of her head. “We’ll just be a few.”
“I’ll get some coffee brewing.”
“That will bring us down sooner.” Hammer managed to wink.
After Raine left the room, he escaped to the shower to clear his head. Despite the hot spray loosening the muscles of his neck and shoulders, his hangover reasserted itself. Unfulfilled need still churned in his cock. Yeah, it was going to be another shitty day.
By the time he stepped out of the bathroom and tossed on some clothes, Hammer found Liam waiting just outside the door expectantly in a pair of sweat pants, wearing a frown.
“Any idea what the hell happened there?” He thumbed in the direction of the bed.
Liam shook his head. “I’m a bit shocked, too. She’s done well with spanking. I’ve held her down here and there. But I confess, I’ve avoided bondage because I worried about her reaction.”
Hammer wished he’d been thinking with his logic, not his lust. “Everything was perfect until I brought out the fucking ropes. I should have been more cautious since Bill tied her down and damn near raped her. I’m sorry, man.”
“Don’t blame yourself. Neither of us knew for certain she’d react that way.”
“I wanted to get her under me so badly I just didn’t fucking think. I’ve taken ten steps back with her.” Hammer paced restlessly. “She doesn’t trust me anymore.”
“That’s not true.”
Sure it was. “Raine has never once shut me down. If she trusted me, she’d never worry I’d hurt her the way her fucking psychopath father did.”
“You’re being too hard on yourself.”
Hammer tried not to scoff as he grabbed his keys and shoved them in his pocket. “I need to get my head on straight. I’m going to the club. Tell Raine I’m sorry I missed breakfast.”
Anger flared across Liam’s face. “If you leave now, you might as well tell her you blame her for this morning and she’s not worth your effort.”
“What? I need time to figure out how to make this right.” But deep down, Hammer feared if he looked across the breakfast table and saw the accusation in Raine’s eyes, it would tear out his heart.
“To her, you’ll just be absent when she needs you again. But because you haven’t worked through your past, you’d rather flee like a coward.”
Hammer froze. “You’re full of shit.”
“I’m right. No one knows you better than I do. So I know you’re blaming yourself now. Just like I know you’ll stay half the night at Shadows to avoid facing your problems. I also know you’ll miss Raine like mad.” Liam poked a finger in his chest. “You’ll try to cure your blue balls by jacking off. We both know it won’t work because your hand is no substitute for our woman. But while you’re polishing your knob, think about the fact that I’m sinking deep inside Raine, drinking in all her pleasure. You could be joining us and feeling her love for you—if you’d grow a pair.”
Macen clenched his jaw and headed for the door. He hated Liam for being right.
“Yeah? Good for you. Just make sure when you’re done fucking Raine, you have enough energy left to go fuck yourself.”
Raine stepped out of the pantry holding a bag of flour and a tub of shortening, hoping some home-cooked goodness would put a smile on Hammer’s face. Hearing that he felt responsible for anything her violent excuse of a father had done made her ache to soothe him.
So did her reaction to his restraints. They all connected when she submitted to the heady Dominance he and Liam gave her. After fractured months apart, they needed to cement their bond again. God knew she missed their touch, craved their pleasure and tender pain. But this morning’s fear of rope had been real and instantaneous. Not something she could have controlled.
So where did that leave them?
Before she could ponder the question, rapid footsteps pounded across the kitchen floor. The door to the garage slammed shut. Moments later, the engine of a car revved. Dread slashed through her. She peeked out and saw Liam standing in the middle of the room, looking both frustrated and madder than hell.
When the sound of the car grew fainter until it disappeared, her heart sank. “He left, didn’t he?”
Liam turned to her, his dark eyes softening. His expression said he wished like hell he didn’t have to answer her. “Sorry. I tried to talk to him. I probably said some things I shouldn’t have.”
“It’s my fault.” She pressed her lips together, feeling her dreams of a happy life with the two men she loved slipping away. “I didn’t mean to freak out.”