“Ready?” Liam asked.

  How was she supposed to answer that? “Where exactly are you taking me?”

  Liam sent her a secretive smile and pulled out of the lot. “You’ll see.”

  She tried not to feel hurt that they intentionally kept her in the dark. After all, they behaved as if whatever they meant to show her would make her happy. She couldn’t imagine what that would be. Sending Gwyneth off at the airport with a one-fingered sayonara, maybe. Of course, Raine could think of a hundred reasons Liam and Hammer would lie to her about what had really happened with the woman earlier today, but only one reason they would tell the truth.

  Because they loved her.

  After the strife they’d been through, Raine’s head told her they did. Her heart really wanted to believe it. Was she so broken that she simply didn’t know how?

  The possibility filled her with wretched desolation.

  She’d been so sure of their feelings for her at the lodge. If anyone had asked her last night, she would have insisted nothing could come between the three of them. How terrifying that at the first sign of trouble, she was questioning everything. Raine wished like hell she knew how to make it stop.

  As Liam turned off Wilshire heading south on Crenshaw, he reached over and wrapped his hand around hers. Hammer caressed her shoulder. Raine didn’t pull away, but inside she felt frozen.

  She hated being this scared girl who didn’t trust anyone. Other than her mother and grandparents—all of whom were gone—no one had shown her much kindness, at least until Hammer had taken her in. And then, he’d cared for her like a protective parent…while rejecting her as a lover. Liam was the first man to try filling both roles at once. In the last few days, Hammer had broken through the defenses he’d erected after Juliet’s suicide and, like Liam, become her Dom in every sense of the word. She wanted to trust them both so badly now, ached to be cocooned in their love and reassurance.

  But she just kept seeing Gwyneth’s smug face, half-exposed breasts, and freshly paddled ass.

  Had they really turned the woman down?

  Lost in a chasm between painful hope and white-hot fear, she didn’t know how much time had passed. Suddenly, Liam turned up to the gate of a posh residential district.

  When she’d been a girl, she’d sometimes sneaked away from her father and ridden her bike here, imagining herself in one of these big, character-filled houses. In her imagination, each one had been filled by a happy couple who looked on fondly while their children played on the manicured lawn, then enjoyed a hot meal every night before Mommy and Daddy tucked them into bed with kisses. Life was perfect here.

  To Raine’s shock, the gate opened immediately for Liam.

  “We’ll be there in two minutes,” he said suddenly.

  Her heart stuttered. “Where?”

  Raine already knew there wasn’t any thru traffic on this street, only more houses. Were they taking her to a private play party with the rich and famous? To meet some celebrity? Or…

  She’d heard about houses that took in subs for training. Surely Hammer and Liam wouldn’t drop her off like dirty laundry and leave her to be tutored by strangers…would they? No. They were too damn controlling. If they’d wanted to do that, they wouldn’t have bothered taking her to the lodge.

  “It’s a surprise,” he replied in a low, beguiling voice.

  “A good one,” Hammer added softly. “Relax.”

  She wasn’t very good at that. They might be with her now, but the part of Raine that knew she’d never been half as pretty as Macen’s usual conquests was petrified that Liam’s nasty slut of an ex-wife would steal him from her.

  Follow where they lead you. Let go of your control. They’re not going to let you fall. Seth’s words earlier rolled through her head. Instead of believing that, Raine had stomped her way back to Shadows, looking for a fight because that was easy. In fact, she could fight all day long. She’d spent most of her life fighting—her abusive father, her feelings for Hammer, and now these stupid insecurities about Gwyneth. She even wanted to fight against the bleeding wound inside her after Liam’s remark that he wouldn’t sully his wife with BDSM.

  But Raine couldn’t be mad at him because his commitment to her wasn’t strong enough for marriage. She’d just been dumb enough to think they’d have a storybook ending. Yeah, because the princess in the tower always got it on with two guys.

  Liam and Hammer cared, absolutely. They would appreciate the woman with whom they shared good times, a few laughs, and lots of mind-blowing sex. It was her fault for wishing that meant forever.

  Raine withdrew her hand from Liam’s and stared out the window, blinking away her tears while trying to hold herself together. Just a little while longer. She’d look at their surprise, then beg a headache when they returned to the club, lock the bathroom door, and cry this maudlin shit out of her system.

  Then she’d just enjoy one day at a time with them, all the way to the inevitable end.

  Liam made another left, and the houses just got bigger and bigger…until they passed one with a tennis court in the backyard. There, they made another left, onto a cul-de-sac. Toward the end of the street, Liam pulled into a U-shaped driveway lined by lovely manicured hedges with an interior filled by a patch of lush grass. A brick walkway, guarded by two marble statues of lions, bisected the foliage and led to the front door, illuminated by warmly glowing lights.

  The house was huge but somehow still oozed charm. Big, beautiful windows dotted the front of the pale gray stucco façade. The French doors in the middle opened to a white Juliet balcony, which, along with a pair of traditional fluted columns, formed the portico over the massive front door with glass insets, which gave the house grandeur. Wrought iron planters spilling out with a profusion of colorful flowers framed all the other windows along the front.

  Liam killed the engine. Hammer all but jumped out of the car to open her door. As he helped her out and Liam came around to take her other arm, Raine stared.

  “Why are we here?” she asked them. “Do you know who lives in this place?”

  “I do. Isn’t it lovely?”

  “Incredible.” God, she’d give anything to stay here for even a night, just so she could pretend the house was hers.

  Liam’s smile turned brighter. “Then come with us.”

  Raine grew more confused with each step they took up the brick entrance, toward the front door. Had they rented it for the night since the lodge was so far away?

  When the three of them reached the portal, Liam reached into his pocket. “Hold out your hand, love.”

  With a puzzled frown, she did. He set a small blue velvet box in her palm, cupping the top of the soft case with his fingers and curling them around her own. “Raine, whatever you think, you mean everything to Hammer and me. We’re not planning to be with you for a day or a month or even a year. We’re committed to staying by your side, through thick and thin, day in and day out, sharing our lives with you. We love you, now and forever.”

  As his words melted her, Raine looked at their joined hands, then glanced into Liam’s solemn face. “I don’t understand.”

  Hammer wore a matching expression, cradling her hand from beneath so they completely surrounded her. “Liam is much better with words than I am, but everything he said is true. Open the box, precious.”

  Why would they bring her to a stranger’s doorstep to give her a gift? Her heart started to race. A dangerous fantasy crossed her mind… But no. They couldn’t possibly give her a gift like this.

  “What is this place?”

  “Go on,” Hammer whispered as both men lifted their hands away.

  Carefully, Raine gripped the sides of the box and tugged gently. It opened without a sound. Inside lay a key.

  Raine stopped breathing as she looked first at Liam, then Hammer. More of that insidious hope filled her. She blinked away rapidly welling tears. “Y-you…” She shook her head. It wasn’t possible. “It can’t be.”

  Liam stroked his finger down her cheek and nodded. “I never seemed to find the right time to give this to you, but I understand why now. It’s meant for all three of us. Put the key in the lock, love, and open the door to our new home.”

  Her heart skipped a beat, and the buzzing in her ears felt as if a swarm of bees had taken over her head. “You’re serious? This is… It’s…”

  Raine couldn’t finish her sentence through her onslaught of tears. She covered her mouth with her hands to hold in a shocked sob.

  “Yes,” Liam confirmed softly. “I know how long you’ve wanted a home to call your own, something that no one can take away. So I bought this for you. Regardless of what happens between us, this is your house. You’ll always have these four walls and sturdy roof to shelter you, Raine.”

  “I-I can’t accept this. It’s too much. It’s—”

  “Too late,” Liam cut in. “It’s already done. The title and deed are in your name.”

  His words shocked her system again. She tried to comprehend, but her brain whirled. Time seemed mired in a slow, thick honey. Nothing made sense except the key in her hand and Liam’s words echoing in her brain.

  Hers. The house was hers. And Liam had done this for her.

  “Oh, my god.” Sobs wracked her body.

  Had anyone ever done anything half as wonderful for her? Why would they?

  Suddenly, Hammer nestled her from behind, wrapping his arm around her waist and holding her close against his chest. His warm breath brushed her ear as Liam stood frozen, studying her expression intently.

  “Are you happy?” Macen asked.

  She nodded. “I’m speechless. It’s…amazing.”

  Liam looked relieved. Had he actually imagined she wouldn’t be thrilled?

  “You haven’t seen the inside,” he reminded her.

  “It doesn’t matter.” She shook her head. “Whatever is inside is the most beautiful thing in the world to me. Why would you do this?”

  Raine wasn’t under any illusions. This wasn’t some little one-bedroom cottage in the sticks. He’d bought her a palatial home. It must have cost a whole pile of pretty pennies.

  “Because I wanted to give you everything,” Liam murmured. “Especially the security you should have had as a child.”

  He was destroying her one word at a time in the best way possible. Had she really been wondering minutes ago if they could possibly love her?

  “I always wanted to give you that, too, precious.” Macen’s voice cracked, thick with emotion. “It’s why I took you in…and why I couldn’t let you go. I should have bought you a place of your own years ago but couldn’t stand the thought of not having you near me every day. I was afraid I’d lose you.”

  A cry filled with a confusing mix of shock, sorrow, regret, and delight tore from her throat. She launched herself into Liam’s arms, pulling Hammer with her. From behind her, he held tight.

  Tears slid down her cheeks as she trembled, the reality finally registering. “You really bought me a house?”

  “I did.” Liam pulled away and cupped her face, staring into her eyes with a fierceness she’d never seen before.

  “When?”

  He hesitated. “Before Thanksgiving.”

  Guilt tore through her. He’d never given it to her because she’d run away, been a defiant, difficult handful.

  “I see the self-reproach on your face. Don’t,” Liam insisted. “It’s worked out for the best. We’re all meant to live here together.”

  Her tears started in earnest again. “That would be a dream come true.”

  “For me, too.” Hammer leaned around to press a kiss to her cheek.

  “Understand us, Raine,” Liam went on. “You’re not a whim. You’re not a sport or a conquest for either of us. You’re the center of our lives.”

  Before she could say another word, Liam claimed her lips in a kiss somehow tender and primal at once, teeming with painfully pure love. She wrapped one hand around his neck and opened to him completely. He felt so solid pressed to her chest. Raine couldn’t imagine loving this man more.

  When he broke away from her, the passion and fire still blazed in his eyes. “Forever, love. Don’t ever question that again.”

  How could she? “Thank you, Liam,” she whispered, her voice quivering as more tears spilled down her face. “Not just for a gift that’s beyond amazing. Thank you for understanding me and what I need.”

  “You ready to have a look inside?” Liam grinned.

  “Yeah.” A big smile broke out across her face. “Beyond ready.”

  “One more thing…” Hammer turned Raine to face him. “The previous owners lived here for about thirty years. It might not be decorated to your taste. But you can make it whatever you want. It’s empty, so I know we’ll need to buy furniture, but if you want to redecorate the kitchen or bathrooms or whatever…then do it. That’s my gift to you, precious.”

  Her heart split wide open for the second time tonight. “Macen, you don’t have to do that. I’m sure it’s beautiful the way it is. I don’t need—”

  “Let me. Liam has given us an amazing house to live in. Let me make the inside as beautiful as you.”

  That might be one of the nicest things he’d ever said to her. She started to cry again and pressed her lips to his for a slow, reverent kiss before her face got too sloppy again.

  “I’m overwhelmed. You two are the most wonderful men who ever happened to me. I love you both.”

  “And we love you,” Macen murmured. “Now open the door.”

  Chapter Eleven

  Her fingers shook as she tried to align the key into the lock. After the third try, she finally managed and turned the handle. The impatient part of her wanted to shove the door open and run through the house. Another part wanted to savor every moment of this amazing dream.

  Raine gave the door a tiny nudge, and it swung open, revealing one tantalizing inch at a time.

  “I know we’re not married, but…” Liam swooped her up in his arms, then carried her across the threshold.

  She giggled as he set her down. Hammer stepped in and palmed the light switch by the door, flooding the expansive foyer with light. Raine could only think of one word to describe the place.

  Wow.

  The hardwood floors gleamed a pale cherry and spread down the long corridor and up the wide staircase to the second floor. A crystal chandelier hung above her head, minimal and elegant—perfect for the space.

  An opening to her right revealed a family room with walls painted in a tranquil pale sage and built-in bookshelves a lovely dove gray around the white marble fireplace surround. Liam turned on the lights in the room, and she saw a traditional gleaming white mantel with intricate columns and moldings, making her ooh and ahh. On an adjacent wall sat the brace for a giant flat-screen. Raine could imagine comfy couches in here, reading by the fire, snuggled with Liam doing a Sunday crossword or watching football with Hammer.

  Three French doors lined the back of the room, leading out to a cozy little sunroom that flanked the backyard and would let in a ton of natural light.

  Drawn as if it were a beacon, Raine wandered toward the space with her mouth hanging open. She couldn’t have imagined a more beautiful house if she’d tried.

  “Look to your right,” Liam murmured.

  Raine whirled. And gasped. “Oh, my god…”

  The family room extended a good twenty-five feet. Moldings at the ceilings and baseboards were pristine and substantial but somehow just right for the space. Three cottage windows, topped with leaded-glass eyebrows, would let in more sunlight on the far side of the room. Two built-in shelving units, arched and obviously original to the house, had been restored lovingly.

  “Everything is…perfect. When was the house built?”

  “Nineteen fourteen.” Liam smiled as he guided her around the room with a hand at the small of her back. “Since I bought it, I’ve had the plumbing and electrical brought up to code. The house was in good shape, but I’ve had the necessary minor repairs completed. Most recently, the contractors have been painting.”

  The faint smell of it lingered in the air, and Raine nodded in amazement at all his choices. “It’s as if you read my mind, Liam.”

  Hammer watched her intently, seemingly pleased by her response. He sauntered closer and dropped a kiss on her mouth. “We want you happy.”

  “How could I be anything else?” She feathered her lips across his, then turned to Liam and sank into his kiss for a sweet moment.

  They continued the tour by peeking into a powder bath at the end of the foyer with floor-to-ceiling polished travertine and a large oval mirror. Funny that a bathroom should look regal, but this one managed.

  Across from the family room sat a formal living room, complete with a black baby grand. It opened to an expansive dining room with more French doors leading to more gardens. Silk drapes, pale gray walls, and classic moldings all framed a beautiful eight-armed fixture made of a fascinating blend of a white rustic wood and glittering crystal.

  Toward the back of the dining room, a leaded-glass door drew Raine’s attention. She tiptoed toward it. Her head told her this was now her house. Her shock told her not to touch or break something that belonged to someone else. Carefully, she pushed at the door.

  Hammer grabbed her arm. “Brace yourself.”

  A little warning gong resounded through her. She could easily dial back her expectations since the house had already far surpassed anything she’d imagined.

  She smiled his way, then Liam’s. “Whatever is behind this door will be great. I can make anything work.”

  Nodding, Hammer cupped the curve of her waist before his palm took a slow slide down her ass. “Good girl. Go on.”

  Tummy tightening, Raine poked at the swinging door. As it opened, Liam flipped on the light. She filed into the space, seeing a sizeable butler’s pantry immediately to her left. Then the portal swung wide, and she spotted the kitchen.

  Her jaw dropped. She couldn’t speak.

  Gleaming marble floors, medium-toned walnut cabinets, every appliance known to man. She wandered around the room, checking out the Sub-Zero refrigerator built in behind faux panels to match the rest of the room, the convection and conventional ovens, the six-burner gas cooktop… Amazing. This was a cook’s paradise, complete with two sinks, one in the huge island that seated three on wide, black leather barstools. A wine fridge, a storage rack for stems, and a lovely door that led to the backyard. This kitchen just kept on giving.