Sweat ran in rivulets down his chest. He eased inside her gently, panting, undecided. He flicked a questioning stare Liam’s way.

  “It’s all right, brother,” Liam reassured with a nod. “Let’s let our girl fly. What do you say?”

  “Yes!” Raine broke free of Liam’s hold and pressed his palms over her breasts. “I need you both. I’m dying without you…”

  Liam pinched her nipples. Raine’s soft kitten moan brought Hammer back to the present. Yes. They needed to set her free, then follow her into ecstasy.

  Focused on Raine’s pleasure, Hammer rocked into her, finding a steady rhythm that alternated with Liam’s. When he glided his thumb over her clit once more, Raine sighed blissfully.

  With every stroke, he picked up the pace. The sounds of their flesh slapping accompanied by Liam’s grunts and Raine’s whimpers echoed in the cavernous room. The musky scent of sex surrounded them.

  As she clutched and released his driving shaft in impending climax, tingles shot up his spine. He tossed his head back, jaw tight, and roared at the searing ecstasy burning through his bloodstream.

  He might not be marking her at the moment, but the memory of those he’d left now and the first time he’d taken her to bed rolled through his mind. Nothing like knowing Raine looked as if she belonged with him… Even the thought was decimating his self-control.

  “Say the word, man,” Hammer rumbled. “I’m on the edge.”

  “Right there with you,” Liam assured, his voice low and torn, as he squeezed Raine’s breasts and thrust up beneath them. “Oh, love… You feel so perfect. I don’t want this to end. But you’ve brought us to our limits. Are you ready?”

  Raine clawed at Liam’s arms. “More than ready.”

  “You want it?” Hammer knew she did, but he craved hearing it again.

  “Yes!” she croaked.

  Macen gritted his teeth and staved off his need to come for just a moment more. “Tell us how much.”

  Her eyes flew open. Her pools of blue had darkened. Her expression speared him with fire that shot straight to his balls. “I fucking need this. Let me come for you. God, let me…”

  “Do it,” Liam barked. “Come. We want to feel you. I’ve got to have it.”

  As soon as Raine climaxed, she would drag him over the edge with her.

  Beyond eager to feel the painful, exquisite death of this sweltering demand, he bellowed as he drove inside her again.

  “Now!” Hammer commanded her.

  Her body seized on their cocks, strangling so tight he couldn’t move or breathe. Fuck yeah. Blackness swam in his vision as he tried to delve deeper into the molasses grip of her cunt. Rapture gripped him by the balls, squeezed his heart, and flattened him with a steamroller of pleasure even as he soared into a blinding, piercing euphoria he’d never experienced.

  Oh, he’d never get enough of this.

  Liam let out a ferocious roar as he pumped into Raine from behind while she spasmed around them, her velvet walls fluttering and clutching, and howled out her release in an endless hoarse cry that echoed even after she fell silent.

  As the three of them lay, panting and sweating, in a tangled heap, Hammer floated back to earth one boneless limb at a time. He loved the feel of her body, steaming and lush, pressed against him. He felt dead and yet more alive than he’d ever felt in his life.

  “Holy crap,” Raine gasped, sounding dazed.

  Liam fought to catch his breath. “What the hell just happened? I only thought I’d had my mind blown before.”

  “No idea what that was,” Macen added, skimming a palm down Raine’s thigh. “But I can’t wait to do it again.”

  “Amen.” Liam laughed.

  Raine giggled. “I’m going to love playing house with you boys.”

  Telling himself he’d remind her soon that he wasn’t a boy at all, Hammer wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her with him, slumping to the bed on his side. Liam turned in tandem as Raine slowly opened her eyes. Love, pure and unfiltered, reflected there. Hammer felt Liam’s hot breath spilling over her shoulder as he cupped her breast.

  “We love you, Raine,” Liam whispered in her ear.

  “Forever,” Hammer added solemnly.

  A soft, contented sigh slipped from her lips as she closed her eyes. “I love you both, too.”

  One at a time, they eased from inside her. Liam rolled out of bed first, returning with a warm washcloth. Hammer stood and watched for a moment as his pal cleaned her off with such gentle reverence. Drugged by contentment, Hammer sauntered to the bathroom, trashed the condom, and returned to join them in bed.

  As their bodies pressed together, Liam skimmed his hands over her soft flesh. Raine smiled softly. Hammer tugged a strand of her hair and watched as she forced her heavy lids open, peeking up at him beneath her dark lashes. Christ, she was beautiful.

  “Yes?” she croaked.

  “We haven’t forgotten your earlier rant…” he began, biting back a smirk. “Fourteen fucks, one damn it, one bullshit, one regular shit, and you called me an ass.”

  “Tsk, tsk, Raine,” Liam added.

  Raine blinked. “But I was—”

  “A very bad girl,” Liam scolded in her ear. “We’ll have to broaden your vocabulary and work harder on your communication skills.”

  She arched a brow as she peered over her shoulder.

  Hammer expected her to toss out some smartassed comeback, but he tugged on her hair, cutting her off. “Don’t go there.”

  She barely managed not to roll her eyes. Life with her would never be easy, but then…anyone could do easy. Hammer lived for a challenge. Raine would give him one every day.

  “There will be repercussions, lass,” Liam warned.

  “Yes.” He yawned, suddenly feeling twice his age. “But not right now. This feels too good. But soon. Very soon.”

  Raine let out a low moan just as a cell phone began to ring. Hammer felt Liam tense.

  What the fuck now?

  If Gwyneth was calling to cause more shit, Hammer would drive to Beck’s place and set the bitch straight for good.

  Raine rose up on one elbow as Liam rolled out of bed. Macen could see the anxiety crawl across her face.

  He pulled her to his chest and placed a kiss on her cheek. “Don’t worry, precious. If that’s Gwyneth, she won’t get the chance to hurt you again.”

  She tensed as Liam pulled out his phone.

  Confusion wrinkled the man’s forehead as he pressed it to his ear. “Beck?”

  * * *

  Liam pressed the phone to his ear and closed his eyes, rubbing at them with his thumb and forefinger. Every time the damn phone rang, something else fucked up was about to happen. “What’s going on? I thought you’d be in surgery.”

  “Me, too. The hospital in Cleveland took the donor off life support, but apparently the patient is hanging on. They’re anticipating another eight hours or so. Looks like the surgery might not happen until tomorrow. So I went back to my condo.”

  That rattled Liam. “My ex-wife is there.”

  “Right. I was focused on getting some decent sleep, and I’d forgotten.” Beck hesitated. “What a hellacious, stick-up-her-ass—”

  “I know.” Liam sighed. “Neither Seth nor Hammer can stand her. Raine had the misfortune of running into Gwyneth earlier. It didn’t go well. We’ve been…talking about it since.”

  Beck chuckled. “With your pants off, I’ll bet.”

  In fact, Liam wasn’t wearing a stitch now, but he didn’t admit that. “The baby is swabbed. I doubt he’s mine, but when I prove that tomorrow, I’ll move my ex-wife out of your place and put her on a plane back to London. I know it’s an inconvenience, but I’ll gladly put you up in a hotel room tonight.”

  “No worries. I’ve got a house to crash in, man. The condo is just for convenience. But that’s not why I’m calling. When I met Gwyneth, she was rocking Kyle and crying. And behaving like a shrew, but she was worried, and I digress… Anyway, once I proved my medical credentials, she let me examine the kid. I’m no pediatrician, but something is definitely wrong. He’s running a fever and throwing up green. We’re at the emergency room now. I hate to ask this of you, especially since you don’t think this is your kid, but I have to get some shut-eye before this surgery, and she’s falling apart.”

  “And you want me to come there?” Liam challenged, then rolled his eyes.

  “I think it’s a good idea.”

  Liam was so bloody exhausted. A decent meal and a night in bed with Raine and Hammer were all he wanted. But Gwyneth was in an unfamiliar hospital, surrounded by strangers in a city she’d never visited. Even if Kyle wasn’t her son and she lacked mothering instinct, she still seemed to care for him on a basic human level…maybe more. Would he want to be stuck alone in a waiting room, pacing the floor, anticipating news that might come in five minutes or five hours?

  That sounded like the worst torture.

  Yes, he’d wanted to humiliate Gwyneth, but that didn’t mean he wanted anything to happen to the boy. And maybe, if she was truly shaken, her defenses would be down and he’d finally get some answers.

  “I’ll be there in less than thirty.”

  “Thanks,” Beck said.

  “Thank you for taking care of Kyle and letting me know.”

  When they hung up, Hammer glowered, appearing as if he’d like to grind his teeth into dust. Raine had gone quiet.

  “You have to go,” she murmured, clearly wanting an explanation and not asking.

  Was she so disappointed that she wouldn’t ask? Or was she trying to show him her trust? Liam wished he had time to puzzle through it now. Nothing was more important to him than Raine, but damn it if life hadn’t prevented him from having the time to make certain she felt emotionally secure.

  “I do and I’m sorry about dinner,” he said with regret, dressing as he explained the situation.

  She opened her mouth, then closed it. He thought for sure she’d clam up and force him to drag an answer out of her, but she surprised him.

  “Kyle is a baby. Whether you’re his father or not, he needs someone to champion him.”

  “I’m not going because I want to,” Liam swore.

  “I know.” She nodded solemnly, and he believed she did.

  He pressed a soft kiss to her lips. “I don’t know how long I’ll be. The emergency room is never quick.”

  Hammer wrapped an arm around Raine’s shoulder. “I’ll take care of her. Don’t worry.”

  That set his mind at ease…mostly. He worried about Raine crawling down another mental black hole. Thankfully, she wouldn’t be alone, but then he worried about Hammer’s tendencies as well. “I’ll do my best to be back shortly.”

  “But…” She bit her lip. “You haven’t slept or eaten enough. I’m worried about you.”

  Liam’s heart softened at her words. Raine’s submission showed so well here. She wanted to take care of the people she loved—feed and nurture and ensure their wellbeing. She’d make an amazing mother someday, and he couldn’t fail to notice the contrast to Gwyneth. He’d been praying Kyle wasn’t his son mostly so that he didn’t have to parent with his ex-wife. But taking in Raine’s soft concern while standing in the house they’d soon share, he hoped someday that he and Hammer would fill her belly and these bedrooms with their children.

  He wondered how Macen would feel about that after losing a pregnant Juliet…

  “They have a cafeteria, love.” When she would have objected, Liam laid a finger over her lips. “Granted, it’s not your cooking, but I’ll be all right for a night. I can doze in a chair if I need. Don’t worry about me. Just keep working on all the things we’ve discussed here. Will you do that for me?”

  She sent him a slow nod. “Or I could come with you, help out—”

  “No,” he and Hammer both answered at once.

  Raine reared back, looking a bit hurt. Liam took her hands. “There’s nothing you can do there but worry, and I’d rather do that for all of us.”

  “Besides…” Hammer cut in. “You met Gwyneth. She’s a vicious, scheming cunt. I don’t want to give her the chance to hurt you again.”

  “Precisely.” Liam nodded.

  “She took me by surprise. That’s all. I can handle—”

  “But you shouldn’t have to,” Liam shot back.

  “Precious.” Hammer turned her to face him and stroked her cheek. “That woman is probably already thinking of other ways to run you off. Don’t make it easier for her. It’s tempting to say that you simply wouldn’t believe her, but she’s a master of manipulation.”

  “And your heart is far too delicate to have to deal with the likes of her.” Liam handed Raine her clothes. “Let me drop you and Hammer off back at the club. Cook him some dinner. He’s looking a little peaked,” he tried to tease. “I’ll be back in two shakes.”

  She clearly didn’t like it but nodded and pulled on her clothes. Hammer followed suit. Within a few minutes, they were all walking out the door and locking it behind them.

  Hammer buckled her into the front seat again, and this time Raine reached out for Liam’s hand—a far cry from their drive over. He and Hammer were opening her soul. Maybe not as quickly as they’d like, but he had to believe that someday she’d feel deep in her heart what he knew: the three of them belonged together.

  “I’ll make you a hot meal when you get home,” she promised. “And I’ll miss you.”

  “I’ll miss you, too, love.”

  Hammer clapped a hand on his shoulder. “Don’t worry about a thing here. Just make sure Kyle is all right and deal with the bitch.”

  * * *

  Down the hall, Evanescence pounded as Raine glanced at the clock in the kitchen. Though working the dungeon, she’d escaped for a few calming moments in the kitchen. She stirred the batter for Hammer’s favorite apple spice muffins. Just after midnight. She pressed the phone lying beside her on the counter to make sure she hadn’t somehow missed hearing from Liam. Nothing. She’d left two voice mails and half a dozen texts. She’d received no reply.

  Her stomach tightened. It wasn’t like him not to respond at all.

  As she prepared the muffin tin and dished the batter inside, Raine wondered what could be taking him so long. Yes, the emergency room could be slow and crowded, but he’d been gone over three hours. Did that mean the little boy was seriously ill? Or… Frowning, she slid the pan into the oven, then tapped her palm nervously against her thigh. What if Gwyneth had somehow manipulated or lied her way back into Liam’s good graces? Raine couldn’t imagine him falling for that. But she was clever.

  What if the woman had done something more sinister than merely deceive Liam? Gwyneth seemed awfully determined to have her ex-husband back, and Raine had no idea why. How far would she be willing to go?

  Setting the timer on the muffins, Raine turned and took her sugar cookies off the cooling rack, then headed to the pantry and the refrigerator to see what other ingredients she had. And honestly, she’d really like to know if she only had enough time before Liam returned to make brownies…or whether she should start something more involved like a lemon meringue pie.

  She wrinkled her nose, wishing he’d just walk through the door and put her out of her misery.

  “Raine?” Hammer walked into the kitchen and shut the door behind him, taking in all her cooking with a scowl. “You’re baking in fet wear?”

  Her heart skipped, and she ignored his question. “Did you hear from him?”

  “Not yet.”

  “So he didn’t call or text you? I’ve been trying for the past few hours, but I’m not reaching him at all. It’s beginning to freak me out.”

  Hammer relaxed a bit and pulled his phone from his pocket. “Neither of us has had a spare second to charge our phones for over twenty-four hours. Mine is just about dead. I’ll bet his is, too.”

  That made sense but somehow didn’t comfort her at all. “True.”

  “So…you’re baking?”

  Raine understood his question and hated to worry Macen, but if she lied about this, especially after their time together earlier today, he’d be beyond disappointed and have every right to punish her but good. Besides, they’d all had enough drama for one day. “Just a little.”

  He sniffed. “Apple spice?”

  At his almost hopeful question, she managed a smile. “For you.”

  “Hmm…” He sidled closer and dropped a kiss on top of her head. “I knew there was a reason I loved you.”

  She gave him a little elbow. “It better be for more than my kitchen skills.”

  “You have other stellar qualities.” He slid a hand under her skirt and cupped her pussy. “Are you sore?”

  Discerning the point of his question wasn’t hard. She flushed. “Nothing I don’t like and didn’t enjoy.”

  Lust lit his eyes, and he looked ready to pursue something more appropriate to the bedroom than the kitchen. “Well, precious…”

  But Raine just couldn’t focus when she was this worried. “Macen.” She pulled away and began to pace. “What’s taking him so long?”

  He shook his head. “We don’t know yet. He’ll tell us when he comes back.”

  “What if he doesn’t?”

  Hammer frowned. “He bought you a house for the three of us to live in. What part of that says he’s bailing on you? We really have to work on your trust and confidence—”

  “That’s not what I meant.” She huffed, then crossed the kitchen again. “I believe he wants to be here with me, with us. It’s her I don’t trust.”

  Understanding lit his eyes. “You shouldn’t. But Gwyneth can’t do anything to Liam. He’s in public and he’s far bigger than her. They have armed security there. He’s fine.”

  “I’m having a hard time believing that she would somehow acquire a baby who looks enough like Liam and is the right age, fly halfway around the world to rekindle whatever she thought they had, only to give up the second he said no.”

  “You understand he completely humiliated her, right? I doubt she’ll keep pursuing him after what happened this afternoon.”