by Shayla Black
she drew in a steadying breath. Something shifted inside her. Jagged nerves began to smooth. They would take care of her.
He led her to the cross and pressed her against the cold, polished wood. A shiver rippled through her. Her nipples drew taut. Excitement and anticipation hummed in her veins.
“Arms above your head. Spread your legs wide,” Hammer growled in her ear.
Trying to control her thoughts and her breathing, Raine braced herself to feel the fleece-lined leather cuffs clamp around her wrists. But Hammer’s hand simply remained fixed at her back. She turned a quizzical glance at him over her shoulder.
“No, I’m not going to bind you to the cross. But you will remain exactly in this position throughout the duration of your punishment. Is that understood?”
It was a comforting mercy. “Thank you, Sir.”
“I’m going to talk. You will remain silent. Don’t speak or try to justify yourself.”
“Yes, Sir.”
“Good girl.” In long, sweeping circles, Hammer drew his hand up her spine, over her shoulders, then down to her ass before repeating the motion again. “You broke your promise to me and scared twenty years off my life I’d rather spend enjoying you.”
Because I had to help you, she screamed internally.
“Instead of coming to me and explaining your plan, you simply left. Oh, I know why you chose not to inform me. You didn’t want to upset me, didn’t want to cause an argument.” He leaned close to her ear. “You didn’t want to hear me say no.”
That’s part of it, but not all. Those words burned her tongue like hot coals.
“While I’m grateful you convinced River to recant his ridiculous story, your actions jeopardized the trust I have in you. You risked damaging the connection between the three of us. Keep at it, and we’ll fall apart.” Hammer continued trailing his hand over her flesh, but his slow, reassuring caress almost hurt now. He gave to her even when she’d disappointed and scared him. “From now on, you will ask permission from both of us before you run off half-cocked. Is that clear?”
“Can I speak now, Sir?”
“Only if you’re going to respond with a yes or no.”
She sighed in frustration. “Yes, Sir.”
With a snort, Hammer slapped her ass with a stinging swat, ignoring her yelp. “I’m not convinced you meant that, precious. But you will before your punishment is through.”
Raine didn’t have time to question his meaning. He left her, stalking toward the toys displayed on hooks and shelves along the wall. Without hesitation, he grabbed a black leather whip.
Her eyes widened. The breath left her body. Her mouth went as dry as the desert, and her heart thundered triple time.
“What’s your safeword?”
“Paris.” The answer slipped out automatically.
“Keep that in mind. You may need it tonight.”
Every muscle turned to stone. She looked for a place to retreat, but with Macen scrutinizing her every reaction and Liam at her back, she had nowhere to turn.
“I don’t like punishing you.” He uncoiled the whip. “I prefer to claim your submission by drowning in your soft body, but you’ve left me no choice. Hopefully, I’ll leave a lasting impression on you tonight so you’ll think to include me in your future decisions.”
Macen closed in until they stood face-to-face. She searched his eyes for mercy. All she saw was censure. Her belly flipped.
He took possession of her lips in a savage kiss. She gasped, grateful for the sign of his affection. Then he shocked her by gliding the cool leather plait of the whip over her cheek. Fear and desire collided inside her in a tangle she didn’t understand.
Then Hammer tore away from her lips and looped the whip behind her neck, releasing the popper. The snake-like implement slid across her back as he circled behind her again. She felt him breathing against her nape as he dragged the tail over her back, arms, and legs. Raine shuddered and struggled to pull herself back from the ledge of rising panic. She’d always been terrified of the whip, and icy panic raced under her skin now.
Liam paced up on her left, watching wordlessly. Raine shot him a beseeching gaze.
“Do you trust Hammer, love?” he asked, strolling to the cache of toys.
“Of course. But—”
“No buts. You do or you don’t. And if you do, then don’t look to me to save you from the punishment you’ve earned.” Liam grabbed a blindfold from a small drawer and dangled it from one long finger. “You’re trying to play your Doms, one against the other, sub. Again. That stops here and now. Understood?”
His biting tone caught Raine off guard. “Yes, Sir.”
“Good. Count, precious.” Hammer stepped far behind her.
Oh, god. He’s really going to do this.
Clenching her eyes tightly shut, Raine tensed every muscle and held her breath, waiting to feel the blistering pain she knew he could inflict.
But a whisper-like caress fanned over her taut flesh instead, so soft Raine wondered if she’d imagined it. Lashes fluttering open, she turned her puzzled stare Hammer’s way.
“What was that?”
His face hardened. “I told you to count, girl. I’ve already laid the first stroke across your ass. Face the front and do as I’ve said.”
When she hesitated, Hammer lifted his arm and drew the serpent over his head, then flicked his wrist. A thunderous crack rent the air.
Trembling and gasping, Raine whirled back to stare at the wall, unable to catch her breath—or reconcile the whispery sensation she’d felt with the certainty that whip could cut her open.
“One.” Her voice sounded breathy and uneven in the still room.
Hammer brushed her backside with another barely perceptible kiss from the whip.
She still couldn’t quite understand. She’d seen Beck work subs over dozens of times, always inflicting excruciating pain and sometimes drawing forth blood. When she’d stolen glimpses of Hammer using the whip, he’d usually been subtler, less invasive, but wasn’t the point of this agony?
“Two.”
“Relax,” he commanded.
Raine darted another glance back to see Hammer coiling up the whip. “Is that it?”
Macen stormed toward her and gripped her hair in a tight fist. Her scalp sang as prickles skittered over her skin and slid down her spine.
Yanking her head back, he locked her in a fierce gaze. “Yes. When you saw me pick the whip up, you were terrified. Right?”
She still shivered all over. “Yes, Sir.”
“Yet you didn’t use your safeword. You let me continue, despite worrying I meant to inflict the worst possible pain?”
Raine winced. “Yes, Sir.”
“Why?” His voice dripped disapproval.
Her heart lumped in her throat. “Because it’s you. Even when we’ve had our problems or fights, you never wanted me to bleed.”
Frustration and desire clashed all over his face. Clutching her hair even tighter, Macen slammed his mouth over hers and swept in deep. She tasted his desperation.
“That’s right,” he growled finally. “You knew deep down I would keep you safe. But when I came home from Sterling’s office to find you’d gone to see your brother, I didn’t have any such assurance of your well-being. I was out of my mind with worry.”
Raine felt like shit for putting him through hell. She bit back the explanation he hadn’t given her permission to give.
“The panic you felt when I pulled out this whip…” Hammer dangled the leather coil in her face. “It wasn’t even a tenth of what I felt when I discovered you’d gone. You fucked with my head, little girl. So I just fucked with yours.”
Quid pro quo.
“I’ll apologize until I’m blue in the face because hurting you hurts me,” she murmured. “But no matter how much you punish or mindfuck me, I will never lie and say I wouldn’t do it again.”
“Why is that?” He bit out each word.
“I know I’m supposed to be
learning a lesson, but the fact remains that River wasn’t going to listen to anyone but me. I had to fix this mess, Macen.”
“And you wanted me to…what? Thank you for putting me through hell?”
“Trust me. Watching the police haul you off for questioning was hell for me. I get it.”
“Not the same. You knew I would be back.”
“I hoped and prayed you would. But I had no guarantee.”
“Sterling wasn’t going to let me rot in a cell.”
“If he had the power to get you out, I knew he would. But he’s not God or the president.” She gritted her teeth. “Don’t be so stubborn, Macen. You let him help you. Why won’t you let me? I can’t just sit here when I might have the power to save you.”
“It’s not the same. Me conferring with my lawyer wasn’t a risk to my physical well-being. You running off to meet with your crazy-assed brother put you in horrific danger.”
“You’re missing the point!”
“What point is that? The one in which you think I’m helpless? From here, it looks like you willfully disobeyed me and met with a lunatic who tried to kidnap you and kill our unborn child because you thought I was incapable of using my resources or devising any sort of strategy to save myself.”
“I never thought you were helpless!” The fact that would even cross his mind stunned and horrified her. “But I’d risk my life and your wrath if it meant a happy ending to any situation that threatened our lives together.” She sighed heavily. “Look, I’m sorry I worried you. I’m sorry I disobeyed. But I’ll always do whatever it takes to keep you alive, free, and with us. Over and over again. Because I love you. I can’t imagine living my life without you, without Liam. You two and this baby we’ve made…you’re my whole heart.”
“Son of a bitch,” Hammer cursed as he released her hair, then clutched her to his chest, gripping her tightly.
In less than a heartbeat, Liam was there, wrapping the two of them in his arms and kissing her lips. Raine drank in his comfort, absorbed the heat of their bodies, savored the completion of her soul.
As Liam pulled away, Hammer swooped in. “I love you more than words can say.”
He claimed her mouth with a burst of passion that curled Raine’s toes.
“Now that your punishment is over, lass, let’s play in the dungeon. Would you be up for that?”
The mischievous glint in Liam’s eyes sent a rush of excitement to thunder through her veins. “I’d love that, Sir. And don’t you two owe me some Valentine’s Day sex?”
“Cheeky wench.” He shook his head. “We do. We also owe you a little torment for that racy scrap of silk you’re wearing that’s driving me mad.”
“Absolutely.” Hammer paused and studied her, head cocked. “Would you be willing to try something for us first?”
Raine nibbled her bottom lip, wondering what he had up his sleeve. But she’d survived that surprisingly tender whip. She could handle more.
“Anything.”
Emotion rolled over Hammer’s face before he crossed the dungeon and gathered a bundle of rope. Logic told her they would never hurt her, but that didn’t stop a ribbon of dread from winding through her. She fought the urge to back out of the room.
Picking up on her sudden mood swing, Liam gently tugged her close to his chest.
“I won’t tie you down or dredge up the past, precious,” Hammer promised. “And this isn’t a test of your submission.”
“We want to help you enjoy again something you once loved,” Liam added tenderly. “To do that, we need to learn where your breaking point lies.”
“Exactly. When it becomes too much, we expect you to tell us. If you don’t, I’ll get the whip out and use it in earnest.
She hesitated. “You really won’t be disappointed if I use my safeword?”
“We’ll be sorely disappointed if you don’t,” Liam vowed solemnly.
“But I don’t want to ruin our night. I wanted it to be special…perfect. And—”
“I can only think of one thing more special and perfect than pushing your limits.” Hammer sidled in with a sexy grin.
“And we fully intend to make time for that soon.” Liam winked.
Oh, goody. “All right. I’ll try.”
“You won’t be lying down for this. Standing should give you a different perspective. Just lean against the cross, like before,” Hammer instructed as he handed a short length of rope to Liam.
Raine’s nerves were already rattled as she pressed her chest against the wood once more. Her breath sounded loud in the room. Behind her, she could hear the two men whispering, plotting. It sent her heart racing. She had to remind herself this wasn’t a test of her fortitude.
Suddenly, both men stepped behind the cross, shoulder to shoulder. Their faces filled the open V in front of her.
“Keep your eyes open and on us, lass,” Liam demanded.
“Yes, Sir.”
Hammer gripped her shoulder and squeezed. “Be brave. We’re right here and we won’t leave you.”
“I know.” She did, but it was little comfort when the rope in their hands made Bill’s face flash through her mind.
“Take a deep breath, precious.”
Nodding, Raine filled her lungs while he and Liam each looped the rope loosely around her wrists.
Before she had a chance to react, her Irishman feathered his fingers down her cheek. “This rope is nothing more than scraps of silk twisted together.”
“Tell us where you are.” Hammer’s voice sounded low and concerned in her ear.
“I-I’m good.”
“Let me rephrase. Are you here with us in the dungeon or someplace else in your head?”
“I’m here with you both,” she assured. And so far, she was.
“Good.” Hammer brushed a kiss over her lips as they slowly cinched the ropes a bit tighter.
She focused on the smooth texture of his mouth, drowning out everything else. Then he pulled away. But Liam was there, seamlessly taking over where Macen left off.
Their soft, reassuring kisses kept her anxiety at bay. Her men were diligent and beyond patient as they showered her with reassurance and praise until the soft silk cord pressed tightly against her wrists. Victory filled her. When Liam rewarded her with a sweep of his tongue inside her mouth, tangling and dueling, she whimpered softly. He drank in her delight. Raine clutched her hands into fists, wishing she could touch her Doms.
Then tingles prickled in her fingertips. The sensation raced down to her palms. The last time her fingers had fallen asleep because she’d been restrained…
Bill’s face suddenly swam in her vision.
Without any warning, Raine dropped into a vat of inky darkness. Panic and fear engulfed her.
She tore from Liam’s lips. “Paris!”
As Raine tried to jerk away, Hammer and Liam dropped their ropes.
“Easy…” Macen soothed as he wrapped his arm around the cross and captured her waist. “You’re here with us. You’re safe.”
Before he even finished his sentence, Liam circled behind her and hoisted her into his arms. “I’ve got you, love. And I’m not letting go.”
Raine looped her arms around his neck as he carried her to their bedroom. She cast her gaze up at him, hoping to latch on to the safety net of constancy in his eyes. There it was, just as he’d promised. He never faltered or shied away. As always, her
