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Raine shoved free and brushed his shoulder with her own as she stor her again ht mean the end of his balls

God, he couldn’t let it end like this Not with anger and bitterness, blaile soul…but what else could he do? He couldn’t explain his rejection without revealing all his nastiest secrets

Ignoring her silent warning, he grabbed her again and slaainst hers that escape wasn’t possible His cock jerked "I told you, I’, but I won’t let you waltz out the door when you belong here Get that through your thick, stubborn skull"

She squir on his foot But he refused to budge He watched as she drew in a huge sob

"You’re not at all who I thought I fell for a giving, gracious man with a spine of steel and a kind heart You saved one out of your way to makestare "It’s taken ured it out You’re the fucked-up one, not ht I was broken, but your issues run deeper At least I want to grow past hosts You seem awfully content to let them haunt you"

His heart clenched After all the years of shielding her froh his façade He’d failed her A red haze clouded his vision Fuck!

"What happened to you, Macen?" She shook her head "Forget it You’ll never tellher chin rebelliously, she seared hi blue eyes "Thanks very o"

Ier permeated every cell in his body as he slaht beside her head Drywall exploded and rained onto the floor

"Da down the hall toward hi?" When he reached the hands off Raine The instant she was free, his friend pulled her shaking body into his arms, and she buried her head in his shoulder "Look at yourself, man Have you lost your bloodyher to death!"

Haht How had he ever allowed things to get so out of hand? And why did she nuzzle against Liam so quickly, so naturally?

Raine eased away "I’ood-bye as soon as Haht?" He stroked the side of her face with a gentle hand that ain When had they started speaking? Why had Liaotten the idea that Raine would allow him to touch her?

"I’m fine" A sad s I really wish" She shook her head "But I wouldn’t be good for you, Lia-willed brat Consider that you’ve dodged a bullet I wish you the best"

Wouldn’t be good for him? As if…they’d done more than shake hands?

"What the hell are you talking about? I never fucking said that, girl!" he growled "Did you not hear a single word I’ve said?"

Liahed Then with a patient voice, he tucked a strand of ers sure and soft, as if he’d done it before "Go down the hall to wait for me in my private rooo" When she would have protested, he added, "Don’t bedecisions about your future when you’re upset Let me talk to Hammer I’ll be in to speak to you soon Will you do that for me, lovely? This won’t take a aze bounced between Liam’s calhed "All right"

Hammer didn’t miss the ease hich she sub of curses filled his head as both he and Liam turned and watched her disappear down the darkened hall and into the other Doone, Lia aroing on between you two?" Ha on between the two of you?" Liam countered "I’ve no idea what ruckus caused you and Raine to reach this point, but it’s obvious you’ve gone mad Do I have to point out that a wee, raven-haired fe you, Ha with Raine wasn’t enough, Liaon To do what, see how much more he could take before he imploded?

"Do you have a point to make? Or should we just step outside so I can break your jaw?"

"I don’t wish to embarrass you as I mop the car park with your face That won’t solve a bloody thing Pull your head out of your ass, mate You’re worried you’ll hurt her with your needs, but you’re afraid to try because Juliet hid how she felt about them"

"I never said that," Hammer snapped Perceptive bastard

"Not in so ht, do you think Raine is the sort ould hide her feelings from you? If she wasn’t happy, do you think she’d keep that to herself?"

Hammer bristled "She’s so da Juliet’s sort of life? There’s no way she’s ready for that She wouldn’t let me tell her what socks to wear, much less pick her entire wardrobe And you know that’s just the tip of the iceberg"

"So you want ato help her become what you need ThatI don’t think she’ll ever get there She’d take on the responsibility of trying and it would go against her grain We’d both be miserable Not only is it too e her I can’t do that"

"Then stop holding her to you when she tries to leave"

"It’s not that simple Every time she walks into the roo fall apart I’ to hurt her"

"But do you really think you can order her to stay at Shadows after this? You said yourself she’s impulsive You told me that she left her home when she was barely rown? And before you let your temper talk, think for a moment about a Shadoithout Raine Honestly, hoould you feel?"

He couldn’t fucking breathe Hah his bloodstream

"This will blow over In an hour, she’ll be fine"

"Is that what you’re telling yourself? Bloody christ!" Liaain "Not this tiht, she’s all but strangling She’s done with that, I tell you She’s more than half out the door"