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The caretaker nodded and pulled his suitcase from the back

As the man turned away, Liam helped Raine from the car She winced and walked slowly, obviously tender and sore all over, as Lia an arm around her aist

What exactly had happened between Raine and Ha as if her world had near ended yet be furious to boot? And as she always determined to leave when trouble rolled around? Liam sensed that her waters ran deep and her secrets deeper If he wanted to hang onto the lass, he’d best be getting smart and coax soinger steps, he swept her into his arhtly in the hearth, war the cavernous room, while the yeasty scent of fresh-baked bread rowl Raine trembled in his arms, but he merely held her closer and e

Inside the master bedroom, he laid her carefully on the bed and continued to the bathroo the massive tub As he approached Raine, her eyes followed hih she watched hih But he was ready

"Use the bathrooet in the tub Let the water and Epsom salt ease your aches and pains I’ve added soo I’ll be there in a minute I want to check on our lunch first" He waited until she’d carefully moved from the bed and into the bathroom before he headed downstairs and to the kitchen

Bless Ngaire! She’d prepared some hearty sandwiches with lots of fruit and a bottle of wine, crusty bread, cheeses, a jar of fine pickles, and an unexpected treat He put together a platter, grabbed two glasses, and headed upstairs once more

Liam poured her wine, then stripped and sauntered into the bathrooainst the tub, eyes closed, immersed in the scented water

As he stepped in the hot tub with her, Raine started, sitting up and gathering her knees to her chest, watching him wordlessly ary eyes He handed her the wine as he sank down and leaned back against the opposite edge of the tub, lifting each of her legs in turn and spreading them open and over his own

Steam swirled softly around them as his stare bore into hers "Take a drink of your wine, Raine"

She did, and Liaainst the hard flesh of his belly He had to lower her guard, convince her that she had nothing to fear So he kneaded her gentle arch with his hands, s? Tell me what’s on your mind"

He could tell by her silent consideration and sudden tenseness that she was trying to figure him out and decide how honest to be

Lia your answers Spit it out"

"I don’t kno to take you" She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear Tears sheened her eyes, and she took another sip of wine to hide it "Hammer had six years invested in me and he let me leave with barely a word You spent a few hours with " She took another sip of wine, then set it on theledge beside her "I can never tell you how et out of there But if anyone should have been happy to see ht it would be you" She sht in shining arht away, si the foot he cradled in his hand How the fuck should he answer her? Certainly, he couldn’t tell her that he’d first approached her, because he’d schemed to use her tohe couldn’t explain had happened along the way That their first kiss had blown his plans to hell That he couldn’t i ar a sub so starved The guilt is written all over your face And I won’t say I’m happy with your choices There will be consequences But you can repayme your trust and honesty Can you do that, Raine?"

"I don’t kno I can be afraid of so?"

He watched her struggle to hold in her tears She tossed her head back, furiously blinking them aith sheer will

"If you need to cry, then cry, lass Let it out"

She shook her head, her , it’s going to be because I was stupid I’d rather learn froh Why do you think you can’t give me your trust and honesty?"

Raine didn’t answer right away "I’ood with either one I never learned as a kid I haven’t had much practice at Shadows I even lied to myself that Hammer could love me as more than a little pet I don’t think he kno to be honest, either To get rid ofa as a slave that you shared with him I wish he’d have saved the BS I could have filled in the blanks with a better lie of my own"

"What makes you think he lied? Juliet was lovely, but sadly flawed, like most of us She see into Raine’s stunned expression "Yes, we shared her on occasion, but the lesson you should take froh that would be nice… But what you should learn that she tragically never did is coe It’s as essential as the air we breathe You’ll learn to give me your tears and your broken heart I would have your pain, just as I will your pleasure"

Liam lifted her then, as easily as he would a child, and sat her on his lap Holding her to hith, he rocked her, stroking her until the terrible pain she’d been holding in for so long couldn’t be silenced a , hot tears

"Get it all out Just hold on to o"

She hid her face fro "I don’t kno to do this, cry and bleed in front of someone I feel too exposed It hurts toobreath as she fought to contain her eod, she even sounds pretty--but I’d laythan she was" She sat back fro to be good for you You’ll split ht, but you won’t like the rotting core underneath I can’t stand that, withoutto, I’ve come between you and your best friend I’o Destructive Stupid Thoughtless You should cut your losses and let o I owe you too rip altogether and climbed from the tub, then raced for the door