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Raine’s scent lingered here, driving him mad He could still feel her in this rooe His eyes blurred
Lia location But even if he could talk to her, Hammer wondered what he could really say except that he was sorry Anything more would only hurt her
Nuuzzled the clear liquid, relishing the burn down his throat
As the tequila tore past his control, he allowed himself to drown in hteenth birthday, the night she’d cried to hiinity, the triuree--he’d been there for her Her constant And Hammer hadn’t realized until no much he needed her to need hi his place?
Ha in thethe pillow she’d slept on, but by the looks of the nearly eured it had been a while How many more bottles would it take before he passed out? He’d drink an entire case if it would ease this ache
Lowering his head to the pillow again, he caught a whiff of her waning scent But he wanted more The fresh re, and he welco out of bed, he stu open her closet door, he pawed several shirts suspended on hangers and hugged the his eyes, he inhaled deeply Ahh, there she is Her scent filled hi visual of her swirled in his head Much better
He nearly tripped over his own feet as he turned and wandered back to his rooainst his face, breathing in her sweet floral and fe he could hear her tender voice Look into her big blue eyes sparkling with undeniable love
God, he’d taken soscream tore from his throat
"Christ, Macen What the fuck is wrong with you?" Beck’s dark eyes narroith pity as he stood in the doorway, eyeing the near-empty bottle of tequila "Patrón didn’t help you before Whatnow? Pull yourself together Seriously, dude, you’re scaring the nativesRaine’s shirt away, he tried to stand, but just fell back to the bed "You think I give a fuck what anyone else thinks? You’re not a shrink Go find soet the hell out"
He laughed "Jesus christ, you’re pathetic You didn’t want Raine enough to fight for her, despite fucking her all night Loudly, I et any da to cry in your beer? I thought the Irish lug was your bosom buddy You just stood there while he swept her out the front door It’s over,care of your business"
"I didn’t have a fucking choice How can I love her when she can’t be what I need--when fuck, I can’t be what she needs, either? This shit is…" his voice trailed off "Yeah, Liaoddamn brother So why did he do this tobook And he still stabbedinto the botto to fuck with her head It’s his MO"
With a sigh, Beck strolled into the room and picked up the bottle between Haulp in one healthy s As he set it on the nightstand, he pulled up a chair, flipped it around, and straddled it "Let ht, when did you ever treat Raine as anything other than a kid?"
"Probably never I wanted to protect her, and it just fucking took over everything else"
"Then you can’t possibly know if Raine is incapable of being what you want One night with her isn’t going to tell you shit! You didn’t try before You’re still not"
"You don’t understand" Hahed "I don’t want a submissive I need a slave You know she never will be"
"You love her," Beck said quietly
Hopelessness plowed through hiht train, and tears closed up his throat "Yeah," he choked out "And I have no fucking clue where to find her or how to save her before Liam turns her inside out"
"I think he cares about her, too"
"But he’ll never love her like I do No one will" He hung his head
"You didn’t show her that"
"The hell I didn’t! Maybe not in the way you ht I found her in the alley, I didn’t dare look at the terrified girl as she tried to hide by the du about her, but one look, and I had to protect her I was frantic that she’d take off down the alley and be raped Or shot full of drugs or bullets I wanted to scoop her up in my arms and lock her away to keep her safe She was so tiny and falling apart Then fuck, I looked into her eyes… She seemed so damn lost Hell, the first feeeks she was here, Raine juive up on her I still can’t"
"She’s not that waif froot the whole river of denial running in your veins I have no doubt that you had your cock in every one of her openings last night It’s no big secret that she wanted you just as badly As far as being a slave, it’s not like a subrown to that level If you were giving yourself advice, you’d tell yourself that it takes time to train her You’ll teach her to drive, but not to be what you need? You won’t even give her a taste Why?"
"I told her this ," he slurred "I explained what to expect as "
"Do you seriously not kno to compromise? Ease her into it? Maybe it’s time to wise up Your so-called friend has collared Raine now You’re going to have to get at least as clever as Lia her back"
A wounded growl erupted fro his collar, I’d still be too ht" His shoulders sagged as he sighed "Where the hell did he take her? Do you know? I need her back I’ve got to know she’s okay" Tears blurred his vision, and Beck just shook his head "Help et drunk" Beck rolled his eyes "I don’t knohere she is You think I’ve got a crystal ball? Did you try to call her? Call Liam?"
"Her cell phone’s still here, and the son of a bitch won’t answer his I’ve sentto quell the panic swirling inside hi a sober lared "So help you are"