The Edge of Dominance, Page 51

  especially whenever there are hospitals involved again.”

  They all remembered that terrible morning Bill had nearly killed her. Raine had called and cried for her two men, only to learn later that because they weren’t family legally, they hadn’t been allowed in the emergency room with her. Traditional marriage would make all the practical things like wills and deeds and titles a bit simpler. But it could complicate every other facet of their lives, especially the balance of their relationship.

  “I know. But I won’t choose. Let’s be happy with the way things stand now.”

  “What if Liam and I chose for you?” Hammer drawled.

  She had never considered that. But Raine was secure in the fact that she loved them equally. “You’d both be happy with that?”

  “Thrilled,” Hammer promised.

  “Beyond.” Liam nodded.

  “Wait. You’ve already decided which one of you…”

  They both shook their heads.

  “We’ll choose right here.” Her Irishman pointed to the ground.

  “Yep.” Macen reached into his pocket. “Right now.”

  He pulled out a quarter.

  Raine gaped at them. “Seriously? You’re going to flip for it?”

  “Got a better idea?” he challenged.

  Liam raised a brow at her.

  She paused, thought, tried a few ideas on for size…then shook her head and laughed. “No. It’s equal and fair.”

  “Precisely.” Liam nodded.

  “Okay, man. You call it,” Hammer said to him.

  “Heads.”

  “I’ll take tails.” Macen winked at her. “I certainly like yours.”

  With a laugh, she rolled her eyes. “Do it already.”

  “And once it’s decided, we’re flying to Vegas and getting the deed done before leaving for Paris.”

  Raine opened her mouth to object. She wanted a wedding night in her bed, a little more time with her daughters…

  Liam shook his head at her in warning and tugged gently on her new collar. “That’s non-negotiable, love. Say yes.”

  She wasn’t going to win this battle, and she could foresee a lot of occasions in the future when the testosterone would outweigh her estrogen. But they loved her and always wanted what was best for all of them. Besides, she had plenty of will of her own.

  “I’m probably crazy but…yes.”

  A wide smile broke across Macen’s face.

  Liam looked pretty damn happy, too. “Do it, mate.”

  “My pleasure.” He settled his thumb under the coin and, with a little jerk of his wrist, sent it hurtling into the air.

  It sparkled in the light, spinning, twirling, nearly reaching the tall ceilings. As she looked up, they both reeled her in, planting their lips wherever they could—cheeks, forehead, lips, neck. Raine giggled.

  The little clink of the coin hitting the hard floor sounded right beside her. When she tried to look, they both brought her face back to them.

  She let out a frustrated huff. “Don’t you want to know?”

  “I already do.” Liam laughed.

  “It doesn’t matter to me,” Macen vowed. “Whatever the outcome, you belong to us both.”

  Raine smiled at the men who had forever enriched her life with strength, fortitude, commitment, and love. “I do.”

  Read on for excerpts from Shayla Black and Jenna Jacob!

  ONE DOM TO LOVE

  Doms of Her Life: Raine Falling (Book 1)

  Now Available!

  Click here to purchase!

  Raine Kendall has been in love with her boss, Macen Hammerman, for years. Determined to make the man notice that she’s a grown woman with desires and needs, she pours out her heart and offers her body to him—only to be crushingly rejected. But when his friend, very single, very sexy Liam O’Neill watches the other Dom refuse to act on his obvious feelings for Raine, he resolves to step in and do whatever it takes to help Hammer find happiness again, even rousing his friend’s possessive instincts by making the girl a proposition too tempting to refuse. But he never imagines that he’ll end up falling for her himself.

  Hammer has buried his lust for Raine for years. After rescuing the budding runaway from an alley behind his exclusive BDSM Dungeon, he has come to covet the pretty submissive. But tragedy has taught him that he can never be what she needs. So he watches over her while struggling to keep his distance. Liam’s crafty plan blindsides Hammer, especially when he sees how determined his friend is to possess Raine for his own. Hammer isn’t ready to give the lovely submissive over to any other Dom, but can he heal from his past and fight for her? Or will he lose Raine if she truly gives herself—heart, body, and soul—to Liam?

  * * *

  As Liam crept further down the hall, he heard Raine bustling in the kitchen. Slowing his step as he reached the door, he watched her bowed head and shaking shoulders. A shuddering sob later, the girl reached for a stainless steel bowl, grabbed a few cups of sugar, some eggs, and butter.

  A fond little smile curved his lips. Raine was rarely predictable—except in this. The short-fused firecracker often flew off in ways he’d never seen in a submissive, and Liam was never sure when or how she’d explode. Obviously, she’d had no formal training, and no one took her to task. But when she started thundering like a summer storm, Raine always came to the kitchen as if being one with the dough soothed her.

  Seeing her tears and defeated posture, Liam itched to rattle Hammer into next week for closing himself off from the very woman who could save him.

  Raine cracked an egg over the bowl and sniffled to hold in her tears. He drew in a bracing breath. What to say to the distraught girl? If he barged in, she’d bristle and give him a cold shoulder. He had to tread carefully since he didn’t know exactly what ran through her wee head. And that meant he couldn’t let her in on his plan. Raine needed to feel valued, not like she was simply bait. Nor would she truly learn to submit if she believed what lay between them was only an act for Hammer’s benefit. It had to come from her soul or Macen would see straight through it. His friend’s jealousy must spur him to act. Most of all, he didn’t want Raine hurt. If he made her his conspirator and the ploy failed, the defeat would crush her delicate heart.

  “Maybe I should just quit.” She grabbed a wooden spoon and attacked the dough, adding in brown sugar. “Leave. There’s nothing holding me here, that’s for damn sure.”

  His gut clenched at the finality in her miserable words. He refused to let her go without doing everything in his power to persuade her to stay. He had to act now.

  Raine yanked a fresh dishtowel from the drawer, pressed it to her face, and took a few deep breaths to calm herself. A long moment later, she threw the towel down, flipped on the faucet, and shoved her hands under the stream of water. She hissed in a breath, and he frowned. How badly had she cut herself?

  “Except…this is home. Where would I go?” she muttered as she cut off the water. “But how can I stay here?”

  That was his cue.

  Liam raised his fist and knocked on the door. Raine whipped her head around, hope brimming in her eyes. It visibly died when she realized he wasn’t Hammer.

  She surprised him when she cast her gaze to the floor submissively. “Hi, Liam. Sir. Um, if you’re here because you’re worried or something, I’ll be fine. I’ll bake a batch of chocolate chip cookies and be as good as new.”

  So sweet. And lying. Eventually, he’d both soothe and paddle her until she learned to be honest, but for now he simply tried to set her at ease. “While I’ve little doubt about your culinary skills, since your baked goods are most excellent, I doubt they’ll mend your woes, lass. Show me your hands.”

  Obediently, Raine held them out. Liam stepped closer, taking her wrists in his grip and examining her fingers. “You’ve a few wee cuts, but nothing serious.” He gave her a smile and gently kissed her palm. “I think you’ll live.”

  She stiffened. “I told you I’m fine.”

  “
Your hands, yes. What about your heart?” He watched her shoulders slump. “I’ve come with a proposition. Would you hear me out?”

  THE YOUNG AND THE SUBMISSIVE

  Doms of Her Life: Raine Falling (Book 2)

  Now Available!

  Click here to purchase!

  Raine Kendall has everything a woman could want…almost. Sexy, tender Dom Liam O’Neill is her knight in shining armor, but Raine keeps pinching herself. Is he too good to be true or is this growing connection one that could last a lifetime? She’s constantly torn by her abiding feelings for her commanding boss, Macen “Hammer” Hammerman, especially in the wake of the mind-blowing night he cast aside the barriers between them and ravaged every inch of her body.

  Hammer, Liam’s former best friend, can’t stop coveting Raine. But Liam is determined to hold and guide the woman he loves and see if she can be the submissive of his dreams. However, he’s finding that her trust is hard won and he needs a bloody crowbar to pry open her scarred soul. So he risks everything to win her once and for all. But once he’s put his daring plan in motion, will it cost Liam his heart if he loses Raine to Hammer for good?

  * * *

  Macen “Hammer” Hammerman stifled the mundane conversation with his assistant, Raine Kendall, and stood, bracing his hands on the desk between them. Though his office door stood open—he wasn’t “allowed” to talk to her otherwise—they were as alone as they’d been in weeks. It was now or never. He had an important question to ask.

  “Tell me something, Raine. Your period is what, five days late?”

  Blood leached from her face. “Wha—I… How would you even know that?”

  Because it was his business. After six years of being her mentor, caretaker, and employer, he’d recently given in to his gnawing hunger and fucked her in every way known to man. And recklessly, he’d done it without a condom. Since admitting how much he wanted her, he couldn’t seem to stop. But the elaborate collar that now dangled from her neck strangled him with one indisputable fact: She was owned. Taken. Completely off limits. Property of another.

  That son of a bitch, Liam O’Neill. His former best friend.

  “Kind of blows your theory that I’ve always looked through you, doesn’t it?” He smirked. “Since you came to Shadows, I’ve kept tabs on your cycle every single month. You promised you’d let me know if you were so much as a minute late. I’ve been waiting.”

  THE BOLD AND THE DOMINANT

  Doms of Her Life: Raine Falling (Book 3)

  Now Available!

  Click here to purchase!

  After spending weeks trying to reach Raine Kendall, Dominants Liam O’Neill and Macen Hammerman have finally broken past the walls to their submissive’s wounded heart. Before they can enjoy their newfound closeness, Liam’s past comes back to haunt him when his ex-wife drops in—with a secret that could tear his world apart. Forced to leave Raine in Hammer’s care, Liam is stuck on the outside, stewing in frustration and insecurity…and wondering if Raine no longer needs him or if Hammer alone completes her.

  Always the pillar of strength, Hammer tries to help Liam while sheltering their woman. But Raine soon discovers the truth that threatens the trio’s chance of a happily-ever-after. Determined to hold them together, the two men cook up a scheme to uncover the ex’s secret. When an old nemesis returns and targets Raine, can Liam and Hammer come together to slay the danger and save the woman they both love?

  * * *

  “Hammer. Wake up,” a familiar voice whispered in his ear. “There’s a problem.”

  Macen “Hammer” Hammerman jackknifed up, the fog of sleep dissipating. Liam O’Neill stood above him, over the bed.

  Why the hell was his best friend waking him up in the middle of the night?

  With a frown, Hammer rose on one elbow. “What?”

  Liam’s stare fell on Raine Kendall in the rumpled bed they’d all shared last night. Hammer glanced at the woman they both loved. Images of her moaning, melting, and writhing between them flashed through Hammer’s brain like a sensual strobe. Thankfully, she was still asleep, her inky lashes fanning over her rosy cheeks.

  But Liam’s face tightened, the man’s tense expression giving him pause. “Tell me.”

  “She’s exhausted. Let’s not wake her.” He jerked his head at the open door. “Bathroom.”

  Hammer scowled. Had something happened after he’d crashed? Had Liam and Raine fought? No, he wouldn’t have slept through that. Whether she was upset or in the throes of passion, she never held back.

  What if Liam had reconsidered their arrangement and refused to share her anymore? That idea whacked Macen with fury. After years of denying himself her touch, he couldn’t wait to have her again. If his Irish pal thought she still belonged exclusively to him simply because she’d once worn his collar, he’d lost his fucking mind. Hammer had rescued the scared runaway from an alley and taken care of her for six years. That damn well counted for something.

  Besides, Raine needed them both. She’d only begun to lower those towering walls around her heart in the past two days, when they’d finally started working together. Sharing her might be a new arrangement, but he and Liam had been down this path before, though not with her…and not with success. Still, Raine made them better men—and partners. Hammer knew Liam had sensed the same perfection when they’d held her. Would he really want to mess with that?

  Before Hammer could say a word, Liam grabbed his trousers, donned them, and stomped to the bathroom.

  Hammer brushed his lips over Raine’s forehead. “I won’t let anything or anyone come between us, precious. I promise.”

  Feeling a twinge of pain in his jaw where Liam had punched him the night before, Hammer stood and worked it from side to side. Their fight had been inevitable. Jealousy and resentment had brewed for the past month, ever since Liam had taken an interest in Raine. Hopefully, the brawl had finally cleared the air between them.

  Sighing, Hammer yanked his pants up and joined Liam, shutting the door behind them. In the light, Macen noticed his friend’s nose was slightly swollen, but neither of them looked too worse for wear.

  “I’m listening. What’s the problem?”

  Liam sighed. “Gwyneth just called me.”

  What did Liam’s ex-wife want?

  FALLING IN DEEPER

  Wicked Lovers, Book 11

  By Shayla Black