"Hey, you love me anyway. You decided." Liz gave her an air kiss.

Tryphon Zade hospitalized for serious injuries.

A s.h.i.+ver quaked down Raine's spine. Suddenly feeling sick, she shoved her breakfast plate away. Could it be true? No, please. Tell me it's another false rumor. Her breath caught in her throat, she read on.

Billionaire entrepreneur Zade was taken to an undisclosed hospital early this morning after he was involved in a multi-vehicle collision on I-275. Rumors that he may have been killed have been circulating but not confirmed...

Tears rushed to her eyes, blurring her vision and making it impossible to read anymore. Her stomach lurched and, gagging, she raced to the bathroom, her body racked by dry heaves.

Oh my G.o.d! Tryphon was hurt. Maybe dead. No!

She could only imagine how devastated Bale would be.

"Raine?" Liz called through the bathroom door. "Are you sick?"

Sobbing, Raine pushed to her feet, teetered across the tile floor and threw open the door.

Liz's eyes bulged when she saw her. "What's wrong?"

Unable to speak, Raine just collapsed into her friend's arms and cried. All the emotions she'd fought so hard to keep pent up burst forth, escaping her body in painful, wrenching sobs.

What an idiot she'd been, thinking she could really control her emotions. Dammit, she hadn't controlled anything, and that bulls.h.i.+t about love being a decision...no more than a choice between two simple options...the worst kind of idiocy.

Sure, maybe that was part of it-a decision. But love was far more complex than that. It involved things she couldn't even put into words. Energy. Chemistry. Emotion. Thought.

Bottom line, she loved Tryphon. She loved Bale. And she hated the fact that it took learning one might be dead to finally throw away her pride and admit the truth.

Liz stroked her shoulders and whispered soothing words in her ear, offering to drive her over to Bale's to check on him.

She accepted, combed her hair, brushed her teeth and, looking like a train wreck, climbed into the car.

Liz was very quiet as they drove over to Tryphon and Bale's, but Raine was grateful. At the moment, all she could think about was holding Bale, comforting him, as well as finding comfort with him. Or maybe-hopefully!-hearing the newspaper headline had been overblown and Tryphon was sitting in a hospital room nursing a couple of broken bones or a mild concussion.

She was twitchy, jumpy as she endured what felt like a zillion-hour drive. She was out of the car before Liz had even s.h.i.+fted into park. Up the front walk she raced. She rang the doorbell. No answer. She tried it again. Still no one came. Desperate now, she stared at the door, wis.h.i.+ng it would swing open and Tryphon would appear on the other side, completely well.

No one was home. Dammit. Of course, that made sense. Tryphon and Bale were probably at the hospital together. Defeated, she started back toward Liz's car. She slipped into the seat and sighed. "No one's home."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, of course. Are you surprised? I mean, doesn't it make sense?"

Again, Liz seemed to be evading her questions, just like she had yesterday about the newspapers. What an odd thing to recall, but at the moment, she remembered Liz hadn't kept her word, answering that question after they'd gone out for dinner.

"Do you have a phone number to call them?" Liz asked.

"Sure, but it's for Tryphon's cell phone. I can't imagine anyone answering it... Wait, I called you with Bale's."

"Left my phone at home."

"Dammit." Raine dug in her purse for her cell.

"You could try." Liz glanced over her shoulder then smiled. "Look. Someone's home. Oh shoot, they closed the door again."

"Really?" Almost afraid to look, Raine tugged her purse strap over her shoulder and lunged from the vehicle, das.h.i.+ng up the front walk. When she stood facing the door, she didn't bother with the doorbell, she pounded on it with her fists, striking it so hard sharp pains vibrated up her arms.

The door swung open.

Tryphon.

Tryphon!

"OhthankG.o.d!" Blinking stars and black splotches instantly blinded her. She sank to her knees, right there on the porch, arms extended, tears rus.h.i.+ng from her useless eyes. "You're alive. ThankG.o.d, thankG.o.d, thankG.o.d."

"Raine?" A pair of gentle hands lifted her, supporting her as she was pulled into the house. He cradled her close, stroking her head.

He murmured words she couldn't comprehend, and yet his strength slowly eased her agony. So strong. How? Finally, when her tears abated, she looked at him. His face. Not a scratch. His neck. No sign of bruise or cut. She staggered out of his arms, her gaze perusing every inch of skin she could see-chest, stomach, arms, hands. No cuts, sc.r.a.pes, bruises.

"Was it a lie?"

"What, Raine?"

"In today's paper. The accident. They said you might be dead. I...I was sick, I was so upset."

He shook his head, his expression puzzled. "Sweetheart, as happy as I am to see you today, I don't know anything about an accident. You say you read this in the newspaper?"

"Yes. Today's Gossip."

"Really?" His brows drew closer. "I get that paper. I didn't see anything about an accident." He took her hand in his and led her toward the back of the house. "How about you show it to me? And then I say the three of us should sit down and talk."

Confused, she nodded as she trailed behind him into the family room. Memories of her time spent with them right there, on that couch, shot through her head as she sat down.

Tryphon handed her a folded paper.

She flattened it on her lap and skimmed the front page. It looked nothing like the one she had at home. She double-checked the date. "I don't understand. Why would my copy say something completely different?" Then the truth struck her, and a handful of conflicting emotions raged through her. She surged to her feet, the paper gripped in her fist. "Oh. My. G.o.d. I'm going to kill her! That b.i.t.c.h."

"Who?" Tryphon sat beside her.

"Liz. I wonder how long she's been working on this? Maybe weeks. Leaving all those papers around, knowing I'd read them." She raced through the house, her target the front door. She was going to club Liz with the real Gossip. On the head. Lots of times. "Then printing up the fake one and leaving it with the others. I had no idea she could be so devious."

"What are you saying? Why would your friend lie?" Tryphon asked behind her. He caught her wrist, tugging swiftly to halt her progress.

She spun around, waving the paper in the air. "She's dead. I can't believe this. She had a fake newspaper printed to trick me into coming here. That is beyond cruel, making me think, even for a few minutes, that you were dead. It's no wonder she wasn't saying much on the way here. I was a wreck." She caught a hint of a smile as he nodded. She swatted him on the shoulder with the paper then waved it in front of his nose. "Don't you dare think this is funny. Or clever. Or anything but unforgivable."

That hint of a smile didn't fade. He jerked her against his hard bulk. "But aren't you glad to see I'm alive and well?"

"Yes, of course."

"And aren't you glad you came to see me?"

Their gazes tangled, and a sigh drifted between her lips. "I...yes."

He tipped his head, moving closer, closer. "Why did you wait so long, my adorable fire sprite?" he whispered, his lips hovering over hers.

"I was..." she let her heavy eyelids fall closed, "being stubborn." She shuddered when his sweet breath tickled her lips. "I didn't want to love you and Bale. I was so sure I could stop myself. After all, I'd always believed I knew what love was truly all about, that it's a decision, something under the control of my mind, my will."

"But you can't decide to love, or not to, can you?"

"No. Believe me, I tried."

"We can't stop loving you, either." He cupped her chin, tilting it up, and brushed his lips over hers. "We do love you, Raine. Both of us. Like we've loved no other woman." He kissed her again, sweetly, softly. Sensuously. "We lie at your feet, begging for your mercy. Please, sweetheart, let us serve you. Make us the happiest men on Earth by saying you'll grant our one wish-to allow us to make you the happiest woman in the world."

"Oh G.o.d, Tryphon." Never had she heard such wonderful, heartfelt words spoken by a man. But here she was and here he was, and he'd said them and she knew in her heart he meant them.

She wanted to say yes. She hurt so badly everywhere. But the word sat on the tip of her tongue.

"Please, Raine. Are you so cruel that you'd come here, tell me you love me and then still deny me?"

She pushed away from him, needing s.p.a.ce. Air. To think and breathe. She staggered to her feet. "But I'm still not sure I can be the woman you need. The submissive you need. Please understand."

Still sitting, he leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. "I'm trying, sweetheart. Talk to me."

"It's hard to explain. I've let so many people down in the past. My parents. My lovers. My friends. I've been the most unreliable human being on the planet, so caught up in defending my pride-in being right all the time. Liz has paid a price for my actions. She's the only one who stuck with me all this time."

"Because she loves you."

"Sure, but what about the others? My mother?"

"What happened to your mother, Raine?"

The pain of that day, so long ago, rolled over her like a giant wheel of ice. Crus.h.i.+ng. Agonizing. "She killed herself. Because of me."

"No, Raine."

"No, it's true. My father told me that. My brother. My stepmother. Everyone. They all blame me. She killed herself and I could've stopped her. But I was too f.u.c.king stubborn, too determined to do what I wanted. If only I'd done what she'd asked. It was such a small price to pay. I was being selfish-"

Tryphon shook his head. His hands closed around her upper arms tightly, like steel bands. "I don't care what anyone said. Suicide is the ultimate stubborn act. Talk about pride, having to be right, and thinking of only yourself. Your mother thought of n.o.body but herself the moment she took her life. That's not your fault. That's no one's fault but hers."

She'd heard the opposite so many times, she didn't know what to believe. She'd been too ashamed to tell anyone, not even Liz about that day. But what Tryphon said made sense.

His grip loosened. "You are partly right, I think. Love does involve a decision. A commitment. Sacrifice, sometimes. Your friend truly loves you. And like her, Bale and I will truly love you."

"What about the bondage?"

"I still believe very strongly that you are a submissive by nature. You just have to feel secure enough to let go. To trust. You will learn you can trust me. In time. I'm willing to wait as long as you need."

"You swear?"

His smile warmed her. Not in a sensual way, but in a much deeper way. "That doesn't mean I won't test you. Push you a little. Challenge you to throw away your excuses and insecurities and let yourself follow your instincts." He pulled her to him, wrapped his arms around her waist. "Just think of the joy in knowing ultimate satisfaction and contentment. In knowing your men will always put your needs and wishes above their own. And knowing that you are loved and accepted, as the proud, stubborn woman you believe you are." Once again, he lifted her chin, forcing her to meet his gaze. "You're more than that, you know. You're more than fire. You're also gentle rain, cooling, giving life. Sweetly scented wind that s.h.i.+fts and changes, soothing. And in the earth, richly textured, supportive and nurturing. You know how I know this?"

"No. How?"

"Because you're here now. You've proven it by your actions. Don't believe what you've heard. Hear the truth. From me." Dark desire flickered in his eyes. Desire that burned through her body, licking at her flesh, singing with delicious erotic pleasure. "No one has ever loved you as deeply and thoroughly as we will. To accept our love, you must come to us willingly, without fear. Can you?"

"I don't know." She stiffened at the distant rattle of a door, the thump of it closing.

"Tryphon?" Bale's voice echoed through the house.

Her heart did a little jump in her chest.

"In here," Tryphon called, smiling. "I have a surprise."

"What kind of...? Raine!"

Tryphon released her, and she ran into Bale's outstretched arms, practically crumpling in his tight embrace.

Bale held her crushed to him, smoothed his hand down her back, whispered, "Oh, thank G.o.d!" over and over. He spun her around and she squealed, instantly dizzy and giddy and so overwhelmingly happy she felt tears burning her eyes once again. He caught her face between his hands and kissed her, his lips and tongue claiming her with fierce, erotic heat. And once that bone-melting kiss was over, he repeated again, "Thank G.o.d you've come."

"I missed you," she admitted, recognizing he probably realized that much already but not wanting to leave the words unspoken.

"I missed you, too, more than I can say." He kissed her again, and again, and again until her head was spinning, and she barely had the strength to stand. She clung to him, grateful for his strength and patience and love. Finally, he broke the kiss, and with red, watery eyes, looked at her. "Tell me you won't ever leave us again, that you love us and won't make us endure another day without you. Please."

Raine glanced at Tryphon and then looked at Bale again. "What does this mean? Won't leave you?"

Bale caressed her cheek. "We want you to come here, live with us. Be our wife, our bride, our world."

"But what about Liz? She can't afford rent on her own. I can't leave her in the lurch after she's stood by me. Even though what she did today was unbelievably sneaky and mean! Still, she has nowhere to go."

"We'll help her. Either she can live in the condo you haven't accepted from your employer yet or we'll pay your share of the rent at your current place if she'll allow us. If you'll allow us." Tryphon grinned. It was the kind of wicked smile she adored. "And as far as your vow of vengeance, I have an idea..."

Swinging around to face Tryphon, she smiled. "And I'm ready to listen."

"There's a certain friend of mine who I'm guessing may like your friend...a certain royal pain in the a.s.s..."

Imagining Liz being as miserable as she'd been the last few weeks, Raine clapped her hands together. "Oh, you are such an evil man. In the best way. I love you! I love you both."

About the Author.

Nothing exciting happens in Tawny Taylor's life, unless you count giving the cat a flea dip-a cat can make some fascinating sounds when immersed chin-deep in insecticide-or chasing after a houseful of upchucking kids during flu season. She doesn't travel the world or employ a staff of personal servants. She's not even built like a runway model. She's just your run-of-the-mill, pleasantly plump Detroit suburban mom and wife.