Shockâs sex slave for a month because heâd loaned her money?
Or did Raven already know? Did all of them know?
âBut what?â Raven asked.
âNothing. Weâre just ⦠getting used to each other, I guess.â
âI thought you guys have known each other since college.â
Liv nodded, not quite sure what Shock had told the others about her. âWe have. But ⦠what has he told you about us?â
Raven shrugged. âNot much. Just that you were friends. I donât know how close, but I got the impression heâd like to be closer. A lot closer.â
Liv nodded again. âThis ⦠sexual thing between us ⦠is new.â
âI get it. Youâre still getting to know each other that way.â She rested her hand on Livâs arm. âBut, honey, you seem so stressed. If you want to talk about it â¦â
Liv glanced at Shock, who had glanced her way once or twice while she and Raven talked but still kept his conversation going with the others.
Liv was sure he wouldnât like her revealing their secrets to anyone else.
She shook her head. âIâm okay. But thanks.â
Raven nodded. âOkay, but if you change your mind, Iâm here.â
Liv sipped her beer, not sure what to do with the friendly offer Raven had made. Liv hadnât opened up to another female since her last year of college, when sheâd closed herself off to everyone. She hadnât even confided in her sister. Not about her relationships anyway.
Who was she kidding? Sheâd never really had a relationship. Sheâd been too afraid to let anyone get close. And sheâd never wanted to tell anyone what had happened to her.
How stupid sheâd been.
Not even her sister.
So not only had that bastard stolen her ability to have a normal relationship with a man, heâd caused her to deny herself close, meaningful friendships with women, too.
Anger seared through her and she sipped her beer again. Then gulped it. When it was gone, she signaled the waitress for another.
âThatâs your fourth,â Shock said a little while later.
She glared at him. âSo what? Why do you care how much I drink?â
He frowned, his gaze gliding over her face. He grasped her arm and stood up. âWeâre leaving.â
âWhat if I donât want to go?â she demanded.
Everyone stared at her, and suddenly she felt like a spoiled brat demanding her own way. Slowly she stood up and let him lead her to the door.
Once they stepped out into the cool night, and Liv took a deep breath of fresh air, her knees grew wobbly. Shock tightened his arm around her and steadied her.
âWhat did Raven say that upset you?â
âRaven didnât upset me.â
He watched her as they walked to his bike. âYou could have fooled me.â He grabbed a helmet and put it on her head, then fastened the strap under her chin. âThen what put you in such a bad mood?â
âIâm not in a bad mood.â But she could hear the defiant note in her voice and couldnât even convince herself of that.
There was no reason to take it out on Shock. âIâm sorry. She asked if everything was okay between us and I didnât know what to say.â
âIsnât everything okay between us?â
She shrugged. âI donât know. I donât know what this is. Iâm not sure how to behave.â She gazed up at him. âOther than when weâre together, doing whatever you say.â
âDoes that bother you?â
âItâs not that. Itâs just ⦠I donât know how to react to your friendsâ questions ⦠or what to tell them about us.â
âDid Raven question you about whatâs going on between us?â
âNo. Not specifically. She was just ⦠really nice. She seemed to care because she thinks weâre having problems.â
âOf course she cares. Sheâs a good