Bree clenched harder to Carter’s shoulders as his fingers moved deeper, faster. She was already too damn close, ready to fly apart at the seams.

A small part of her still insisted on self-preservation, and it had convinced her she’d built the last time up too big, fooled herself into thinking her night in Carter’s bed had been better than she remembered.

So much for that survival instinct.

She was a goner.

Bree pressed her head against his bare chest, her body tensing, right on the verge of…

Carter pulled his fingers out seconds before she got there.

Lifting her head, she saw him studying her, intently, intensely.

She shook her head. “Finish,” she demanded.

He grinned, looking every bit like the dominant man she knew him to be. The problem was, she was no submissive. And he knew it.

The issue of their sexual preferences had come up one night at college. They’d both gotten a little too tipsy while watching a movie at her apartment. Rather than seek out their usual hookups, they remained in, talking long into the night.

Carter had told her about his latest sexual conquest, a girl named Veronica, who loved it when he tied her up, spanked her, and withheld orgasms until she begged.

Bree had been enthralled by the concept, turned on by the idea of absolute control. When she said the same to Carter, he had laughed and said that pretty much ensured the two of them would never be lovers. Neither of them was disposed to bend to anyone’s will.

They had accepted that as wisdom and held true to that decision for six long years.

Knowing she and Carter were too similar to ever survive in the bedroom didn’t prevent her attraction to him. If anything, the old adage of wanting what she couldn’t have had kicked into high gear.

“Carter,” she started.

He cut her off with a quick, hard kiss. “You’re not coming until I’m inside you. Ten years, Bree.”

A chink in the armor. She’d done that. Hurt him by walking away.

He’d opened a vein and she owed him the same. “I was afraid.”

“I know. It was—”

“Intense,” she added, needing the chance to explain. “I wasn’t in a good place that night. I missed Mom and Traci. I hated Ronnie with such extreme loathing I could taste it. I fell into your arms, into your bed, and even as good as it was, I knew it wouldn’t last. I’ve spent every bit of the last ten years in therapy, trying to fix all the shit my stepfather fucked up inside me. If I stayed, you would have wanted to be with me, maybe even marry me. And I knew, even though I loved you, I’d eventually push you away. I may have been able to give you my heart back then, but my trust was locked in a clenched fist that wouldn’t open, no matter what.”

“I understand.”

One look in his rich chocolate-brown eyes proved that he did, and for the first time since she’d walked into the bar tonight, she had a sense that everything was going to be okay. The ten years they’d been apart melted away, and she was back with her best friend.

Which meant, she had no trouble slipping right back into another familiar role as well. She patted him on the cheek as she said, “So be a good boy and finish what you started.”

Carter laughed. “I may be older, Bree, and I’m sure you’re going to discover I’ve mellowed in certain aspects of my life, but in some ways, I’m even harder.”

She let her gaze drift to regions south of his waist. “I’ll never complain about harder.”

His expression sobered. “You might.”

Before she could question him, he had both her hands in his as something silky slipped around her wrists. She glanced over her shoulder and started to struggle when she realized his intention to bind her arms behind her back with a necktie.

“Hold still,” he commanded.

She continued to fight him. “That tone doesn’t work with me, Carter. Untie me.”

“No.”

Carter had the definite advantage. While she went to the gym to stay in shape, he clearly hit the weights to build muscle. His strength was undeniable and the knot he tied efficient and unbreakable.

“This is a very cute power play, but as you know—”

That was all she managed to say before he twisted her with a firm hand and placed her facedown over his desk. Cool air hit the backs of her thighs as he lifted her skirt. The chill was brief, replaced with heat when Carter slapped her ass five times in hard succession.

She was helpless to the onslaught as Carter held her down, his free hand pressing steadfastly against her back.

“Goddammit,” she cried out, though his spanking didn’t hurt as much as confuse her. She wasn’t the type to let any man render her helpless. Jesus, if he’d tried this a decade earlier, she would have freaked out.

Tonight, she was an inferno, raging out of control. The blaze flaring even brighter when he used his foot to drag her legs apart. He pressed three fingers inside her, fucking her roughly with them.

She was back on the brink of coming within half a dozen forceful strokes. And now, like before, Carter knew the exact moment to withdraw to prevent her finding closure.

“You son of a—”

He spanked her again, the pain building up, provoking a need so overwhelming she started to scream. Carter’s hand covered her mouth, muting the sound, the aggression only turning her on more.

She wasn’t this woman. Wasn’t the type to respond to controlling men.

Her reaction to Carter’s heavy-handedness drove home just how effective her therapy had been. And how right she had been to come back to him.

He was the only man on the planet she trusted enough to allow such utter control over her.

“Be quiet, Bree. As much as I love the sound of your voice, there are still too many people out in that bar. I don’t want to be interrupted until you’ve come at least three times. But don’t worry. I plan to take you back to my place afterwards and make you scream all night.”

Carter released her mouth and she pressed her lips closed tightly, not sure she could manage to hold back.

He tested her strength instantly, stroking her clit until she saw stars. She moaned, fighting hard to grab the orgasm he was intent on keeping from her.

Carter recognized her efforts, and the arrogant asshole actually chuckled.

“Tsk. Tsk,” he warned as she shot daggers at him over her shoulder.

“Take care of business or I’ll do it myself.”

It was an empty threat and they both knew it. She was his captive, unable to do anything to help her cause along without him. In the past, she would have eviscerated any man for putting her in that position. With Carter, it felt like she’d finally come home after a lifetime away.

He gripped her upper arm and tugged her back to her seated position on the edge of the desk. Rather than ramp up the play, he slowed things down, unbuttoning her blouse with the patience of a saint. There was no hiding the hard-on he was packing in his slacks, but he appeared to be much better at denying himself the pleasure that was so close at hand.

Once her blouse was open, he reached into her bra and tugged her breasts up and over the lace, the ultimate push-up.

Bending his head, he sucked and bit at her nipples as she squirmed beneath him. She lost all track of time as Carter took his, tormenting her until she thought she’d go out of her mind.

“Please,” she whispered at last, certain she’d expire on the spot if he didn’t fuck her.

Carter lifted his head at the sound, and she saw something soften in his face. He untied her hands as he kissed her, then he unfastened his pants.

She reached forward to take him in her hands, but he gripped her wrists, tugging them away as he pressed her to her back on his large desk.

“Put your hands beside your head and leave them there.”

Bree hesitated.

“I need to see, to know…”

She had told him she would give him her trust, but actions were more powerful than words. Bree placed her hands palms up by her head, the ultimate sign of surrender. Of submission.

“I’m yours,” she whispered.

He lifted her legs, resting the backs of her knees over his arms as he guided his cock to her opening.

His eyes met hers. “No condom.”

She nodded just once. Yet another way he wanted to claim her, mark her. “No condom,” she repeated.

Carter slid inside, and everything else faded away.

Bree wrapped her legs around his waist as he pressed deeper. Once he was seated to the hilt, he paused, looking at her as if she were an illusion.

“I never stopped loving you,” he admitted.

She smiled even as she felt a tear slide along her cheek. “Make me yours, Carter.”

Her invitation set him free. Any restraint Carter had employed melted away as he pounded inside her. Just when she thought he couldn’t go any deeper, he shifted her ankles to his shoulders and found a way to penetrate farther.

Bree wasn’t aware how loud she was until she felt the same silk that had bound her hands, against her lips. Carter pushed the tie inside to mute her cries. She let him, preferring the gag to fighting to remain quiet on her own. The gag set her free, allowed her to give up her hard-fought control.

Her back arched as she came, but Carter kept thrusting, his thumb caressing her clit, drawing out her orgasm. As he fucked her, he flooded the room with loving promises and sexy threats.

“Mine,” he grunted. “Always. Going to tie you to my bed forever if I have to. Spank that sexy fucking ass until you…realize…”

It would take time for him to understand she meant what she said. She wasn’t going anywhere. But she understood his fears.

She dragged the tie out of her mouth, then cupped his cheek, even as she felt another orgasm begin to overtake her.

“Yours. I’m yours. I promise. Al—”

Her word was cut off by a groan of relief and, sweet Jesus, even a little pain. Only Carter had ever found the way to make her come this hard.

This time he came with her, erupting inside, filling her. They clung to each other tightly until the waves of their release subsided.

Carter rested his weight on his elbows, his softening cock still tucked inside her.

As he lifted his head to look at her, she finished the last word.

“Always.”