Carter shook his head. As always, Bree recovered quickly. Unfortunately, he didn’t share her talent. Too many emotions were crashing down on him, and he struggled to keep them contained.

David entered the room, rushing over to help them both up. “Thank God. The cops got here and one of them said he thought he saw a shadow moving on the ledge. That’s when I realized how he planned to get to you. I didn’t think we’d get here in time.”

Carter accepted his friend’s hug, then watched as David offered the same to Bree. David really had been shaken up.

If Carter weren’t still so overwhelmed with fear and terror and anger, he would have appreciated his friend’s concern and relief.

Instead…

The police called for the morgue, then asked the two of them a million and twelve questions. Hours passed before the two of them were allowed to leave.

He led Bree to the office. David had returned there earlier and had asked him to stop by before he left so they could debrief.

Bree didn’t realize he wasn’t responding to her nonstop, somewhat manic chatter. It was funny how different their reactions to the same event were. In so many ways they were kindred spirits. But when placed in a life-or-death situation, they went in opposite directions. Bree relived the entire evening over, trying to use her words to deal with what had happened, fighting out loud to make sense of it all.

In the meantime, Carter kept it all in. He didn’t fool himself into thinking it would remain there. The truth was, he was merely waiting until he had Bree alone. Then he intended to make sure she understood—in no uncertain terms—that her actions were wrong.

They were just outside the door when Bree realized he hadn’t spoken a single word.

“Carter? Are you okay?”

“Not now, Bree.”

“You’re still angry? God, Carter. What did you expect—”

“Not now,” he said through gritted teeth as David opened the door.

His friend had clearly heard enough to understand the razor’s edge Carter was walking.

“Come on in.”

Carter led the way, stalking into the room. He gestured for Bree to sit on the couch, but she remained standing, her arms crossed, her expression haughty.

Carter’s jaw clenched as he struggled to calm down.

David leaned against his desk, attempting to break through some of the tension that was thick in the room. “I’d tell you two to head on home and we’ll sort out this mess tomorrow, but I’m afraid the truth is, neither one of you is out of danger.”

Bree glanced at his friend, confused. “What do you mean?”

David tilted his head toward Carter. “The man’s about to blow. I heard your comments to the police. You shoved Carter out of the way, thrust yourself in the line of fire.”

Bree nodded. “That bullet was meant for me.”

Carter’s head exploded. Alone or not, he couldn’t keep it together one second longer. “Are you fucking kidding me? What part of crouch behind that bench didn’t you understand? I wanted you out of danger, Bree. Not pushing your way to the front of the line. If that bullet…”

Her eyes widened. “So I didn’t imagine it. Ronnie did fire.”

Carter’s legs gave out as he recalled her stepfather pulling the trigger at the exact second Bree pushed him. Carter hadn’t had a chance to line up his own shot before Bree’s unexpected shove from behind. It had only missed her by inches.

Fucking inches.

Carter rested his elbows on his knees, feeling the same panic Bree had suffered prior to Ronnie’s appearance in the room.

“I almost lost you again.”

“I’m sorry, Carter. I’m so sorry.” Bree knelt in front of him. The Dom inside registered the submissive pose, but he was still too angry. He would never touch her as long as this rage roared inside him.

“Promise me. Promise me you’ll never risk your life for mine again.”

She shook her head. “I can’t. It would be a lie.”

Carter clenched his hands together. “Damn it, Bree. I need you to promise me.”

“No.”

Carter stared at her for several long moments, searching for some answer. Nothing came.

“Compromise.”

She and Carter both turned to look at David. Carter had forgotten the other man was still in the room.

“What?” Carter asked.

“You’re at an impasse. You’ve got two ways to go. Admit defeat and walk away from each other.”

“No!” Bree said.

Carter grinned and for the first time since Ronnie fired his weapon, Carter felt the tightness in his chest begin to ease.

David chuckled. “Yeah. I knew you were going to reject that option. So the only other way is to compromise. The two of you are going to have to find ways to deal with each other. You’re both too stubborn, too honest, and too controlling for your own good. If you can’t figure out a way around this that works for both of you, I’m afraid you’re going to be locked in this power struggle for the rest of your lives.”

“I don’t see a compromise,” Bree said softly. “I’ll never stand by and simply watch if you’re in danger. I wouldn’t ask that of you, so how can you ask it of me?”

Carter didn’t know how to reply. His head might get the point, but his soul, his heart rejected it outright. David had given him shit for some of his more caveman beliefs. Not that his friend had much of a leg to stand on when it came to overprotective male instincts.

“Fine,” Carter said at last, though it was probably the hardest word he’d ever spoken. “I won’t demand the promise. Won’t…” He blew out a frustrated breath as he forced himself to concede the rest. “Won’t expect you to stand on the sidelines if we’re ever in danger.”

“Damn,” David muttered. “Bet that hurt.”

Carter shot his friend a dirty look, his scowl growing in the face of his friend’s far-too-amused smile.

Bree didn’t mock him, but instead acknowledged the sacrifice he was making on her behalf. “I really am sorry, Carter. I appreciate you understanding. Are we okay now?”

He shook his head and she frowned.

“But I thought—”

Carter grinned wickedly. “In order for it to be a compromise, both parties have to give something up.”

Bree licked her lips nervously. “What do you want?”

“Your submission.”

She narrowed her eyes, her refusal on her lips. He raised his hand to cut her off.

“Not forever. I realize that request is impossible for the long-term. However, the deal is this. Any time you put yourself in a situation that I consider dangerous, you agree to spend one night as my submissive. If I can’t make you obey me outside the bedroom, by God, I will inside.”

She rolled her eyes. “If I agree, you’re going to have to find another word to use. Obey makes me want to cut your dick off.”

David laughed.

“David,” Carter said.

“Yeah?”

“Get out.”

“That’s cold, Carter. Here I am, giving stellar relationship counseling, and you kick me out just as things are about to get interesting.”

Carter didn’t take the bait, didn’t even look in his friend’s direction. “Lock the door behind you.”

Once David was gone, Carter held still. Bree still hadn’t agreed to his terms. Until she did…

“When you say submission,” she started.

“No limits, Bree. You’ll have a safe word. If there’s anything that is a hard limit, say it now. Otherwise, you’re mine.”

“No one else. That’s my hard limit.”

He grinned. That one was easy. “I couldn’t share you even if you wanted it.”

“Paris.”

“What?”

“That’s my safe word. Paris.”

“Your escape.”

“From now on, it’s just a word. In truth, I can’t think of anything you would do that would make me say it.”

He reached out, touching her for the first time in hours. “I have just enough sadist in me to want to push your limits on that.”

“Bring it.”

“Tonight’s not the night.”

“What?” she asked.

“I’m claiming your submission tomorrow night.” His emotions were still too close to the skin, and until he had those under complete control, her submission would have to wait.

He ran his knuckles along the side of her face, enjoying the way her eyes closed as he did so. “Besides, I promised you something else tonight.”

Her eyelids lifted, her bright blue gaze capturing his. “I love you,” she whispered.

“I know.”

She laughed.

Carter cupped her cheeks. “I love you too.”

He stripped her clothing away as they kissed, then she spent several minutes undressing him, touching each bit of skin she bared with her fingers, her lips, her tongue.

Part of him was sorry he’d started this here rather than taking her home to his bed. However, even as the regret emerged, it vanished. He would never have been able to wait that long.

Carter laid her down on her back on the couch, coming over her. Bree’s legs parted. He ran his fingers along her slit. She was wet, hot, ready.

If he pushed inside her now, it would end too quickly and he refused to let that happen.

Bree murmured a soft complaint when he lowered his head, taking her breast into his mouth. “Please,” she pleaded. “I need you.”

“I know. Soon.”

Her hands found his hair and he expected her to tug it, to try to use her grip to force his face back to hers. Instead, she simply ran her fingers through it.

“Good girl,” he whispered as he stroked her other nipple with his tongue.

She giggled softly. “God help me, I think I’m starting to like that.”

Rather than respond, Carter moved lower, sucking her clit between his lips, teasing it with a light nip that had her hips lifting from the couch cushions.

“Carter,” she moaned.

“Come for me, Bree. Give me one of those pretty orgasms.” As he spoke, he pushed two fingers inside, keeping his movements measured, slow. They’d spent the first part of the night in a mad dash, clawing at each other like ravenous beasts.

Now, he wanted to show her there was more to this, to them. While they would always share a hot-blooded passion, there would also be moments like this. There was a time to consume, to conquer and take. And there was a time to treasure, to adore, to love.

When he applied more pressure to her clit with his tongue, she came apart at the seams. Once her climax waned, he withdrew his fingers and caged her beneath him again.

“Finally,” she whispered.

He chuckled. “Yeah. You were really suffering, weren’t you?”

“Come inside.” She wrapped her legs around his waist and he let go, pressing into her with one hard, deep thrust.

Holding steady for just a moment, he stole one last long kiss. They set an easy pace, mimicking a boat on a calm lake, soaking up every minute of closeness they could.

With one last deep thrust, they came together.

Carter tucked her back against his chest, spooning her on the couch as they reveled in the aftermath of their brief trip to heaven. Both of them were crashing fast. Glancing at the clock on the wall, he wasn’t surprised. It was just after six a.m. They’d pulled an all-nighter. He grinned at the memory of them doing the same thing in college, cramming for exams.

Bree sighed, the sound one of complete contentment.

“Happy?” he asked.

“So happy. What a night.”

“You can say that again. What do you say we grab a few hours’ sleep here and then we can go to your place, pack up all your stuff and move you into mine?”

She laughed. “So the wooing and wowing part of our courtship is already over?”

“That’ll never end. I intend to spend the rest of my life laying claim to your heart.”

“Just my heart?” she asked seductively.

He gave her nipple a quick pinch. “All of you.”

Never one to be outdone, Bree reached back, adding her own pinch. To his ass. “Ditto.”

Life with her was destined to be one long power struggle.

And he couldn’t wait to get started.