Harper shouldered him aside, giving him her back. “I didn’t lock it.”

He sighed.

“What? You don’t lock your door either, hypocrite. So just go. I’m home in one piece. Mission accomplished. Good night.”

She opened the door only far enough to let herself in and attempted to shut it in Bran’s face.

His laugh wasn’t amused this time. He pushed the door open and followed her inside.

Harper tossed her purse and her coat on the chair. She didn’t bother to kick off her boots but just headed for her bedroom. She didn’t get far.

Bran spun her to face him, trapping her face in his hands as he fastened his mouth to hers.

She wanted to kiss him back. She craved these sweet, needy kisses from him because they were so rare. But she also knew why Bran was kissing her like this. He felt guilty. And he should.

So she turned her head away, breaking her lips free from his, keeping her eyes closed, waiting for him to let her go.

He did.

Without looking at him, she started toward her room.

But Bran was determined. He wrapped his arms around her middle, holding her lightly but firmly, nestling his chin into the curve where her neck met her shoulder. “Talk to me. Please. I know you’re upset.”

Harper allowed herself to lean against him, wanting his closeness, but he needed to apologize without her having to ask for it. She disentangled from his embrace and faced him, keeping her arms folded across her midsection. “Do you know why I’m upset, Bran?”

“Yes.”

“Tell me.”

“Why? We both know why you were upset. You were there.”

“Not good enough. Tell me with words.”

He took a step back and dry-washed his face. Then ran his palm along the top of his head and down to his neck. “I was outta line today.”

“Meaning what?”

“Too demanding.”

“Wrong. The word you’re looking for is demeaning.”

His face turned red, and the muscle at the base of his jaw jumped as he clenched his teeth hard.

“I can handle your demanding side. I’ve never felt ashamed of liking that part of you. You’ve never made me feel like I’m some kind of whore whose job is to service your sexual needs at your whim.” Harper stared at Bran until he met her gaze. “Until today. You made me feel that way at the auction today.”

“I’m sorry.”

“I know. But it doesn’t change anything.”

“It changes everything, Harper, don’t you see? I don’t ever want to do that to you again.” He stepped forward and gently gripped her upper arms. “Tell me what will fix this. What can I do to make it better? I’ll do anything, sweetheart. Anything.”

As she studied him, she knew Bran wasn’t just saying that; he really meant it. Still. What she had in mind ... might actually shock him.

“I know that look. You know what you want. Tell me.”

She raised her chin a notch and gave him a haughty look. “I want to be in control.”

“Okay. In control of what?”

“You.”

He balked a little. “What?”

“I want you to know what it feels like to have someone else calling the shots, because I’ll bet you’ve never tried it, have you, Mr. Large-and-I’m-Always-in-Charge?”

Bran shook his head.

“Do you trust me?”

His eyes searched hers. After a beat or two he nodded. Not exactly confidently. For some reason that boosted Harper’s confidence and her determination.

“Good. Then I know what I want that’ll fix this.” She shrugged out of his hold and looked at his crotch, then back in his eyes. “I want to spank you while you’re jacking off.”

His face paled. “What?”

“You heard me.” Harper walked straight to her room. Would he follow her? Probably. Would he try to change her mind? Probably. Would he be successful?

No way. She had to stand her ground or the man would run her into the ground every chance he got.

Plus, it sounded like fun.

She stopped at the window and double-checked that the blinds were closed. She heard his boots scuffing on the carpet. His footsteps stopped.

The door clicked shut. The lock engaged.

Harper slowly turned to see Bran resting his shoulders against the door, staring at her.

He said, “You look surprised.”

“I am.”

“I told you I’d do anything to fix this. So here I am.” He spread his arms wide. “Ready to take my punishment like a man.”

Since Harper had zero experience with this sort of thing, she dug deep inside herself, grasping the tiny dominant nature she usually let lie dormant, and let it fill her. She gave him a cool once-over. “Strip. Completely.”

While he got naked, so did she.

“Now, face the wall and brace your left arm at eye level. Keep the other arm by your side.”

As soon as he complied, she moved in behind him. The man smelled good, like Zest soap, hard work, and Bran. What a sense of power to feel his big body jump when she smoothed her hands down his tight, muscular buns. He stayed tense as she touched and rubbed and petted him. Gently. Tenderly. Softly.

So her first hard smack across those perfectly round white cheeks surprised him. He hissed in a sharp breath. Then she went back to stroking him. Not just his butt. From his lower back up to his broad shoulders. And back down, her thumb tracing the long indent of his spine from his nape to his tailbone.