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Justyn shook his head. “Usually it’s me causing all the excitement. Nice to see you doing it for once, Dare.”

Dare grunted and pushed up. Rynan held his arm, and once he was sure Dare was steady, released him.

“Okay?” Rynan asked.

“I feel fine now,” Dare answered. “Actually, really good.”

Rynan snorted. “The antidote will give you a bit of an energy boost.”

“Good.” Dare leaned down, grabbed Dakota, and she found herself tossed back over his shoulder.

“Dare!” she yelled.

“I think he’s better,” Rynan said dryly.

“His aim and his priorities seem spot on,” Justyn added.

Dakota fumed as Dare strode through the ship’s corridors. Moments later, he stalked into his cabin, the door whispering shut behind them.

He dropped her on the bed, and before she could move, his big hands gripped her jaw. “Never risk yourself like that again.”

“We’re back to that? You almost died minutes ago—” her breath hitched “—after you risked yourself to save me, and you’re going to lecture me about doing the same?”

“You do not hand yourself over to the bad guys. I thought you would’ve known that better than anybody.”

The raw emotion in his voice made her throat tight. “I did what I thought was best in the situation⁠—”

“If we’re in that situation again, you get away.”

She narrowed her gaze. “I’m my own person, Dare. I’ve been making my own choices for a very long time.”

His hands slid down to cup her shoulders and he pulled her closer. Heat poured off his body. “Not anymore.”

She reached up and wrapped her hands around his wrists. “You might be in charge around here, but you’re not in charge of me. I’ll follow your rules while I’m aboard your ship, but the only boss of me is me.”

He leaned down until his nose brushed hers. “This isn’t about being the boss. This is about you risking your life. Korrdo would have killed you.”

“He was going to kill you!” The words burst out of her.

Dare pulled back a little, his gaze running over her face. “I thought you only looked out for yourself.”

Her pulse racing, she slipped under his arm and off the bed. “I do.”

But she’d risked her own life, her freedom, to save him. The thought shimmered in the air between them.

He took a step toward her, and she backed up. He kept coming, and they moved across the room. She felt the wall hit her back. No, not the wall. She was pressed up against that large glass window giving a beautiful view of space.

His hands slid down her arms until they tangled with her fingers. He lifted them, slamming them above her head. “I hated watching you go with him. I hated being helpless to save you.”

“I’m not helpless.” His lips pressed against the side of her neck, and she almost moaned at the sensation.

“I know. That’s part of the reason I can’t seem to get you out of my head.”

His mouth landed on hers. Stars, he tasted so good. As his tongue slid inside her mouth, she kissed him back—hard. He had a beautiful mouth, and she sank her teeth into his lip. He growled.

She pushed against his hands, but he held them against the glass.

“I want to touch you.” She shoved again. “I’m not some sweet, little submissive who’s going to follow all your orders.”