Under the Gun (CEP Book 3) by Harper Bentley Read Free Book Online Page A

to think that you’re…yeah, you’re scared!”
    Quinn frowned. “I wouldn’t say scared, per se. I’d say more like unwilling to be controlled.”
    Tilly frowned back at her. “Just because you’re in a relationship doesn’t mean you’re being controlled.”
    “No? If John called right now and said he needed you, you’d leave. Am I right?”
    “If I were with John right now and you called and said you needed me, I’d leave. That says nothing.”
    “Okay, if John told you he didn’t want you going somewhere, you’d…obey him.”
    “I wouldn’t obey him. I’d listen to his reasoning and if it was valid, I’d do what he asked. Same as for anyone who made a credible statement. Where’s this coming from?”
    “I don’t know.” Quinn sighed.
    “I know your parents have an amazing relationship. And they’re best friends. So what’s happened that you’re in this mindset?”
    Quinn pushed a lock of her curly red hair behind her ear. “I think maybe it was because of my Aunt Constance. She was my favorite, but when I was ten or so, she came to visit one Christmas and brought the man she was seeing and it was weird. She’d always been such a free spirit but with this guy, it was like he’d tamed her and I hated that.” Tilly looked at her like she’d seen a fucking lightbulb go on over her head. “I know. I’m a psychologist. I get it.” She rolled her eyes.
    Tilly laughed. “Your aunt was in love, Quinn. That’s all it was.”
    “Yeah, yeah. But it was traumatizing for some damned reason.”
    “You don’t have to change for anyone, you know that, right?”
    “I know.”
    “And back to your dating these guys who can be bossed around. I think Gunner scares you because you know that’s not gonna happen.” She raised an eyebrow. “If there’s anything I’ve learned, these CEP guys are all alphas.”
    Quinn snorted out a laugh. “I’m definitely not a beta.”
    Tilly laughed with her. “No, that you’re definitely not.”
    “It’ll never work. We’re both too obstinate.”
    Tilly shrugged. “It can work.”
    “And I don’t wanna be controlled,” Quinn now said soberly. “Especially not in the bedroom.”
    “Oh, honey, let me just say this, although it might seem as if John’s in control in the bedroom, he tells me all the time that I am, and I love that.” At Quinn’s look of consternation, she explained. “He tells me it’s all for me, and that’s a head rush. And you know what else? It’s, God, even more incredibly amazing because after dealing with running the studio all day and being the boss for hours on end, when he takes me to bed, I like that he takes charge.”
    “Damn, Till, have another glass. You’ve never talked this much about your sex life.” Now Tilly was embarrassed. “Aw! Look at you now, all blushy and shit!”
    “Shut it,” Tilly said, holding her glass up yet again to the waitress as she passed by.
    “Thatta girl,” Quinn said with a giggle.
    But Quinn loved that her best friend had that with her husband.
    She just wished she could find it for herself.
     

Chapter 6
     
    “I ever get another job like that, shoot me,” Gunner grumbled to Brock.
    It was Thursday night and he and Brock Wilse, another CEP member, Chase’s old roommate who’d gone pre-med but hadn’t done his internship yet, were sitting in Brock’s ‘66 Mustang in the parking lot of a sleazy motel ready to take pictures of a supposedly cheating husband.
    Brock laughed. “You were guarding a pageant queen. What’s so tough about that shit?”
    “I’ll tell you what was tough. A three-hour luncheon and five-hour dinner surrounded by every New York City socialite there was. I’ve never heard so many women talking about purses and hats and shit. Fucking ridiculous. Then Ms. Carmichael wanted to engage me with her vast knowledge of Pilates, telling me I should join her in a class.”
    “Dude. She’s hot. You should’ve gone for it.”
    “Not my type. I like women who