together. This wasn’t any of his business.
“I hope it’s not because of this assignment. If the guys are bothering you about
it, I can talk to them.”
Reed seemed to have suddenly grown larger, his eyes a bit darker.
Protective.
“Can you cut the macho crap?” I snapped to cover the strange sense of appreciation
that budded within me. “I can handle Clayton and Smith on my own.”
Reed sighed heavily, then shrugged. “Suit yourself. If you change your mind, the
offer’s always on the table.”
My gaze turned sharp. “So you think they’ll listen to you because you’re a Dom and
they’ll ignore me because I’m a natural submissive? ”
His frown twisted further. “That has nothing to do with it. I want to have your
back, and that includes supporting your decisions. I’m supposed to be your partner.
Let me do my job.”
In that moment, a hint of vulnerability trickled through his iron eyes.
I’m not the only one who wants to earn the men’s respect, I realized in a flash. I had wanted to prevent Miller from stealing my op, but I
hadn’t meant to burn him with the unit. This was his first mission, and he needed
to prove himself every bit as much as I did.
I blew out a long breath. “Okay, Reed. I’m sorry. This assignment has just got
me so twisted around in my own head. I promise I’m not usually this much of a prickly
bitch.”
That drew a laugh from him. “I guessed as much. I’m sure you’re sweet when you aren’t
biting everyone’s heads off.”
“Why?” I asked challengingly. “Because I’m a submissive, I’m a sweet girl?”
“No. Because I can tell you’re a good person. And I suspect that you’re a nice one,
too. You’re only acting like a prickly bitch because you care so much about your relationships with the guys. You want them to
be proud of you.”
I held up a hand, shaking my head sharply. “Please. Stop. Just stop it.” I was
more than a touch desperate. “If I wanted to be psychoanalyzed, I would go see the
unit shrink.”
“I hit a nerve again,” Reed said apologetically. “Sorry.”
Damn right you hit a nerve.
“You want them to be proud of you.”
I shuddered slightly. God, were my daddy issues that obvious? I thought I had gotten
over that in college.
Apparently not. Apparently spending a lifetime seeking my dad’s approval, his pride,
his love, had warped me more than I had realized. When the only person left in the
world that you love becomes incapable of loving you back, that shit leaves scars.
“It’s okay.” My frustration with myself caused the words to come out through clenched
teeth.
“No, it obviously isn’t.”
Why couldn’t the man just leave me the hell alone?
“What are you? A fucking mind reader?” I snapped before I could stop myself.
I gasped almost as soon as the last word was out. Sure, I had been waspish toward
Reed, but I never flung open insults around like that. “Oh, god. Sorry, Reed. I
didn’t mean-”
“It’s all right, Sharon.” His expression was shockingly gentle. I had expected anger,
not calm understanding. “You’re wound up tight. I get that. More than you know.
I’m not trying to annoy you or add to your stress. But I won’t stop being anything
but bluntly honest with you. If you’re confused about what’s going on with you, honest
self-reflection is the best way to work through it. No matter how hard that might
be.”
The breath I drew in was shaky, hitching on the threat of a soft sob. I resolutely
held it in. I felt raw, exposed, utterly defeated.
I didn’t want to face my anger, my confusion. Because I had a nasty suspicion of
the conclusions that would come out on the other end.
Derek’s magnetism and the appeal of what he offered me were more alluring than anything
I had ever known. And the fact that I was so
“I hope it’s not because of this assignment. If the guys are bothering you about
it, I can talk to them.”
Reed seemed to have suddenly grown larger, his eyes a bit darker.
Protective.
“Can you cut the macho crap?” I snapped to cover the strange sense of appreciation
that budded within me. “I can handle Clayton and Smith on my own.”
Reed sighed heavily, then shrugged. “Suit yourself. If you change your mind, the
offer’s always on the table.”
My gaze turned sharp. “So you think they’ll listen to you because you’re a Dom and
they’ll ignore me because I’m a natural submissive? ”
His frown twisted further. “That has nothing to do with it. I want to have your
back, and that includes supporting your decisions. I’m supposed to be your partner.
Let me do my job.”
In that moment, a hint of vulnerability trickled through his iron eyes.
I’m not the only one who wants to earn the men’s respect, I realized in a flash. I had wanted to prevent Miller from stealing my op, but I
hadn’t meant to burn him with the unit. This was his first mission, and he needed
to prove himself every bit as much as I did.
I blew out a long breath. “Okay, Reed. I’m sorry. This assignment has just got
me so twisted around in my own head. I promise I’m not usually this much of a prickly
bitch.”
That drew a laugh from him. “I guessed as much. I’m sure you’re sweet when you aren’t
biting everyone’s heads off.”
“Why?” I asked challengingly. “Because I’m a submissive, I’m a sweet girl?”
“No. Because I can tell you’re a good person. And I suspect that you’re a nice one,
too. You’re only acting like a prickly bitch because you care so much about your relationships with the guys. You want them to
be proud of you.”
I held up a hand, shaking my head sharply. “Please. Stop. Just stop it.” I was
more than a touch desperate. “If I wanted to be psychoanalyzed, I would go see the
unit shrink.”
“I hit a nerve again,” Reed said apologetically. “Sorry.”
Damn right you hit a nerve.
“You want them to be proud of you.”
I shuddered slightly. God, were my daddy issues that obvious? I thought I had gotten
over that in college.
Apparently not. Apparently spending a lifetime seeking my dad’s approval, his pride,
his love, had warped me more than I had realized. When the only person left in the
world that you love becomes incapable of loving you back, that shit leaves scars.
“It’s okay.” My frustration with myself caused the words to come out through clenched
teeth.
“No, it obviously isn’t.”
Why couldn’t the man just leave me the hell alone?
“What are you? A fucking mind reader?” I snapped before I could stop myself.
I gasped almost as soon as the last word was out. Sure, I had been waspish toward
Reed, but I never flung open insults around like that. “Oh, god. Sorry, Reed. I
didn’t mean-”
“It’s all right, Sharon.” His expression was shockingly gentle. I had expected anger,
not calm understanding. “You’re wound up tight. I get that. More than you know.
I’m not trying to annoy you or add to your stress. But I won’t stop being anything
but bluntly honest with you. If you’re confused about what’s going on with you, honest
self-reflection is the best way to work through it. No matter how hard that might
be.”
The breath I drew in was shaky, hitching on the threat of a soft sob. I resolutely
held it in. I felt raw, exposed, utterly defeated.
I didn’t want to face my anger, my confusion. Because I had a nasty suspicion of
the conclusions that would come out on the other end.
Derek’s magnetism and the appeal of what he offered me were more alluring than anything
I had ever known. And the fact that I was so
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