“Hannah Conti believes her husband bought one of the properties for his mistress although he denies he’s having an affair. From intel Jordan managed to gather, combined with the way she reacted to Knox flirting with Bastian, the Swiss model, Mia Kunz is involved with him.” She tapped her fingers on the desk. “Although I doubt she has any association with the Mob.”
“Looks can be deceiving. The Mafia is known to rope in anyone if it means they could reap the benefit.”
“Maybe, but her attention was centered on Bastian. She hardly took notice of anyone else the entire time we were there.”
"And?"
"And what? I didn't want us to be banging heads together, again, should our paths happen to cross during surveillance."
"In other words, after all that’s been said and done, you're going to continue putting your lives in danger?"
A discontented sigh fell from her lips as she fought off the urge to speak her mind.
“You need to understand that we made a commitment to Hannah Conti. She insisted on paying our full fee upfront. It goes against my professional ethics to drop her now.” She leaned forward. “Jordan told me she has information about the properties in question. Based on what we find, our job might be over. As easy as that."
"And if it's not?"
"Well... if we need to dig further, we will ensure to wear disguises whenever we're out in the open. We know how to blend in with the masses, Commander. You worry for nothing."
"No, Paxton, you're playing with fire. I warned you of the danger and yet you persist in ignoring me." He regarded her with a closed expression. He smirked as he came to a decision. "I can't afford to be distracted, but you're not giving me a choice. I’m going to put Brock in charge of our operation so I can give my complete attention to this case."
“Now you’re being ridiculous. I can assure you that I...wedon’t need you to babysit us.”
Jared wasn’t bothered by the cold look she shot at him. He crossed his arms, offering a piercing glare in return.
"I have no intention of babysitting you, but rather join your team temporarily. And furthermore, it’s not up for debate. I’m getting involved whether you like it or not. And here’s the deal— if you withhold anything from me, anything at all, I will have you removed. "
"You’ll what?" She glared furiously at him. “This is my business. You have no jurisdiction toremoveme!”
He didn’t budge. "Exclude me from any decisions, feedback or progress reports or worse, go on surveillance or stake outs without me and your wings will be clipped quicker than you can blink... at least until Boneiro and his mob are behind bars."
"I suppose you believe in fairytales, Commander Bates. You will never clip my wings." She blasted him with a derisive glower as she stood up.
He prowled closer until they stood toe-to-toe. She could feel the heat of his body as he leaned in. His chest brushed against her breasts, stealing her breath as she felt her nipples growing hard but she refused to step back.
Like hell would he know how the formidable expression on his face affected her... how she envisioned what it would be like to be under his full sexual domination. She exhaled slowly. The penny dropped.
Without him saying a word, she acknowledged that in front of her now, stood the powerful Dom. The one who excited her without even the slightest touch, confusing her with how effortlessly the switch to full Dom mode happened. His gaze flashed as he watched her tongue flick over her lips.
"Won't I, Paxton?" he responded to her earlier dare. "Why don't I prove to you that I will and that you’ll give in without a fight?"
"No thank you. What youcando is leave so my team and I can examine Jordan's intel."
"Not yet." His voice lowered. “You’ve been challenging me for weeks and we both know what it is you’re aiming for.”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
He smiled indulgently but the glint of disappointment in his eyes scolded her for the blatant lie. She shivered as he traced her jaw with the gentlest touch.
“You’re hungry to be dominated, little one. It’s there in every sassy remark, in the way your eyes beg me to take the reins you’re so desperate to relinquish.”
“What reins,” she managed to murmur as she leaned her cheek into his touch. His heart missed a beat at the show of unconscious submission.
“You live in a world where you have to be in control all the time. Your combat history as an army ranger is intertwined with your DNA. You have to be strong to lead your team. You crave the sweet relief to let go of all of this. To allow someone else to take charge so you can relax and enjoy the ride.” His eyes followed the path of his finger as he discovered the fullness of her bottom lip. “At a guess, I’d say you haven’t fully submitted to a Dom since your husband passed away.”
Her eyes lifted to his. “How did you know we lived a BDSM Lifestyle?”
“I knew your husband, Paxton. I was in Afghanistan on a covert mission when he was killed.”