Page 17 of Dangerous Games (Tempting SEALs 2)

"You're pushing me, Morganna," he said as she smiled innocently, batting her eyelashes just because she knew it pissed him off. She received a glare in return.

"I'm just waiting for words of wisdom to spout from your golden lips." She smiled innocently. "Figured you'd take offense."

He ignored her, turning to Joe instead. "They won't sell to someone they can't vet thoroughly. Your men are good men, but I'm betting they weren't a part of the scene before two years ago."

"Not in this area." Joe shook his head firmly. "We pulled several in from New York and one from California, though. They have solid reputations in the bondage community."

"But whoever is testing this drug here is damned careful," Clint pointed out. "You need someone he knows, someone he can vet easily. Someone known for his dominance as well as the fact that no one has ever said no to him. But also a male careful enough to want to dose his woman himself, to be sure she stays safe. Pull in a female agent strong enough to work the part, I'll work with her."

Morganna felt the slow, steady burn of betrayal begin to consume her. He wouldn't do this to her, surely?

"This is my assignment, Clint."

"You're not involved." The edge of command in his voice vibrated through the room. "I have six

weeks' leave. Pull her off the case and I'll work with you."

"You can't do that," she cried out painfully.

She turned to the agents she had worked with for the past year and with a sense of failure realized she had lost. "Do you really think you can find an agent experienced enough to say no to him?"

"Willing to fuck and willing to submit are two different things, as you point out, Morganna," Joe argued. "A man wanting submission is not going to settle for just a roll in the sheets. Especially a well-known Dom."

"Morganna, arguing over this isn't going to help," Clint replied in return. "They need a dependable Dom that fits into this area more than they need you at present. My terms are that you go off the case."

She blinked back at him in shock and pain. "You can keep using Craig to push for the drug." She turned to Joe for support. There was none. "He's been there long enough, Joe. Anyone who knows Clint knows he's a SEAL. They'll never go for it."

"Anyone who knows me knows a hell of a lot more about me than you do, Morganna," he pointed out, his voice soft. "I don't take no for an answer. It would be in my character to take what I want. However I had to."

"This is so bogus." She forced back her pain, her knowledge that she was losing, as she turned to Joe again. "You're going to go along with this, aren't you?"

It was there in their faces. They would hear any argument she had, but they had what they'd wanted all along, a local Dom they could trust.

Six months wasted, and this was what she had to show for it, Clint walking in and throwing her out.

She dropped her arms as she stared back at all of them, aware of Clint's waiting stillness, the tension that zapped around him.

"Morganna, it's better this way-" Joe met her gaze, his eyes narrowed, his expression thoughtful.

"Save the apologies," she snapped, catching the satisfaction that shimmered in Clint's eyes. "I've had enough of the five of you. I'm going home. I'll lodge my protest with the commander Monday morning."

"We're not finished," Clint reminded her, his voice dark, furious, as she turned and stalked to the door.

As she gripped the door handle she turned back to him, a bright, false smile tipping her lips.

"Oh, you mean the fucking thing?" she asked with false innocence. "Thanks, but no thanks. See if your pretty little submissive agent can give you what you need, because I'll be damned if you have anything I want."

WHAT HAD GOTTEN INTO HER? Clint cursed in four different languages as he followed Morganna's cab at a sedate distance until it pulled up on her street. He continued on to the alley behind her house, turned off his truck lights, and pulled into the back driveway he knew was never used.

Would she be pissed enough to look to see if he was sitting there? He doubted if she would see him if she did. The overhang of the old garage Reno's father used to tinker in before his and his wife's deaths would hide the vehicle from the second story, and the lawn furniture directly ahead of Clint would shield him from the back unless she turned on the porch light.

He rolled down his window, listening as the front door slammed and lights flipped on through the house.

Why couldn't he just leave it alone? he asked himself as he stared at the house. Joe Merino and Grant Samuels had promised to take watch out front on her tonight; it wasn't like Clint needed to be there. Still, he couldn't help himself.

He watched as the kitchen light flared and her silhouette moved through the room. Graceful, slender.

Clint leaned his arms on the steering wheel as he sighed wearily.

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