Charmed: A Masters and Mercenar - Lexi Blake Page 0,65
I won’t teach them they’re less. If they decide they want to teach school or cut hair, then good for them. They’ll give it their all, and I’ll do my best to make sure they’re safe. But my girls are probably going to follow in their momma’s footsteps, and that means they’ll throw themselves into the dangerous stuff because it’s their calling. I take it this conversation is about how JT fucked up?”
“Yeah, he still doesn’t understand,” Alex replied.
He hated feeling like everyone thought he was an idiot. “Look, I took all those training classes at Sanctum. I thought we were supposed to protect our subs. I know she’s not wearing my collar, but I want to work toward that.”
Ian snorted. “I don’t think Nina’s going to be that kind of sub.” He sighed and sat back. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t make fun of you. It’s habit. You seem to have missed the part of class where we talk about there being no one way to have a D/s relationship. I think you’ll find Nina’s on the ‘keep it to the club’ level of submission. Have you not talked about this at all? About how you would behave out in the field?”
He felt himself flush. “I told her I would defer to her since she’s the pro.”
“And then the first chance you get you tell her you’re in charge,” Alex pointed out.
“Dick move,” Ian said. “Remember when I told you dicks are delicate. Yep, you proved my point.”
“Look, man, this would be a solid plan if Nina was your assistant,” Alex said.
“The funny thing is I wouldn’t even have thought of pulling Deanna out.” It was a tough admission to make. “One of the things I like about her is how solid she is. She’s rough and sometimes mean, but I don’t have to worry about her being…fragile. I do treat Deanna like I would any other employee.”
“Nina isn’t fragile either, and I for one wish I was going on this op because at some point in time that assistant of yours is going to get on Nina’s last nerve, and that’s when the wrestling begins,” Tag said. “Have the resort place handy women-sized vats of your favorite gelatin product around the grounds and let them go at it.”
He seriously doubted Nina would lose her cool. Because she was a professional. Because she had a job to do and she took it seriously. “I don’t think I can stand it if she gets hurt.”
Tag took a drink and sat back. “Then you need to find a woman with a safer job.” He was quiet for a moment and then all sarcasm had been purged from his voice. “Is this about Dana?”
JT took a long breath and let it out. “Maybe partly. It gets easier over the years, but then something will remind me that she’s gone and I don’t know where she is. After all this time, I know she’s probably dead, but I wish I knew.”
“Chelsea is heartsick that she can’t find a trace of her,” Alex said. “It was one of the reasons she left the Agency and started this company with Adam.”
“But some people, despite all of our best efforts, are never found. We lose some, and that’s the hardest part of this job. We don’t always win, but we get up the next day and we strap on our armor and go back into the fight.” Tag gestured toward the hall that led to the master bedroom. “That’s what Nina does. You need to decide if that’s what you want. I’m not saying you can’t have an amazing partner if she doesn’t also snipe the bad guys. Avery O’Donnell is one of the finest women I’ve ever met, and she knows to duck when the bullets fly. Her strength is different but no less powerful. Nina needs to do her job to feel whole and complete. She will also need a partner who trusts her enough, who loves her enough, to take those risks with her.”
“And that might not be you,” Alex said with nauseating sympathy. “You should think about it.”
“I really do think Michael can do this.” Tag’s voice was soft, offering him a way out. “And he does need a haircut.”
He shook his head and finally took a long swig of that Scotch. It burned down his throat. “No. I’m going in with her. I’m going to find a way to win her back.”
Tag nodded as though he approved. “Excellent. Then you’re going to