Page 32 of Designation: Null

Robert has never, ever taken someone down like that. He didn’t know it could be like that. Hell, he’s never even wanted something like that. Now he does. He wants it again already. The urge to come on Logan’s face is almost overwhelming, and he stumbles to the bathroom, closes the door and jerks off twice without stopping.

It makes him feel a little calmer, at least.

Dominance is a strange thing.

Well, likely being a submissive is strange, too. But Robert’s dominance was actually pretty boring before Logan.

He’s always channeled his dominance into nonsexual, platonic interactions.

Robert joinedthe military because he got sick and neither he nor his parents could afford treatment. This was the option—good health but he’d have a designation and belong to the military for a decade.

He’d agreed. It was that or death. He was cured and changed all at the same time. His parents felt guilty. His siblings came to visit him and cried.

They’d all weep over him, they were all so worried, and he got used to spending all of his dominant energy trying to keep everyone calm, reassure them, and then he did it for soldiers, for other submissives and then Dominants too. And the truth is that he’d never questioned how his designation might have expressed itself if his life had gone differently.

It’s never occurred to him that he might be missing something.

Frankly, the idea of being some sex-crazed Dominant, like the ones he sees at work, fills him with revulsion. He’d gone so far the other way, practically running away from dating submissives, that he’d even dated another Dominant. The high watermark of Robert’s “my designation isn’t tied into sex because I’m better than that” attitude.

Before Logan, he’d go so far as to say sex wasn’t all that important to him. He can’t say that now.

Apparently, he was just waiting for the right person.

There’sa knock on his door. It’s Hank, which is a surprise. They don’t get along and he can’t imagine why he’d come to Robert’s office. Robert’s office is big enough the Dominant won’t be able to see Logan. “You haven’t seen Burrows, have you?”

Robert exits his office, closing the door behind him. “No. Why?” He sounds calm but that isn’t how he feels.

“Wanted to do some sparring. Pretty sure he hasn’t been getting his hours in lately. What do you think of his designation?”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean, I’m pretty sure he isn’t as unapproachable as he wants us to think he is. That could be dangerous on missions if he falls apart.”

“You’re worried about him and everyone else, huh? How considerate.”

“Aren’t I?” Hank says, clearly amused at himself. “I saw him come this way. Couldn’t hardly keep it together in the meeting we were in… you know. Just thought I’d offer to help.”

“I’m pretty sure Logan isn’t looking for you, so why don’t you leave it alone,” Robert says, deadly quiet.

Hank shivers, putting his hand to his neck, reacting to Robert’s dominance. His other hand actually strays to where his weapon should be.

White-hot rage is rising within him as everything clicks into place. Logan had come to his office to hide; he’d known Hank wanted to hurt him and Robert had been a sanctuary. At least he was supposed to be.

Logan’s designation is so out of whack that Hank would have been able to get Logan to do anything he wanted. Just corner him and it might be enough, his poor baby is so out of sorts.

Hank takes a step back. “Christ. You better get laid. You’re giving me a headache,” he grumbles.

“You know what? You stay the fuck away from Logan, or the next time we spar I’ll make you present. I’ll make you bark like a fucking dog. And I’ll make sure everyone is there. You’ll be a laughingstock.”

Hank pales. It’s satisfying. “You wouldn’t. You can’t do that,” he whispers. He’s already walking away. They both know Robert could. Hank is a Dominant but he’s not as strong as he wants to be. He’s constantly trying to pretend he’s more powerful than he is. He’s always trying to amplify his scent and intimidate with his body language, and there isn’t anything more frightening to a pathetic Dom like that than humiliation.

Robert always takes Hank down. And when he gets knocked around a bit too much, his dominance seems to go on the fritz. Robert could definitely have him embarrass himself.

Hank leaves but Robert knows this isn’t over. Hank will go straight to First Lieutenant Peters, and that will cause problems for Logan and Robert.

Why the fuck Hank has so much clout with Peters is beyond him. Everyone is curious; no one knows why.

He goes backinto his office and gets his keys, leaves a note for Logan, and locks him inside. Hank is nowhere to be found. He should have hit him. Should have made it more than a threat. He’s letting Hank get away with it, which has him throbbing with suppressed rage.

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