Page 33 of The Lamb and the Llama
Richard’s eyes immediately darted to his office door. “Amira?” Richard shifted his gaze between Stan and Amira, his mouth slightly agape.
“I’ll leave you two to talk,” Stan said, standing. “From what I’ve heard, you both need to.” Stan exited the room.
“Carol told you, too? Who doesn’t know I didn’t call him?”
Stan turned to face Amira and shrugged. “Someone had to clear your flight plan. How was the private jet?”
“I thought you were leaving, Stan.” Richard’s voice came out a little sterner than he would have liked, but Amira was here, and he didn’t want to wait a minute longer to apologize—even if that would be the last thing he’d say to her before she started her new life without him.
Stan put out his palms in Richard’s direction. “All right, all right, I’m going.”
Amira came in and closed the door before sitting in the chair in Richard’s office.
“My promotion comes with a few perks. I get to come and go to Greece whenever my boss sees fit.”
Richard’s heart sank to his stomach. Just when he was trying to get used to Amira not being near him in BC these past couple of days, he realized it wouldn’t matter. Stan could pull on his heartstrings like a puppet master anytime he saw fit by bringing her back and forth from WANC.
“Well, I’m glad Stan is doing that for you. It’ll be nice to see more of Greece, I’m sure.”
Amira gave Richard an incredulous look. “I’ll admit I chickened out with calling you while I was in Greece the past couple of days. I wasn’t sure where your head was. You were quiet when you left, but I kept saying to myself that you were just tired from that fight with Zagan and the concussion. However, I’ll admit I was surprised you didn’t call or text me with work. I was sure you’d need my help with CRAP. Then again, I wasn’t sure you wanted to see me either.” She let out a breath before continuing. “Richard, if you’re having second thoughts about us, I’ll understand. I won’t like it, and it’ll be hard getting used to the idea of us broken up, but I’ll understand.”
Richard got up from his desk and rushed over to Amira. He wouldn’t let her think such thoughts. Especially since he was the one that screwed up. Once her reach her, he had her in his arms within seconds. And for the first time since his plane touched down in BC, he felt like he was home. Home in her arms.
“No, Amira. That’s not what I want. All I want is for you to be happy, and I hope that happiness includes me in your life. Even if I almost screwed up while we tried to collar Zagan. The truth is, though, these past few days have been hell without you. I don’t want us apart for that long ever again. But only if you will have me,” he said, stroking her hair.
“Richard, I don’t want to be apart from you, either.”
Richard pulled away from her embrace slightly to gaze at her, instantly mourning the loss of the heat between them. But he had to apologize for his actions before he said anything else to her.
“Amira, I’m sorry for what happened when I fought Zagan. I almost killed him for hurting you, and I shouldn’t have thought that way. I should always have a cool head as a FUC agent.”
“Richard, you stopped yourself from doing so. That means you’re a good FUC.”
Richard pulled her into his arms once more. She didn’t blame him for trying to be her white knight. In fact, she understood his need to protect her.
“Do you really mean that?”
“Of course I do,” she said as her nose nuzzled the crux of his neck.
Richard pulled away from her again to meet her gaze.
“Amira, I love you.”
“And I love you, too.”
He closed the distance between them as he crashed his lips onto hers. And for the first time since they knew what Zagan had done to them, he was grateful that he couldn’t remember their first date. They wouldn’t have shared this kiss otherwise. A kiss so toe-curling and passionate that he never wanted it to end. But once it did, he was certain it would be a kiss he’d never forget for the rest of his life.
The End.
