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I wondered if it was the man she was interested in, whose name she’d never shared with me, but figured we’d know soon enough. It wasn’t. Instead, a very beautiful woman named Bexli showed up. After introducing her to me, Kima said she needed to return to Shere immediately, and the two left.
They couldn’t have been to the end of the street yet when Levi picked me up and carried me into the bedroom. Both of us frantically tore at one another’s clothes, then made love.
“I missed you more than I imagined possible,” he said as we lay in each other’s arms.
“It was the same for me. I was very grateful for Kima’s company, though.”
Levi’s fingers trailed up and down my arm, leaving shivers in their wake. “It fills my heart to see how well the two of you get on.”
I knew enough from Niven to understand he couldn’t talk about the missions. It was harder not to ask with Levi. We’d shared so much about ourselves in the time we were together that I found myself unsure what else to say.
“I, um, thought it best to wait until you returned to make the transition from the flat to the house.”
“El, I realize how difficult this is, and while there isn’t much I can tell you, it doesn’t mean you have to hide your worry from me. I can feel it.”
I buried my face in his shoulder. “I feel so foolish.”
“Look at me,” he said, and when I did, he kissed me. “I’ve never had someone in my life who was aware of when I had to leave or when I returned. There are people I check in with, but that is more a matter of procedure. It might sound sadistic, but I like having you worry for me.”
I smiled. “Yes, you’re right. Very sadistic.”
“I also loved the look I saw on your face when I walked into the studio today. Even more, I loved that you ran over and threw your arms around me.” He sighed and scrubbed his face. “There are things we should talk about, though.”
I wanted to bury my face again, but it was obvious that whatever Levi was about to say wouldn’t be easy for him.
He turned so he was facing me, and I did the same.
“Should anything happen, a man named Archer Alexander will contact you. His code name is Z.”
“I know of him,” I said through sudden tear-filled eyes. Just the idea that I might lose the man I love had me close to sobbing. “It’s so much harder than with Niven,” I confessed.
“I cannot tell you how much that relieves me.” When he smiled, I did too.
I put my hand on his cheek. “I love you, Levi, and I’ll be very, very angry with you if anything ever happens to you.”
“I love you, Eliza.”
His sigh made me think there was more he wanted to say, so I remained silent. A few minutes passed before he did.
“I never thought I’d question my chosen career path. In fact, it was Kima’s stepfather who strongly cautioned me before I joined SIS. It was meeting her mother that made him rethink his own decision. Had he lived, I believe he would’ve left the business.”
“To be honest, I’m surprised Niven is returning.”
“From what I’ve heard, he has stipulations,” Typhon commented.
“Can you tell me what they are?”
“He’s essentially agreed to a desk job and will work only remotely or from Shere. If it’s the latter, he’s stipulated he’ll only remain at the end of each day if there is an emergency situation requiring him to do so. Which brings me to something else I’ve meant to discuss with you.”
“Go on.”
“I would like to make use of a room either on the third or fourth floor to set up an office similar to the one I have in London and at my house in Portugal.”
“Of course. It’s not necessary that you discuss it with me, Levi. It’s your house.”
He shook his head. “It’s ours, El, and the reason I’m talking to you about it is it will have to be highly secure, and that means adding systems that are extraordinary.”
“I understand.”