23. Eliza

23

ELIZA

" M y apologies for leaving you on your own," I said to Kima when I returned to our table.

"Are you all right?"

She was lovely, and honestly, I wished Levi had introduced us sooner. I really needed a mate, and I sensed she did too. "I'm fine, and I'm not just saying that. I have some experience, albeit limited, with what's involved in working for SIS."

"By any chance, is the person you're alluding to the man you were speaking with when Typhon and I arrived?"

"Yes. Do you know him?"

"We haven't met, but I know of him."

"He's my cousin. Niven St. Thomas."

Kima nodded.

"As I said to Levi, Niv once told me he doesn't get on with many at MI6."

"I don't work for them, so I wouldn't know." She took a sip of her drink and looked about the room.

"The apartment may be a better place for us to have this conversation."

"You're right. So, tell me about Casa Melro."

No doubt my cheeks flushed. I couldn't very well confide that I'd had more sex the week Levi and I were there than in my entire life. Not to mention, better than I'd dreamed possible. "It's lovely," I said instead.

Kima smirked. "I've never been."

"I don't know why not. I mean, the place is ginormous. Plenty of room for visitors."

"Typhon considers it his sanctuary. Until you, he's never taken anyone there."

I nodded once. "As I've heard."

"The two of you are quite in love."

My cheeks flushed again. "I realize we haven't known each other long, but we are."

She ran her finger around the rim of her glass. "My stepfather always said he fell in love with my mother the minute he met her."

"Levi and I may have shared a similar experience."

"I adore that." She took a deep breath and let it out slowly.

"Anyone special in your life?"

She looked about the room a second time, then leaned forward. "There is, but you must promise not to tell Typhon."

I didn't like the idea of keeping secrets from him, but this was Kima's, not mine. "Okay."

"He's someone we work with. Actually, he works for Typhon."

"I see. To be honest with you, Kima, I wouldn't be surprised if Levi already knew. I don't think much escapes him."

"He suspects. He also warned him away from me."

My eyes opened wide.

"Sadly, I fear his interest is solely limited to friendship. Still, Typhon would likely warn anyone who might express interest away. Again, not that he has. Not in that way."

She seemed to overemphasize the man's lack of interest. On the other hand, maybe she was right and he only cared about her as a friend. I'd certainly experience enough of that at university. "You and Typhon definitely have a big-brother, little-sister vibe."

"Vibe?" Kima laughed and I did too.

"Just trying to live up to my hip, creative, bohemian-artist persona."

"Excellent job, then." She rolled her eyes, and we both giggled.

We were forced to settle down when the server came to take our order. "What about the other party? Should I come back to see what he'd like?"

"He was called away on business," Kima responded.

"If you're unable to remain in Brighton, I'll be fine on my own," I offered once the server had left.

"I'd appreciate it very much if, instead, you said you needed me desperately and there is no way you can manage on your own. I'm bored out of my wits in Shere."

"Done, and you're right. I'm quite incapable of managing on my own."

Kima and I had a lovely time in the five days Levi was gone. When he returned without notice, he was surprised to find her still in Brighton but not displeased.

He and I were both anxious to be alone, which she was sensitive enough to pick up on. So, after a few hours of catching up, she even made arrangements to have someone in Shere come and get her.

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."

"You would not have access, either."

As I'd said, I understood everything he was saying and why. I also accepted none of this could be taken as an assumption of agreement.

"Whatever is necessary, I will willingly go along with. I'm also willing to guarantee my cooperation by any means you require."

He leaned in and kissed my forehead. "You are the perfect woman."

"I'm hardly that, Levi."

"You are the perfect woman for me ."