Jamie sighed tiredly. “The Joint Chiefs counseled him, as did the directors of the FBI and CIA.”
Kyle hid his scowl behind his coffee mug. “I hope he ignored the CIA director like the fucking blind idiot that man is.”
Jamie didn’t respond, which told Kyle that was a solidno. Fucking politics.
“If we could have kept the CIA out of the loop, we would have.”
“The investigation into that damn agency has been going on forever. Hell, the damn special counsel the DOJ appointed to look into your father is moving faster than that investigation.”
“Wouldn’t be surprised if Bennett was slowing it down somehow.”
“I’ll slow him down with a .50 cal to the head,” Kyle muttered.
Jamie’s chuckle rumbled through his chest, though there was little humor in the sound. “I won’t stop you.”
“I know you won’t.”
“Yes, well, that’s a level of paperwork I don’t want to deal with. Finish your coffee and stop thinking about murder.”
“But I’d be doing the world a favor.”
“No.”
Kyle let out a long-suffering sigh. “Fine.”
Jamie lightly slapped his ass before tucking a finger under Kyle’s chin to tilt his head back for a slow, deep kiss that tasted of coffee.
“Let’s just get through today, all right?” Jamie murmured against his mouth.
“We will,” Kyle said.
It felt like a promise, and Kyle had every intention of keeping it. Jamie didn’t seem convinced, judging by the faint frown on his face. Kyle rose up on the balls of his feet to kiss it away, nipping at Jamie’s lips.
“We trust you,” Kyle reminded him. “Itrust you. So trust yourself, okay?”
Jamie didn’t say anything to that, just kissed him one more time before stepping away. “I need to get on the road.”
“I’ll finish your coffee.”
Jamie shook his head, but there was a smile on his face now. “You do that.”
The fondness in his tone had Kyle returning the smile. Jamie set aside his coffee mug before lifting Kyle’s left hand to his mouth, kissing his knuckles and the engagement ring. Kyle tried not to hold his breath as Jamie removed the ring, feeling momentarily bereft after it left his finger.
Jamie closed his fingers over the ring and stroked his other hand down Kyle’s face. “I’m sorry.”
“It’s not your fault. We both chose this and I wouldn’t change a damn thing.”
The words came out fiercely, quietly, a wealth of stubborn love behind them. As much as Kyle looked forward to the day he could wear the ring Jamie had given him outside the walls of their home, he didn’t regret having to hide their relationship. Doing so would mean he regretted Jamie, and nothing could be further from the truth.
Jamie stepped away from Kyle and left the kitchen for the bedroom, presumably to put the ring away for safekeeping until it was time for Kyle to wear it again. When he returned, Jamie kissed Kyle one last time before leaving for his meeting with the director. Kyle slumped against the kitchen counter and morosely finished both their cups of coffee. He was contemplating making another pot when the tone that meant Alexei was calling filled his ears, so he answered.
“>” Kyle asked.
“>” Alexei said through a yawn.
“>”
Alexei muttered something rude that Kyle ignored as he put the empty coffee mugs in the sink.
