She nuzzles into my chest, mumbling. “Mine.”
Chapter 21
Cambria
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“Oh my goodness, it’sa work of art,” I praise Lucien, looking up at him in admiration.
“I had a feeling you’d enjoy it,” he rumbles.
He’s seated behind his desk in his study and I promptly climb onto his lap, looking at the folder with a wide grin. “You were right, I love you for this.”
He’s quiet, merely humming his approval and wrapping an arm around my waist, his thumb brushing across the skin beneath the hem of my shirt. Well, it’s Atlas’, but I figure he should learn to share better and absconded with it.
I clear my throat and read one of the forged reports. “Dierdre Alexis Davis, age twenty, is hereby enrolled in the witness protection program. After witnessing her parents’ brutal murder at the accused hands of members of the Ivanov crime syndicate, she will receive a new identity and protection until enough evidence can be gathered to present a case against the Ivanov family. Henceforth, she shall assume the identity of Cambria Alina Lark, aged twenty-three.”
Lucien reaches around me to grab a request submitted from a police officer. “Under the recommendation of Detective Harper, Dierdre Davis, henceforth known as Cambria Lark, will be placed into the custody of Lucien Avrell. In the absence of an officer’s presence, Lucien Avrell, Dorian Grey, and Atlas Donovan will be responsible for her protection until law enforcement can arrive,” he reads.
“It’s beautifully dramatic and a perfect explanation,” I praise. “If it ever came under scrutiny as to why I was kissing you in public, you could spin it as preserving my cover. Just say you thought you saw an Ivanov, had to act quickly, and no one will look deeper.”
He grins and damn, I’ve loved how much easier the smiles have come to him at home. It’s still rare when we’re out and about, but here? He can be himself and I’m grateful to be given the chance to witness it.
Rubbing against him like a needy kitten, I revel in all of the hard planes of his body as I get more comfortable. Or at least, that’s my lie and I’m sticking to it. By the boner pressing into my ass right now, I doubt Lucien would be so rude as to call me out on it. He’s a gentleman, like that.
“I didn’t think it would make youthathappy to hear your parents were brutally murdered by the Russian mob,” he teases.
Okay, so he is that bold, but whatever. I can overlook his flaws if he’ll overlook mine.
“Of course it does, who are you kidding? You come here with reports of manipulating the police into giving me a new identity and expect menotto get horny? It’s like you don’t know me at all.”
Pulling my fake ID from the pile, I stroke it reverently. We don’t have any need for things like this back home, and a silly part makes me feel like it’s the first step in solidifying that I’m where I truly belong.
I wonder briefly where he got the picture of me for it, but all that disappears when I see what he guessed my weight as. It’s listed as twenty pounds less than what I really weigh.
Swoon.
