Secret Agent Seduction (24 page)

Armand just kept staring at her, as if he thought blinking or looking away would cause her to disappear.

They barely noticed as the butler discreetly paid the driver, tipping him generously. It was only when Lia heard the taxi door opening that she broke eye contact with Armand long enough to smile and wave at the friendly cabbie.
“Merci beaucoup,”
she told him.

He tipped his head, grinning broadly. “Enjoy your stay,
mademoiselle.
May it be a long one!”

A silent look passed between Lia and Armand. He gently took her hand, then leaned down and retrieved her suitcase, ignoring the butler's protest. Together they ascended the stairs, their gazes locked on each other.

A small crowd of servants and aides awaited them inside the sweeping elegance of the entrance hall. They were staring at Lia with identical expressions of awed curiosity. Suddenly she felt shy, self-conscious.

Armand handed her suitcase to the butler, then announced, “Everyone, I would like you to meet Miss Lia Charles, from America.” His eyes met hers. “She will be staying with us for a very, very long time.”

Lia's heart soared.

A loud round of applause filled the room, and as the household staff members bowed and welcomed her with radiant smiles, Lia blinked back tears.

No sooner had the crowd dispersed than she threw her arms around Armand, crushing her mouth to his, kissing him with a blind, hungry desperation she had suppressed for too long. He clutched her tightly to him, his lips ravaging hers, his hands rushing up and down her back.

“I was a fool to let you walk out of my life,” she said in a choked whisper against his mouth. “I've been so miserable without you these past six months—so dead inside. I'm so sorry for hurting you!”

He shook his head, brushing tender kisses across her face. “I shouldn't have pressured you like that. I should have given you more time to decide what you wanted.”

“But I already
knew
what I wanted,” Lia said tearfully. “I wanted
you,
but I was too stubborn and afraid to admit it, and I almost lost you.”

Grasping her head in his hands, Armand pressed a hard kiss to her mouth and said huskily, “You could never lose me. I love you. I never stopped.”

“I know,” she said with a wobbly smile. “I saw the interview on television. What you said at the end—I've never been so relieved in my life!”

He stared at her in wonder. “I've loved you for eight years. Did you think I would get over you in six months?”

“I don't know.” She lowered her gaze uncertainly. “When I heard about you and Nathalie Seligny—”

“Look at me.” Armand coaxed her chin upward, his eyes tunneling into hers. “Nathalie and I are just friends. That is all we will ever be. You're the only woman for me, Lia. You've ruined me for all others.”

A huge, silly grin spread across her face. “You really have a way with words, Armand Magliore. Or should I call you Mr. President? Or Your Excellency? Or would you prefer Your Royal Highness?”

He laughed and she smiled, her voice gentling. “I'm so proud of you, Armand. You did it. You became president of Muwaiti. I was so ecstatic when I heard!”

“You inspired me,” he said quietly. “That night at the bunker, when you were speaking with such passion, such conviction, about the problems plaguing Muwaiti. It really struck a chord in me, made me realize like never before what needed to be done.”

Pleasure shimmered through her at his words. “Thank you for saying that. But I can't take all the credit. As I recall, it was your brother, Henri, who urged you to run for president long before I did.”

Armand grinned sheepishly. “Which is another reason why I made him my chief of staff. Maybe, just maybe, I should start taking his advice more often.”

“Maybe.” Lia grinned. “Felicite is going to make a wonderful ambassador. She has the perfect personality for it, and I know she'll represent Muwaiti well wherever she goes. That is, if her overprotective big brother lets her go anywhere.”

Armand chuckled. “She's a resident ambassador, which means she will reside here at home. But there will be plenty of opportunities for her to travel abroad. I want to repair our diplomatic relations in the international community. Felicite will help me do that.”

Lia smiled, laying her hand against his cheek. “You're going to do so many wonderful things for this country—even more than you already have.”

Armand caught her hand and brought it to his mouth, pressing an openmouthed kiss to the center of her palm that made her belly quiver. Holding her gaze, he said, “There's still much work to be done. I've surrounded myself with the best people, but I'm still missing the most important piece. I need
you
by my side, Lia. I need you to help me lead my countrymen—
our
countrymen—into the glorious future I promised them. Will you do that?”

Her heart bursting with elation, Lia threw her arms around his neck and kissed him so hungrily there could be no doubt in his mind what her answer was. But just in case it was still unclear, she smiled into his eyes and said, “If you're asking me to be your first lady, the answer is
yes.
”

Whooping with delight, Armand lifted her into his arms and swung her around. Lia laughed, wondering if it was possible to be so thoroughly, deliriously happy.

Setting her down gently, his eyes glittering with excitement, Armand began making plans. “You're going to sit right beside me on the float during next week's Carnival kickoff parade. I'm going to introduce you to the people of Muwaiti as their soon-to-be first lady.”

His excitement was contagious. Lia smiled at him, even as tears of joy blurred her vision. “How soon are we talking about?”

“Very soon. I can't wait much longer. And I already know the place, this beautiful old cathedral that overlooks the ocean. It holds almost a thousand, which
still
won't be enough for the number of people who'll want to attend our wedding. If you'd like, we can go look at it tomorrow.”

“I'd like that very much.”

“We can tell my family tonight over dinner. They're going to be thrilled. They know, better than anyone, how badly I've missed you.” He grinned. “At one point they even considered flying to America to convince you to change your mind about me.”

Lia smiled warmly. “You have a wonderful family. I look forward to getting to know them better.”

“They're going to love you, Lia.”

“I hope so.” She hesitated, biting her bottom lip. “Uh, about the whole mind-reading gift…”

He chuckled softly. “Don't worry,
ma petite.
It will be our little secret.”

Lia grinned ruefully. “It's just that I wouldn't want them to feel weird around me. I realize it's hard enough getting to know new in-laws without having to worry about them being able to read your mind. Especially if you're thinking something like, ‘What the hell does he see in
her?
'”

Armand laughed. “I don't think you'd ever have to worry about that, but I understand what you're saying.” Sobering after a moment, he searched her face. “No regrets about moving away from your parents? Leaving your job?”

Lia gazed at him. “The only regret I would have is not spending the rest of my life with you.”

He took her hand, splaying her fingers across his heart. She didn't have to read his mind to know what he was telling her.
I love you.

“I love you, too,”
she mouthed back, and he smiled.

“As for my parents,” she continued, “they've already told me that they plan to visit us on a regular basis. I believe their exact words were, ‘Just try to get rid of us.' And as for my job…well, something tells me I will be
very
busy as first lady of Muwaiti. And who knows? Maybe one day I'll open my own international security consulting firm. I've always had that in mind as a possible second career after retiring from the Secret Service. And speaking of security,” she said, giving Armand a stern look, “we need to discuss
your
security plan around here. I was rather alarmed when I arrived this afternoon and saw that no one was manning the security booth.”

Armand chuckled, shaking his head at her. “How'd I know you would have a problem with that?”

She arched a brow, awaiting his explanation.

He sighed in resignation. “Today is Sunday. I like to give the guards the weekends off to spend time with their families. And I've never particularly cared for leaders who live in ivory towers and hide behind fortresses. I want to be accessible to my people.”

“I know that, darling. And I understand, believe me, I do. But you have to be practical. You're president of one of the largest countries in the Caribbean. I know that the people of Muwaiti adore you and would never want to hurt you, but, as I've always told you, it's better to be safe than sorry. No one would begrudge you having round-the-clock security here at the palace. When it comes to your safety, I'd rather not take any unnecessary risks.”

He shook his head, a poignant smile playing about his lips as he looked down at her. “Always my protector, my guardian angel.”

She touched his face. “I almost lost you once. I never want to go through that again.”

Armand held her eyes for a long moment, then sighed. “All right. We can carve out some time tomorrow to review my security detail.”

“Thank you.” Lia gave him a teasing smile. “So you
are
trainable.”

He smiled softly, stroking a hand over her hair. “Only for you.” He ran an appreciative gaze over her, taking in her short, breezy skirt and strappy high-heeled sandals. “God, you look incredible. I've never seen you in a skirt and heels before. And your hair is down, just the way I like it.”

“I know,” Lia said demurely. “I did it just for you. And sometime tonight, when everyone else has gone to sleep, I'm going to sneak into your bedroom suite and do everything I've dreamed of doing to you for the last six months.”

Armand groaned, his eyes darkening with desire as he sank his fingers into her hair and tipped her head back. “Don't tempt me, woman,” he growled, nuzzling her throat. “If you knew how badly I've wanted to carry you upstairs and make love to you ever since you arrived, you wouldn't tease me like that.”

Lia smiled, shivering at his touch and the deep, seductive timbre of his voice that sent heat curling through her blood. She'd never stood a chance of resisting this man. She'd been thoroughly seduced—mind, body and soul.

“Armand?”

“Yes, sweetheart?”

“Thank you for holding on all those years. Thank you for waiting.”

He lifted his head and looked at her. All the adoration in his heart was evident in his intense gaze. “You were more than worth the wait,” he said huskily.

Their lips met in a deep, searing kiss that left them both trembling in anticipation of the night ahead, and the many nights to come.

As they drew apart, Armand gave her a tender smile and held out his arm to her. “Come. Let me give you a tour of your new home.”

Lia's eyes misted as she stared at him.
Home,
she silently marveled.
With Armand.
She could hardly believe it. After a lifetime of feeling lonely and alienated from others because of her psychic gift, she had finally found love and unconditional acceptance in someone other than her parents. She had found someone with whom she could share her triumphs and fears, her hopes and her dreams. Someone who would cherish her, nurture her, protect her as fiercely as she would him. She had found someone to share her life with.

As far as she was concerned,
that
was the only gift she would ever need.

Smiling into his eyes, she slipped her arm through his, and together they started off, walking into their new life as one.