Page 5 of The Lamb and the Llama
Stan took a moment to consider the situation. “This isn’t like you. You’re not known for… well, I mean, you’re known for maybe being a bit chauvinistic but never in a sexual-harassment way.”
“I resent being called chauvinistic,” Richard countered. “I’m just old school. I think that predators and protectors belong on field missions and the little ones and prey should be in the office.”
“Exactly. You’re an overprotective jackass, but not?—”
“One to fall for my employees.” Richard sighed. “Look, man, you gotta do something to get her out of my office. I don’t know what it is about her.”
“Fucking TLC,” Stan muttered. “I swear I’m not doing any of this on purpose. At this point, it’s more like a curse.”
“So, you don’t think it’s my fault?” Richard asked, perking up. “I’m not just being a lusty old fool. It’s actuallyyourfault?”
“It doesn’t matter whose fault it is,” Stan growled, sounding a bit like his bear side. “The point is it’s just a couple weeks, and she’ll be gone. We’ll figure something out between now and then. A different position for her so she doesn’t have to return to your office. Sound good?”
“If I refuse?”
“Damn it, Richard. That’s not an option. You know what your optionsare.Suck it up. Otherwise, you don’t get a new assistant.”
“Well, what would I do without an assistant?” Richard blustered. “I need someone to handle my CRAP. I don’t have time to do my job and handle the administrative tasks.”
“Then you better pull yourself together,” Stan warned. “Alyce has allowed me to baby you”—Alyce being the Academy director and a fellow llama, which was probably why Richard got so much grace from her—“but you’re on thin ice. Neither of us can afford for this to fail.”
“Fine.” Richard nodded and curled a corner of his lip. “I’ll just make a plan to avoid her. Conduct our business through phone and email only.”And get a cover for the window on my office door so I don’t get distracted staring at her all day.It was the only way to avoid the way his cock twitched at the thought of taking her on his desk and having his way with her.
“Thatta boy,” Stan said, looking relieved.
Richard stood. “I’m leaving for the day. If Amira has questions,youcan help her figure it out.”
3
For two weeks, Amira worked in Richard’s office. She’d been primed by Stan and Quinn to expect the worst from her temporary boss, but instead of the snarly llama she thought she’d have to deal with, Richard was more like a ghost. She hardly saw him.
All of their business was done over email. She could reach him by the phone intercom system if he was in his office but never when he was out of the office—which seemed to be more often than not. He’d seemed angered when she’d asked for his cell phone number, and he’d refused to give it to her. It was strange, really. The way Quinn had described working for Richard, it had sounded like her boss would be a workaholic.
Well, people change,she supposed. And it was probably good if her boss was turning over a new leaf. She’d heard all the rumors about Richard Anderson, but they hadn’t intimidated her. Being thirty and more than ready for fieldwork, she needed this position to prove to everyone she was a tough nut. No one—not even Richard—would crack her! For too many years, everyone considered her the helpless little lamb. Especially after she’d been kidnapped by Zagan’s crew.
But she’d proven herself stronger than anyone would have imagined. She recovered from her time in captivity and enrolled in FUCN’A—the Furry United Coalition Newbie Academy, which trained future FUC agents. No one could deny her strength anymore or how right it was for her to become an agent. Zagan had inflicted horrors on her. Had infused her lamb blood with snow owl genes. But she didn’t look at herself as a victim. She was a survivor, and she was more powerful now as a hybrid than she’d ever been as just a lamb shifter.
Besides, it wasn’t the worst combination in the world. Zagan had boasted that her owl abilities would give her a quiet gait, which would allow her to sneak up on anyone. Her talons would be pretty sharp, too. The only problem was she hadn’t ever shifted into anything but a full lamb. If Zagan hadn’t admitted to the fact that she was a lamb and owl combination, she wouldn’t believe it.
Unfortunately, there wasn’t a great demand for lamb shifters in fieldwork. If she could shift into her owl, she’d be a much more desirable asset, but as it was, she’d had a hard time breaking away from desk work.
Which was why she needed the added experience of working for Richard Anderson. Proving she could put up with the man known as “Dick” would show she was ready for whatever might be required on a field mission.
She was excited for the small assignment Stan was giving her. It was a simple security detail, but it was still one more thing she could add to her resume. Even if it was just for Stan’s friend, King Gregor, who was leaving Skyros during the annual Shifter Hellenic Island Talks—SHITs, for short. Amira couldn’t blame him. The SHITs had been crashed for a few years in a row now, and it made sense the former king would want to get away from it all. Unfortunately, the island BS—Bonafide Security—couldn’t spare any extra agents for the former king. Which was where Amira came in.
It was hard to focus on her new job while all she could think of was the security assignment. In her free time, she managed to research locations, including a place called “The Joint” a few towns over. Stan frequented the place and planned to bring King Gregor for a taste of the local flavor.
She bent down to look into a bottom filing cabinet drawer just as Richard walked into the office. She glanced up at him and caught him staring. His eyes grew dark. And did she really just see him licking his lips? She quickly stood up and straightened her blouse, but he stomped away, nearly slamming his office door behind him.
Amira smiled to herself. She didn’t dare believe that Richard Anderson could actually be attracted to her, but the idea titillated. She had a crush on him before she’d even interviewed for the job. She’d seen him in the halls before, basically smoldering as he went from one location to the next, and she’d always wondered what it would take to make a man like that moan in pleasure.
Of course, having a crush on your boss was pretty stupid. Who did that? Because seriously? It never worked out—ever—right?
So stop wondering if he has an eight-pack underneath his business suit and stop thinking about unbuttoning that shirt and licking what you find.
She decided to take the opportunity to return to Richard’s office and check in with him on a few things.
“Is now a good time?” she asked, popping her head into his office.
