She freezes, quickly shutting the laptop in her lap as she hears her lover stirring behind her. Eyes glazing back at him, his arms stretching up into the air. Dallas groans, rubbing the back of his head, messing up his hair more.
He had just woken up, there was no way he knew what she was looking at.
Amelia clears her throat, opening her laptop up and quickly clicking onto another tab. "Just..planning the next meeting." She lied through her teeth.
Dallas sits up, groaning his hands supporting him. Eyes adjusting to the light, he leans forward to wrap his arms around Amelia's waist. Feeling the warmth of his cheek press against her back, it doesn't surprise her. Only when she feels the light trailing of his lips up her skin does she shiver.
His lips continue their travel up to her shoulder, to which Amelia peers back at him. His eyes were lazy, still dazed as his kisses were sloppy.
"D-dallas..You just woke up." Amelia tilts her head to the side.
Dallas smirks, "You'll be here for the next two days.. Let's enjoy it while it lasts." His grip across her stomach tightens, pulling her closer. She wiggles in his grasp, but he doesn't seem to wish to let go.
His trailing kisses had her distracted for a moment, she had yet to even finish ready the email. Amelia had half the mind to tell him she needed to finish some sort of work, to then continue deeper into a forbidden rabbit hole. For people to believe Dallas, at the ripe age of eight, had killed his parents: it was absurd. How would an eight year old have the idea to set his entire home on fire, to completely lose everything?
It didn't make any sense, not to her. After growing close to Dallas, hearing so much of his story. Some people in this world were cruel, no matter who they targeted their hatred towards. Children, homeless, disabled, it didn't matter. Hatred could fester and grow in anyone, even herself if she let it.
Targeting children, it sickened her. Having lost his parents, and then being targeted by vermin only looking to make a quick buck for a story.
Being too deep into her thoughts, she misses the movement of Dallas pulling her into his embrace. Eyes widening as his hand cups her chin, pressing his lips against hers. At first she's hesitant, but kisses him back with ease. Small hands placing themselves on his cheeks, she can feel his smirk growing under her palms.
With a swift motion, Dallas is pulling her down onto the bed fully with him. Amelia yelps, being on top of him. Legs straddled around his waist, his hands feeling her skin. The smile grows on her lips, before she's letting out a light laugh.
"Aren't you the touchy one today." Amelia leans closer to him, poking his nose.
Dallas chuckles, "This could be one of the more tender moments we get to share before you have to.." He trails off, eyes looking away from her. The once tender smile falls, turning into a saddened frown.
"Hey," Amelia starts, pulling his gaze back to her with her hand. "Don't think about that right now, okay?"
"It's not something I can just–"
She raises her hand up in protest. "I know, if I was in your position I wouldn't be able to stop worrying either. I would just be unable to control my emotions." There's a pause. "It will just make me feel a bit better if we acted as if this was any other type of case. Where you watch me come out of the situation unharmed, with the bastard in cuffs."
There's a scoff, before Dallas leans forward to plant a kiss on her lips."Alright, alright. I'll make sure to not worry you so much. I know you'll do your job well– As you always do."
He huffs, sitting up. Hands gripping onto her arms, "Let's have some breakfast, hm? We don't get this type of time for it any day of the week." Amelia gets off of his lap, nodding. "Perfect, I'll head to the kitchen. Come whenever you're ready."
Hopping off of the bed, she watches as his figure disappears from the doorframe. Having her boyfriend make her breakfast? Unheard of in their line of work, life was nothing but work. Tiresome, grilling at every aspect of their lives. Amelia was surprised their relationship hadn't fallen apart.
They stayed strong regardless of the obstacles, it was what made them such a wonderful team. A strong bond that nothing could tear apart.
A light smile graced her lips, sliding off of the edge of her bed to meet Dallas in the kitchen. No shirt on, chest and toned arms out for display. A strand of hair curls over his forehead, long dark eyelashes swept over his eyes. She watches from a distance as he turns on the stove, placing pancake batter onto the pan.
Amelia walks over, leaning onto the granite countertop. Hands placed under her chin, a smile of a love stricken fool. Dallas catches her loving stare, he chuckles. "Is something wrong Amelia?"
She shakes her head, "I haven't seen you cook me anything since you first brought me to Los Angeles."
His eyes look back down to the stove, flipping the pancake on its other side. "It's been that long? I guess time does consume the things you enjoy."
Time did consume the things they held dear, and now it had swallowed something else: quality time. Although Amelia had taken days off to assess her situation, it would do her no good. There was no way around the case, and yet she wished there was. Perhaps she was doing the wrong thing by meeting this person alone, maybe it was a dumb move on her end.
Would meeting the mysterious king have her pieces placed in check mate? Or would her plan fall apart, being at the mercy of someone else's will.
"Dallas.." Amelia starts, his eyes glancing up in her direction. "Do you think that this meeting is a mistake?"
The kitchen falls silent, only the sound of the sizzling from the buttered pan. Dallas says nothing, pulling the pancake off of the pan and onto a paper plate. Pouring more of the mixture into the black pan, Amelia can feel her heart beating rough against her chest.
"In my own professional opinion.. For your safety, yes it is a mistake." Amelia sighs, opening her mouth to speak against him. Dallas raises his hand up, "But, for the good of our agency, our citizens. No, it's a courageous move you are taking."
The words of reassurance put her drilling thoughts at ease, if only for this moment. Knowing it was good for the people who she swore to protect, it made her more confident to go. To be able to face whatever monster was ahead, and give them what they deserved.
"You always know what to say.. Don't you? I can't believe Zackary is the older one of you two."
Dallas shakes his head, chuckling. Another pancake on the plate. "My brother has always had a.. Younger mentality than me. I practically raised him than the opposite."
"Younger brother raising an older one? How unique." Amelia tilts her head to the side, "Yet.. When I met you. You didn't seem so unique. You were.."
She pauses, Dallas looking up to meet her eyes. "You seemed so cold.."
"Sometimes my love, emotions can put those you care for in danger."
Just like the people she put in danger, for being so close to. A fate that could have been avoided if they all had never crossed paths.
"Like.." Amelia clears her throat, straightening up her posture. "Nevermind.. I have to call my father. See how he's holding up after someone vandalized his property."
Dallas nods, looking down to pour more of the mixture onto the pan. "Do what you must, I'll make sure to let you know when breakfast is ready if you're still on the phone by then."
With his confirmation, she walks away. Stepping back into their shared bedroom, picking up her cell phone from her nightstand. Clicking on her contacts, she clicks her fathers. Putting the phone to her ear, before he quickly picks up after a few rings.
"Hello?"
"Hey Dad, I just wanted to check up on you and see how you're doing." She sits down on the edge of the bed, placing her hand on the mattress for stability. "Have the officers called you back on who spray painted your property yet?"
Charlie sighs on the other end, "Sadly no, not like they'll be of much help anyways."
"But Amelia, how are you?" There was the question she was dreading from her father. Something so simple, yet so telling to how she was feeling.
A pause, "Dallas informed me you're meeting some man, due to a case."
She knew he was going to say something about her needing to go out alone, and knowing it was dangerous. He was her father, of course he was going to worry for her. Just now wasn't the time to do so. Lives were at stake, the people needed her more now than ever.
"Dad–"
"I'm not going to try to stop you, Amelia."
He wasn't going to stop her? Amelia's eyes widened, completely shocked by her father's words. He had always protested at the smallest things that could put her in danger. This was the opposite reaction she had expected from her old man.
"I just want my prayers to be with you. When I was younger I never had anyone to want my safety and return back home." A sad chuckle, Amelia can hear shuffling on her father's end. "So, I'm giving that to you my daughter, I want you to come home safe."
Even without a blood connection he cared for her so much, that's what made him truly her father. His words saddened her still, the upset look stretching across her face. "Thank you daddy.. I love you."
"You make me so proud, I love you too. Be safe tonight."
He was the best father she had ever had, no man could compare to him. If she lost her father, she would be in shambles. If he lost her, Amelia knew he would never be the same. They both were all each other had, family wise. Starting a new life comes with leaving everything you know behind. Her father had done it once before, doing it a second time had to be taxing on him.
Charlie gave so much for her, she had to make sure he outlived her.
"You too." Amelia hangs up, tossing her phone on the bed.
Her hand hangs low, bringing her hands together in a prayer. Gripping tightly against her palms, before looking back up at her surroundings. Catching glimpse of the photo on her nightstand: the day her and Dallas had moved into their condo together. Only a year into knowing each other, and a few months into dating. The two standing side by side in an empty condo, grinning like fools who had just won the lottery.
They had, they won each other.
Amelia drops her head back down, letting out a heavy sigh. "Let me be free from this demon my Lord–".
Her phone begins to ring again.