by Sienna Snow
“Because you’re the only man I’ve ever loved.” Tears came as if a faucet opened. “The only one I’ll ever love.”
He slammed back into me.
“And?” he gritted out.
“And because I made a promise.”
“What is this promise that makes you two as thick as thieves?”
“Please, Veer,” I sobbed. “I can’t tell you.”
“Is it that important?”
“Yes,” I gasped. “I won’t betray him, even for you.”
Veer stopped his thrusts and gazed down at me. His breath was ragged, and sweat dripped down the sides of his temples. All of a sudden, something changed in his hazel eyes.
“Oh fuck. I know why.” He sat up, pulling me with him while keeping his throbbing cock inside me. “God, why hadn’t I thought of it before? That’s why he got drunk last night after he heard the emcee announce Chris and Kathy’s engagement. It wasn’t because of Kathy, as I’d thought, but because of Chris. They’ve been friends since college. Kevin’s…”
“No.” I placed my hand over his mouth. “I don’t want to discuss it. He’s dealing with enough.”
Veer cupped my face. “Okay. I understand now.”
“Don’t say anything to anyone.” My lips trembled.
“I promise.”
I swallowed and nodded. Veer’s word was gold, and I knew Kevin’s secrets were safe.
He drew me toward him, kissing me in the way I could never stop craving. I held on to his thick, muscular arms as I lost myself against his lips. Veer’s cock twitched inside me, and my core quickened.
He pulled back and said, “I still hate this, but I get it. You and Kevin made this pact before I was in the picture. I wish…”
“Please, Veer. I don’t want to think about it.”
Veer sighed, releasing a resigned breath, and then lifted my hips.
As he slid me down his length, he whispered against my mouth, “Nothing matters outside of this limo for the next few hours. I want to enjoy every minute we have left.”
“Yes,” I gasped.
He repeated the motion a few times, bringing my arousal back in full force. My nipples ached, and my pussy flooded with desire.
I gripped the back of the seat, digging my nails in deep and taking over. I rose onto my knees and slammed down on his hard, hot cock.
“Oh fuck. Jaci.” His hands flexed on my hips, but he let me command the rhythm.
My core rippled and then contracted. “Veer. I’m going to…” The words died on my tongue as my orgasm ripped through me.
I squeezed the thick root of his erection, and my body filled with a sensation I’d only experienced with this man.
I arched back, nearly losing my balance, but Veer caught me, bringing me flush against his chest as he spread my thighs, taking back control.
He pummeled my sex, drawing out my free-falling cascade.
“That’s it, baby. Let go. This is us.” His breath hissed out as his own orgasm loomed.
He swelled inside me and began to come, pumping hot jets inside me.
“Jaci,” he called out.
His pleasure triggered another release, making my mind cloud.
After a few minutes, my body relaxed, no longer spasming around Veer’s length. I listened to his heartbeat, pressing my face into his sweat-dampened chest and longing to say, “I love you.” But I kept those words tightly inside. They would only cause us more pain.
What Veer and I had could never be public. And thinking about how my party would view our relationship if anyone found out made my stomach turn. No matter what I’d said before. Deep down, I knew this would be the last time we’d be together. Too much was at stake for both of us.
The best thing to do was to tell him now, but instead I closed my eyes and burrowed into the man who would hold my heart forever.
As the car pulled up to a private drive a few miles from his downtown hotel, I braced myself for a farewell I wasn’t ready to say.
Veer and I had spent the ride making love and talking about everything but what would happen when we reached New York City. It wasn’t until about thirty minutes ago when our mood went from playful and intimate to melancholy. We’d dressed and straightened our appearance in silence and then held hands.
The door opened.
“Governor George, your car is waiting for you around the corner,” Oscar said as he waited for Veer to step out.
Veer nodded and gave me one last look as he moved into the early morning light.
He began to walk away, when I said, “Veer, wait.”
I slipped out behind him, grabbing his suit jacket.
He turned and pulled me into a hug. “I know, baby. You don’t have to say it.”
“I do, or I won’t be able to move on.” I looked up at his face, cupping it. “I won’t ever be alone with you again. Kevin is my future. You were my what-if. We have to move on, Veer. Otherwise, it will destroy even the memory of what we had.”
He remained quiet, staring at me, so I continued.
“I want you to know this before I go. No matter how I felt when I learned about the election, I want you and Ash to win. Our country needs someone like Ashur in the White House. But promise me one thing.”
“What?”
“Don’t hate me when I go up against you in four years and win.”
A smile touched his lips, and he ran a thumb down my cheek. “I love you, Jacinta Camden. Don’t ever change.”
“I love you too.” A sob escaped my mouth.
He kissed the top of my head and threaded his fingers through my hair as I cried against his chest.
After a few moments, Oscar cleared his throat.
“Senator, we have to get you to your condo.”
Reluctantly, I stepped out of Veer’s arms, wiping my face. With one last glance, I stepped into the limo and felt my heart shatter.
Chapter Fifteen
A little past six thirty, I arrived at Invictus, the grand hotel sponsoring tonight’s benefit. It was one of Kevin’s hotels and had a reputation for treating every guest, whether they were celebrities or not, as if they were the most exclusive guests. The hotel was booked out anywhere between six months to a year in advance. The experience of staying there was as sought after as visiting the most popular tourist attractions of the city that never sleeps.
Lucky for me, I was the owner’s “girlfriend” and could have a room available to me whenever I wanted. Unlucky for me, the president, all the presidential hopefuls, and their running mates were staying there. This was the reason I’d decided to spend the weekend in the upper east side condo my family owned for our trips to NYC.
After leaving Veer and spending a good hour crying, I’d checked in on Kevin, who was recovering miserably from a hangover. I’d offered for him to fly up and lounge around in PJs with me, while we ate pints of double chocolate chunk ice cream, but he’d declined, telling me it was time to move on and he needed some alone time to get himself together.
He was right, and I’d spent the rest of the day accepting the fact that my ambition came with a price. What started worrying me was, would the price both Kevin and I had to pay end up making us resent each other? He deserved love as much as I did, and the only way to have the type of relationships we both wanted was to sneak around.
We’d known from the start our relationship was a politically orchestrated arrangement, but now that it was going to become official, my stomach hurt with the knowledge we’d live out our lives wrapped in a well-planned lie.
I released a deep breath and opened my compact to check my makeup one last time. My makeup was flawless, as was my updo. The only thing that gave away the turmoil inside was my eyes.
Anyone who knew me would see the sadness, especially Tyler, who was going to fill in for Kevin tonight. He’d flown in from Louisiana an hour earlier and had decided to meet me at the hotel. I was both excited to see him and dreading it. My twin had a way of knowing what was in my mind before anyone else.
Hopefully, we wouldn’t have to discuss my melancholy or fucked-up love life until after we got back to our family condo.
I returned my compact to my clutch and waited for Oscar to open the door. The second I stepped out into the cool spring air, Tyler greeted me.
“Hey, little sis.”
I smiled and hugged him, letting the comfort of his arms engulf me. He must have sensed my sadness since he held on for a few seconds longer.
When I stepped out of his hold, I said, “You’re only two minutes older than me.”
He shrugged his shoulders. “I’m still older, and therefore you are the baby of the family.”
“Whatever,” I halfheartedly grumbled.
He offered me his elbow. “Time for the Camden twins to rock this joint.”
I slipped my arm through his. “I doubt there will be any opportunities to dance on tables at this event. Remember we are two well-respected members of Congress.”
“Who like a good party,” he muttered as we walked toward the hotel entrance. “Do you miss being carefree without all the attention and watching every step you take? Sometimes I wish we could go back to the way it was.”
“If you remember, I’ve never had the chance to party it up without a chaperone. Someone was always watching over me in undergrad and later in law school. Hell, at Stanford it was twice as bad. It was Sam’s security along with mine.”
“It’s not my fault you turned out to be super nerd extraordinaire and entered college at fourteen, while my ass was still in high school like a normal kid.”
“Stop your whining. You did your own version of trailblazing. You’re one of the youngest members of the House.”
“True, but becoming a politician ruined my love life.”
Tyler’s last relationship had ended in an epic disaster. He’d learned a little too late that the woman who he was planning to marry wanted him for his influence and social standing, not the man underneath the affluent name. I couldn’t stand the gold digger from the moment I met her—all she talked about were the people I knew and if I could get her an introduction. It had taken two years and walking in on her fucking the neighbor for Tyler to accept that she’d played him.
“You and me both.”
Tyler and I posed for a few photos and then entered the hotel.
“Will you do me a favor tonight?” I asked.
“Sure.”
“Don’t leave my side unless it is absolutely necessary. I am too exhausted to handle any confrontations with anyone, and without a doubt there will be a few people who are ready to strike at my heels.”
“I’ll do my best. Once our first lady makes her speech, all hell is going to break loose, and we know who they’re going to point the finger at.”
“Me, of course.” I adjusted my clutch and nodded to a few passing congressmen. “Who decided it would be tonight? You or Tara?”
“Yours truly.” Tyler gave me a devilish grin that made him look like a little boy who was getting into mischief. “Tonight’s benefit is all about children, making it the perfect place to announce an initiative aimed at ending the child bride trade. Tara and Mrs. Edgar happened to agree with my assessment. Plus, today is the last bipartisan event all the candidates will attend before the campaigning begins.”
I gripped Tyler’s arm. “I don’t want you to get the backlash. If Edgar comes after me, don’t get in the way.”
“You think I’m worried about what Edgar thinks of me? He knows how to play the game as well as anyone. Besides, he went after you in the most underhanded way. He used your attacker and his father to question your ethics. Everyone knows he was the one who set up Decker’s press conference. I feel it’s time for payback.”
“Calm down, superhero. This isn’t about me. I put the demons of Decker Junior to bed years ago.” Well, for the most part. No one truly got over being assaulted. “This is about Tara and clearing her name.”
“Yes, yes. I know.”
“Ty?”
He glanced at me.
“Thank you. I can always count on you.”
“You’re welcome. Dad taught us that no matter the party line, we had to do the right thing. Besides, I’m one of the few people who know you the best, and once you join a crusade, there is no stopping you. So, it’s either jump on your train or get run over.”
My lips trembled. No matter what I faced or if they agreed with me or not, my family always had my back.
Tyler stopped midstep, turned toward me, and then ran a thumb under my eye. “Jaci, are you okay? I can tell when you’ve been crying. What aren’t you telling me? Did something happen with V?”
I hadn’t told Tyler anything that had happened between Veer and me over the past few weeks. I’d thrown myself so hard into various congressional bills and the planning for No Bride that I was able to avoid discussing my relationships.
“You could say that.”
At that moment, Ashur, Tara, and Veer entered the building with their security team. As they moved toward the ballroom, Tara winked at me, while Ashur inclined his head. It was when Veer held my gaze that my heart broke and I looked away.
“This morning, Veer and I officially closed the chapter on our relationship. There is no future for us.”
Tyler waited until the area cleared of people before he kissed the top of my head. “I’m so sorry.”
I hiccupped. Tyler was another of the few people who would never judge me and my fucked-up love life.
“I knew we would end sooner or later. Now that it’s happened, I feel like I should have known better than to get involved with Veer from the beginning.”
“It’s too late for should-haves. All you can do is focus on Kevin and your future.”
Tyler and I made our way to the ballroom.
“Can I say something to you before we put our politician hats back on?” Tyler asked. “And don’t think of this as judging.”
“Sure, shoot.” I waited, not sure what was about to come out of his mouth.
“You know Kevin is one of my best friends and I hold him in the highest regard.”
I nodded. “Yes. Where are you going with this?”
“What I don’t understand is why are the two of you so determined to follow through on this pact you made almost ten years ago?”
“We have our reasons.”
“I get that together you’ve created the image that will land you in the White House and that you care for each other. But you aren’t in love. You both love different men. Don’t you guys deserve to find authentic relationships?”
I stared at Tyler, not sure what to say. “You know?”
He frowned at me. “Of course, I damn well know. Kevin and I have been friends since college. I was the one who helped him keep his shit together the first time Chris broke up with him. Just like you keep your promises, I kept mine.”
“You’re okay with this?”
“Jaci, now you’re just pissing me off.”
I winced. “Sorry.”
“I’m a conservative, but I’m not an asshole. Just like you, in some areas, I’m more progressive than others.”
He held the scowl on his face, telling me I’d hurt his feelings. Out of the two of us, he was the more sensitive twin.
“I’m truly sorry. I should have known better.”
The hardness left his face, and he said, “So are you going to answer my question?”
I thought for a moment. “If Kevin ever wanted out of this pact to find a different future, I wouldn’t hesitate. But for me, all I can say is at least I had a short time to experience love.”
“You are so hardheaded.”
“That’s why I make such a good politician.”
We both laughed and moved toward our table.
“Ladies and gentlemen, I present the First Lady of the United States, Amanda Tyson Edgar.”
After a large round of applause, Mrs. Edgar began her speech.
The anticipation bubbling inside me caused me to fidget with my hands under the table
. Amanda Edgar was about to announce her pet project for the remainder of her tenure in the White House. No one would be expecting it, especially not her husband, who only seemed to be half listening to her words so far.
The man was in for a big surprise.
It was amazing how things had turned in the last few weeks. What had originally been a way to pay back President Edgar for her humiliation had turned into something the first lady wholeheartedly supported. She’d spent an extraordinary amount of time learning everything possible about Tara’s efforts. I’d played the middleman with the help of Tyler’s contacts and in doing so had found an initiative I could stand behind as well.
I glanced over at the table where Tara sat with Ashur and Veer. She caught my gaze and gave me an anxious smile. She was as nervous as I was. The first lady’s statement would put Tara in the spotlight once again, but at least it would be in a positive light.
“Before I finish, I have a story to tell you.” The first lady paused, taking a deep breath, and then scanned the room, lingering on her husband.
Goosebumps prickled my skin as I readied myself for the major fallout that would begin as soon as the speech ended.
“Recently, I was introduced to a young lady who has put her life on the line to save countless others. She is a crusader in the fight to stop the epidemic of human trafficking in the world. Over the last two months, her efforts have come under scrutiny due to her involvement in negotiations with men of questionable character for the freedom of American girls.”
A murmur went through the crowd. Everyone knew Mrs. Edgar was talking about Tara.
“That’s right, of the girls released from horrible futures as child brides, seventy were American citizens. And because of this crusader for human rights, who I consider a friend, those children were freed and are now in safe homes. My friend is a hero, but she can’t save children like these alone. Therefore, I have decided we will join forces in her efforts to stop the sale of young girls as child brides. As of today, I will become the director of the No Bride Initiative, an organization with the sole purpose of ending a long history of child enslavement through marriage.