by Vivian Wood
Everyone stopped when Miriam made a “pffft” sound.
“What’s wrong?” Meredith asked.
“Everybody knew that Mr. Scott was leading in the polls. He’s got the highest approval ratings, you know. I thought it was something better,” Miriam answered.
“Like what?” Sosie questioned.
“Like, you know… You two, finally getting together,” said David from the far end of the table that made everybody oooh and aaaahh.
Especially flattered, Sosie tightened her arms around his neck, squirming closer to him as if there was really something going on between them. But Elijah’s eyes were glued to Meredith, who didn't say a word, but lowered her head instead.
“Come on, guys. It's not like that,” Sosie said. “Eli and I are just friends,” she added before leaning in closer.
He wanted to pull away from her and tell everyone she was full of shit. But he didn't want her to lose face. And if he denied everything, he knew it would just lead to more gossip and rumors.
Looking at Sosie, he saw her glaring at Meredith. It was incredibly absurd and childish.
After a few minutes later, Meredith and everyone else called it a night, saying they were going back to the hotel to finish some work. But he knew the truth.
By now they were reporting to their editors about him supposedly dating his campaign manager.
When he was alone with Sosie, he said, “What the hell is all this about?”
Her eyes narrowed. He knew she was doing it on purpose.
“You know damn well what this is all about, Elijah. Despite me telling you to stay away from her, you've been flirting with Meredith Fields. And maybe even more than flirting,” she said accusingly.
“I have not been flirting with her, okay?” he said.
She rolled her eyes. “I'm not an idiot, Elijah. But clearly you are. I'm firing her first thing in the morning,” she said.
“You can’t do that,” Elijah murmured, his hands clenching into fists.
“Actually, as your campaign manager, I can. A big part of my job is making sure you keep the squeaky clean image that's going to get you elected. No more jailbait, no more temptation,” she said in a mocking tone.
“No!” he said firmly, a little too loud, which startled Sosie into silence.
It took her a couple of moments to react. But her expression remained shocked and confused.
“I was right. You like her,” Sosie concluded as tears welled in her eyes.
She was hurt.
But there was no point in trying to reason with her. He knew she'd never hear him out.
“Meredith will stay. Her father is too important. We can’t fire her,” he said, not even bothering to deny Sosie’s accusation.
She eyed him angrily. She knew he was right. It was the very same thing she'd told him from the start.
It was impossible to fire Meredith Fields.
“I promise. I’ll stay away,” he said, raising his hands in the air, to end the conversation.
He hoped he could keep that promise.
But he seriously doubted it.
Chapter Nineteen
When they got to Arizona, only a few people decided to go horseback riding. Meredith hadn't been on a horse in years but she went along with Miriam, Ava, David and a few more people from the team – and Elijah.
After the humiliating encounters Sosie had been putting her through, she felt more than a little relieved when the woman stayed behind, saying she disliked horses.
As they rode uphill, she took a deep breath, enjoying the fresh air for the first time in a long time.
Meredith felt like she was back on vacation as she looked at the green fields. It was a refreshing view since all she had seen these past weeks were skyscrapers and endless highways.
When she got to a split path with several directions to choose from, Meredith selected the one that seemed to lead to the woods, nudging her horse. She didn’t know Elijah followed her as the others went down other paths.
Closing her eyes, she relaxed, feeling the summer breeze touching her face. She felt so good she wished she could stay like that forever.
“So, you’ve been horseback riding before?” she heard Elijah’s familiar voice ask from behind her. She maneuvered the ropes and nudged her horse with her feet to make it turn in his direction.
She looked around to see if anyone else was with them.
But there was no one else.
They were alone together – again.
“Just a few times,” she answered with a shrug. “When I was in high school, my dad usually took me and my sister for lessons whenever he had the time.”
“You must have been so happy,” he said softly, the words barely escaping his mouth.
She frowned.
“Why do you say that?” she asked.
“Money's never been an issue for you. What it’s like to lead such a life?” he asked, which made her chuckle a little.
She knew that's what they all thought. That just because she was born rich, she was happy. But that was far from reality.
All of her family's wealth couldn't buy them happiness.
It had been obvious to Meredith since she was a little girl that her parents weren't in love with each other. Their relationship was one of convenience and companionship. If they loved each other, it was only because they'd been together for more than two decades.
“I don't think there's a way to answer that question. All I know is that I'm thankful for the life I've been able to lead,” she stated plainly, hoping she didn't sound like she was boasting.
They fell into a comfortable silence as they rode beside a stream, stopping occasionally to let their horses drink and graze. She thought she'd ask him about his personal life as well.
“What about you? It's not like you're hurting for money these days,” she said.
Elijah smirked.
“I joined the military for a variety of reasons, one of the main ones being that they'd pay for college. After I got out, I worked as a military contractor. And then I became politically active, and the rest is history, or at least I'm hoping it'll be,” he said with a grin. She sensed he was holding something back though.
“What was the main reason you joined the Navy?” she asked out of curiosity.
He fell silent, his eyes looking at the far horizon.
“I lost several of my friends during 9/11, and I couldn't just do nothing,” he murmured.
She was speechless. She couldn't even imagine how hard it must have been for him. Her heart went out to him.
When Elijah noticed her silence, he prodded his horse, cantering off to the end of the stream where an old tree stood strong. He got off his horse to let it drink and she followed him, doing the same thing.
But being the clumsy girl that she was, she lost her balance as she tried to remove her feet from the saddle. She closed her eyes when she realized she was falling, uttering a silent prayer that she wouldn’t get heavily injured.
They were almost halfway through the campaign, and she couldn’t afford to back out at a time like this. As much as she hated to admit it, she was starting to enjoy the pressures of her job.
Meredith held her breath as she waited for her body to land on the hard ground. But she landed on something else. When she opened her eyes, she met Elijah’s gaze, looking down at her with a concerned expression.
He'd caught her.
“Are you okay?” he asked worriedly.
She nodded in response, feeling like a thorn was stuck in her throat. Her eyes continued to look deep into his grey ones, where she found herself at peace. And the warmth coming from his embrace made her feel like she was at home.
She held her breath when his arms tightened around her waist, pulling her closer to his body.
When Elijah leaned in, she closed her eyes as their lips touched. It was a tender kiss – slow, soft and not at all demanding. They were taking their time, enjoying each other, as if they had all the time in the world.
Meredith felt lightheaded when he deepened the kiss, his tongue probing her mouth. And she obliged, letting their tongues dance together.
She moaned sexily, wanting far more than just a kiss.
But Elijah pulled away. He looked dazed as he helped her get back on her feet.
“I can’t do this,” he mumbled helplessly.
“I know,” she said and nodded. She understood his point, and she knew all too well it would be impossible.
Feeling ashamed of herself, she got back on her horse and made sure everything was fine. She nudged the stallion to turn about when Elijah spoke.
“I’m so sorry, Meredith. If it wasn’t for the election… Maybe…” he muttered softly.
Without a word, she maneuvered her horse and let it run back to the path they took earlier.
Maybe… Just maybe…
Chapter Twenty
The campaign bus was in the middle of the road. They were on the second leg of the campaign, and Eli was more distracted than ever. Lately it seemed like he was constantly angry or upset. And it wasn't a good thing.
Sosie had been nagging at him endlessly, and it was making him angrier each time she laid into him.
He was going mad.
After making a few calls to donors, he decided to call Henry. He wasn't sure if asking his friend for advice would be a good thing or not. But at least he'd be able to vent a little.
He was distracted and bothered because of her.
It was all because of her.He dialed Henry’s number, and it only took a few seconds before he answered.
“Hey, Eli. What’s up?” Henry greeted him, holding a slice of pizza in his left hand.
He sighed.
“I’m in trouble,” he grunted.
“What? Why?”
“There’s this woman–“
“Whoa! Woman! That’s big trouble, man,” Henry cut him off, then chuckled before biting his pizza.
“It is,” he agreed, rolling his eyes.
“So is she hot?” Henry asked.
“That’s not the point – but of course she is. So fucking hot, I can’t get her off my damned mind,” he murmured as pictures of Meredith flashed in his mind. And he groaned when the memory of them making out replayed in his brain.
Henry laughed heartily, annoying the hell out of him.
“You’re talking about the blonde from the party, right? Go on, tell me,” Henry urged him after taking gulping down some water.
Eli paused, not knowing where to start his story.
“Okay, we’ve talked and she was so different. The girls I’ve dated in the past were nothing like her. She was someone I never expected to meet. She was just… beautiful. Inside and out,” he stated. He didn’t even know if it made any sense. All he knew was that he was having a hard time to explain how and why he'd ended up like this.
“How far have you gone with her?” Henry asked, his tone serious. But his eyebrows wiggled mischievously.
“To bed,” he answered shortly.
“Oh, that’s fast. Why are you even telling me this? You already slept with her,” Henry grunted, rolling his eyes.
“I haven't. I mean, yes, we made out. But I stopped. Nothing happened. We did not have sex,” he spoke, emphasizing each word as it left his mouth.
“What?!”
“She’s a fucking virgin! How could I?” he retorted while gritting his teeth.
“And she was willing to give it to you?” Henry asked with amusement.
“Look, this isn’t funny.”
“I thought you were trying to stay single?” he questioned with a smirk on his face.
“I was! And I still am,” he answered in a low voice. “I have a lot of stuff going on. But it’s getting harder to focus with her around.”
Henry laughed again like he was watching a comedy.
“What’s so funny, you idiot?” he asked angrily.
“Man, you’re acting like a man who has found love, but is too stupid to know what to do with it.”
Elijah froze. What? Him? In love?
He shook his head. Yes, he was attracted to Meredith but falling in love with her was something else entirely. He wasn't even sure what falling in love meant. And it was just…
Impossible…
“I barely know her,” he found himself mumbling. Was he trying to convince himself? Or Henry?“I’m just calling it like the way I see it,” the man answered with a grin plastered on his face. He looked like he was about to say something more.
But Elijah was too flustered by his friend's offhand comment to continue the conversation. Maybe he just needed to organize his thoughts. And maybe...
Just maybe…
“I’ll see you the next time I'm home,” he said, pressing the end call button.
Maybe he really had fallen in love with Meredith Fields.
Chapter Twenty-One
During yet another press briefing, Meredith was finding it difficult, if not impossible to concentrate. Seeing her name on bylines had made this all worth it.
It was an accomplishment she could be proud of, something she'd earned on her own merits. She was ecstatic.
She felt terrific!
Elijah was fielding questions now from the crowd. Periodically she would look up from her articles to find him looking directly at her.
She was flattered. But he was obviously distracted by her presence. For the first time since she'd met him, he was struggling to answer questions at times. What had happened to his focus?
I hope he’s doing fine, she thought as she went back to her room.
After taking a quick shower, she changed into a tank top and shorts, feeling like it would make her feel more comfortable. She did her skincare routine, then threw herself on the bed when it was finished.
Finally! Early bedtime as a reward for all those sleepless and tiring days, she thought gleefully as she turned off the lights.
She was still smiling as she counted the number of published articles with her name on them. It was so dreamy, she thought she was losing her mind. Who would have thought she’d be able to achieve such a feat?
But at the back of her mind, she thought something was lacking. She was happy, but she didn’t feel complete. It was as if something was left out of the picture. And she couldn’t pinpoint what that something was, exactly.
Shrugging off such silly thoughts, she closed her eyes and decided to finally try and get some sleep.Her mind wandered, thinking of the intense sensations Elijah’s touch had provided her. The memory of her lying underneath him as he was about to enter her looped in her mind on repeat.
She bit her bottom lip.
How could she forget how good it made her feel whenever he kissed her passionately? His touch made her defenseless. She knew it was crazy, but just the mere brushing of their skin took her breath away. His kisses were the sweetest.
Elijah Scott’s touch was magic.
And she thought she wouldn’t mind getting bewitched by him.
Only him.
She swallowed hard when she remembered how big and thick he was. She knew she was having more and more perverted thoughts these days. But when it came to Elijah, she couldn’t help it. How could she? Especially when she could definitely see herself losing her virginity to him.
Knowing Elijah was like an introduction to a new flavor of ice cream to her.
With him, she was willing to be submissive; she was perverted; she was wild. And it was her first time thinking about how great it would have been to be fucked like that.
Yes, she wanted him to fuck her brains out.
She wanted her first time to be memorable.
She wanted him to be her first.
God, she fucking wanted him!
Meredith gritted her teeth, cursing under her breath for thinking about sex when she should have been fast asleep.
She was horny.
As she debated whether to touch herself or not, a knock on her door caught her attention, making her roll her eyes
in annoyance. Who in the world would want something from her?
Getting up from her bed, she grabbed a robe and put it on, tying a loose knot at the waist.
“Hi,” Elijah greeted when she swung the door open. Her face was mere inches from his chest. And she swallowed hard when she smelled his familiar, comforting scent. He smelled so damn good.
Meredith raised her head to meet his gaze.
He looked confused and hesitant.
But she wasn't.
She looked to either side of the hallway to see if anyone was there. When she was certain no one else was around, she pulled Elijah inside her room – fearless and excited.
Tonight is going to be my first time, she thought when she slammed the door shut.
Elijah looked flustered at first, but his expression immediately changed. His eyes turned dark with intense thirst as he stared at her from head to toe.
Meredith blinked, realizing the robe’s knot had come undone, revealing her hard nipples underneath her thin tank top.
Her mind wasn't functioning very well as her heart throbbed hard against her chest. She was nervous. But she thought it would be a whole lot better if he’d just throw his arms around her and kiss her already.
As if reading her mind, Elijah pinned her against the wall, pushing her hands above her head, kissing her savagely. It was a kiss full of want and longing, and it took her breath away. It was intense and exciting.
She responded and matched his pace as his tongue probed her mouth. She loved it whenever he did that. The kiss went deeper.Elijah pulled away, giving them both a chance to catch their breath.
“What are you doing?” she asked.
With his hands running down her spine, he looked her straight in the eyes with a mixture of confusion, fondness and desire. He looked like someone who had been struggling inwardly.
What was bothering him so much?
”You,” he spoke, answering the question on her mind. “I can’t think straight because of you. I can’t fucking get you out of my mind, Meredith. Why are you doing this to me?” he grumbled under his breath. It was evident on his face that he was being sincere.