The Bellator Saga: The First Trilogy (Dissident, Conscience, and Sojourn)

by Cecilia London

“You’re not playing fair,” Jack said against her mouth.

  “That’s what you get for distracting me,” she said silkily. “Now you’ve got something to focus on for the rest of the night. I’m going to be very, very bad. Be ready.”

  He reluctantly slid his hands off her ass. “I’m always ready.”

  Caroline heard voices nearby and practically jumped away from him. “I’ll see you in the ballroom, Jack,” she said in a loud singsong voice. She turned around and winked at him before striding down the hall, leaving him with a dazed grin on his face.

  * * * * *

  Jack wanted to give Ellen a huge, platonic hug, so Caroline dragged him along to the little mini-meeting they had planned before they walked on stage together. Ellen, who had been thrilled to see them both, didn’t waste any time laying down the law.

  “No politically incorrect jokes,” she said.

  “Shit,” Caroline said. “That’s half my damn speech.”

  “It can’t be. Surely you can work in some economic populism or something.”

  “I can charm my way through the offensive stuff.”

  “Populism and social responsibility. That’s what we agreed on.”

  It was, and those were the topics Caroline planned to cover. But messing with Ellen was one of her favorite pursuits. “I thought we agreed on tasteless juvenile humor and penis jokes. How can I be expected to keep all your requests straight?”

  “That text message was meant in jest, as you well know.”

  Senator Goldman was nervous, because she sounded a little panicked. Caroline decided to keep going. “What about razzing on your rich donors? I wrote up a little routine for us. I got us top hats and monocles and everything.”

  Ellen gave her an exasperated look. “Caroline, really. And where the hell are your notes?”

  She tapped her temple. “It’s all in here.”

  Ellen threw her hands up in the air. “Well, I’m screwed. Is it possible to lose money at a Beverly Hills fundraiser? I’ve never heard of it happening, but anything is possible.”

  Caroline grinned at her. She wouldn’t give Ellen such a hard time if she didn’t know that the other woman secretly enjoyed it. “I have this really good line about Jews in Hollywood. Can I use that?”

  Ellen glared at her. “Caroline, honestly.”

  Jack cut in. “She’s also got this great joke about a priest and a rabbi. They walk into a bar, see, and one of them is carrying a tiny piano and…”

  “And what?” Ellen asked.

  “I don’t remember. I was actually hoping you’d interrupt me before I got much further.”

  Ellen laughed. Her panic had given way to amusement. “You two are ridiculous. I’m not inviting you to any more fundraisers.”

  “Jack’s been helping me with my speeches lately,” Caroline said. “He knows all the good lines.”

  “Is that why you’ve started focusing on tax cuts and destroying the environment?” Ellen asked.

  Jack adjusted his tie. “We don’t need trees. Or clean water.”

  “What about all the stuff I have about your secret misandrist plan to throw off the shackles of our oppressors and take over the Senate in your second term?” Caroline asked.

  Ellen rolled her eyes. “Cut it out.”

  “But that’s the other half of my speech.”

  “Seriously. Just go in there and say how much you love me. And how much you love my ideas on how to strengthen the economy.”

  “You expect me to lie?”

  Ellen switched her attention to Jack. “Does she act like this on the campaign trail?”

  Jack gave her the most beleaguered look he could manage. “All the damn time.”

  “And your staffers haven’t tired of it?”

  He smiled at her. “No comment.”

  “His campaign manager doesn’t like me,” Caroline announced.

  “That’s not true,” Jack said. “Greg just finds you a little too progressive and headstrong for his tastes.”

  “That’s code for strident feminist bitch,” Caroline said to Ellen in a stage whisper.

  “You left out man-hating,” Ellen said mildly.

  “Oh, yes. That too.”

  Ellen frowned. “Regardless, that’s still not terribly flattering.”

  “I know,” Jack said. “He’s a work in progress.”

  Ellen patted his shoulder affectionately. “At least you’re learning.”

  “I can be taught.” Jack winked at Caroline. “My wife says I’m a reasonably decent student of gender theory.”

  “He’s also good at sex,” Caroline said.

  Ellen sighed. “Are you two going to go the entire night without making a single serious comment?”

  Jack put his arm around her. “That’s the goal.”

  “I plan on being as facetious as possible,” Caroline said. “It’s the only way you’ll learn, as you said, not to invite us to any more fundraisers.”

  Ellen glanced over Caroline’s shoulder. “Daniel just arrived. Can he hang out with you tonight, Jack? He hates these things and I have to work the damn crowd all evening. You can talk about all the things men talk about when their wives aren’t around.”

  “Boobies,” Caroline said.

  “Tentacle porn,” Jack said.

  Ellen shook her head again. “You two. Someone help me get through the next few hours. And the correct answer is dinosaur erotica.”

  “I like her,” Jack said to Caroline.

  “So do I. Does that mean I get to hang out with you all night?” Caroline asked Ellen.

  “I need you to flirt with all the donors.” Ellen turned to Jack. “If that’s okay?”

  His lips turned up ever so slightly, and Caroline felt him pinch her ass. Of course Ellen was kidding, but still. She had absolutely no idea what the two of them had planned once the night came to a close.

  “That’s fine,” he said.

  “All right,” Ellen said. “Let’s get you situated, Caroline, before you really do change your entire speech.”

  Caroline kissed Jack on the cheek. She’d string Ellen along for just a bit longer before she clued her in on what she really planned to say during her time at the podium. “You and Daniel have fun finding tasteful gifs on Tumblr,” she told him.

  He just laughed.

  * * * * *

  They behaved themselves when it came to alcohol, with only three drinks between them by the end of the night. Caroline spoke to as many younger men as possible, hoping that Jack was keeping an eye on her. The men all laughed at her jokes and enjoyed her sports small talk. Several of them appeared to be quite pleased that her husband was on the other side of the room while they were chatting. Fools, the lot of them. She’d never cross the line, and Jack knew that.

  Half of the attendees at this sort of thing were concerned more about snapping a photo or indulging in the cult of personality, and nothing beyond that. Not the issues. Not the ideals. Caroline tried not to dwell on it because part of her did enjoy the superficiality, much as she hated to admit it. She liked working a crowd and knew that people were drawn to her charisma. A nice gift to have, though it sometimes made her feel a little frivolous. But she always made it clear through her body language and tone of voice that she was a harmless flirt. And Jack made it clear that he was fun but possessive. Caroline chatted up a number of random young men anyway, with the knowledge that Jack was watching her every move.

  They rode the elevator up to their room in silence, although Jack’s firm hand on the back of Caroline’s neck and his harsh breath in her ear made it clear where the rest of the night was headed. She wanted to beg him to start touching her in the elevator but she knew he wouldn’t do it. It was hard to stay quiet but verbalizing her demands would only make it worse for her later.

  As soon as they got into the suite Jack pulled Caroline into the bedroom and forced her up against the wall.

  “How many men did you flirt with tonight?” he asked, his hands roaming under the botto
m of her dress. He forced her legs apart with his knee and started teasing her through her underwear with his fingers. It was unbearable.

  “I don’t know,” Caroline gasped. “Maybe five?”

  Jack bit her earlobe and continued to stroke her. She couldn’t hide the evidence of her desire. Her underwear was soaked through and he smiled against her ear. “What could you have possibly been thinking about during that elevator ride? You spoiled your panties,” he whispered roughly. “And it was much more than five. Try again.”

  “Eight?” She moved her hips toward his hand.

  He pulled back, ever so slightly. “Your math skills are seriously lacking. And you’ve been very, very naughty.”

  The game was off to an intense start. He slid his finger back and forth over her wet underwear, smiling at her the entire time.

  “Please, Jack,” Caroline stammered. “I can’t – how many?”

  He squeezed her ass with his hands, letting her feel his cock against her hip. “Twelve. Maybe more. Those were just the ones I kept track of. I’m sure there were many more than that.”

  “It couldn’t have been that many,” she said, as he pushed her back up against the wall.

  He wrapped his hands around the back of her head. “Are you calling me a liar?”

  “No,” she said urgently. “No, I’m not.”

  “Why do you throw yourself at all those men, baby?” He gripped her hair in his hands, and she winced in pain.

  Oh, fuck. Part of her wanted him to pull back a little but a larger part wanted to see where this was going. “I don’t know.”

  “You do know. Why?” He started teasing her through her underwear again. “Tell me,” he ordered.

  “I-” She started grinding her hips against him, clinging to his shirt, wanting more. Much, much more. “Oh, Jack. Please.”

  He pulled his hand back and grinned. “I like when you beg.” He grabbed her jaw between his thumb and forefinger, pushing her back against the wall. “Why do you spend all that time at fundraisers trying to disgrace me?”

  She could barely speak. “Because-”

  “Because what?” He shoved his hand down her panties and rubbed her clit.

  Because of this. Because she could. Because he’d fucking do whatever he wanted to her and she to him, and they’d both always come back for more.

  “Because I like pissing you off,” she choked out.

  “And why is that?” He tore at the top of her dress and thrust his fingers inside her again.

  Caroline glared at him, her eyes blazing, as he heaved her back up to her feet, one hand at her pussy, the other at her neck. She cried out. Whether from pain or pleasure, she wasn’t sure.

  “Why?” he repeated.

  She clawed at the hand at her throat. “Because I like what you do to me when you’re jealous.”

  Jack wrapped one of his hands in her hair again and pulled her toward him, kissing her deeply, pressing his hips to hers, grinding against her while his fingers were still inside her. “It’s not jealousy,” he said against her lips. “I’m a very possessive man. And I know you feel the same way about me.”

  They were both good-natured in public but if anything were to really threaten their relationship, one or both of them would be sure to bare their fangs. Jack pulled back slightly, their noses touching. Caroline struggled to keep her breathing steady.

  “Who gives you what you want?” he whispered.

  “You do, Jack.”

  “Do you think those little boys can give you what you need?” He started to caress her clit again. “Do you?”

  She whimpered. His fingers were rough, but it didn’t matter. She didn’t want him to stop. “No, Jack. Only you.”

  He began biting her neck, stroking her harder. “They’re the ones who envy me. All of them. Do you know how jealous all those men are? They might get five minutes of meaningless conversation with you but I’m the one who gets to fuck you any time I want.”

  She’d been thinking about this the entire night, especially during that lengthy, laborious ride in the elevator and she wanted him to make her come. She knew it wouldn’t take long. She was so close already.

  “They could never understand what it means when we’re like this together,” Jack murmured. “That it’s more than just sex. It goes so much…deeper,” he rasped, thrusting his finger inside her again.

  “Jack, please,” Caroline said. He continued to use his fingers to bring her to the brink. Two fingers inside her, his thumb teasing her into oblivion. Her legs started to tremble and she leaned into him, desperate for that last touch to send her over.

  He smiled, removing his thumb from her clit. “Not yet, baby. Even though I love it when you ride my hand.”

  He brought his index and middle fingers to her lips. Caroline opened her mouth, sucking on them, tasting herself.

  “Does that turn you on?” he asked.

  She bit down on his fingers in response and he pulled them back out. Caroline closed her eyes as Jack wiped the sheen of sweat from her brow, moaning again as he resumed teasing her through her panties.

  “Tonight we’re going to go further than we ever have before,” he whispered, kissing her jawline. “I won’t do anything that both of us don’t want. Are you ready?”

  Jack never pressed her past what she could handle. She trusted him completely and remained forever eager to push her boundaries. But it was nice of him to check in.

  “Yes,” she said. “Please.” She pushed her hips toward him again, needing one more little something and knowing she probably wouldn’t get it.

  Of course he pulled back. “You have such a hard time keeping control. Throwing yourself at me like that.” He kissed her again. “You have to learn patience.”

  “Oh, Jack. You make me crazy.”

  “I’m going to have fun educating you tonight.”

  “Please don’t make me beg.”

  “You’ve already started, sweetheart,” he said. “You aren’t going to be able to help yourself. You’re going to be pleading for mercy by the time I’m through with you.” Jack led her to the bed and sat down, loosening his tie. “Take off your panties. Leave your garters and shoes on.”

  Caroline smiled, knowing what was to come. She loved when they played this game. She stepped backwards and stripped off her underwear. Jack stared at her like a lion about to devour a gazelle.

  “Give those to me,” he said softly.

  She stumbled forward and handed her panties to him. Jack raised them to his nose and she bit her lip, afraid that her knees would give out. He was going all out tonight.

  “You like that too, huh?” He tossed the undergarments on the floor, patting his lap. “Come here.”

  She laid down across his legs, feeling his erection against her stomach. Caroline tried to scoot forward so it would be closer to her lower body, where she needed to feel it the most.

  Jack lightly patted her backside through her dress and shook his head back and forth. “I know what you’re trying to do. You don’t get to come yet.” He slid a finger inside her and she moaned, grinding her hips against his leg, then raising her ass up against his hand. He pulled the finger back out and laughed. “No, you don’t get that yet either. Although I know that’s exactly what you want.”

  He lifted up her skirt to display her nakedness and caressed her slowly. “You’re in for a long night, my love.” Jack placed a gentle kiss on her backside, laughing as Caroline wriggled toward him again. “I bet I know where you’d like me to put my lips right now.”

  “Please, Jack.” She twisted on his lap just thinking about it. He was so good with his tongue. It seemed a waste for him to neglect that part of his repertoire. She pushed her hips toward his cock. If she could move a little further, she could maybe grind against him, finish herself off without his help. She’d never been able to get off that way but she wasn’t sure she’d ever been this turned on before.

  Jack lifted her thighs up so she couldn’t move, and her legs fla
iled. “Don’t think I don’t know what you’re trying to do, sweetheart.”

  He loved this part of the game. Pushing her toward the edge. Making her crazy. Forcing her to tell him what she needed. “Please, Jack. Touch me. Make me come. I don’t care how.”

  “No,” he said. “You get to writhe and beg and plead before I let you come.” He suckled on her earlobe, teasing the secretly sensitive part of her neck with his tongue in an agonizing imitation of what he usually did to her clit.

  “I know this is what you want,” he whispered. “You want my tongue inside your pussy. But you’re going to have to wait for that until tomorrow. You’re going to be squirming in your seat the entire flight back to Pennsylvania just thinking about it. And I’m going to enjoy watching you every minute until we land.”

  Caroline felt a rush between her ears, a warmth between her thighs. The man knew how to use the English language to arouse her senses. Every word he uttered put her at a greater disadvantage. “Pervert,” she gasped.

  “You love it.” He slid his fingers inside her again, bringing them down to tease her clit. “You’re so wet, baby. You’re going to wreck my suit pants. That might get you in even more trouble.”

  Caroline gripped the sheet on the bed, her entire body trembling. “It’s all for you.”

  Jack withdrew his fingers and brushed the back of one hand against her cheek. She turned her head so that her eyes met his.

  “I know,” he said softly.

  “Please,” she panted. “Please do that again. Touch me.”

  “Oh, no. You have to earn your orgasm. That comes later.”

  Caroline realized the urge to slam her hands down on the mattress. “You’re such an asshole.”

  Jack laughed and resumed stroking her backside. “I know, baby. But you wanted to play.”

  He reached for the back of her head, loosening the remaining bobby pins. After he finished he brushed her hair back out of her face. She turned to look up at him again. He gazed back at her with heat in his eyes, swallowing hard. She could see the muscles moving in his neck.

  “I love you, Caroline,” he said. “So very much.”

  She turned back toward the front of the bed and grabbed a pillow, pulling it toward her head. “I know,” she said. “Believe me, I know.” Caroline clenched her teeth and pushed her face into the pillow. If they’d been at home she wouldn’t have bothered since he loved hearing her scream, but this was a high class hotel and they had to maintain a small amount of respectability.