Act of Congress

by Amelia Oliver

  Rebel had come across a YouTube video recently, and since then has been obsessed with the word. She used it at every opportunity, including using gifs of video outtakes in our DM’s. Piper was right though, that word was hideous…though not entirely inaccurate.

  “I’m with Piper, you gotta give it up. We’re never getting on that bandwagon, Reb,” I add, knowing she’s going to ignore us both and do whatever the hell she wants anyway.

  “Cass, that man is sexy as fuck. For a dude in a suit I mean, but still sexy. Oh, wait…hold your clit, casual image alert…GET OUT! Cassie, his ass is like a pot-roast – all plump and juicy and shit.”

  “It is. It soooo is,” I say wistfully, then go quiet, listening as Reb keeps up the commentary on the images she’s finding.

  “You ok Cass?” Piper asks realizing I’ve not spoken for a minute or so.

  Damn it Piper…don’t ask me that.

  “Wouldn’t you be, doing that man?” I sass, but even to my own ears I sound flat, so I know I need to go there. I need to do something I rarely do and go there. “I think Jake Reid has broken me, and I don’t know what the fuck to do about it. I mean, it’s a fling right? An incredibly hot fling and I leave when it’s done. Don’t I? It can’t work; it’s just a fli…and the sex! My God, the sex, but it’s not even just the sex, it’s him! The way he watches me, the way he kisses me, and he does this thing where he…oh God! It’s his everythi–– but he’s Washington! Like, running the country, and he needs to be because he’s everything that place fucking place needs, and I’m m––.”

  “CASSIE!”

  Both girls shout my name. Obviously they’d been trying to stop me for a while and I’d not heard them, caught up in my own little whirlwind.

  “Yeah?” I ask, breathless and hesitant.

  “Time to spill sister, and no judgment. Promise,” Piper assures.

  Then Rebel says, “Ow, fuck Pipes! Keep your scrawny elbows to yourself. Oh, right, fuck yeah, no judgments. C’mon Cass, out with it. And just saying, all the details are welcome.”

  And so I do.

  I share with them my immediate reaction to being around Jake and my early attempts to ignore it. I give them what happened when we gave in to the attraction and then my idiotic attempt at professional distance. When I tell them about Jake coming after me in the green room after giving me my space, Reb announces that she’s had her second orgasm and therefore the phone call has been a better date than any she’s had in a while. As is Reb’s personality, her comment gives us a light moment in a kinda deep topic. I then gave them the bliss of the days since, and my promise to myself to make the absolute most of every minute I had left with Jake Reid.

  To their credit, they mostly listened, a few questions here and there, but as they promised, no judgment.

  “Well shit dude, what are you going to do?” Rebel asks.

  I didn’t answer that, mostly because I didn’t know.

  “So many what if’s, Cassie. Too many to think about, I get that, but a connection like this? Wow. And, I don’t know…maybe…look, just promise me, what ever happens, what ever you decide, you’ll give it as much time as you can. Consider all possibilities.”

  I continued to chew my lip in silence, moving off the bed, ready to go back out there. Girl time was over.

  “Cass. Promise me?”

  “Ok, Pipes. I’ll try.”

  * * *

  Sean had left the bus an hour or so ago, and the general feeling was that the Congressman had a new fan and that was huge. Sean was emailing me his blog article and a few of the other snippets he’d be posting a day or so before they went live so we could comment where needed, but I wasn’t at all concerned.

  Ella had nabbed Jake and he was currently up to his eyeballs in paper, so I moved into the lounging area and left them to it. My head is a jumble of thoughts, barely able to grab a hold of a single thread to work it through. I’d like to say that talking to Piper and Rebel had helped me get some clarity, but honestly, right now it feels like it’s had the opposite effect.

  Taking a deep breath and leaning back into the seat, I look out the big picture window knowing that before too long the city of Billings would be what I’d see. What’s strange though is as I close my eyes to get a little rest, one single thought comes forward.

  You can’t leave yet; Jake still has to take you to try Bison.

  Chapter 15

  Jake

  Waking up beside Cassie has me feeling some kind of way. The last two mornings she hasn’t left me to workout. Instead, when she woke up at four a.m. this morning, she gave me a blowjob then rode me to a heart attack inducing orgasm.

  I study her face, watching her sleeping and looking peaceful. She looks younger like this, relaxed and at ease. Different than how she normally looks. Her skin is flawless, her bow shaped lips parted slightly as she breathes through her mouth. She’s naked; the white hotel sheet pulled up just high enough on one side, while it reveals just a glimpse of the beginning of her nipple on the other. Her hair’s spilled across the pillow and her chest rises and falls with the motion of sleep and I can’t resist touching her. My hand lifts and rests on her chest, feeling her heartbeat, willing my heart to take on the same rhythm. The last few days I’ve been trying to come up with plans to present to her about how we could still be together after today.

  I know she’s planning on leaving this morning, now that we’ve arrived in Montana this part of her job is over. I’ll get to see her once more maybe, sometime next month in Washington to debrief the success of the trip, but she had already dropped the hint that this was something we could do over Skype.

  It was late when we arrived last night, so I’m going to my parents today, and I’ve decided I want Cassie to come with me. Ella and my interns are staying here in town, working out of my local office until we fly back to D.C. in a few days. I’m happy I won’t have to deal with Ella after Cassie leaves, as I’m not on their flight. I don’t think I mean much to Cassie, sex, phenomenal sex, but just physical. She’s made it clear that that’s all she can give me. But she’s given me so much more. I feel she’s my equal in all aspects, and I’d found myself wanting her company from the moment we’d met, that’s gotta mean something, right? Or I guess it has to be felt on both sides for that to mean anything I suppose. We’d stopped using condoms, that means something to me, and I don’t exactly see Cassie being that carefree with every partner she has. I know that if she leaves today, everything will change. I won’t be able to text her and get an immediate response. She’ll be busy with work and randomly give me some lame excuse every so often about how she’s sorry but busy and can’t talk. And slowly, we’ll stop talking. The thought immediately has my chest hurting, and I can’t let her go. It might be selfish but even if I can just hold onto her a few more days, maybe I can convince her that we can work.

  Her eyes flutter open, a small smile lifting the corners of her mouth before she looks at me. Turning her head, she nuzzles my nose with hers and I inhale deeply.

  “Morning,” she whispers.

  “Come to the ranch with me,” I state.

  Her body stiffens for a flash of a second, and then she exhales, pulling her head back so she can look in my eyes.

  “Just for a few days. It’ll be my thank you for helping me the last two weeks, and my gramps makes a chilly that you’ll go insane over.”

  I can see her weighing her options, the pros and cons, all the possibilities. My hand grips her hip as I bring our bodies closer, my face dipping down to kiss along her neck.

  “You’re trying to make me all lust crazy so I’ll answer quicker,” she moans.

  Dragging my tongue up along the side of her neck to her earlobe, I suck the tip like I’ve noticed makes her eyes close and her nipples harden.

  “I’ll do anything if it means you’ll say yes.”

  “Hmmmm, would you get fucked by a dude?” she asks.

  “Say what?” I question, pulling back to look at her.

  S
he instantly begins laughing and covering her mouth and I start to tickle her sides.

  “Oh my God, now tickle torture, you’re a tyrant!” she shouts at me between giggles.

  She’s writhing beneath me, the sheet discarded and naked flesh bombards my eyes. Playfulness leaves me as I grab her legs and part them quickly, diving between her thighs.

  “Oh shit,” she gasps and pushes up on her hands to look down at me.

  I look up at her, my tongue sucking her clit, her chest heaving, eyes fluttering as she brings one hand to the top of my head.

  “Oh Jake, oh, mmmm,” she moans as I give her everything I got, every move I can think of.

  My fingers slip inside her and I lean up to kiss her, grabbing the back of her head to take her lips. Her body shudders and jolts as my fingers slide in and out at a pace I know she loves.

  “Say you’ll go with me,” I tell her, my lips against hers.

  Her eyes are still closed, her body focused on coming, not talking. My hand tightens in her hair, my fingers pausing inside her and it takes her a moment to realize this. With a whimper, her eyes open and plead with mine.

  “Cass,” I growl.

  “Orgasm torture?” she groans with disbelief.

  Slowly, I slide my fingers out, pressing down with slight pressure as I retreat. She inhales and her head goes limp in my hand.

  “Yes,” she pants. “I’ll go,” she states, looking at me.

  I snap, feeling happy as fuck, excited as fuck, and turned on as fuck, as I pull her onto my dick and up onto my lap. My arms wrap around her as I use my knees on the bed to piston into her. Cassie’s limbs hang onto me, her head falling against my shoulder as I fuck her, giving her everything I have until we both come.

  * * *

  It’s still early when we get out of bed and I confirm that the rental car I’d arranged to be dropped off at the hotel is here. I didn’t want to have to talk to Ella, so I’d texted her instead. I’d let her know in my message that I’d be back in town in a few days. Mentioning that reception could be iffy at my parents place, I’d also included their address, with clear indication that it was for getting a hold of me in emergencies only.

  Packed and ready to go, Cassie and I toss our luggage into the back of the black rental SUV and buckle in. I keep looking at her, not believing she’s really here. She must sense this because she takes my hand as we pull out onto the street, resting our linked hands on her thigh. The sun is beginning to rise over the mountains and the roads are still wet from the morning dew. Leaving the town, we head out into the open land of the farms in Montana. My parents live a good forty-five minutes from civilization and we fill that time listening to music between our two phones. We have a lot of the same stuff, but she prefers dance and pop music, while I enjoy rock and metal. She mixes the music up for us as we talk about concerts we’ve been to and who we’d like to see live. The time passes and before I know it, the Reid Ranch sign comes into view. The words are forged in steel above an arch placed at the beginning of the drive. The familiar sight feels good to see, calming and brings up so many memories. I love my parents ranch, the place I grew up. I miss it when I’m in D.C., but I love my life there too.

  “Wow,” Cassie says as we drive along the dirt road.

  There are a few acres of woodlands that have been left around the perimeter of the ranch, like a natural fence used back in the day. Then once past that, the sky opens up and there are endless miles of grasslands for the cattle to graze. The sky is the perfect shade of blue, with a thin dusting of clouds spread out.

  “Beautiful, huh?” I ask.

  “This feels like the end of the earth or something, it’s so beautiful.”

  I look over at her as she looks out the passenger window and I can’t help but smile. A few miles later, the farmhouse comes into view. The log cabin style home was built by my great grandfather, my family having lived in the main house or the other small houses peppered on the property for generations. I can see my family around the barn and stables as we approach and I start getting even more excited. I haven’t been home in a while and it feels good to be here. My mom notices us coming up the drive first and stops brushing one of her stallions and comes out of the stable, resting her hands on her hips as she waits for us.

  Mom is beautiful, youthful looking with sandy blond hair and blue eyes; she’s the total opposite of my dad. She used to be a rodeo rider, one of those people who train their horse to run obstacle courses. She was really good and still loves to train horses. Then my dad comes into view. He’s big and strong, with dark hair and eyes as he stands beside mom. They’re both wearing flannel shirts and leather work-gloves, cowboy hats and jeans. I made sure Cassie wore clothes suitable for work because there won’t be any chill time here. We park and I make sure Cassie is ready and she nods before we get out. I didn’t tell my mom I was bringing someone and I can see her look at Cassie before raising her eyebrows as she approaches me with open arms.

  “Hi baby boy,” she says, and I can tell by the tone of her voice she’s happy about this unexpected surprise.

  “Hi Mom,” I reply, hugging her. “This is Cassie,” I announce, pulling back and making room for Cassie.

  “Nice to meet you, Mrs. Reid,” Cassie says, outstretching her hand.

  “Kendall,” Mom says, smiling as she sizes Cassie up.

  “Jeb,” my dad says with his gruff voice, shaking hands with Cassie next.

  “Where’s Jace?” I ask.

  “Out near the creek, lost a mom and calf the other night, he thinks they might be over there,” Dad says.

  “You from D.C. too?” my mom asks Cassie.

  “No, L.A., but originally Miles City.”

  My brain halts, something backfiring and restarting. Did she just say that?

  “Oh, Montana too…how did you two meet?” Mom continues.

  Cassie’s from Montana?!

  She’s from my home state and didn’t feel it was necessary to tell me this? I look at her as she talks to my mom and when she finishes her sentence, her eyes dart to mine before quickly looking away.

  “I gotta get back,” Dad begins.

  “I’ll come with you,” I tell him, moving past Cassie and following my dad toward the barn. “Mom?” I call out over my shoulder.

  “I got her,” she says with a nod and watch as she motions for Cassie to go with her into the stable.

  My eyes meet with Cassie’s for a moment and I know she understands why I might be a little irritated with her.

  Following my dad into the barn, my grandad is there in his workshop where he still handcrafts wood furniture. He’s a man of few words and all he does is wave at me and I return it. There’s a round-up of cattle I see as we reach the other end of the barn and the farm hands are working to get them corralled. I see all the things ready for branding them with the RR on the leg so other farmers know they belong to us. Grabbing a pair of leather gloves just before exiting the barn, I slide them on and get to work.

  It’s hard work of course, but I fall back into the routine in no time. The few people who work on the farm I’ve known most my life and it’s like nothing ever changes here, and I like that. Working doesn’t give me much time to think, and I’m thankful for that too. However, it doesn’t stop my brain completely. The struggle is at the forefront. Cassie didn’t tell me she was from here. She hasn’t told me shit. I don’t know what to think or feel about any of this, or her. I don’t know where she stands because surely if she didn’t like me she would’ve flown back to L.A. this morning.

  When we’re all finished with the cattle, it’s near dusk and I’ve noticed my mom and Cassie randomly across the property, mainly dealing with the horses and I wonder if they’ve been talking. My mom’s a lot like Cassie, no filter, and I know that if they’ve had a moment to talk that my mom’s asked her about our relationship.

  “Who brought the fine ass woman working in the barn with Mom?”

  I look over to see Jace riding in on one of the horse
s, a huge smile on his face. He gets down and instantly we hug, smacking one another’s backs.

  “Damn, she got a sister?” he asks.

  Fuck if I know, I want to say, but I give him a look like he’s being a smartass and then my dad’s asking if he found any sign of the lost cattle. We clean up the outside as they talk and I notice no one’s in the stable as we all walk up toward the house.

  Instantly, I hear Cassie and my mom’s voices and smell food. We normally eat something that’s been cooking all day, roasts and stuff like that since no one can really spend hours in the kitchen. The house is rustic and made for people bringing in dirt and dust every day.

  After washing up, I follow my dad into the dining room, which is a wood table, and wood chairs that Grandad made, to see mom and Cassie already eating the pot roast sitting in the middle of the table. I sit at the end of the table, away from Cassie, though not intentionally it’s just where I always sit. We dish out our bowlfuls and begin eating, not much talking happening between the men at the table, while my mom tells my dad all the things I’ve been doing on the two-week road trip that Cassie’s filled her in on. Cassie’s voice is light and carefree, just like always but still I eat my food and don’t look at her. She has everyone laughing when she tells them about the fishing competition and how small my catch was. It’s almost painful to hear her talking about me, like she gives a shit or something, when clearly it’s an act. I don’t know why I’m letting her not tell me where she’s from fester like it is, but it isn’t just that, it’s all of it.

  After we eat, I head to the bathroom to piss and wash my hands. As I shut the water off, there’s a small tap at the door and it opens, Cassie letting herself in as she closes the door behind her.

  “You ready to head up to my place soon?” I ask.

  “Your place?” she questions.

  “I live in a cabin on the property, a few miles away…or would you rather stay here? Not like you’d tell me what you really want to do.”