by Ivy Jordan
His Secret Servicemen were obliged to give me entry whenever I asked, something Adam insisted upon, even though they protested.
He moved toward me quickly, his arms consuming me, and his lips covering mine.
Our bodies fell into one another, both needing the connection we’d so desperately missed. “Maybe now things can get back to normal,” he said, pulling back just enough to stare into my eyes.
“Things will never be normal,” I said with a smile. “At least not for the next eight years,” I laughed.
Adam’s eyes widened and his lips curled into a bright smile. “Wow. You have a lot of faith in me, don’t you?” he asked playfully.
“Yes,” I said softly.
“I have faith in us,” he said.
I took a deep breath, and let out a soft sigh. “That’s what I want to talk to you about,” I said.
He dropped his hands from mine and took a step back. His eyes were filled with worry and a hint of irritation. “I thought we were over this,” he said.
“I’m not trying to run from you,” I said softly.
His eyes narrowed, but the irritation quickly left. “Like before?” he laughed nervously.
I’d never actually talked to him before; instead, I’d ended up in his bed. I knew I’d been paranoid, and had given him plenty of reason to think I was ready to bail on him again. But he needed to trust me right now, and just listen.
“I think the only way we can continue this is to be honest,” I said.
Adam took another step back and leaned against the antique wood of his large desk. Even stressed, he looked more powerful than any man I’d ever known. It wasn’t the power of the presidency; I knew that. Adam had always been a man I’d admired and looked up to, well before the thought of campaigning had even entered his mind.
“Honest?” he asked.
His hands pushed into the pockets of his trousers, and I knew it was to keep from showing telltale signs of anxiety, a trick I taught him.
“I think the people can handle the truth,” I said with a smile.
“About us?” he asked.
“Yes,” I replied.
“But you said that would destroy one of us, if not both,” he stated firmly.
“I did say that. But I was wrong,” I admitted.
“Were you wrong, or do you just want the attention?” he asked.
I was shocked. “The attention?” I snapped.
“You are amazing at what you do. You’ve never been wrong. I mean, just look at how well you pulled me from this last mess. Now you say you’re wrong, and I’m supposed to be okay with that?” he argued.
Anger rose in me like a fire. This is what he wanted, at least if it meant getting into my pants. Now, there was no need. He’d gotten what he wanted, and he didn’t have to flaunt me to the media, or explain me, or himself. It was easy. “You just want to keep me your secret lover?” I hissed.
“Wow. That was never my intention. You know that. You’re the one who insisted that no one could know,” he said, his voice firm and his tone filled with irritation. “You know I’d do anything for us to be together, that I have done anything,” he said.
“What have you done?” I asked.
“I brought you onto the campaign; I brought you on here. I followed your rules,” he scowled.
My blood boiled. “You brought me onto the campaign, to here?” I asked, my voice raising.
“Yes. I did. I wanted to be near you,” he said.
“So, it had nothing to do with my ability to clear your tainted reputation, to get you in the public eye, into their hearts, to clean up your messes and make you look invincible?” I asked, now yelling more than talking.
“Of course I brought you on because you were amazing, and I knew you could do amazing things. That doesn’t change the fact that I wanted to be near you,” he said softly.
“Okay, then let’s make it public,” I said firmly.
“It’s not that easy,” he insisted. “If we’d done that early on, sure. Now, it’s just complicated, and I can’t risk your career being tarnished by a scandal,” he added.
“I can handle myself, and my reputation. I think America would appreciate a love story, and some truth from the White House for once,” I said, fighting back the tear in my eye.
“I’m not sure that’s the PR genius I hired or the woman I’ve been making love to at night. I can’t take a risk on your career, on mine, based on what? A mood? A possibility that it could all work out? It’s just not the right time; you said so yourself just days ago,” he said.
The tear I fought won, rolling down my cheek and onto the floor. It was obvious Adam had been bluffing all along, not willing to really name us as a couple. I was too wrapped up in his power, his beautiful eyes, and his sensual touch to see it. He wanted me, all right: that part was true. He wanted me to be his dirty little secret.
“If that’s how you feel, then we have to end this now. I can’t be your dirty little secret any longer,” I snapped. “The truth will come out, it always does. So, it’s best I leave now before someone decides to start spreading rumors,” I insisted, turning to leave without even looking at him for one last goodbye.
I hated the feeling in my chest as I closed the door. My heart was breaking in two. I knew it was better to break it off now, before I fell any deeper, if that was even possible.
Chapter Nine
Michael pushed for answers when I called, telling him I’d emailed him everything he needed for the week. “Is everything okay?” he asked.
I choked a little as I tried to fight back tears. “It’s fine. I just need some time off,” I explained without much detail.
“You promised you’d tell me anything that could be even remotely important,” he reminded me.
Tears rolled from my eyes and down my cheek. My hand was dampened with my sadness as I held on to the phone, working hard to swallow my pain and speak clearly. “Obviously, there is nothing important to report,” I said, my voice shaken, and obviously filled with sorrow.
I sniffled, swallowed hard, and took a deep breath as Michael remained silent for a few seconds. “Quinn, I’m coming over,” he insisted.
“No,” I protested.
“I know you haven’t confided in me, and I understand why. But you need a friend,” he said softly.
I sobbed relentlessly from his kindness. “Please, just give me the week,” I pleaded.
“Call me if you need anything at all,” he said.
“I promise,” I replied, and then hung up the phone.
Rowena felt horrible for pushing me to make Adam and me public, telling me so constantly.
“It’s not your fault,” I said her over and over, trying to convince her.
“Don’t you think you should answer his calls?” she asked.
I gripped my phone, staring at the screen. There were more than a dozen missed calls from Adam, and countless texts that I couldn’t bring myself to read. “No. It’ll just go back to the way it was before. I love him. He has a way of making me forget my convictions,” I said.
“And you have a way of making him forget his,” she said softly.
I didn’t find that statement to be true. He hadn’t given up anything in this endeavor. He was able to get what he wanted from me both professionally and personally. He didn’t have to announce or proclaim his feelings, and he held all the power. He knew that. I didn’t realize it until I pushed for something more.
“I was foolish. You warned me,” I smiled.
The next week, Adam continued to call and I continued to ignore any attempt he made to contact me.
“Someone is here for you,” Rowena said, peeking in my bedroom door where I’d barricaded myself for days.
“Who?” I asked, fearing it was Adam coming to sway me back into his bed.
“Michael Guidry,” she replied.
My stomach churned as I got up and took a quick glance in the mirror at myself. My hair was pulled tight into a ponytail and my face h
adn’t seen makeup for at least two days. “I’m not in the mood to see anyone,” I said quickly.
“He said he’s not leaving. I’ll send him in here,” she snapped and disappeared from my doorway.
I knew she was irritated that I’d let this breakup get to me so badly. I was contemplating going back to Minnesota and getting my old job back, but I didn’t want to tell her that just yet. I didn’t want to tell anyone.
Michael stood in Rowena’s living room with a bottle of wine. “I thought you could use a drink,” he said, his voice kind and warm.
He wasn’t wrong.
We sat outside on the deck, drinking and talking for over two hours. He filled me in on everything that had happened in the White House and pleaded for me to come back. “Don’t let this ruin your dreams,” he insisted.
“That’s just it. This wasn’t my dream,” I admitted.
My dream was to have a talk show, one where my guests could share stories of inspiration. Ever since I wrote the article on my sister and her battle against cancer, I knew that was my dream.
Adam veered me off course. My attraction for Adam veered me off course.
“Are you coming back at all?” he asked, sipping the last of the wine from his glass.
“I don’t know yet,” I sighed.
“If it’s any consolation, he’s been a mess,” Michael said.
My heart ached to learn Adam was hurting as well. I couldn’t let that consume me. He’d had his chance; he’d made his decision. Now, I had to make mine.
“Don’t tell him you saw me,” I pleaded as Michael was leaving.
“Okay,” he agreed, closing the door and leaving me to deal with my future.
“I’m going back to Minnesota,” I announced to Rowena at breakfast.
She set her coffee mug on the table and stared into my eyes with confusion. “Quinn, why would you do that?” she asked.
“I’ve given it a lot of thought. I don’t want to hurt, but I don’t want to hurt Adam, either. If I stay, and I continue on in my position in the White House, sooner or later, what happened between us will be leaked by someone. That could destroy us both, but since we wouldn’t be together any longer, most likely him more than myself,” I explained.
She paused as if she were trying to find an angle that proved me wrong. “You’re right,” she agreed after a slight hesitation.
For some reason, her agreeing with me didn’t feel as good as I thought it would.
I spent the day, and a good portion of the evening, looking for a place to live and talking to the people at my old job. They were all shocked I’d leave a high-powered position at the White House, but were very excited to have me back.
A knock on the door pulled me from the couch where I surfed online for houses to rent in my old neighborhood.
I opened it to reveal Adam’s Secret Service team on Rowena’s stoop. “I don’t want to see him,” I scoffed, slamming the door hard.
One of the men’s hands stopped the door from closing, pushing it back open. “I’m afraid this isn’t a request,” he said firmly.
“What? You’re going to drag me there kicking and screaming?” I chuckled sarcastically.
“If I have to,” he said without emotion.
I knew this was a battle I wouldn’t win. I grabbed my bag, followed the men to the black car, and quietly rode to the White House.
I was escorted to Adam’s private quarters, where the bed we’d made love in mocked me.
Soon after the men left, Adam entered.
“This is a real dick move, even for you, Adam,” I snarled.
He didn’t speak as he moved toward me. His blue eyes penetrated through my skin, and his confident swagger made me weak in the knees.
This is why I knew I couldn’t see him.
“I had no choice. I missed you,” he said softly, his arms wrapping around me.
I tensed as he squeezed me, pulling away as soon as I found my escape.
“So, you want to go public?” I asked sarcastically.
“I don’t think we should announce anything,” he said.
I let out a growl and moved towards the door. He caught me in his arms, pulling me back to him. Damn, he smelled so good.
“But I think we should quit hiding our relationship. Let it come out on its own,” he said.
It wasn’t the perfect plan, but it was enough to make me stop trying to run from the room, from him.
“I love you, Quinn,” he said softly, tears welling in his eyes.
It was all I wanted to hear. All I’d been wanting to hear this whole time. “I love you too, Adam,” I whispered. “You’re sure about this?” I asked.
He pulled me into his chest, letting me get a long whiff of his irresistable scent. “I’ve never been surer of anything in my life.”
I let my arms wrap around him, squeezing him tightly into my heart. Our mouths searched for one another, finally landing our lips together for a powerful spark. We fell onto the bed, kissing passionately as we rolled in each other’s arms.
Adam lifted from our embrace. His hands brushed my hair from my face as his lips gently landed on my nose for a sweet kiss. “I plan on flaunting you all over town,” he teased.
I giggled at the thought of being on Adam’s arm in public.
He rose up to his knees, squatting with his legs straddled over me. His hands worked quickly to unbutton my blouse, revealing my tight, full breasts. His eyes soaked me in, and then his mouth consumed my soft skin, paying close attention to my nipples with his skillful tongue.
I arched my back, pushing my body toward him. His hands pulled at my pants, slipping them from my body. I hadn’t bothered to put panties on after my shower that night, and the look in Adam’s eyes proved he was pleased with my decision.
“Damn, you’re sexy,” he gasped, quickly sliding down to let his mouth taste what he had just uncovered.
My moans were filling the room fast as his tongue explored my tight pussy with forceful, long thrusts. I was close to coming when Adam lifted up from between my legs, pouncing from the bed and undressing while I watched with delight.
My body was squirming from his teasing as he worked his way back onto the mattress, and then towards the head of the bed.
His hard cock was long, thick, and smooth. His hand wrapped around it tightly, stroking it until the tip turned purple, and then soft pink as he released.
My mouth watered, working up the saliva to be able to take him into my throat. A salty, sweet taste filled my tongue as it rolled around his member. He let out soft growls as I worked him in deeper and deeper between my lips.
“Don’t make me come,” he whispered between growls.
Soft flesh warmed my fingers as I gripped his balls, massaging them in the same rhythm my mouth pleased his cock.
“Stop,” he whispered, pulling back.
My suction tightened, not willing to lose this delicious flavor so soon. “I want to come together,” he insisted, slowly working himself from my grip.
I let my legs fall apart, spreading my pussy wide open for his viewing pleasure. I loved that he saw me, that he looked at me with such hunger, and that his cock twitched when my fingers slid down my belly to the swollen clit pushing out from my patch of pubic hair.
He pulled a condom from his nightstand drawer and slid it on carefully.
Adam’s strong arms gripped me, pulling me into his chest as he pinned me beneath him on the bed. His cock rested at my pussy, throbbing against the pulsations pushing from between my own legs.
Our eyes locked, never leaving their positions as he pushed into me with one forceful thrust. I let out a moan that could’ve awakened the whole nation, and he growled like a victorious grizzly bear.
Our bodies melted together as we both held on to one another. He didn’t move, and I didn’t dare. Our orgasms exploded into one another without friction, without any movement at all. It was simply from that feeling of finally becoming one.
Chapter Ten
Adam stayed true to his word, no longer hiding our relationship. It was never officially announced, but people were talking.
“Is it true you’re dating Quinn Hamilton?” one reporter asked during a scheduled press conference.
My heart pounded against my chest as Adam turned a soft shade of pink at the podium. “It is true that Ms. Hamilton and I have been exploring some very personal feelings for one another,” he said without hesitation.
Cameras all flashed in my direction, and reporters scrambled to be the next called upon. It was chaos as they yelled out question after question.
“Is that why you brought her with you to the White House?” one asked.
“I brought her to the White House because she is amazing at what she does,” he replied.
Reporters started directing their questions to me. I wasn’t ready. “Do you think this has helped your career?” one reporter asked.
I laughed nervously. “This was a huge risk, but one I’d take again and again if I had to,” I finally answered.
Adam smiled in my direction, his blue eyes lighting up with pride. “That’s all,” he said, and stepped away from the podium.
The press secretary took over, dodging any questions that involved the president’s personal life.
“I’m sorry about that,” Adam said as I followed him from the press room.
My hand slid into his, and I moved closer to him as we walked down the long hallway together. It felt good that everyone knew, and that there was no more worrying about when they’d finally figure it out.
We’d been out on dates, spent time together during events, but since we’d been so close before, no one seemed to really notice, or at least not enough to say something publicly.
“I’m so glad you didn’t deny it, Mr. President,” Michael said, rushing towards us in the hall.
“I am, too,” Adam said, lifting my hand to his lips for a quick kiss.
“No. Sir. You just dodged a huge bullet,” Michael said.
He pushed a book towards Adam, one that was titled “Love on the Campaign Trail, A Prediction of the Next First Lady.”
“What is this?” Adam asked, turning it over to display Sal’s face as the author.