When he finally pulled away, Molly slowly opened her eyes to find James stripping off his clothes. There was a moment of startled surprise to find that she was completely naked, except for her socks, while he was still dressed. By the time she opened her mouth to comment, he was already rolling a condom into place.
“James,” she whispered as he lowered himself to her. His knees and hips pressed between her legs, and Molly was more than happy to open to him, thrilled when he pressed into her as he kissed her deeply, his tongue tasting of her as she wrapped her arms around his neck, her hips rolling gently to accommodate him. As he filled her up, it took Molly a moment to catch her breath. He was so big and thick and filled her completely.
“You okay?” he asked, holding still while her body adjusted.
“Yes!” she replied back, her voice breathy as she hugged him tighter, lifting her hips to prove to him that she was more than okay.
He didn’t speak again. Watching her face, he pulled out almost completely and ever so slowly, entered her heat once more. Over and over, moving faster as their bodies climbed that spiral of pleasure, he watched her, their gazes locked together. But as her body exploded, she couldn’t maintain that eye contact, her eyes closing as the intense pleasure washed over her, leaving her trembling as he continued to thrust into her until he roared, freezing for a long moment as he found his pleasure as well. Then he collapsed over her, his face hidden in the crook of her neck as she held him close, reveling in the aftermath of one of the most glorious experiences of her life!
James inhaled deeply, struggling to catch his breath. Smiling, he shifted so that he could look down into her eyes, unwilling to pull away just yet.
“Hello, by the way.”
Molly laughed, her body tightening around his shaft. Because he knew that he was hardening again, he pulled out and walked into the bathroom, hearing her stretch on the bed. He cleaned up and came back to find her dressing.
“So you’re the love ‘em and leave ‘em type?” he teased, pulling her into his arms before she could put her bra back on.
Molly wrapped her arms around his shoulders and beamed at him. That smile brightened his whole day. Shockingly, he loved her smile more than…okay, as much as…making love to her. Both events were perfect, he thought.
She laughed softly and he felt her happiness filling him up. “You promised to make me dinner tonight,” she warned him. “As a candidate, are you going to follow through on your promises?”
He threw back his head, laughing. “Absolutely!” he vowed, giving her a tight squeeze, then bending down to nibble on her neck once again, enjoying the way she wiggled in a pointless effort to avoid his teasing lips. “I have everything set up at my place. Are you ready to go?”
She laughed again, pulling out of his arms. “Not even close! I’m still mostly naked and you,” her eyes moved over his already hardening body, smiling seductively, “you definitely are not ready to leave.”
“What?” he asked, looking down at himself. “You don’t think the voters would prefer me like this?”
Molly rolled her eyes. “Two words: Anthony Weiner!”
He cringed, shaking his head. “Such a horrible name. Did he really need to live up to it?” he asked, pulling away and grabbing his boxers and slacks, pulling both on.
Molly chuckled. “Yeah, I doubt I’ll ever understand that guy.”
“So, what did you think of my speech?” he asked.
Molly pulled her shirt over her head, flipping her hair out behind her. All amusement vanished from her features as she turned to face him. “I thought your speech was brilliant, James. Truly brilliant. I’ve never thought of those ideas in that light before. But I like them. What you said makes sense.” She sighed. “I don’t know what the other side of the argument is, but I appreciate that you’re willing to stand up for something you believe in, something that is right and honest, and will bring a bit more integrity back into politics.”
He stopped, dropping his shirt back onto the floor as he reached for her. “Thank you,” he said with obvious sincerity, and kissed her tenderly. “Your opinion means everything to me.”
She laid her hand on his chest. Right now, she just needed to touch him, to connect with him. “I hope you win, James. And I would be honored to endorse you, if that will help you.”
He stared at her for a long moment, and Molly could feel his heart pounding against her fingers. Finally, he said, “Thank you!” and kissed her, more firmly this time.
With a sigh, he pulled back and bent to grab his shirt. “I’ll have Bryan arrange a press conference for you. I suspect that the additional attention might even net you a few more donations.”
She stilled and looked back up at him, sincerity shining in her eyes. “I’m not endorsing you to get more donations for the community center, James. I truly believe in what you said today. You have some great ideas. And I respect what you’re trying to do.”
He kissed her again. She stroked his chest, his face, anything she could reach. It was as if she couldn’t stop touching him, kissing him, beaming happily up at him.
“You’re a good man, and I’ll do whatever I can to help you get elected.”
“Promise?” he asked, grinning as his hands rested against her hips.
“Promise,” she vowed.
“Let’s go to my place,” he said to her, stepping back and buttoning his shirt once again. He slipped his feet into his shoes, and grabbed her hand. “I don’t want anyone spotting my car out front. It would only cause more speculation and I don’t want that for you.”
She grinned and leaned against his shoulder as they headed out to the parking lot. Gallantly, he held the passenger door open for her. Molly was painfully aware of how exposed the parking lot was to the street. Anyone could see them leaving and, for some reason, she had the oddest sensation that they were being watched.
Chapter 14
“Where’s James?” Nora asked, pausing by the table where Molly was filling out supply order forms.
Inwardly, Molly cringed. Ever since that gaggle of reporters had descended on the center, with James showing up in the middle, everyone assumed that Molly knew where he was all the time. Plus, she missed him! Ever since she’d accepted that she was in love with the man, there was a void in her life whenever he had to leave.
Sighing, she rubbed her forehead, trying to ease the headache creeping up the back of her neck. “He’s in Bristol today. More campaign stops.”
Nora set down the boxes she’d been holding. “How long will he be gone this time?”
Molly’s lips twisted into a grimace. “He’s been gone for ten days but should be back this afternoon.” Ten long, miserable days.
Nora nodded understandingly. “That’s a long time, dear. Why aren’t you with him?”
“Because I have work to do,” Molly replied, offering her usual response.
“And because you don’t trust him,” Nora continued, picking up the boxes again and heading for the kitchen.
Molly stared at Nora’s retreating back, not sure she’d heard her friend correctly. “I trust James,” Molly replied, startled.
Nora glanced over her shoulder in disbelief. “If you trusted James, then you’d trust his feelings. And you’d be with him on your days off. But you don’t trust him, do you, dear?”
“I do!” Molly replied, but her voice sounded weak even to her own ears. “I mean, I trust him not to hurt me.”
Nora shook her head and continued with her chore.
Molly sat there for a long moment, considering what Nora had said. Of course she trusted James. And yet, a small part of her…didn’t! Molly kept a small part of herself distant from James, needing to protect herself. He would move on. His campaign was gaining momentum, the polls showed a huge lead against the incumbent Senator Von Deuch. Lilly was thrilled and had also endorsed James. Businesses and religious leaders were coming out to endorse “change” and add their support behind James’ campaign.
Yes, Ja
mes would move on. He would win this election in the fall, and then he would need someone by his side that could help him. Someone who knew how to be a senator’s wife. Molly remembered Lilly’s struggles with being the daughter to a powerful politician. It wasn’t an easy job.
Molly knew that she couldn’t be that wife, even though she’d sort of agreed to marry him several weeks ago. Every time he brought up the issue of marriage, Molly changed the subject. As much as she loved James, as much as Molly would love to spend the rest of her life with him, loving him and being his biggest champion, Molly knew that she couldn’t be what he needed.
Right now, Molly was a distraction. She was the woman he came home to when he needed a break from the intense and constant pressures of the campaign.
But soon, he would need more. And Molly needed to be prepared for that moment.
She walked into the kitchen after Nora, intending to explain the situation. But instead, she noticed Nora opening one of the boxes she’d been carrying. “You ordered a video game machine?” she asked, surprised as the elderly woman turned the box over in her hands. “I didn’t know that you played video games.”
Nora chuckled. “I was still trying to figure out what this was. And no, I don’t play video games.” She shook her head, bemused, as she toyed with the box. “Why would you order a video game? I thought you wanted the kids to stay active and away from screens?”
Molly blinked. “I didn’t order that,” she said, frowning at the abhorrent device. “You’re right. I wouldn’t order anything that has kids sitting down. I want them moving and thinking, playing outside and talking with each other.”
“Hey girl!” Maggie called out, lugging in several more boxes. “These came for you in the mail today. I thought I’d bring them to you instead of leaving them outside your apartment.”
She let out a breath of air as she set the seemingly heavy boxes down on the kitchen counter. Then Maggie frowned at the black box that Nora was still holding in her hands. “A video game? Why would you do that? I thought you were opposed to video games?”
Molly rubbed her forehead, the pain in her head moving behind her eyes. “I didn’t order that,” she said, almost sneering at the video game box. “First of all, we don’t have the funding for something like that. And secondly, you’re right. I hate television and video games.”
Nora glanced at the address on the shipping box. “But it’s addressed to you,” she pointed out.
Molly cringed. “Probably one of our new donors ordered it and sent it in.”
“And these?” Maggie asked, putting her hand on the boxes.
Again, Molly shook her head. “Nope. Not from me. I’m just now getting around to ordering supplies for next month, but I only ordered the usual supplies. Plus some extra school supplies to help the kids get ready for the school year. I wouldn’t order electronic devices.”
Maggie’s eyes lit up as she glanced down at the boxes. “Let’s find out what else your mystery donor ordered, shall we?” She picked a box at random and opened it. She let out a slow whistle. “Well, this is weird,” she said, lifting a delicate gold chain from a very expensive jewelry store out of the box. “Why would anyone send something like this?”
Molly had no clue.
“Hey, ladies. What’s going on?” Lilly called out as she waddled into the kitchen.
“Hey Lillers!” Molly replied, reaching over to hug her beautiful friend.
“You are positively glowing!” Maggie gushed, doing the same thing.
Nora laughed, clapping her hands from the other side of the table. “Dear, Maggie is right. You look absolutely beautiful!”
Lilly rolled her eyes. “You’re trying to distract me from finding out what’s in those other boxes, aren’t you?”
That brought Molly’s attention back to the video game and the gold chain. “We aren’t sure! These just showed up. I have no clue what’s going on here. No one here ordered them, and I can’t figure out why a donor would send something like this,” she said, admiring the sparkly bracelet draped over her fingers. The light danced off the gold links.
“Maybe they thought…?” Lilly started off, only to end with silence, then a shrug and a swift shake of her head. “I got nothing.”
Maggie laughed. “Okay, so…what’s in the other boxes?”
Quickly, Nora and Maggie opened the rest of the boxes while Molly went to the fridge and pulled out a pitcher of lemonade, pouring glasses for everyone.
When Molly turned back, she stopped, shocked by the loot spread out across the table. “Not just video games, but televisions, gaming consoles, jewelry, and leather coats? This is so weird!”
Maggie nodded slowly. “Some donor has very expensive tastes,” she agreed. “What are you going to do with all of this stuff? Give it to the kids?”
Molly shook her head sharply. “No way. Stuff like this would only get the kids into trouble. Even if they actually managed to get this stuff back to their homes without getting mugged, there would eventually be problems. But I doubt the kids would make it home safely.” She frowned thoughtfully at the items, a thought coming to mind. “I know exactly what we can do!” She laughed, clapping her hands as she looked around. “What if we had a big auction? We could sell this stuff for cash, then use the proceeds to get everything the community center really needs!”
Lilly’s features morphed from confused to eager as she thought about it. “I think that’s a perfect idea!” she agreed. “We could even do it at Drako’s place. We have a huge backyard and I’ll invite every rich and famous person on his contact list.” She turned to Molly. “Will that work?”
Molly grinned. “I think it’s an awesome idea!” she said, laughing. “But–”
Lilly held up a hand, knowing exactly where Molly’s thoughts were heading. “We’ll sponsor the event ourselves. The food and drinks will be our donation to the center. It will be a business expense. Drako can do some networking. It will be good for James and Oliver too. James can make some additional connections and Oliver,” she grinned at Maggie, “can keep Drako from buying all of the auction items.”
The three laughed with understanding, then turned to Nora. “What do you think? Would you like to bake a big, extravagant cake for the event?”
Nora rubbed her hands together with a grin. “I thought you’d never ask.” She moved over to the printer and pulled out some blank paper so she could start designing the cake. “I have some thoughts on a design, but I’ll get together with Louise and we’ll give you some ideas.” Then she was gone, obviously eager to get started.
Maggie, Molly, and Lilly all went into high gear. Molly wanted several of the kids from the center to attend, all of the volunteers, as well as several of the kids who were doing really well in school. Maggie called her husband and got him on board, and Oliver sent over several names from his contacts list that would be high profile attendees, people who would draw in the big spenders. Also guests with deep pockets, that wouldn’t mind donating to a worthy cause.
“I think that the kids should demonstrate the things that they do here,” Lilly explained. “And I have the marketing people who can get the press to attend as well.”
Two hours later, they had made significant plans, including getting a caterer lined up for a fraction of the cost, due to the high profile of the attendees and the charity function aspect of the event. They’d scheduled it for this coming weekend, because Molly didn’t have any place to safely store the items in the center. There were locks on the doors, but otherwise, there weren’t any significant security measures.
Chapter 15
Mike lurched upright as he watched the three ladies carrying big boxes out of the community center and loading them into their cars. At first, he didn’t understand what they were carrying. But when one of the women shifted slightly, he caught the name of one of the new video game consoles that had just hit the market. He still wasn’t certain what was going on, but he could tell it was suspicious. “Gotcha!” he laughed, clickin
g away with his camera. “A little embezzlement going on?” he muttered to himself. “I guess the temptation to dip into the cookie jar was just too much for you, huh little lady? Not so high and mighty now, are ya?”
A moment later, he got the real money shot, clicking away as the man of the hour came out of the community center, also loaded down with boxes. “Oh, that bitch isn’t going to like this!” Mike muttered, as he photographed the illustrious James Morgan carrying more boxes. He loaded them into his own trunk, then swung the pretty lady into his arms. Mike captured every moment, including when Morgan surreptitiously glanced over his shoulder to make sure that no one was watching, then lowered his head to kiss the snob who ran the center.
Unfortunately, their affection was too modest for Mike’s taste. It would have been perfect if he could have gotten a picture of the up and coming senate candidate stripping the sexy community center director and humping her in the backseat of his expensive car. Unfortunately, those two kept their sexy time private, the bastards!
Still, he clicked away, taking several more shots of the two of them kissing and snuggling, her giggling, him grinning as he wrapped his arms around her waist. Mike cackled, shaking his head at the memory of how they’d tried to convince the world that there was nothing romantic going on. Right! Pictures were worth a thousand words! Or a few thousand bucks, if he played his cards right!
Finally, the couple got into the car. The very same car that had a stack of loot in the trunk! And yeah, he photographed them driving away, huge grins on their faces as Morgan drove off.
Mike ducked down as they drove past, then felt ridiculous for doing so. The couple in the car had no idea who he was. And it wasn’t as if his beat up, old car stood out among the other jalopies in the parking lot. The only give-away would be the digital camera with the telephoto lens. And he wasn’t advertising that!
Still, he waited until the expensive sedan drove off before he sat up.
Breathless Secrets (Rose Garden Apartments Book 3) Page 13