by Ivy Nelson
It did mean going on cable news shows though. The clock on her desktop screen told her if she was going to make it to the studio on time, she would need to leave soon.
10
♥♥♥
“Peggy, please stop crying. I'm sorry to spring this on you.” Bradley kept his voice low as he sat across from a very upset Peggy Jacobs.
“I... did I do something wrong?” the girl asked when her tears subsided. Bradley sighed. Ending things with her was proving to be more difficult than he wanted it to be.
“No, Peggy. It's just not working for me. That doesn't mean you're doing anything wrong; it just means we’re better off as friends.”
“Is there someone else?” she asked, a sullen expression on her face.
“No,” Bradley said emphatically. It was true, but Darci’s face popped into his brain, and he felt guilty. Peggy began to cry again.
“Peggy stop, please. It's many things. You're a lovely girl and a great friend. I'm not the right Dom for you. You want more than what we have, and I don’t have that in me right now. You also know I don’t feel that way about you. We tried an experiment and it’s not working. It’s unfair for me to keep asking you to give so much when I can’t give you the things you want. Is that so hard to understand?”
Peggy’s pout lasted only a moment before her expression turned to one of anger. That didn’t take long, he thought.
“What if I go to the press and tell them all the dirty things you like doing with women?”
“Peggy, stop right now.” He knew she would recognize his tone and know he wasn’t playing around. He felt bad for taking the tone with her. It was one he had perfected as a Dom, and it had a way of making submissive women squirm, but it also got their attention when he needed it.
“I’ve told you I'm sorry. Can we please end this peacefully? Do you really want to try to blackmail me into staying with you? That you would even consider it tells me we aren’t right together. It’s also not something friends would do to each other.” He paused and waited for her to look at him. His expression demanded that she keep eye contact with him as he continued. “You have a lot to lose by exposing yourself that way, and you know it. Outing me outs you. Your charity would lose a lot of funding if they found out what the daughter of its founder was up to.”
The girl huffed and lowered her head in defeat. Bradley spoke again, but this time his tone was gentle.
“Peggy, look, I'm not trying to make things difficult for you. I want you to do what you enjoy doing, and you've said it yourself, I'm not exciting enough for you. Go, be yourself. Do exciting things. I don't want to stand in your way anymore. I’m about to be traveling full time for the campaign, and I know you have opportunities to travel yourself.” Her eyes closed as he spoke, and she appeared to be doing a breathing exercise.
“I'm sorry I threatened to tell the media,” she said when she opened her eyes again. “I like you, Bradley. I'm sorry I'm not what you're looking for. Can we still be friends at least?”
He smiled kindly at her. “Of course, you'll always be special, Peggy. We were friends long before we tried this experiment. You can come to me anytime you need anything, and we can still get together and do things as friends.” As he reached to pat her hand, his phone rang. He realized it was two o’clock.
“I need to take this, it's Adara.” He excused himself and stepped into the restaurant lobby to take the call. When he returned, Peggy was gone, but on a napkin, she had scrawled a note.
Thanks for everything, see you around.
Xoxo Peggy
He sighed and slipped the napkin into his pocket. After paying the check, he headed back to his office to finish his day. He was happy their arrangement was over, but he never liked making people cry. At least not like that.
Bradley sat at his desk late that afternoon reading Darci's blog entry. It had been a long day. The senator couldn't seem to comprehend why saying what he had would alienate women. After half an hour of arguing, Bradley convinced him to go along with the plan he and his staff cooked up.
Adara was already complaining about the number of phone calls the office was getting from angry female voters and women’s rights organizations. Bradley was afraid that if they didn't do something, they would lose the support of key donors, and losing support this early in the campaign could be a death sentence.
After getting the senator's stamp of approval, Bradley issued a press release clarifying his statement and offering condolences to the family and friends of the victim. He hoped Darci would come through for him with tickets to the benefit. The proceeds would go to Marlie Dixon’s domestic violence charity. There were other people he could have gone to for tickets, and there were other events he could have sent the senator to. He tried to tell himself he didn’t pick her or this event because he wanted to see Darci in another cocktail dress.
Now, as he read Darci's blog, he was smiling and agreeing with her thoughts. It surprised him that she hadn't raked the senator over the coals. Instead, she tactfully disputed what the senator had to say and wrote another kind memorial to the dead woman. The donation bar at the bottom of the entry was already half full. Too bad he couldn't get her to fundraise for his boss.
Picking up his phone, he sent her a text to tell her he thought her post was tasteful. He also thanked her for not being angrier in what she wrote and asked her to let him know about tickets.
Darci’s anger wasn’t unwarranted. The senator often caused him to question why he worked for him, but the man gave him a chance, and now thanks to his early support Bradley was becoming one of the powerful and well-known campaign managers he admired in college. Since they announced the bid for the nomination, he had received three offers to work for other campaigns. Bradley turned them all down because he was nothing if not loyal.
As he prepared to end his day, it occurred to him to wonder what his father would have to say about Senator Atleigh's outburst to the media last night. He made a mental note to find out. If his father raised the money, he would be a formidable adversary in the general election. If there's one thing Steve and Ailene Givens knew how to do, it was to raise money. He smiled as he thought of his mother. It was probably time to plan a trip home soon.
A frantic knock on his office door sent his thoughts scattering. “Come in,” he called as he continued placing papers in his briefcase. The door opened, and Sandra came in looking worried.
“What’s wrong, Sandra?”
“I hate to ask, but can you possibly go on Jake Holt tonight? My kid just got taken to the ER, and I already sent my staff home for the day. I asked Adara, and it freaked her out so bad I thought she might faint.”
“Of course, Sandra, what time do I need to be there? Adara has a thing about cameras. I’m not sure I understand it myself. Go, be with your kid, and let me know if I can do anything.”
“Thanks, Bradley. You’ll be appearing on a panel with two other people. You’ll need to be at the studio in about forty-five minutes.” He took the folder Sandra was holding.
“Go. I’ve got this.”
“Thanks again. I’ll call on my way to the hospital and tell them you’re taking my place.”
She closed his door, and Bradley opened the folder. Jake Holt was a popular news anchor in this area, and he liked to bring in people with clashing personalities to argue about current events on his evening segment. It would be interesting to see who he would be up against tonight. The piece of paper in the folder indicated an extensive list of potential topics, including Senator Atleigh’s latest piece of legislation and his presidential campaign.
A half hour later, he arrived at the studio, where he was directed to a green room. As he cracked the seal on a bottle of water, the door opened. The water bottle froze halfway to his lips.
“Darci?”
She looked just as shocked to see him.
“Bradley, hello,” she said when she recovered from her initial shock. “I knew someone from the senator’s office would be on the pane
l tonight, I just didn’t think it would be you.”
She crossed the room to where the bottled water sat and reached for one. As she leaned past him, he inhaled her scent. Hints of lemon and ginger hit his nostrils. It was a smell he could get used to.
As she stepped away from him with her bottle of water, he resisted the urge to trail his finger down her neck.
“My press secretary was supposed to be here, but she had a family emergency, so I’m filling in,” he said, trying to push her delectable aroma out of his mind. It didn’t do any good though. Her scent wasn’t the only thing he was enjoying.
Tonight, she wore a fitted black pencil skirt that hugged her hips and backside in the most inviting way. The conservative gray button-up blouse was showing only a hint of cleavage, but to Bradley’s eye, her breasts were about the right size to fit in his hand. There was no denying it, he wanted this woman. And with Peggy no longer in the picture, he was having a tough time remembering why he couldn’t pursue her.
“Well, I hope you won’t take anything that happens tonight personally, Mr. Givens.” She took a long drink from her bottle, her lips pulling water into her throat. He wanted to pull the bottle aside and replace it with his lips.
“Not at all, Darci. We’re both professionals,” he said as he continued to watch her. “Would you like to have dinner with me after we’re done here? You never answered my text.” Her breath caught, and she sputtered on her water.
“Dinner?”
“Yes, you know, that thing where you share a meal with someone you find attractive?” The blush that crept up her cheeks amused him.
“I’m not sure that’s such a great idea,” she said after a pause.
As Bradley was about to respond, the green room door opened, and a producer entered.
“We’ll be ready for the panel in about five minutes if the two of you would follow me.” They fell into step behind the producer and followed him onto the set. The news anchors had finished the local news, and the weather girl was giving a rundown of the weekend weather. Jake Holt’s news hour would be coming up next.
“You’ll have dinner with me,” Bradley whispered in Darci’s ear as someone pointed to the chair he should sit in. He walked away not waiting for her response. She was scowling at him as she settled into her chair on the other end of the curved desk. Jake Holt arrived on the set a moment later, and a third panelist, an older man Bradley didn’t recognize, sat next to him. He winked at Darci as someone announced they were thirty seconds to being live.
Jake Holt kicked off his show and introduced the panel members, then launched into the first topic.
“Bradley, I want to start with you. We’ve been following the tragic story of Marlie Dixon’s murder, and just this morning, your boss, Senator Sean Atleigh had this to say.” A clip of the senator’s impromptu press conference played. When the clip ended, Jake asked, “Would you agree that Senator Atleigh’s remarks could be construed as victim-blaming?”
Clearing his throat, Bradley responded, “Jake, I think what’s important to focus on is that the senator was trying to bring attention to the case because he wants to see the killer brought to justice. It’s fair to say he can be indelicate at times but as I’m sure you saw this afternoon, the senator released a statement clarifying his remarks.”
“A lot of women disagree with you.” Turning to Darci, Jake said, “Miss Sanders, do you believe the community of which Senator Atleigh spoke condones violence against women?”
“Absolutely not, Jake. And you’ll notice Mr. Givens failed to answer your question. What Marlie Dixon chose to do in her personal life should have no bearing on whether she lived or died. The fact is, someone attacked and brutally murdered an innocent woman. A woman who raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for victims of domestic violence. A woman who left behind family and friends who loved her very much. Senator Atleigh should be ashamed for even implying her death had anything to do with the choices she made in her personal life.”
Bradley admired the passion in Darci’s voice as she spoke of her friend. He knew they were close. Seeing her defend Marlie Dixon made him feel nauseous that it was his boss that caused this conversation to happen on national television. He hated having to defend his actions, but Atleigh was good to him. He wasn’t going to hang him out to dry now. His eyes connected with her and then the camera.
“I admire the passion with which you speak on behalf of Mrs. Dixon, and I agree that she is not to blame for her own murder. However, is it not true that someone affiliated with the same group as Marlie was arrested for domestic abuse just two years ago?”
Darci started to respond, but Jake cut her off. “So, you’re saying you believe S&M groups do condone violence against women?”
“Not exactly, Jake. I’m saying that there are bad apples in every group, and if bringing attention to that helps apprehend the individual who killed Marlie Dixon and could kill others then that has to be OK.” Bradley could see anger flash in Darci’s eyes.
“First, the man arrested for domestic abuse was a rare case. In fact, he was banned from the community long before he was ever arrested. That’s because the BDSM community does not condone violence against anyone and especially not against women. The community believes so strongly in consent that they will self-police. Not only do they not want abuse happening at their events, but they also don't want conversations like this becoming the norm. Second, I don’t see how smearing the good name of Marlie Dixon does anything at all to help apprehend her killer, and you should be ashamed of yourself for even suggesting such a thing.”
Jake cut in then. “I hate to cut you both off, but we do need to take a break. We’ll bring you both back later in the hour.” As the producers counted out for commercial, Jake turned to the third member of the panel and said, “I apologize you didn’t get a chance to speak during that segment. I didn’t mean to eat up all the time on one question.” The older gentleman waved him off.
“It’s fine, I’m sure your audience will find this more interesting, anyway.”
Darci and Bradley were dismissed, and they both headed back to the green room. Bradley could feel Darci’s ire radiating from her as she walked through the door.
“Darci, I’m sorry. I know I sounded like a dick out there.”
“Do you think?” she asked. “I can’t believe you would even try to defend Atleigh’s statement and I can’t believe you would fucking bring up a two-year-old incident that had nothing to do with the issue.”
“Oh, come on, Darci, you know I was just doing my job.”
“Well, your job sucks, and maybe you should find a new one.” She stomped across the greenroom to pick up her bag and Bradley followed her.
“Stop following me damn it.”
“No.”
His one-word answer caused her to turn and gape at him.
“No?”
“No.”
He quirked an eyebrow up and moved closer to her until they nearly touched. He had backed them up against a wall. With his forehead pressed against hers he said, “I’m sorry. I really want to kiss you right now.” Her eyes widened, and her nostrils flared.
“I swear to god if you do, I’ll knee you in the nuts.”
“Now who’s condoning violence?” he asked, as the corner of his mouth slanted upward. “Come on gorgeous, I’m sorry. I can’t stop doing my job. If it makes you feel any better, I’ll probably have an Inbox full of hate mail by tomorrow morning.” Just to annoy her, he pressed a kiss to her cheek, so he could watch her glare at him. She ducked under his arm and backed away from him.
“We still have another segment to do. And no, I will not have dinner with you.” She stormed out of the green room, slamming the door after her. A grin spread across Bradley’s face. He shouldn’t be so happy over a woman who had threatened his genitals, but he was.
• • •
Darci calmed down enough to make it through the next segment without incident. She couldn’t believe he’d had the nerve to say
he wanted to kiss her after the awful things he had to say on the air. When the show was over, she managed to slip out of the building and into a cab without him catching up with her.
Her phone lit up as she rode home. It was Bradley apologizing again. She ignored it and cursed herself for finding him attractive. It was infuriating to know that he lived the same lifestyle as she did but could still stick up for the likes of Sean Atleigh. She resisted the urge to delete his number from her phone and forget he ever existed. She needed the meeting with Senator Atleigh, and he was her ticket for that. Tomorrow she would send him tickets for the benefit via messenger, and she would conduct any further business with him through e-mail or through their respective assistants.
When she got home, she stripped off her work clothes and slipped into comfortable pajamas. As she laid in bed, Bradley’s scent as he towered over her in the green room came rushing back to her. The feel of his lips brushing against her cheek made her groan. She needed to get laid.
Reaching into her nightstand, she pulled out a slim silver vibrator. Maybe she couldn’t date him, but there was nothing wrong with letting him fuel a fantasy or two. She slipped her hand between her legs and was surprised at her own wetness. It usually took some time to get herself going.
Darci had a healthy sexual appetite. And even when she wasn’t seeing anyone, she didn’t go without orgasms. She turned the small dial on the vibrator and pressed it against herself. As the vibrations coursed through her, she let herself melt into the pillows. The memory of Bradley’s masculine scent was back, and she pressed the vibe harder onto her clit.
A moan escaped her lips as she felt the pressure build. This might be the fastest she had ever reached climax. Her free hand drifted over her breasts, and she found her nipples hard and sensitive. In her mind, she was staring into dark blue eyes, and her moans grew louder as the orgasm washed over her.
