by Vivian Wood
The music could still be faintly heard within the booth, but it was rapidly drowned out by the sexy sounds coming from the woman who was currently giving him the hottest lap dance he'd ever had in his entire life. She was so bold, rubbing her breasts against him and moaning, and he loved every second of what she was doing.
She straddled him, wrapping her arms around his neck, and pressing her breasts against him. It was taking everything he had not to just grab her and kiss her passionately.She was so fucking sexy. And he wanted desperately to be inside her.
Immediately.
But he couldn’t.
A presidential candidate like him knew better. And a random hookup should have been totally out of the question.
He knew all this, yet his self-control was rapidly disappearing. Suddenly she pulled him close for a kiss. Her lips were soft and inviting, and when he felt her playfully nip at his bottom lip, he couldn't help but respond in turn.
Flirting with his hands and mouth was the best he could do, so he decided to make the most of it. He was shocked when she suddenly removed her mask, pulling his head into her cleavage.
“Mmm,” she moaned as he started licking her sweaty skin.
Jesus! She tastes so fucking good, he thought, unable to suppress the urge to get a little taste of heaven.
“You taste so fucking good, babe,” he said, slightly raising his head to try and see her face. But she kept his head pressed down against her breasts.
“Make me feel good,” she murmured in between moans as she rubbed against his crotch.
Eli continued to nibble on her, moving from her neck to her breasts, and back again. He couldn't believe how good she was making him feel. She was driving him insane, and she wasn't even stripping yet!
Lifting his head, he studied her face. She had deep set blue eyes, and full, pouty lips. Her high nose had a thin bridge that matched the rest of her delicate, petite features.
She was easily one of the most beautiful women he had ever seen.
He realized his pulse was pounding. This definitely wasn't normal for him.
He'd met and dated plenty of women in the past. But none of them had affected him like this, and certainly not within such a short time span. Sure, they'd all gorgeous, but his heart racing like this was certainly a first.
Was it because he hadn't hooked up with someone in awhile? He didn't know.
But the one thing Eli did know, was that this woman was not only young, but also drunk. Getting involved with her right now was the last thing he needed to be doing.
“Good girls should be in bed, babe,” he whispered.
What little self-control he had left was rapidly eroding, but he was afraid if he made a move now he wouldn't stop until things were too late.
She gave a soft chuckle in his ear. She was alternating between nipping and sucking at his earlobe, and he groaned when he felt her hot breath on his neck.
“Is that an invitation?” she asked sensuously, making his cock pulse with need. Her lips felt so fucking soft, and he wanted to taste and feel more of her.
You're wearing a mask. She'll never know who you are. Eli heard a voice in his head, urging him to give in already.
Right. He was there to have fun. Why was he fighting this? He could tell that she wanted him.
It was mutual.
It didn't have to be as complicated as he was making it, right? They'd hook up, no strings attached, and go their separate ways.
There was nothing wrong with it.
“The bed is here for a reason,” Eli spoke huskily, having finally decided to let his monster take over.
“Oh,” she said, then giggled. Rising from his lap, she swayed unsteadily on her feet. He was quick to grab her by the waist and keep her from falling over.
Growing impatient, Eli stood up, preparing to scoop her tiny body into his arms and just carry her to the bed. But he'd scarcely entertained the thought when the redhead came bursting into the private booth, dragging the blonde away despite her protests.
“Let's go!” the redhead yelled, earning a scowl from the blonde.
“What?”
“We need to go. Come on!”
They were gone before he could react, but part of him felt an incredible sense of relief that circumstances had stopped him before things had gone too far. As much as he'd wanted her, he'd known it wasn't a good idea to sleep with her.
“Where did she go?” Jack questioned, coming out of the booth next to Eli's.
“Gone,” Eli responded with a shrug, patting his friend on the shoulder.
Jack looked simultaneously frustrated and amused. “Is everything okay?” Eli asked. Jack gave him a pained look in response.
“She puked on me!” he cried in disgust as he checked his pants. Eli burst into laughter. No wonder the redhead had been in such a rush. She must have been embarrassed.
“Come on,” he said, leading Jack back to the bar. “Plenty of fish in the sea, right? The night's still young.”
But Eli knew he was lying to himself about wanting to meet anyone else. Not after he'd had a taste of the mystery blonde.
Chapter Four
It had been three days since Meredith had arrived back in her hometown. As per her agreement with her father, she would be spending her entire summer working in D.C., although she still didn't know the details. He'd just smiled and urged her to be patient when she'd asked him about it. She hoped everything would turn out fine regarding their deal.
Ideally the next few months would fly by, and then she'd be partying hard overseas.
Sitting at the large dining table, Meredith ate her breakfast, enjoying the solitude before her parents inevitably came to join her. She was starting to miss Lily. And she couldn't help but think of how nice the weather in Bali must be right about now.
Relax. You made the right choice, she reminded herself.
It wasn't long before Meredith's mother showed up. Elizabeth Howard Fields favored her daughter She had long, wavy blonde hair which was usually styled into an elegant bun. Like Meredith, her eyes were an unusual ocean blue color. Elizabeth was slim and if not for her mature personality, nobody would even think she had two children, with Meredith being the eldest at twenty-three.
“Good morning, honey,” Elizabeth greeted Meredith warmly as she took a seat across the table. She was smiling at her as if they hadn't seen each other for a very long time.
Well they hadn't, or at least not until three days ago, technically speaking.
“Morning, Mom,” Meredith responded before taking a bite of the toast she was holding.
“How's settling in going?” her mom asked, nodding pleasantly at the maid who was pouring her a glass of ice water.
“Fine,” she replied, then shrugged. “I guess,” Meredith added, quite unsure.
She didn't have the faintest clue about what her dad had in store for her. All she knew was that she wanted the summer to pass as quickly as possible, and that she couldn't wait for her trust fund to finally be released. By then, she would be free to do whatever she wanted.
But you want to be a journalist. This is what you’ve always wanted, whispered her inner voice, which made her mentally groan.
It was true that she wanted to be a successful reporter. It had been a goal of hers since she was little. But she'd just graduated from college! She deserved a break, didn't she?
“You guess? Did you leave something important back in New York?” her mom asked teasingly, eyeing Meredith with a playful grin on her lips. “Or maybe someone?”
Meredith chuckled and shook her head. Her mom was being a little silly, but she had to admit that some part of her thought having someone waiting for her back in the city would be nice.
Unbidden, the image of a masked man came to mind. Specifically, the man she'd met at the party with Lily. He'd had the most beautiful grey eyes she'd ever seen. And she was certain that he would have met all her expectations if he'd removed his mask that night.
God, how she wished s
he had seen his face.
She knew she'd been drunk that night, but for some reason he remained vivid in her mind, along with the effect he'd had on her body. If Lily hadn't come to whisk her away, she probably would have slept with that total stranger.
It was crazy.
It gave her goosebumps just thinking about it. She'd always been so careful when it came to dealing with members of the opposite sex. But that night, she'd been willing to give it up to someone whose face she hadn't even seen – with a complete stranger!
It was as if a spell had been cast on her as she'd stared deep into his grey orbs.
It had all felt so very... magical.
Ew. Magical, my ass. You were drunk and desperate. You would have given it up to anyone for all you know, a mocking voice in her head said. Realistically, she knew this assessment probably wasn't too far off the mark.
“Honey? Is something bothering you?” Elizabeth asked, giving Meredith a questioning look. She appeared curious and worried at the same time.
“Huh?” Meredith blinked after being pulled back to reality. She averted her gaze and stared fixedly at her plate.
“So, you do have someone!” Her mother shot her a triumphant, knowing look.
“What? Mom!” she groaned, then heaved a deep sigh. “There's no one, okay? I wish though.”
“Fine,” Elizabeth said, but her tone suggested she didn't quite believe Meredith. She smiled, clearly having fun.
“Let's just eat,” Meredith mumbled and smiled, still embarrassed by the sudden question.
“Oh, come on, honey. You know you can tell me anything. How’s your stay been so far?”
Meredith rolled her eyes. “It would have been better if I'd gone to Bali with Lily.”
“It's not too late to change your mind, dear,” Elizabeth spoke mischievously, giving her a wink. Her mom had always pushed for her daughters to enjoy their youth. It was probably because she'd married at such a young age.
“Seriously? Are you sure you're my mother? You sound just like Lily,” Meredith said, shaking her head when Elizabeth just giggled. Sometimes she couldn't believe the things her mother would say in private, when in public she was very much prim and proper. They lapsed into a comfortable silence as they worked on finishing their respective breakfasts.
“Are you going to work today?” her mom asked abruptly, sending shivers down her spine.
Today would be her first day working at her dad's company – the New York Tribune. And as much as she hated the idea of spending her entire summer back home, she couldn't help but feel a little excited.
From this point on, she would no longer be an intern, nor a student. Today she would be able to put all of her knowledge to use and hopefully gain more experience.
“Yep,” she responded, careful to keep her tone neutral. She didn't want her mom to think she wasn't taking things seriously.
“Are you sure you can handle it? It’s not going to be easy, Meredith,” her mother said gently.
“Mom, I chose this. Whether it’s easy or not, I'm going to do this. This is what I've always wanted to do, remember?”
Elizabeth nodded, but kept silent. She'd always been more easygoing than her father.
They resumed eating as another comfortable silence settled between them. After several moments had passed, her father appeared, dressed formally in a suit and tie as usual.
“Good morning,” her father greeted with a smile.
Where Meredith's mother was petite and blonde, her father was tall and dark. Meredith might not have inherited any of his physical characteristics, but she took after him in personality.
“Good morning,” Mer and Elizabeth chorused in turn.
Sipping from his favorite coffee mug, her dad eyed Meredith, who was finally finished eating.
“Are you ready?” Benedict asked suddenly, startling her as she neatly dabbed at the corners of her mouth with her napkin.
She didn't feel ready. But she couldn't admit that to her dad, especially not after the deal they'd struck.
“Yes,” she heard herself say, rising from her seat with a smile and turning to retrieve the garment bag that was neatly draped on the chair next to her. She'd asked their maid to press her favorite Chanel pantsuit to wear for her first day of work. But the smile on her lips vanished when her father let out a hearty laugh.
“What?” she asked, puzzled.
“You’re going to need more than that, honey.” Meredith exchanged a confused glance with her mother.
“She graduated from Columbia,” Elizabeth said pointedly.
“She did. But it’s better not to show off, don’t you think?” Benedict responded calmly. Elizabeth frowned.
“So wearing what she wants is showing off somehow?” her mother said, folding her arms across her chest.
Her mother loved fashion and owned several boutiques stocked with garments from only the most exclusive, in-demand designers. Meredith had a keen interest in fashion as well, thanks to her mother's influence. But her mother seemed to be taking this almost personally.
Her dad closed his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose. Meredith and her mother exchanged glances again while they waited for him to respond.
“It's too flashy,” he finally said, opening his eyes and shaking his head.
Meredith didn't want her parents to fight. Yes, her mother was mostly easygoing, but when it came to certain topics she knew her mother would never back down. She cleared her throat, and both her parents turned to look at her.
“What should I wear then?” she asked, feeling slightly disappointed that she wouldn't be able to wear her favorite clothes to work. But she did want to fit in.
Silence filled the room as he looked her over thoughtfully. Meredith lowered her head when she felt her cheeks growing hot from his intense scrutiny, realizing she was wearing gym clothes despite having skipped her morning workout earlier in favor of getting more sleep.
“That will do,” her dad commented, referring to her outfit.
“Seriously?” she asked, quite taken aback. If the pantsuit was too flashy, surely this outfit was too casual by comparison?
“Yes. Keep in mind you'll be on your feet a lot throughout the day, and you'll want to be comfortable. You'll thank me later,” he said with a wink. Meredith rolled her eyes. That was one of his favorite phrases to use on her and her sister. But she couldn't think of a single time where he'd said that, and not been right.
Nodding in response, Meredith headed to her room to finish getting ready. By the time she headed downstairs again, her parents were already waiting for her in the foyer.
“Shall we?” she said with a wide smile on her face. She couldn't suppress the feeling of excitement as her dad led the way to the garage, where their private driver waited.
“Have a lovely day dear,” her mom whispered, giving her a light kiss on the cheek.
“Elizabeth, she’ll be fine. I’m with her,” Benedict murmured softly, shaking his head before kissing her mom on the temple.
“She should be. I’m counting on you.”
“I'm going to be just fine, you guys. I'm not a kid anymore,” Meredith piped up, shaking her head. Her parents chuckled, and exchanged their goodbyes.
Soon Meredith and her father were on their way. Meredith looked out the window, noting all the myriad changes to the neighborhood where she'd spent her entire life until leaving for college. Some buildings she'd expected to see had been replaced by newer, taller structures. The park where she'd played with friends in elementary school was gone, replaced by a cafe.
She smiled. Things had changed. But so had she.
She had grown up.
With a start, she realized she didn't recognize the path the driver was taking. She frowned and turned to her father.
“Where are we going?” she asked, wondering what he had planned. Maybe she wouldn't be working in the main office after all.
Her dad smiled and winked at her.
“Where were you planning on
going if you hadn't come home for the summer? And where are you planning on going once the summer is over?”
Meredith froze. She hadn't expected to discuss this so soon. And definitely not with her dad.
“I was going to go to Bali with Lily. She's there right now,” she said. “And I guess I'll head to Europe and meet her wherever she ends up when summer's over,” she added.
“I see,” he said, looking thoughtful. Meredith wondered what he was thinking.
“Okay. You can go. On one condition…”
“What condition?” she asked cautiously. She didn't want to get her hopes up prematurely if he was going to ask her for something impossible.
“I want you to report on the presidential campaign. Use your degree for the whole summer and you're free to go,” he said.
“Really? That's it?”
His lips quirked up into a smile.
“That's it,” he said. “Oh, and make sure you call your parents from time to time,” he added.
“I will! And thank you Dad!” she exclaimed happily, giving him a hug.
“You're welcome. But it's not all going to be fun and games, Meredith. Working a presidential campaign isn't an easy assignment. And you'll be representing the company, so you'll need to be on your best behavior at all times.”
She nodded. “Dad, I know. Trust me.” Besides, she thought, it doesn't matter as long as I get to Bali after this is all done.
Shaking his head, her dad handed her a file with all the information she would need about this assignment. She was too excited to even spare it a single glance before shoving the papers inside her bag.
Bali! Wait for me! she thought enthusiastically.
Shortly, the car stopped in front of an unfamiliar office building. Meredith got out of the car and hurried alongside her father, following his lead.
A stunning brunette was waiting for them. Meredith learned that her name was Sosie, and she was the manager for the campaign. She ushered them toward the candidate's office, making pleasant small talk with her father. Meredith relaxed and spaced out a bit, daydreaming about Bali. She could practically feel the hot sand under her toes already.
She shook her head. She needed to start taking this seriously. She peeked into her bag and hurriedly scanned the file her father had given her. It wouldn't do to be completely ignorant. But all she had time to see was the candidate's name – Elijah Scott. It wasn't familiar to her though. Probably some old married guy, she thought.
