“Okay.” I wanted to tell him that I loved him, but again, we weren’t alone. Jack left the screen and said something to David under his breath before the screen went dark.
Clearly, my impromptu lesson was over.
“Ugh, you two are such prudes,” Rachel muttered. “I need a vicarious thrill. At least tease each other a little.”
Carl turned bright red, and I shook my head. It was a bad move on his part. Once she realized that she could embarrass him, Rachel would tease him ruthlessly. He was going to hate this detail before it was all over with.
“But at least tell me that you’ve learned your lesson,” she continued. “You’ll bring a change of clothes next time?”
“Yes. I most certainly will,” I muttered.
“The timing is bad too. Now your parents will know that you’re having sex, and you have to have dinner with them.”
The absurdity of this conversation finally got to me, and I laughed. It was nice to relieve some of the tension. “Unfortunately for my ultra-conservative parents, they learned a long time ago that I have sex. They walked in on me and one of my college boyfriends when they decided to surprise me at school. We just pretended that it never happened.”
“That’s typical.” Done with her play, Rachel flopped down at her desk and turned back to her computer. “So, I’ve been thinking that we can use all this press to our advantage. Really lean into Humane Miami whenever the media accosts you. It’ll be great press for us. Free press, and they’ll probably get annoyed after a time and leave you alone. I say that we ride this wave.”
I considered her idea. “That’s not bad. We’re still trying to raise money for the arts center.”
“Oh, we can put together a quick fundraiser. Everyone that we invite will want to come and get a good look at you.”
Grimacing, I stared at her. “I don’t know. It feels a little distasteful. A woman is dead. I hate to capitalize on that.”
“Well, when you put it that way, it’s bad.” Leaning back, she frowned. “Even though the woman was going to bury you to get to Jack, I don’t want to give her any sympathy.”
“She may not have been a good person,” I said delicately, “but I won’t capitalize on her death. We’re classier than that. I’m happy to talk about Humane Miami, but I draw the line at an impromptu fundraiser.”
Rachel shot me a curious look. “Have you and Jack talked about her?”
I lifted a shoulder. “He told me that she was his ex, and when she found out that he’d been reelected, she wanted him back. She was apparently going to great lengths to get me out of the picture. He’s been forthcoming about all of that.”
“I know.” She leaned forward. “I mean, what about their relationship. Has he told you anything about her?”
Carl cleared his throat loudly, then launched into a coughing fit, but we ignored him. I realized that Rachel was right. We hadn’t really talked about details. “No, but then again, I haven’t asked.”
“According to the news, they were together for a while. Like, long enough for him to consider marrying her. Everyone assumed they would.”
A strange sensation settled in me. Not jealousy. It felt a little darker than that. I hated the idea of Jack belonging to someone else. “I can’t get upset just because he dated before me. I saw guys before him.”
“No, no. I’m not telling you to be jealous. God, she was a horrid woman. I’m asking if you want to talk about it. With Jack. Just so there’s nothing weird between you.” After a pause, she grimaced. “Although, from the look on your face, you hadn’t really thought about it, and I’ve just made the situation worse.”
Restless now, I pushed back from the desk and started to pace. “I have thought about it. Obviously. I was curious when he first brought it up. She just seemed like a creepy stalker. Since I am not a creepy stalker, I figured I got major points for that. But you’re right. Jack wouldn’t have been with her for so long if there wasn’t something…” I quickly shook my head. “No. I’m not falling down the rabbit hole. That was the past. This is the future. Jack loves me, and that’s enough.”
Rachel grinned. “You definitely get major points for that. So, what are you going to wear to your parents tonight? Something that makes them try to believe that you aren’t having sex with a Democrat?”
Closing my eyes, I moaned. “Why do I keep you around?”
* * *
In the end, I settled for jeans. I’d never dressed up to go to my parents before, and I wasn’t about to start now. Thankfully, Jack dressed casually too, putting me even more at ease. As he pulled up in front of their modest home, he turned to face me. “Thank you for inviting me.”
“Of course. They promised to be on their best behavior.”
He made a snorting sound that made me smile. “I imagine that me being a murder suspect is a little worse than me being a Democrat.”
I grinned, thankful for the lightened mood. “You’d think that, wouldn’t you?” Feeling a little nervous, I leaned over the console and gave him a quick kiss on the cheek. Before I changed my mind and told him to drive us home, I opened the door and hopped out.
Jack, true to his charming nature, had brought flowers for my mother and a bottle of scotch for my father. My parents greeted us warmly, but I could see that much of their enthusiasm was forced.
“Congressman Drayson,” Dad said as he shook Jack’s hand. “I admit, I’ve wanted to meet you for some time, but I didn’t think it would be under these circumstances.”
Jack seemed to relax under the unexpected friendliness of the greeting. “Call me Jack, Mr. Hemsey, and I’m happy to answer any and all questions.”
I shot my mom an alarmed look, but she just smiled. “But not tonight, dear, and please call us Peter and Dawn. This is about meeting Jack, Blythe’s boyfriend, and not Jack, the congressman. Right?”
“Right.” There was an awkward pause before Dad looked down at the bottle in his hand. “This is good scotch. Should we have a glass before dinner?”
As we moved to the kitchen, I was painfully aware of Jack looking around. I had no idea what he was thinking, but I knew what he was seeing. My parents were retired school teachers. We’d never been poor, but we’d lived on a modest salary. Our entire house could fit into one room of his father’s estate.
The differences in our upbringing were stark. I’d felt completely out of place in his father’s vast estate. I wondered if he felt the same here.
He stopped abruptly in the hall and stared at one of the pictures. “What are you wearing?” he asked in a low voice.
My mother leaned over and laughed. “That’s not a costume. That’s our eight-year-old daughter covered in chili. We were hosting a hot dog eating contest at our neighborhood barbecue that year. Blythe was in a fierce competition with Michael Singer, one of her friends.”
“We were not friends,” I scowled. “He took my Barbie convertible and tied it to a top branch in one of the trees.”
Dad chuckled. “In any case, she wanted to do more than just beat him, so she challenged him to a chili dog contest. Needless to say, she was covered in chili by the time it was over with, and that poor boy was sick for days.”
“I take it you won?” Jack smiled as he drew me close. “I knew you were special. Was that in vengeance for your convertible?”
“Oh, no. I gave him a black eye for that and then shimmied up the tree and got it down.”
“You are amazing,” he said softly as he kissed the top of my head.
“Yes.” There was nothing but pride in my father’s voice. “She is amazing.”
After that, the tension eased from my father and dinner became a surprisingly comfortable event. It wasn’t completely possible for my father to avoid politics, but Jack didn’t back down from any of his questions, and they never came to shouts or blows. I could have sworn that there was a twinkle of admiration in Dad’s eyes.
Before, when my parents had confronted me about Jack, it was because they wanted me to b
e happy. Now, I got the sense that it was possible that they might like each other.
After dinner, Dad asked Jack to join him in the living room for another glass of scotch. Before he left, Jack asked my mother if he could help with the dishes.
“He’s perfect,” I murmured as I watched him leave after Mom shooed him away. I hadn’t even realized I’d said it out loud until my mother drew me in her arms and hugged me. Surprised, I hugged her back. “This is nice.”
“I’ve been so worried about you, darling. First with Jack. Then that whole mess with your charity, and now….” Tears sprang to her eyes, and she smoothed a hand over my hair. “You’re stronger than I could ever imagine, and I’m so proud of you.”
It was nice to just relax in my mother’s embrace, and I closed my eyes. “There were definitely some moments when I fell apart. I’m sure you saw the news.”
“You’re handling it, though.”
I pulled back just enough to look directly into her eyes. “Jack didn’t do it.”
With a chuckle, she leaned back and released me. “Of course not, darling. You wouldn’t be with him if he had. I know that. You have nothing but support from your father and me.”
“Does that mean I don’t have to worry about Dad and Jack being alone right now?”
Mom patted my cheek affectionately. “Dear, he’s still your father.”
Well, hell.
Eleven
Jack
I opened the door to my penthouse for Blythe to walk through. She grumbled a little. “I’m going to be spending every night at your place until this is over, aren’t I?”
“Does your apartment have a private parking garage that the press can’t enter?” I asked mildly, although I was enormously pleased that she intended to spend every night with me.
She wrinkled her nose. “They were still able to take my picture leaving your place, remember?”
I pressed my lips to her forehead. “I know you hate that, but it means that everyone can enjoy your beauty.”
“I’m in jeans.” Even as she protested, she smiled. I wanted to point out that she was beautiful even in jeans. After all, she’d been wearing denim the first time I saw her. At the time, she stuck out like a sore thumb in the district of power suits. She’d been stunning. Captivating. I’d seen her in expensive dresses and in ratty sweats. It didn’t matter what she wore. She was still gorgeous, inside and out.
Before I could point that out, her gaze was already sharpening. “What did my father say to you?”
“The usual.” I shrugged. “Don’t hurt my baby girl. Don’t break her heart. There were some veiled threats. Some not-so-veiled threats.”
“You’re lying.” She narrowed her eyes and planted her hands on her hips. “I don’t know why you’re lying, but I know you are.”
I was, and I’d meant for her to know it. The truth was that her father had some real concerns about our situation. He’d blatantly asked if I planned on using Blythe as a shield.
I promised him that I’d rather break her heart than ruin her life. I meant it, too. He seemed troubled but appeared happy with my candor. Peter wasn’t a complicated man. Even though he hated my party, he loved his girl more. She would always come first for him.
Now, she would come first with me.
“All right, I’ll tell you the truth.” I sighed dramatically. “He told me that he’d always wanted you to marry Michael Singer, and that I really wasn’t up to snuff.”
“Jack!” Laughing, she reached down and grabbed a pillow from my couch before throwing it at me.
I caught it easily. “What? You don’t believe me?”
“No. I do not, although it wouldn’t surprise me. Michael actually grew up to be a writer. He’s very well off.”
Thrown off balance, I blinked. “Wait a minute, are you talking about the screenwriter? The same Michael Singer who wrote Third Race? The huge blockbuster movie last summer?”
Batting her eyelashes in a show of innocence, Blythe smiled at me. “Yeah. You’re familiar with his work?”
“You gave him a black eye?”
“He stole my Barbie convertible! Of course, he was only doing it because he liked me. It took me two years before I learned that. He was my first kiss. He also suggested that we play doctor.”
“You played doctor with Michael Singer?”
Was that jealousy? Yup. That was jealousy. Of what was probably a twelve-year-old boy.
“But, since he’s happily married with three beautiful daughters, I don’t think he’s pining for me. I also don’t think my father is holding out that I dump you for him. So we’re circling back to the fact that you’re still lying to me.”
Before she could say another word, I grabbed her around the waist and pulled her against me. “Well, now I can’t focus. All I want to do is play doctor with you.”
“Jack…” She laughed as I swept her up in my arms and carried her to my bedroom. “Jack!”
Forcing her to stand upright on the mattress, I grinned as I lifted her shirt over her head. “Now then.” I mused, “let’s see if I’ve got my anatomy correct. Head. Neck. Shoulders.” I moved my hands back to the clasp of her bra and made quick work of it.
“Your anatomy is astounding,” she teased as the bra slid off her arms. Her nipples hardened immediately, and I slid a finger down the gentle slope and curved my finger right over the tip.
“Breast. Nipple. And if I remember the textbook correctly…” Leaning over, I replaced my finger with my tongue. When she ceased her teasing and arched into me, I smiled. “Yeah. I thought you’d like that.”
I began working on her jeans, and she opened her eyes and peered at me. “My love of your tongue is in the medical textbooks?”
“Well, in this, I prefer to learn from experience.” Pulling the jeans down, I nipped at her skin as I went.
Our banter was playful, but there was nothing playful about the way my cock strained against my fly. I was rock hard for her, but that was no surprise. Blythe’s body sang to me in a way that nothing else ever had. With just a laugh or a sigh, she heated my blood and called to me.
She owned me.
When I’d finally stripped her naked, she was putty in my arms. Desire sizzled in her eyes, and I tugged her down on the mattress and moved over her. “Too many clothes,” she complained as she tugged at my shirt.
God, yes. I didn’t want any barriers tonight. Skin on skin. I wanted her flush against me.
Breaking a fiery kiss long enough to strip, I returned, but she had other ideas. With her hands flat against my chest, she pushed at me, and I flipped over. It seemed impossible, but when she straddled me, I hardened even more. Fuck, I ached for this woman.
“I wanna be on top. Doctor’s orders,” she whispered.
“Can’t argue with that.” I groaned as she tugged on my ear with her teeth and teased me with her tongue. All the while, her hands were busy as they raced over my skin and left little sparks of need in their wake. She wasted no time in finding the real prize, and as she squeezed and stroked me, I forced myself not to come.
If she kept that up, I was going to embarrass myself.
Fighting for control, I urged her hips back up. “Take me inside of you.”
Playtime was over. Rising over me, she positioned her hips and stared at me for a long moment, love shining in her eyes. Those beautiful breasts swung heavy over my chest, and I filled my palms with their softness. In that instant, she guided me in.
Tight. Warm. Wet. Every time she enveloped me, my head swam with pure pleasure. “Stay,” I growled as I gripped her hips. “I want to feel you. Just like this.”
“Jack.” She moved just a little against my hold, and the effect was mind blowing.
“Fuck, Blythe. Do it again. Squeeze your muscles.”
Her walls clamped down on me, and I lost it. Forcing her up, I slammed her down on me again, and we both went a little crazy. Nobody was in control. She pulled away, and I pushed her back down again. Over and over agai
n until we were a sweaty mess. I was barely capable of stringing two words together, but I knew without a doubt that I loved this woman.
“Can’t stop,” Blythe moaned. “Gonna come. Oh, fuck, Jack. Fuck. Fuck.”
I loved it. The woman couldn’t be sweeter until I was inside of her and then she turned into a filthy wildcat. Pushing myself up, I found her breast with my mouth and roughly grazed my teeth over her sensitive flesh, flicking my tongue until she was shuddering uncontrollably around me. The feeling of her orgasm while she was clamping down on my cock was indescribable, and I was helpless against it. Holding her tightly, I surged inside of her, spilling myself until there was nothing left to give.
We collapsed, wet and sweaty, and the thick air around us clung to our skin, smelling of sex. Never happier, I held her close and kissed the top of her head. It took a few minutes before my heartbeat slowed and my lungs could fill with air. The woman really took it out of me.
“I had no idea that a game of doctor could be so stimulating,” she muttered hoarsely as she wiggled on my chest. After she got more comfortable, she relaxed and kissed me.
“Jealousies run deep,” I told her.
Hesitating, she looked at me with those beautiful gray eyes and licked her lips. “Jack. About old relationships…”
Without meaning to, I winced. I wondered when she was going to ask me about Sherry. She saw my expression and immediately pulled away. I grabbed her, holding her close. “Don’t. Don’t do that, Blythe.”
“I’m sorry. I should never have brought her up. I can tell that it upsets you.”
“It does, but if you need to know something, then you should ask. Don’t be afraid of me. We will be forced to have some difficult conversations. You can’t pull away from them.”
Sighing, she settled back in my arms and rested her cheek on my chest. “I didn’t want to ask anything. I just wanted you to know that I don’t need to know. Rachel brought it up earlier, and I realized that we hadn’t talked about your relationship with Sherry. I realized that I didn’t need to talk about it. It’s the past. We’re the future.”
His Fall From Power Page 7
