Scandal

by Nicole Elliot

  She stared off into the distance as she spoke, but something told me she was well aware of how her words resonated. I halfway wondered if she had noticed the way I looked at her after all, even though I had been trying so hard to keep my feelings hidden. I should have known better though—Natalie wasn’t dumb.

  “I guess you’ve got a point there,” the Speaker said. He fixed his gaze on me, clearly about to say something else, but my attention was suddenly drawn elsewhere.

  It appeared the waitress wasn’t the only one keeping an eye on the Speaker Finley.

  A man dressed in dark clothing, sitting a few tables away, filled me with apprehension I couldn’t immediately place my finger on. Speaker Finley was building quite a name for himself, and he was undoubtedly starting to get recognized by more and more people on a regular. It had to be expected that he would start drawing more attention when he was out in public. But there was still something unusual about the way this particular man stared at him.

  Only vaguely aware of the back-and-forth conversation occurring between the Speaker and his daughter, I stared at the man as a waiter approached him. They had a quick exchange before the waiter left his table.

  That’s when I noticed there was only one menu at the table, and that the man was alone.

  There was nothing wrong with going out for a meal alone; I’d done it on several occasions myself. But once again, something just struck me as off about this particular guy.

  Whenever he wasn’t staring at the back of the Speaker’s head, he was casting cautious glances around the restaurant, as if waiting for something.

  “I tell you, Natalie, you must be exhausting this poor man,” Speaker Finley said. I realized he was looking at me again.

  “Have I really been that much trouble?” Natalie said, staring right at me. It was the most direct stare she had given me since her yoga workout.

  “Of course not,” I said. “I’m just tired today, that’s all. I didn’t sleep too well last night.”

  “Well, hopefully a good meal will help you get some good rest tonight then,” the Speaker said. “Here’s our food now.”

  I turned in my seat, seeing the waitress rolling a tray with our plates on it.

  In the second it took for me to turn my head, a loud screech filled the restaurant.

  I turned back around, seeing that the mysterious man from a few tables away had abruptly stood, an ugly grimace on his face. As if in a hurry, he sprung forward, and reached for something at his hip. As he pulled his jacket back, several piercing screams filled the restaurant.

  Confused, Speaker Finley twisted around his chair.

  Reflexively, I jumped up from my seat, knocking over the plate of food that had been placed before me.

  Everything was happening so fast, yet it seemed as if I was seeing in slow motion.

  I sprung at the man just as he drew a gun, aiming for Speaker Finley’s head. The shot fired into the air, causing a chandelier to explode and making the whole restaurant erupt in screams—Natalie’s being the loudest of all.

  * * *

  “Thank you, sir.”

  “No—thank you,” the police officer said, shaking my hand.

  The restaurant had been evacuated and the shooter had been taken away. Yet, everyone remained thoroughly shaken, none more so than the Finley’s.

  Before returning to his vehicle to be driven home, Speaker Finley approached me, a grim look on his face. “I don’t know what we would do without you, Colt,” he said, clasping my hand.

  “Don’t mention it,” I said. “Just doing my job.”

  “That’s what I want to talk to you about.”

  “Oh?” I said, my eyebrows raised.

  Speaker Finley sighed. “I couldn’t live with myself if anything ever happened to Natalie because of me. I never knew how dangerous politics could get and how many people had something against me. I’ve got to keep my distance from Natalie from now on, at least until all this nonsense blows over. So from now on, I want you to be her personal bodyguard. Please stay with her at all times.”

  “Of course sir, it would be my honor.”

  His precious daughter. The woman that filled my lusty dreams.

  Untouchable.

  Hell.

  CHAPTER 9

  Natalie

  My bottom lip trembled as I looked toward my father, who waved goodbye to me from the front porch of our home. Although it was just a temporary arrangement, I didn’t like how it felt regardless. While I knew there was nothing I personally do to protect him, I hated the idea of leaving him. He, on the other hand, felt the only thing he could do to personally protect me at the moment was to stay away from me. His political ambitions and prowess had made him a target in ways we never could have imagined. The assassination attempt at the restaurant felt like the biggest slap in the face; just when we had finally started moving on from the shock of the bomb explosion, our world had been turned upside down all over again.

  There was no doubt that the gunman had been hired by political opponents, yet, there was no solid way to prove it. And going public with such allegations would only cause more problems than it would solve.

  The world of politics was a twisted place, but Dad had now gotten in too deep to do anything about it. In a sense, we had been naïve due to his popularity as Speaker of the House. Nonetheless, it was common knowledge that he supported policies that were despised by his opponents. Furthermore, he had never been hesitant in discussing the shortcomings of opposing parties to popular news outlets and anyone else willing to listen. While this behavior had always been championed by his supporters, it had clearly made his opponents want to retaliate. And now that he was in the running for one of the highest positions in the world, unnamed opponents were willing to stoop to new lows to take my father out of the picture, permanently.

  All of this had led him to decide that the farther away I stayed from him, the better. He didn’t want me within a mile of harm’s way.

  I stood outside, my arms wrapped around myself even though the air held no particular chill in it, as Colt loaded my suitcases and bags into our ‘escape’ vehicle. We were to go to a designated safe-house, and I was to live there until further notice—or in other words, until my father felt it was safe for me to be around again.

  “Take care of her, Colt,” my father called out, a somber expression on his face.

  Colt held open the passenger’s door for me. “I will, sir. I promise.”

  * * *

  The safe house felt foreign. Despite the welcoming atmosphere its comfortable plush furniture, warm colors, and overall cozy décor provided, it wasn’t home, it wasn’t where I wanted to be, and there was nothing that could make me stop worrying about my father.

  I lied awake, well into the night, staring at the ceiling of my new bedroom. Colt was staying in the guest bedroom down the hall, although from the constant creeks I heard on the wooden floors, I knew he wasn’t sleeping well either. I kept hearing him going into the living room, likely looking out the window and checking out the premises, making sure everything was in order and that no one had followed or found us.

  When I couldn’t stand staring at the ceiling anymore, I climbed out of bed.

  The floor cold on my bare feet, I crept into the living room. Colt didn’t hear me; he was too busy staring out the window. He wore plaid pajama pants, and nothing else. There was just enough lighting from the windows to display his muscular back and smooth taut skin, covered in tattoos.

  A swooping sensation went through my lower belly, and I suddenly realized how badly I wanted to feel his arms around me—not just because I yearned for his touch again, but because I just wanted to feel safe.

  I stopped behind him, barely breathing, and just taking in his silhouette in the moonlight.

  Sensing me, he slowly turned around. “Natalie…” He ran a hand through his silky hair. “Are you all right?”

  I shook my head.

  “I’m sorry. Of course you’re not. Not after
today…”

  “Thank you, Colt. For saving my father’s life.”

  He swallowed and nodded. His eyes trailed my face, and then down to my thin camisole and pajama shorts. “Can’t sleep?”

  I shook my head again.

  “Do you need anything? Cup of tea, or…I don’t know. Something to eat? Some places around here are probably open late. I could—”

  “Colt, stop,” I said, cutting him off.

  “Natalie?” He frowned and closed the distance between us in two strides, stopping right in front of me. “Shit. You’re not okay at all.”

  I sniffed and looked away, embarrassed that he had to see me at my lowest.

  “I’m sorry. I don’t want to be a burden to you...”

  “What are you talking about?”

  He cupped my chin and made me look at him, a touch so gentle that my heart melted. His beautiful blue eyes held concern in them—not even an ounce of reproach.

  “You aren’t a burden. I’ll always be next to you and protect you. That’s my job, after all.”

  I tensed, hurt by his words. Right. This was just his job. He was probably worried about me because I was his client and his duty was to keep me safe from harm...

  He noticed that my body had tensed, and his frown deepened. “No, Natalie. That’s not what I meant... I.. Shit. That didn’t sound how I wanted it to.”

  Without a word, he pulled me into embrace, his strong arms holding me close to him, and my heartbeat increased. This contact was so unexpected, yet it was something I wanted for a long time. Now that we were touching like this I never wanted him to let me go.

  I inhaled his manly scent, clutching onto his shoulders as his hands traveled across my back soothingly. I needed this. I needed him.

  “I don’t want you safe only because this is my job. I genuinely worry about you.”

  He was so warm, emanating the strength that attracted me so much to him, and soon his hands stopped bringing calm to me—instead they were arousing me. I became hyperaware of his fingers trailing my spine, almost reaching my ass, before he moved them up again. At the same time, I felt his erection pressing against my stomach, and my heartbeat sped up.

  The atmosphere had changed between us, and the temperature in the room was suddenly too high. I held my breath as he moved his hand to my neck, grazing it with his thumb, which sent shivers down my spine, and I leaned into his touch. I squirmed, letting a small moan out, and waited impatiently for his next move.

  “You’re shuddering,” he whispered with a raspy voice, cupping my head with one hand, and took a step away to look at me. “Are you cold?”

  “A little.”

  “I’ll bring you a blanket—”

  He tried to move away, but I stopped him, unable to focus on anything but the throbbing of my pussy. “No. I don’t need a blanket.”

  His eyes glimmered with lust, falling to my lips. I noticed just now that he was breathing unevenly, all too tense. My nipples hardened, and since I wasn’t wearing any bra beneath my shirt, he could clearly see that. He let a low growl out, his hand on my waist tightening around me.

  “What do you need?” he asked.

  I wanted him badly. I couldn’t stop thinking about the night we’d spent together, so hungry for more, and here we were—alone and obviously so desperate for each other.

  “You. I need you,” I finally said, deciding to throw away all caution and doubts.

  Before I knew it, he plastered his lips against mine and cupped my ass. I encircled my arms around his neck, bringing him closer to me as our tongues played with each other. It was too hot, and I was burning with desire for him.

  He moved us the bedroom, not even breaking our contact, and started undressing me. I fumbled with the buttons of his shirt as he drew my shirt away, unable to unbutton them with my trembling hands, and I cursed.

  He chuckled and moved my hands away from his shirt. “Here. Let me do it.”

  He removed his shirt and proceeded to take off my pants and black lace undies, hissing when his eyes landed on my mound.

  “God I have been waiting for this,” he said.

  “You!? You have barely looked at me in weeks!”

  “I have to remain professional. But today, with that shooter? I can’t anymore Natalie. I need you.” He pushed me back onto the bed and then spread my legs. He kissed me from my ankles to my pussy and then twirled his tongue around my clit.

  “I’m going to tease you, just like you teased me.”

  “Yoga?” I breathed out.

  “Oh yeah, you’re going to pay for that.”

  He inserted one finger, and then two, pumping me slowly as he sucked on my clit.

  “Oh Colt!”

  I had been waiting for this so long, then tension between us growing every day. Just as I was climbing to the edge of my orgasm, Colt pulled away. And I watched as he dropped his pajama pants, his huge cock springing free.

  He pushed himself against my opening, pushing slowly and then pulling back out. He was killing me.

  “I just want to come!” I complained, seeing his smirk.

  “Well I guess I do work for you princess.” He picked me up and I slid down onto his huge cock. He pounded me against the wall as his hand gripped my ass. Then I felt him push his finger into my asshole. Slowly as if testing it out.

  “Holy shit that feels good,” I moaned against his skin.

  “I knew you would like it.” As he continued to fuck me harder he pushed his finger all the way in and I screamed as my orgasm crashed around me.

  “Oh fuck Colt.”

  “Yes beautiful,” he said as his body shuddered and his cum shot into me, filling me completely.

  Slowly he lowered my back down to the bed and pulled out of me, laying down next to me.

  “What do we do now?” I asked him, looking into this beautiful blue eyes.

  “Not a fucking clue,” he answered honestly.

  “Yeah me nether,” I admitted.

  I had just slept with my security detail. The biggest no no in the book. I was in so much trouble.

  CHAPTER 10

  Colt

  “So how long is this arrangement going to last?”

  Sitting across from a friend of hers—Alex, I think her name was—Natalie sighed and shrugged her shoulders. “I don’t know,” she answered. “I guess that depends on whether my father becomes the actual vice-presidential candidate.”

  “Do you want him to?” her friend asked.

  From what I’d gathered, she was a friend Natalie had gone to college with. Still shaken from the incident at the restaurant, Natalie had asked her friend to meet her for lunch. I had been accompanying Natalie everywhere since the incident, and it was clear that she had been trying her best to keep busy in order to distract herself from what was going on with her father.

  Natalie shrugged her shoulders again in response to her friend’s question. “It’s hard to say. I do, because I know my father would love the official nomination. And I know how good he would be for this country. But on the other hand, I’m not sure how much more I can take of knowing that people are out to get him. Politics is such a dirty business.”

  “Well, on the bright side, if he does become Vice President, you guys will have secret service, right? You won’t have to worry about random nutcases sneaking up on you.”

  “That’s true.”

  “Or…do you already have your own secret service agent?” the friend asked, dropping her voice to what she thought was a whisper.

  “No. I told you, he’s just hired by my father,” Natalie said, glancing briefly at me.

  I twinge of annoyance went through me at being described as someone ‘just hired by her father.’ Then I reminded myself that technically, it was true.

  I turned my focus back to my newspaper, knowing I wasn’t even supposed to be listening to Natalie’s conversation with her friend anyway. That’s why I had purposely seated myself at a separate table. In order to do my job right, I was suppose
d to blend into the background and keep watch from afar.

  I needed to get back into a professional state-of-mind, especially after what had happened between us. The first time, had been permissible, but the second time hadn’t…

  The night of the attempted assassination on her father, Natalie had been vulnerable. She had been desperate for a distraction, and in need of comfort. I tried to keep this in mind every time I thought about her touch and the feel of her skin—every night I found myself longing to go to her bedroom and take her again.

  “Here’s your refill, sir.”

  My thoughts were interrupted when the waiter came back with more coffee. “Thank you,” I said.

  I glanced toward Natalie and her friend. They had grown relatively quiet as they finished the last of their lunches. Natalie met my gaze again just briefly before looking away.

  She doesn’t really want me, I thought to myself, trying desperately to ignore how much that thought hurt. I’m nothing but a quick fix to her whenever the mood hits. She is not worth losing my job over.

  At least that’s what I kept telling myself.

  I took a sip of my coffee, which suddenly tasted bitter in my mouth. I had to admit, I’d been guilty of using women as quick fixes before. Yet now, I doubted I’d ever be able to comfortably do so again—not after Natalie. It was no fun being on the other side of such treatment.

  Natalie and her friend stood from their table and hugged each other.

  “Thank you so much for coming to lunch with me,” Natalie said.

  “Any time. And please, keep me posted on what’s going on with you, all right?”

  “I will.”

  Natalie watched her friend walk out of the diner, and looked towards me. “I’ll be right back,” she said. I nodded as she retreated to the ladies’ room.

  I finished my coffee and sat back in my chair with a sigh, thinking about how being assigned to the Finley’s had become hardest job I’d ever worked. Not even my time in the army compared.