by Carsen Taite
“I’m sure you were.”
Addison’s words were delivered in an even tone. Easy, light, encouraging. Julia pressed on. “Didn’t take long before I was brokering big deals between parties and with the White House. I had all the power players on speed dial, and they always took my calls. That kind of influence makes you feel like you’re on top of the world.”
Antsy now, she stood and walked across the room. “Do you want some water? I’m thirsty. Are you?”
Addison stayed seated and called out. “Water would be great.”
The whoosh of cold air cooled Julia’s flushed skin. The anticipation of relaying this embarrassing tale was taking its toll. She should rush the telling instead of dragging it out, but measuring Addison’s reactions at each point of the story seemed more important than her own comfort. She pulled two bottles of water out of the fridge and returned to her seat, ready to unveil the first big piece. “You know Kate Bramwell?”
“I know who she is. Everyone knows who she is. A Republican, really?”
Despite Addison’s teasing tone, Julia felt the warmth of a blush crawl up her neck. The powerful former deputy chief of staff for the late President Erickson was a familiar name to anyone inside the Beltway. She had run the Republican president’s legislative agenda with an iron hand, and now she hosted a pundit talk show on Fox News.
“I know. I can’t really explain it other than to say there’s something to that whole opposites attract theory. I was sleeping with her when I worked for the Speaker. Wait, that makes it sound like it was just sex. To me, it was more. We weren’t living together, but we spent every bit of what little free time we had together. Mostly at her place, mostly naked, but it felt like we had a connection. One that would last beyond who we were in the eyes of everyone else.”
“It must’ve been hard to have a relationship in a fishbowl, especially being on different sides of every major issue.”
“We tried to be discreet, but people knew. We were determined not to let it get in the way of our work or vice versa.”
“But it did.”
“Yes, and it was my fault.” Julia found something interesting to stare at in the bottom of her champagne flute while she told the rest of the story. “The Speaker was pushing an expansive gun control initiative. It was going to be the crowning jewel of his career, and for once, it seemed like we had the votes to carry it through both in the House and the Senate. It was going to be tight, and I was working with the Whip to make sure we hung on to every pledged yea vote on our side. Late night meetings, phone calls, whatever it took to keep the majority in line, especially our members in the Deep South, where the NRA lobby is strongest, and they had the most to lose by staying strong.
“I could barely spare a moment away from the office, and when I did, I was constantly on the computer or on the phone, helping whip the vote. The day before the measure was to go to the full floor, Kate called to pick a fight with me about how I’d let work interfere with what little time we had together. It took me by surprise.”
“I imagine she worked long hours too.”
“More than me, most of the time. But I had neglected her. I couldn’t not work the night before the big vote, but she offered to make me dinner if I would agree to work from her place.” Julia looked up from her glass, willing Addison to read her mind for the next part so she wouldn’t have to say the words out loud.
“I remember that bill. The entire Southern Democratic delegation defected. It died on the floor, and the Senate never took it up.”
“Yes. The White House made sure of it. Every one of those reps was either threatened with a challenger in the primary or bribed with some pork barrel initiative. I guess you know how they discovered which weaknesses to exploit.”
“Julia, surely you don’t blame yourself? If those House members had vulnerabilities, they weren’t secret.”
Addison reached out to touch her, but she drew back. “She made the calls herself. She waited until I fell asleep, went through my computer, read my notes, and then one-by-one, with threats and bribes, she took apart the coalition I’d built. I know where she got her information because the punishments and rewards were tailor-made.
“I was fired the next week. No one would hire me after that. Took a few years for me to get any solid work, and I had to open my own business to make that happen.”
“Wow. Really?”
“I had a job and I failed. My work’s a zero-sum game. You either win or you’re out. Kate advanced her career by exploiting our relationship, and I got all the blame for letting what I had with her get in the way of my job. I should’ve known that whatever we had was second to who we were.”
This time when Addison reached out, she didn’t have the energy to resist. Her arms were strong and held her tight. She murmured comfort. “What you do for a living isn’t who you are. You are so much more than that.”
“You don’t know me well enough to know that.”
Addison leaned back and titled Julia’s chin up so they were eye to eye. Her smile was indulgent. “It’s a universal truth, but if you’re going to be stubborn, then let me get to know you.” She ran a finger along Julia’s cheek, her touch soft, inviting. “I promise I’m right. You want to know how I know?”
Julia stared deep into Addison’s eyes, knowing that right now she was too entranced not to believe anything she had to say. She nodded.
“Because I may be a Supreme Court nominee, but right now, all I can think about is how attracted I am to you—mind and body. I’m not entirely sure you couldn’t talk me out of the job if I had to choose between it and the chance of getting to know you better.”
“Yeah, right.” Julia couldn’t let herself believe Addison might be distracted from what would be the pinnacle achievement of any lawyer’s career, let alone that she was the possible other choice.
“Trust me, it would be a hard choice.”
Julia wasn’t sure what to do with Addison’s revelation. She knew what she wanted to do and she knew what she should do, but Addison stood in front of her, smart, beautiful, funny, and sexy. A tangible reminder of the type of relationship she’d given up to guard her success. Since Kate, she’d assumed that personal and professional choices were mutually exclusive. Did they have to be? Did she want them to be?
Deep in her heart, she knew the answer. She took a deep breath and made the choice to risk everything.
“What if you didn’t have to choose?”
Chapter Twenty-three
Addison answered with her lips, but no words. The earlier kiss had been eager, insistent, but this time, she relaxed and enjoyed the taste of Julia, knowing there would be plenty of time to savor her soft lips, her playful tongue, and the surges of arousal pulsing through her every time they touched.
Only the need to breathe broke their connection. Gasping, Addison used the moment to ask, “Bed?”
“Upstairs.”
Julia grabbed her hand and led her out of the kitchen, down a short hall, to a staircase. They paused at the landing and kissed again. Fused at the lips, Addison began unbuttoning Julia’s shirt, eager to touch her skin, dying to know if the heat burning inside her was reflected in Julia’s body. The buttons were tiny, stubborn gatekeepers, and Julia reached down to help, tearing through them with one hand while her other hand reached under Addison’s sweater, circling her waist.
Addison groaned in anticipation as Julia tugged her sweater over her head and tossed it onto the floor. Next thing she knew, Julia dipped her head as she arched into Julia’s embrace. She ran her hands through Julia’s thick, soft hair. “You feel incredible. I want you. All of you.”
Julia raised her head, and her grin was hazy with lust. “That’s the plan. Think you can make it the rest of the way up the stairs?”
Addison nodded and followed her lead, almost running into Julia when she stopped short in the doorway of a room at the top of the stairs. Julia turned to face her, a strange look on her face.
“What is it? Chan
ge your mind?”
“Um, no. It’s just I wasn’t expecting guests.”
Addison leaned around her, peering into the room. “Ah ha. The true Julia Scott, finally revealed. Is that a sweater hanging over the back of that chair? And, no, it can’t be possible, but I think your bed might be unmade.”
Julia shuffled in place. Addison could tell she was embarrassed, but she looked adorable and sweet, nothing like the vixen who’d nearly taken her on the staircase. Hoping to coax her sexy mood back, she pulled Julia close and whispered in her ear, “I’m so hot for you right now, I wouldn’t care if all you had was a mattress on the floor and empty pizza boxes lining every surface. An unmade bed only saves us time.” She traced her tongue along the edge of Julia’s ear. “Do you want me?”
“Badly.” The word was drawn out with a slow, jagged breath.
“Then take me. Please.” Her words weren’t a plea, they were a command, and they set Julia into action. She undressed, slowly, ducking out of range, every time Addison reached to touch her. When she was completely naked, Addison sagged at the knees. Flat stomach, full hips, and long, long legs. She was breathtaking.
Julia stepped closer and left a trail of kisses along Addison’s neck as she removed her clothes. As each piece fell away, Addison teased back, desperate to taste and touch every inch of this beautiful woman. When Julia was finally naked, Addison pulled her closer, sparks flying as their skin touched. “How about that bed?”
Julia tugged her toward it, leaning back when she reached the edge, pulling Addison along with her. Addison nestled a thigh between Julia’s legs and bent to caress her full, beautiful breasts. Heady with lust, she licked and nipped as Julia rose off the bed to meet her hungry lips and tongue. She could have stayed locked against her chest forever, but the heat and wet against her leg signaled Julia’s growing arousal, and she didn’t want to miss a moment of the impending climax. She flicked her tongue along Julia’s abdomen, kissing her way to the tangle of red curls, glistening with anticipation.
She swirled her tongue around Julia’s folds, savoring how she bucked with need at each pass. Raising her head, she asked, “Tell me what you want.”
Julia groaned, writhing. “Lick me, fuck me. Whatever you want. Anything you want. Any way you want. Please touch me. Don’t stop.”
Addison smiled at the string of comments each punctuated with a heavy breath. This was nothing like the sameness of sex with Eva. After one wild night, they’d settled into a couple of favorite positions that always worked. There was a lot to be said for a guaranteed orgasm, but excitement fast became a forgotten feature of their time together. In this moment, she couldn’t remember ever being so aroused, ever being so excited about devouring every inch of another woman. No limits, no boundaries.
“I have no intention of stopping.” She stroked Julia’s inner thigh, delighting at the shiver that met her touch. “I just hope you can handle everything I have to give.”
Julia barely heard the words before Addison’s tongue flattened against her clit and removed her ability to speak, think, reason. She grabbed the pillow above her head and held on tight as she arched into Addison’s mouth, the tender heat of her lips and tongue lifting her up onto waves of pleasure. As each wave receded, she barely had time to catch her breath before the cascade began again. And then pressure, glorious pressure, as Addison entered her, fingers pulsing as her tongue stroked her into stiff pleasure.
“Oh, God, I’m coming. Don’t stop.”
Addison’s answer came in powerful thrusts and teasing kisses, and the waves grew higher and higher until Julia began bucking out of control. Addison stayed with her, her tongue and fingers drawing out every ounce of the most powerful orgasm Julia had ever experienced in her life.
Spent, Julia finally let go of the pillow and reached down to touch Addison, who lay still between her legs. “Hey, you.”
Addison lifted her head and gently kissed Julia’s still quivering clit. Julia twitched.
“Seems like you might not be done.”
Julia managed, somehow, to lift herself on one arm. “Done? No, I’m not done, but if you touch me again right now I think I might burst into flames. That was…you are amazing.”
“Good orgasm?”
“Fantastic orgasm.” Julia closed her eyes. “Best ever.” She sighed, and when she looked again, she saw a grinning Addison. “You look pretty proud of yourself.”
Addison pointed at her chest. “Who me?”
Julia tossed a pillow at Addison’s head. “Yes, you.”
“Okay, maybe a little bit. Nice to know I’m qualified for other things besides being a judge.”
“Don’t even think about showing any senators your special skills.” Julia reached down and tugged at Addison’s hand. “Come up here with me. Please.”
Addison slid along her body until she lay in the crook of her arm. “Mmmm. I was perfectly prepared, and happy about it, to spend the rest of my days between your legs, but…” She nuzzled into Julia’s neck. “This is nice too.”
Julia turned and caught her lips in a kiss. A moment ago, she thought she was completely spent, couldn’t imagine how she would ever move again, but the musky scent of Addison’s arousal sent adrenaline through her veins. She rolled over onto her side and took one of Addison’s small, firm breasts into her mouth, trailing the pebbled edges of her nipple with her lips and grazing it to a stiff point with her teeth.
Addison’s breath quickened, and Julia reached for her other breast, teasing it to a hard point with her fingers. Addison’s eager response made her quicken her pace. She drew closer and traded tongue for hand on each breast until Addison rocked beneath her. She didn’t have to reach down to know Addison was dripping wet, but she had to feel it, had to revel in it. She slid down between Addison’s legs, enjoying the slick trail of arousal she left behind, and slowly licked inside one thigh and then the other, enjoying the sharp thrusts against her touch.
She’d always cared about making her lovers happy, even though for years, she’d barely known anything about them except how they looked naked and willing. But this was different. Addison was different. Brilliant, engaging, kind. She wanted to know Addison, please her in ways she may have only dreamed about. Addison was the kind of woman people aspired to be. The kind of woman people pledged forever to.
The idea stopped Julia cold. She wasn’t a forever kind of person. Nothing was forever. Things were always changing, and that was a good thing. Change meant variety. Change made life interesting. Just like candidates who moved in and out of public office. You worked at something, you enjoyed something until it wasn’t right anymore, wasn’t working out. Every lover since Kate had been a temporary indulgence, someone to enjoy until the pleasure faded, and Julia had accepted, embraced even, the inevitability of change.
“Julia? Is everything okay?”
Addison’s voice was edged with concern, but also raspy with want. For now, anyway. But everything would change, and she wouldn’t always want her. Addison would get her seat on the bench and she would be one of the most powerful women in the country, busy with the law, busy with a new crowd of D.C. elite. Julia would choose from one of the many candidates who were begging for her help, and she’d be back on the road, working her magic. Everything would change, but right now…right now, in this moment, she would leave her mark. When this temporary indulgence was over, they’d both have amazing memories of this night, no matter where life led them.
She pulled Addison against her mouth and murmured. “Everything’s okay. More than okay.” She stroked and thrust the rest of her response with her tongue and her fingers. First gently, then with increasing pressure as Addison answered with bucking hips and loud moans of pleasure. As Addison thundered into orgasm, Julia did something she hadn’t done in years. She cradled her lover in her arms, kissed her hair, and promised more. At least for tonight, she could deliver on the promise.
Chapter Twenty-four
Julia woke the next morning to sunlight st
reaming across her face. She reached across the bed, hopeful, but she felt nothing but sheet and pillows. And then she remembered.
Addison had left in the middle of the night to return to her apartment. Her stated reason was that her father was there and she’d promised him a ride to the airport to catch his early morning flight back to Dallas. They both knew that as much as they didn’t want to leave the heat of the bed and each other, Addison couldn’t be seen leaving her place the next morning, wearing the same clothes she’d had on the night before.
After a prolonged good-bye that involved lots of hands-on and an impromptu orgasm in the kitchen, Julia had called for her driver and arranged for him to take Addison home. She’d made him promise to wind around the city and make sure they weren’t followed. She shouldn’t have even trusted him, but in a city where gossip could make or break a career, you could either worry everyone was going to sell their story or you could just use your best instincts. Hers were well-honed.
She looked at the clock on her nightstand. Nine a.m. Was Addison on her way back from the airport? Maybe she’d be interested in brunch? Lord knows she’d worked off last night’s dinner hours ago.
Julia reached for her phone, but stopped mid-air. Last night had been fun, perfect even, but it was time to get back to work. The Senate would be taking their holiday break soon, and the White House wanted a firm commitment to confirmation by the first of the year. She should check in with the FBI agent heading up the vetting process and making a list of questions to prepare Addison for next week’s grilling with the Judiciary Committee. If she spent any time with Addison this weekend, it should be at the office, prepping for the week ahead.
But they’d have to eat, wouldn’t they? They could work over brunch. Go to a restaurant where they could spread out their papers on a table and enjoy a nice meal. In public. Where there was little chance of a repeat performance of last night’s activity. What had she called it? A temporary indulgence.
