by Vivian Wood
“It's so boring here. I'm heading to Ibiza in three days. I hear the party scene is better there anyway,” Lily said, rolling her eyes.
“Oh, I see,” Meredith responded, not the least bit excited about it.
What happened to you? You should be more ecstatic that there’s another place where you can party ‘till you drop!
“What’s up with you?” Lily asked, narrowing her eyes.
Meredith tried to play dumb. “What?”
“You’re not acting like your usual self, Mer. Come on, you can tell me anything.”
“There’s nothing to tell, really.”
Lily pursed her lips. It was obvious from her expression that Meredith had failed to convince her of this.
“This is about Elijah Scott, right? Go on, spill the beans.”
Meredith froze. It wasn't that she didn't want to tell Lily about everything. It was just that she wasn't sure where to start.
She took a deep breath.
“Something is going on between us,” she said slowly, feeling a lump growing in her throat. “And… Actually, I just snuck out of his room.”
Lily gasped, genuinely shocked. Meredith instantly regretted telling her, at least like this. She'd wanted to talk about this in person.
“Really?” Lily asked with gleaming eyes.
“Really,” she repeated in affirmation.
“You slut! I can't believe you finally gave up your V-card!”
Meredith blushed. She was still embarrassed.
“Y-Yeah, I did.”
“And?” Lily urged, wanting to get a few more juicy details.
“It was worth the wait, Lily,” she answered honestly.
In fact, she thought it had been a whole lot better than what she had expected. It was not just a night to remember. It was – and would always be – a cherished moment.
Her first time had been a blast!
“You think you guys could be an item? Am I going to see you in the paper soon?” Lily asked excitedly. She was acting like a giddy teenager, anticipating the next episode of her favorite romantic sitcom.
Meredith swallowed hard.
“I… We haven’t really talked about that. I don’t know,” she spoke in almost a whisper.
Lily gasped.
“Wait, so you two are doing it in secret?” the woman asked with an eyebrow raised.
“You make it sound so tawdry, Lily,” she answered defensively.
“I'm just concerned for you, that's all. You waited all this time because you wanted it to be special and perfect, but now what? I don't like the idea of you being some politician's dirty little secret, Mer.”
Meredith was taken aback. She hadn't expected Lily to be so blunt.
Was she going about this the wrong way?
Shrugging off the idea, Meredith shook her head. “It’s not exactly like that.”
“Well, what is it then?” Lily challenged.
“It’s still so new. I don’t want anything to disturb it,” she muttered while pulling a face. She hated it when her best friend had a point.
Lily rolled her eyes like she'd just heard the stupidest joke of the year. She was openly showing her dislike of the situation.
“Whatever you say,” the woman spoke dryly.
Meredith sighed.
“Listen… you never told me about that party on the yacht. How was it?” she asked, trying to change the subject.
As much as Meredith wanted to catch up with her best friend a little longer, she couldn't stop thinking about Lily’s words. She knew Lily only wanted the best for her. And she knew the woman was right.
Sooner or later, she and Eli would have to put a label on whatever they were doing. And she didn’t have the slightest idea how that would even happen.
But the real question was, would they even reach that part?
Dirty little secret.
Lily's words echoed in her mind until they said goodbye. She couldn't deny she was bothered by them. But she hoped things would get better soon.
26
After a successful campaign rally in Michigan, Eli attended yet another donor event. Sosie had been nagging him about optics, and he'd agreed to shake hands with everyone he met and kiss every baby he saw. The reporters followed him around as usual – snapping photos, taking notes, and asking questions.
He hadn't expected to enjoy the event. He'd never been fond of children. But today was different. He felt good around them for some unknown reason. He started to seriously entertain the idea of having kids of his own someday. He wondered if they'd have his eyes, or Meredith's...
What was he thinking? Lately he'd been thinking about things like settling down. This wasn't at all like him.
As he talked with a few people, his gaze traveled to Meredith again and again, unable to get enough of her. She looked so beautiful in her white floral skirt and black top. She looked like a runway model instead of a reporter.
He watched her laughing with colleagues as they sat in one corner to get some rest. And before he could even look away, she looked at him then smiled, sucking the end of her pen.
He blinked – stunned by the naughty gesture, making him forget what he was saying. A sudden rush of heat disturbed his thoughts, and she grinned when he looked at her again.
Damn. The woman really knew how to get under his skin.
Before sunset, the affair was wrapped up and they headed back to the hotel. Elijah desperately searched for Meredith’s figure and when he found her, he pulled her into his limo, quickly rolling up the partition so the driver couldn’t see them.
Without saying a word, he seared her mouth with a passionate kiss, pinning her down against the leather seat. Despite her shock, Meredith responded to his kisses with the same intensity. It was as if they hadn't spent the night together.
They just couldn't get enough of each other.
His hands traveled down her legs, caressing her soft skin. She squirmed underneath his touch, catching her breath as he pulled away, breaking their kiss. He cupped her breasts, her nipples hardening immediately as he brushed his thumbs over her peaks.
Meredith whimpered while watching him, her blue eyes full of desire.
She pulled off her top and quickly unhooked her bra. She moaned as his wet and warm mouth closed over one nipple, and he rolled the other between his thumb and forefinger.
He closed his eyes as he focused on sucking at her gorgeous tits, enjoying her delicate feminine taste. She tasted wonderful with the mixture of sweat and the traces of rose-scented soap on her skin.
She writhed under him as she released a muffled moan. He inhaled sharply, sliding his hands down to her ass. Her cheeks were bare, and he loved the way she felt in his hands.
“You're so wet,” he whispered in her ear.
Meredith batted her lashes and arched her back in response, an invitation for him to do something about it.
Licking his fingers, he probed her slick and swollen flesh, fingering her clit. He knew his strokes were just about right when her grip on his shoulders tightened.
“Ooooh,” she moaned huskily, trying her best to keep her voice subdued, which he found very sexy. Her legs wrapped around him, and he could tell that she was right on the edge when her jaw tensed.
So, he stopped.
“I have to see,” he said.
Elijah went down on his knees, spreading her thighs wide. He opened her eagerly, wanting to see the glorious view of her wet folds. Just looking at Meredith’s tight hole made him thirsty, and his cock jerked up against the zipper of his pants.
But he had a different motive.
He gave her pussy a languid lick, slowly teasing her, until she couldn't take it anymore and grabbed his head, grinding his face into her crotch.
He couldn’t help but smile against her swollen clit. Meredith had gotten more and more naughty each time they'd had sex. Each time was more exciting than the last.
Sucking her clit, he inserted a finger inside her, earning himself a rewarding
moan and gasps from her. He continued pleasuring her clit as he pumped his finger in and out of her tight walls.
Elijah felt his cock growing harder and bigger with each push inside her. She was so fucking tight, and his cock twitched in anticipation. But he was not going to fuck her in the car – not with his dick, at least.
He increased his pace when Meredith’s legs tightened around his waist. There were tears of pleasure at the corners of her eyes, and he knew she was close to cumming. He inserted another finger inside her pussy and pushed deeper and harder. She moaned, tugging his hair forcefully.
When she came violently, he pulled his fingers out of her and sucked and lapped at her tight hole, releasing more of her sweet juices.
She tasted too delightful for him not to enjoy every second of this.
He watched her catch her breath as he licked her pussy clean, helping her fix her outfit. He wiped away the sweat from her face and let her rest her head on his shoulders.
There was not a word spoken between them but they were both smiling.
It was the most comfortable silence he'd had.
Pulling her close, he planted a kiss on her forehead, letting her lean her head against his chest as he smelled her hair. He looked out the window, .
He hoped they could stay like that just a little while longer.
27
Today was a half day at work due to scheduling conflicts. Even Sosie was taking time off. Meredith was bored after completing her work for the day – she'd already made some calls and submitted her weekly report to Mitch ahead of schedule. She was in her room, trying to think of how she wanted to spend her valuable free time. Pacing back and forth, she was trying to decide between the gym or going out shopping.
She stopped in her tracks when there was a knock on her door, a smile escaping her lips. She was not expecting anyone other than Elijah.
“Hi,” he whispered, smiling when she opened the door, making her grin in return.
“Hi,” she greeted back with an idea popping in her head. “Wait there,” she spoke, shutting the door.
Meredith quickly grabbed her purse, phone and sunglasses before exiting her room. Eli was standing by the elevator when she searched the hallway. It would be questionable if others saw him standing outside her room, wouldn't it?
She walked toward him while putting on her sunglasses, feeling excited more than ever. She had decided to spend the entire afternoon with him – have fun and create memories – something normal couples would do.
Pressing the button for the elevator, Elijah looked at her, clearly confused. She just nodded at him, indicating that he had to take the elevator with her.
“What are you planning?” he asked the moment the doors closed.
“Nothing,” she responded with a shrug, trying to play it cool.
She was sure Elijah would never agree to her plan if she told him. She would make sure he wouldn’t get a chance to turn her down. He was going with her whether he liked it or not.
When the elevator stopped at the ground floor, Meredith walked toward the exit. And Elijah followed her quietly, nodding and smiling at people who acknowledged him.She called for a taxi while searching online for the nearest arcade. She would take Elijah out to release some stress and have some fun. Not like sex wasn't good for both those things. It's just that she wanted some quality time with him without having sex for a change.
She felt her pussy clench when she thought about the other day, how he'd made her cum with just his fingers. It was the wildest and naughtiest thing she'd done so far, getting fucked inside a moving car. She never thought she'd be daring enough to do such a thing.
But she had – and with Elijah Scott.
With the man who rendered her defenseless each time he touched her.
When Elijah got in the cab, she told the driver the address for the arcade. She was excited as her eyes wandered over the busy streets.
“Where are we going?” he asked, breaking the silence.
“An arcade,” she answered.
“For what?” he questioned, his forehead creased.
“To have a little fun.”
“Am I not enough?” he said playfully, giving her left leg a squeeze.
“I meant outdoors,” she said, rolling her eyes. She was hoping he wouldn't fight her on this when he left out a soft chuckle.
“Alright,” he agreed, much to her surprise. “My time is yours.”
“Thank you,” she murmured when she felt his fingers intertwine with hers. His touch was warm and reassuring, making her feel more relaxed as they traveled in silence.
After a good fifteen minutes, they arrived at the crowded arcade. Her heart skipped a beat when she saw the go-karts. She went to the booth to buy tickets immediately. That was the first thing she wanted to do together.
She could see Elijah shaking his head, but she didn’t mind. They were there to have some fun.
“No wonder Ellie likes you,” she heard him commenting as they got in their own karts. They raced, and she laughed heartily when Elijah was having a hard time maneuvering his ride. He looked awkward because of his tall frame.
For the first time, she saw him genuinely laughing and enjoying himself. She watched him smile, wishing he would smile more often like that.
“I’m tired,” he shouted, finally giving up the cramped space of his kart.
“Let’s have a match, then,” she urged, looking at the air hockey table.
“Game,” he spoke, accepting the challenge as they got off the go-karts.
After buying tickets, they went straight to their assigned table and started a fierce competition. The game was getting intense, so she thought she’d talk about something to lift the competitive air between them.
She pursed her lips, stealing a glance at him.
“Can I ask you something?” she asked, biting her lower lip.
“Ask away,” he answered with a smile on his lips, not sparing her a glance as he focused on the puck.
Meredith swallowed as she mustered all her courage.
“Do you have plans to get married?” she inquired, looking away when he shot up straight in surprise, missing the puck that was whizzing by.
“What makes you ask?”
“I’m just curious,” she spoke innocently, shrugging.
“What about you?” he shot back instead.
“No. Not yet. But I still have plenty of time to figure that out,” she answered.
She was only interested in getting married to Elijah, of course.
But she didn't want to scare him away by saying that.
He smirked. “Gotcha,” he muttered.
Finally getting bored of the game, they went to the batting cages. The competitiveness between them just a couple of minutes ago completely vanished as the conversation turned into something deeper and serious.
Meredith lined up behind the plate, waiting for the pitch.
“Is not getting married a dealbreaker for you?” he asked just as she was about to swing.
It had been ages since she'd gone to the batting cages, but she thought she'd try her best to hit at least one or two. When the whizzing ball flew from the machine, she swallowed hard and swung her body, hitting it with her metal bat.
She still had it.
“Long-term?” she asked, glancing up at him. “Yeah, that would be a dealbreaker.”
“What about short-term?” he probed.
She shrugged, waiting for another ball.
“I don’t know. Maybe if I knew there was a ring waiting for me in the future,” she answered, chuckling softly at the hilarity of her statement.
“Would you… would you consider keeping a relationship low-key if you knew that it would be rewarding eventually?” he asked hesitantly, making her stand up straight.
Meredith's turned to look at him, completely missing the ball.
“Is that your way of asking if I'm willing to be your secret girlfriend, Elijah?”
He fell silent for a moment and
averted his gaze.
“Maybe.”
Feeling insulted, she let go of the bat and pulled the helmet off her head. She had never dreamed of getting involved into a secret love affair. She had always been patient when it came to relationships, and she knew what she deserved.
She knew her worth. And being Elijah’s little secret was not something she would gladly accept. She deserved better than that.
She looked at him with a blank expression on her face. But deep inside she could feel an invisible hand squeezing her heart. She was hurt. And the pain was just too extreme for her to even cry.
She felt like she was going to vomit any moment now because of the burning sensation in her chest. It was getting harder to breathe with each second that passed, and she wasn't leaving without giving him a piece of her mind. How dare he ask her to be his dirty little secret?
But just when she was about to open her mouth and tell him off, a group of people recognized Elijah excitedly and he was pulled away to talk about the campaign, leaving her behind with a heavy heart.
Swallowing her tears, Meredith slipped out of the arcade. She was in so much pain, and she just wanted to be alone.
Expecting something good from him had been her biggest mistake. Thinking he'd be willing to go public with their relationship was nothing more than a stupid fantasy. She was an idiot for thinking her love life was some kind of fairy tale come true.
Trusting Elijah Scott with her heart had been her second mistake.
She should have known better.
Of course he'd never give up his political ambitions for her. They barely knew each other, after all.
She never should have gotten herself mixed up with him!
28
Elijah's schedule was increasingly hectic. Instead of spending time on the road campaigning over the past week, he'd remained within D.C. and the surrounding area, attending a series of donor meetings and fundraisers. He'd barely spent any time at home. It had been over a week since going to the arcade with Meredith, and he was dying to be alone with her. But she hadn't made any effort to see him.
He knew why she was mad, and why she kept blowing him off. And he knew what he'd asked her, however indirectly, was wrong. But he didn't know what else to do. He didn't want to lose her, but he was so close to winning the election. Going public with a relationship now would kill his approval ratings.
