(1989) The Guest of Honour
Page 26
He heard her moan, felt her sway, felt she was going to faint, and quickly rose, catching her, his mouth all over her pliant flesh.
‘Matt - Matt - Matt - don’t wait -‘
With that, he lifted her off her feet - she was light as a feather - and he carried her to the bed and lowered her on it.
She eased to one side on her back, and opened her legs and thighs to him, her arms outstretched imploring.
He was on his knees, kissing her full breasts, her pointed nipples, and then kissing her lips above, and her naval and inside her thighs, and kissing her wet lips below.
He was almost out of control, his penis high and firm.
Then, about to enter her, she sought him and pulled him down upon her, and he felt himself sinking inside her almost endlessly.
She screamed, and he clutched her and went deeper.
The excitement of the coupling was almost unbearable.
But it went on and on.
He made love to her once, and once again an hour later, and then a third lingering time.
After that, they fell asleep in each other’s arms, sated, exhausted, and happy beyond human desire.
In the early morning, Noy brought in her tray of breakfast and shared it with him. Underwood remained under the cover, the tray on his lap, as Noy perched on the side of the bed and ate with him.
Later, she removed her robe and showered and came in to dry herself before him.
Watching her, he found his voice and spoke what had been on his mind this past hour and these recent minutes. ‘Noy -‘
‘Yes, Matt?’
‘Noy, I want to divorce my wife and marry you.’
She started to look over her shoulder and then fixed her
gaze on the boudoir mirror beyond him. ‘I thank you, Matt, but that’s impossible.’
‘It’s not impossible. We deserve to be together.’
‘No, Matt, that would spoil everything. You’re the president of the United States. Alice is your first lady. You cannot leave. The scandal would hang over you - us - forever.’
‘It doesn’t matter.’
‘You must go back to your wife. And, like me, you must run for office again. You cannot abandon the people who believe in you. You must run for re-election again to preserve what you believe in. And I am determined to preserve what I believe in.’
‘That’s all you have to say?’
‘There is more.’ She turned to face him. ‘Matt, if you didn’t run, I could never see you again. I’d be a president and you’d be a plain citizen. But if you do run and are elected, and I run and I’m elected, we will both be presidents once more, and we will be able to see each other like this from time to time without any problem. Think about it, darling. It’s the only way for us to continue to be together.’
‘In love,’ he said quietly.
‘Always in love,’ she whispered.
*
President Underwood stood outside the Muang Airport staring across the field as he watched Air Force One receiving its final checkup before departure.
He turned to Hasken who stood beside him. ‘Hy,’ the president said, ‘you deserve an exclusive news beat for all you’ve done for me. I’m going to give you that beat here and now.’
‘Yes,’ said Hasken eagerly.
‘I’m running for a second term. I’m running for re-election. The news is all your own.’
Hasken kept his eyes fixed on the president. Hasken said, ‘So Noy wouldn’t let you leave your wife.’
The president blinked. After a long pause, he shook his head. ‘No, she wouldn’t.’
‘That’s the big story, Matt.’
‘I know it is. But we’re swearing that’s strictly between us. It’s a story you alone know. The story for the world has nothing to do with my wife or Noy. The story for the world is that I’m going to run again.’
‘And keep your first lady. And maybe - just maybe see Noy from time to time in the future?’
The president gave a twinkle of a smile. ‘To discuss matters of state, like giving the United States a bigger air base in Lampang. She can meet with me and arrange that, once she’s elected.’
Hasken grinned. ‘You’re quite a guy, Matt.’
President Underwood smiled. ‘Only because I know quite a woman, Hy.’