I don’t care.
Worth it.
Worth it to have him back, worth itto know I’ve played an important part in my country’s history.
Worth it to know that, after Shae’s served out her second term, we can all retreat to the comfort and safety of a home that’s ours and just live our lives. Shae can do whatever it is she wants to do, with me continuing to provide the perfect alibi for her, Kev will have the cover of being her chief of staff, or personal assistant,or whatever the hell title she wants to use for him, the kids will be teenagers and in high school by then, and the Secret Service will take care of transporting them to and from school and events.
And then?
Iwillfinallybe able to sleep in most weekends.
With Kev.
Because likehellam I going to want to let him out of my sight for a while.
Kev deftly knots my tie, snugging it up againstmy throat before smoothing down my collar.
I release my hold on him so I can turn in his arms and kiss him. A slow kiss, tender, one that’s definitely sadomasochistic because it makes both of us even harder and now wedefinitelydon’t have time to screw around.
“Love you,” I whisper, which draws a lopsided smirk from him.
“Going soft on me, Sir?”
“I mean it.” A wave of…somethingsweeps throughme. I hated feelings like that when I was still on active duty, especially when I worked The Shift. It usually meant something bad would happen.
I make a mental note to text Shae while we’re en route to the shindig to check on her. She’s giving a speech out in LA this afternoon, and Leo went with her because Kevin’s been bogged down working on budget fight prep. He’s going with me today becausethe House Speaker will be there as well, and he wants a little time to speak with the guy outside of the Hill.
Besides, I wanted lunch with Kev. And he’s Shae’s stand-in.
“Love you, too, Sir.”
I hug him tightly, closing my eyes and breathing in for a moment. The blessing and the curse of this whole situation is that when we’re in the residence—if the kids aren’t here—we’re guaranteed privacyby dint of my position as First Gentleman.
First Spouse. What-fucking-ever.
But that rare privacy comes at a very high price for all three of us.
“What’s wrong, Chris?”
I don’t open my eyes. “Right this second? Absolutely nothing, except I don’t have time to do what I really want to do to you.”
“Beat my ass?” I can hear his smart-assed smile.
“Make love to you,” I quietly say.
He drawsback just enough to look me in the eyes again as I open mine, but serious Kev is in the house. “What’s wrong?” he asks again.
“Nothing. Just…” I’m chafing under time restraints today. “Countdown clock in my head,” I admit. “I spent too many damn years without you.”
He leans in again, his forehead touching mine. “I’m not going anywhere,” he whispers. “Only where you tell me to, Sir.”
Slidingmy hands down his back, I cup his ass and squeeze hard before finally releasing him after one more brush of lips against lips. “We need to get moving, I guess. Someone will come looking for us.”
“You mean looking foryou.” He steps away from me and grabs his portfolio.
I snag my jacket from the hanger and pull it on, taking one last look in the mirror before I turn to follow him.
I never growtired of looking at his ass. I don’t understand guys who want to make their partners walk behind them. I’d rather bring up the rear so I can watchtheirrears. Shae’s perfect posterior is nothing to sneeze at, either.
It’s also why never allow her to wear slacks around me while she’s in office. Not for official functions, anyway. I have too much fun sliding her skirt up her thighs and runningmy hands over my shapely property and leaving extra marks there in her soft and pliant flesh.
I like knowing that, after I’ve marked her, she’s got to park that perfect ass in a chair behind a desk or at a photo op, and she’ll be thinking about me, even if only for that brief moment when ass meets seat.
Note to self—make Kev wear a butt plug to work tomorrow.
Just for funsies.
