His eyes widen when he realizes I’m not kidding.
I shrug. “Sixteen years, baby.” I smile. “I’ll still be here waiting for you and wanting you. You can’t run from me after that. You’ll be out of excuses. Don’t blame me if I try to nail you down sooner than that.”
He adorably blushes. “I’ll try, Master.”
Chapter Thirty-Nine
Ironically, I see far more of Elliot over the next couple of days than I do of Jordan. Jordan’s busy racing around and making sure the final preparations for the move are in place, and I’m usually with Shae, who’s normally accompanied by Elliot and Kev.
I also see way too much of Stella Woodley, who’s trying her level best to worm her way as close to Shae as possible, to the point I finally say something to the head of Shae’s and Elliot’s details about keeping Stella at a distance.
Especially if she’s got anyone with her.
I do so with full agreement and backing from Kev, Shae, and Elliot.
The morning of the inauguration, I kiss Jordan good-bye at four a.m., when he slips out for one last meeting. He’s been assigned a Secret Service agent for today who will drive him where he needs to be. Jordan will catch up with us later today, then duck out again, make the swearing in, then I probably won’t see him again until we all meet up at Blair House again to prepare for the balls. He’s assembled two great teams to manage everything, and once the crew at Elliot’s is finished, they’ll move to the White House to help out there.
Once Jordan leaves, I throw on sweats and the agent next door lets me into Elliot’s room so I don’t have to knock.
He’s already awake, but still in bed. “Master, I had a horrible dream,” he mutters as I slip into bed with him and he snuggles against me.
I chuckle, because from his tone I can tell he’s setting up a joke. “What did you dream about?”
“I had this nightmare I ran for VP with Shae, and we actually got elected.”
I snicker. “Well, baby, I hate to tell you this—”
He groans. “Fuck.”
I kiss him. “Be careful what you wish for, pet.”
He sighs. “I guess I’d better get up and get moving.”
“I guess you’d better.”
He meets my gaze for a long, quiet moment. “Love you, Master.”
“I love you, too, pet.”
“I promise I’ll try to de-ass my head sooner than sixteen years.”
Strangling the urge to get my hopes up is haaarrrd. “As long as you’re okay with Jordan being in my life, I’ll wait as long as you need me to.” I stroke his face. Stubble rasps against my hand. “If you’re not going to be okay with him, tell me now. Last chance.”
“I meant it. I want you to have him.”
“Okay, baby.” I kiss him and sit up. I actually had a reason for coming over besides wanting a private moment with him. “I want you to do something for me today, pet.”
“Yes, Master?”
I kiss him one more time, reluctantly climb out of bed, and walk over to his closet. Most of his clothes have already been packed and are staged with the rest of his belongings. All he has here now are what he’ll need for today and tonight, and his valet will pack everything and move it after he leaves for the first of the balls later.
One of the things I made sure got held back was a specific tie. I take it now and drape it around my neck.
I return to him and pull a tie from the pocket of my sweats. I’d rolled it up so it wouldn’t wrinkle, and I unfurl it and drape it around his neck.
Matching ties.
Jordan is currently wearing an identical one.
