We both stand but, before I can thank him and head for the door, he speaks again.
“I don’t know how close the vice president is to his sister but, if you really are his best friend, I would suggest you plant yourself on his six and stay alert.”
“Thank you. I definitely will.” We shake hands and I head out—alone.
Then I spend the cab ride back across the river to the White House stewing over this information. It’s bad news, I’m sure.
The only good thing about it is that it gives me something to distract me from the painful gnawing in my soul over the unhealed loss of Jordan and his absence from my life.
Chapter Forty-One
I’m nearly ready to strip and jump in the shower when Jordan returns to our room. He looks borderline frantic.
“Sorry I’m running behind, Sir! I—”
Before I can chicken out, I pull him into my arms and kiss him. “Shh. You’re fine. All done?”
“Yes, Sir. The vice president’s residence is finished, and they’ll wrap up the White House residence in about four hours. There’s nothing left for me to do there. They have it under control. They can’t move some of the furniture in until the painting’s completed.”
I back him over to the bed and sit him on the edge. I want to do this right now, because I know I won’t be able to focus tonight if I don’t. “Are you staying in DC?”
He scowls, understandably confused by my question. “Sir?”
“Yes or no, baby. Are you, forsure, staying in DC? I need to hear yousayit. Right now.” I know that’s an odd question, to him, because he starts his new job in the East Wing tomorrow afternoon. Chris wanted to be there for Shae and Kev in the morning, and told his staff to wait until afternoon to congregate in their new offices.
“Yes, Sir. I’m staying in DC.”
“With me?”
“With you.”
I lean in and kiss him, glad we’re both still dressed, because otherwise this could quickly devolve into sex. “I love you, Jordan.”
His eyes widen as he processes what I’ve just said. “I-I love you, too, Sir.”
That’s gift number two.
Gift number one I pull from my pocket. The stainless-steel chainmail bracelet feels warm from where it’s been riding there ever since I got dressed this morning. It looks innocent, like him. A symbol he can wear every day without worrying about what someone thinks.
“You know Elliot has to be first in my heart and life, because you know how I feel about him. You also know we have secrets to keep. But I need you to know I’m not going anywhere. I love you, and I want you to be my boy. I want to know if you’ll wear this day collar so you’ll always have this part of me with you as a reminder of how much I love you and want to spend the rest of my life with you.”
Tears spill from his eyes as he nods.
I reach up and gently brush them away. “I need you to ask me to wear it. I need to hear you say it, so I know it’s whatyouwant, too.”
“I want to wear it, Sir. I want to be yours for life. I want to spend the rest of my life with you, too.”
I fasten it around his right wrist, kissing it and then clasping his hand to my chest. “Obviously, there might be times you have to take it off for security. But other than that, it’salwayson your wrist, unlessItake it off, or I’ve given you permission to take it off. Understand?”
“Yes, Sir,” he whispers, staring at it, still crying.
I tug him to his feet so I can pull him into my arms. “I’m going to have more rules for you, more protocols. Still nothing that interferes with work.”
He kisses me, almost climbing me like he did that first night. “All I want is to belong to you, Sir.”
My soul swells at his eager, decisive tone. That he’saskedto be mine. I cannot tell you how much my heart needed to hear those words. “This is as serious as a wedding band, to me. It’s just you, and me, and Elliot. It means I’ll ask you, at times, to take care of him for me. To put him ahead of yourself and me. He’s got an important job, and he needs us in his corner.”
He vigorously nods. “Yes, Sir. Absolutely.”
