But the beaming smile breaking through the clouds in his expression can’t mean anything bad, can it? “My perfect pet,” he softly croons, kissing me again and taking my mind back to that sweet place I miss so much when he’s not around.
I trust and love these two men with all my heart but I don’t know if I can ever confess the truth to Leo. That even if he hadn’t given me the direct order, I’d already planned to do exactly that—to obey Jordan, no matter what.
What scares me is that Leo feels he needs to give me such a command in the first place. Because I know one other truth about Leo Cruz, and that is he will always sacrifice himself before he ever sacrifices me or Jordan.
I pray it doesn’t mean he feels I will one day need a reminder to obey a command from Jordan that I might not want to because Leo’s in jeopardy.
Or that it doesn’t mean Leo thinks he might one day have to sacrifice himself for me or Jordan.
CHAPTERNINE
NOW
The restof my afternoon schedule is infinitely easier to bear with the knowledge that Jordan and I will spend our night with Leo. The rarest of events, as of late.
I don’t even care what Jordan’s cooking, or what activities are on the agenda with Leo. I’ll gladly settle for something as mundane as snuggling in bed and watching TV, all three of us cuddled together with Leo between us so we can share him.
A little after six o’clock that evening, I’m still on the phone when Jordan pops his head into the Oval and indicates he’s calling it a night and returning to the residence.
My heart races because I know what that probably means—Leo’s here, or arriving soon.
Not like I can ditch this call, either. Now I really want to wrap it up so I can return to the residence.
I love Jordan but no matter how many times Leo reassures me Jordan is strong enough to support me and bend without breaking I can’t help but worry about him. I am ultimately responsible for him because I’m the fricking president. He and every other person in this country are my responsibility.
Including my stupid sister and her wing-nut of a husband.
That’s a weighty burden I don’t take lightly.
Even more importantly, I can’t help but worry about Jordan because I desperately love him. I’m older than him and have far more life experiences. I’ve literally led men into combat.Notworrying about Jordan and his well-being isn’t possible.
While I can let go to Jordan and let him control my days—and nights—I still fear I’ll lean too heavily on him and he’ll shatter under the weight of my responsibilities.
Or that he might not respect me if he knew my darkest secret, the one even Leo doesn’t know.
Time drags and crawls before I can conclude my call and head upstairs. On the way, I instruct my detail to hang back tonight to give us privacy in the residence. I’m certain Jordan’s already relieved the household staff for the evening.
Upstairs, I spot no one in the Center Hall when I emerge from the elevator. I’m already loosening my tie as I head over to my private living room just off the master bedroom. There sits Leo on the couch, where he’s doing something on his phone. He looks up as I close the living room door behind me and cross the space in several strides, dropping the briefing binders I was carrying into one of the chairs along the way.
Ineedhim.
At some point I’m certain you’re going to thinkDamn, he’s awfully whiny to be POTUS.
In some ways you’d be right. But considering the average citizen has a certain amount of privacy I no longer enjoy, cut me some slack, huh? I work long days and frequently even longer nights. It’s not uncommon for me to work until one or two in the morning—or later—and then get up again by five to start my day.
Leo rises and smiles and that’s all I can see now. He drops his phone onto the couch and pulls me into his arms for a long, sweet kiss that blissfully silences my noisy brain for a few precious moments.
Thisss.
“Hello, pet,” he mumbles against my lips.
I don’t want to move. “Hello, Master,” I mumble back, enjoying his throaty chuckle.
Without interrupting our kiss Leo strips my jacket from me and drops it to the floor. In this moment, nothing exists for me outside this man and his embrace.
Not even Jordan.
Speaking of Jordan, I realize a delicious aroma is wafting from the kitchen meaning Jordan already has dinner preparations in full swing.
