“Actually, it’s not. And you’re right.” She stands and walks to the bathroom door. “I need to go after what I want and stop hiding.”
“But what about the re-election?”
“It’s okay, Hadley. If Matthew’s supporters won’t accept our relationship, that’s on them. But if Matthew wants to keep me hidden, then that’s on me. I need to stop being his dirty little secret one way or another.”
“Klaire, that’s not what I meant.” I rush to her side, needing to explain that our situations are completely different.
“Don’t worry about me.” She gives me a half smile, takes my arm, and pulls me into the bathroom. “Take a long bubble bath and think about what you want. I plan to do the same.” She gives me a little shove, then closes the door behind me.
I do what she tells me to do, contemplating my future until the hot water turns ice cold.
seven
Hollander
How could I havefucked this up with Hadley so badly?
I pace the length of my assigned bedroom, yanking at my hair.
Did I move too fast? Did I frighten her?
Unable to give her any more space, I pull open my bedroom door, hellbent on going to her room and making this right anyway I can, even if it means giving her up forever, only to find her standing there with her hand raised in mid-knock.
“Oh, hi.” She takes a step back, lowering her hand, and I notice the long, silky robe she’s wearing. “I thought we should talk about what happened.”
“Come in.” I almost jerk the door off its hinges as I hurry Hadley into my bedroom. I motion for her to sit on the bed, close the door, then take a seat beside her.
“I know you think you’re attracted to me tonight because of how I look, but this isn’t the real me. The real me wears baggy clothes, glasses, no makeup, and frizzy hair.” She lowers her gaze, refusing to meet my eyes.
“You think I’m that shallow that I would only be attracted to your looks.” A pain shoots through my chest at the idea that she would think so little of me. I tilt her chin up so she’s looking into my eyes.
“We’ve never met in person until tonight.” Her voice sounds so small and unsure that I want to pull her into my arms and holdher until there is no doubt in her mind about how I feel about her.
“We might not have met in person before tonight.” I let go of her chin and reach for my wallet on the nightstand. “After about a month of working with you and talking to you over the phone, I was hooked. I did everything I could to get Vance to give me your address. I wanted to meet you so badly. But each time he refused, saying it was your choice who you wanted to share that information with. I was too shy to ask you myself, but I thought that if one day I just appeared on your doorstep, you would have to let me in.”
“Oh, Hollander.” She rests a hand on my cheek, and I turn my head to kiss her palm. “But that doesn’t change the real me.”
“Stop talking bullshit to me, Hads. I fell in love with you after about five minutes on the phone. We had so much in common that I knew you were the one. Then, when I saw your picture, I fell even more in love with the woman with the shy smile who was looking back at me.”
“You mean tonight, when you first saw me tonight?”
“No, Baby Girl. When Vance wouldn’t give me your address, I did a little internet search of my own and found this picture of you.” I open my wallet, pull out a small picture I printed of her from an online source, and hand it to her. “This is the woman I’m in love with—baggy clothes, glasses, no makeup, frizzy hair and all.”
She looks down at the picture and then back at me, “You love me?”
“Of course, I love you. You’re the other half of my soul.”
“I love you too, Holls.” She throws her arms around my neck and pulls me in tight, raining kisses all over my face until one finally lands on my lips. I set her picture and my wallet back on the nightstand, then reach for her, but she stands, stepping just out of reach, unties the silk robe, and lets it drop to the floor, leaving her completely naked. “Make love to me. I want you to be my first.”
“I’ll be your first, last, and only, just like you’ll be mine.” I stand and place a soft kiss on her lips, sealing the vow.
“I didn’t know you were a virgin too.” The awe in her expression makes all the long, lonely nights worth the wait.
“I was waiting to find you.” I pick her up and gently lay her on the mattress, then strip out of my clothes and join her on the bed.
I run my hand along the inside of her legs, making her thighs quiver—my fingers searching higher and higher for her wet core. I can feel the heat radiating from her pussy as I coat my fingers in her slickness. She’s soaked already, and I’ve barely touched her.
“Jesus, Hads, you’re so fucking drenched,” I growl, my voice low and rough. “I need to taste you.” I lower my body until I’m wedged between her thighs as her legs part for me like it’sthe most natural thing in the world. My first taste of her is so incredible that I almost come too soon. I bury my face between her legs, licking and sucking her clit while my fingers gently fuck her, stretching her out for my cock. “You’re so tight.” I moan between licks, not wanting to miss a drop.
