Page 27 of The Senator's Rival

Margot hummed contentedly, leaning into Francesca's touch as her hands slid over her hips. “I don't know,” she said thoughtfully. “Maybe when things settle down, I'll have an existential crisis and cry myself to sleep for a few weeks. Right now, though, I'm good. And anyway, it's not like I'm leaving politics behind for good, is it?”

“You aren't?” Francesca grinned teasingly. “Well, that's fortunate. Since, you know, I happen to be running for president and all.”

Margot giggled, pinching Francesca playfully in the side and leaning in close to place a trail of kisses along Francesca's jawline. She inhaled deeply, reveling in the soft skin and natural, intoxicating scent. This was still a dangerous game they were playing. The election was so close now, and despite current polls, Francesca's numbers could still plummet if this came out. Yet the temptation to allow themselves this indulgence was too enticing to resist. They needed to keep their relationship secret for the time being, until they figured out their next steps and what the future held, but Margot had come to relish these stolen moments away from prying eyes more than anything she'd ever experienced before.

She had fallen fast and hard, and there was no going back. When she had walked away from the press conference downstairs, it wasn't resignation that had flooded her veins with icy calm, but certainty. However uncertain and frightening this whole situation was, Margot wanted to experience it. To let herself discover who she could be outside the role she had crafted for herself all those years ago. And she wanted the woman in her arms now to be there by her side while she did it.

“So what does all this mean for you?” Francesca asked, gazing down at Margot with warm affection in her eyes. “Going forward, I mean. What comes next?”

“Down the line? I don't know yet,” Margot considered, pausing for a moment as she idly ran her fingertips along Francesca's collarbone, then smirked and met her companion's deep brown gaze. “Right now? You, me, and bed, darlin'--how does that sound?”

Francesca laughed softly and leaned down to kiss her again, nipping Margot's bottom lip gently before releasing it. Margot moaned encouragingly, sliding her hands underneath the hem of Francesca's blouse to touch her bare skin. Smiling against Margot's mouth, Francesca moved her hands to the zipper in the back of Margot's dress, tugging it down slowly with tantalizing restraint. Margot pulled back an inch to shimmy out of the light blue garment, letting it fall to the floor, leaving her clad only in a matching white bra and underwear.

“God, you're stunning,” Francesca breathed, as she gazed at Margot adoringly.

Margot stretched languidly, lifting her arms above her head to show off her body. Smirking, she slowly trailed her hands down the length of her body and rested them on her hips. Arching her eyebrows at Francesca suggestively, Margot smiled teasingly. “Well, what are you going to do about?” she asked mischievously.

With a low chuckle, Francesca cupped Margot's ass in her hands, pulling her closer as she kissed her passionately. The heat of Francesca's mouth ignited an eager spark within Margot. It started low in her core, quickly growing and burning, soon consuming every fiber of her being. It was like Margot was twenty-two again, full of excitement and wonderment, unrestrained by all the rules and boundaries that had held her down for so long. Free to take what she wanted, to explore her body and senses, and to learn the mysteries hidden inside of her without shame or guilt.

Margot eagerly pushed Francesca toward the hotel bedroom, pushing her blazer off her shoulders as they kissed messily, neither caring about finesse or elegance now. Just lust, desire, and raw need. Francesca stumbled backward onto the bed, dragging Margot down on top of her, and they ended up in a tangled mess of limbs--tongues intertwining while Margot unbuttoned her shirt frantically, tossing the restricting material away. Beneath it was nothing but flawless, smooth skin and a black bra concealing beautifully round breasts. Margot took a moment just to marvel at the sight, licking her lips hungrily. God, how had she denied herself this all these years?

A whimper escaped her as Francesca gently dragged her nails along her bare back. Deft fingers unhooked the clasp of her bra, which was pulled loose swiftly and tossed aside impatiently. Francesca slid her hands down over Margot's hips and held her firmly in place, then leaned her head down to swirl her tongue over one of her nipples. Margot moaned appreciatively, tangling her fingers in her lover's hair and pulling her closer.

An electric wave of pleasure surged through her, leaving every muscle tense and thrumming with anticipation. Her thighs tightened around the other woman instinctively, her hips beginning to move of their own volition, grinding against Francesca's strong thigh. A familiar pressure was building up low in her belly, pulsing eagerly. Moaning again, Margot tilted her head back and arched her spine, silently urging Francesca to increase the friction between their bodies.

Francesca looked up with a devilish grin, then moved to flip their positions. Suddenly, Margot was on her back for the first time while Francesca hovered over her, kissing her like it was the only thing keeping her alive. Her hands moved confidently and dexterously over Margot's curves, touching each spot that made her shiver and whine eagerly.

Those glorious lips caressed her collarbones, moving down over the curve of her breasts, while a firm hand traveled down to her panties and slipped them down off her hips. Teasing fingertips grazed her clit, drawing slow circles, sliding down and teasing between her labia and eliciting another breathy moan from Margot. Her grip on Francesca's head tightened, fingers twisting in silky-soft hair, and she bit down on her lower lip to stifle another helpless cry.

The ache was becoming intolerable now. It built higher and higher, radiating through her body, spreading and intensifying until her vision swam with brilliant lights, stars bursting behind her closed eyelids. When two long fingers sank into her, curling skillfully upward and pressing firmly into her G spot, she gasped loudly and rocked her hips urgently. As Francesca continued to tease and torment, Margot could no longer stay quiet. Wild, shameless moans and cries spilled out of her freely now. Every inch of her was alight, tingling and pulsing with desire, her hips bucking against Francesca's hand desperately. She couldn't get enough. Nothing would ever be enough, not now that she'd felt this.

Francesca groaned quietly in appreciation of this loss of control, watching Margot writhe under her touch with hungry eyes. As she added another finger and continued to thrust steadily inside Margot, varying the pace and force until Margot was whimpering incoherently.

Margot watched as Francesca scooted down the bed and her dark head moved down to join her right hand between Margot’s legs.

She dipped her head taking Margot’s clitoris in her mouth. Margot could almost feel it swelling appreciatively in Francesca’s warm mouth as Francesca’s fingers continued to fill her.

She felt her orgasm building deep within her, she knew there was no going back now. It was so long since she could remember ever opening herself up and letting someone fuck her like this. And it felt so damn exquisite.

Suddenly, it felt like her entire being contracted and focused solely on the incredible, aching pressure where her body was joined with Francesca's. She couldn't contain it any longer, couldn't think, could scarcely even breathe. She shattered into a million sparkling pieces, Francesca's name on her lips, as all that pent-up ecstasy and craving spilled out in an explosive wave, drowning her senses in white noise and blurring out her surroundings completely. Margot’s eyes fluttered shut as she rode out the waves of ecstasy crashing over her with reckless abandon, surrendering completely to the intoxicating rush of pleasure.

It didn't stop there. Francesca's pace slowed and she raised her head and pulled her fingers out of Margot's pussy, but didn't remove contact altogether. Instead, she moved her thumb to Margot’s clitoris, moving in gentle, patient circles. In a daze, Margot slowly opened her eyes, gazing at her lover dreamily through heavy lids. Their eyes met, and they stared at each other intensely for a long moment, sharing an understanding without needing words. She breathed slowly and let herself relax again, and after a few moments of slow, careful coaxing, Margot found the pressure starting to build once more.

Francesca grinned and pulled back, but only enough to lower herself onto the floor between Margot's legs, gently pushing her thighs wide open. She licked and sucked Margot’s labia greedily before diving between them. The tip of Francesca's tongue lapped over her teasingly, causing Margot to gasp sharply and arch her back slightly off the bed. Her fingers clawed at the sheets, balling them in her fists as she tried to ground herself, while another wave of euphoria swept through her.

It felt so different from anything she'd experienced before. More intense, more sensuous, more satisfying, in ways she had never dared imagine possible, now that she was no longer bound by her fear of judgment or failure. Not a single ounce of self-consciousness remained, nor did the gnawing anxiety about her actions and appearances that had been constantly present for far too long. Just pure, unbridled, blissful lust. Desire for her companion, but also for life. For freedom. For the endless possibilities that stretched out ahead of her.

Margot lost track of time as they explored each other, enjoying every exquisite detail of one another's bodies, savoring every brush of fingers against skin, every sigh and gasp, every giggle and moan. The dreary October afternoon had been transformed into something magical and wondrous. It was their little slice of paradise, away from the chaos swirling around the rest of the world. Whatever happened afterward, whatever the cost might end up being, they had this moment, here and now, and it was perfect.

17

FRANCESCA

Loud cheers and applause erupted throughout the room as the results from Illinois were finalized on the enormous screen at the front of the room. That all but sealed it—the outcome was inevitable at this point and everyone knew it. Despite the opposition's desperate, last-ditch scrambling during the last three weeks to present James Lockwood, an aging military veteran and former Louisiana congressman, as a viable alternative, it was obvious from the start that Francesca’s opponent wouldn't stand a chance. The unfortunate scandal had irreparably dented the swing voters' faith in the party's credibility, and combined with Francesca's more youthful image and passionate following, this was shaping up to be a landslide.

With a congenial grin, Francesca leaned back in her seat, soaking it all up. Her team was celebrating around her, clinking glasses of champagne and laughing enthusiastically. This was it. All their hard work over the last few years, all those interviews, rallies, speeches, debates, campaigns, fundraising events, and endless hours spent slaving away over drafts of proposals and laws had been worth it.

For Francesca, it wasn't quite sinking in yet. At some point, her brain would catch up and the reality of this would hit her. Perhaps it wouldn't fully register for a while longer. Maybe not until Lockwood called her at some point to concede, and perhaps not even until after the inauguration in January. Right now, all Francesca could do was to look around in stunned, amused disbelief--unable to truly comprehend that she had achieved this wildest of dreams.

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