Page 159 of Catfish

She hauls her focus onto me. "I don't know about the power-hungry bit. As for dominant—" she shrugs nonchalantly. "—not sure about that one either."

“You’ve heard my staff, quiet as a field mice.”

“You let all your staff kiss you?” She lifts her brows as she bats her eyelashes at me.

I lean closer to her. “Only ones who think they can compete with me for the last word apparently.”

She mimics my move, and I can smell her perfume of jasmine and some other floral shit. It hankers down the pull, the way my body wants to remember how the old me would react. Reagan would already be in my lap as I pepper kisses down her neck and provoke her with what my lips can do.

I'd eat this woman alive—urgently, willingly, and unsatisfied because I'd always want more. I don't think there would be a cure for the way my body behaves around her. It never ceases to want to crush her into me, to touch and savor her.

“Don’t cross a line, Governor,” Reagan says, eyeing me with a warning. “You don’t know what lies on the other side of it.”

Oh, but I want to. It’s at the tip of my tongue—literally.

“It’s called self-control,” I rebuke, breathing her in again just so I can remember later. “I can teach you sometime in return for the campaigning tips.”

A slow tug lifts her lips and, I swear, I can see every dirty thought cross her mind. “I’d like that because I’m going to Ohio with you.”

? Blinding Lights — The Weekend ?

I thought every hotshot politician had a way to work their words around. That their specialty was to feed the public a line of bullshit in return for their loyalty and trust. Every lie or misgiving was thoroughly gone through and practiced so that when they hit the stage, it would be flawlessly executed.

But I wasn't ready for Wade and his answers to the questions that the moderator asked him, nor the sincerity in every single word he spoke. I've never seen him so motivated and passionate, nor have I ever heard someone talk like him before. It was as though we had the same hopes and dreams, the same fears and aspirations.

And holy fuck, he won my vote.

Not only did he look God-given dapper in his charcoal black suit and bow tie, but he was terrific. I'm so shocked and surprisingly amazed by his answers and words that I'm speechless.

It only makes him more attractive—not helpful—and my stupid developing lust for him increases more and more by the passing seconds of the debate.

We've been in Ohio for two days. I've been spending most of my time with Emmy in her hotel room with reality TV and going out to dinner. Wade had been off practicing and doing a soundcheck at the university where the Democratic debate was taking place, and I was happy for the break.

He's too alluring for me to be by him for an extended period of time. It was official when we were in his parked SUV, and he leaned into me.

Self-control—yeah, I’m on limited supply right now.

I always executed what I wanted and had to for the greater good of my family. Along with that petty little payback I left on Jed’s doorstep as my silent “fuck you” for what I thought he had done to Mama.

But I’m trying to outgrow it and let myself be upset and sad. Even the slight turndown from Wade when he let me go off to my car without so much as a peck on the cheek.

Nothing.

Nada.

Fuck me.

But I don’t regret coming here to listen to him speak and learn what makes up his stance on important issues. Discovering more about him could possibly help me plan out his fundraisers better by knowing what sticks out to him as being crucial. Or small details like adding certain people to his dinner gatherings.

All in all, it couldn’t hurt. Except for my plethora of desire and want for a man that should headbutt me the next time I get too close. Or shove me down a steep slope if I try another bright idea like forcing myself on him.

It’s not forcing unless he pushes you away and wipes his mouth off immediately afterward.

I think I may have told myself that line a million times. To make myself “feel” better. The aggravating part is the back and forth. Not between Wade and I but me, myself, and I.

One minute I want him to jump me.

The next second I want him to make me leave town because it’d be better for him.

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