Page 27 of Presidential Bargain
“Jameson,” Georgie began to chant and I could feel her body start to tremble beneath mine. She was close and sowasI.
I pulled out and thrust deeply back into her, my actions rougher than necessary, but my blood boiled with need. It wasn’t enough for me to say the words, “You’re mine.” I had to mark her. I had to bury myself so deeply and spill into her and then she’d truly be mine. I had never felt these primal urges toward any other woman before, but with Georgie, I didn’t want anyone thinking they could take what belongedtome.
“I’m so close,” I managed through clenchedteeth.
“Yes, Jameson. Please, God, yes.” The last word was almost a hiss. She slipped her hand between our bodies and stroked herself furiously, matching my punishing pace until we were both granted release and came together in a shaking andshudderingheap.
I collapsed on top of her, planting soft kisses on her naked flesh while I remained inside her. I wanted this connection forever. Under my chest, I could feel the thunderous beat of her heart; it was a perfect match for the rhythm ofmyown.
I looked down at her and could see that the lust, desire, and need that had clouded her vision were now replaced by the questions I had successfully keptatbay.
“Not yet, little darling. Don’t think about it yet,” I warned herquietly.
I slipped out of her and off the warm bed, pulling on my black boxer briefs. I walked to the tiny master bathroom and ran a washcloth under warm water. I returned to the bedroom and gently spread Georgie’s creamy white thighs, now coated with my orgasm, and cleaned her. She watched me with curious green eyes. I glanced up at her andsmiled.
I returned the washcloth to the bathroom and when I slipped back beneath the sheets, I was disappointed to find that she was wearing underwear. I pulled her toward me, knowing she wanted totalknow.
“Why do you think the photos were released now?” she askedquietly.
“I’m not sure. Maybe he works for one of Governor Huntley’s super PACs?” I wouldn’t say the name Russell Atlee if I didn’t have to. The bastard didn’t deserve to live as far as I wasconcerned.
“Why would that even matter to asuperPAC?”
“I’m ahead in the polls,” I said, then quickly amended my statement because we were a team. “We’reahead in thepolls.”
“They want the governor to win and it’s time to play dirty,” sheadded.
“They’re probably trying to bait me, too. I’ve promised all along to run a clean campaign, to not take money from super PACs and so far, I’ve done that. It’s my job as the Democratic candidate to show the American people that I’m the best candidate. I don’t need to resort to raping the fiancée of my opponenttowin.”
“I wasn’t raped.” She was adamant about that. When she told me he touched her and that she wanted to get away but was paralyzed by fear, I heard the shame in her voice. But now, the tone of her voice was more forceful andconfident.
“I know, but to me, it doesn’t matter. He didn’t have your consent. He touched what he shouldn’t have, and hewillpay.”
“When you talk like that, you sound like some thug from south Boston.” She giggled and Ilaughedtoo.
I didn’t sound like a Kennedy or a Wahlberg, but when I got riled up, the Boston in me was strong. And I did know a few people who knew a thing or two about making people disappear. But I didn’t need to tellherthat.
“I’m not a thug, sweetheart, but I’ll fight like hell to protect what’s mine. Now, close your eyes and go tosleep.”
I hated leaving Georgie inbed, but I didn’t want to disturb her. She looked gorgeous curled up in bed, her hair fanned out around her like spilled honey, her body covered by the tangle of sheets. I managed my few hours of sleep, wrapped around her body, and then promptly woke when my brain turned back on. There was work to be done and I needed to know my team had doneitsjob.
We were on our way back to New York City. All of the events for the next week had been rescheduled. If I didn’t get to West Virginia or Kentucky, then fuck it. My chances of winning those two states were slim to none anyway. I checked in with the driver to see when we were stopping; I’d wait until then to talk with Sean, Lewis, andJenkins.
To distract myself, I made a pot of coffee. I checked my emails and responded to the ones that did not pertain to Georgie, which weren’t many. I emailed my mother to update her because I knew the news would worry her. I started writing the statement I would give about the pictures, about the criminal nature of printing a woman being sexually assaulted. I could politicize this statement, making it about victims of sexual assault rather than about Georgie. But every time I started writing, the pictures flashed through my mind. The fear I saw on her face. The revulsion. His hands all over her body. Each image filled me with rage, desperation, anddisappointment.
Before the bus stopped, I sent Lewis and Jenkins a text, telling then I needed an update. When we stopped, the driver got out and Sean, followed by Lewis, Jenkins, and a few other aides boarded the bus. We all sat around the tiny dining room table, crammed together like sardines. I couldn’t fucking wait to get off this bus and back tothecity.
“We woke up a judge and got a temporary injunction against the media outlets that already posted the pictures,” Sean informed me. This was good news and my burden felt a littlelighter.
“We released a brief statement saying we will go after any news source or media outlet that publishes those photographs, and that we have been working with lawyers on tracking down the source of the pictures.” Also good newstohear.
“But we can’t be silentforlong.”
I didn’t want to hear this even though I knew he wasright.
“The pundits are alreadytalkingshit.”
I looked up at him and saw him draw back from my anger. Sean rarely recoiled, so I knew he was worried. “Don’t tell me. I don’t want to know what they’re saying. Are we sure this asshole doesn’t work for Governor Huntley’scampaign?”
