Page 42 of Call Sign: Thunder
“We’re very comfortable here, aren’t we, Allie?” the senator added, shoving his hands into his casual khaki slacks.
“I’d live here full-time if we could,” she answered her father. “You’re always more relaxed here than in Virginia.”
The elder man agreed. “That’s because I’m not a senator from Colorado. I’m just a visitor here.”
“But I thought you owned the house?” Zach asked.
“Oh, we do… it’s just…” The men’s eyes met and Zach couldn’t shake the feeling that Allie’s dad was genuinely trying to make him feel welcome. “I guess I don’t feel as much on the record when I’m here. Back east I have reporters following me everywhere I go trying to catch me doing or saying something controversial. It gets tiresome.”
Zach had never given the downsides of being a public figure like Allison’s father much thought.
A pregnant pause turned into an awkward silence, giving Zach longer to glance around. He spotted several additional security guards — two outside on the snow-covered patio and another standing in the doorway between the dining room and kitchen.
The senator’s “You must be hungry…” came out at the exact moment Zach said, “Maybe I should unpack…”
Zach wasn’t used to feeling like a third wheel, but that was exactly what it felt like being here with Allison and her father. He’d hoped for quality time with Allison, but could see their time together would be drastically different than their weekend at the Hyatt in DC.
“I’m not starving. I had a sandwich on the plane,” he clarified.
“Good… good. Maryanne usually has dinner ready by around seven. Why don’t you go upstairs and get settled in and unpacked. I’ll let Allison give you a tour of the property and maybe you two can come back down in an hour and we can enjoy some appetizers before dinner.”
Before Zach could answer Allison started pulling on his hand. “Come on, Zach.”
They were almost out of the great room when her father called out. “Allison!”
She would have kept going if Zach hadn’t pulled them to a stop to hear what her father had to say.
When they turned back to him, her dad added. “I know earlier I said I wanted Zach to stay out in the carriage house, but…. well… I changed my mind. I had Maryanne prepare the guest room next to your bedroom for him. It’s much smaller than the carriage house, but… I assume he’ll be more comfortable being closer to you.”
Zach glanced at Allison and saw her surprise. She squealed as she let go of Zach’s hand and rushed back to jump into her father’s arms. He hugged her tightly as she kissed his cheek, thanking him for understanding.
The men’s eyes met behind her back and not for the first time, Zach saw just how much the older man loved Allison. While her father probably hated the idea of the couple sharing a bed under his roof, keeping his daughter safe and happy was clearly more important.
Still, knowing he approved of Zach staying close didn’t mean her father would approve of Zach tackling Allie onto the bed as he did the minute they closed the door to his room.
Her groan of desire as he let his hands roam over her body told him she’d missed him as much as he’d missed her.
“Shit… we should have locked the door,” Zach said, regretting not thinking of that sooner.
“It’s okay. He’s smart enough to know not to come in here,” Allie answered breathlessly, putting her hands under Zach’s sweater, caressing his abs before hugging him in an attempt to keep him on top of her.
Zach reluctantly pulled away. “Hold that thought. I need to lock the door and grab something from my bag.”
Allie whined as he walked away. She may trust her father not to barge in on them, but he didn’t have the same faith and since he didn’t want to piss the older Benson off his first hour there, he locked the door before crossing to his bag. He pulled out the value box of condoms he’d had the foresight to buy before heading to the airport.
Showing Allison what he held when he got back to the bed, he teased. “I hope you’re ready. I bought a box of fifty, just in case.”
After all she’d been through in the last six months, her fun-filled giggle was like music to his ears. “I don’t know. That’s only like five a day,” she teased in return.
“I guess we’ll just have to pace ourselves. Now… it’s time to unwrap my first Christmas present. Let’s get you undressed.”
* * *
Allie
Despite lying on the bed, Allie felt light headed as she watched Zachary undressing. He stood at the end of the bed, his eyes glazed over with the same passionate look she remembered from their time together in DC. That weekend together had been so unexpected that in the weeks since, Allison had sometimes wondered if she was remembering the details accurately.
The heat in his eyes as he pulled his sweater off to expose his muscular chest had her core contracting in anticipation. Her hips had started to sway to the tempo of the thrusts she hoped would be piercing her soon.
