Part 5 (1/2)

”This . . . is slow.” He cups my face and kisses me again, his tongue plunging into my mouth. ”I missed you. See, two months without you was two months too long. I don't want another day where I don't see this face. That smile. It has to be here somewhere.” He peers down at my lips, tugging the corners with his thumbs.

”Matt, stop.”

He smiles as I laugh softly-and his smile begins to fade.

The way he stares at my mouth makes me tremble deep inside.

A quiet intensity creeps into his eyes-and they blaze with heat. With emotion. With a possessiveness I've never, ever seen there to this degree. Until now. Sixty-eight days after seeing him last.

Sixty-eight days where I thought I couldn't even breathe knowing I'd lost him. That I could never, ever have him.

My s.e.x ripples.

I groan and I pull him close as he gathers me in his arms.

His mouth is hot and wet and more possessive than it's ever been, fitting perfectly over mine.

He pulls me closer. I'm s.h.i.+vering on his lap, wanting him to never take his mouth away.

I'm a normal girl. One who fell in love when she shouldn't have. I'm a daughter, a friend, a working girl. I know my name, somewhere in the back of my mind, but I can't really remember it. Not now, when the heat of his mouth is working over mine.

We're starved for each other. My nails sink into the muscles of his back.

Matt's body s.h.i.+fts beneath me, hard, as he runs his hands over my body as if memorizing every contour, squeezing and shaping my every muscle.

”I want you in the White House. I want you wherever I am.” He's breathing hard, his voice thick. I'm panting as I kiss his jaw, missing this, missing him.

”I want you coming all over the president's c.o.c.k, you little wanton. You delicious little kitten, huh.”

He palms my s.e.x, stroking a finger along my opening over the fabric of my slacks. I mewl softly, grabbing his hard shoulders for support. ”Don't . . .” I warm as pleasure shoots across my body-through every nerve and muscle and atom. ”I want you . . . too much . . .” A groan leaves me.

He smiles and kisses me a little harder and doesn't stop. He rubs me over my slacks a little faster. I clutch my arms tighter around his neck and push my hips up to his hand, losing it.

”Who are you coming for? Huh? Tell me now,” he presses.

I tell him who.

The president of the United States.

My love.

5.

PRESS CONFERENCE.

Charlotte There's excitement in the air of the White House press room as Matt addresses the reporters. Several dozen flashes snap as he stands at the podium.

”I realize this is a little unorthodox. Usually the president of the United States is married, which I'm not, or has a close family member acting as first lady; in my case that also won't be the case. I've asked a woman whom I've come to deeply respect and admire for many reasons-among them, her pa.s.sion for this country that equals mine, and a heart as big as that smile she's now wearing. Ladies and gentlemen, may I present the Acting First Lady of the United States of America, Charlotte Wells.”

Breathe, breathe, breathe.

Matt motions me to the podium.

Cameras keep snapping. I marvel that I can walk-with Matt's direct gaze on me, with the whole room's eyes on me. I marvel how I can act composed. How I can manage to open my mouth and say what I rehea.r.s.ed with Lola, the press secretary, just an hour ago.

”Thank you, Mr. President.” I inhale his scent as he pa.s.ses me, and I cling to it for strength. I make eye contact with as many sitting reporters as possible even though it makes me doubly nervous. ”I'm honored to be standing here. I'm not ashamed to admit when Matt-the president-asked me to take on this task, I didn't think I could possibly say yes. Turns out it's not easy to decline the president, especially this one . . .”

I shoot him a look, and when he raises one eyebrow, there's laughter, and my nerves start easing.

”And although I still feel completely undeserving to be standing here, I will do my best and more than that to represent our country as best I can and do justice to President Hamilton's presidency. Thank you.”

Applause. ”Miss Wells-!”

”Miss Wells, could you give us any specifics on the kind of relations.h.i.+p you and the president-”

Lola takes my place behind the podium and murmurs, ”No questions at this time, thank you.”

And with that, she wraps up the press conference and I follow Matt out of the room.

”That went well, Miss Wells! Now if you'll review the schedule-Oh! Mr. President.”

My chief of staff steps back when she realizes Matt is still there, and we walk together down the hall, his gaze on his chief of staff, who seems to be waiting for him at the end.

”You looked great out there.” His eyes slide to mine.

The impact of feeling his eyes on me never seems to diminish.

”Probably because I was standing next to you.”

”Trust me, I had nothing to do with it.” His eyes start twinkling.

”I expected a little booing, really. But they love you so much that anything you do, they'd agree with.”