Loving the Senator (Capitol Affairs #1) (6 page)

I got up off him, pulled my shirt back on, and buttoned my jeans. I sat on the couch and watched him put himself back together, neither of us saying a word. He picked up his coat, got his keys, put on his watch, and headed for the door.

“Can you kiss me goodbye before you leave at least?” I asked. His back was to me.

“If I kiss you again, we will end up where we were.” He didn’t turn around.

“Then don’t stop Alex. You can’t leave when it felt so perfect between us.”

“I can’t, Prudence. I’m sorry,” he said, as he grabbed the doorknob. He hesitated before turning the handle and walked out without looking back at me. The front door shut, echoing throughout my condo. I heard his car start, and he peeled out of the driveway. I sat in shock and disbelief. My heart and body ached for Alex Conrad.

I curled up on my couch. I hugged my knees to my chest, trying to hold in the tears and sadness. But I couldn’t hold back anymore and cried my eyes out. I picked up my phone and called Thomas. He always comforted me.

“Hey sweetie,” he yelled over the thumping dance music. He was out. I didn’t want to ruin his night, but I had to speak to him.

“Thomas, I need you. Can you come over here?”

“What’s wrong, honey?” he yelled into the phone.

“I can’t tell you over the phone. I just need to talk to you,” I said.

“I’ll be right there. Give me a few minutes.”

I ended the call and cried into my pillows smearing makeup everywhere. If there was another man besides Alex, Thomas was the one. Right now, I needed talk to him.

Not more than twenty minutes later Thomas knocked on the front door. I opened it and ran into his arms. He was dressed for the club and I felt awful for tearing him away from his night out.

“I am so sorry to take you away from your night out,” I said, rubbing my dripping nose.

He held me tight in his muscular arms and told me to shut up because nothing was as important as me.

“What is wrong, honey? Why are you so upset?”

We went into the living room and sat on the couch. Alex’s scent still lingered in the air making it harder to concentrate.

“I went out with Alex tonight,” I said. I didn’t want to look at him when I told him because I knew he was going to be angry.

“What the hell? Why wasn’t I informed of this rendezvous?” he asked, holding me in his arms and rubbing my head.

“I didn’t tell anyone, Thomas.”

“Was he a pig? I will go crazy if he hurt you,” he said.

“No, it was nothing like that. I wanted him. We were all over each other, Thomas and practically naked, kissing and touching,” I couldn’t go on and started crying again.

“Did you screw him?” He asked, holding me against his big burly chest as I got his t-shirt wet with my tears.

“No, we would have if he didn’t stop. My breasts were out; he had his hand in my pants that’s all. Then he said he couldn’t keep going, and he left. Is it me?” I asked, starting to cry harder.

“Are you nuts? I’m as gay as the day is long, and your breasts are to die for. That little get up you got on right now, is turning me on a bit. If you looked like that in front of him, and he didn’t go for it, I may have to think he might be on my side,” he said.

Just then I noticed I hadn’t put my bra back on or buttoned up my shirt.
Thomas must think I’m a total skank.

“I mean please, Prude. You’re perfect. Maybe you were too aggressive, and he couldn’t handle it? Tell me one thing; is he huge? You can tell me later after you settle down, but please tell me.”

I hugged him around his waist, and he patted my head again as I sniffled.

“Shut up, Thomas, how could you ask me that at a time like this? And yes, he’s huge if you must know.”

“I could tell by looking at him. I want details and possible inches after you are better.” I couldn’t help but smile. Thomas always made me better. I pulled away from him so I could see his eyes.

“I didn’t get that far to see. I mean, I sized it up through his jeans. I’m sorry I ruined your night, Thomas. I had to call you. I had no one else to tell.” I had a handful of friends, and my best girlfriend and roommate lived in Oregon. I had not seen her in ages, and I couldn’t call her over something like this. And, Veena, my best friend, was on a different level.

“I would’ve been pissed if you didn’t call me. I’m pissed that you didn’t tell me this last week. I had a hunch it was Conrad. I knew you had a thing for him, and you kept saying no. Don’t worry about Bruce. He is not going anywhere. He knows where the good sex is, and it is with me, honey. He also knows that you are important to me. When you need me, everything else comes to a stop unless we are of course, right in the middle of it,” he smiled.

“I love you,” I said, as he held me close again.

“I love you, sweetie. Remember that when you are being bitchy at work and getting me in trouble with your new BFF, the Snake Lady.” He laughed. I snuggled up next to him. I let myself drift off to sleep after talking and laughing. He must have left sometime in the early morning because when I woke I was still on the couch, covered up and I found a note that said,

“Had to get home for a booty call. I will call you. Let’s shop. Luvs you.”

So heartbroken. I stayed in bed all day, which was not something I did. I went back to bed after I showered and stayed there until dark. I didn’t want to talk to anyone, not even Beulah or Thomas. I thought it was odd that I hadn’t heard from either of them, so I checked my phone and noticed it was still off. I had turned my phone off after I called Thomas the night before and never turned it back on.
Shit!
Alex had called several times and left a voicemail.

“I hope you are okay. I hated leaving things that way so I’m heading back to your place-it’s midnight now I should be there,” and that was that. He must have come back and seen another car in my driveway.
Shit. Shit. Shit
.
Should I call or text him to explain? Should I let it go?
I decided to wait and let him call me again. And then, I waited and waited.
 

Chapter Seven

They say time heals all wounds. Time allowed me to forget the life I lived in Ohio. The pain I felt every day has been all-but forgotten thanks to years of intense therapy. I remember the constant struggle and the fear of not knowing what was going to happen at any moment. Would my mom run off and leave me or turn up dead after an all-night binge? Different smells and places brought back a flood of memories either good or bad. Wounds like these will take time to heal. As for Alex, he never did call. I had waited and waited for nothing. Alex Conrad had walked out on me and that was that. And after weeks of crying myself to sleep and incessantly checking for missed calls, I finally gave up all hope. I finally realized that Alex was done with me after one night.

Weeks passed, and spring filled the air. Cherry blossoms were in full bloom in Washington D.C. But I couldn’t even enjoy them. Depressed from missing Alex, and devastated by what had happened between us, the beautiful days slipped by unnoticed. I worked out, finished law school in record time, and worked as much as possible. I did fine during the day and got through. Lying in bed alone and thinking of him fucking a supermodel, or God forbid Jade, kept me tossing and turning most of the night. Coffee kept me going during the day and my lack of caloric intake had Beulah worried that I lost too much weight. Her solution to this problem? An intervention, in the form of a party. Not just any party, but a huge, over the top-everyone-is-talking-about-it party. Beulah used my graduation from law school as an excuse to invite one hundred of her closest friends and family to a party in my honor.

Beulah was so proud of my accomplishment and she wanted everyone to know. So she forced me to get my hair styled, my nails done, and of course a spray tan. She bought me a gunmetal gray Chanel strapless dress and black heels. The dress looked amazing against my long red hair, even though I had become rail-thin. With my hair styled in a loose, messy bun, and strands hanging in a frame around my face, I certainly felt beautiful.

Thomas was the first guest to arrive. He found me out in the gigantic, circus sized, tent having a glass of champagne and watching the band set up. Yes, she’d hired a band too.

“Jesus Christ, woman do you even have a clue how hot you are right now?” he asked as he kissed me. He looked damn good himself with his Armani suit and blonde hair, stylishly messy. Bruce accompanied him and was just as breathtaking, with his jet-black hair skimming his collar, gray suit with no tie, and of course very expensive shoes.

My dad, his wife, and my half-brother and sister flew in from California just for this special day, and I couldn’t have been happier. I will always be grateful to Beulah for finding him and making sure we had a relationship. To actually see my dad for the first time and hug him was something I never dreamed I would experience. My mom, always insisted, she didn’t know who my father could be. But I knew right away. Not only did we have the same hair color but in my gut I sensed it was him. Now we talked at least once a week.

The night was nowhere near complete. The two people I missed the most weren’t there: Mom and Alex. Beulah had sent my mom an invitation, but like everything else we sent her, it was ignored. No matter how old I got, and how far from Ohio I moved, I secretly hoped that one day she would show up, ask about me, and want to see me. I was sure Alex had no intention of ever seeing me again.

I ate that night without getting sick, and the food tasted wonderful. Beulah had my favorites catered: roasted chicken, mashed potatoes, Brussels sprouts and of course, blackberry cobbler. As the night progressed, I found myself thinking less of Alex and enjoying the party. Victoria showed up alone, and I introduced her to Beulah. They hit it off well, even making a lunch date. Once everyone ate and started drinking, the dancing began. I was happy until Alex crossed my mind when the band began to play “Unforgettable.” I wanted to cry as I watched everyone dance with someone. Bruce and Thomas held each other tight and danced as I allowed myself to remember election night when I danced in Alex’s arms to the same song.

Then I smelled him and soon I felt him behind me.

“Dance with me.” Alex had come after all.

I turned around abruptly. My heart skipped a beat when I looked at him. It had been months since I saw him, yet he looked better than I remembered. His hair styled perfect, and his lips seemed fuller and more delicious. I was instantly aroused. I couldn’t help myself.

“Alex? What are you doing here?”

Music played off in the distance. Around me, people were talking and laughing. But in the middle of it, it was just the two of us. I became lost in the moment.

“Your Grandmother invited me to celebrate this wonderful day with you. Congratulations, Prudence. You accomplished something not too many people can do. Dance with me. Come on, this is our song. I had to bribe the guy up there to play it for me at just the right time,” he said, unable to take his eyes off me. The sound of his husky voice brought me out of my daze.

He held out his hands just as he had the night of the election and pulled me close. He was wearing his black blazer and khaki pants that were to be his official Alex uniform. His scent intoxicated me as I melted into his arms and felt his heat warm my burning body. He led the dance with confidence and grace. This dance felt different from the last one we’d shared. He was more commanding, more in control, and it felt more sexual.

“You are breathtaking tonight. I love the dress and the color is something else. You look as if you lost too much weight though,” he whispered in my ear.

“Thank you. I have been working out a lot. Why are you here? I made a total ass of myself, and I have not heard from you for months. By the way, why did you call me that night so many times? I got a voice mail, but I could barely make it out” I asked as I laid my head on his shoulder. His blazer was cashmere and so soft and warm. His scent was embedded in every fiber. I loved how his arms held me tight against him. I felt his muscles bulging under his coat. My entire body relaxed to him. It was as if I had been on a journey far away, and I was finally home when he held me.

“What happened that night was not your fault, Prudence. You did not make an ass of yourself. You were anything but an ass. I called you because I drove to God knows where and wanted to come back and see if you were okay. I left you sitting there and didn’t realize how I may have hurt you. I have been trying to forget that night and have thrown myself into my work to keep you out of my mind. I was doing a good job, until I got this invitation from your grandmother. Once again, you’re all I thought about. I had to come,” he said as we danced. The band played another song that kept us pressed together. The surrounding noise seemed muffled, and I focused on the moment that seemed so right.

“Did you come back to my condo?” I asked, wanting to know if he did turn around.

“I did, and there was a car in your driveway, so I went home. I didn’t want to disturb you if you had called someone over,” he said. I pushed closer to his body and could feel his cock getting harder the closer he got.

“I did call someone, but not what you think. My best friend is Thomas. He stayed with me that night because I was upset. I wish you hadn’t come here tonight Alex. I just got your smell and your voice out of my head and now here you are making me want you,” I said, trying not to look at him.

His arms tightened around me, bringing me closer to him as my heart raced. My head started pounding as the blood rushed through my veins and my breath gasped in my chest. We were once again in our own world. It was a world I never wanted to leave. This just showed me how much I missed him and how much I needed to make love to this incredible man. We danced in silence and I closed my eyes and enjoyed it.

“Oh Prudence, what you do to me. I can’t even touch you or look at you without wanting you. I know you can feel me right now and how hard I am. I’m so hungry for you, for all of you. It’s crazy and I can’t explain it. This is the reason I stay away. Everything about you overwhelms me, and it’s wrong,” he said as we continued our slow dance together. He grabbed the back of my dress pushing me closer and then he began to push away from me.