Loving the Candidate (Capitol Affairs #2) (11 page)

Talking was a struggle. I saw the pain in her face, and I knew she wasn’t going to make it much longer.

“I’m glad you called me. I miss you, Victoria.”

“I miss you too, honey. How’s your … gay friend? Such a pain in my ass.”

“Thomas? He’s good. He’s getting married.”

“No shit. He isn’t gay?”

“No, he’s marrying a guy. He’s settled down quite a bit and is becoming a great lawyer.”

She rolled her eyes and huffed, with much effort, in typical Victoria fashion. The nurse came to check on her and lift her up on her pillows. She grimaced when they moved her. Frank asked me if I would like a coffee, and I said yes. As soon as he left the room, she pulled me down so she could whisper in my ear.

“Has that asshole bothered you?” I forgot about her scaring Trevor when he threatened to release a sex tape of me that turned out to be nonexistent. I’d forgotten to tell her I ran into him at the dinner with Alex. I told her how he apologized and confessed he made it up. She loved the story

“Good. I can have him eliminated now that I’m half dead, but you better hurry.” She forced a weak, pathetic laugh.

“Victoria, stop.” I smiled at her.

“I left some … of my fortune … to you, Prudence. I’m richer than shit. That dick is still … cheating. Don’t let him fool you with … this bullshit … holding … my hand. The whore was … here last night. He thinks … I don’t know. He is in for a shocker when I check … out.”

“Victoria, I don’t want your money. You’ve given me more than enough. You have a son. Leave it to him.” I whispered back in case Frank heard me. I didn’t want her money.

“He’s like … his father. He hasn’t been here to see me once. Fuck them … all. I hope wherever … I am, I can see their … faces when the will … is read.” She laughed and started coughing and gasping for air.

I didn’t want to have a discussion with her about her will. I didn’t want anything of hers and I hoped she was delirious. I didn’t respond.

“How’s Alex?” she asked. I’d wanted him to come, but he had to work a late night on a Bill he had to get passed.

“He’s working nonstop and he’s ‘testing the waters’, as he would say, to be the next nominee for president.”

“Good. He better be. I saw him as … presidential material way back. He has charm … and of course, those looks. I can say this now … since I’m about dead. I tried to make … a move on him a long time ago before you were … out of diapers, or even born.” She coughed.

“Oh, Victoria. You were after my husband?” I smiled.

“I was sort of a … cougar after my student. Pathetic … I know, but come on, look at him,” she coughed. “I can only imagine … what is he like in the sack? Humor me … this once, and tell me before I’m six feet under.”

“Victoria. I can’t talk about him. Okay, I can. The sex is amazing and sometimes I leave my body. To top it off, he can go all night, and he’s huge.”

“Jesus. You better hang on to that. Don’t give up your life … for him, though. You have to keep your future open. I see wonderful things … for you. I always have. You will be … a great politician too.” She started coughing and Frank brought in my coffee.

“Thank you, Frank,” I said. I looked at this powerful woman wasting away, near death. The confidence and authority she’d had were gone. It seemed everything she’d worked for was insignificant now. I owed her so much for molding me into a tough lawyer and treating me like I was somebody special.

“Thank you, Victoria, for taking me under your wing. I owe my professional life to you. You have made me one tough lawyer.”

“Shut up. You always … had it in you. You needed to see it. You are the … daughter I always wanted. I hope you know.” She reached for my hand. Hers was soft, yet ice cold.

I told her what was going on in the office. I let her know about the court case I was involved in, and how well I had done that day. She laughed when I told her about Thomas and me getting in trouble. Victoria was in pain and putting on a good act for me. She grimaced many times as she struggled to breathe. The nurse hovered over her and gave her some type of pill. Victoria wanted a strawberry milkshake, and I stepped out while they called Frank in. There was a discussion between Frank and the nurse. Frank came back out crying. I couldn’t help but put my arms around him. I knew what they’d told him was not good.

“Frank, I’m so sorry,” I said as I held him tight. He shook in my arms and sobbed. I didn’t let go of him until he let go first.

“I love her so much. I don’t think she ever thought I did.”

“Don’t say that. She told me all the time she knew you loved her. That’s why she worked so hard on your marriage. You were the love of her life.” Not really, but I wanted him to feel better. Watching him break down brought back the memories of losing my mom and how hard it was to know there was nothing you could do about someone dying.

While I sat with her and Frank went to get a milkshake, the nurse called someone. It was time to give her the morphine. I didn’t want to see them start, so I kissed her goodbye for the last time. She grabbed my hand and gave it a weak squeeze as she fell asleep in pain. Knowing it was the last time I would be with her, I stared down at this courageous woman and squeezed her hand back. We both knew and we didn’t want to say goodbye. It was so hard for me not to lie in the bed with her and cry.

I thanked Frank for calling me, and he promised he would tell me when she passed. When I got in my car, the tears started. I cried because the life of such a strong woman was ending, and I cried because she reminded me of my mom. I cried because I hoped to never see anyone else I cared about die so horrifically.

She passed away a week later. Frank was upset, and he said she’d left me a small chunk of her fortune. I told him I didn’t want it. He said there was nothing he could do about, it was mine. She had left him the house and a small amount of money. All her belongings went to her son, setting him up for life. It seems she was the granddaughter of a wealthy man and she’d never spent the money she made. I was pretty well off once the check was deposited into my account. I had Alex’s accountant put some away for baby Prudence and my AIDS charity.

I attended Victoria’s funeral with Alex. There were so many people there. I missed her terribly, and kept what she’d told me about not giving up my career in the back of my mind. Something she’d said stuck with me. So much so, I requested a large case that had come to the office. I wanted to keep working. After her death, I had an epiphany. I wanted her to be proud of me, and I wanted to do what she would have if she were in my shoes. Yes, if the presidential race became too much, and Alex won the Democratic ticket, I would put it on hold for a while. But not right now. I needed to work and fight for people who didn’t have a voice, like me, when I was a kid. Like Alex when he was an innocent little boy with no one to protect him. It was time to have a long talk with Alex.

Chapter 13

Since Alex announced he was running for president, he had to get financial backing, aides, assistants, and a whole team up and running. Our home turned into ground zero of the campaign center. Thank God we had the room to do it. One room was converted into an office lined with phones, computers and people. He’d been featured on every news show with campaign news, ads, and bashing from other candidates. It seemed endless. There was so much involved in running for president I’d never dreamed of. Alex wanted me by his side. I wanted to work. I needed to keep working. Now was the time we needed to have a talk.

Early one evening, I received a text from Alex asking if I wanted to go out to dinner.

How about a date night? Dinner out?

When?

b home @ 7

Perfect.

Giovannis?

Yes

Giovanni’s was where we had our first date. We hadn’t been there in a while, and I knew if Alex was upset or stressed, Giovanni’s was his place.

He picked me up around seven, and we made the twenty-five minute trip to his favorite Italian restaurant. It was rare we could go out to dinner without him being bombarded with paparazzi and people wanting to talk to him. Thankfully, the place wasn’t busy. Giovanni came out right away when he knew Alex was there, kissing him on his cheeks and hugging both of us.

“My favorite politician and his beautiful wife.”

“Giovanni, so good to see you. How have you been?” Alex loved talking to him and pretty soon they would be speaking Italian, which I loved to hear.

“
Sto bene. E tu
?

“
Sto bene. Sto pensando di correre per la presidenza. Io sono innamorato di questa bella donna
.”

Giovanni hugged him again and they laughed. The only thing I recognized from their conversation was president. But, oh Lord, it was so sexy hearing Alex speak Italian. It turned me on like nothing else. Giovanni seated us in the back away from prying eyes. Alex ordered my favorite wine and we both ordered spaghetti. As we enjoyed our dinner, I took the opportunity to tell Alex what I planned to do.

“How’s the pasta?” I asked as I watched him shoveling it in.

“Just what I needed. This place was on my mind all day. That and you.” He smiled at me, wiping his mouth. Red-and-white-checkered tablecloths, a candle in the middle of the table, and music playing in the background made this the perfect setting.

“I want to talk to you about something.” I took a sip of my wine and waited for his undivided attention.

“What, baby?” The candlelight fluttered against the wall and in the distance, I heard Jerry Vale singing
O Sole Mio
over the speaker.

“I’ve been doing a lot of thinking since Victoria died. What she told me has been in my thoughts since I saw her the last time.”

“Tell me.” He reached across the table and grabbed my hand. I didn’t know why I was so nervous. Alex wanted what was best for me all the time.

“I want to keep working, Alex. I don’t want to quit right now. I know we talked about me giving up my practice for a while and helping you, but I’ve been offered a big case that may prove my value as a prosecuting attorney. I know I need to be with you during your campaign, but I think I can do both. I know I can do both.”

His eyes stayed on me. I didn’t know what his reaction was going to be.

He smiled.

“Baby, I would be lying if I said I didn’t want you with me twenty-four hours a day. If you want to keep working, do it. We’ll figure it out. That’s why I keep a private plane at my beck and call. Did you think I would be upset?

“I didn’t know. I want you to understand, you are my husband and you come first in my life. But I need to have something that’s mine. Until this is official, I need to do the job I’ve worked so hard to achieve.”

“You don’t have to explain that to me. I love that you want to work and make a name for yourself. That’s what I loved about you when we met. You’re a fighter and a go-getter. I don’t want you any other way.”

The waiter came by and cleared our plates and asked if we would like dessert. Alex asked for tiramisu with two forks, and two espressos. I wanted to crawl across the table and fuck Alex senseless. The hell with dessert.

“Of course you know I’ll take a break when you become president.”

“Stop talking and let me look at you, Prudence.”

I looked into his eyes and realized how much we loved each other. A shiver moved through me as I studied his face.

“Alex.”

“You are worth everything to me. I wouldn’t want you any way other than the way you are. If you want to work until I’m president, I support you. If you never want to work again, I support that. What makes you happy, makes me happy.”

I wiped a tear away and smiled at him. I didn’t have words. The waiter brought our dessert and coffees. It was delicious, but all I wanted was Alex.

“Are you ready to go home?” He flashed me a wicked smile as we ate the last piece.

I leaned closer to him and whispered.

“I’m going to fuck your brains out as soon as we walk in the door at home. Maybe in the car, if the mood strikes me there.” I took the last sip of my espresso and licked my lips, knowing he loved that.

“Is that a fact? See, there is a method to my madness.”

“Oh, really? This is your foreplay? All these years, and you don’t know I’m a sure thing.”

He laughed and we both stood. I grabbed my purse and Alex grabbed me. He turned me around and gave me a long seductive kiss. I wasn’t prepared for his public display of affection. I gasped.

***

I lay beneath him, out of breath and exhausted while he continued to swirl my clit with his skillful tongue. We hadn’t made it to the bedroom. In fact, once we got inside the door, he was on me. The living room couch was as far as we got. His smile was wicked as he looked up from between my legs. I saw the sexual intoxication covering his deep brown eyes. I felt so powerful, as if I possessed him. Heat pulsed through my blood as his tongue brushed over my swollen clit. He’d left his clothes on while I was naked, open, and on the verge of an immense orgasm.

“Christ, Prudence. I’m addicted to your cunt.”

“Don’t stop. I’m so close. Make me come.” A second later he did, thrusting his tongue in and out of my cunt. I let myself grind into his mouth as he massaged me with his tongue. My lungs heaved and my stomach knotted as I felt my entire body convulse.

“Fuck me, Alex,” I demanded pulling his head up by the roots of his sweaty hair.

“Prudence,” he moaned my name as he undid his pants and let them pool to his ankles along with his boxers. Drinking in the perfection of his hard cock, I craved him. My cunt trembled again looking at him; hot, hard, and ready to pleasure me.

He slowly entered me, deliberately taking his time to tease. I was desperate for him to come. I wanted him to pound me hard. My body wanted him and my mind needed the connection. I tightened around him, squeezing, and releasing him the way he loved. His body was rigid and his muscles strained as he held himself over top of me.