At the Pleasure of the President Read online

  “And if I don’t?” The words came out breathy.

  “If you choose to run away like a scared little rabbit, you’ll never know how it feels to have me cover you with my body, to have me worship you like the goddess you are.”

  She swallowed, nodded, then stood taller, shoulders squared.

  Zack forced himself to step aside. He had to see what she would do. This had to be her choice. “Elizabeth, if you walk out now, I’ll go back to being polite.”

  It might kill him, but he would do it. He would drink the rest of that Scotch tonight and put all his armor on in the morning.

  He would do his damnedest to forget her.

  “And if I stay and lock the door?”

  “You’ll be mine until morning. I’ll take you every way I want to, and you won’t rest until I’ve had my fill. It will be my way all the way, so think about that before you decide. I won’t go easy on you. I’m too hungry. So this won’t be tender lovemaking. I’ll fuck you until I can’t remember anything except how good it feels when I’m inside you.”

  She gave him one last unreadable glance before she walked across the room, her heels clicking on the hardwood.

  His fists clenched at his sides as he watched and waited. It took every ounce of his restraint to allow her this choice. If it were up to him, he’d bar the door so she would have no escape. Then he would hunt her, capture her, take her. Instead, he stood there, holding his breath, his gut twisting, his entire body pulsing and alive with anxiety and anticipation.

  Finally, Elizabeth reached the door. She closed it, sliding the lock into place, then turned to him, chin raised.

  She’d made her decision. She was his for the night.

  He sent her a feral smile and sauntered closer, pure need coursing through his veins as he tore off that strangling mental leash that had held him back for so long and reached for her.

  Chapter Six

  Liz’s hands shook as she turned the lock, shutting herself alone in the library with Zack. This was likely the single stupidest thing she’d ever done, but after years of pining for and being in love with him, she couldn’t walk away without knowing how a night with him would feel.

  She should be in her bed right now, trying to find sleep. But she’d seen the light on and known he’d be here. Like a freaking moth to a flame, she’d found herself leaving the safety of her bedroom and walking right into the predator’s den.

  After this evening, she understood him better. He’d pulled the same dumb play Mad had, shoving her away so she wouldn’t get caught up in his danger. So she wouldn’t become another Joy. Gus had been hinting at this for weeks, but her friend hadn’t been able to betray her fiancé’s secrets by being specific…and Liz had been too hurt to believe.

  Trembling, she turned now and looked at the only man she’d ever truly loved. He needed her tonight. She saw it in his stare, in the way he clenched his fists at his sides. How much character and willpower had it taken him to allow her this choice? She admired him even more for finding the strength, especially since she’d long suspected that under his façade of intellectualism and perfect manners, he hid a beast.

  Tonight, she would find out if she’d been right.

  Liz had no illusions. He was capable of breaking her heart into a million pieces, and she’d try not to let him. But even if she only got one night with this man, she would take it because she would rather live with foolish regret than stubborn ignorance.

  “Elizabeth.”

  His voice hummed in the quiet room, caressing between her ears, vibrating through her body. She flushed with arousal.

  This was it. This was happening.

  She’d wanted him the moment they’d met, but he’d been forbidden. Now, he stood in front of her with his broad shoulders and his dark hair. Not a president, but a man. Her man—at least for the night.

  Liz tried to steady her breathing as she crossed the room to him. Finally, she had permission to touch him the way she’d always wanted. Of course she’d heard him say tonight would be his way all the way, that it wouldn’t be tender, but she wanted one sweet moment she could cling to later before her man turned beast.

  She stopped in front of him and reached up, brushing her fingers against the silver threaded at his temples—the only sign that he was aging. Naturally, it made him even more attractive.

  He caught her hand, clasping it in his big one. “Be sure.”

  That was Zack, always putting others first, even when his whole world was falling apart. Even when he needed so desperately for himself.

  Tonight, she was here for him in every way. Liz hoped with all her heart he understood that.

  She would cling to him through the bittersweet hours until dawn, memorizing every touch. Tomorrow they would go back to their corners, and the turmoil would start again. It would be worse because she would know exactly how good it felt to be in his arms. But their passion could only be temporary because he was right, any chance they’d had at a future had died the day Joy had. After her murder and three long years, how could they ever hope for more?

  “I’m sure,” she murmured. “I want everything you have to give me tonight.”

  He released her hand to grip her waist. Immediately, he dragged her against his body. His free hand found her hair and sank in, tugging her head back. “I’ve waited forever for this.”

  His thick whisper sent a tremor through her. “Me, too.”

  Silently, Liz mourned the loss of their idyllic vow in Memphis that when they finally kissed for the first time, it would only be when they’d never have to stop. But she couldn’t worry about the future when she and Zack only had right now.

  He angled her face under his and her heart began to careen. He bent, crushed her lips under his, and groaned into their kiss. She could feel the moment he let go of his iron will.

  “It’s not going to last nearly as long as I want it to,” he muttered against her mouth. “At least not this first time…”

  Liz expected it to be fast and furious because neither of them could deny their desire a second longer. He needed her; she could feel it. Another reason she couldn’t walk away. If he had merely sought sex, she might have found the will, but even if this wasn’t a tender joining, it was about connection. They were both starving for it.

  Again, he swept his lips over hers and devoured her. There was no other way to describe the way he clutched her against every muscle and bulge of his lean body and took her mouth captive. She wrapped her arms around him and lost herself in passion.

  He didn’t waste time. With his tongue, he urged her mouth open, then he tugged on her hair again in sharp demand. She opened her mouth and welcomed him inside. Her body felt taut, like an arrow about to be loosed. While his tongue dominated hers, she explored the hard planes of his body with eager hands, wishing so badly that nothing came between them. The clothes she’d worn all day were now far too tight. She wouldn’t be able to breathe if she couldn’t feel his naked skin against hers soon.

  Zack was already working on the problem. He didn’t miss a beat, just wrapped his hands around the neckline of her blouse and yanked. In a single movement, the buttons gave way. Cool air and his hot stare stroked her skin.

  She didn’t have a handy set of clothes to change into tomorrow, but her protest drifted away as Zack stripped the crisp white blouse from her torso and stared.

  His burning gaze inspired a wave of goose bumps all over her body.

  “Take off your bra.”

  His rough voice urged her to stand in front of him, unclasp the garment, and let it fall between them. She did. He watched, sucking in a sharp breath as she revealed her breasts to him. His eyes heated, darkened. He didn’t have to say a word for Liz to feel adored.

  “Come here.” He reached for her.

  She was already so close that she could feel his hot breath and electric impatience. “If I come any closer, I’ll be pressed against you.”

  He merely smiled as he caressed up her arm, then wrapped his
fingers around it to draw her in. “Now that I’ve seen how gorgeous you are, I want to feel you.”

  His words were melting her when he spun her away and dragged her bare back against his chest.

  “Zack?”

  “I’m not going to last. It’s been fucking years since…”

  Since he’d had sex. He and Joy hadn’t been intimate for much of their marriage, and he would never have cheated on his wife. Only when he’d thought he would lose the election and Joy said she was amenable to divorce had he tried to find his own happiness. But in the last few months he had dated all those lovely women. “You didn’t sleep with Mimi?”

  He dragged her skirt up with one restless hand while the other cupped her breast. “You know why I dated her and the other women.”

  To keep her off the Russians’ radar.

  He kissed her neck, while he rolled her nipple between his thumb and forefinger. She couldn’t help but soften against him and give herself over. That hand on her thigh was getting closer and closer to where she ached for it to reach.

  She could barely breathe. As Zack’s lips moved up her neck, she felt the hard line of his erection pressed against her ass. “I’m sure it was Roman’s plan.”

  Most of the bad ideas came from Roman. He was utterly ruthless, and she prayed Gus tempered his worst impulses. It made him an excellent chief of staff, not so great as her lover’s best friend.

  She couldn’t think like that. Zack wasn’t her anything except her forbidden temptation. What they shared wouldn’t last beyond tonight. It couldn’t matter tomorrow.

  He grunted as he shoved her panties to the side and out of his way. “I’m not the one who was playing around with the Secret Service.”

  She’d had a light flirtation—mostly because she’d been perturbed at Zack’s sudden fascination with supermodels—and the whole time she’d only been able to think about Zack. “Nothing happened. He wasn’t you.”

  He nipped at her ear, his voice a low growl filled with satisfaction. “Nothing happened. She wasn’t you. None of them were.”

  The words warmed and reassured her. Then she wasn’t thinking at all because Zack’s fingers found her pussy. She gasped, tilting her hips up for more of his touch. “Zack, please.”

  “Everything about this pleases me. You’re going to please me all night long.” He delved deeper until he slid a finger over her clitoris. “But first… I’ve fantasized about feeling you, hearing you. Touching you. Come for me, Elizabeth. Then it will be my turn, and I won’t hold back.”

  She didn’t want him to.

  Zack was so complex. He was smart and kind, yet ruthless and focused. He could be cruel when he wanted to be. He could also be incredibly giving. And she wanted everything he had to offer.

  Right now, she especially wanted the attention of that clever hand.

  “You’re already wet.” Triumph deepened his tone.

  “Yes.”

  His hold on her breast tightened, and he stroked her nipple. Pleasure rippled. Then his thumb began to strum her clitoris while one long finger found her opening and sank deep. “And you’re soft and wet and ready to take my cock, aren’t you?”

  He held her against him. Even if she’d wanted to, she couldn’t escape the bliss he was heaping on her body. “Yes.”

  “You’re going to spread those gorgeous legs for me and let me fuck you as long and hard as I want, right?”

  Every word from his mouth went straight to her pussy, combining with the rhythm of his fingers to drive her higher and higher. Even the realization that Zack was demanding her pleasure pushed Liz close to the edge, so she didn’t need much to fall over. The minute she’d realized she would truly know Zack as a lover, her body had taken over, shutting down all the parts of her brain that knew this was a mistake. So long denied, her body refused to wait much longer before knowing ecstasy at this man’s hands.

  “Yes!” She shuddered as the sensations built, then crescendoed. Her heart pounded. She gasped, then bit her lip to hold in her cry. Then orgasm bloomed over her and she came to a shuddering climax in his strong arms.

  As she drifted down from euphoria, Liz closed her eyes and let herself feel his breath against her neck, his fingers moving inside her, his hand clutching her breast. Feel his desperation so like her own. Feel…him. Connected to him in a way she’d always known they should be.

  Her body was flush with pleasure as she sagged against him, but Zack wasn’t through. In one strong move, he bent and lifted her into his arms, holding her to his chest. He didn’t bother to straighten her skirt. He simply carried her across the room to the couch where she was certain world leaders dialogued about critical treaties. But there would be no negotiations tonight, just her surrender.

  He eased her onto the couch and stood, staring down at her intently. Slowly, he brought his hand to his lips and sucked his finger inside, tasting the arousal he’d created.

  “God, I knew you would taste like heaven.” He dropped his hands to the belt of his slacks, working it open with ease. His hands shook slightly. “Spread your legs, Elizabeth. Take me.”

  For the first time in years, the world felt dreamy and perfect because Zack was here. He was really with her. He wanted her—and he intended to have her now.

  She didn’t care that they weren’t in the comfort of a bedroom or that tomorrow they would go back to being boss and employee. All that mattered was fulfilling the unspoken promise they’d made so many years ago. This library was hardly a bedroom in Paris overlooking the Eiffel Tower, but tonight Liz was damn happy for the satisfaction they would find together.

  She watched, unblinking, as he shoved his slacks off. His swift efficiency at undressing afforded her only a glimpse of his cock. It looked long, impossibly thick, and hard.

  Liz had wondered when she’d read Lara’s tongue-in-cheek article about the president’s penis whether his long-ago lovers had exaggerated about its legendary stature. Nope. Liz wanted to take it in her hand and stroke it, but Zack wasn’t waiting. He followed her down to the sofa and covered her body with his.

  “Wait. I need to get undressed,” she whispered, though she could already feel him aligning his erection against her and nudging at her opening.

  “No time.” His normally perfect hair was mussed and his whole body was taut as he yanked at the delicate material of her panties and it tore like tissue paper.

  He’d left her with almost nothing to wear, but Liz no longer cared the second she felt him thrust up and join their bodies. His cock invaded, stretching her with a delicious burn. Moments before she’d been satisfied by the orgasm he’d given her with his skillful fingers. Now every cell in her body screamed for the dizzying pleasure he gave her again.

  “Wrap your legs around me.” He held her down with firm hands as though he was afraid she might fight him and he was determined not to let her go. His eyes closed briefly as he rocked against her and forced the rest of his cock deep.

  The moment he was fully seated, he sighed, a deeply content sound as he held himself there, seeming to revel in their joining.

  He pulled out before rocking back in. His eyes opened as he filled her with every inch. He stared down, his gaze intense and consuming. A silent warning this wouldn’t be easy.

  Then he began a deep, unforgiving rhythm. Liz held on tight as he began to fuck her with all the strength in his body and all the determination in his soul. Over and over, he slammed inside, then jerked nearly free before repeating the process. With each hard thrust, he ground against her clit, sparking undeniable arousal through her system.

  The couch moved and the floors groaned. A Secret Service agent stood outside the door. He could probably hear them, so Liz didn’t let herself cry out in pleasure…though she cared a lot less about Zack’s guard hearing than she should.

  “Don’t you fucking dare hold back on me.” His stare captured hers as he worked inside her, stroking and thrusting. “I know he’s out there, too, but he’ll keep his mouth shut. Pretend he doesn�
��t exist. Right now, there’s no one but you and me. I want to hear you come again.”

  He kept shoving deep inside her, holding nothing back. She held on for dear life because he was a force of nature, and like someone in the path of a hurricane or tornado, she was caught up in him.

  He picked up the pace. Her blood raced. Her heart chugged. Her fingers dug into his flesh as she lifted to meet him. Then she went over the edge, nails scratching up his back as her body stiffened with the pure pleasure at the orgasm sizzling through her. Zack shouted hoarsely as he seemed to lose all control. He shoved his cock even deeper inside her as he spent himself, sparking her system again.

  Moments later, Zack shuddered and fell on top of her, not moving to keep his weight off her or to pull away even an inch. He simply lay on top of her, his face buried in the curve of her neck.

  Between them, he cupped her breasts, one after the other, seemingly fascinated with the shape and feel of them, as he kissed her neck and nuzzled her cheek.

  She sank into the sweet moment between them, closing her eyes and absorbing everything—his heavy breathing, his hair damp at the temples, his heart beating against hers, finally in sync. For right now, in this moment, Zack was hers.

  Liz wrapped her arms around him, held him close, and prayed the night never ended.

  * * * *

  Mad walked into the kitchen at seven the next morning, following the delicious smell of coffee that hadn’t been made from instant crystals and didn’t have to be imbibed out of a tin can that also doubled as a handy vessel for shitty canned soup.

  He was so not going to miss the wilderness. If he ever went camping again, it would be at the Four Seasons. He would teach his kid that roughing it was building a pillow tent in a suite where they had twenty-four-hour room service.

  He stepped toward the coffee pot, then paused because he wasn’t alone. Sara sat at the breakfast bar, perched gracefully on a stool. She’d arranged her hair into a stylish, efficient ponytail. She had worn jeans and a simple T-shirt that molded to her rounding belly. She looked achingly beautiful to his eyes, and there was nothing more in the world he wanted to do than be close to her, stroke his hand over the place where their child was growing, and feel them both. Instead, he stood, watching her, afraid to move in case she scurried away again. He observed her picking at her bowl of yogurt and granola with a mug of what looked like herbal tea in her hand.