Chapter Six

 

Two weeks sneaking around with Adam, and it had become my drug. Adrenaline flowed through my veins like heroin every time we were together.

An attack on a military base had brought the country to a new height of sensitivity and stress, and Adam had been working hard to come up with the answers America wanted, that America needed.

I was by his side, guiding him through the personal aspects, but felt helpless that I couldn’t offer any help with the strategic planning of protecting our country.

The meeting was one of many in the last two weeks, but the sexual urgency between us was stronger than ever.

He worked all hours of the night, mostly with the chief of staff to form a plan of action. There were multiple press meetings, and for each one I had to help create a sense of calmness, and trust for the people. We needed each other, more than ever, but there seemed to be no way to find the time to be alone.

“I’ve closed the borders,” Adam announced to everyone in the Oval Office.

It was a surprise to most, but not to me. We’d spent late hours texting, talking, and snuck a few moments alone where he unleashed his plans to protect our country against future attacks.

It was the right move. It was the only move. But it was one of the riskiest for his reputation.

“Just until we find out who was behind the attack, and from what I understand, that will be very soon. Possibly by end of day,” he said calmly.

His authority, his strength, and the calmness he exuded made me quiver with desire.

My eyes locked onto him, watching his lips move as he spoke, but not hearing his words. All I could think about was how they felt against my skin, on my neck, between my legs.

“Are you sure you want to isolate the country this way?” the secretary of state spoke up.

Adam smiled, a warm but weak smile. “I believe this is the only way not to isolate the country,” he said.

The press secretary was asking question after question, pushing for more details, ones that Adam was not willing to give. “You can talk to Quinn. She has everything you need,” he told him, causing every eye in the room to turn to me.

I felt uncomfortable, vulnerable, and as the VP rolled his eyes up and then down my body, I felt exposed.

There were moments, ones where Adam and I hadn’t been so careful. He was pleasuring me with his mouth, almost getting me to my edge of ecstasy when his Secret Service men had to interrupt for an abrupt meeting with the chief of staff. I knew they knew, especially since they’d delivered him to Rowena’s house that night so many weeks before.

If they knew, who else knew? Did everyone know, or at least suspect, that something was going on between us?

Michael glanced at me, his eyes narrow and disapproving. He knew. I knew he knew. I wanted to crawl into my own skin and disappear from all the prying, judging eyes in that room.

“How can she help answer these questions?” the press secretary pushed.

“She can help you answer the questions that will be asked. That’s why she is here. She is the best,” Adam said, his glance at me too long, too loving, too much.

“That is all I have for you right now. Hopefully, I can answer more questions later today,” Adam assured them, motioning for everyone to leave him.

I hated that our events, the ones where I was scheduled to be by his side, alone, had been canceled. This outburst of terrorism had been isolated to one event, but it was scary that it had made its way to a secured military base.

The country was in an uproar, feeling that there was no protection, and this new president, this young president, wasn’t doing anything to make it safer.

I knew the weight he carried on his shoulders, and my heart ached that I couldn’t be closer to him through it all.

I left the room with the rest of the advisors and staff that had clearance for the meeting. The press secretary grabbed onto my arm, pulling me to him for the details Adam had promised.

There wasn’t much I could offer, other than a way to avoid answering certain questions and how to answer the ones that were inevitable.

“Can I speak with you?” Michael asked, pulling me away from the intense drilling I was dealing with at the moment.

I walked with Michael down the long hallway lined with red carpet. We stopped in a secluded hallway, him pulling me aside. “Is there something going on I should know about?” he asked.

“What do you mean?” I asked.

His eyes rolled back into his head and he let out a sigh. “Seriously?” he asked, staring directly into my eyes.

“I will let you know anything that is important,” I said softly, knowing exactly what he was asking me.

“I think the information you are holding back could very well be very important,” he whispered loudly.

“I’m not holding back anything that matters. When it does, if it ever does matter, you will be the first to know,” I said, smiling, and quickly turning to walk back to the Oval Office.

Adam leaned against his desk. He was alone, not only physically, but in his lost world of thoughts. I hated it. I wanted to comfort him, to be there for him, but things were growing more and more complicated each day.

“We have to cool it,” I said quickly.

“Cool it? I’ve been taking cold showers for two weeks,” he chuckled, making light of the stress I felt.

“I’m serious,” I said sternly.

His eyes widened and filled with confusion. “What’s wrong? I’m doing everything your way,” he insisted.

“I think we are more obvious than we realize,” I explained.

He moved towards me as I backed up, pinning my back against the curve of the wall.

“You’re just paranoid. The situation right now has everyone on edge,” he stated.

He was right. But that didn’t change what I knew. What I knew, and couldn’t tell him. Michael knew—that was obvious—but Adam didn’t need that burden, not now.

“I’m not paranoid,” I replied.

He was pressed against me, pinning me to the wall with his arms on either side of me. Damn, he smelled so fucking good.

“I think you are,” he said softly.

“Your Secret Servicemen brought you to Rowena’s. They know,” I said.

He chuckled. “They are hired and trained to know nothing other than what they are told to know,” he said.

“For the right price, anyone will talk,” I snapped.

Adam pulled away, took a couple steps back, and stared into my eyes.

“I don’t want to lose you, Quinn,” he said softly.

I didn’t want to lose him, either. But I couldn’t live with myself knowing I caused him any harm. I no longer cared about my reputation. That’s the moment I knew I was in love with Adam Andrews, the president of the United States.