“Well, if it’s a dream,” he said, dipping his face down and kissing her, “don’t wake me up.”

Chapter 11

A BRIGHT FUTURE

An article appeared in the papers the next day with a picture of Liz and Brady kissing at the airport. Another featured him picking her up and holding her against him. Liz flipped through the article on Brady’s iPad as she lounged in his bed.

She wasn’t surprised to see her face there anymore. They had both anticipated that happening. Brady had let Heather know about the airport ahead of time, but she still wasn’t pleased. Liz was certain that she could never do anything right in Heather’s eyes. And at the moment, lying in bed next to her boyfriend in his penthouse . . . she really didn’t give a fuck.

“I like that they’re still toting that quote from Heather,” Liz said absentmindedly to Brady.

He’d had Heather make a statement about Erin’s accusations regarding their relationship. They had thought it would be better not to go on the defensive and just make it clear that nothing had happened. The statement read, “Congressman Maxwell never had illicit relations with Ms. Dougherty while dating Ms. Edwards. The details of their split were not made public to protect Ms. Edwards’s privacy and for no other reason.”

The papers had circulated it over and over again. It was still showing up a couple days later. People wanted to know more, but so far the campaign hadn’t agreed to say anything else. Liz certainly wasn’t going to spill.

Besides two kisses, she and Brady really hadn’t done anything. They’d just agreed not to bring those kisses up. Since they hadn’t gone anywhere it more or less was irrelevant. They wanted to keep it that way.

“Mmm,” Brady said, tapping away on the MacBook in his lap. “Heather’s good at her job.”

“So are you.”

Without taking his eyes off the screen, he moved his left hand over to her thigh and started working his way up her leg. “I have a job for you.”

“Why do I have a feeling this is going to be sexual?” Liz asked.

“Would you deny me if it was?” Liz waited before answering. Brady turned to look at her with a raised eyebrow. “Well?”

“No,” she conceded. She would give him whatever he wanted.

“I didn’t think so.” He placed his computer on the nightstand, grabbed her by the thighs, and slid her flat on the bed. Liz handed off the iPad and then wrapped her arms around Brady’s neck. He kissed her deeply on the lips and she sighed into him. This was bliss.

“It’s so good to have you here,” he told her.

“I think I could get used to this.”

They stayed like that for a while, lost in each other’s kisses. She pressed her body firmly against his and let her hand trail down his six-pack. Every muscle was defined. Every inch smooth and beautiful. She reached the V that dipped down into navy blue boxers. He sucked in a breath as she fluttered her fingers against the skin.

“If you keep this up, we’re not going to get anything done today.”

“Who said I wanted to get anything done?” she asked, lowering her lashes and giving him a devious smirk.

“And I thought I was the demanding one.” He kissed his way down her jaw. “Though I did have some surprises set up for you. If you want to lie in bed all day, far be it from me to deny you your wish.”

His mouth had reached her collarbone and she felt his tongue flick out and caress her skin. She shivered.

Her brain didn’t really comprehend what he was saying. Surprises. Something about surprises. Or lying in bed all day. Mmm . . . sex. His mouth hit her shoulder and his hand reached under her shirt to fondle her breast. She arched into his hand and forgot everything else he was saying.

He pinched her nipple hard enough for her to gasp. Expertly, he pulled her shirt over her head and brought the hardened nipple into his mouth. Her body came to life under his touch even after the marathon they’d had last night. Her lower half was sore from the exertion, but she didn’t seem to care as he turned her on all over again. She didn’t think she could ever get tired of this man.

He released her only to remove a pair of pink boy shorts she had slipped on last night. His boxers landed in the pile with her clothes on the floor and then he was hovering over her body, positioning himself between her legs. She lifted her hips to meet him and brought her legs to either side of his hips.

She urged him forward and then he filled her, sliding all the way into her with ease. “God, you’re perfect,” she groaned.

“Far from it, baby,” he whispered, pushing her hair back from her face.

“Perfect for me.”

And then they were moving together. In and out. Pushing forward. Taking their time and indulging in the feel of being perfectly in tune with another person. Nothing was rushed; every touch, every movement had meaning and purpose. They were pushing each other to new highs, gasping for breath and arching to get closer and closer to that complete oneness. It was like their two bodies had been made for each other, molded out of the same substance, born to lock together and go through this dance called life.

Liz’s fingers dug into Brady’s back leaving raw red marks as her nails scratched the surface. His hand wrapped around her middle and pulled her to a sitting position. Their lips locked all over again as he started bouncing her up and down on top of him. She felt him hit new depths, and she had to hold back her screams as he filled her over and over again.

The heat built between them. Sweat beaded their bodies. Brady grasped her hips and forced her down harder and harder. She felt the orgasm tear through her body all at once as he hit her in the exact right spot. She couldn’t hold back and released the cries, yelling out his name to the city beyond the glass windows. Brady followed soon after and they both were left gasping for air, riding out the endorphin high.

They lay together in bed for a long time after that, snuggling in the tangled sheets, and listening to the sound of each other’s heartbeat and the gentle hum of their breaths mingling.

Once they finally got out of bed, they took a long, hot shower and changed into fresh clothes. Liz was considering dragging him back to bed when he scooted her out of his place.

Frankly, she loved that they could go out together—even if there were reporters who wanted to photograph them together. She would put up with any of this to be with Brady.