All of that had changed with the entrance of Liz into his life. He had never thought that anything could replace his dreams of becoming president. When he had fallen for her, he had fought tooth and nail to keep his life exactly how it was. But he couldn’t do that with Liz. Without even meaning to, politics slid down a spot, and she became his number one priority.

Liz was still sleeping when he woke up on Election Day. Her bare chest was pressed firmly against him and her head nuzzled his shoulder. An ache throbbed in his groin at the sight of her nearly naked in his bed. Exactly where she belonged.

He was seeing the spark of a new Election Day tradition.

“Baby,” he growled into her ear. He ran his hand demandingly down her side, under the covers, and onto her thigh. She roused softly and he felt himself harden further as her body moved against him.

“Brady,” she whispered.

His hand slipped in between her thighs and brushed lightly against the black lace boy shorts she had worn to bed. He preferred when she slept naked, but he couldn’t keep himself from wanting to fuck her all night. The panties didn’t help all that much, though. He had ruined a few pairs.

“Mornin’,” he muttered. He rolled her onto her back and brought his lips down hard on hers. She responded with the fervor that always exploded from their kisses. He couldn’t get enough.

“Someone is in a good mood.” Her blue eyes were alight and he could see the need evident in them.

He bent down and nipped at her neck. The moan that escaped her lips urged him on. “I love your body.” And he let his hands worship the soft, smooth skin of her breasts, down her flat stomach, to her hips.

His thumbs hooked around the boy shorts and he eagerly dragged them to her feet. She squirmed under his scrutiny, but held his gaze, ignoring any self-consciousness. He had forced that out of her. Or maybe he had just opened her up to what was already lying dormant inside of her.

“Make love to me,” she whispered.

Fuck! The way she said that. The way she pleaded with her big blue eyes. Begging was a particular weakness for him. And some days he just wanted to fuck her senseless when she opened her mouth and asked for it. But he could make love to her. He wanted to. God, he loved her.

Love sliced through him. It held on tenaciously, never giving up even when he had wanted to give up. It didn’t care about the past, present, or future. And every day that he held on to that searing emotion, he felt as though he was finally living.

He kissed up her thighs and she whimpered at the tender caresses. He would take his time with her, savor every inch of skin, her eager pants of pleasure, her body as it responded so perfectly to his commands.

He spread her wide and slowly slid his fingers into her. She was already wet and needing him, tightening around him, trying to fill that ache. He slid in and out and in and out until her eyes rolled back and her body struggled for release. Then, when he felt her dying for it, he leaned forward and flicked his tongue against her clit. Another groan left her mouth, encouraging him, and he feasted on her body until she came apart at the insistence of his mouth.

Then he discarded his boxers and readied himself before her opening. Her eyes fluttered back open when he pushed her legs even farther.

“God, yes,” she said in the same breathy voice she got right after orgasm. “Take me.”

So he did. He slid his cock all the way into her, grasping her hips in his hands and pushing just a little bit farther.

“Fuck,” she cried.

“You feel so fucking good, baby.”

He leaned forward over her, brushed her hair out of her face, and brought his lips down to her. They kissed tenderly as he started up an easy sensual motion. He could do this all day. Who needed the election? He had his prize already.

She broke away with a gasp, her body arching back as she tried to get him deeper. “I take it back,” she whispered. “Fuck me.”

He nipped at her earlobe and thrust once fiercely into her. “I’m sorry. I didn’t hear you.”

“Please. Please fuck me,” she pleaded. She already knew that was what he wanted from her. “God, I want you.”

“Like this?” he crooned, starting up a quick pace. Their bodies slammed together. All he could hear was her encouraging pants, and the smacks of skin on skin.

She bit out one word. “Harder.”

Well, he could fucking oblige her.

He grabbed her leg, threw it onto his shoulder, and then pushed into her deeper. The feel of her so tight around him nearly made him lose it, but he wasn’t going to finish without her. She was so damn close. He thought she might come at any moment, and he loved to get her at least twice.

“I love you,” she said, reaching out and digging her nails into his shoulders.

“I love you too, baby.”

He felt the tension burst out of her as she pulsed around him. He had no control in that moment. She sucked the life right out of him. He grunted, collapsing over on top of her as he emptied himself within her beautiful body.

They lay like that together until it was clear that their busy schedule was going to interfere with Brady’s request for round two. After a quick shower, Brady put on a fresh suit with his favorite blue tie. Liz appeared out of the bathroom like a vision. Her wavy hair had been straightened, her blue eyes were bright, and the white dress she had chosen was modest but fit her perfectly. He knew what was lying underneath it and he couldn’t wait to get his hands back on it.

He pulled her toward him. “Your mother was right. You look great in white.” She blushed at the compliment. “I can’t wait to see you walking down the aisle toward me on our wedding day.”

“You’re just excited about the lingerie afterward.”

“I’m excited for you to become my wife and take my name,” he said, running his finger around the diamond ring on her hand. “We have the rest of our lives for everything else.”

He kissed her tenderly before they exited the house together. He wouldn’t have minded taking the town car to the polling location, but following tradition, they got into his Lexus and drove into town.

A camera crew greeted them when they arrived. Brady had warned Liz that one would likely be there to ask a few questions after he cast his ballot. Standard protocol.

“So,” he whispered as they got into line behind a little old woman with a cane. “Who do you plan to vote for?”

Liz giggled and shook her head. “You’re silly.”