Her Anchor (85 page)

“Could you give me Jack Lawson’s room number?” I asked, sounding as nervous as I felt.

“I’m sorry, but we can’t give out room numbers.” She said. I exhaled a relieved breath, thankful that I was able to avoid the whole thing, but then she added, “But I can call up to his room on your behalf if you’d like.”

I forced a smile and gave her a brief nod, the mix of nerves and excitement churning my stomach.

She took my name and looked up Jack’s room. I strained to hear the brief conversation, but I couldn’t gain a single clue as to what Jack, or more likely his assistant, had said. Placing the phone back on the receiver, the concierge turned back to me.

“Mr. Lawson asked me to send you up. He is in room number 1201.”

I thanked her and made my way across the lobby to the elevator that would take me to the penthouse. I pushed the light for his floor and watched the numbers climb, hoping a kid would poke his head into the car and run his hand down the buttons, forcing me to stop at each floor and draw this ride out. Unfortunately, though, that didn’t happen and the doors dinged open on the twelfth floor mere seconds later.

The quiet of the hallway was maddening, creating a surge in my nerves. Standing before his door I took a calming breath before I knocked. Almost immediately the door was opened and instead of seeing an assistant I saw Jack standing on the other side.

I thought I had prepared myself for seeing him again, but being face to face with him I realized nothing would have properly prepared me. A powerful flood of emotions washed over me- passion, regret, guilt. I couldn’t stop myself from letting my eyes soaking him in. He was what remained of his dark suit. His jacket was off, tie discarded, shirt sleeves rolled at the elbows. His silky dark hair was tussled as if he had been running his hands through it. I smiled to myself as I recognized this look, as I had seen it many times. The signs of Jack Lawson in panic mode.

“Marie.” Jack’s voice was soft, and he too seemed to be taking me in. He leaned in and pressed a chaste kiss to my cheek. It was the most innocent gesture, but my skin ignited under his touch. “I can’t decide if it’s a surprise to see you or if it seems like it was inevitable.”

“I guess I know what you mean. Sorry to just show up like this. If I caught you in the middle of something we can always get together some other time.”

“No, not busy. Come in.” Jack’s appearance told me he was lying, but he stepped back and allowed me in.

The suite was huge, with a large common area, kitchenette, and doors leading to four different rooms. I did a slow circle as I took it all in. Jack watched me, amused.

“This place is unreal. It sure beats the dives we had to stay at back in the day. I guess you’ve made it to the big leagues.”

“Not quite.” He smirked. “I usually stay in one of the smaller suites when I’m in town, but since I’m going to be here more permanently I needed something with more space. One of those rooms is a meeting room, so my campaign manager, Greg, can be sure I have no excuse to leave.”

I looked around again and realized there was no staff in sight.

“Where is everyone? Judging by your dismantled suit I would say you were knee deep in a hectic day.”

He laughed, “Am I that obvious?”

“Absolutely. Don’t forget that I’ve seen this look on you many times before.”

Jack’s voice was low and his eyes skimmed down the length of my body, “I haven’t forgotten.”

The intensity of his stare sent warmth surging through me, making my stomach quiver. I met that reaction with the mixed feelings of earlier. I couldn’t forget the reason I was here.

“Really, though, if you’re busy I can go.”

“No, stay. I sent my staff away.”

“Everyone? Why?”

Jack didn’t answer. Instead he gestured to the large sitting area near the window on the far side of the room.

“Let’s sit down.” Jack led us to two chairs nearest the dry bar.

“Drink?”

It was only 2:00, but I nodded. That may be just what I needed to get through this. Jack fixed our drinks then came to sit in the chair adjacent to me.

“Why are you here?”

That was direct. But I shouldn’t have been surprised, Jack had always been one to cut to the chase. He could dance around a topic like any other politician could, but if he wanted to know something he didn’t mince words. I cut my eyes from him, looking out the window while I answered.

“I read that you were back in town. I thought we should catch up.”

“You thought we ‘should’ catch up? Like an obligation?”

“Don’t do that.” I said flatly.

“Do what?”

“Interrogate me. I’m not your opposition. I came here to see you. To talk to you. If you want to know more than that you can drop the act.”

Jack ran his hand through his hair and slouched back in his chair.

“You’re right. I’m sorry. I’ve been working crazy hours and I guess it’s starting to show.” Jack picked up his drink and took a sip. He smiled. “You know, not many people talk to me like that these days.”

“Well don’t expect me to be one of them. I quit kissing your ass the day you fired me.” I returned his smile, our easy bantering returning effortlessly.

“You still remember the time you did that?” He grinned.

I reached across and gave him a playful slap on his arm. “You and your dirty mind.”

“And I didn’t fire you. You refused to move.”

“Seems like you’ve been getting by without me just fine since then.”

“Yeah, I guess so. But let’s not get into all that. I let my staff have the rest of the afternoon off; I think I’m entitled to getting it off too. What about you, who are you working for now?”

“Not who, where. I work at Vinny’s.” I said, cringing at what he was going to say about that.

“Never heard of them. What sector is it in?”

“Food industry. Vinny’s diner on 54
th
. Best onion rings in town.” I faked a bright smile.

His eyebrows furrowed. “You’re working as a waitress?”

“Yep.”

“I thought you liked working in the public sector. The way things were going you could have had an executive position by now.”

“I needed something with better hours. Stable hours. Eventually I would like to get back into politics, but this works for now.” Not to mention that I couldn’t look for another position with one of his colleagues after he left because it would have drawn attention to my situation. Our situation.

When someone’s unwed assistant gets pregnant it doesn’t take too long for the rumours to start swirling. By the time I was ready to go back to work after having Will I realized that working the long hours required wasn’t conducive to having a baby at home. But I didn’t feel as though Jack needed to know that part just yet. “But if you get to veto talking about work, then so do I.”

“Fair enough. You wanted to catch up, so let’s talk about another subject you love instead. How’s your family?”

I rolled my eyes. “Still crazy. I haven’t talked to them in years. How’s your mother?”

“Still crazy, but unlike you, I talk to her more often than I want.” 

“It’s good to know some things don’t change. And your brother?”

“He’s finishing up law school. He still asks about you. He told me if I ever saw you again to give you his number.” I smiled at the thought of Jacks little brother. David had spent the summer working on Jack’s campaign staff the year I worked as his assistant. David and I were the same age and had lots in common and over the course of the summer our feelings for each other developed.

But whereas his turned romantic, my feelings for him were like a brother. I couldn’t fall for him when I already loved his brother.

I smiled. “David is sweet. I always liked him. I lost track of how many times he asked me on a date. He even asked me out the day he came down here to help you move.”

“He did? That little shit. And did you ever take him up on it?”

“No.”

“Why not?” Jack’s eyes focussed in on mine, their intensity burning into me.

I cut my eyes away from him. If he didn’t already know why I wasn’t going to tell him; the time to confess my feelings was long gone. I could feel his eyes still on me. Neither of us spoke for a moment. When Jack finally did speak the humour had left his voice, leaving only the deep rumble.

“You know, if you need a job I’m sure I can find you something on my staff.”

I turned to look at him again, finding a familiar unrestrained heat in his eyes. “That’s not why I came here. I don’t want anything from you.”

“That’s too bad,” Jack leaned forward in his chair, our knees touching, “because I was really hoping that’s exactly why you came here.”

He licked his lips and my body recognized the gesture. It recognized that predatory look. The way my body responded was as if no time had passed. When Jack reached out and his hand ran up the bare skin of my leg I forgot all about the reason I had come here. My skin tingled with the anticipation of what was to come and all I could think about was Jack’s hands on my body.

Still sitting, Jack reached for my hands and pulled me up. I came to him willingly. He positioned me in front of him far enough away that we were no longer touching. Letting go of my hands, Jack sat back in his chair again.

“Do you remember that little shithole motel we stayed at in Iowa?” I nodded. I remembered it well. We were stuck there during a storm on our way to a rally. We had two days to kill and we did so in the most creative ways. “Good girl. So do I, very well, and there’s one part that my mind keeps going back to.” One more lick of his lips. “Shirt.”

He commanded, a smile playing on his lips. He watched, understanding fill my eyes. He meant the part when he made me strip for him in the deserted lobby, the eagerness to please him spurring me on. The thrill of getting caught turning us both on. Under his gaze and with shaky fingers I readily unbuttoned my top and let it fall down my arms, still eager to please him.

“Bra.” He said next. I obeyed his order, reaching back and unclasping my bra. It too fell to the floor. His eyes burned a path over my exposed flesh. Liquid heat began pooling at my core.

“Skirt.” His voice was quieter now, eyes focussed. I obliged, watching him watch my hands drag my skirt down. I left it in a puddle on the floor. I straightened and let him rake his eyes over my body while my flesh pulsed.

Jack raised an eyebrow at me, “I see you’ve forgotten the rule.” I smiled at him, remembering the no-underwear-at-work rule we had created.

“It’s been a long time. I wasn’t sure if it still applied.”

Jack leaned forward in his chair and let his fingers dance up my thighs until they reached the scrap of silk. He tugged on them, bringing me close to him, “Always.”

Jack pulled them down my legs and pressed a kiss to the skin he had revealed. His slipped a finger past my swollen folds, smiling up at me when he was met with my wet heat. Gripping my hips, he guided me to his chair, my legs straddling him. His strong hands wrapped around my back and his mouth found its way to my breasts.

His teeth tugged at my engorged nipples. I arched into his touch, welcoming the nip of his teeth. I ground down onto his growing erection, my flesh aching to feel him in me. I wanted to finally feel him filling me after many agonizing months of only imagining it, but my needy clit only found minimal relief.

His teeth tugged one last time before pulling back. Jack reached down between us and slipped the button from his pants. I grabbed the back of the chair and lifted my hips, letting Jack move his pants down enough to pull out his thick erection. A ripple of desire quivered through by body and without waiting for further invitation I sat back down, letting the smooth tip of his cock push against my centre. Easing forward, I inched his cock further in. I took my time, letting myself savour the ache of him filling me. Jack captured my lips, his teeth pulling at my lower lip. His tongue lapped into my mouth, tasting, devouring.