26. Jamie

The moment I see the Washington Monument through my windshield, something in me settles.

I love North Carolina. It's my home, and it will always be my home. I loved getting to spend the past month traveling around my district and meeting my constituents. One of my only true complaints about being in Congress is that I sometimes spend more time in DC arguing with my colleagues over the smallest things than being hands-on at home. But after a month away, I have to admit that I missed this swamp town.

It's a little surprising how much I did, actually. I've never really missed it during one of these long breaks before. Usually, I hardly spare the city a second thought, and a small part of me dreads coming back. But this time, I didn't have the same melancholic, homesick feeling when I crossed into Virginia. I was… happy, and I don't know what changed.

Except there's a small voice in the back of my head telling me that I do know what changed. It sounds remarkably similar to Mina when she told me I looked do-eyed and lovesick watching Adrian assist the miracle of goat birth. It's Adrian. That's what changed. Before, I had nothing tying me to DC other than my job. But now, there's Adrian, and fuck, I really missed him. It hits me almost like a truck.

I had waves of missing him over the past few weeks, of course. But I hadn't let myself think about it. I couldn't afford to. I didn't have the time. I knew if I let myself sit with that feeling, it would feel a lot like it feels right now, and there would have been nothing I could have done about it other than call him. I can do something about it now, however. So when I pull up to a red light, I quickly change the GPS on my phone to route me to the garage closest to Adrian's apartment.

Thankfully, because it's nearly 10:00 p.m., parking isn't too much of a nightmare. But with every minute it takes to get to his door, I get increasingly antsy. I'm also starting to feel the exhaustion from my drive, which makes for an unsettling combination.

Finally, his door comes into view, and I sigh in relief. I collapse the handle of my suitcase, then raise my hand to knock.

It takes about a minute, but then the door swings open to reveal my slightly rumpled looking boyfriend.

"Jamie?"

A warm feeling settles in my chest when I see him, and despite the exhaustion that's quickly settling in now that I'm no longer driving, I grin. "Hey darlin'."

He stares at me, his face unreadable. "Did you drive straight here?"

"Mmhmm." I set my garment bag down and take a step closer to wrap my arms around him. "I missed you."

It takes him a second to respond, but then his arms circle around my waist. "But it was only a few weeks," he says.

The words would sting if I didn't hear the pure confusion in them—like he really doesn't understand how I could miss him after a month. Instead, they make my heart hurt for him.

"It was a month, Adrian. Of course I missed you." I press a kiss to his hair, then pull back and look into his eyes so he has no room to doubt what I say next. "But, for the record, I missed you after about a day."

His brow furrows, and I immediately lean in to kiss it to smooth it out.

After a few seconds, his forehead comes to rest against mine. "I missed you too," he whispers.

I lift my chin to slot our lips together, and almost instantly, he sags against me. I missed everything about him—the way he fondly rolls his eyes at me, the look of pure devotion that comes over his face when he holds Joseph or Molly, his soft laugh. But I think this is what I missed the most. He's usually so guarded and in control of his feelings and mannerisms, but when we're alone, he completely melts into my touch. I don't know if he realizes he does it. Maybe he does. But either way, I'm obsessed with it.

I let the kiss linger for a beat, then pull away with a soft sigh.

"Should we go to bed?" he asks.

A yes is on the tip of my tongue. I've had a long evening and all I want is for us to crawl under the covers—preferably naked seeing as it's been a month. But I also could really use a shower. It wasn't a long walk from the parking garage, but it was humid as hell, so I can feel my clothes sticking to my skin.

"Actually, do you mind if I hop in the shower first?"

"Yeah, of course," he says, stepping back out of my arms.

Before he can get too far, I pull him back in. As much as washing the sweat off my body is calling to me, I don't really want to stop touching him long enough to do so. "Do you want to join me?"

An almost relieved look passes over his face—like he hadn't wanted to be apart from me either—before turning suggestive. "How did you put it that one time? Unless I'm sick, the answer to that is always going to be yes?"

I chuckle and let go of his waist in favor of taking his hand. "Come on, then," I say, pulling him with me and kicking my shoes off on the way.

I don't let go of him even once we've reached the bathroom. With my free hand, I turn on the water to let it heat, but then I tug him back to me.

Smiling softly, he reaches for the hem of my shirt, peeling it from my skin in a slow motion. I go to do the same, but he stops me for a moment. He glides his fingers along my skin, almost reverently, before ducking his head to place featherlight kisses along the top of my shoulder.

I let out a contented hum, then make another attempt to rid him of his shirt, which he allows this time. My shorts and his pajamas follow, then our boxers, and then we're stepping under the warm spray of water.

He wastes no time pressing himself along my back and dipping his face to kiss my neck again. Humming again, I hug his arms around me tighter, enjoying the warmth of his skin on mine while the water washes away the swampy humidity. We stand like that for a moment, until I feel him start to harden against my ass. My cock stirs with interest, and I give my hips an experimental grind back against him.

His breath falters for a moment before he resumes his attention to my neck, sucking gently this time. Encouraged, I press back again, and he lets out a low grumble. We haven't talked about the potential of him fucking me since the night we slept together for the second first-time. He said he went both ways, but he's never indicated any interest in it past that. He seems interested in it now, though. Or at least, his cock does, since it's filling up fast as I continue to grind back against him.

"Jamie," he murmurs, his voice coming out hoarse.

In response, I turn my head and press my lips to his. It's a little messy at this angle, but it pulls a moan out of both of us, anyway.

"What do you want?" he asks.

"You," I say, even though I know he's probably just going to ask me again. The problem is, I don't exactly know what I want.

"How do you want me? Like this?" He slides a hand down to press on my pelvis, holding me still as he grinds forward.

"Yes," I groan, letting my head fall back on his shoulder. "But also, I don't know if the shower is the best place to try anal for the first time."

"Probably not." He presses a gentle kiss on my neck. "The first time I fuck you, I want to be able to take my time—" he kisses my neck again—"spread you out and make you blush that pretty shade of pink."

Jesus Christ. My cock twitches, desperate for some sort of stimulation—and I'm pretty sure I let out some sort of whine as he gently nips at my skin with his teeth.

"But I could fuck your thighs," he continues.

I find myself eagerly nodding. "Yes, that, please," I say, only a little embarrassed at how needy it sounds.

"Brace yourself on the tile and press your thighs together for me."

The command is gentle, but it sends a zip up my spine, regardless. Okay, I'll be tucking that away for later.

I peel myself away from his chest and position myself as he said, even crossing one ankle over the other to keep my thighs tighter together for him.

His hand settles on my shoulder, then slides down my back as he presses himself behind me. "That's good. Are you ready?"

A soft moan escapes my lips. "Yeah, darlin'."

I feel his fingers on the back of my thigh as he positions himself, then a warm hand on my hip bone.

"Just let me know if you want me to stop, okay?" he says.

"I will," I promise.

Then he presses his hips forward. He moans as he sinks into the space between my thighs, and I can't help shuddering.

"Okay?" he asks, nosing behind my ear.

I nod. "Keep going."

It's a little weird, an entirely new feeling I can't really relate to any past sexual experiences. But I try to relax and welcome the feeling as he starts to thrust against me. He's slow at first, but picks up the speed after a moment, and I feel the first spark of pleasure up my spine as his hard length drags against my balls. Then his hand snakes around my front to grip my cock, and I groan.

His lips find the shell of my ear as he moans in response. "God, you feel so good."

I whine as he flicks his wrist the way he knows I love. "Adrian."

"That's right, baby. Give yourself over to it."

His breath ghosts across my skin, adding to the layers of sensory input I'm experiencing right now. I close my eyes, giving myself over to it like he said. I take in the water pelting against my side. His one hand on my hip, holding me in place as he fucks my thighs, and the other working over my cock. His breath tickling my neck as he continues to whisper praises in my ear.

I just let myself bask in the feelings.

My orgasm creeps up without warning. One second, I'm floating, then the next, I'm falling over a cliff I didn't even know I was near. With a surprised gasp, I spill over his hand, painting the tile in front of me. My body trembles as I sag against him. Behind me, he lets out a murmur of surprise, but his hand never falters as he works me through it. When I've recovered enough, he pulls his hand back to grip my other hip, holding me still as he speeds the snap of his hips.

With a still trembling hand, I reach back, covering one of his hands with my own, and a second later, he comes with a moan. I feel his warm release trickle down my thighs as he pants against my neck. I squirm a little, and he chuckles.

"Yeah, come running down your thighs is always a weird feeling. Here—" He kisses the back of my neck, then turns me around so I'm more under the spray.

Now that I'm no longer facing the wall, I wrap my arms around his neck and pull him in for a proper kiss. He molds himself against me, humming into the kiss for a beat before breaking it.

"So, was that—"

"Amazing," I say, cutting him off. "Ten out of ten would definitely do again."

He laughs, fondly shaking his head. "Me, too."

"But now, I want to cuddle horizontally. And while dry," I add.

"We didn't actually wash ourselves, though," he points out.

"Honestly, I kind of just wanted a rinse—and maybe some shower sex," I say, earning another laugh. "I'm just going to have to shower again in the morning before heading into the office."

"Good point. Then yes, let's get dry and go to bed. I'm sure you're exhausted from your drive."

I sigh. "I am."

He leans past me to turn off the water, then slides the shower curtain back just enough to get towels, but not let in too much cold air. "Your towel is the one on the bar," he says as he grabs the one from the hook.

"You kept my towel out?"

"I washed it, don't worry," he says as he runs the towel over his arms and chest.

I turn to grab it as I to suppress what would probably be a goofy grin. I know it's silly to feel all fluttery over a towel. But I was gone for a month, and he still kept my towel out. Not only that, he washed it and put it back, just so it would be ready for me. It feels like it means something.

Once we're dry, I wrap the towel around my waist and watch as he slips back into his pajamas.

"Do you want me to grab your suitcase so you can get dressed?" he asks.

"No, I'll get it. Go ahead and get into bed, darlin'," I say, giving him a peck on the cheek as I pass him. "I'll be there in a few minutes."

I quickly pad out into the living room, shivering slightly as the AC clashes with my still hot skin, and rifle through my suitcase for my toothbrush, phone charger, and clean boxers and pajamas. I get dressed in the bathroom, then brush my teeth.

I head back into the bedroom, and after I plug in my phone and set my alarm, I slip into bed next to Adrian. He smiles and switches off the lamp, then turns over to face me and lifts his arm so I can settle into him. And as much as I want to be the little spoon, it would require me to lie on my right side, which seems to make my reflux worse.

So I motion for him to turn.

"Big spoon today?" he teases.

"I wake up with less reflux when I sleep on my left side," I explain.

Suddenly, his face goes guarded again. "Has it been getting worse?"

"A little, but don't—"

"Please don't tell me not to worry," he blurts.

"Sorry," I say immediately.

He takes a calming breath. "No, I'm sorry, I just really hate that."

"I understand," I say, gently reaching out to hold his hand in the space between us. "Do you want to tell me what's bothering you?"

"I'm worried you aren't taking your reflux seriously. It's just…" He sighs. "With how frequent it is, it could be causing damage to your esophagus. It could also be a symptom of a bigger problem, which would explain why the antacids you take don't always help."

I let his words sink in for a long moment, then bring his hand to my mouth to kiss his knuckles. "I guess I just hoped that it would eventually resolve itself. I also really hate going to the doctor—like, it took Mina threatening to tell on me to my mother for me to make the appointment with my primary care doctor—so the idea of having to go see a specialist…" I kiss his knuckles again. "But you're right. I haven't been taking it as seriously as I probably should, and I'm sorry that it's been worrying you, darlin'."

"It's okay," he says quietly.

"I'll make another doctor's appointment as soon as I can. I promise."

He nods. "Thank you."

"You're welcome," I say, offering him a small smile. "Now turn over so I can cuddle you. I have a month of cuddle-less nights to make up for."

He huffs a laugh, but instead of following my instructions, he scoots closer, hooking his arm over my waist and tangling our legs together. Yeah, this works, too.