18. Spencer

CHAPTER 18

SPENCER

The bellman wheeled in the luggage cart and unloaded our bags, looking around suspiciously at the king-sized bed, the silver ice bucket holding a bottle of champagne, and the small unlit votives around the room. I was surprised to see them myself, if I was being honest. Vanessa had pulled out all the stops, and I'd have to give her a big hug.

The man left after I tipped him, and after he pulled the door closed, I looked at Nash standing silently near the wall. "Why do I feel like a virgin bride on her honeymoon?" His joke surprised me.

I chuckled. "Hey, I think I'm the virgin bride!"

Leading him toward the sitting area, I grabbed us each a bottle of water from the minibar and sat down.

I couldn't go through another week like the one I'd just endured. I'd thought losing the election had been the biggest hit to my psyche but losing Nash Lincoln had been a fatal blow to my heart, and my body simply refused to lay down and die. I knew I couldn't take another.

After swallowing a drink from the water bottle, I cleared my throat, staring at Nash to judge his reaction. He reached for my bottle and took a swig before handing it back, placing his bottle on the table.

"Those damn things are like ten bucks a pop. I'll share yours." He smirked and winked at me, lighting up my soul.

"You're worth ten bucks a pop if you want a water of your own, or you can share mine. Or you can have me . I need to know that Vanessa didn't bully you into doing this out of pity because I've had a shitty week." I put it out there because I wanted him, but not against his better judgment.

I knew Nash had boundaries about being with a married man, and I respected the hell out of him for it. I also knew that Vani thought his logic was bullshit because she and I had reached an agreement years ago about our marriage. At the end of the day, Nash had to live with his conscience, and I wouldn't be his biggest mistake.

The handsome man stared into my eyes, obviously seeking a truthful answer, and I was prepared to give it to him, regardless of the cost to me. "Ask."

"Are you still in love with Blaire?"

That was easy. "I was never in love with Blaire. Lust? Yeah, sure. Love? No, never. You, though, you're the first man I've ever loved. Like I said, I don't expect…"

"I'm in love with you as well, but…"

"I like your butt, but not that but. The fact you're in love with me is enough. Now, why did Vani book us this room, not that I'm complaining." A sweet smile bloomed on his face.

"I'm working the Christmas party tonight for Peters and Glass. Vani made the reservation for you to be here when I finish up, so I didn't have to take a car out to Great Falls. I guess she thinks she's moved me from my motel. I don't think it's a good idea for anyone to track me to your house." Nash's voice was laced with concern.

I leaned forward and captured his soft lips in a passionate kiss, teasing the seam of his lips with my tongue until he opened for me. He showed me the passion he had inside him by sucking on my tongue, just as he'd shown my cock the last time I'd seen him.

As our hands caressed the terrain of each other's body, I pulled Nash on top of me to continue the exquisite kisses. Every inch of the man was like a dream, especially those inches trapped in his jeans. I hoped to hell my dad bod could keep his interest and excite him enough so he'd want me the way I wanted him.

Nash pulled away and looked into my eyes. "You wanna flip for it?"

"No, I want to feel you inside me," I answered honestly. I hadn't bottomed for anyone in years, but for Nash? I'd turn myself inside out if it was what he wanted.

Nash glanced at his phone, turning back to me with a smile. "I have a few hours. How about we take a shower? My last residence had shitty water pressure."

It wasn't exactly what I wanted to do at that moment, but I wanted to be with him. If he wanted to get into the shower, hell, why not?

I had the privilege of peeling off Nash's jeans, a skimpy pair of briefs I was happy to find, and a thermal shirt that fit the man exquisitely. For a moment, I seriously considered keeping him in it. Of course, when I slid it off and saw his gorgeous naked body, I knew I'd made the right decision.

Nash took equal time peeling my clothes off before leading me to the large bathroom, turning on the shower to warm before he looked at me, an eyebrow raised in question. "Was this what you had in mind?"

I chuckled, trying at the same time to hold in my gut. My lack of breath alerted Nash to what I was trying to do, and he laughed as he began tickling my ribs. I finally released the held breath and giggled, something I hadn't done in years, squirming away from him enough to grab his hands. "Stop before I pee!"

We both laughed before Nash pulled me into the large, marble stall with him and held me in his arms. "You are sexy as hell, Spence. Don't think I'm not totally attracted to you, okay? I love every inch of you."

He kissed me and pushed me under the warm spray that surrounded us in the exquisite stall. There were at least ten jets and a rainfall showerhead over us. Kissing him under that deluge was like a dream come true.

I reached for the dispenser affixed to the marble to get shampoo, turning us so Nash was under the spray to wet his beautiful brown hair, intent on washing it. "So, this party, who's hosting it?"

Nash chuckled. "Well, I think the official host is Elouise Peters, the wife of the managing partner, but she used all of Sean Fitzpatrick's usual planners and staff, so it might as well be Sean hosting. He's the only person Naomi works for—or those who he approves—and I work for Naomi, so here I am."

I refused to judge him for his choice of vocation, but I believed he deserved to have a better job than just a catering server. But, then again, I'd damn sure rather have him tending bar or waiting tables at a private party than escorting anyone around town. That escort shit was far beneath him.

"Ah. Well, I'll be here when you're done." I was prepared to order room service, buy a movie, and relax in the room until Nash finished his job. Then, I planned to have him all to myself. That was my prize for patience.

Nash washed my hair, and after I rinsed it, he filled his hands with body wash, rubbing it over my less-than-impressive chest and down my body, stopping at my cock, which was jutting between us, seeking his attention.

"Looks like someone wants some love," Nash teased as he slid a slick hand over my erection, taking my breath away at the same time. I'd missed his touch, though I'd only felt it sparingly. It felt righter than my own.

" Gah !" I gasped as he continued to run his strong hand over my length before he filled his right hand with conditioner, not rubbing it into either of our hair. He slid it over my cock, and then he stepped forward and added his own hardness to the mix, nearly making my eyes roll back in my head at the sensation. If I died at that moment, my life would have been perfect.

Nash pulled me forward by my dick and I rested my arms on his shoulders. We were about the same height. He was more muscular, and younger—I couldn't forget he was younger.

His handsome face left me breathless as he continued to stroke us in tandem. My mind went numb at the sensation, and I shifted to use him for balance.

"Come for me, Spence," he whispered, the breathiness in his voice causing me to bite his lower lip because it was so fucking enticing.

"Not without you." I was finally able to groan as he sped up his ministrations which nearly had me on my knees. He applied the perfect amount of pressure, and my balls were aching to release in his hands, but I wanted him to come with me.

I reached out and placed my hands over his, the two of us stroking our joined pricks to the rhythm of our heartbeats. "I'm almost…" I gasped as I was overcome with sensations I'd never experienced in my life.

"Yesss!" He hissed as we both shot off between us.

I couldn't tell if he was holding me up or I was holding him, but as our mouths met under the rainfall showerhead, I knew in my heart if the man left me, I'd be broken. As crazy as it seemed, I sensed that he was where I was always supposed to end up.

The fact Vani knew it before me sort of pissed me off. Of course, I always thought the woman had a bit of an angel inside her, especially considering the shit that had happened to her over her life. Yes, she was definitely special, and the fact she brought Nash back to me was nothing short of a miracle.

I was reclining on the luxurious king-sized bed, watching a crime show while munching on room service popcorn while sipping a cold beer when my cell buzzed on the nightstand. I paused to dust off my hand with the napkin, feeling like I was on a mini vacation, and who the fuck would dare interrupt it? I picked it up to see a text from Nash.

You should come down for a drink. Your friend, Senator Turner is here with a young brunette who is definitely not Caroline—and he's hammered. XOXO

That information was enough to get me off my ass. I pulled on my jeans and a sweater I'd brought along, and I grabbed the open beer I'd been drinking, heading to the elevator. If Turner was fucked up, hell yeah, I wanted to see it.

I punched the button for the mezzanine level where the party was held in the large ballroom, skirting around the folks loitering in the hallway where a makeshift bar was serving cocktails to the guests.

I strolled over to the bar to trade my empty bottle for a full one, tossing a twenty at the pretty young lady who asked no questions. I skirted around the perimeter of the room to find Nash at the main bar.

There was a line of people in front of Nash and a young man I recognized from Sean's birthday party. The two of them worked easily together. I leaned against the wall to watch the two of them moving like a choreographed dance duo.

A live band played some standards, and there were a lot of people on the dance floor, but I could see Sean Fitzpatrick near the front of the room, and he was definitely unhappy. The target of his rancor—Frank Turner. Things were about to get a whole lot better in my life.

I watched the two men argue for a few minutes before Sean shook his head and walked away, heading toward where I was standing on the sidelines sipping a pilsner. When he spotted me, Sean smirked and walked straight in my direction, seemingly on a mission.

When he arrived where I was trying to hide, he laughed. "You're welcome to come in, Senator. I invited you and your lovely wife, but your aid called to give regrets."

A month ago, I'd have been pissed, but I found I didn't give one fuck about it. "I no longer have aids, Sean. What's that asshole's problem?"

I pointed the neck of my bottle in the direction of where Turner seemed to be losing his mind as a young woman tried to calm him down. It was comical to watch.

"Seems Caroline has fled the coop, and she's taken all the money with her. He's in a tailspin, and when I tried to remind him that he was in public with a sex worker who he was openly fingering at the table, he got pissed at me. I've always hated the prick anyway. Come have a drink at the bar with me?" Sean asked.

I glanced toward the bar where Nash was mixing drinks, seeing he was busy. "He's not going anywhere. We need to talk," Sean suggested.

I retrieved my phone from my pocket and sent Nash a text that I'd be at the bar downstairs. I followed Sean Fitzpatrick to the elevator, seeing him press the button to take us to the first floor.

"So, what's new in your world? I'm sure you know all about what's new in mine." The door opened and several people exited the car, greeting Sean. He vowed to return in a moment after getting some air, and the door closed.

"Spence, you and I would make very strange bedfellows to most people, but I think we're the perfect pair." I stepped back from him, surprised when he laughed.

"Not that way, you narcissist. I know you're in love with Nash, and please, keep him out of the widows' beds. He's too good for that shit. No, I mean, I want you to come work for me. You could talk a dog off a meat wagon, and that's what I need.

"Even with this scandal, which will die down as soon as word hits that Caroline Bering-Turner was a madam in DC and she's taken all of Turner's assets with her to wherever the fuck she ended up, you're off the front page and not even a footnote in the obituary section. Believe it or not, this current disaster trumps your shit in spades. How's Vani?"

I chuckled. "She's moving to New York after Christmas. She has a job for a large real estate management company waiting for her. The split will be amicable. Why would you want to hire me?" It was out of left fucking field, to be sure.

We settled at a small table in the back corner of the lobby bar, and Sean ordered two beers for us. The bartender nodded and a minute later, the cold bottles were delivered, and my empty was whisked away.

Sean held up his beer in a toast, so I touched mine to his before we both took a swig. After he swallowed, Sean smiled at me. "You were like fucking Captain America before those pictures hit the papers, you know? Young, good-looking, Mr. Boy-Next-Door. A country boy who worked his way up the political ladder and ended up in the Senate. I bet the Judge wanted you to become President, didn't he?" Sean was referring to my father.

I chuckled. "You've done your homework."

"I happened to come across an opposition paper on you from your opponent. She commissioned lots of research on you, Spence. She didn't use it—blatantly—but she knew all about your past."

My opponent, Shirlene Biggins, was an up-and-comer in the Republican party. She was thirty-six and married to a doctor. They had one child, and Shirlene rode the moral high ground on a large white steed—no abortion rights, no gay rights, no civil rights. She was exactly what the former president wanted in a woman, and sadly, with the scandal I'd brought on myself, she beat me handily when my colleagues turned their backs on me—especially the Democratic Governor. That was a hard pill to swallow.

"So, again, I ask why you'd be interested in having me work for you?"

A man like Sean always had an ulterior motive for doing anything. He was too fucking successful not to.

Sean chuckled. "Shirlene Biggins had an affair with Andrew Bennett when they both worked for the Attorney General in Virginia. She blackmailed him into not coming to your defense during this scandal, Senator. She's got a big hand behind her, and I don't know who it is, but it was enough to scare the fuck out of Bennett.

"Come work for me, and we'll figure it out together. Get back to me after the first of the year, and please, don't dick Nash around anymore. He's a good kid, and he's an honest bartender, which is hard to find."

Sean finished his beer and left me at the table alone. He walked to the bar and spoke to the bartender as he pointed to me. The guy nodded and Sean left with a wave and a smile.

I wasn't exactly sure what happened, but I had a job offer I hadn't expected. Maybe things were looking up? I could only hope so.