Page 53 of Power Games

“Most children see their parents in a compromising position at some point in their lives; when I was twelve, I did. Only it wasn't just Mom with dear old Dad—my brother was there too. My mother came to me and explained that that was their relationship. Their normal. Then she told me to be careful with what I have between my legs because that's my power. She used hers exactly how she wanted. Theodore, she'd married to get ahead; my brother, she fucked for her pleasure. No pool boy for us; we McNamaras prefer to keep it in the family, so to speak. We don't technically know whether I'm Theodore's or Tristan’s. That was when I decided I'd better use other sorts of strength to go where I want to be. My voice, my brain, my hard work. Andyes,manipulation, too, when I must. I kept my pussy out of it. Back then, I decided I wouldn't make use of it until I got married. It served me well until now.”

Charles’ reply shouldn’t have surprised her. “And yet you'll marry me to get what you want.”

She smiled.

“Yes.” She was marrying him to get what she wanted: him.

She knew he was under the misconception that she wanted to be attached to the future president. It beat the reality: that she was irrevocably in love with a man who’d never been hers. That she’d seen an opportunity to help him, and to claim him. That she’d grabbed at it like it was a lifeline. That if she could do it all over again, she would. “But you aren't marrying me for my cunt, so, there.”

He seemed downright shocked at hearing that word come out of her mouth.

"Don't look at me like that. I'm a virgin, not a nun."

Charles pulled at the hem of her skirt, beckoning her closer. When she stood close enough, his hands grabbed her waist and pulled her up to sit her on his lap. She was straddling him. He kept her there for a beat.

"You're a terrible influence on me, you know that?"

She grinned.

"Hey, you're the one who suggested we should get used to some touching."

"Some," he echoed, his hands roaming up and down her torso, as if he had all the time in the world to explore it.

They never reached as high as her breasts and didn't venture lower than her waist either. Her core was liquid fire.

"I want to touch you. Hear you beg. Make you want so much more." He let his hands drop to his sides. "And it's wrong. Izzy died Saturday morning. I fucked her Friday night. Neither of you deserve so little regard."

She chuckled.

“So you think that because I’ve nibbled a little, I’dlet youtake me now?” Vanessa rolled her eyes. “The rules of my game haven’t changed, Charles. Only my husband gets inside my pussy, my mouth, or my ass.”

He groaned.

“That’s it. Move. Get out. Some of us have jobs to do. And do not ever say that to me again.”

She blinked innocently. “What part has you tied in knots, specifically? Mouth or ass?”

“Out!”

She left, laughing her ass off.

They were just fine, or they would be, eventually.

For a while, she’d doubted it. The way he’d looked at her on Saturday evening….

It had been so cold. She didn’t want to see it ever again.

20

Legacy

Vanessa came out of Charles’ office a lot more frustrated than she had been when she'd gone in less than an hour ago. Matt didn't say a thing, but she saw his expression. She rolled her eyes.

"Why do you disapprove so much, Matthew?"

The giant shrugged. "Didn't say a thing."

"Your job is to express yourself without a word," she reminded him.

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