Green was normally very adept at adjusting to a conversation and then moving it in the direction he wanted it to go. But with the senator it wasn’t as easy for him — she was a great match to his wit. There was something about her he hadn’t expected, and he found it actually interested him.
As the meal came to an end and the obvious point of sitting and socializing in that setting passed its time, the senator looked over to Green and stated, “I’d like to continue this evening. There’s a private wine bar not far from here that I’m a member of. Would you like to join me?”
It might’ve been formed as a question, but Green knew if he didn’t go, there’d never be another invitation of any kind from her. This evening had to go a very specific way and he needed to walk a razor thin tightrope. He agreed — taking one for the damn team.
They were driven to a wine bar, a member-only establishment and those members were paying a high price for that exclusivity. A bar made of African blackwood with sandalwood inlays, surrounded by deep leather high-backed barstools, was the centerpiece of the place. The Brazilian rosewood flooring was polished to a high shine. High-top tables had two to four seats surrounding them with candle centerpieces and low-hung crystal chandeliers. The atmosphere screamed money, and the members wore clothes that likely cost more than most people’s mortgage payments with jewelry that cost as much as the house.
They were in the center of the room when a voice called out to Senator Miller, making an audible hush throughout the room as people turned to look at the could-be President of the United States walk inside as if she owned the place, her arm in Green’s. They wanted to know who he was — and it was more than obvious she loved making them wait.
“Madam President,” another voice said, obvious enthusiasm in her voice. Senator Miller had a loyal following, that was for sure, and a lot of people who were willing to buy her stories.
“Hello everyone. Thank you for the warm greetings,” the senator said. “But I don’t want a fuss. I’m just here with my friend to have a quiet drink or two.” She was smooth with her words, letting them know they were important to her, but she wanted time alone. She did it without offending anyone in the room.
“This is my friend, Hendrick, and we’re going to take the Mariner room as I need to talk shop for a bit. After that I’ll join you at the bar to tell some stories about who caught the biggest fish.” She finished her sentence with a fake laugh, causing the patrons in the room to chuckle along with her.
“You enjoy yourself, Senator,” someone said.
“Yep, looks like it’s you who caught the biggest fish tonight,” another piped in.
“I just might have,” Senator Miller whispered in Green’s ear. A shudder rippled through him. He wasn’t sure if it was one of desire or revulsion. Maybe a few more drinks would let him know.
The Mariner room had a couch running along the back wall with an oversized chair on each side of it. Well-placed shelves were filled with leather-bound books, and multiple small tables were around each seat with a coffee table on top of the silk Persian rug.
“Please, have a seat on the couch. I’m going to grab a couple bottles of wine and some glasses. Do you prefer red or white?” she asked plainly. After the restaurant he was surprised she was asking.
“I don’t drink much wine, but I liked what we had at the restaurant,” Green said. It was an outright lie. He drank plenty of wine to know exactly what he did and didn’t like.
“I’ll be right back,” she replied, then walked away.
Green had to admit her curves from the backside were just as flattering as those from the front. Maybe there was more to this woman that he’d given her credit for. She was definitely power-hungry, which had always excited him. Beyond that, he wouldn’t mind bragging to the boys he’d bedded the, possibly, first female president. A little skip in his normally steady heart rate made him realize it had been far too long since he’d last had sex.
He remembered he’d turned off his phone and pulled it from his pocket while he had a minute alone. There were a couple of dozen messages, but the last one popped up; Lost comms, please confirm all is well. Smoke is trailing you, but not inside.
All is good. Don’t wait up.
He turned off the sound again and placed his phone in his pocket before he could get a response. It was tucked away just as the senator entered the room, carrying two bottles of wine and four glasses, and sporting a big smile.
“Is someone joining us?” Green asked innocently, already knowing the answer.
“What?”
“There are four glasses. Are you expecting anyone else?”
The senator gave a quick laugh at the obvious lack of Green’s experience in fine wine drinking. “No, these are two different types of wine. We don’t want to mix them when drinking. It changes the flavor profile.”
Green knew the custom and also knew if anyone had drunk an entire bottle of wine themselves their taste buds wouldn’t care if a different type of wine was poured into the same glass. He might be worth millions but his pragmatic ways from growing up poor had never left him.
Senator Miller slid the heavy curtain closed, encasing them, the low murmur of voices all but disappearing. The senator walked over, sat next to him, poured two glasses of wine, then gave a long exhale as she leaned back, kicked off her shoes, ruffled her hair out, and pulled four well-placed clips from hidden parts of her locks. “This is more like it. Let’s truly get the evening started.”
“That sounds great.” Green said with laughter as he loosened his tie and undid the top button of his shirt as well as his cuffs. He mirrored her body position and leaned back against the couch, making himself comfortable.
“That won’t do. Stand up,” ordered the senator as she stood.
Green gave her a quizzical look, not understanding what she wanted, but he stood in front of her, easily feeling the tension in her body. She reached out, finished untying his tie, then threw it on the seat next to them. He raised a brow but didn’t say a word. He liked a confident woman who wasn’t afraid to go after what she wanted. She slid off his jacket, threw it onto the same spot, all while looking into his eyes. Green was very aware he could have anything he wanted from her right then and there. She was his in that moment — did he want what she was offering?
“What do you want from me, Anna?” Green whispered, as if he was confused. She obviously was turned on by weak men. It was difficult for him to play that part. The senator playfully bit at the corner of her bottom lip. He wondered how far he would allow this to go. But the senator wasn’t ready to quit playing games. She stepped back from him, sat back down with a sigh, picked up her glass, and took a long draw of bright red wine.
“What I want is to be able to do what I want when I want without thinking of the four hundred things that might, or might not, happen with each choice I make. What I want is to have you strip me down right here and now and ravage my body until I cry out in ecstasy over and over again. I haven’t had a good fuck in almost two years and men who look like you do not come around very often,” she said, taking another large gulp of wine. “But I can’t have sex behind a curtain because of those four hundred things that might, or might not, happen if I let go for even a moment . . . and the dozen people in the other room. My life is public, and I’m never allowed to forget that.”