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“Jacinta is running late from a finance committee meeting, and Shawna is on her way with Neya and your outfits.”

“Good. I need a few moments without thinking about this wedding.” Or sex with your brother, I wanted to add but decided to keep that bit to myself.

“Did something happen?”

I drank down the whole glass and then answered, “This media attention is a bit overwhelming. I can’t burp without someone picking it up on a high-definition microphone.”

Sam snorted and then laughed. “Can you imagine how many times they’d replay the sound bite? I suggest you keep those type of bodily functions under wraps. Wait until they follow you into the bathroom.”

I glared at her but smirked, holding my glass up for a refill. “You are so not funny. At least people would think I’m human and not the robot some of the news agencies have dubbed me.”

“They stopped saying that after they got those pictures of Ash staring at you during the inaugural ball. They do call you him Achilles’ heel.”

“Whatever,” I grumbled.

Sam filled my flute to the top and returned the bottle to the chilling bucket. “Besides, those are tabloids. Who cares?”

“I do. You, Miss Celebrity Attorney with all of Hollywood begging to be your client, know how to use the spotlight to your advantage. I, on the other hand, come out looking like a frosty bitch because I refuse to throw them a bone.”

“Former celebrity attorney. I’m a respectable United States senator now.” Sam took a sip of her drink.

“Does Devin know this? If I recall, I’m the one who caught you two fucking on the couch of my newly renovated office. I think you scarred me for life. You’re lucky it was only me and not Ashur who walked in on you.”

Sam waved her hand as if it wasn’t a big deal and sat down on a burgundy-fabric-covered armchair. “It’s not like it would be the first time this happened to Ash. Besides. I hadn’t seen my hubby in weeks with both our crazy travel schedules. I am the mother of two toddlers that suck every ounce of energy out of me the moment I step foot into our house, so we have to get it when we can.”

“See this face.” I pointed to mine. “No sympathy whatsoever. I feel like my brain needs to be bleached of the memory.”

“Just you wait. One day you and Ashur will want a quickie between meetings and running the country, and you’ll willingly risk someone catching you for a round of hot sex.”

I collapsed on a white couch across from Samina and set my feet on the mirrored coffee table.

The idea of sex with Ashur brought heat to my core. I knew from past experience, he was an incredible lover. I’d given him my virginity as a barely grown girl with stars in my eyes. Even then, there was always a way about his presence that made my body burn with a need to be touched. Now it was even more intense than before. The barest sound of his voice and my cleft flooded with desire.

Maybe I should have jumped him. Then I wouldn’t feel this pull for him every time I was near him.

I snorted inside. Who was I kidding?

Once Ashur and I started the sexual aspect of our relationship again, there was no doubt we’d fuck every chance we got. We’d probably give Samina and Devin a run for their money.

The last year and a half had built on a sexual undercurrent that had always existed between Ashur and me. I’d pretend to feel nothing and keep a “too cool for school” attitude. But everyone around us could feel the tension, especially Ashur. There was always a slight tug at his lips that would tell me he noticed my reaction to him. Something that made me want to punch him and kiss him.

God, I hadn’t kissed him in forever. Yes, I’d pecked him for a brief moment in front of the media but nothing intimate. Not even during our quiet civil ceremony in his office. The sad part was that even the barest graze of his lips caused me to want to throw caution to the wind and seal the deal.

Thankfully, Ashur had kept to his word about keeping our relationship platonic until we “officially” married.

Sex would complicate things in a way that I worried I wouldn’t be able to keep things unemotional. Physical intimacy was something I shared with a person I loved, and I could never mistake what would happen with Ashur as anything other than quenching sexual need.

Ashur had made it clear love was something he’d never feel for me again. I’d ripped his heart in two, and he’d never gotten over it.

Shit. Why am I wallowing in this? I know what I’ve agreed to. Hell, I was the one who drew up the contract.

“Ahh, I got you thinking. Please do me a favor. Lock the door whenever I’m around. No matter what I say. I don’t want to see my brother boning one of my best friends.”

Thank God for Sam. She had a way with words that kept me from thinking too much.

“Don’t worry. The Secret Service would stop you before you encountered a surprise.” I glanced at Casey, who was pretending he hadn’t heard anything we’d talked about.

“I’m sure they have plenty of stories to tell but are sworn to secrecy.” Samina studied me as she made her comment. “Tara, I have a question for you.”