Page 290 of Innocent

Chapter Fifty-Six

The next morning, I start the day off with a call to Casey, asking a personal favor of her, one I need kept secret.

She snorts after hearing me out, amused, but agrees to do it. “Forgive me if I don’t tell George about this,” she snarks. “That damn sadist doesn’t need any new ideas to inflict upon us.”

When we arrive at campaign headquarters that night, the detail already knows that we’ll need privacy in Casey’s office, and why.

Well, a vanilla reason why, not the kinky reason.

Elliot has no clue. Neither do the other campaign staffers, who have not been told what’s going on.

Not their business, frankly.

We file into Casey’s office and I shut the door behind us. Elliot looks adorably confused when he spots the strange guy standing next to Casey.

“What’s going on, Jordan?” Elliot asks.

Casey clears her throat. “Mister Vice President, this is Ed Olliver. He’s a body piercer at a well-known tattoo and body mod studio here in DC.”

The man broadly grins and steps forward, hand extended. “Vice President Woodley, it’s an honor to meet you, sir. I voted for President Samuels both times, and I’m voting for you, too.”

Elliot is always quick to pretend he knows what’s going on, and he shakes with the guy. “Thank you very much. I appreciate it.”

“He’s signed an NDA,” Casey tells Elliot. “He was highly recommended to me by several Congressional staffers as someone who is impeccably discreet, and with a very…unique clientele.”

I finally speak up to help ease Elliot’s growing confusion. “I’m getting another piercing.” I take Elliot’s hands in mine and gently squeeze, dropping my voice to a whisper. “Left leads, right receives. I’m getting a daith in my ear.Youpick which ear it goes in.”

“Wait, what? What’s a daith?”

I turn to Ed. “Can you explain it to him, please?”

“Sure.” He has his own in each ear, among other piercings, and then offers a selection of different captive bead rings for Elliot to choose from.

Elliot looks at me. “I’m picking?”

“Yes. It’s subtle enough few people will likely even notice I have it. Those who do, I’ll tell them it’s for migraines. Some people swear it helps with them.”

“Really?”

Casey nods. “Really. That’s why Secret Service thinks he’s getting it.”

I’m looking Elliot in the eyes as I say it. “Youpick which ear you want me to wear it in,” I repeat. “Owner, or owned. And you pick the ring you want me to wear. It’s a captive bead ring, meaning it doesn’t come out. It always stays in. Just like my others.”

His nostrils flare a little, his pupils growing larger as he stares into my eyes and full comprehension finally slams into his brain.

I know he now understands what I’m offering him, especially in light of his admission last night.

“Right ear,” he whispers. “I want it in your right ear.”

I smile. “Yes, Mister Vice President,” I whisper back, tipping my head to him the way he tips it to me and Leo.

He reaches down and adjusts himself in his slacks before taking my hands again.

“I want one, too,” he blurts out. “In my left ear. The same ring.” He swallows hard. “Matchies,” he adds, his voice thick with emotion. “And I…get migraines, right? Everyone knows that. They know I get migraines.”

I glance over at Casey and motion with my head toward the guy.

She’s always quick on the uptake. She touches the guy’s shoulder. “So, whatisthis thing?” she asks, pointing at what I know is a small, portable autoclave sitting on her desk behind them.