Page 136 of Release

Besides, Declan is totally fried after barely getting any sleep this last week because of obsessively crunching numbers every time he turns around. George is too anxious to be horny. We all need a “down night” to prepare ahead of tomorrow.

Personally, though, everything is copacetic with me and my two guys. I don’t think George has told Declan the content of our talk, because Dec hasn’t said anything to me about it and I think he’d at least call me out for obfuscating my role in Junior’s death.

I opted not to have George make a lap around the state today. We’ve got plenty of surrogates across the state stumping for him at local get-out-the-vote events, and I’ve got George doing on-air interviews with newspapers, and TV and radio stations from around the state, as well as three national cable news appearances.

It means that, today, once George and the kids publicly vote at their local polling place—reported by the TV stations, of course—we head over to our campaign headquarters to get started waiting.

Declan is in war room mode. He has a large whiteboard up, posted so any media outlets who come in to interview George can’t see and film it, and is noting exit polling numbers in the locations we’re most concerned about.

But he’s run the numbers, the consultants ran the numbers, and unless George somehow loses Nashville, Memphis, Chattanooga,andKnoxville, it won’t be possible for him to lose today.

Still, our routine is to never count our votes before they’re cast, and not to jinx things by looking cocky and assuming we’ve got it in the bag.

I stand to the side today, watching Declan in what is most definitely Alpha Declan mode, and how he shines at what he does. I’m beyond proud of him.

I catch George watching him, too. He’s most definitely proud of Declan, and it’s killing him he can’t publicly acknowledge Declan’s place in his life right now. I think with the three of us finally finding our groove together, that will go a long way to smoothing life for both of them over the next four years.

I kind of hope George will announce their romance not long before the end of his second term so he can have their wedding at the Tennessee Residence. I can plan to have Declan submit his resignation before then, so we can avoid the appearance of any impropriety on George’s part.

Except as the day goes on, and I pay close attention to them, especially George…

Maybe I should take care of that sooner rather than later. He keeps rubbing his wedding band with his left thumb, a nervous tic he never used to have but developed after his return. He watches Declan today with an intensity that melts me in the process.

I don’t understand how peoplecan’tsee he loves Declan.

Whenever George’s gaze locks with mine today, he gets an evil little smile that makes me smile in return. We’re co-conspirators in more than one way, I suppose.

His monsters play well with mine.

Twenty minutes before he’s supposed to be interviewed by FNB, he calls me into the conference room to talk, alone, and locks the door. Thankfully, there are no windows in this room, because he puts me up on the table, pulls my panties off me, hikes up my skirt, and fucks my brains out.

Damn, I needed that. And so did he, apparently.

He wears a playful smile as he tucks himself in and we help each other get presentable again. “Four more years, Ms. Blaine.”

I adjust his tie. “Four more years, Governor Forrester.”

He leans in and inhales. “You used her shampoo this morning.”

“Guilty.”

He sighs. “Did I ever tell you I love it when you do that?”

“I know.”

One more quick kiss, and we’re back out among everyone else. George is recharged, my heart feels full, and Declan quickly masks his curiosity that flashes over to amusement when he realizes what happened between us.

While George is being interviewed, Declan edges over to me. “Ms. Blaine, may I have a word with you in the conference room?”

“Sure.”

I’m honestly not thinking much about that, because I’m back in work mode, and Declan’s been wound tighter than Scarlett O’Hara’s corset all day.

Then Declan locks the door behind us, and seconds later, I find myself on my back on the conference table with Declan’s face between my thighs as he pulls my panties aside.

He ruthlessly gets me over before I can barely process it, wipes his face on my panties, and then proceeds to fuck me.

Four more years.