Shades of Shame (Semper Fi) (5 page)

“I’m up here, Logan!”  Leila laughed at his blatant stare.

Logan shook his head as if to knock away cobwebs, “Whoa, uh… sorry Leila… you’ve um… grown up a bit!”

Leila couldn’t help it; she giggled.  Leila never giggled; in fact she wasn’t aware of a single time in her life when she’d ever giggled.  There was something in his sparkling green eyes that enlightened her, and something in the deepness of his voice that made her melt.  She hadn’t prepared herself for Logan to be such a distraction.  Nothing in her careful scheming had allotted for him… the way he was.  “I asked what you’ve been up to for the past ten years!” she murmured, trying to push past this hitch in her plan.  She must remain strong.

“Oh right!  Well let’s see, since the day you knocked my teeth out I’ve been overly paranoid and have decided to become a psychiatrist.  In fact, I’m my own first patient!  Personally I think I’m the most brilliant therapist I’ve ever met.  I’ve diagnosed myself as completely whacko, and I’m prescribing a healthy dose of Southern Comfort and Coke.  Would you like to join me in the back garden and we can discuss how you’d like to pay for my past dental and psychological care?”

Leila almost choked with laughter, “That was an accident, and you know it!”

But Logan shook his head playfully, “No ma’am.  I think you intentionally pushed that door open at the most inopportune time!”

“You were spying on me and Bobby Whetzel!” Leila protested with a giggle.

“So you admit to denying a sad nine year old a little free porn?” Logan pretended offense.  His thick hand went over his heart in feigned destruction.

Leila leaned over the white tablecloth, her heavy breasts peering dangerously above the V neck of her black shirt, “Listen here you little pervert, if you tell…” she said, pointing her finger at him jokingly.  She remembered the day well.  She’d had that cute Bobby Whetzel in her bedroom one afternoon after school.  Elise McNarry and her mother were upstairs locked in the master bedroom of Patricia’s townhouse, and Leila was supposed to be keeping an eye on Logan while they were having their ‘lady time.’  But as it turned out, Logan had his eye on the keyhole in her bedroom door.  When she discovered him there, she flung the door open as hard as she could.  Logan’s front tooth was an instant casualty.  He’d had to wear the rubber ‘night guard’ to sleep every night for a year so that his teeth didn’t get crooked.  Logan had hated her ever since... until now of course.

Leila didn’t know if she’d ever had so much fun with a man, laughing and remembering old times brought forth something inside her, a sweet feeling that she didn’t recognize.  She couldn’t have had the smile on her face surgically removed as they playfully recalled their childhoods.  Logan’s carefree and engaging personality was working some kind of strange magic on her. 
Elise was right, these McNarry men were dangerous as all hell!

Logan laughed, covering his eyes and teeth with his massive hands, “Oh no, babysitter Leila!  Please don’t hurt me again!” he feigned fear.

“I tell you what you rotten little boy, I
will
join you in the garden for that drink.  You want to go get your mouth guard, just in case?”  Leila dished out a low blow.

He stood up from the table and walked around to her, indicating that he was guiding her from her chair.  Leila briefly wondered where he’d learned such manners.  That was a southern trait, helping a woman from her chair, and it’d been long forgotten in the north altogether.  She stood in response to the heat from his large body behind her.  He smelled manly, if that was possible, as though he’d tackled the wind itself all day.  There was a sense of mystery involved with Logan McNarry; Leila made a silent vow to herself to discover him.  “C’mon, I’ll fix the drinks,” Logan said, then added, “
and
get my mouth guard.”

Tiny lights sparkled throughout the McNarry’s private garden; Leila imagined they were surrounded by dancing fairies.  It would have been the perfect locale for flirting Tinkerbells to play, but Leila began to suspect it was the Southern Comfort talking.  “Logan, I think I’d better get back home before I earn a hangover,” she announced with a chuckle.

They’d talked for several hours as the day had faded into the Virginia horizon, and Leila was nothing like he remembered.  She possessed every single quality that Logan was drawn to in a woman.  Her internship in his father’s office was the only speck of her life that didn’t interest him; as a matter of fact it rather disturbed him.  He had no idea why his throat tightened thinking of her in his father’s office each day, but it did.  Certainly his father’s roving eyes wouldn’t land on Leila; after all she was practically related.  An irritating older sister of sorts… one that now aroused him like no other woman he’d met.  “Okay, let me go tell your mom that I’m going to drive you home.  Do you mind if we stop off at the marina?  I want to make sure I locked the boat?”

Leila shook her head dizzily, “Sure, that’s fine.”

She watched him climb the back steps into the kitchen of the mansion like brick home.  As a child she’d spent countless hours in this house.  She learned how to walk on the rug in the foyer while her mother masterminded Senator McNarry’s campaigns.  Leila didn’t remember her own father; it was something that plagued her entire life.  Being a princess was hard when you didn’t have a father.  Most little girls had their Daddy’s, but Leila’s Prince Charming had to be invisible when she pretended to need rescue.  Senator McNarry could have put forth an effort to be a surrogate father to Leila, but he never had.  Her father had been David McNarry’s best friend.  In the end, it didn’t matter that she had no prince; as soon as her breasts began to develop her mother had sent her to an ‘all girl’s’ boarding school.  That is where she’d grown up, under the tutelage of New England spinsters who beat the ‘princess’ out of her.

“Alright.  You ready to go?” Logan stepped beside her, pulling her from deep thought.

Leila nodded and stood to take his outstretched hand, “Thank you, Logan.”

“For what?” his voice was deep and sexy, enticing her as they walked arm in arm towards his car.

“For reminding me what it’s like to laugh,” she said, snuggling against his arm.

He tucked her into the golden leather seat of his Mercedes and closed the door carefully.  The little closeness she’d exhibited had made him grow hard, and her perfume now swirled around his head.  He couldn’t place the scent he thought,
it was lavender, mixed with pumpkin?
  It was sophisticated, yet drove him wild with the urge to slide inside her and soak up her warmth and sweetness.  He settled into the driver’s seat and pointed the car towards the Marina.

Monthly Meeting

David twisted the black Luno Sport Movado watch nervously as Ronald drove him down 23
^rd
street to the private entrance to the Ritz Carlton.  It was pushing 9:30 p.m., and he was definitely late for his monthly meeting.  He was always a tad nervous when it came to meeting her like this.  No matter how long they’d known one another, how sure he was of her likes and dislikes, she never failed to shock him.  That was what he adored, hell even worshipped about her.  Each month since he’d assumed his Senate position they’d met here.  It was their time to reaffirm themselves to one another, compensation for the rest of the bullshit they had to endure in their lives.  They both needed it; they looked forward to having their faith in each other rejuvenated.

“Everything is already there, sir,” Ronald said as he opened the door for David.  “Put the finishing touches on the penthouse myself this afternoon.”

“Thanks Ronald.  That’ll be all.  Pick me up in the morning, 7:30 sharp!”

“Got it!  Have a great evening, sir.”

“You too.”

David punched in the personal access code to take him to the penthouse.  This was a standard, monthly meeting, and he was quite anxious to get everything settled and clear the air.  The last month had been particularly complicated; he needed to make sure they were still on the same page.

The refreshing wave of cool air conditioning nearly knocked him down as he entered the penthouse.  It was brightly lit, her familiar soft jazz played in the background, and it nearly always calmed his nerves.  David needed this, and much more important, he deserved it.  He took note that the flower arrangements he’d ordered for her were especially nice.  The opened boxes from Saks Fifth Avenue that were strewn across the love seat told him that she’d enjoyed his bank account this afternoon.  A trail of clothes littered the floor next to the sofa.  His drink was already poured on the bar and the crystal had begun to sweat even in this chilly room.  Her perfume was heavy in the air as he loosened his tie and dropped his coat on the bed.  David took a moment to savor his surroundings, closing his eyes and taking a deep breath. 
Yes, I definitely need this
.  He sat in the chair next to the sofa, and slipped off his Spazzolato loafers off and rubbed his feet.  He took another sip of his scotch before heading out onto the balcony overlooking L Street.

He bent over and kissed her gently on the cheek and squeezed her hand as he took the lounge chair next to hers.  She’d been through a few cocktails, he could see, yet her genuine smile was worth waiting for.  “Good evening, Darling.  Sorry I’m late.”

“Don’t worry about it.  I’ve been relaxing, listening to music.  Thanks for the flowers and gifts.  You shouldn’t have.”

She rose from her lounge chair and moved over to the railing of the balcony.  She unbuttoned the top two buttons on her blouse, allowing the cool night air to hit her chest and face full force.  The gentle but steady breeze blew her hair back just enough to show her soft facial features.  Her eyes were closed as she stretched out her arms, grasping the railing, and David wondered where she was in her mind.  The slight smile on her face was so familiar, yet always comforting.  He could see that she was enjoying wherever her mind was taking her, and David never failed to instantly fall under the charm of her breathtaking beauty.

She was more than just an attractive woman, she was exquisite.  Her long legs and tiny waist gave way to her ample bosom, a feature that rarely went unnoticed.  Yet this was the first time he’d seen her let her guard down in a very long time. 
She was becoming
, dare he think it,
more protective like the rest of us
.  She shifted the weight onto her left foot and slid her stocking covered right foot up the back of her leg to massage sore muscles there.  If she only knew how badly he wanted her.  He just to feel her warm skin under his fingertips, smell her perfume as it danced over the invisible air waves filling his nostrils and inflaming his desire.  David swallowed his drink in gulps, trying to dull his arousal.

“Mmm…” she murmured, “you know I used to resent that we had to come here to escape but it’s become one of my absolute favorite things now.”

David nodded, “Too many people honestly think they have a right to our lives, Elise.  But I agree with you, being alone with you, off their radar, is something that I ache for all month.  Perhaps we should change it to every two weeks?” he sipped his scotch.

Elise turned her head to look at him lounging behind her, he was gray around the edges now but that only served to make him more enticing.  She’d always preferred older men anyway; it’d just taken David longer than most to show his age.

He thought about lighting a cigar, especially since he knew she loved the smell of them.  She was barefoot now, he felt a twinge in his crotch watching her tiny feet pad in front of him but he hid his smirk behind his glass as he held it to his lips.  The interns aroused him physically when he needed satisfaction, but only Elise could put all of his senses into play at once.  The stiffness in his slacks was getting uncomfortable.

As she pushed back against the railing he turned his eyes towards the skyline, hoping she would not catch him staring at her.  It was useless.  There was no hiding his desire for her, and she knew it.  In fact, she probably planned it that way.  He wanted to believe that, wanted to believe he wasn’t alone in desperate need.  “Refill?” she asked.

“Yes,” David said as he continued to stare past her.  He wasn’t fooling anyone, especially her.

It seemed like a lifetime waiting for her to return, and he could no longer hide his arousal.  He rose from the chair and made his way over to the railing, casting his eyes down upon the street.  Such a romantic environment she’d chosen for their monthly meeting; that was Elise though, always in control of everyone’s emotions.  In the beginning of their relationship he’d often felt handled, now he would gladly get on his knees and beg her to handle him.  She was the single person who cared for him, his love was so powerful that he would obey her every whim.  In her presence he was overwhelmed, it was the reason he had the condo on the Hill and his own private office in their Georgetown home.  David literally couldn’t think when he was near her.  He was aroused, and he began to unbutton his shirt.  He barely noticed that she was now standing next to him, taking his empty glass and replacing it with a fresh one.  It was as if she consciously anticipated what he needed next.

He turned to face her, sipping his drink and staring right into her eyes, searching for some kind of direction from her.  Her usually cheerful demeanor seemed a distant thing, something was on her mind.  She raised her glass as if to give a toast, subconsciously he connected his glass to hers.  “Are we celebrating something?” he asked.

“Perhaps,” she said, as her lips widened with a smile.  “We should celebrate our continued good fortune?”

“I dunno.  It’s been a tough month.” David groaned.

“But we got through it; we are stronger for our trials…”

He quickly wrapped his left hand around her waist and pulled her body into him.  His arousal was no longer on embarrassing display but forcefully pushed into her abdomen.  She didn’t pull away.  In fact, she offered no resistance as she lowered her arms and looked into his eyes.  “The thing I like most about you, Senator…” she paused for effect and she certainly hit that nail on the head, “is the fire that burns inside of you.  The fire, the passion, and the decisiveness you show when you take what you desire.”