Capital Lies (Their First Lady Book 3) Read online

  “Here we go,” Cal said.

  It felt like another showtime. Lights, cameras, and eyes on us. It was no different from almost every public outing we’d had since we first met. Cal moved like he’d been ballroom dancing all his life. He led with the confidence that attracted me to him so much.

  As we turned around the floor, all the little details of the room fell into place. White and blush flowers with emerald green leaves practically dripped from their tall gold vases at each table, and to continue the theme from the church, candles flickered all over the room. The tablecloths were thick gold and white linen and even the chairs were draped with a swath of golden organza.

  As Cal twirled me with ease, I caught glimpses of my family and Cal’s parents. I recognized some of Cal’s biggest supporters, my cousins, and there were even people I hadn’t met yet.

  Cal brought me to a stop and brought me closer to him with a press of his hand on the small of my back. In that moment, Preston was directly in my line of sight. He stood at the bar with a drink in his hand, watching us. He didn’t look mad. His blue eyes were sharp, and his blond curls fighting to break free of their professional style.

  A shapely blonde woman in a bright red halter dress turned from the bar and kissed Preston on the cheek. My steps faltered. He smiled, and then he must’ve said something funny because the woman threw her head back and laughed.

  A woman.

  A woman who wasn’t me.

  Kissed Preston.

  I missed another step in the dance, and Cal stepped on my foot.

  “Are you okay?”

  “Hmm?” I asked as we kept dancing.

  “Your foot, Tessa. I just stepped on your foot.”

  I hadn’t paid attention to the pain. “It’s fine. Don’t worry about it.”

  I tried to forget about Preston. It was my wedding and I was dancing with my husband, and I was jealous that Preston had a date? It didn’t make sense and I knew couldn’t have it both ways. I wanted to ignore it. I wanted to focus on my dancing with Cal, but that damn red dress wouldn’t disappear from my peripheral vision.

  “Can you twirl me again?” I asked with a smile.

  “Of course.”

  Cal spun me around again. I paid careful attention to where I was on the dance floor and didn’t stop spinning until I had my back squarely to the bar.

  “Better?” Cal asked.

  “Mmm hmm,” I said. I looked at him and smiled, squeezing him just a little tighter. But my mind wouldn’t just let me be happy. Cal was a good man. A man I didn’t feel like I deserved in this moment. Aside from harboring deep feelings for Preston, here I was keeping the secret that my father had rigged the election for him to win. The weight of them combined on this day nearly knocked me off my feet.

  “What’s wrong, Tessa? You’re tense.”

  “Oh, nothing. I just didn’t sleep well with all the excitement and fussing last night, and then I didn’t eat breakfast. I think it’s all hitting me now.”

  Cal studied my face to read the lie like only he could.

  “Don’t lie to me, Tessa.”

  “I’m not.” And I wasn’t. I didn’t sleep and I didn’t eat. Those things were true. I was just keeping the main reasons for my tension hidden. But a lie by omission is still a lie.

  “Good.” He nodded. “I’d hate to think what would happen if you were lying.” There was a hint of a threat in his voice and it made my sex stir in attention.

  I cocked my eyebrow at him suggestively, but before I could come up with a sexy comeback, the music ended. The music changed so that Cal could dance with his mother, and I stood to the side watching. She was beaming with happiness.

  I didn’t feel as though the father-daughter dance looked as touching and sentimental. Papa was happy. He smiled and swayed to the music. He even sang along to the song in my ear, but I felt uncomfortable thinking about what I knew.

  I looked around, and judging by the black mascara tears streaming down my mother’s face, my concern was unfounded.

  Afterwards, Cal and my father were quickly swept away. Everyone wanted to have a moment of time with the president-elect and the prominent businessman’s ear. And that was fine with me. I needed to breathe.

  I glided across the room and made my way to the head table where a full glass of champagne was waiting for me. I’d just taken the first bubbling sip when I felt him behind me.

  “Hi, Moretti.”

  I turned at the sound of his honey-smooth voice. “Hey, Preston.”

  He scratched at the back of his neck. “I guess I can’t really call you that anymore, can I?”

  “Oh . . . I hadn’t even thought about that.”

  I took another sip of champagne only because I had nothing else to do. Once again things were awkward with Preston, and I didn’t know how to fix them.

  “I’ll always be a Moretti,” I eventually said. “You can call me whatever you’d like.”

  Preston gave me a half-smile. “Noted.”

  Some of the tension fell away then and we moved closer together. I was ready to pretend it was just the two of us in the ballroom alone, but the blonde in the red dress caught my attention out of the corner of my eye.

  Right. Preston was here with a date. It didn’t matter that it was my wedding. It didn’t matter if I was being unreasonable. I was jealous.

  I set my champagne flute aside and tried to walk away from him. Everyone in the room wanted to talk to me. It wouldn’t have been difficult to find another conversation to join. But Preston wouldn’t let me go.

  “Wait.” He grasped my wrist. Preston took a deep breath. “You look”—he shook his head—“you look beautiful. Breathtaking.”

  I tried my best not to smile, I really did. Preston brought a date to a wedding reception. My wedding reception. “Thank you.”

  “Dance with me?”

  “Preston, we can’t . . .”

  “It’s just a dance, Tessa. You’ll dance with others. No one will think anything of it.”

  I wanted to tell him no—it was on the tip of my tongue, but those piercing blue eyes willed me to say yes.

  “Okay.”

  He led me out onto the floor. We stuck to the edge where the lights from the stage hardly reached us, as if we’d be less conspicuous that way. But I was still the bride and he still wasn’t the groom, and I couldn’t get it out of my head.

  Preston held me close as we swayed to the music. The scent of his cologne filled my nose and brought back memories from the nights we’d shared together. It felt right to be in his arms again. I couldn’t deny I craved his touch, but I was married, and he was on a date.

  I pulled away to a more appropriate distance.

  “What’s wrong?”

  I hated that I couldn’t tell him how I was feeling, but what was I supposed to say? I was angry that he brought red-dress to my wedding? That he wasn’t going to stay celibate and pine over me after I was married? What exactly did I have to be jealous or angry about?

  “Nothing,” I said, but I could hear the false tone in my voice.

  “Really? Because you’re scowling at me. And you’ve hardly talked to me all day. I know everyone wants your attention, but I thought you’d still give a shit about me.”

  I snapped my head to look at him. My blood boiled, but I quickly calmed my features. A hundred different things to say crossed my mind. How did he not get it? How could he not see what was wrong? Even though it was my wedding and we were surrounded by my friends and family, I could never be too careful. I was constantly going to be watched and I couldn’t let anyone see me getting so worked up over him.

  So, I asked a simple question, knowing it would get my point across. “How’s your date going?”

  I blinked up at him and smiled, but Preston just laughed.

  “Is that what this is about? She’s only a friend.”

  Preston tried to pull me closer, but I kept my arms firm and distance between us.

  “Of course, she is.”
<
br />   He squeezed my hand in his. “I’ve never lied to you. I don’t think I’d choose now to start.”

  He was right. I was the one who was always hiding things from him, but that didn’t mean I wanted to admit it. I sighed and my features softened.“I’m sorry. It’s just hard for me to see you with someone else.”

  “I know how it feels,” he said softly. “I didn’t want to hurt you. I should have told you I was bringing her. It wouldn’t look right if I showed up here alone. People don’t want to see that. They don’t trust single men. I really didn’t have a choice.”

  I knew a lot about not having a choice, and I also knew he was telling me the truth.

  I huffed. “I suppose there are a lot of choices that were taken away from us.” I cast my gaze down as if I had to concentrate on moving my feet.

  “Look at me, Tessa” he whispered. As I met his eyes, my core fluttered with forbidden feelings. “You know I only have eyes for you.”

  My cheeks flamed and I was fairly certain it spread to my chest. I wanted to kiss him so badly, but of course I couldn’t. I hoped no one was watching because I feared the look between us spelled out our feelings for each other.

  “Preston, you can’t say things like that,” I said in a hushed voice.

  “But it’s the truth.”

  Preston spun me around and we slowly moved further away from the dance floor and closer to the secluded corner of the room, just far away enough for some privacy but close enough for no one to really think anything of it.

  “What’s going on in there?” He tapped my head. “You can talk to me. You always used to.”

  His words opened the floodgate. I didn’t want to hold back any secrets for a second longer. “I’m jealous, okay? I’m jealous and I know that’s not fair, but I don’t know how to deal with it. And everything is happening so fast with Cal, and then what happened with the three of us—and wanting that but not being able to have it—and then winning the election.” I paused, trying to think about what I wanted to say next. “And now I’m married.”

  “Don’t worry about a thing. We’re together now and we will be for at least the next four years.”

  “That’s exactly what I’m worried about.”

  He squinted his eyes at me as if he didn’t understand why I would feel that way. “We’ll figure out our future. Everyone will be happy. I promise.”

  “You can’t make that promise, Preston. You know you can’t. The three of us, and everyone in our lives, can’t all be happy at the same time. This just won’t work. We can’t be ourselves in the public eye. It’s just no acceptable. No one will understand.”

  The song ended then, right on time. There was nothing left to say. I wanted them both and we couldn’t all be together. I let my hands fall to my side and stepped away from him.

  “There you are.” Suddenly Cal came up behind Preston. “Hannah said it’s time to cut the cake.” He looked between us, but not in an accusatory way. “Is everything okay?”

  “Of course.” I forced a smile.

  Chapter 3

  It’s not an exaggeration when people say how quickly a wedding can go by. It felt as though I had just stepped into my dress, and the next minute Cal was whisking me away to our room.

  I didn’t want to do the grand exit with a big goodbye. We’d had so much attention on us for so long, I couldn’t stand it anymore. I knew our coordinator would have a heart attack, but I just wanted to be left alone. Cal understood my need, and he spoke with Secret Service. They had to be in on it. While we were dancing, we slowly moved to the edge of the ballroom, and then bolted. I’d text Hannah later to tell her we’d left.

  We found ourselves alone in a hallway and I slowed down. Cal pulled me to a stop and held my gaze. “I think we made a clean getaway.”

  “Thank god. I don’t know how much more I can take. I’m exhausted,” I said, leaning against the wall and breathing a sigh of relief.

  Cal leaned into me and kissed me unexpectedly. I melted into him in return, pushing my body into him as I wrapped my arms around his neck. He pressed himself to me in return, and I felt his already impressive erection against my hip.

  “Cal,” I said through our kiss. “Someone might see.”

  He plunged his tongue into my mouth and my knees went weak. I felt the need and desire pulsing through me. The silky material of the dress only made it easier to rub against each other.

  “Then lucky for them they get to see such a sight,” Cal said.

  “Not with Secret Service right there,” I whispered and huffed a small laugh. “Take me upstairs.” I moved away from the wall, grabbed Cal’s hand, and tried to tug him toward the bank of elevators just down the hall.

  “We’re not going upstairs,” Cal said and kissed me hard on the mouth.

  I mumbled against him. “Are you saying no so that I will beg? Fine. Take me upstairs, please. I want you to fuck me,” I pleaded.

  “Oh, I will.” Cal brought his hand down to my ass and squeezed. “All night long.” He pushed himself into me as his erection grew. “But not in this hotel. I chose an undisclosed location. Safety and all. Can’t have everyone know the president-elect is staying here on his wedding night.”

  “Of course not.” I sighed in sexual frustration, and he laughed.

  “I’m pleased you’re so eager to have me inside me you,” Cal said, rubbing his hand over my sex and I whimpered. Loud music blasted from down the hall where the ballroom doors were. They must have opened. We needed to leave if we didn’t want to be spotted and get suckered into a conversation. “Let’s get out of here.”

  Cal took my hand and led me toward the back of the hotel. We passed through the staff only area, into the kitchen, and out a side door where a black SUV stretch limo waited.

  Cal held the door open and I quickly climbed inside trying to fight off the cold night air. The silk of the dress made it effortless to glide over the leather seats, then Cal climbed in behind me.

  “We’re ready, Cedrick,” he said to the driver.

  “Yes sir, Mr. James,” the man responded.

  The partition between us slid into place and we started to move. I leaned back into the seat and looked out the window.

  “Are we close to the hotel?” My body was begging to be touched. I wasn’t sure if it was clear in my voice, or if it sounded like an innocent question.

  “Twenty, maybe thirty minutes away with Saturday night traffic.”

  I deflated. “I was hoping it was just down the block.”

  “And why’s that, Tessa?” Cal moved even closer to me and ran his right hand up and down my thigh.

  “Because”—I turned to look at him—“I want you inside me.”

  Cal turned to face me, his body enveloping mine. He captured my face between his hands and kissed me. I wanted to press into him. I wanted to spread my legs and straddle him, but he wouldn’t allow it.

  He pulled away, while still kissing me, only slightly. The sound of his fly being lowered made my sex even slicker. I massaged Cal’s tongue with mine because it was all I could do.

  He shifted slightly pushed his pants and boxers down just far enough for his impressive cock to spring free.

  “Please,” I begged. “Fuck me now.”

  “Lie back and pull up your dress.”

  I did as he said, pressing my back onto the spacious seat. Getting my dress up over my hips proved to be difficult, but I would’ve ripped it if I had to. I tugged, but between the silkiness of the material and the width of my hips it hardly moved. My trembling hands didn’t help much.

  Cal watched me slowly move the dress up to my waist all while stroking himself. It drove me wild. Eventually, he’d had enough waiting. Cal ran his hands up my smooth, bare legs, caressing them the whole way up, and then gripped the dress and shoved it up over my hips.

  I heard the seams groan and rip in protest at being treated in such a rough way, but I couldn’t have cared less.

  “Fuck,” Cal groaned. “You weren’
t wearing panties this whole night?”

  “Nope.” I smirked and raised an eyebrow at him, knowing how much he was pleased by it.

  “That’s my good girl.”

  Cal pushed my legs as far apart as the seat would allow and then used both hands to spread my lips apart.

  “Your cunt is so beautiful, and it’s mine.”

  Without another word or a single second of foreplay, Cal pressed the tip of his length against my opening. He moved it up and down, soaking himself in my wetness. Then he plunged himself deep inside my canal.

  “Oh god,” I gasped, and I dug my hands into his back.

  “You’re so wet.” Cal pumped into me. His breathing was already hard and ragged.

  There was something deeply erotic about fucking on the way home from our wedding. I wasn’t even out of my wedding dress. Just hours ago, we stood in front of our friends and family in church wearing these expensive, one of a kind, hand tailored clothes. Now we pushed them aside so we could fuck in them.

  “Cal,” I couldn’t stop saying his name.

  He drove into me hard and fast over and over again. He was fucking me unlike ever before; hard and fast. He wasn’t even playing with my clit. It was unusual for Cal to not please me first.

  “You. Will. Not. Come,” Cal said as he drove into me.

  “But I . . . I . . .” It was hard to form a clear thought when all I could think about was focusing on my release. I was already so close.

  “This is for me, Tessa. Later will be all about you, but this”—he slammed into me until there was no more room for him. I yelped in pain and intense pleasure—“this is for me.”

  He did it over and over again, ramming into me with an intensity I’d never experienced before. If he would’ve let me, I would’ve come undone. It almost hurt not to, but I knew I couldn’t.

  My breasts came out of the top of the dress with the sheer force of the pounding. Cal palmed each in his hands for balance as he plowed into me. It hurt from all the pressure, and that somehow turned me on more.