Chapter 31
T wo weeks until the election. . .
Treason got his wish, and our son was becoming harder to hide behind unique silhouettes.
The fashion blogs loved my outfits, eagerly waiting to see what I would wear next.
They had a hard time picking a favorite because there were so many to choose from.
Every day was filled with one appearance after another.
I had grown accustomed to the attention, but going all day nonstop like the Energizer Bunny with a small melon in my stomach was a level of difficulty I hadn’t seen before.
Finally, after a full day, we were headed home. Treason rested in the back with one of my feet in his hand, and an iPad in the other, when Ward parked along the curb.
“I need a minute with my sister.” Treason didn’t speak, at least not in a language I knew, but Ward knew what that look meant. “Blue’s safe. I got her.”
I found myself seeking approval from Treason. He climbed out, and Ward watched through the window.
“Keep an eye on him. Tre needs something that only you can give him right now. He has too much pride to ask for it, so you have to give it to him. He’s shown up for you, now he needs you to show up for him.”
“You just said a whole lot of nothing.”
Ward grinned.
“It’s not my story to tell. When his head is on straight, he’ll do it himself. Just be there for him. He’s under a lot of stress right now.”
“Is it about?” My words trailed off, unsure if I should finish. If Ward didn’t know, he didn’t need to find out from me.
“It’s not about Winston. He doesn’t care that much. You do me a solid and I’ll do you one back.”
“Fine, what’s in it for me?” I asked.
“A peace of mind so you can stop worrying about him. He’s not in love with Danielle. He doesn’t regret you keeping the baby either. Now go take care of my boy. He needs it before the debate.” Ward turned around and unlocked the doors, bringing our conversation to an end.
Putting my shoes back on, I climbed out and ventured upstairs.
When I stepped off the elevator, I came out of my heels, processing our conversation.
Ward trusted me with an intimate part of himself and Treason.
Walking down the hallway, I paused in front of his office, expecting to find him behind his desk.
Instead, I found him sitting on the edge of his bed, elbows on his knees, his tie loosened but still clinging to his collar like it had something to prove. He didn’t look up when I knocked, announcing myself.
“You can let me have it tomorrow. Not tonight, Vie.”
I stood between his gapped legs, itching to soothe the part of him that stayed braced for war.
Instead of telling him what he knew, I slid the tie from his neck and pushed his shoulders back so I could unbutton his shirt.
He was too drained to do it himself, so I took care of it just like Ward asked me to.
He finally looked up at me, eyes sharp and tender. His hands came up slowly, resting on my hips like he didn’t want to speak, whatever this was between us.
“Let me take some of the weight. I got you.”
He chuckled, breath hot against my throat. “So you’re studying me now?”
“Even Jordan needed the other four players on the court. Stop trying to be a one-man show.”
That was all it took. His mouth found mine, and all the heat and restraint shattered on impact.
“Are you one of those people, Blue?”
Treason kissed me before I could answer. Not like he gave a damn anyway. His lips moved across my body slowly, like he was relearning every curve and scar. I didn’t know whether to cry or beg, but I let him lead.
Nothing was strategic about how he pulled me closer or how his hands roamed with purpose. His tongue danced with mine like I was the only thing in the room that made sense. Unzipping my dress, he peeled the fabric off like it offended him that I’d been wearing it all day.
It was just us. Stripped of our clothes, and for once, Treason wasn’t calculating his next move.
Pushing him back on the bed, I got in position, curling my fingers around his dick, keeping my eyes on his face.
Despite whatever was going through his head, Treason was still him, and I wanted him to feel that again.
He took in a sharp breath while my hands moved up and down his shaft in slow, steady strokes. Pre-cum leaked from the tip, so I leaned forward, lapping it up with my tongue.
“I need you on your game tomorrow night. Give it to me.”
I took him in slowly, the way he liked. Tongue first. Gentle pressure. Deep, wet devotion. His fingers tightened, jaw flexed, and he leaned back slightly, breathing through it. I could feel the tension he was holding in his thighs. His chest. The way he was trying not to collapse.
A true lesson about being careful what you wish for, Treason gripped the back of my head, guiding me to follow his command. I dragged my tongue up his length, watching him close his eyes in appreciation of my talent.
“That’s my girl. Take care of me, Blue.” Taking him between my lips, I sucked down the smoothness, Treason’s eyes wide, captivated by the sight of his length disappearing.
When that wasn’t enough, he took charge. His hands slid between my thighs, rough and slow, as he kissed my collarbone like he was confessing something he’d never say aloud.
“You don’t even know what you’re doing to me, do you?” he rasped.
I shook my head, while his fingers moved inside me at an agonizing pace. Not fast, but just enough to drive me insane from the pleasure. Treason loved the visual of my jaw slackening and brows pinched, trying to make sense of what he was doing to me.
“I know you didn’t choose this.” He lifted his head, eyes dark and locked on mine, “You doing all this shit for me is making it real hard to be good. ”
I started to refute, but he purposely sank his finger deeper, hitting that spot that snatched my soul.
“Tre,” I moaned, arching my back, enjoying his touch.
“You think I’m ever letting someone else touch you after this?” he taunted, closing his lips around his fingers, sucking off my juice. “Every kiss, every inch, every moan that leaves your mouth is mine.”
Treason kissed down my stomach, before he finally slid into me and exhaled like that was the first real breath he’d taken in days. A low, guttural moan from his throat, and a quiet, wrecked sound from mine filled his bedroom.
“Oh my God…” I gasped, my legs trembling around him.
He kissed my jaw, my throat, my collarbone to ease the heat and tension between my thighs. His forehead pressed against mine, commanding me to breathe slowly, matching his own.
“Don’t ever leave me, Blue. I’m not built for that kind of mercy.”
His fingers laced with mine above my head as his hips rolled into me, deep and perfect, over and over. I didn’t know how this started about him, but it became about me.
His possessive, deep voice grunted , “I’ve got you. I’ve always got you. Both of you,” in my ear, revealing what this was all about.
Treason was scared, worried, or maybe even both. For the first time in his life, he was truly responsible for someone else. He didn’t want to let me down. Treason didn’t want to let his child down. Even if he didn’t realize it, that wound was tied directly to his own.
He didn’t need to hear that tonight. He just needed to find peace through me. Every ragged breath between us was a promise we didn’t know how to put into words yet.
Peace was only temporary. Treason tossed and turned before climbing out of bed in the middle of the night.
Usually, I would’ve cussed him out for even getting up and then dragged him back to bed.
Love was making me soft, so I left him to spend all night obsessing over the correct phrases to make his points stick.
The next morning, I went downstairs to the gym.
Sloane told me to hold the funeral now, but I was determined to get my body back after this baby.
When we got back, the penthouse was quiet, so I showered and took a nap before getting dressed for tonight’s debate.
Taking Daige’s advice, I broke my own rules and made Treason a cup of coffee.
His eyes were so heavy that even I felt sorry for him when he staggered off the elevator.
“Nice bracelet. Where’d you get it?” Ward asked, stepping off the elevator and joining me in the kitchen.
“My future ex-boyfriend got it for me,” I joked.
It didn’t exactly match my outfit tonight, but I hoped seeing the charms on my wrist would make Treason happen. He’d added to the collection- a sapphire heart, a queen chess piece, a house key, and the latest edition, tiny footsteps.
“You’re making him coffee. You’re in it for the long haul.”
“How do you know it’s his?”
“It better be. If he finds out you’re giving his baby caffeine, you might end up like ol’ boy.”
“Whatever. Tre isn’t the boss of me.”
Ward didn’t respond, just a sly grin that had me retracing my own steps for what gave me away.
“You been staying out of trouble?”
“Trying. Are you coming with us tonight?”
“I am. You got a problem with that?”
“Doesn’t matter if I do. You’re still coming.”
Treason rounded the corner. A warning of some sort would follow, often accompanied by an affectionate touch. Not tonight, so I offered him a cup of coffee.
“You didn’t sleep last night. Take it before I change my mind.”
Treason grabbed my face, gentle enough not to startle, but enough that I couldn’t pull away if I tried.
“Thanks, Blue.”
“You’re welcome.”
“Let’s slide, love birds.”
He slid his hand inside mine, locking fingers as we stepped on the elevator.
Maybe Daige was on to something. The Treason I liked and loathed wasn’t back yet, but it was a start.
His sexy frown face wasn’t as rigid sitting in the back seat of the truck.
Treason’s palm rested on my thigh, and my shoulders relaxed while reviewing talking points for the millionth time.
Treason and I walked into the packed convention center.
Treason smiled and waved, guiding me through the crowd.
The public loved what they saw more than they believed the lies Victor’s camp spewed about us.
Losing steam, they were desperate and using every resource to discredit me.
Winston stood on the other end of the stage, glaring at me with a smirk that made me sick to my stomach.
The moderator began, and I grabbed Treason, pressing my forehead on his, “He can’t fuck with you. Go out there and act like it.” My lips curved into a smile at the camera flashing around us.
If he did fuck up tonight, at least we’d have a romantic picture going viral to change the narrative.
Treason and Victor stood on opposite ends of the stage, both dressed in crisp suits, polished smiles in place, but the energy between them was thick enough to taste.
A few carefully worded questions from the moderator, a few murmurs from the crowd, and Treason turned into Flu Game Jordan.
It was almost painful to watch, then I’d look up and see Winston’s hand perched on his face, likely regretting ever fucking with my man.
Even with Treason killing it, I could hear Fallon behind me on the phone. “He’s worked so hard for this, and I just don’t know if it’s going to be enough. We’ve played every card we have. I guess it’s time to pray that this time the good guy will win.”
“Then what do we need to do?”
“Let me call you back,” Fallon’s tone heightened, ending the call, then asked, “ We ?” because she didn’t think there was a world where I could help her do anything.
“Yeah, we! I want this for him, and it sounds like you do too, so what are our options?”
“The one he won’t go for.”
The baby. We planned to announce after the election on our own time. Doing so sooner felt like using my baby as a pawn. Treason agreed, likely because of his own daddy issues. We were in alliance, but he deserved to win, so I was willing to break it.
“He won’t have a choice. Set up a photo shoot and I’ll post the pictures.”
Torn, Fallon nibbled her lip, weighing her options. It didn’t take long before she realized I was the surest bet on the spread.
“Is this some kinda get back for Sloane?”
“The only get back I want is beating your ass. So don’t cross me again because I won’t be pregnant forever, and next time you will pay for it.”
“I’ll be waiting on it,” Fallon snipped, “He’s going to be livid. Can you handle that?” My face scrunched because this conversation was longer than it needed to be. Fallon caught the hint and replied, “I have a photoshoot to set up.”
“Yeah, you do that.”
I couldn’t let him lose, especially since his stock had taken a hit protecting me.