Page 73 of Brought By the Storm

Carrington sighed. “If I give you my shirt, will it help move you toward trusting me again?”

I thought about it for a second. I nodded. Carrington began unbuttoning his shirt, unaware that another couple had opened their door and were entering the hallway, watching the whole scene. “Good Lord!” the woman exclaimed to the presumed husband. “Perverts,” the man added as they rushed down the hall.

I should have been mortified, but I started laughing, finding the situation ridiculous. It was also a release of the hurt and tension I had been carrying for hours. Within seconds, Carrington was laughing, too.

“You don’t have to give me your shirt,” I told him. “You’re right. I’ll look just as silly whether I have your shirt or not. No need to create another scandal for yourself.”

Carrington held up a finger. “Hold that thought.” He pulled out his phone and texted Stefan of our plight. “About that…I’m going to resign today. It doesn’t matter how many scandals I have now.” He continued unbuttoning his shirt.

I put a hand over his to stop him. “It’s okay. As much as I like looking at your chest, I don’t want you embarrassed just because I am. That’s not what a partnership is about.” He smiled with appreciation. “Besides, the fact that you were willing to give me your shirt means a lot to me.”

He winked. “The proverbial giving you the shirt off my back.”

“Hmm, you can do that literally when we’re in private,” I whispered. “But about that resignation thing…”

“I was going to whether you agreed to keep seeing me or not,” he explained. “I’m not going to lie to my countrymen. I’m not going to make up tales about the photo. And since you’re willing to give me another chance, I will not hide you. It was wrong for me to have thought it acceptable. I won’t miss the presidency. I realized last night, the one thing I worried about losing was you.”

“What will you do?” I asked.

He grinned. “Concerned I’ll become a man of leisure, relying on your income to keep me housed and clothed?”

I laughed, looking down at my half-naked form. “Um, you may not want to bet on this horse, considering I can’t keep myself clothed.”

“Mm,” he murmured. “I don’t want you in clothes anyway.” He pulled me into a chaste kiss.

“But I don’t want you to be bored and unhappy,” I lamented.

“I won’t be. First off, I was being facetious about the money. I have an abundance, as you know. We’ll be fine. I will pursue my ambition in sports medicine and training. In fact, I was contemplating finishing my education here in the United States, if you would like that…”

I beamed. “I would love that. Will you be able to get citizenship here?”

“As a full-time student, along with my connections, I can call in some favors,” he assured me.

“Hmm, well, this won’t be the time I criticize the rich and powerful for getting special treatment,” I mused.

The elevator doors opened and Carrington reacted by standing in front of me, shielding me from the view of whomever came out. Peeking around Carrington’s body, I saw that it was Stefan. He snickered when he spotted us. “Looking to start another salacious news story, Mr. President?”

Carrington pretended to be annoyed. “Just open the door.”

Stefan snorted, but did as commanded. The three of us rushed back inside the room, then Carrington pulled me into his arms, crashing his mouth against mine. When he pulled back for air, he muttered, “I’ve been wanting to do that since I saw you at Manny’s last night.”

Stefan rolled his eyes. “Get a room.”

Carrington looked at him with surprise. “Uh, I believe we do have a room.”

I ignored their banter. “You were at Manny’s last night?”

Carrington stroked my cheek. “Wow, you were really out of it.”

Stefan jumped in. “He was there to save you from yourself. Carrington was ready to take a beating from a bigger chap to keep him off you.”

Carrington shot him a look of annoyance. “You don’t know that he would have won the fight.”

Stefan barked a laugh. “Yes, I’m quite sure he would have.”

“Fuck you,” Carrington shot, though there was no venom with the bite. “You’re not inspiring me to forgive you for your role in the photo travesty.”

Stefan didn’t laugh. He became quite somber.