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“Nothing. I haven’t seen him since I got back, that’s all.”
The senator’s heavy brows pulled together above the bridge of his nose. “Come to think of it, I haven’t seen him around in a while, either.”
Chapter Twenty-Four
“You’re as dry as a cornstalk in August.”
David poked and probed, but, although it was uncomfortable, Vanessa didn’t protest. Her pleasure was derived from his futile attempts to penetrate her. “All my juices are gone, David. You dried them up.”
“No, you used them up creaming for Bondurant.”
Wedging his hand between their bodies, he separated the tender folds of flesh and rammed into her. She bit her lip to keep from crying out and giving him the satisfaction of knowing he’d hurt her. This travesty of making love wasn’t even sex. It was domination. He was exercising his power over her, wanting to leave no doubt of his supreme authority.
His insults had lost the impact they’d once had. Repetition had weakened their effect. With another guttural litany of obscenities, he climaxed. As he rolled off of her, he was gloating.
“Before congratulating yourself, David, keep in mind that there’s no life in you.” She plucked a tissue from the box on the nightstand and wiped away the semen between her thighs. “You’re sterile, remember?”
“Shut up.”
“Even if I’d known about your secret vasectomy, I probably would have taken a lover just for the experience of making love with a man who’s capable of giving life.”
“If you say that again, I’ll—”
“You’ll what, David?”
“I don’t think you want to know.”
“Are you threatening me? You want threats? Okay. What about the night Robert Rushton died?”
“Why do you keep dredging that up, Vanessa? It serves us both best to bury it, just like we did the kid.”
She came off the bed but remained at its side, confronting him. Naked, the physical effects of her recent ordeal were startling. She had lost so much weight that her pelvic bone protruded grotesquely from her concave abdomen. Her skin had lost i
ts elasticity and hung in loose pouches where toned muscles had been.
Ordinarily, she would have been frantic over such unsightly changes in her form. But she was unmindful of everything except her consummate loathing for the man lying supine on the bed.
She’d been semiconscious when they transported her from Highpoint to Washington. This morning, she’d been as taut as a highwire. Drug juggling. That’s what George was doing for David. He was playing with her medication, keeping her high or low to suit her husband’s purposes. How much could her system stand?
More stabilized now, and able to assess her situation clearly, she wasn’t certain that she preferred this soundness of mind. Cognizance bore a shocking reality—namely, that Nurse Gaston’s untimely death had halted David’s plans for her.
She had endured the press conference like the well-bred politician she was. Standing between her husband and her father, facing the lights and cameras and microphones which had been part of her life for as long as she could remember, she wondered if anyone watching was aware of the terror that gripped her. Or if anyone had noticed the jewelry she was wearing. More to the point, had anyone noticed the piece of jewelry she wasn’t wearing?
David hadn’t noticed. Emboldened by that small success, she said, “You think you’re so smart to have everybody believing that little Robert died of SIDS.”
“Which is preferable to everybody knowing the truth about him, isn’t it? Wouldn’t you rather everyone believe the lie? You like being First Lady. What would happen to you if the world learned the truth?”
“You’re not thinking of what would happen to me,” she said scornfully. “You’re thinking of what would happen to you. To make damn sure the truth never comes to light, Dr. Allan was going to kill me with my medication, wasn’t he?”
“You’re delusional, Vanessa.”
“No, tonight I’m seeing things with frightening clarity.” She laughed mirthlessly. “Too bad, David. You failed. You failed. I’m still here. Weaker, maybe, but with every intention of making your life a living hell, just as you’ve made mine.”
“Yes, anyone can see how hellish your life is.” He sat up and gazed around at the luxurious surroundings. “You live in the most prestigious house in the nation. You’re married to the most important man in the world. You have so many people granting your every whim, you can’t possibly keep track of them all. You don’t even know the names of the people who make your life so comfortable and seamless.
“Clothing designers line up, begging for the opportunity to outfit you. You travel on Air Force One, and have access to several yachts. A fleet of chauffeured limousines is at your disposal. An entire nation and half the rest of the world adores you.” He reached out to stroke her thigh. “It’s no wonder you’re so miserable, Vanessa.”
She slapped his hand away. “Why didn’t you just break my heart years ago, David? When I was young and helplessly in love, why didn’t you abuse my love then and be done with it?”
