Struck from the Record by K.A. Linde Page B

did. He thrust into her a few more times, and then they both lay back on the bed, spent.
    “That was amazing,” she whispered, curling into his shoulder.
    He shifted to go clean up, but she reached out and grabbed his arm. “Will you stay the night?”
    “Where did you think I was going?” he asked with a laugh.
    “I don’t know.”
    “Just the bathroom. I’ll be back.”
    When he returned, she cleaned herself up and then wrapped herself around him.
    He felt like he was about to pass out from the exhausting round of sex when she whispered so softly that he barely heard it, “I like being yours…and I’m glad you’re mine.”
    He didn’t say anything. He didn’t know what to say. They had been each other’s for so long…so nothing really needed to be said.
    He just kissed the top of her head, listened to her sigh contentedly, and fell asleep with her in his arms.

Chapter 10
    INAUGURAL BLISS
    The day had finally arrived—the presidential inauguration. D.C. bulged to bursting with visitors hoping to catch just a short glimpse of the new president as she took her oath into office. Last election had brought in a record two million additional people into the already busy city, and this year was predicted to be even larger. Everyone wanted to remember how they’d stood on the sidelines in the freezing weather to watch history being made.
    Clay had watched the sidelines of history his entire life. Since congressmen were required to be in attendance, his family had been at so many different inaugurations that he had lost count. This one was just like all the others—crisp and cold with the early morning haze burning off from the sun’s rays peeking through the clouds. Thankfully, it wasn’t raining. He’d sat through rain before, and everyone had gotten terribly sick afterward. No, he hoped the rain would hold off until tomorrow at least.
    Instead, he’d have to make do with shivering in the many layers he’d packed under his peacoat while he labored through speech after speech. He was pretty tired of the sidelines, to be honest, but at least he had a seat , unlike the droves of people stretching into the distance.
    His mother was seated next to him, chatting away with the Atwoods—Gina and Matthew. Their children—Chris, Lucas, and Alice—were in the row behind him with Savannah and her boyfriend, Easton.
    Andrea was currently bundled up in the seat next to him. She had one hand tucked into the pocket of his jacket. He laced their fingers together, which brought a huge smile to her face—one she had been wearing every day since the art gallery.
    “Oh my God,” Liz cried, rushing over toward them through the crowd and interrupting the moment between him and Andrea.
    But Andrea just smiled. She’d been in such a great mood. The sex had been mind-blowing with her being so happy like this. And he’d thought it’d been killer before.
    “What’s going on?” Andrea asked.
    Liz plopped into the chair next to Andrea. “It is a madhouse! Be glad that Clay is already with you,” she said, brushing her long blonde hair out of her face. “Brady got all caveman on me when I said I had to find my own seat! He didn’t want me to leave his side, but it’s not like I can sit with all the congressmen!”
    “He just likes having you with him,” Andrea said sensibly.
    Liz brightened at the words. “Yeah. He’s a little protective.”
    “A little?”
    “A lot,” she admitted. “But he had to be during all the election chaos we had to deal with.”
    Andrea tapped Liz on the hand. “Honey, that runs in the Maxwell blood.”
    Clay snorted.
    “I’ve noticed,” Liz said, looking pointedly at Clay.
    “You’re lucky though,” Andrea said. “Brady is a great guy. A respectable man. It was nice to see him settle down and with someone who could keep up with him.”
    That sounded strangely like a compliment. Clay had never really been sure what Andrea thought of Liz. Their first meeting, in which Andrea had