Protecting Freedom

“No. I’m saving room for my midnight snack.” My mouth falls open as he stands up from the table and takes both our plates over to the kitchen sink. I turn in my chair to watch him, my eyes following his every move.

“I can get that later. Or I can call someone to come take care of it,” I offer. There are staff that come by and take care of this, but I do it myself for the most part.

“You cook. I clean.” He shoots me a smile.

“I take it you liked it?”

“You have no idea.” He shakes his head.

“You’re hard to read, Washington. I thought you didn’t even notice me before today.” I let out a humorless laugh. He stops what he’s doing, and in the blink of an eye he’s in front of me, his hands resting on the arms of my chair.

“Everyone notices you, Honor. You light up a room whenever you walk into it.”

“I wasn’t talking about everyone. Trust me, I know the world notices me. They talk about me enough.” I look down and think about the press and how they’re always talking about my looks. My attention fixes on his hands. They’re squeezing the arms of my chair. I put my hands on top of his and his grip loosens.

“If you were mine I’d take you out of the spotlight. I hate that the world gets to see you every day.”

My head jerks up and my breath freezes in my lungs. “I’d let you,” I whisper, and Washington pushes away from the chair. He stands there for a moment before he goes back to cleaning the kitchen.

“Why don’t you go get ready for bed.”

“I should shower,” I say, standing. “I thought you weren’t taking your eyes off me.” I smirk at him, and my body tingles thinking about him watching me in the bathroom. Would he be turned on? Would he have to fight himself from joining me?

“Go get your shower, sweet pea. Enjoy your last few moments alone.” I want to say something back, but the glint in his eyes stops me. I walk to my room filled with nervous energy.

“Leave the doors open,” I hear him yell.

The warning makes goosebumps break across my body. I grab a shirt and pair of panties from my closet before I go into my bathroom and strip my clothes off. I stand in front of the mirror for a moment looking at my body.

It’s changed so much over the last year. My hips are wider, my breasts bigger. I turn to look at my ass. Washington’s eyes have been on it most of the day. I know it’s his job, but it feels different now. It was hard to get through some of my meetings today knowing he was watching my every step. I kept wondering what he was thinking. I want him to think I’m the most beautiful woman in the world.

I turn on the shower and get in. I take my time washing every part of my body and spend a little extra time on certain places. When I get out I comb out my hair before blow-drying it. Finally, I get dressed for bed, wishing I had something sexy to wear. That would be a hard purchase to explain away to my dad.

When I step out of the bathroom, I look around my room, but it’s empty. I peek out into the living room but don’t see Washington.

My excitement about the countdown is starting to dissipate. It’s still only ten o’clock. I lie down on the bed and look up at the ceiling. What if tonight is the beginning of the end? He might not like what he sees when he gets me undressed. Maybe after he’s had me he’ll be satisfied and won’t want me anymore. What if I’m not all he thought I was? What if he, too, built something up in his head that isn’t real?

I roll over, tuck my hands under my cheek and close my eyes, wondering if I’ll ever find sleep.

Chapter Five

Washington

“Give me an update,” I say into my watch as I step out of the living room and into the hallway of the main building. I keep the door cracked so I can watch the couch. When I see Honor come out and lie down on it, I feel better knowing I can keep my eyes on her. She looks like she might go to sleep, and I check the time.

“We’ve searched the grounds and can’t find any sign of him. He somehow vanished.”

“That’s not the update I’m looking for,” I say as frustration takes hold.

What I want to do is go out there my damn self and find him. Then figure out what the fuck he thinks he’s doing by giving us the slip and then playing hide and go seek.