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  A small part of me wanted to be spiteful and refuse. I’d waited so long, and Dev wanted a child now when it was convenient for him. But a more significant part of me wished for a baby.

  God, how was I going to make any rational decision while riding his cock? All I could think about was him fucking me.

  “We’ll discuss it later and focus on this now.” Dev thrust hard into me, forcing me up, and then he clutched my thighs to pull me down as he ground his girth into my cum-filled, sopping core. “Let me fuck you and then lie to me and tell me that you do not want what I want.”

  “Dammit, Dev, you make absolutely no sense. How the hell did you become a judge?”

  He fisted my hair and yanked my head toward him, sealing our lips and making me forget everything but his throbbing cock.

  He flipped me onto my back and began pounding into my quivering pussy. The ache inside me blazed into an uncontrollable euphoria. I clenched Dev’s shoulders and arched against him.

  “Dev,” I called out. “Please.”

  He grinned down at me. “Come now, baby.”

  I detonated, squeezing and contracting around his pummeling cock. My mind clouded, and all I could see was this man who was never going to let me go.

  Later that afternoon, I walked out toward the edge of the patio and stared at the Sound below. The view was beautiful. The blue-green water glowed against the sapphire of the sky.

  Today was one of the rare true summer days where there wasn’t a cloud in sight, and the temperature was a balmy eighty-five degrees.

  I shouldn’t have slept with him. And twice in a row. What was I thinking? I wasn’t thinking, that was my problem. Whenever he was near, I was a crazed horny teenager.

  This new situation with Dev gave me hope but also made me fear it would all end in disaster.

  I had been planning to go ahead with the annulment that Dev said our parents had hoped would happen and begin a new life and senatorial campaign as a single woman.

  When Jacinta visited, we’d discussed my options for both my personal and political future. The girl loved her brother, but she understood the pain he was causing me. I’d thought she was joking when she suggested kicking her brother to the curb and taking him for everything he had until I realized she was dead serious.

  After she finished giving me her opinion on Devin, she pitched a campaign focused on the combination of my fiscally conservative and socially liberal views. Something Jacinta insisted the state of Washington and our nation needed desperately.

  If only Jacinta had known that Representative Tracy Jones’s daily calls had all but convinced me to take on the incumbent, Anthony Sanders, a condescending little man who had tiny dick syndrome and viewed women as disposable. Jacinta only helped solidify my decision.

  I shook all thoughts of campaigning and elections from my mind as I refocused on the man who was showering in the house behind me.

  I wasn’t stupid enough to think sex wouldn’t happen again between us, even if it was better that we restrain ourselves.

  However, I couldn’t live my life the way we’d done for the past five years.

  He promised things would change, but I couldn’t help being apprehensive. It would be so easy to fall into the fairy tale I’d thought I had before reality had shown me otherwise.

  Could I trust him?

  Would he pretend that we didn’t exist to further his career, again? Would he cave under the pressure his father would inevitably put on him?

  I closed my eyes and inhaled the salty air.

  On top of everything, I was about to get on a plane and return to the heart of Texas, a place I’d left behind.

  Would Papa come to see me when I was so close to Houston? At least Ashur was going to be there. I could always depend on my big brother to support me.

  Hopefully, he’d convince Papa to let him bring Mommy to see me. I missed her so much. We spoke on the phone every few days, but there was nothing like spending time with her.

  When I’d picked Devin over Papa, Mommy had become collateral damage. Papa understood the best way to hurt me was to keep her from me. He’d hoped I’d grow to resent Dev for separating me from Mommy, but it only solidified what a manipulative bastard Papa was.

  No amount of money was worth being controlled for the rest of my life.

  “Stop worrying. We’ll figure this out.”

  I turned to face Dev. “We shouldn’t have slept together.”

  He gazed at me and then pressed me against the railing.

  “Yes, we should have, and expect it to happen again and again. That’s the privilege of being married. We can fuck like rabbits, and no one can say anything.”

  “You’re incorrigible. No wonder the duped residents of Washington State love having you on the bench. Your Southern charm bamboozled them.”

  “If only my cloak-and-dagger skills worked on you.”

  He had no clue how well they did. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have let myself fall into the situation I’d lived in for the past twelve years.

  “Give me your left hand.”

  I lifted a brow and placed my palm over his. The next thing I knew, Dev was sliding my wedding band and engagement ring on my finger. A tingle shot up my spine, making my heart skip a beat.

  I could never get over how beautiful the rings were. A pink diamond halo surrounded a princess-cut solitaire in an exquisite platinum setting with a matching diamond band.

  I hadn’t worn my rings in years, something I’d resented for the longest time.

  “I want the world to know who you belong to.”

  “For a man who wouldn’t acknowledge me in public, you’re a bit possessive aren’t you?”

  “The Neanderthal I’ve kept a tight rein on for the past few years is coming out in full force. I plan on making up for lost time. There won’t be a single event either of us will attend again without the other. Everyone will know we are a couple.”

  “Dev, don’t go crazy on my account.”

  “Sami, I’m serious about us. I don’t ever want you to doubt how I feel about you or that you’re a priority.”

  “What if I said I’m filing the paperwork tomorrow, and I’ll be an official candidate by the time we land in Texas?” I gazed into his sapphire eyes.

  “I’d support your decision and stand by you.”

  “I’m not sure I believe you.”

  “I won’t lie. Elections are ruthless. The last thing I want is my wife dragged through the mud by her political opponent. However, I’ll be there with you, no matter what you face. Hell, I’m an expert in campaigns and elections. Dad’s run for some form of office or the other since before I was born.”

  I ran a thumb over his bottom lip, peering at his face.

  The determined look he’d get when he meant what he said was etched all over his face.

  I had to give him a chance.

  The true test would come when we were in the midst of his family’s Southern political world.

  “Trust me, baby.”

  “I’ll do my best.” I leaned up on tiptoes and kissed him. “Come on. We have some work to do before our flight tomorrow.”

  Chapter Nine

  I arrived at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport a little after one the following day. The fight was uneventful except having to get up at the ass crack of dawn and fly alone. I’d asked Ashur to send his jet to pick me up, since the last thing I wanted to deal with was fans at the airport.

  Dev had taken the commercial flight out the night before to meet his parents in Houston. The good senator wanted him to meet up with a potential donor who Dev had clerked with after law school and who had very deep pockets.

  I wasn’t happy about him ditching me. To tell the truth, I was livid.

  I should have been used to it by now, but with everything he’d said to me, I never expected for him to arrive in Austin without me.

  If this was an example of putting me first, then he’d failed miserably.

  A lump formed in the pit o
f my stomach. Was I trying to hold on to something that had no hope of a future? Or was I being unfair to Devin?

  He tried to spin it as a way to make connections that could potentially help with my bid for Senate.

  Devin seemed to have forgotten that my current net worth was ten times his whole family’s put together, and that was after my father disowned me and took me out of the line to inherit his fortune. I could run my entire campaign without a cent from donors.

  I had a trust that came to me free and clear when I’d turned twenty-five. It was created by my maternal grandparents who were steel industrialists in India and then used their money to become angel investors in unknown startups that netted them huge profits. No matter how much my father wished it, he couldn’t revoke it.

  Just because I hadn’t touched a penny of it, didn’t mean I wouldn’t.

  Who was I kidding? I was never going to dig into the trust.

  I wanted to prove to myself I could succeed without using my family’s money, even if my grandparents had given it to me without strings. I could proudly say I’d accomplished my goals so far. My portion of the Bassett case alone had paid for half of the build cost of my house.

  Too bad Papa couldn’t see past the betrayal he felt at my picking my own path in life.

  What was it going to take for him to see that I wasn’t a fuck-up? Any father, except mine, would be proud of everything I’d achieved.

  I closed my eyes for a quick second and released a deep breath. Let it go, Samina. You’ve had six years to get over Papa’s actions.

  I smirked to myself. I could almost hear Jacinta singing “Let it Go,” the song every parent with little girls had heard on repeat at least twenty times. She’d belt out the song off key to annoy me, in spite of the fact she had a beautiful voice.

  “Mrs. Camden. Give us a few minutes to clear security, and we can exit the aircraft. Ms. Camden is waiting for you.”

  “Thanks, Renita. By the way, my brother put you up to calling me Mrs. Camden, didn’t he?”

  She blushed. “Yes, ma’am. Mr. Kumar gave me a message to relay if you asked that very question.”

  I waited for her to continue.

  “He said it was time to face who you are, no matter what others may feel, even you.”

  Oh, Ash. He always knew what to say to me.

  After a few minutes, the captain gave the all-clear, and I stepped down the stairs leading to the tarmac.

  Before I descended halfway, Jacinta jumped out of the waiting limo and ran toward me.

  I hurried the last few steps and hugged her tight.

  “I missed you,” I whispered as tears filled my eyes. “Things are such a mess.”

  “So, did you and my brother fight again or was he being his usual cheery self when he arrived this morning?”

  “I haven’t seen Dev since yesterday. He was meeting your parents in Houston.” I furrowed my brow. “Why?”

  She studied my face for a second, and then said, “Well, that answered my question. Just a warning, Big Brother is in a piss-poor mood.”

  “Not my problem. He left me to come here by myself when he promised to do things differently.”

  Jacinta hooked her arm in mine. “Come on. It looks like I have two Grumpy Gusses to deal with.”

  “You know you love me, no matter my mood.”

  “True, true. That’s why I brought you a surprise.”

  “Oh really.”

  “He’s been dying to see you again.”

  I stopped midstep and placed a hand on my hip. “Who’s he?”

  “Me,” a raspy voice answered.

  Excitement filled me, and I rushed past Jacinta and toward the car, where my sexy-as-sin and gorgeous childhood friend, Veer George, stood. It had been months since I’d seen him, and I hadn’t realized how much I missed my adopted brother until he stepped out of the limo.

  “Veer, I missed you so much.”

  He grabbed me by the waist, spinning me around. “How are you, shorty? Has your husband come to his senses or am I going to have to steal you from him?”

  He set me back on the ground and gestured for us to enter the open door.

  I climbed in and moved to the opposite end of the seats.

  “You may just have to. On second thought, I don’t need any more things added to my plate.”

  “I agree. Let’s not poke the angry bear. You know how Dev gets when it comes to Sam.” Jacinta grinned as she scooted in next to me. “The last thing you need after announcing your bid for the governorship is a fist fight with a federal judge who happens to be a senator’s son.”

  “I think I’ll have the constituents’ support when they learn I was defending the honor of my childhood friend, who I consider a sister.”

  “Speaking of, I have a question I’ve meant to ask you.” I took a sip of the water that Jacinta handed me.

  “Shoot.”

  “When did you decide to become a politician? I thought you hated the drama of politics?”

  “Jacinta convinced me that my views would be a refreshing change to the status quo we’ve had in Texas for decades.”

  I lifted a brow in Jacinta’s direction. “You do realize he’ll be running against the governor who represents your political party?”

  “Just because I’m a conservative doesn’t mean I wouldn’t vote for an independent if he or she was the right candidate.”

  “I’d be an underdog going against the establishment,” Veer said, “but I think even conservatives will come on board when they hear my stance on key issues important to the state.”

  I saw a look pass between Jacinta and Veer that made me think I was missing something.

  Veer continued, “It also helps that our current governor has higher political aspirations which makes him look like he is only using his position as a placeholder.”

  “Care to inform me when I stepped into the Twilight Zone of politics? First, you’re pushing me to run in Washington, and now you’ve convinced Veer to run. Jacinta Ellen Camden, why are you on this crusade to get all your friends into politics?”

  A look passed in her eye and I wished I hadn’t asked the question. I knew the answer. Jacinta hadn’t planned to make her first political run a bid for US Senate, but the moment Decker covered up his son’s assault on her, she’d made it her life’s mission to make sure no Decker would ever hold any office again, especially Decker Senior.

  “Let’s just say, I’ve encountered too many old-boys’-club types living here in Austin.” Her mouth tightened for a moment. “And I think it’s time for some new blood. You and Veer represent something different.”

  “Yeah, we’re both Indian.” I played along so that Veer wouldn’t pick up on the tension underlying Jacinta’s words.

  “Sam, I’m not talking about your race, and you know it. It’s your stance on economics, social issues, and leadership.”

  “Are you aware my running does not affect Texas politics? I’m a resident of the state of Washington now.”

  I’d made the decision to stay in Seattle a few days after moving into the house. I had a successful career, and whether Devin was in my life or not had no bearing. Yes, I missed my friends and my old life in Texas, but it had been years, and things would never be the same.

  “We aren’t the only ones she’s on a mission to get elected.” Veer shook his head. “She’s called half of your old study group from Stanford and every non- overly left-wing or right-wing friend to get involved in the election system.”

  “If all goes according to plan—” a calculating gleam hit Jacinta’s eyes, “—the three of us, plus at least twenty-five others I know, will go head-to-head against incumbents who represent the bureaucracy our nation is tired of dealing with every day. We will be a group of leaders who take into account not only our parents’ generation but also those who are children right now. We are the bipartisan wave of the future.”

  The girl had her pitch down pat. “Jaci, how long did you practice that speech in front of the
mirror?”

  “About an hour. How did I do?” She grinned at me.

  “You could work on your enthusiasm a bit.”

  “I’ll be sure to do better next time.”

  “The both of you are mental. I almost feel sorry for Devin when you two get together.” Veer took a sip of his drink while shaking his head.

  “When did you and my brother become buddies?” Jacinta crossed her arms in front of her and cocked a brow.

  I wondered the same thing. Veer and Dev barely said two words to each other whenever our friends circle gathered. They tended to speak to everyone else but each other.

  “We aren’t. I said, I almost feel sorry for him. Until Devin Camden does right by her, the only side I’m on is Samina’s.”

  “When have you been on anyone else’s side?” Jacinta grumbled, making me think I was missing something. “You take the almost-big-brother thing to a whole new level.”

  “When Ashur and I deployed overseas, I made a promise to always watch out for Samina, whether Ash was around or not. It was a vow Ash never had to ask me to make. I’m an only child, and Ash and Sam are the closest I’ll ever get to having siblings. They are my family. I’ll do whatever I can to protect them.”

  “We love you too, V.” I reached over and clasped Veer’s hand in mine. “I’m so thankful both my brothers came home. Although a little banged up.”

  I remembered how scared I was when I’d heard Ash and V were injured during a firefight in South Sudan where their planes had gone down. The three of us would do a weekly video chat to keep me up to date, but for weeks I’d heard nothing from either of them. And then my father had gotten a call informing us that both Ash and V had suffered brain injuries and were in comas. It was one of the worst times of my life.

  The Air Force had transferred them to a military hospital in Germany and then returned them home once they woke and were stable enough to endure an overseas flight.