Page 4 of The President's Passion
My jaw slacks. What the...”And where would I be while you declare war on everything imaginable?”
“Tucked away safe, as the world crumbles around you because you don’t have the sense to look after yourself!”
I avert my gaze as my lower lips trembles and he softens his heated tone.
“What’s your name? Last time I’m asking.”
Taking a deep breath, I reply, “Jackie.”
He nods, seemingly pleased. “I’m Wentworth, or Went if you prefer.”
“I know who you are,worm,” I mutter, crossing my arms. I’ve seen his face so many times on TV, in interviews, in talk shows and he came across as an arrogant piece of muscular ass but then tonight when I for the first time saw him in person, I thought he looked...lonely.
The president should be the least lonely person on earth, always surrounded by people, never fully alone and yet something broke in me when I saw him.
“My name’s notworm,” he snaps and I twitch when he firmly clasps my chin. “It’s Wentworth or Went. Your choice.”
“How about Wentworthless?” I fire and cry out when he clasps my shoulders and shakes my body.
“You’ll pay for that sharp tongue of yours!” he growls. “How many insults do you plan on giving a man who wants nothing but save your ass. What the hell did I ever do to you?”
I burst into tears when it all gets too much for me. He releases me immediately, looking horrified but it only makes me wail louder. Clutching my dress, I allow the tears to fall and I know I’m acting as if I’m about to have a seizure because Went looks just as powerless as I feel. Then his features milden and he murmurs,
“You poor thing.” He cups my cheek. “I didn’t mean to sound sharp but you must learn the consequences of your actions.” He drags a deep breath. “Get over here and let me comfort you.”
“Bite me!”
“Ma’am, I suggest you do as he says,” the driver says, glancing at me in the rearview mirror and Went lets out a snarl.
“Who the fuck asked you anything...and keep your damn eyes on the road,” he barks, kicking the seat in front of him before pulling up the screen, blocking the driver off and he turns to my shocked face. “The offer still stands.”
“Pass.”
A muscle ticks in his jaw. “I wasn’t really asking.” He reaches over and pulls me to him, his strength so potent that I slide like water across the seat and suddenly my face is in the nook of his throat, my teary cheeks brushing against his abrasive skin that’s so different from mine. “That’s better,” he mutters, stroking me over the head.
“You don’t take no for an answer, do you?”
“No.”
“Aren’t you scared? I could assassinate you, right now,” I gulp.
“I’m willing to risk it,” he drawls and heat floods my body.
“I hate you.”
“I got that,” he calmly replies, “somewhere between you trying to kill me and calling me a tyrant, monster and troll.”
“And I meant every single insult!”
“No doubt you meant it,” he says with a lot of patience and it melts off the last of the fight I have in me. How do I even fight him? It doesn’t seem as if he wants to go to war with me, more like he wants to make...love. “You’re very firm in your beliefs.”
He’s wrong. If I was firm in my beliefs, I would’ve pushed him away right now, tried hitting him in the face or kick him in the crotch. Instead I’m leaning in closer, wanting to suck in that evergreen scent of his and just purr and lap at his skin. I’m acting like a traitor.
Traitor, traitor, traitor...
Squeezing my eyes, I bury my face closer to Went, gasping, “Make it go away.”
“Make what go away?” he asks in a tense voice as if I’ve perceived a threat somewhere.