Heat

Heat travelled through her body. An intense burning between her legs reminded her of her sex. If she could stay, she would. If she could hang on longer… she felt smooth fingertips run the length of her arm.

She turned to see the elegant form of the First Lady and wished she had made her exit sooner.

"C.J..." Abbey whispered.

Cregg allowed the use of her name to wash her body in its glow. She felt her hands rest against her own thighs. She wanted to stop the heat, stop the blaze.

"C.J..." Came the husky tone again.

Abbey leaned closer to her, until the Press Secretary felt the cool surface of the wall against her back. She wanted to slip her hands beneath her dress and relieve herself; before she did something stupid. Before she gave in and allowed herself to be swept away by the alluring woman in front of her.

"I need to…" C.J. attempted, she moved as if to go for the door.

Abbey extended her arm and blocked C.J.'s escape, leaning in close and whispering in the Press Secretary's ear, "I need you…"

The words were like a tongue on her need and C.J. groaned with the unbearable desire bottled within her.

Abbey brushed her lips against C.J.'s cheek, ruthlessly making a trail down C.J.'s neck. Cregg braced herself against the wall, trying desperately not to reach out for Abbey. She had to fight. Fight back her desire.

Abbey teased her hand across C.J.'s collarbone, slipping lower… and lower… C.J. closed her eyes, just as she felt the First Lady's fingers about to enfold her breast, she moved, pulling away and walking to the other side of her office.

Abbey leaned against the wall, sighing in frustration. She slammed her palms against the wall, "Dammit C.J.!" She yelled.

C.J. sat on her couch, head in hands. The room was swimming with hormones and unfinished acts.

"We've been over this Abbey…" She exclaimed, equally as frustrated.

Abbey turned and faced the woman she loved, "Yes… and it always ends the same."

C.J. looked up, "We can't."

Abbey moved forward, coming into the light. Her eyes saddened and her expression powerless. C.J. wanted it to stop. She didn't want these feeling, didn't want to desire Abbey, or betray her friends… yet here she was. Again.

Abbey sat beside her. Although there was a distance between them, C.J. could feel the other woman's presence burning into her skin, scorching her. She stood. She couldn't bear to be near Abbey. She couldn't control herself and it frightened her.

Abbey rose, "You're avoiding it."

"What?"

"The inevitable." Replied the First Lady.

C.J. gazed longingly at the older woman, "Why are you doing this? We said we'd stay apart… we agreed - "

"I can't!" Cried out Abbey, "I can't watch you from the other side of the room. I see you with them – talking, laughing, flirting… and I want you. I want to tell them you're mine, that they have no right!"

C.J. shook her head, "If I can bare it – you can."

Abbey approached C.J. slowly, seductively, "Can you bare it?"

C.J. stood, transfixed. Abbey drew near to her; she reached out and slipped an arm around the Press Secretary's waist, pulling her close. Their hips met, C.J. felt the piercing heat from the First Lady's body and longed to strip the silk garment from Abbey's limbs.

Abbey's breath caught in her throat, C.J. hadn't let her get this close in so long. Her nerves were pushed aside as lust took over and she moved in, capturing C.J.'s lips. The Press Secretary groaned into her mouth, sending tremors through Abbey and her grip tightened around that lean waist.

C.J locked her arms around the First Lady's neck, pressing herself against the sturdy frame of Abbey. This time, it was Abbey who drew back, leaving a flustered C.J. to stand insecurely in her wake. Abbey turned her back on the Press Secretary and moved away. C.J. remained still. Her body screaming out at the sudden parting.

"Abbey…"

The First Lady did not respond; her hands fidgeted. This was wrong, being here like this. She longed for C.J., wanted to finish what they had started so many times, but not in the office – not with the threat of being discovered. She wanted to wake-up with the willowy beauty, she didn't want have their passion turned into something sordid by having one of them slink away into the shadows after a quickie in the office. What they had was too valuable.

"Abbey…" C.J.'s tone was gentle, but filled with urgency.

Abbey felt Cregg draw close to her, but she didn't make a move to touch her.

Silence encompassed them.

After a few moments, she heard C.J. sigh with frustration and heard the movement of material as C.J. headed for the door.

Abbey felt panicked, she didn't want it to end like this, she grabbed C.J.'s arm and twisted her round.

C.J. fought her off, pushing her away, "Don't!" She yelled.

Abbey could see the fury in her delicate features, "C.J. - "

"I'm not playing these games of yours anymore! We're done." She opened the door only to have Abbey's arm block it and push it closed again.

With annoyance, C.J. turned to find Abbey closer than she had expected. Abbey leaned into her, their faces a few inches apart, "Meet me in an hour… at The Nelson, I'll book a room, under the name 'Mrs. Jackal'."

She pushed herself away from the statuesque beauty before she became too dizzy to think clearly.

C.J. looked down at the floor. She didn't say a word as Abbey moved past her, opened the door and left. C.J. slumped against the wall. She was finally going to get what she wanted… it devastated her and elated her at the same time. She resented Abbey's power over her, but she knew she would go to The Nelson, knew exactly what would happen in that room.