Series: Snapshots of the Past
Story: The Nobel Laureate
Chapter 25
Disclaimer: See Chapter 1
Previously: On the flight to Sweden, Liz and Ellie argued about a purse Ellie wanted to borrow, Zoey had a three-year-old tantrum, and Abbey lectured Jed about intentionally leaving behind a bag she asked him to bring
Summary: Things settle down as the Bartlets land in Stockholm; Jed and Abbey have a little fun to kick off their Swedish vacation
Author's Note: Special thanks to Daphy, Ava, Skye, and Amanda for offering suggestions/research for portions of the trip to Sweden
By the time they landed in Stockholm, Abbey had managed to let go of her anger towards her husband. She knew that Jed didn't refuse to bring Zoey's diaper bag just to annoy her, but that wasn't enough to keep her from being frustrated. Still, this was going to be Jed's moment of glory and the last thing she wanted was to start the week in a bubble of hostility.
The plane pulled into the gate amid a crowd of reporters restrained behind a glass wall with cameras flashing in anticipation of getting a glimpse of Dr. Josiah Bartlet.
"Look at that." Jed couldn't believe the way they tried to charge towards the jetway when he took one step out of the cabin.
"And we thought the press back home was a hassle," Abbey replied.
It had taken them a few days to get used to the phone interviews and impromptu meetings arranged by news producers who had set up camp just outside the perimeter of their property for weeks following the release of the names of the Nobel laureates.
Eventually though, they came to accept the publicity and worked to form a bond of trust between themselves and the journalists. Some mornings, Jed even crossed the drive up the gravel road to the join them, sharing coffee and donuts while he answered their questions with few restrictions. The only topic that was off-limits, he told them, were his daughters. And to avoid alienating such a receptive interviewee, they all agreed.
But the media back home had specific parameters for these types of stories. Jed and Abbey knew what to expect because as they quickly learned, while there were a handful of sensationalistic newshounds in the bunch, often, the people who covered the laureates were specialized reporters, well-versed in literature, science, or business, sent to tell the story of the men and women behind the coveted prize.
In Sweden, the rules were different. Every journalist in the country had a unique angle on the events of Nobel Week. From broadcast news footage of the arrival of the prize-winners to newspaper articles and commentary about the behind-the-scenes antics of the participants in the world's most prestigious awards ceremony, everything was fair game.
Jed was warned by the Nobel Foundation that the week would be a combination of Nobel lectures and press events, but he was still stunned by the size of the crowd of media waiting at the airport gate. "I knew I should have worn a tie."
Abbey, who had handed a sleeping Zoey to her father so she could help Jed prepare for the onslaught of pictures, combed his bangs off his face. "You wouldn't look any more handsome than you do right now."
He was wearing charcoal gray slacks and a blue and white pinstriped button-down sports shirt. Abbey brushed a stray piece of lint off his shoulder and straightened his collar as Jed took a deep breath.
"Ready?" she asked.
"Yeah." He took her hand and gave her a quick kiss.
"You look great."
They walked together, Jed waving as they made their appearance before anyone else in their party. Liz followed immediately afterwards and Ellie, shying away from the fanfare, held on tight to her grandmother's hand and smiled apprehensively. James carried Zoey, now groggy after their entrance into the gate sparked a firestorm of chatter that woke her from a peaceful slumber. Behind them, Jack, Kellie, and Brad greeted a dozen photographers who were no longer in Jed's line of sight.
The family was ushered through a growing mob by Swedish dignitaries and security. They were led into an isolated room where they were introduced to Felix, their private chauffeur and Alexander, a personal attache who would be tending to their every need during their stay.
"I feel a little weird about this," Jed whispered to Abbey when they were alone.
"About what?"
"I'm not used to having someone answer to me day and night. It feels kind of strange."
"Get used to it, Hon. I have a feeling this is just the start of things to come. That's what happens when you show the world you're a genius."
She might have been exaggerating a little, but not by much. Jed had already begun accepting appearances that would keep him busy through the New Year and he was told this was just the tip of the iceberg. As a Nobel laureate, he would have his pick of jobs, speaking engagements, and overzealous publishing contracts for his printed work.
This truly was the event that would alter their lives forever and while Abbey embraced it with all the love in her heart, Jed was still coming to grips with the changes.
In addition to a driver and an attache at his disposal, Jed was flanked by two security guards when the Bartlets were escorted out of the airport and driven in a black stretch limousine to their destination for the night - the five-star Grand Hotel on the waterfront in downtown Stockholm, the official host of the Nobel laureates.
"Daddy, look at all the boats!" Ellie shouted as they pulled up to the lobby entrance in a way that gave her a clear view of the quay.
"I see them, Sweetheart. Maybe we can go for a ride some night."
Jed had done his research. He knew all about the romantic cruises that set sail to explore the passageways under the bridges of Stockholm and he had already reserved seats for two separate journeys - one for the entire family on one night and one for just him and Abbey on another.
He glanced over at his wife and smiled as she tied the end of Elizabeth's braid with a small rubber band.
"Ooohh, a gourmet chocolate store right across the street!" Liz exclaimed when Abbey finished. "Can we go check it out?"
"I don't see why not," Jed replied. "Let us check in and get settled first and then we'll take a walk over there."
"And I'd LOVE to see the Royal Palace! The brochure says it's on the other side of the harbor."
"Lizzie, we can't do everything tonight."
"Besides, you might be able to see the Palace from our room," Abbey added.
"Really?"
"Maybe."
Just as she hoped, the view from their window gave them a picturesque glimpse across the lighted ferries docked in the harbor to the Royal Palace nestled on the other side of the moonlit water. This was the public residence of King Carl XVI Gustaf and when Abbey pulled back the curtain and stared at the majestic columns of the brick and sandstone building where she and Jed would be dining with the King and Queen on their last day in Stockholm, the pageantry of it all overwhelmed her.
She looked over at Jed. "I can't believe we're actually here."
"We are," he assured her. "We really are."
He had lofty ambitions when they married and after he graduated from the London School of Economics, Abbey knew that Jed was on his way to doing great things, but being here - in Sweden - among the world's brightest scholars filled her with such a sense of pride. He had made it. Far beyond her expectations, he had surpassed every goal he had sketched in his mind.
She approached him, her eyes adoringly dancing over his features. "There's nothing on the agenda for tonight, right?"
"No, why?"
"I just want to enjoy you."
Nothing could get his adrenaline running more than those simple words. He wrapped an arm around her waist and she rested her hand on his as they moved away from the window. Tomorrow, the official festivities would begin. But tonight belonged to them.
After the chocolate run, Brad and the girls toured the hotel with Abbey's parents and later went for a quick evening swim before camping out in James and Mary's suite.
Meanwhile, Jed, Abbey, Jack, and Kellie snuck out onto the tenth-floor terrace for a dip in the steamy hot tub sheltered in a secluded corner overlooking the courtyard. Stone railings stretched out along the terrace at waist level, hiding the tub itself from prying eyes below while giving its occupants a view of the breathtaking skyline.
The cold December air invigorated their faces as their bodies were fully drenched in the enveloping whirlpool around them. The couples drank champagne and talked up a storm about the events of the next several days.
"So there's the press conference tomorrow, along with the reception..." Abbey started.
"And Jed's got lectures every day?" Kellie read along as Abbey flipped the pages of the itinerary.
"It looks that way."
"He's got three lectures on Thursday."
Abbey looked up to address Jed. "Did you bring all your speeches?"
"The ones that were finished, yes. The others, I brought just the outlines. Leo and Jenny will be here in a couple of days. He can help me work on them."
"You're sure you have everything you need?"
"Yes." He hadn't yet realized he forgot his soft briefcase, the one that housed a binder full of notes for the dozen economic lectures he was expected to give.
"Okay." And Abbey wasn't about to remind him - not now anyway. Eventually, she would tell him she packed the briefcase, along with the scraps of paper he had left on the kitchen table, but first, she was looking forward to a good-natured tweaking session, especially since the fact that he had intentionally left behind Zoey's diaper bag was still on her mind.
Dismissing the subject without a second thought, Jed quizzed her. "Did you bring the black dress?"
"Of course, though I'll probably wear something a bit newer to the cocktail party."
"That's fine as long as you brought it." His devilish grin gave away his innermost thoughts as his mind wandered back to the first time she wore that dress - the banquet at the Swedish Embassy in Washington. He remembered how much that sexy dress had turned him on during the evening and how much fun he had taking her out of it later.
Kellie caught the way the loving couple exchanged sultry expressions over the cloud of steam that rose between them. Jed's toe deliberately trailed up Abbey's leg, provoking a few brow-raising giggles. They couldn't hide their flirtatious nature from anyone, not even Kellie and Jack.
"Well, it's getting pretty late." Kellie nudged her husband. "We should get ready for bed."
His eyes glued to Abbey, Jed pushed himself up against the three laser jets lined up one on top of another and replied, "I think I'll stay here a while. I'm enjoying the water beating against my back."
Jack took Kellie's hint and stood to help her out of the tub. "Okay then. We'll see you in the morning"
Jed ignored their departure as he inched himself closer to his wife, mesmerized when Abbey lifted herself out of the tub. He knew the way she did it was no accident. Step by step, she wiggled her hips, deliberately enticing him by giving him a peek at her water-soaked bikini outlining the most intimate parts of her anatomy.
"How is your back anyway?" she asked nonchalantly while sliding back in her seat underwater.
"Much better today," he said as he took the champagne goblet out of her hands and grabbed a box of imported chocolate-dipped strawberries they had left on the deck.
She closed the space between them then, just as he knew she would. With one arm, he helped her settle on his lap and slipped a strawberry into her mouth.
Abbey closed her eyes. "Mmm. I love these."
"That's why I bought them." Jed leaned in for a kiss, one that unleashed the sinful tendencies he had been fighting all day. "And I love this...your hair, every wet and wavy strand," he said with another kiss.
When their lips parted, he surveyed the area. It was quiet and dark. None of the pesky photographers that hounded them at the airport and the hotel lobby were milling around and since it was a restricted area, he felt safe in assuming they were long gone by now.
The only sound he could hear was the three dozen hot tub jets and the only light he could see was the one illuminating dimly from underwater. He could see her legs, her thighs, and her hips. He could see the lines of her gorgeous body confined by the material of her cinnamon red bikini as it caught the glow of the lamp. She might as well be nude, he thought as she straddled him so tight that he felt every muscle in his body constrict.
"Are you okay?"
"Fine."
He held her closer, reveling in the feel of her skin as she wiggled near to press herself against him. His fingers got lost in her wet spirals until his thumb brushed past the exposed skin of her neck, spotted with goosebumps that disappeared with the warmth of his caress. His mouth worked her shoulders and her tender earlobe, cold from the breeze now heated by his touch.
Abbey could feel him struggle for comfort beneath her and as she curled her hand to stroke his penis, she realized just how ready he was to make love to her. "Looks like you're way ahead of me."
"We can fix that." Jed cupped the back of her neck, pulling her towards him so his mouth could devour hers.
His fingers played at her chest, then circled the silky fabric of her top. He loved this bikini. It felt as soft as butter. The thin hems bore every curve in her figure like a form-fitting satin bra and panty set, he remarked earlier when she discarded the robe she wore downstairs.
He balled his hands into fists and kneaded her delicate mounds with his knuckles. She arched her back and moaned. Just what he assumed would happen, especially in this environment. After all, this wasn't foreign territory.
They had experimented in their own hot tub at the farm, but the night Jed learned that his wife would gladly relinquish her inhibitions while soaking in a steamy whirlpool on a cold winter night was when they made love in the Idaho hot springs during a trip to Yellowstone.
The way she squirmed in his arms that evening and cried out in a melody of pain and pleasure was forever etched in his mind and just the thought of doing that to her again was enough to nearly send him over the edge.
Aroused by that memory, his fingers instinctively reached behind her to unclasp her top and release her voluptuous breasts into his waiting mouth. First, he kissed away the drops of moisture that were left behind on both, then he sucked on one and then the other, alternating back and forth while Abbey's sexy moans interrupted her progress as she tried to tug on his waistband to rid him of his swim trunks.
His tongue still lapping at her chest, he lowered his hands to her hips and when she stepped on the tips of her toes, he yanked her bikini right off her body.
Her eyes, the color of jade, told her most erotic desires. She rose to her feet, still straddling him between her legs while she held his stare long enough to see him close his baby blues at the first stroke of his shaft. She applied a little more pressure and a bead of moisture escaped at the tip.
"This is gonna be over before it even starts."
"It's already started, Babe."
With a wicked grin, Abbey lowered herself back down, her hand squeezing him as she guided him inside her, inch by inch. Slowly. The light below them was eye-catching, the way it flickered on their bodies ever so slightly in perfect harmony with the waves swirling around them.
Jed looked down to see part of his shaft creep out of her body, illuminated for barely a second before he was swallowed into the depths of her feminine walls once again. He inhaled sharply, his movements now paralyzed by the craving that had invaded every nerve and all he could do was sit still and allow her free reign.
That's how she wanted it. At least at first.
Rocking back and forth over his swollen member was driving him rapidly towards the brink of ecstasy, but instead of enjoying the ride, he summoned every ounce of self-control to temper his lust so that she could join him.
"Abbey..."
"I'm not there yet."
"We have to hurry you along." Still buried inside her, Jed held her at her rear, pushed off the back of the tub, and took a step forward.
"Jed, your back!" Abbey replied, but her warning fell on deaf ears as Jed switched places with her, sitting her down on the seat so that her head rested on the rim and her rear was precariously balanced at the edge, close to slipping off if not for the way he moved her ankles behind him so she could cross them and rely on him to keep her afloat.
His fingers tumbled down her belly into the curls that hid that sensuous layer of skin he was desperate to touch. He probed her there with his thumb, rubbing her just above their joined bodies.
"Oh God. Don't ever stop."
But he did. He removed his thumb and pulled out of her. "Trust me."
He took her hands off his shoulders and turned her around so her knees were on the seat and her back was to him. Positioned in the direct stream of the water rushing out of the jets, Abbey gasped as the nozzle vibrated at the top of her thighs.
Behind her, Jed leaned forward to place gentle kisses along her shoulder blade, then he tucked one hand underneath her, fondling her sensitive flesh to separate her folds and expose her tender nub to the scrutiny of the lower jet while his other hand massaged her between her legs, turning and twisting until they were at the perfect angle for penetration.
His knee pushed on her rear to keep her captive against the pressurized nozzle as she began to tighten around the fingers that moved inside her.
She was panting. "Jed?"
"Hmm?"
"Now! Right now!"
He withdrew his fingers and lifted her slightly, enough to bend her over the side of the tub for better access to her front entrance, but not enough to get her away from the middle jet that was the strongest of the three. The top of her body was out in the cold, but her lower half was gyrating against his, her back to his front as her feet kicked at the water.
He separated her legs and slid himself inside of her, slowing down when he felt her stretch to accept him. Abbey pushed back for deeper penetration and Jed gave them both a second to enjoy the physical bond between them before he pumped in and out of her with such vigor that water started splashing out of the tub and raining down on her back. All three jets were running at full force and every time he pounded himself into her, she was shoved against them for a split second of unadulterated, pulsating stimulation.
She buried her face in a towel left on the deck and held on to the rim tightly, so tight that her nails cracked when Jed changed from long, powerful thrusts to shorter, faster ones that pinned her to the jets and rendered her a helpless victim of the nozzles that assaulted every sensitive inch of flesh between her legs.
Unable to escape the shattering sensations, she clenched around him as she hit a violent climax, forcing all the air out of his lungs as he thrust into her over and over again until she could barely breathe waiting for him to explode inside her.
When it was over, Abbey turned her head to the side, her cheek resting on her hand. Jed slipped out of her and pulled her back into the water to sit on his lap.
"You feel so good."
"That was amazing, Jed."
He protectively enveloped her with his arms and kissed the top of her head. "Tell me about it. Watching you move like that...God, Abbey, I don't know how I held on as long as I did."
"We need jets like that for our hot tub."
"As soon as we get back to New Hampshire, I'll install them myself."
She laughed at his enthusiasm. Leaning her head back against his chest and listening to his racing heartbeat as he struggled to catch his breath, her eyes wandered up to the magnificent navy sky lit by the sparkling lights of the city. "So this is Sweden."
He followed her lead. "Traditionally, you know what the Swedes enjoy more than a Swedish hot tub?"
"What's that?"
"The Swedish sauna right next door." Abbey lifted his hand to her mouth and pressed her lips to his knuckles as she pushed herself back against him. "Or...we could just stay here a little longer."
"Good idea." She chuckled.
TBC