"Madam Secretary, the Russian Ambassador is here and insists on seeing you. Also, your husband called to check-in. He wants to know if you want him to bring you dinner and a change of clothes." Blake's voice breaks through her wall of stress. The world is ending. At least it feels as if it is. She has so much on her plate. This proxy war is quickly growing out of hand. It won't be long until Russia and the USA don't just supply the bullets that are flying in Syria but are firing them at each other. It feels like a monumental task to de-escalate. She had a rough day and wanted to go home and have dinner with her husband. But the world is in a crisis, and it's her job to ensure the country and its people are safe.
"Yes, tell the ambassador he can come up and stall him for about ten minutes, and I'll take Henry's call. Thanks, Blake." Blake takes his dismissal quickly and smoothly. Fifteen seconds later, her phone rings.
"Henry." She sounds so relieved when she says his name on the phone. Twenty-seven years, and he still affects her. They are truly the greatest of friends. And that's what makes their marriage so sacred to both of them.
"Hey, babe. How's it going?" He asks. But he knows. She's stressed. One minute of the current CNN coverage can tell him everything he needs to know.
"Well, the Russians have a couple of divisions ready to invade Poland. Salnikov doesn't like me or Conrad. Avdonin won't answer his phone. But at least the Russian ambassador is coming up to the seventh floor." She laughs a little. Sometimes, there is no other choice than to try and laugh away the intensity of an international crisis.
"Oh well, I guess you're having a normal day." He keeps his tone light, trying to keep her joking tone going. He's good at being the man beside the woman. She smiles. She doesn't realize she's smiling. He's the one who's able to make her smile at work. She's got an entire team that keeps her running. But he's her only true partner.
"I miss you," she whispers. He can hear her exhaustion. He can feel her need to lean on someone.
"What do you need?" He asks. She's going on hour fifteen, and there is no end yet. He hates this part of her job.
"Can you bring me dinner? I've had Blake bring me snacks all day. But I need something more substantial. And a change of clothes. If this continues, I might have to crash here for the night. And you. I need to see you." She admits. She can't even remember the last time she's eaten anything.
"I'm already packing a bag for you. I'll be there soon." He tells her. He knows his wife. He knows that sometimes, she only needs someone by her side.
"Thank you," she says. It's a relief. She can't express it to him properly, "I love you, Henry."
"I love you too, babe."
…X…X…X…
Elizabeth's conversation with the Russian ambassador is quick. There was nothing of substance discussed—just threats veiled under diplomacy. Her head starts to pound. She wonders how they find themselves here every year. She's a master at defusing international incidents, and somehow, she and the Russian president find themselves in a power struggle at least once a year. It's annoying. And exhausting. She drafts her email to the NSC about her conversation and then smiles at the aroma of Henry's braised short ribs. He hasn't even knocked on her office door yet, but she's already starting to relax.
She stands up and goes to the door. She opens it, and Henry has a lunchbox, a backpack, and a smile.
"Hi," he greets her. His smile is the warmest thing she's seen in the last twenty-four hours. He sets a lunchbox on her desk and gives her a soft kiss. "I have food, clothes, and myself." he smiles and kisses her again.
"God, I wish I could come home tonight."
"No, you need to stop a war. Home will be there when you're done."
She smiles and pulls his lips to her again. She can't help but want him. He's so supportive. She doesn't deserve him.
"You are the best."
"I try." he grins. She sits down and pulls out the container. He's made her short ribs, and they're still warm. And so are the mashed potatoes. She almost moans when she takes a bite. It's heaven.
"So good. Have I ever told you how much I love you?" She says with her mouth still full.
"It's been brought up from time to time for the last almost thirty years." He teases. He knows that sometimes, he's her saving grace. But she's also his.
"This is so good. I can't remember the last time I ate anything." She continues her meal. It's a quick affair. She was starving. She can turn off her body's needs when it's called for. But he's so good at reminding her. And she hadn't seen him in eight days—the fault of a trip and this crisis. She looks him over. He's in full-on Professor mode, his hair a little messy, and his glasses sit on his face. He's gorgeous. Her bottom lip gets sucked between her teeth before she realizes what she's doing.
"Help me change professor?" She asks, sex oozing in her voice. His eyebrow quirks. She's not the type to do anything at work, usually. There was that one other time when the novelty of her office was brand new. But not usually.
"That's my favorite job." He smirks. He gets up and locks her office door. She doesn't have much time. But she wants to feel her husband's hands on her body. She needs to get rid of her tension.
Her lips are desperately on his the second he turns back around.
"I'm going to be so late. But God, I want you. I need you so bad." She growls in his ear before taking the lobe in her mouth and sucking. He shivers.
"Don't worry, you won't be late. I know how to get you off fast and hard. I'm an expert."
"Don't worry, you won't be late. I know how to get you off fast and hard. I'm an expert." He says, a little cocky. A part of him will always be that jock of a fighter pilot she met in college. And she loves it.
"Prove it, professor." She whispers. He kisses her roughly, his tongue exploring her mouth. "Take off your pants, Elizabeth."
She shivers at his tone. The way he can go from gentle, nurturing ethics professor to sex God has always amazed her. She loves that he can switch how he talks and touches her depending on her needs. And he always knows what she needs. She's never doubted that. She slowly unzips her pants and lets them fall to the ground.
"Underwear, too, Elizabeth."
"Make me." She counters with a mischievous, playful smirk on her face.
He picks her up, and she yelps, "Henry."
"Yes, Elizabeth?" he asks with a smirk as he sets her down on her desk. His lips land on hers, and his tongue slips between her teeth. Her whole body tingles at his touch. The kiss is sloppy and hurried. His hand travels up her side to her breast, where he roughly squeezes her. He loves how responsive she is to him. He breaks the kiss and is on his knees in front of her. He grips the waistband of her underwear and yanks them down.
"Henry!" She moans his name. The anticipation of what's coming next is making her squirm.
"Yes, dear?" He says, kissing her inner thigh. He sucks her flesh into his mouth an inch away from where she wants him.
"Henry, please." She begs. He's so good at teasing her. It's torture.
"What, honey?" He kisses the other side.
"We need to hurry." She reminds him her tone is whiny and impatient.
"Do you have an important meeting?" He teases. She can hear the humor in his voice. She's about to kick him when his tongue licks a stripe up her folds.
"Oh fuck." Her hand flies to his hair. "God, yes."
He laps at her center, and she feels her body heat up. The familiar coil starts to tighten, and she bites her bottom lip. Henry is relentless. His tongue flicks against her clit as his fingers push inside her. He's rough and hard, and she loves every second. Henry keeps his rhythm steady. He knows she's close.
"Fuck, baby, I'm close." She whispers, her free hand holding the edge of her desk so tight that her knuckles turn white. Henry is focused. He feels her thighs flexing around his shoulders and curls his fingers against her walls. "Shit, Henry, right there, don't stop."
Elizabeth is shaking and whimpering. Henry doesn't stop, and he pushes her over the edge. Her hand flies to her mouth as she comes, hoping to muffle her scream. He smiles and stands up. He wipes his mouth with his T-shirt and places a softer kiss on her lips.
"Better?" He asks, pecking her lips.
"I don't know. Maybe I need one more." She says, cupping him over his jeans. He groans and kisses her again.
"Mm. Don't tease," he whispers.
"Who's teasing? I want you." She matches his tone. She needs to be connected to him.
"Okay." he breathes out as he unbuttons his jeans. She slides her hand into his underwear and starts stroking him. She places a kiss on his neck and then his ear.
"Fuck me." She demands. She can't wait for another second. He enters her in one thrust. His lips land on hers, and she bites his bottom lip. She wraps her legs around his waist and uses her heels to pull him closer. They both moan loudly, and he quickly covers her mouth with his.
"Shh," he whispers, and she giggles.
"I can't help it. You feel so good." She tucks her head into the crook of his neck the way she does whenever they don't want to wake their kids. They stay still for a few seconds, allowing her to adjust. She's still sensitive from her first orgasm.
"Move, Henry." She begs.
He sets a brutal pace. He can't be gentle when trying to get her off in less than five minutes. His hands are everywhere, and she can't help the soft whimpers that escape her lips. She loves it when he's like this. She's addicted to the feeling. She bites his neck to keep herself quiet.
"Oh fuck, Lizabeth. So good." He breathes. She can tell he's close, and so is she.
"Oh fuck, Lizabeth. So good." He breathes. She can tell he's close, and so is she. He snakes a hand between them, and he rubs her clit. It sends her over the edge.
"Fuck." she cries out and then bites his neck. Her nails dig into his shoulder, and her whole body tenses as she comes. He follows her soon after.
They are panting and sweaty. Elizabeth's hair is a mess. They're disheveled.
"You're amazing," Henry says. "You should probably get dressed and head back to work."
"Probably."
But neither of them moves. They stay joined for half a minute, savoring a quiet moment. Sometimes, she needs this to erase the outside world. She sighs. She doesn't want to go back to reality. But she knows she must. She's the Secretary of State. The country is at a precipice. She needs to stop a war.
"I love you," she says, pecking his lips again.
"I love you too." He finally pulls out of her and hands her the bag of clothes he brought. She makes her way to her private bathroom to clean up. When she comes back, he's fully dressed.
"Thank you. This is perfect. And not just the sex." She smiles. He can see the stress lines on her forehead start to soften. He kisses her forehead.
"Now go save the world." He winks and leaves her office.
She smiles.
Sometimes, she wonders how she got so lucky.