Oath of Honor

The music changed to a waltz, and the president’s daughter and

her spouse moved toward the dance floor. Other guests joined them.

• 36 •

Oath Of hOnOr

Feeling conspicuously out of place, Wes made her way to a nearby exit

and retreated down a deserted hall in search of a quiet place to make

arrangements for her trip to DC.

v

Blair deposited an empty champagne glass on the tray of a passing

waiter and turned to find Cam watching her. The look in Cam’s eyes

was contemplative, dark and serious. Blair moved through the crowd

and grasped Cam’s hand. “Dance with me.”

Cam smiled. “I’d love to.”

They found a quiet corner, and Blair wrapped her arms around

Cam’s neck, settling her face into the curve of Cam’s shoulder. She fit

her body into the long, tight planes of Cam’s as she had thousands of

times before and marveled that the sensation could still feel so new and

exciting. And today, so very, very right. “I love you.”

Cam brushed her mouth over Blair’s temple. “I love you too.

Today, maybe more than ever, and I never would have thought that

possible.”

Tears welled in Blair’s eyes, and with anyone else, she would have

been horrified, but she just turned her face against Cam’s shoulder until

the overwhelming surge of emotion passed. “I’m sorry we can’t have a

proper honeymoon.”

Cam chuckled, sweeping one hand through Blair’s hair and settling

her fingers against the back of Blair’s neck. “I don’t need a honeymoon,

Blair. Every second with you is my pleasure.”

Blair surreptitiously nipped Cam’s neck. “If you think sweet talk

is going to get you anywhere, you’re right.”

“Good to know.”

“This year is going to be crazy. With the war, the economy, and the

conservatives screaming for a return to tradition, my father—”

“Andrew is going to be reelected.” Cam’s fingers played gently up

and down the back of Blair’s neck, a soothing, comforting rhythm laced

with unswervable strength.

“I know he is. But this campaign is going to be more of a dogfight

than it was the first time around, and I need to be there.”

“Of course.”

“I hate being away from you.”

• 37 •

RADCLYfFE

“I know. I hate it when my job pulls me away.”

“You’re awfully calm,” Blair said, nuzzling Cam’s neck. She

kissed her throat softly. “What are you not telling me?”

The chuckle reverberated in Cam’s chest again. Blair loved the

feel of Cam’s hands on her, the heat of Cam’s body warming the cold

places no other had ever touched. Desire welled within her, and she slid

her hand inside Cam’s jacket and brushed her fingers over Cam’s chest.

Cam’s intake of breath was so swift and sharp, an arrow of sweet need

struck inside her. Dangerous. She could forget what she was thinking,

where she was, everything except wanting more. “Cam?”

Cam tightened her fingers on Blair’s nape. She’d been hoping to

avoid this conversation for a few more hours, but she’d never learned

how to keep anything from Blair. The longer they were together, the

worse she got at it. “I’m going to take a leave of absence so I can—”

“You are not.”

“Andrew’s reelection is just as important to me as it is to you,”

Cam said. “I’m going with you.”

Blair took note of Cam’s calm tone. Unruffled, unshakeable. The

way she sounded when she was determined on a course she knew Blair

would object to. Blair kept her voice down, barely.

“You are a deputy director of Homeland Security. Your job is

critical. It’s who you are, it’s what you do. You’re not taking time off

to drag around the country on planes and trains and God knows what

while my father gives reelection speeches, eating at fast food chains at

four a.m. and fielding mud balls from hecklers in the audience.” Blair

poked a finger into Cam’s chest. “You’d die of boredom in a week.”

“I’m not going to be working crossword puzzles while all of this is

going on,” Cam said. “Lucinda will find something for me to do.”

Blair braced her palm against Cam’s chest and pushed back until

she could meet Cam’s eyes. “You already talked to her about this?”

Cam nodded.

“This might be the shortest marriage in history.”

“As long as we make it through our wedding night.” Then Cam’s

beautiful, sexy mouth curved upward, and Blair wanted to kiss her,

which only made her angrier.

“Damn it, Cameron.”

“I had to know what my options were before I could say anything

to you. I had a feeling you might disagree—”

• 38 •

Oath Of hOnOr

“Oh really? You did? How perceptive of you.” Blair kissed her,

not caring that half the room might be watching. “I could kill you.”

“If that’s any indication of your methods, I’ll—”

“We’re not done talking about this.”

“We will.” Cam kissed her back, slow enough and hard enough

to drown Blair’s anger. “But I want to be with you. Only and always

you.”Blair sighed, surrendering to the need that never lessened, and

rested her cheek against Cam’s shoulder. “I guess it’s a good thing I

married you, then.”

v

Evyn had half an hour before she was due to relieve Gary on the

gate. She found a quiet corner by a bank of windows in a long hallway