Honor Bound

Chapter Two

Normani threaded her arms around Megan's waist and leaned her hips into her. "When did you get back? I thought you were still on that case in Florida. Did it wrap up already?"

As she spoke, she started working on the buttons on Megan's shirt with one hand. She had been planning on spending the day painting, but that was before. Her fingers shook she was so hot for her. It'd been six weeks since they had seen each other, and even then they'd had only a few days together. Five short days after almost a year of denying the attraction growing between them. A near tragedy had finally brought them together, and then Megan had left for Florida, and Normani had accompanied her father to China. Nothing about the future had been settled, there hadn't been time, but none of that mattered at that moment.

"God, baby, I want you..." Normani whispered, almost groaning the words. No one, no one had ever done this to her before. Made her want so badly, or ache so deeply. More than sex, more than intimacy. An explosive combination of the two that scorched through her, leaving her always hungry.

"Normani," Megan gasped, grabbing for the hand on her shirt. "Wait."

"Too late," Normani laughed, throaty and low, shifting to straddle her thigh. The added pressure between Megan's legs made her gasp, her eyes closing momentarily with the rush of excitement. "Oh, God. Way too late. I need your hands on me now. I'm so ready."

"I'm working, Normani," Megan said gently, hoping Normani couldn't feel the trembling in her thigh. She swallowed a moan as Normani thrust into her again. "We can't."

"You can be a few hours late for wherever you need to be. You're a regional director now," Normani muttered. She wasn't really listening to anything except the need singing through her pelvis.

Megan moved her fingers to Normani's wrist, circling it softly. "I'm working now, Normani. Here."

Something in Megan's tone finally penetrated Normani's awareness. There was a hint of sympathy in her voice that shadowed the desire Normani felt simmering in Megan's body. With effort, Normani took one step away so that their bodies were no longer in contact.

"What?" she asked, her voice unnaturally calm. She searched Megan's eyes for the answer, because Megan's eyes never lied. Not to her. What she saw there hurt. Hurt in a way she hadn't thought she could hurt again. "Damn you..." she breathed, not knowing which of them she meant. "What the hell have you done?"

"I've been reassigned, Normani. To you," Megan said, watching the First Daughter back away from her, forced to let her go. God, she had hoped it wouldn't be this hard. She just needed a little more time to find out what was going on. Then she could make her understand. She could make things right. "Normani... I-"

"When?" Normani asked coldly, making herself move farther across the room. She needed space between them. She had to stop wanting her long enough to think.

"Yesterday," Megan answered.

"And you said yes?" Normani demanded. Did what we shared mean so little to you?

"Normani," Megan continued quietly, "I received a directive from my superiors telling me that the President of the United States wished me to assume responsibility for his daughter's security. I could hardly say no."

"Of course you could have," Normani said bitterly, "if you'd wanted to. There are plenty of other people who could do this job. Mac is handling it just fine." Don't do this, please don't do this.

Megan wasn't sure how to explain that part of her didn't want anyone else to do the job. She couldn't explain that every day that she was somewhere else, doing something else, she worried about Normani. She couldn't forget that there was an UNSUB, an 'unidentified subject,' who had stalked her, photographed her, left messages for her, and ultimately, shot at her, and the Secret Service had failed to apprehend him. Megan wanted to be with her. She needed to be with her.

"It's not that simple," Megan began, knowing her words would not help.

Normani turned away, struggling to contain her hurt and the tears stinging her eyes. Clearly, whatever she thought had been developing between them was over. Megan Pete was not the kind of woman to compromise her professional ethics by carrying on a clandestine affair with someone she was supposed to be guarding. It would have been difficult for them to see each other under any circumstances, but now it would be impossible. Normani swallowed her pride and made one last attempt to undo what had already been done. A decision that had already been made without regard for her feelings, like so many others in her life.

"I could speak to my father," Normani said quietly, disguising the hope in her voice. "The security chief can name someone else to command the detail."

Megan struggled not to walk towards her, to hold her. No matter how hard the woman before her tried to hide it, Megan could hear her sense of betrayal. She had never wanted to be the cause of that, but Normani's safety was more important than anything else. "There's a reason I've been recalled," Megan said quietly. "I don't know what it is, and neither does Mac. Until I find out, I'd prefer you not say anything."

Normani's face was a careful blank. "Well, that's it then, isn't it?"

"Yes," Megan said, unwilling to offer Normani further excuses that would only be insulting to both of them. For the time being, she didn't have any choice except to assume the responsibility that had been given to her. And in truth, she wouldn't want it any other way. Still, watching Normani's eyes turn cold rocked her. She couldn't think about losing her, not and still do what she needed to do. "I'm so sorry..."

"No need to be sorry, Commander," Normani said dismissively. "We both know how important your job is to you. Now, if you'll excuse me. I'm busy."

Megan worked to keep her voice neutral. "I understand. I'll need to discuss plans for the rest of the week with you."

Normani walked past her, careful not to touch her, and opened the door. "Then you can come back this afternoon for the scheduled briefing."

"As you wish," Megan said quietly, stepping out into the hall. When the door slammed solidly behind her, the ensuing silence was lonelier than she could have imagined.

...

Hi readers ☺️,

Hope y'all aren't too mad at me! I'm excited to hear your thoughts on the new developments!

Thoughts on how happy Normani was to see Megan? How she reacted upon hearing that Megan went behind her back, and returned to the command post? Who's right and who's wrong?

What's next for them? Are they going completely backwards, or will Megan give in to temptation again? What role will the President play in all this? 👀

As always, thank you all so much for reading and leaving feedback, especially all my new readers! If any of y'all have any other thoughts, predictions, or even requests for another story, let me know here! See y'all again soon for the next update! 🤍