Chapter 14

Renata had just landed in Ohio, joining her husband on the campaign trail. She was accompanied by her two guards and they soon arrived at the hotel. Logan was waiting impatiently for her, more than ready to begin his day of campaigning. Renata insisted on at least removing her dresses from the garment bag and hanging them in the closet before they left for their first stop.

"I don't know why you refuse to hire a personal assistant," Logan said irritably. "Things are going to continue to get more and more hectic. You need one."

"I have all the help I need, Logan. And I've never found anyone who would suit me. I don't have to shop for clothes, thanks to Maggie, I don't have to do anything to the penthouse, thanks to Daria and the cleaning staff. I can have any secretarial services I need done by your staff. I don't want anyone else. Now relax and get ready to speak to the crowd."

"Fine, fine for now. But when we get back, I want you to interview some possibilities. Once the election is over, you'll have to have an assistant. It would be better to find one before you're the first lady." Logan had made up his mind that he was going to insist on it, apparently.

Renata smiled to herself and had the thought that the day she became first lady would never come. The crash was going to happen sooner than she had even hoped it could, and she was eager to watch it happen. There was a lot to arrange, and they had to make sure that it was pulled off perfectly, but it was well on the way. All her work was soon going to pay off. The guards surrounded them as they entered the first stop of the day. It was still an hour before the speeches would actually begin, but people were already gathered, eager to see and hear from the golden couple. They were lined up outside, and a cheer went up as the limo and the SUVs pulled up to the door. Logan and Renata lingered for a couple of minutes, waving at the crowd, and then went into the auditorium.

The day was packed with events; they visited several businesses, a high school, a favorite diner, and a local food bank. That evening, they finished with another rally at a high school sports stadium. By the time they got back to the hotel, Renata was exhausted, and Logan was keyed up, as usual. But when he saw the weariness on his wife's face, he kissed her and told her to get some rest. He needed her supporting him every step of the way, and he had realized that having her working on his campaign was more important than even his appetites for the time being. On late Sunday evening, they were back at home.

Logan had a couple of days before he had to leave town again, so Renata kept busy with meetings of her own. She, Gabe, and Jacques were lying low and watching carefully for anyone who might be watching any of them. Logan met with George Russell and got his first clue that there might be a problem.

"Sit down, Logan." George's face was serious. "It looked like your week went well. Your poll numbers are looking damn good."

Logan relaxed a little. "It went really well. Particularly in Ohio, things are definitely moving in our favor there."

"I want you to look carefully at a couple of pictures. I need to know just who it is that your wife is spending time with."

"What?" Logan was completely shocked. "What the hell are you talking about?"

George spread some photos out on the desk. Logan stared at them with a frown. They were pictures of Renata alone, going into an office building, and then walking with a man to the street before she got into a cab and left.

"I've never seen this guy before. What is this supposed to be? Renata had a number of meetings scheduled while I was gone, meetings to promote my campaign. This is probably one of those."

George tapped a finger on the desktop and then said, "Another guy chased my man off. He was watching from the doorway and saw him snapping the pictures. My guy got away. So what strange men did your wife have meetings with last week?"

Logan got irritated. "She didn't have meetings with strange men. She had meetings with people who can help my campaign. Why would you say it's anything else?"

"Because I don't have any idea who this guy is. And he also happens to be the same guy who spent three nights hanging around Elaine Howard's personal assistant and digging for information about Elaine. And not just about Elaine, about you. He gave a false name to her, and neither of them know who he really is either."

Logan started to sweat. He looked at the pictures again, much more carefully. "I don't know who he is," he said helplessly.

"Logan, you're starting to worry me. You have gotten anonymous notes from someone unknown, and now your wife is meeting with someone and we don't know who he is. Do you suppose they're both the same person? Your wife is up to something, and I don't know what it is. And, Logan, you should know that I don't like surprises!" His voice raised on the last few words and he leaned forward and slammed his fist on the desk.

"I'll ask her about it. I still think it's nothing, just another political meeting."

George shook his head at him in disgust. "No. You're not going to say a word to her. You're going to forget all about it, and I'm going to handle your wife. You keep yourself busy campaigning. I'm not going to have any more surprises."

Logan felt a jolt of alarm. "What are you going to do?"

"That's not for you to worry about. You take care of the campaign and I'll handle the rest. And don't you say a word to Renata. Are we clear on that?"

Logan stared at him, and when George leaned forward, he said, "Yes! Yes, I won't say anything."

"Good. Now go to work."

Logan left for the office, worrying over what George was going to do. Then he forced himself to relax. Renata was nearly as important to his campaign as he was. George was just going to explain to her why she needed to be careful and make sure she stayed away from the wrong people. That was why he always handled things so well; he knew how to get through to people. Before long, Logan was immersed in his day and had forgotten about Renata.

***

Jacques and Gabe were quietly setting things up for the coming bombshell. There was a lot to arrange and everything they did had to be perfectly coordinated. They all knew that Renata had to keep a low profile and be ready to make her escape without anyone suspecting her until it would be too late. She spoke quietly to Bree, who gave her husband a message. Gabe passed information on to Lee, who had been gradually fortifying the farm so that when the time came, Renata would be effectively hidden. Daria didn't know anything; she just hoped that someday Renata would get away from Logan and be happy. Logan had no idea how close a relationship she had with her housekeeper and would never consider a housekeeper important enough to be in on Renata's plot. All of that still left Renata worried about Drake and Ashleigh, but she was beginning to feel that there was nothing she could do to protect them. With any luck, it would all be over before any more people had been extorted out of money for Logan.

Logan came home that night, flying high over the fact that he had received two new endorsements that day, ones he'd wanted very badly. He'd forgotten all about his words with George and when the conversation crossed his mind, he shrugged it off as just George looking for trouble that didn't exist. Logan dropped his briefcase by the door and slipped off his jacket. Renata was on the terrace, just finishing a phone call, and Logan pulled her to her feet as soon as she hung up, fastening his mouth hungrily on hers.

"Hey, baby, pour me a whiskey, will you? I've got things to tell you." He followed her in to tell her about the endorsements while she poured his whiskey. "This is a big step in the right direction. The polls went up as soon as it was announced."

Renata handed him the glass and said, "Congratulations. Shall we go out to dinner to celebrate?"

"Not a chance," Logan said with a wink. "We haven't had a night alone since before I went to Pennsylvania. Tonight, is for us."

Renata's heart sank, but she didn't show a sign of her real feelings. She told herself that it would soon be over, and she smiled coolly and poured herself a glass of wine.

"Why don't you go put on something sexy?" Logan asked, coming close enough to run his fingers down the back of her spine.

"Don't you want something to eat?" Renata asked him.

"Later," Logan said, sliding his arms around her from behind and squeezing her breasts in his hands.

For a moment, Renata didn't think that she could bear it, but she reminded herself that it was all to be over soon. This could very well be the last time she would have to be intimate with her husband. She reminded herself how long she had been fighting this battle and knew that one more time could never keep her from her goal. She went to her bedroom and looked through her drawers, finally settling on the outfit designed for nothing other than pure sex, one she had only worn once and never touched again. When she came back out, Logan caught his breath at the sight of her. He was obviously instantly hard, and he walked around her, unable to get enough of her. Renata cast him a sultry look and wished that she could be a million miles away.

"Undress me," Logan commanded.

Renata did her best to turn her mind off as she slowly and teasingly removed his clothes until he stood naked, his cock jutting out at her. When he reached for her, she moved away. She turned away from him, casting him a sidelong glance over her shoulder. He watched her move for just another moment and then moved fast, jerking her back against him. He grabbed her breasts and squeezed hard, pinching both nipples and biting her neck. Logan spun her around to face him and gripped her ass with both hands, lifting her to sit her on the island so he could lower his mouth to her breasts. The piece of lingerie covering her made its way to the floor in seconds and he bit and sucked frantically at her nipples. In spite of herself, Renata's back arched, and she felt the moisture seep between her legs.

He couldn't touch enough of her, his hands pinching, groping her until she gave a strangled cry and bit savagely at him. He grabbed her wrists and pulled her off the island, backing her to the wall of glass in the living room and pushing her against it, her arms held high over her head. She struggled, but he held her firmly, nipping at her neck and the rosy, engorged tips of her breasts. When he moved close enough for her to reach, she bit his shoulder viciously and he swore and turned her swiftly, her breasts pressed against the glass so he could slap her ass hard. His hand rose and fell with sharp, stinging smacks that quickly turned her bare bottom red. Logan slapped her harder and harder, and she let out a guttural moan as the moisture ran down her thighs. She could feel his cock pressed against her side as he blistered her ass, and she raised her buttocks to meet each slap of his hand.

Renata knew she had completely lost control of him and she was not going to get the upper hand this time. She'd gone too far into the abyss of mingled pleasure and pain and reached the place where she just wanted more. Her body was on fire, and she wanted nothing more than for him to give her more pain and, therefore, more pleasure. She let her mind go and stopped thinking about him, stopped thinking about anything but sensation. Logan rammed two fingers up into her dripping wet pussy and she cried out again, incoherent. But he was a long way from finished with punishing her. He fucked her with his fingers, driving her up and up until he suddenly pulled his hand away, leaving her nearly ready to plunge into a violent orgasm and hanging.

Renata felt him drag her away from the window and bend her over the island. He opened a drawer and removed a long, heavy wooden spoon. A moment later, he smacked her reddened bottom with it hard, making her cry out in shock. He spanked her beautiful, bare ass with the solid wood spoon, with sharp, resounding cracks, making her squirm and struggle against the painful whacks. The pain was overwhelming, and as the level of the pain grew, the exquisite pleasure grew as well. Logan didn't stop paddling her until his erection was unbearable and he jerked her to her feet and then pushed her down to her knees. With a wave of hate, she sucked him roughly into her mouth and bit him hard enough to make him jerk away. Then he shoved her face against him again and she sucked him hard as he thrust himself deep into her throat. She raked her nails down his ass and cupped his balls in one hand, squeezing brutally and wringing a groan from him even as he rocked against her mouth. Renata didn't stop until she could feel that he was just about to come and then she jerked her head away.

Logan pulled his wife up and shoved her toward the couch, bending her over the back of it and spreading her legs wide. She was hot, swollen, and dripping wet as she waited for his sudden thrust, but this time he licked his finger and pressed it against her most private opening. Renata struggled against him, but he held her in an iron grip until he'd pressed his finger into her. A moment later, he thrust his cock into her dripping pussy and rammed it home, even while he pushed a second finger into her, filling her and leaving her with no more barriers against him. His rhythm quickened and quickened until she was completely lost in the impossible blend of pain and pleasure. He drove her on and on, until she screamed with the relief of the thunderous orgasm that shook her to the core. But he wasn't finished, and Renata barely felt the spasms subside when he was driving her up again.

She was rocked by the thrusts he shoved at her, faster and faster, the force shaking her, unable to believe that she was rising into another orgasm. She couldn't see, she couldn't think, she could only feel, and the sensation swept her brutally up and into another quaking climax. She screamed again as the spasms shook her, as the ground was shaking, and when Logan shot up into his own climax, she felt as if she was falling off the face of the earth. They shook together with the aftermath of what they'd done, and it was long minutes before their ragged breathing calmed. Logan rose from her and disappeared, and Renata dragged herself to the bathroom. She didn't want to face him, but she quickly cleaned herself up and went to pour herself a double whiskey. Logan came into the kitchen, freshly showered, and put his arm around her, kissing her hard. He poured whiskey for himself and took a satisfied swig.

"Jesus, Renata, you are truly magnificent. You're mine now, completely. We belong together more than any man and woman ever have. The world is ours. Nobody can stop us."

Renata regarded him for a long moment. "I'm sure you're right. Nothing will stop things now, I promise." Her mind was crystal clear, and she instantly made up her mind that Logan Wakefield had just fucked her for the last time. "I need to go shower." She refilled her whiskey glass.

"Go ahead; enjoy your shower," Logan said generously. "I'll get myself something for dinner. I've got some phone calls to make when I finish."

"Well, then, I'll see you in the morning."

He had already turned his attention on to something else and Renata locked her door behind herself. She stood in front of the mirror, surveying the marks on her body, the bruise on her shoulder, and the fiery red of her bottom and thighs. Every inch of her was weary and sore, and she felt empty inside as she looked at herself. And yet, she still felt the deep satisfaction of the orgasms that had shaken her. Not for the first time, she wondered what the hell was wrong with her. As much as she hated him, every move he'd made had left her stimulated and satisfied. She just couldn't think about it anymore.

Renata stood under the steaming spray for a long time, but this time there were no tears. Her path was chosen, and it would soon come to an end and her road could not be retraced. She would carry it through to the end. And she would put herself back together once it was all over.