Chapter 3

Renata's red dress somehow disappeared, never to be seen again. She bought a new one, more conservatively cut and in more of a cranberry shade of red instead of a screaming, fire-engine red. Logan was disappointed, but when he saw her in the new one, he realized that she was actually much more mysteriously sexy in the quieter dress. She also bought a deep sapphire blue dress that took his breath away. He immediately demanded that she wear it on Friday for the Civic Center rally. She wore it with a choker of sapphires and diamonds and matching bracelets on both wrists, as well as stunning sapphires and diamonds dripping from her ears. When she walked out of the bedroom and Logan caught sight of her, he literally lost his breath for a moment.

"My God," he breathed. "You look absolutely stunning, my love. I don't know that I want all those men to see you like this."

Renata smiled, a catlike, satisfied smile. She knew that was a lie; Logan loved the sight of rich, powerful men panting after his wife. He considered it a feather in his cap. And he was more than happy with the influence she had on other men. As long as she went home with him every night and he could stake his claim on her, he enjoyed the reactions of all those less fortunate men. The better the evening went, the more savage the sex would be afterward. Renata had learned to go on the attack first in order to keep some kind of control over their sexual encounters. The way to control Logan was to use sex, but he invariably exerted his own control during the actual act of sex. There had been a couple of times lately when Renata had been left uneasy after the "lovemaking" was over. Logan was growing more demanding and she was going to have to find a way to keep him off balance.

The vehicles pulled to a stop at the secure entrance inside the lower floor of the Civic Center. They had four bodyguards with them tonight rather than two. Security was a constant concern and Renata had vetted the guards personally. After tonight, Logan was going to be in a series of private meetings with key people to plan strategy. There weren't going to be any public appearances for a few days and Renata was more than ready for a break. She intended to get out of town for those few days, whether Logan liked it or not. The guards hustled them to the secure VIP room to await showtime and Logan asked the bartender for a whiskey. Renata took a bottle of water and looked over her husband's notes for the evening. The first primary debate would be held in two weeks and enthusiasm was growing for Logan Wakefield.

The teasers were finishing the preliminary talk on stage and the crowd was getting louder, calling for Logan to take the stage. The guard nodded and Logan set his whiskey down and they all started out for the stage. As they entered, Logan put his arm around his wife and they both waved at the crowd. They reached the podium, and Logan lowered his head to kiss his wife. The crowd roared, and they both smiled and waved, acknowledging the cheers and calling out thank yous. Logan began motioning for calm and the noise level finally dropped enough for him to introduce Renata. There was a thunderous response, and Renata smiled and waved graciously, waiting for the crowd to settle.

"Thank you so much, friends," Renata's voice rang out clearly. "We are so happy to see all of you here tonight. My husband has been working hard to map out the pathway to prosperity for all of you hardworking and deserving supporters. It's time for an end to life that is a constant fight to make ends meet. You all deserve better, and Logan will not stop until he sees real opportunity and prosperity for all of you. Every election, you hear the same promises, and every president fails to deliver on them. Logan Wakefield will never do that. I'm here to tell you that my husband, Logan Wakefield, keeps his promises. But you need to hear this directly from Logan. So I present to you Logan Wakefield, the man of the people!"

There was a frenzied roar as she stepped back and Logan kissed her again, stepping to the podium with a broad smile for the crowd. The cheering went on for a full minute and then slowly quieted as Logan motioned, over and over, for calm. He launched into his speech with all the passion that made him so attractive to his supporters and had them in the palm of his hand throughout the entire speech. He had a natural sense of timing and a sense of humor that appealed to people. He seemed never to be at a loss for the right words and could work a crowd with skill and finesse. Renata watched him and marveled at the way he drew the onlookers into his spell. She knew that as they watched him and listened to him, they believed. He was on a fast track to the White House, unless something catastrophic happened to bring his house tumbling down. She smiled a tiny, grim smile at the thought.

It seemed that the evening would never end. The VIP room was crowded with rich and powerful supporters, eating the hors d'oeuvres and drinking the top shelf liquor freely as their conversation grew more intense. Logan's campaign manager circulated, collecting promises as freely as he could negotiate them. Renata put on her best face and charmed everyone she talked to, leaving the men a little dazed when she walked away. The women fumed and yet were unable to pinpoint anything improper about Renata's words. It was just her simple presence that left their men behaving like tongue-tied children. Ashleigh Chambers watched quietly, sipping a glass of wine and marveling at the entire spectacle.

Renata walked up to her and smiled warmly. "Ashleigh, I didn't expect to see you here. How did you ever drag yourself here? I wouldn't if I had a choice."

Ashleigh laughed at her. "It's not so bad if you're here. Drake needed to have another talk with Logan before we leave town."

Renata frowned. "Really. I wonder what they're discussing. Drake has never gotten into political games, has he?"

"No. And I have no idea what it is he needs to discuss. I don't have a head for business, so I don't get involved. But whatever it is, Drake seems a little worried by it." Ashleigh looked apprehensive.

"I'll see what I can find out. Politics is a nasty business, hopefully it's something completely unconnected. Drake is a good, honest man. He doesn't need to get into the political world."

"Thank you." Ashleigh looked relieved. "I'm more than ready to get away from here and back to the ranch. Life is a lot simpler there."

"I bet it is." Renata envied Ashleigh Chambers. She could live with a clear conscience, honest and untroubled by the games of politics. She suddenly decided how she would spend the next few days while Logan occupied himself with high powered meetings.

Drake came up behind his wife and slipped his arms around her. He nodded at Renata in greeting. "Hi, Renata. It was a great speech, Logan did himself proud. Honey, I'm ready to get out of here. How about you?"

Ashleigh snuggled back against him and smiled. "I'm totally ready. Are you all finished?"

Drake nodded and shot an odd look at Renata. "Yes, I am. Completely finished. Let's go, sweetie."

They said good-bye to Renata and left immediately. Renata wondered what Drake had needed to talk to Logan about. Whatever it was, something felt off. She resolved to find out exactly what was going on. It was nearly two am when they finally left the Civic Center and started home. Logan talked enthusiastically all the way home, as usual. He was fired up and Renata knew it was going to be one of the nights she hated most.

The bodyguards had barely closed the door behind them when Logan was on her, pushing her up against the door and roughly mauling her with his hands while he plundered her neck and mouth with his mouth. He pulled her zipper down and tugged her dress down over her shoulders and on down to the floor. He destroyed another set of expensive lingerie in his haste to get her naked. Knowing better than to ask for gentle touches, Renata reacted by attacking him back. She jerked his jacket off and pulled every button off his shirt getting it off him. She bit his shoulder hard, and he undid his trousers and pushed her to the floor with his hand entangled in her hair, pulling her head toward his crotch.

Renata went a little crazy, ripping his pants as she pulled him free and closed her mouth over him, grazing him with her teeth as she sucked him deep into her mouth.

"Jesus!" Logan thrust himself at her, making her gag as he pressed deep into her throat. She raked her nails down his buttocks, and he made a guttural sound as he reflexively pulled back a little. Renata's eyes glittered as he backed away from her punishing teeth and nails and yanked her to her feet.

Renata stood defiantly before him and he swept her up and sat her down on the smooth, marble table in the dining room. He went after her breasts with his tongue and teeth, and her back arched, her nipples hard and aching and her juices flowing. She hated that her body responded to the violence, but she couldn't stop it. He sucked one teat hard, worrying it with his teeth, and he squeezed the other breast viciously, pinching the nipple. Renata reached down for him and wrapped her hand around him, squeezing hard and pulling at the same time. When she dug her nails into his erection, he swore and pulled away from her breasts. Logan pulled Renata down from the table and turned her around, bending her forward over the table even as he was pulling her back by the hair.

Renata hissed at him, "Just do it! Give it to me!"

Logan bent her over the table and leaned over her. "Spread your legs. More! Spread them!"

He put his fingers between her thighs, and Renata cried out incoherently when he thrust three fingers into her sweet, wet center. Her whole body was trembling when he pulled his fingers free and thrust into her, pounding and pumping as deep as he could. He gripped her buttocks with his hands and drove into her like a madman and her body responded to every move. When he pressed his thumb against her puckered little rosebud, she came with violent spasms, crying out her release and, wordlessly, her hate. He pumped into her and reached his own climax, emptying himself into her with a shout of triumph. Renata lay there helplessly, her whole body drained as her husband pulled free of her and stepped back with a laugh of supreme satisfaction.

"God! It gets better every time. I need a drink. You want one?"

He poured himself a whiskey, and when she didn't answer, he poured her one too. He chuckled as he set it next to her. "It was so good, you can't even move yet, wasn't it? Oh, baby, you are magnificent."

Renata finally stirred, dragging herself up slowly and gulping half the whiskey down in one swallow. Her knees were weak with the intensity of her orgasm and she struggled to understand how he could bring her body that far when she swore she couldn't stand him. She didn't know when she had felt so much confusion as she gathered the discarded clothing off the floor, finished the whiskey and poured more. Logan had left the room and she had no idea where he was, so she carried the clothing to the bedroom and dumped it all in the hamper. She went back to the kitchen for a bottle of water, sipping the whiskey slowly as she went. Logan was in his office, proudly naked, sipping whiskey with his feet up on his desk. He was talking on the phone. Renata stared at him, unbelieving, and then turned away to go to the shower.

When Renata finished her shower, she stared at herself in the mirror while she smoothed lotion into her skin, noting the bruises left by their…lovemaking was too nice a word. It was just raw sex, as basic and violent as it got between two consenting adults. The fact that she reached orgasm every time disturbed her. Was she deceiving herself? Did she really hate him as much as she told herself that she did? Was there just something wrong with her, that this kind of sexual violence turned her on? Was it just the price she had to pay for the path she was taking? Her mind was as tired as her body as she pulled on a ratty old nightshirt that she still loved because it was so worn and comfortable.

Renata walked out of the bathroom and was startled to find Logan in bed. She looked warily at him, but he patted the bed beside him and pulled back the coverlet for her.

"You look cute in that old shirt," he said, a little surprised at himself.

"Thanks." Renata slid into bed and turned off the lamp beside her.

They lay there without speaking for a few minutes, and then Logan turned and put his arms around her, drawing her head onto his shoulder. "I think I've been letting work take up a little too much of my attention," he said. "I shouldn't just walk away from you like that, after…what you do to me just rocks me so much. I'll try to do better."

Renata didn't know how to react. Finally, she said, "You haven't slept in here in a long time."

Logan was silent for a moment and then he said, "I know. I've let myself be completely tied up in work. That's a mistake. What you're doing, to help me and my campaign, it's invaluable. I should be letting you know how much it means to me."

"I don't know what to say." Renata was uneasy. She didn't for a moment trust that he was sincere in what he was saying. But it was an effort he'd never made before, not since the early days when he hadn't won her yet. Finally, she asked, "You're going to be in meetings for the next few days, nonstop, aren't you?"

"Yes. They're necessary."

"I'm going to go to the country for a few days. I need to catch my breath, ride the horses, be out in the open. It'll refresh me and I'll be ready for the primaries when I come back."

Logan was silent for a little while. "I don't like it when you're gone. But I can understand why you want to go. I know you miss riding. I can see how it would be good for you. I'll call Mrs. Bedford and have her get the house ready for you. I want you to take one of the guards."

Renata protested, "I don't need a guard at Meadowbrook. That's the whole point, to get away from all this for a little while."

Logan said firmly, "I insist. We've been drawing a lot of public attention. If you want to go, it's fine, but take a guard. Be careful and keep your eyes open. Call me at night."

Surprised again, Renata said, "All right. I will. I hope all your meetings go well."

"So do I. We're getting down to the important stuff now." Logan pulled her closer to him and, though she wouldn't have believed it was possible, she fell asleep nestled against him with her head on his shoulder.