Adeline sat on the edge of the bed in a bck oversized shirt, her legs crossed as her fingers scrolled through emails on her tablet. The soft glow from the screen illuminated her face, but her focus shifted the moment Tess stepped out of the bathroom.

  Tess wore a red silk nightdress with delicate spaghetti straps that hugged her shoulders, the fabric flowing softly against her thighs. Adeline’s eyes immediately traveled over her figure, her smile growing as she swallowed down the desire threatening to surface.

  Tess climbed onto the bed, the mattress shifting under her weight. She moved closer to Adeline, who instinctively opened her arm, inviting her in. Tess leaned into the embrace, her head resting lightly against Adeline’s shoulder.

  “This is so strange,” she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper.

  Adeline chuckled, the sound low and warm. “Yes, I imagine you never saw yourself as the President’s woman.”

  Tess nodded, her gaze thoughtful. She tilted her head up, her eyes meeting Adeline’s before leaning in and pressing a soft kiss to her lips. When she pulled back, her eyes lingered on Adeline’s.

  “Can this stay just between us for now?” she asked. “I still need time to wrap my mind around this.”

  Adeline’s smile faded slightly, her eyes betraying her disappointment, but she nodded in understanding. “You can take all the time you need, Tess. But I do hope you’ll make time for me in that mind of yours.”

  Tess’s lips curved into a small smile. “You’re leaving tomorrow. What’s going to happen now?”

  Adeline sighed softly, setting her tablet aside. She shifted to face Tess fully, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. “Now, we sleep, Miss Wells. The future’s problems are for tomorrow to deal with.”

  She y back, pulling Tess gently down beside her. Tess nestled into her arms, her head resting against her chest, listening to the steady rhythm of her heartbeat.

  Though Adeline’s warmth surrounded her, she felt her nerves fluttering, her thoughts racing. She shifted slightly, trying to find comfort, her mind battling with this reality.

  Adeline’s hand stroked her back in soothing circles, her voice a soft murmur. “Rex, Tess. I’ve got you.”

  Eventually, the steady rise and fall of Adeline’s breathing and the gentle touch of her hand eased her tension. Her eyes grew heavier, and after a long struggle, she drifted off in the arms of the most powerful woman in the country.

  *

  Tess slowly woke to muffled sounds in the distance, the soft hum of the hotel stirring around her. She blinked, her eyes adjusting to the dim morning light creeping through the curtains. Her heart skipped a beat when she realised the bed was empty. The warmth of Adeline’s presence was gone, repced by the silence of the room.

  Sitting up, she rubbed her eyes and grabbed her phone from the nightstand. The screen lit up with her brother’s message. Her thumb hovered over the screen as she typed out a quick text:

  “Hey, handle the café for me. I’ll be busy for the next few days.”

  Within moments, her brother’s response came through with his usual sarcastic tone:

  “Take over the café, huh? Guess I’ll have to get creative with it. Maybe you can open a new one... out in the desert?”

  She chuckled softly, shaking her head. ‘Typical.’ He always knew how to make her smile, even when things felt so complicated.

  She quickly typed back:

  “Funny, but no. I’ll see you soon.”

  Once the message was sent, she tossed her phone onto the bed and swung her legs over the side. The cool air hit her skin as she stood up, stretching her arms high above her head. The weight of the situation felt heavy on her chest, but there was no time to dwell on it now. She had to face the reality of the morning.

  Heading to the bathroom, she began her usual routine to freshen up. The hot water from the shower ran over her skin, a welcome distraction from the emotions swirling in her mind. She closed her eyes, letting the steam fill the air, trying to clear her thoughts. It didn’t work, of course. She knew the moment she stepped out of that bathroom, everything would still be waiting for her.

  After a quick shower and brushing her teeth, she stared at her reflection in the mirror. Her face, still flushed from the warm water, stared back at her—a woman caught between the life she had built and the future she now seemed to be heading toward. She touched the mirror, her fingers brushing over the gss, as if trying to grasp some kind of crity.

  ‘What am I doing?’ she thought, but deep down, a part of her already knew the answer.

  *

  Adeline stepped into the room, her eyes immediately scanning the empty bed. A brief flicker of confusion passed over her, but she knew Tess wouldn’t be far. She made her way toward the bathroom, the sound of running water from the shower echoing softly in the distance.

  As she entered the bathroom, she paused in the doorway, her breath catching in her throat. Tess stood before the mirror, her back to Adeline, her skin still damp from the shower, a towel held loosely in her hand as she stared at her reflection. Adeline couldn’t tear her eyes away from her, taking in the soft curve of her shoulders, the smoothness of her back, and the vulnerability that radiated from her.

  “Are you okay, Tess?” her voice broke the silence, a touch of concern in her tone.

  Tess snapped out of her thoughts at the sound of Adeline’s voice, a flush of embarrassment quickly spreading across her cheeks. She grabbed the nearest towel, wrapping it around herself quickly, her hands shaking slightly.

  Adeline smiled softly, her gaze gentle. “I didn’t mean to walk in on you. I was looking for you... breakfast is ready.”

  Tess nodded, but didn’t meet her gaze. There was something different in the air between them now, something she couldn’t quite pinpoint. Adeline’s instincts told her that Tess was uncomfortable and she couldn’t let that go unnoticed. Slowly, she moved toward her.

  Without a word, she reached out, taking the towel that Tess had hastily wrapped around herself and adjusting it so that it was secure, all the while maintaining a soft, soothing presence. When she was done, she cupped Tess’s face in her hands, gently lifting her chin to meet her eyes.

  “You are so beautiful, Ilya,” she whispered, her voice soft and tender.

  Tess’s breath caught in her throat as she leaned in, capturing her lips in a kiss that was gentle at first, as if offering Tess the space to come to terms with what they were now. When Adeline pulled away, she smiled and spoke again, her eyes filled with care and understanding.

  “Take all the time you need,” she said. “I have a few things to handle before breakfast.”

  Tess nodded, her chest tight with the overwhelming emotions she didn’t know how to process. As Adeline turned to leave, she watched her go, her heart pounding in her chest. The kiss, the warmth of Adeline’s touch, it all felt so new and yet so natural.

  Still standing there in front of the mirror, she took a deep breath, the weight of her thoughts settling over her again. ‘What now?’ she wondered.

  What does it mean to be the president’s woman?

  Where will this secret lead us to?