The Only Exception

CHAPTER 19

I followed Mindy up the grand staircase and down a long, beige hallway that was lined with oil paintings that definitely weren’t like the ones they sold at Goodwill. Mindy made small talk, telling me about the paintings and random details about the house that I didn’t care about, like crown molding.

She stopped at one of the last doors on the left and opened it. The light streamed in from a set of French doors that had to have led out to one of the many balconies I saw when we drove up. In the middle of the room was a cherry wood sleigh bed with a dark green comforter that matched the dark green walls. If it wasn’t for the extensive doors and windows, the room would have felt like a dank dungeon with the dark walls and furniture. My bags were already sitting on the bed when I walked in behind Mindy. I wondered if Nadia brought them there or if another servant did. I pondered how many they actually had.

“And just over here is your en-suite bath. There should be plenty of towels in the linen closet, and Marcella just put in some new shampoo and soap.” Mindy extended a perfectly manicured hand to the open door where I caught the glimpse of beige walls and a granite countertop.

“Thank you, ma’am. I appreciate it.”

Mindy’s lips formed a tight smile, and she took a small step toward me. “Monica. You can stop with all the niceties. We both know that you’re just as nervous to be here as we are about having you .”

I tried not to let my eyes bug out of my head. The perfect governor’s wife was nervous?

She looked down at the wooden floor. “We were surprised when we first learned Trey had a girlfriend. He’s not like his brothers. Trigg has been with his girlfriend for years, and it seems as if Tripp has a new girlfriend every weekend. But Trey was always the quiet one. He took more interest in his schoolwork than girls.”

She looked up at me and I nodded, unsure of what to say. Somehow I didn’t believe Trey was the quiet type, but maybe he came out of his shell at college.

“It was as if no girl was ever good enough. Then you came along and we get reports of him getting in fights with his fraternity brothers.”

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to disappoint you,” I muttered.

Mindy put her hand up. “Honey, you aren’t a disappointment to us.”

Say what?

“Yes, we worry about Trey and his future, but we can’t expect him to be a saint. The truth is, while Kirk was upset about the video, I was just relieved that Trey finally found someone he was so passionate about that he would go to such lengths to defend her.”

I didn’t know what to say. I was beyond speechless. I was expecting to be reamed out for corrupting her baby boy, but the woman was actually thanking me.

“But you probably have some homework or something to catch up on. I’ll leave you be and send Trey up when his meeting is done.”

With that she was out of the room and left me standing there. Dumbfounded.

***

I decided that since I had some downtime I would try and call my mom. At least let her know where I was.

“Hello?”

“Hey, Mom. How are you doing?”

She breathed into the phone and I heard crinkling noises in the background. “Oh I’m fine! I’m just cleaning. But I can take a break for you. How was the barn dance?”

I sighed, plopping down on the bed. It was like lying on a cloud. It had to be the softest mattress ever. Not like my parents’ guest futon. Trey had to have thought I was some sort of pauper compared to the grandiose of the Chapman place.

“It was okay. Trey ended up getting in a fight with some guy, so now we’re at his parent’s house to get away for awhile.” That seemed like a good enough reason. I imagined the governor had every resource on speaker phone to make the whole thing look like a set up and pay off the jerk from the dance.

“You’re at the governor’s house?” Mom couldn’t contain the excitement in her voice. She squealed like a little girl.

“Yes, Mom. I’m in his house. I had lunch with him and his wife, and they asked about my future career choices.”

“Uh oh. Feminist Monny didn’t come out, did she? Did you cause a scene?”

“Mom,” I groaned. “I’m not that bad.”

“Mon, you know I love you and your strong headed opinions, but it never hurts to tone them down once in awhile.”

A knock came at the door.

“Come in,” I yelled, pulling the phone receiver away from my mouth.

Slowly the door opened and Trey inched his way in. “Is this a bad time?”

I shook my head and pulled the phone back toward my mouth. “Mom, Trey’s here. I’m going to have to call you back.”

“Okay, well have fun and behave!”

I set the phone on the bed just as soon as Trey sat next to me.

“So, how did it go?”

He grinned. Not his political smile, but the one he usually had right before he made a smartass comment. “Did I ever tell you how sexy you are when you’re nervous?”

I rolled my eyes. “I’m serious.”

“And so am I.” He got on all fours, crawling on the bed until he hovered over me. “The whole time we were at the table I kept thinking how cute it was when you would stumble for an answer. It’s not like the bullheaded Monica that I’m used to.”

I leaned up, resting on my elbows, so I was just inches from his face. “Everyone gets nervous sometimes.”

He moved his hand to the side of my face, cradling my chin in his palm before caressing my cheek with his thumb. “But you’re usually the exception. My cool as a cucumber liberal. It was nice to see your soft side.”

“I can bring out the bullheaded side if you miss it. Especially if you don’t tell me how things went with your dad.”

He groaned and slid back from hovering and then rolled on his back to lie beside me. “He just asked me some questions. We talked about it, and now everything is fine.”

I turned to my side to face him. “He couldn’t have asked you those questions over the phone?”

He sighed, staring up at the ceiling. “He said he wanted us to come here, so he could see if there was really something between us. If I really loved you, or if this was just something to pass the time.” He finally let his gaze trail to mine as he turned over, leaning on his side. “His words. Not mine.”

“And what did he figure out...”

He leaned in, and I could make out every freckle on the bridge of his nose. He was beyond beautiful, and he was in bed, next to me. I couldn’t stop thinking about all the things we could be doing in the bed besides talking, and the butterflies did somersaults in my stomach just thinking about it. “That this is as real as it gets.”

I bent forward, parting my lips ever so slightly when the clicking of heels knocked me out of our almost kiss. Trey sprang up from the bed, standing with his back to me and his hands fumbling at the front of his pants. I rolled over and sat up just before Mindy walked in.

“Hey Mom,” Trey said, cool as a cucumber.

“Hello, dear, I was just seeing if you wanted to give Monica a tour of the property. Your father has a conference call, and I have book club, so I didn’t want you to feel like we were completely ignoring you.”

“That sounds great. Thanks, Mom.”

I stood up, and Trey took my hand as we followed Mindy out of the guest room and down the grand staircase. I guess it was frowned upon for us to be in the room alone together. I hadn’t actually been with anyone in that way in quite a long time. I wasn’t a virgin, by any means. I had a few boyfriends in high school and there was a three month long relationship at college, but I wasn’t a slut either. After the incident at Taylor, I didn’t have any feelings for another guy and couldn’t think about a boyfriend, or want to be with someone in that way. But Trey brought out new feelings in all the right places, and I was getting anxious to explore them.

Trey led me out the back patio door to a large veranda. A big pergola hung over us with different vines and plants, all meticulously kept. The back yard faced the east and the sun glimmered over the large infinity swimming pool that looked like it spilled over onto the green grass.

“As you can see, this is the back yard.” Trey spread his arms out and walked to the side where an outdoor kitchen was set up, complete with a stainless steel grill and even a full-sized fridge. Just to the front of that was a large patio table with eight bronze colored chairs around it.

“I think this is nicer than my whole house,” I muttered.

Trey put his hands down. “Don’t say that.” He took a few steps back to me and put both my hands in his, looking into my eyes. “I didn’t bring you here to show off my parent’s house. You know this isn’t me. I’m not some braggart.”

“Well, you kind of do like to showboat,” I teased.

“I’m serious.” His eyes were dark and steely. “I don’t want you to feel like this is something that I expect. I’ve been born with a silver spoon, but you’re the girl who doesn’t care about this.”

I squeezed his hands to let him know that I was still listening.

“One of the things that I love about you is that you don’t care about my family or my money. Heck, I think those are actually the things you don’t like about me.”

“It’s grown on me, I’ll admit.”

He turned so that he was at my side and continued down the veranda and onto the grass, dropping one of my hands, but still holding tightly on to the other. “You know what I mean. That’s part of the reason I chased you so hard. You weren’t interested at all. Most girls around campus throw themselves at me as soon as they hear who my dad is. Not because of me or my politics, but they thought they might get a ride in my car or a trip to the family lake house in Michigan.”

I put my hand to my chest and dropped my bottom jaw in mock shock. “You mean you aren’t going to take me to the famous Chapman lake house?”

I didn’t think it was that famous. It had its own Wikipedia page but all it said was “In the style of the Hampton’s, a row of politician’s homes line a secluded beach that includes the Chapman’s, and the senators and congressmen from most of the Midwestern states.” If it was half as impressive as the governor’s friend’s place we had our first date at, I wasn’t sure I’d have the correct swim attire to go anywhere near it.

Trey furrowed his brow, looking straight ahead. “I’m being serious.”

I squeezed his hand. “I know, I’m sorry.”

He led me through the grass. The lawn reminded me of what I thought a royal palace would look like with lush flowers, perfectly trimmed hedges, and even a koi pond. The whole thing was beyond amazing. All my parents had in their backyard was my old wooden swing set and a deck with a grill that was practically rusted through.

Trey stopped and turned toward me. “My dad asked me what I saw in you. What it was that made me choose you, and of course, punch out one of my fraternity brothers for you.”

I bit down on my bottom lip. Did the governor not like me? Was this about to be a huge blow to my ego? “And what did you tell him?”

He took a step closer, pressing his forehead to mine and wrapping his arms around my waist. I inhaled Trey’s wonderful fragrance; freshly laundered shirts and expensive cologne. “I told him that the moment I met you, I knew there was no one else I’d rather be with. That you’re the girl who challenges me more than anyone and makes me want to be a better person.”

“You actually said that to your dad?” I had to keep my jaw from dropping to the ground.

He brushed a stray strand of hair out of my face. His touch made my lip tremble. It was as if his fingers had a direct line to my libido, and the more he touched me the more I didn’t want him to stop. “I’d never been so angry that I would actually punch a guy, until last night. It showed me that I could actually have pure, unadulterated passion in my life and not just believe in something because it’s one of the principles I’ve been raised on.”

“I love it when you give me your pseudo-political speeches, because they are more real than any other bullshit you would otherwise spiel,” I said, wrapping my arms around his neck and pulling his body flush with mine.

“I love you, Monica Remy. You’re the only girl I’ve ever fallen so hard for. I never thought I’d love a bleeding-heart liberal with facial piercings, but you’re truly the only exception.”

With that I did the only thing there was left to do and pulled him into a kiss. It felt like forever since I had and his lips were warm against mine, his tongue gliding inside and instantly making my body aware of his. I raked my fingers through his hair, tugging it lightly. His kisses became more passionate, more eager, and full of desire. They were short and then fast, each move of his tongue made my body tremble. He reached his hands lower down my back until he cradled my butt in them.

I felt a low moan gather in my throat and travel out of my lips into his mouth as his hands caressed me, almost better than any massage I’d ever had.

He broke the kiss slightly and his lips trailed down to my neck, nibbling at the delicate skin that met my shoulders. I gasped, his fingers working their way up and down my back. His bulge was now prominently pressed right against me. My whole body responded, and I shivered underneath his touch, rocking my hips against his. I wanted to rip his dress clothes off right there in the backyard.

A loud, throat-clearing sound came from behind Trey. I jumped back, letting go of him and smoothing out my hair. Trey quickly adjusted the front of his pants and turned toward the noise. A short, Latin man in a pair of overalls with a straw hat, holding a garden hoe stared at us.

“Señor, Chapman, sorry to interrupt. I just need to get to the begonias,” he said with a heavy accent.

Trey looped his arm around my waist, ushering me away from the flowers behind us, keeping his head down. “Oh sure, go right ahead, Manuelo.”

“Gracias, Señor. Have a beautiful day!”

I covered my mouth to try to stifle my giggles as we quickly walked back to the house.

“It’s not funny,” Trey said with his head down and his cheeks slightly flushed.

“Oh my God!” I stopped and tilted my head. “Are you embarrassed? I thought I’d never see the day the great Trey Chapman got embarrassed.”

“It’s not funny,” he muttered, stepping onto the veranda.

“It kind of is. It’s not every day one gets caught making out by the gardener.”

Trey opened the door and ushered me into the living room. Before he closed the door behind us he squeezed my butt, and I let out a loud squeal.

“Trey Chapman!” I spun toward him and he picked me up with a devious grin on his face. “This is no laughing matter, Miss Remy.”

I wrapped my legs around his waist, and he hungrily pressed his lips to mine, like he was savoring every bit of me. He took a few steps forward and then we tumbled onto the couch. I kept my legs wrapped around him and pushed my hips against him. One of his hands ran through my hair, and he slowly slid the other one up the length of my leg, making every bit of my skin prick with goose bumps.

I didn’t know when his parents would be home, but every part of me ached for him. I took his hand on my leg and moved it down under my skirt until his fingers reached my panty line. He just let his hand sit there, his fingers gently rubbing against the silk fabric of my underwear. This wasn’t like at the Alpha Mu house. This was something I wanted after all this time. I couldn’t take the waiting, and I moved his hand underneath my panties. He kept his hand there, brushing it against my bare skin before he slid one finger inside me, curving it slightly. He left it there for a moment and then, delicately slowly, he twirled it over and over, and my body quivered underneath him. I arched my back and then he went deeper, hitting every spot just right.

I moaned softly, unable to contain myself. Making out and over the clothes fondling was one thing, but actually having his digits inside me was a whole new, mind-blowing game.

“Oh Monica,” he breathed into my hair.

I reached down and undid his belt with urgency. With every twirl of his fingers I wanted him even more.

“Señor Chapman? OH I SO SORRY!”

Trey pulled his fingers out of me and rolled off the couch. I snapped up, pulling my skirt down and hoping no one got a show.

A short, stout Latina woman in a white apron, carrying a mop stood there with her hand over her mouth.

Trey quickly buckled his belt and cleared his throat. “Hello Nadia, sorry about that. Me and Monica were just...enjoying each other’s company before my parents came home.”

Nadia moved her hand from her mouth and shuffled into the living room. “I not telling you what to do, Señor, but I would suggest that you may do a better job of enjoying each other’s company behind closed doors.”