The Bond. Book One: Rhys & Dovee (BWWM)

I. Political Monsters

"The maid that loves goes out to sea upon a shattered plank and puts her trust in miracles for safety." -Edward Young

Dovee.


Two Days Ago

After a long day of constant trauma and doom, the little moments were a blessing. Shifting Annie into park, I settled into the smooth leather cushions and welcomed the comfort as it enveloped me like a second skin. Instantly I relaxed and my muscles sing as they loosen up one body part at a time.

See, Washington D.C. was home to the U.S. Government, the President and all the things important to the country. Unfortunately, it's also home to crime, poverty and in general people always going to the hospital. As an ER nurse at George Washington University Hospital, I saw a lot of action. Everything from a heart attack to a gun shot wound- - and a whole lot of mess in between, I was on the front line patching them up and sending them off to where they needed to go.

Now I was finally home and sent praises to Heaven for it. In my bag somewhere, my phone took to ringing, vibrating and I groaned at the disturbance. I had half a mind to ignore it, but it was Terrance.

"Hello," I said answering before it went to voice-mail.

"Were you not going to answer Vee?" His cool baritone voice rumbling through the line.

Terrance Bishop has been my boyfriend for well over five months and everyday, without fail, he calls me after work. As a member of congress, he tends to keep himself busy. . but in the midst of all that he still finds time for me.

"Wait. . . not answer me?" I repeated back to him in question and tried to gather all my things to head out into the cold. "I wouldn't dream of it. I'm hurt T."

"Oh bullshit," he cut me off with a laugh. I joined him in laughter because he knew me so well. "You probably had your feet up on the couch and halfway off to Dovee land. When you saw my call, your eyes rolled so hard you almost went cross eyed."

"Not true," I sputtered in amusement.

"Which part is not true babe?"

I sat up and arranged the phone against my ear. "I'm not on my couch, I'm sitting in my car thank you very much. And I did not roll my eyes when you called but rather groaned in annoyed frustration."

We share a chuckle, a good laugh was guaranteed whenever he called me like this. We'd lovingly bicker and carry on until he hand to go or I fell asleep.

"Damn Vee, you're one cold woman."

I slammed the door shut to my beloved Ford Explorer and into the harsh D.C. weather. I took off in a quick power walk toward the sanctuary of my apartment complex.

"I am literally one cold woman. It's thirteen degrees outside."

"Oh I know sweetheart, I'm sorry about that," he sympathized his voice softer now. "Do you think maybe I could come and see you tonight?"

Jackson, the big black security guard held the door open for me and I smiled my thanks.

"Oh wow. You're wife let you come out tonight?" It was a low blow, and a very necessary one. For months now, he's promised me that he would leave his wife. I have yet to see evidence that he would.

"Why do you always have to come with that bullshit?" he asked none to happy. Laurie Bishop was a soar subject with him.

I shook my head. This was not right. "Sure you can come over T. You gonna stay the night?" I needed to distract him before he changed his mind and said he woudn't come over. Our time together was precious to me, and I cherished all of them.