The leather seat was so comfortable, I slept better than in my bed. The first thing I noticed when I opened my eyes was Brian in the seat across from me. He had my comic book on his chest, dozing off, with his feet up on the seat next to me.

I took the bottle of juice Mary, the woman from before, had brought me after taking off. After a few sips, I decided to get up and stretch.

Of what I could see out the small window, we were somewhere across the ocean and it was dark.

I stepped over Brian's stretched feet, deciding to take a left. It was wise, because to the right it looked like I was returning to the front of the plane. Of what Brian had mentioned, the security was next to the guest section, where we were sitting.

“Hi.”

I jumped, startled at the word being addressed to me. It was the big guy from the White House, the one who looked like Will Smith. “Hello.”

“Did you get lost?” He quirked a brow, checking his phone, then typing something, before his eyes bore into mine.

“Uh, not really,” I mumbled. “I was looking for Drew?”

“Through this door.” He pointed behind him, before accepting a call, and heading to the front of the plane.

I stared after him, before shaking my head and knocking on the door he had pointed. It opened a moment later by Ben.

“Ah, the little troublemaker.” He ushered me inside.

“What? Oh...uh...hello.” There were at least ten secret agents. They barely acknowledged me, which I had no idea how to take.

“Grab a seat.” Ben pointed to three vacant seats.

I shook my head. “Can we talk outside a little? I was looking for Drew, but you'll do.”

Ben huffed, guiding me outside and through a door on the other side of the stairs in front of us. “Talk.”

“Look, I have no idea what I'm doing, how to act, what is expected of me...what they think of me...”

“Justin, what happened earlier was a terrible misunderstanding.”

“Where's Drew? Tell me that Brian didn't punish him.” I didn't want anything like that to happen to Drew because of me.

“He's with the pilots, or that was the last thing I know of his whereabouts. Brian will let it slide eventually, but you must realize that he cares a lot about you and your safety.”

“Which brings me back to what the hell is going on? How do I fit in?” I waved around. “I don't want to jeopardize anything. If Brian takes more rushed decisions about me, regarding me…I'm afraid of what he'll do next.”

“If you think that he's going to come out to the world, you don't know him, Justin. He told his staff what they already knew, but he did it so they'd know to never cross you.” Ben sat in one of the leather seats, patting the one next to him. “As for the countries we're going to visit and what role your presence will play – that's something to talk to Brian. I found out what he wanted to do when we pulled up in front of your apartment.”

“I'll be totally fine left unattended. I doubt I can get in trouble. I'll be like any tourist,” I said quietly.

Ben cupped my shoulder, looking at me seriously. “You're dating the President of United States, Justin. You can't blend in. You can't do anything normal ever again. If Brian accepts the idea of you roaming the streets of the cities we visit, it will be with a Secret Agent beside you.”

I opened my mouth to protest, but closed it quickly, realizing he had a point. “Can it be one of you two?”

“Sadly, no. I'm the Head of Security, and I usually stay close to Brian. Drew is the next best man in the security department. I bet Brian will make you choose someone from the department. And whatever you do, stay low key and be careful what you say to anyone.”

I nodded. I already knew all this without even being told. It kind of went with dating the President as Ben had said. There were unwritten rules.

“BEN! Have you…Justin! You disappeared,” Brian said accusatory from the doorway.

“I decided to test the parachutes.” I laughed, but stopped abruptly when they stiffened. “What? It was a joke. Have you seen the movies around this plane? People always end up leaving through the escape pod and using the parachutes.”

Brian nodded to Ben, before steering me back to the room next to the security. “You see, Justin…Despite what those movies portray…there's no escape pod or parachutes on Air Force One.”

I stared out the small window in horror. “That's a joke,” I laughed uneasily. “Tell me, you just joked.”

“Sadly, no. This is supposed to be the safest plane ever to be made.”

“And so was Titanic supposed to be the best ship of her time! She sank during the first trip.”

Brian laughed, sitting down and pulling me on his lap. “It's going to be okay. I'm here.” He kissed me slowly. “What were you and Ben talking about?”

I shifted until I sat across his lap, my feet dangling over the edge of the armrest. “Well, we were discussing the possibility of me visiting the cities we will be in as a sort of normal tourist. Ben said you'd feel comfortable if I had a Secret Agent with me.”

“Is this what you want? I know I can't visit without being surrounded by agents. I won't subject you to that, so one guy will do. Is there anyone you'd like in particular?” He threaded his fingers through my hair. “Wait. You haven't even met them. We'll have a meeting with them soon.”

“I was going to ask for Drew, but he's your best man—”

“He's all yours. It should serve him right to be stuck with a brat instead of me.”

“Hey!” I mock punched him in the shoulder. Brian pulled me closer, kissing me softly.

“Mr. President—I apologize, sir.”

Brian looked toward the door where the Will Smith's bulkier brother was standing awkwardly. “Will, what?” Brian demanded, when the man kept staring at us.

I snorted, covering my mouth with both hands. “For real? His name is Will?”

Will frowned, meeting Brian's eyes, silently judging the President's choice in men.

“It's just that you look a lot like Will Smith. Well, taller and more muscular. You get what I mean,” I babbled, realizing I sounded like a tool.

Will smiled brightly – the first smile I had seen at him. “Can't say he has bad taste in men, sir.”

Brian chuckled, stroking my leg. “Well, he's with me. Now, why are you here?”

“Right. Joe and I worked on the security plan for the trip. When you have some time, we're in your office.”

“Tell everyone to be there in ten.” Brian let his head fall back against the seat, closing his eyes after Will left. “Never a quiet moment.”

I patted his chest, getting up. “You go do your thing. I'll try to find your suite and take a nap.”

“You're coming with me. Then we'll have something to eat, and then we'll nap together. Sound good?” Brian stood, stretching and revealing a silver of skin, making me want to lick it. “I wouldn't drag you into this meeting, but as you pointed out earlier, you'll need someone around too.”

.

.

.

Brian’s office was a conference room actually. There was the security detail on a side of the table, and on the other side sat the Vice President, the Chief of Staff, the Communication Director, and a few others I had never seen in my life.

There was an empty chair at the head of the table near his staff. On the other head of the table was Ben.

Brian kicked his foot in the Vice President’s chair. Schmidt got up and everyone to his left moved a chair to their left so his previous seat would be mine. I seriously hated all this.

Brian sat in his chair, pulling the files on the table closer to him. He looked through them, while I slouched in my seat, wishing I could become invisible. Everyone was goggling at me.

“What’s this about? You couldn't find a hotel in Madrid to accept Bruce?”

That was a surprise. I had no idea we had Bruce with us.

“There were changes made in the legislation and administration,” a woman dressed in white suit pants said in a small voice.

“There has never been such a problem. You better solve this issue, or there will be consequences.” Brian sifted through the files. “Why are we a day short in Paris?”

“As you may be aware the president’s wife has some health problems. We discussed this and figured that after the official meeting, we could move forward with the trip.”

Brian extended his hand and a pen was pressed into his hand. I was surprised at how in-tune he was with his people and how changed he was. I already knew how professional he could be, but from the lovable man I knew to this ruthless man…wow.

“We’re staying the extra day in Paris. I want the day cleared of any obligations.”

All the eyes turned on me, and I squirmed.

Brian caught my eye, then he looked toward the security detail. “Drew, I want you with Justin all the time.”

Drew chose to nod, instead of arguing.

“Will, you’ll stay with Theodore.”

I tuned Brian out as he appointed each secret agent to someone on his staff. I tried to visualize my future during this trip. At least, I would have Drew with me, and not some stranger.

Brian shot a few more directions, complained about some points on the files, then dismissed everyone. He told Ben to inform Mary that we would dine in his bedroom, then he led me away from the conference room.

Outside the room, a mousy man stopped Brian. “I won’t take a lot of your time, sir.”

“What’s up, Rick?”

“When would it be a good time to have a short article ready for your arrival in Madrid?”

“Damn in.” Brian waved Rick to our former seats in the guest area. He touched my hand. “You can go to the bedroom. I’ll be right there when I’m done with Rick.”

I nodded, not ready to be subjected to more stares.

I wasn’t sure if anyone on the staff judged me or didn’t approve of Brian's relationship, but I didn’t feel welcomed.

Mary brought our dinner, then I was alone with my thoughts. I picked at the food when about an hour had passed since I had left Brian with Rick.

The door opened when I was stubbing peas in each fork tooth.

“That took longer than expected,” he said in apology. “Sometimes, it gets to be too much.”

I walked to him, placing my hands on his shoulders, massaging slowly. “Life gets to be too much for everyone, Brian. Let’s eat. I plan on relaxing you.”

“Sounds perfect, though I’ll have to see Theodore after we eat. Something came up.”

I tried not to show how disappointed I was. I had known from moment one that I was embarking on a ship facing stormy waters. No relationship was easy, but when one dated the President of United States, some sacrifices were expected.

“What’s the plan for when we land?” I asked, sitting back at the table.

“You’ll have to check in with Drew. He’s going to be your shadow.”

“I didn’t mean the exact moment when we land. All of it.” I waved my hands around. “Am I going to stay in the same room as you?”

“I’m still thinking about it,” Brian admitted. “While Ben’s security arguments are solid, I brought you along because I want to see you at least at night and a few minutes in the morning.”

“You don’t think we could see each other during the day?” I mumbled.

“I’m afraid there’s literally no time. I’ll be up early every morning. If I don’t have to grab breakfast with some official, we’ll eat together. Then my whole day will be meticulously planned ahead. When I’ll return to my room at night, I usually have enough energy to shower and fall in bed.”

“Where I’ll be waiting for you,” I said with conviction. I didn’t want to think that his hectic schedule would put a damper on our relationship.

Brian leaned closer, kissing me softly. “I insisted on the free day in Paris because I want to spend it with you. It doesn’t matter if we go out undercover or stay locked in the hotel room, but that time will be ours. We might have such days in some other cities, but I’m not making promises.”

I threaded my fingers through his hair. “If the press sees us?”

“I got that covered. Rick is the Head of the White House Press. He’ll get a hold of a professional camera for you. You can use it for taking pictures. If we’re seen together, you’re the official photographer.”

“Sounds cool.” I winked. “Can we have a naked photo session, Mr. President?”

“You’re the dirty kind of photographer, I see. You want to leak compromising photos of me to the press.”

“Never!” I laughed. “They’ll all be for my self-love sessions when you’d be too tired to do much else.”

Brian narrowed his eyes. “I’m never too tired to fuck, Justin.”