Abbey spun around to see her horse nudging at her as if apologizing for throwing her off.

"Oh Quinney, you just scared the hell out of me," Abbey gasped. She gave a shaky little laugh, feeling completely ridiculous for getting so spooked this morning. "I just don't know what is wrong with me today." She began to move her arm up and down and in circles. After determining that nothing was broken, she gingerly swung back up into the saddle. She thought about continuing on with her ride but was suddenly no longer in the mood. Her arm hurt and she still had a terribly unsettling feeling that something was not right.

Marcus Hughes sat behind the low stone well cursing himself for being such an idiot. He had almost blown this golden opportunity Lori had given him. Lori, that stupid cow, he thought with derision. She actually thought he was beginning to care for her. As if he could care for her. It was Abbey he loved. Abbey he had loved since that first smile she had given him at Boston Mercy. Usually the doctors acted as if the orderlies did not exist, but not Abbey, Abbey had smiled at him and said thank you and from then on he had been lost. Lori didn't have any idea of how he was using her to get close to Abbey. He had told her he just wanted to scare the First Lady a little bit, dig up some dirt on her to make her pay for her past transgressions. He had followed Abbey through the woods just intending on watching her, maybe even spooking her a little. He hadn't intended on scaring the damn horse so much that she got thrown. He didn't want to hurt Abbey. He loved her.

++++

Jed entered the barn and made his way down the row of stalls to where he heard his wife's voice. He paused outside the stall smiling as he watched Abbey chatting away to her horse while she rubbed her down. Her coat had been discarded and she stood in the body molding jodhpurs and T-shirt moving with an innate grace and gentleness as she cared for her horse.

Abbey pushed a stray strand of hair from her forehead with irritation. As she paused in her ministration,s her pulse raced at the distinct sound of hay crunching behind her. She whipped around lifting her brush up in one hand as if to smack the intruder she knew had been following her.

"Hey," Jed stepped back putting his hands up, "I come in peace."

"Jesus, Jed," she breathed, placing a hand over her heart. "You scared me to death"

"I see that," he said, frowning at the fear on her face. "Are you all right? You seem awfully jumpy."

"I'm fine," she assured him.

Jed reached out a hand to run up her arm reassuringly and looked at her questioningly.

"Abbey, you're shaking like a leaf," he said.

"I told you that you scared me," she said, stepping back from those hands and those discerning eyes that could see more than she wanted him to see at times.

"OK, I'm sorry I scared you, babe."

"Is that for me?" She asked, eyeing the thermos in her husband's hand. Jed knew she was trying to change the subject but let it go.

"Yeah, thought you might like some hot coffee." Abbey accepted the thermos he held out to her and opened it to take a sip. She gazed over the rim at him, for the first time noticing his attire. Jed was wearing a pair of old faded jeans, a gray turtleneck, and a black leather jacket, looking more like the cover of GQ than the President of the United States. It was an undeniably sexy look for him.

"I like your jacket," she said, sipping from the thermos.

"I hope you do. You bought it for me."

"I mean that I like it ON you. To quote Annie, you're a real hottie."

"Really?" Jed moved forward taking the thermos from her hand. "A hottie, you say?"

"Definitely."

"So there WAS a reason you lured me here to the barn."

"I didn't lure you here," Abbey said innocently.

"You most certainly did."

"I didn't ask you to bring me coffee."

"I read your signals this morning quite well, darling."

"I don't know what you're talking about," she feigned ignorance.

"Like hell you don't, you wicked girl," he laughed, grabbing her hips and pulling her to him. "There's a reason you wore these pants," he ran his hand over her rear.

"They're simply riding breeches, Jed."

"There is nothing simple about what those pants do to your body, angel."

"Or what they do to yours," she gave a flirtatious smile as she pressed her pelvis into his groin.

"Ah Ha! So you admit it. You dressed like a hot little number to lure me down here like some modern day Delilah."

"Jed," she placed her fingers on his lips.

"What?"

"Shut up and kiss me," she tangled a hand at the back of his neck pulling his head down to her.

"Bossy lady," Jed grinned just before his mouth covered hers. Abbey parted her lips allowing Jed's tongue to enter, tease, and tangle with hers. She felt the fingertips of one of his hands running along her jaw while the other moved along the bare skin between her shirt and the waistband of her breeches. She could already feel how ready he was for this and pushed gently at his chest.

"Abbey," her name came out as a moan of disappointment.

"Not here, Jed," she said while trying to catch her breath. "In the loft." She took his hand and led him to the stairs leading up to the loft. Jed reached out a hand snagging an old horse blanket before following Abbey's tantalizing rear up the stairs.

Once in the loft Abbey watched Jed spread the blanket over the hay as he had done so many times before. They had used this place that had been the site of their first lovemaking for the same purpose many times over the years. It was their private haven, the place they would sneak away to when the house was full and they wanted to be alone. It was the place that never failed to bring back the memories of that first time. The anticipation of finally knowing what it was to fully become a woman and share her body with a man. The shyness she had felt baring her naked body to Jed and the pride she had taken in his response to her. The overpowering wonder at every new touch, every new sensation. The trembling nervousness she had experienced at seeing Jed naked and aroused for the first time and the way that, despite the pain, she had never felt anything more right than it had felt to hold Jed inside her body and become one with him.

Amazingly enough none of those feelings had ever left her and when they made love in this loft she could still feel what it was like to be that unsure twenty year old virgin again. Then again, she smiled inwardly, there was something to be said about all the years of experience they now had.

"Your bed awaits, milady," Jed gave a courtly bow toward the blanket. Abbey smiled and moved forward sliding her hands over her husband's chest and pushing his jacket off his shoulders.

"I like the jacket, honey, but it's gotta go," she yanked it off his arms.

>From behind the bales of hay, Marcus Hughes watched his pure beautiful Abigail as she pulled her husband's shirt over his head, got down on her knees, and began to nuzzle along the waistband of his jeans. He felt his blood race with both excitement and anger. Excitement at being this close to her and seeing her this way and anger that she had ignored him. He had sent her several letters expressly informing her that it was time to stop having any relations with her husband. It was time to purify herself for him. They would be together soon and he didn't want any remnants of Jed Bartlet marring their reunion and the glorious future they would have. He felt the old rage begin to rise in his veins and his control began slipping as he watched Abbey slide HIS jeans down and touch HIS flesh with her mouth the way she had no business doing, the way a WHORE did. He took deep breaths to regain his precarious control and focused on loading his camera with a new roll of film. When he finally looked up again, his mouth dropped open as he saw Abbey now standing bare breasted, her husband having discarded her T-shirt and bra. He wanted to feel nothing but anger, however his lust got the better of him as he watched the President take her rosy tipped nipple into his mouth.

"Jed," Abbey sighed as her head fell back and her fingers began to thread through his thick hair.

"I think your breasts missed me," he murmured against the soft skin on the underside of one breast.

"You sure it isn't the other way around?" She teased.

Jed looked up at her for a moment then bent back to the task at hand flicking his tongue over her hardened peaks until Abbey's legs grew weak with desire and she was moaning for him to take her into his mouth.

"I'd say it goes both ways," he grinned with satisfaction as he began to slide her breeches down over her slender hips before laying her back on the blanket and getting on with what he had been missing for so long. He couldn't get enough of her breasts. He was like a man who had been dying of thirst as he nuzzled, suckled, and nipped at her nipples. After teasing each one to hardened points, Jed moved his attention to the valley in between her breasts rubbing his rough scratchy cheek against the soft tender skin there and allowing the cold air to tease her nipples which were still wet from his mouth. Abbey's fingers were gripped in his hair holding him close to her chest. Oh God, how she had missed this, she thought. What this man could do with that masterful mouth was nothing short of incredible. She wanted that mouth to stroke and suckle every inch of her. His lips moved back to hers and he kissed her deeply, his tongue easing in and out of her mouth in a rhythm he would soon repeat with his lower body. While he kissed her, he rolled her right nipple between his thumb and forefinger pinching lightly every so often to elicit a cry of pleasure/pain from Abbey against his lips.

Abbey began arching her kiss-swollen breasts against his rough chest hair. There was an aching now, a pulsing and throbbing between her legs. She needed Jed to touch her there, but he seemed content just running his fingers up and down her outer thighs. Jed felt her part her legs for him, knew exactly what and where she wanted him. Her hips were now squirming in need against him. He transferred his ministrations to her inner thighs, tracing patterns on the silky skin there, running up almost to the point of what she wanted, but then descending back down to her knee.

"Jed," she gasped, pulling her lips away from him. "Touch me...please," she pleaded.

"Where?" He asked, nipping the skin on her neck. "Show me where you want me to touch you, Abigail." Abbey reached out desperately for his arm and moved his hand to the juncture between her legs. Jed left his hand cupped there for a moment, then slipped his finger into the slickness to begin to stroke her.

"Oh God yes," Abbey groaned as the tip of his finger found the sensitive nub that drove her crazy with need. "Right there Jed...don't stop." She was now writhing against his hand, yet despite the incredible pleasure she wanted more, needed more. She ran her hand down Jed's belly to take his straining hardness into her hand. She heard the low groan deep in his throat as she ran her hand up and down his length, flicking her thumb over the moisture at the tip.

"Now Jed...please now," she opened her legs wider to accommodate his shifting form and she nearly sobbed with relief as began to penetrate her, filling that aching void. He slid all the way to his hilt then paused for a moment letting Abbey feel his throbbing fullness. An aching tenderness filled him as he looked down into her face. Her eyes were closed and she was biting down on that sexy bottom lip of hers.

"I love you, Abbey," the soft words he meant to say came out as a moan as his lower body began to take control of the rest of him. He bent to kiss her closed eyelids and heard her whimper with disappointment as he withdrew almost all the way out of her, only to gasp as he thrust deeply again. Soon they were caught up in a rhythm both knew by heart. Abbey's fingers dug into Jed's buttocks pulling him deeper and the barn was filled with earthy, primitive moans of pleasure. Abbey came first, as usually Jed tried to make sure she did. Jed slowed his pace to feel her tighten around him. He nuzzled along her neck while she tried to regain her breath and, before she was even finished with the little pulsing aftershocks, Jed began to move fiercely within her again. The quick jabbing thrusts coupled with his ragged groans told Abbey he was just about there. His eyes were closed, his jaw strained. She loved to watch him like this, to see the intense pleasure he took in making love to her. She ran her fingertips over the straining muscles of his back urging him on with breathless whispers and concentrated on giving him as much pleasure as possible.

"Abbey," he groaned as she began to tighten her muscles around him with each thrust. The squeezing sensation was almost more than he could bear.

So intent was she on giving Jed pleasure that her second orgasm, just as he shouted her name to the rafters and exploded within her, took her completely by surprise.

Marcus Hughes unloaded the film from his camera with disgust. Disgust with himself at feeling such intense excitement at watching Abbey couple with a man he hated to the point of wishing him dead. And disgust with Abbey for being such a whore. He had been forced to sit there hidden and listen to her beg, literally BEG her husband to touch her. He had tried to make her beg that night in Boston. Had needed her to beg. But no matter how he hurt her, it had been the one thing he had not been able to make that bitch do. He had touched her, penetrated her, hurt her, made her cry, ejaculated inside her, but he had not been able to make her beg him for it. That was something he was going to have to rectify. He had warned her, had told her to stop having sex with HIM. But she hadn't listened, she had IGNORED him and now she had ruined it all. He had planned on taking her away, romancing her, but she wasn't going to get that now. Oh no, Abigail Bartlett needed to be punished. She needed to pay for disobeying him. Simply the thought of how he was going to accomplish that engorged him with excitement. As just the thought of getting rid of Jed Bartlet and taking Abbey away soothed his rage and calmed the blood pounding in his temples. As far those kids went, he hadn't decided what he was going to do yet. Maybe he would take them along, he could use them as leverage with her. Then again, they were Jed Bartlet's babies, his blood ran through their veins, proof that Abbey was not pure. No, maybe he would take care of them as well.

Jed had pulled the scratchy horse blanket up and around them and held Abbey tightly in his arms. Abbey nuzzled at the pulse point on Jed's throat, inhaling deeply the musky scent of their lovemaking, along with the woodsy smell of the leaves that Benny must be burning in the backfield.

"We should get back," she yawned. "The whole house is probably up."

"Yeah," Jed sighed, kissing the top of her head.

Abbey sat up, leaving the warm cocoon they had made and shivered as her bare skin was exposed to the chilly November air. Goosebumps covered her arms and her nipples tightened in response.

"You're going to catch pneumonia," Jed said, and ever the gentleman, he wrapped her back in the blanket before turning to grab their discarded clothing. He moved back to her, slipping her T-shirt over her head.

"For heaven's sake Jed, I'm not Aislinn, I can dress myself," she laughed.

"You're more fun to dress than Ash," he grinned kissing a couple freckles on her chest before pulling her arms through the sleeves of the shirt. As he grabbed her right arm, Abbey cried out in pain.

"What's wrong?" Jed's brow furrowed with concern. "Was I too rough with you before?"

"No, it's OK," she winced as he finished putting the shirt on. She had been experiencing too much pleasure before to be worried about the pain in her arm, but now it was starting to stiffen up.

"It's not fine, Abbey," he said sternly as he watched her face and the way she held her arm so gingerly. "I want to know what happened."

"It was nothing, really. I was riding Quinney out by the edge of the property. I thought I heard something so I wasn't paying much attention. Something startled Quinney and caused her to rear."

"Aquinnah threw you?" He asked with disbelief.

"She didn't THROW me. I fell. If I'd been paying attention I never would have lost my seat. I..."

"Abbey."

"What?"

"I can't believe you're more upset over your lack of horsemanship rather than the fact that you got hurt."

"I banged my arm. That's all."

Jed gently took her arm and lifted the short sleeve up over her shoulder noticing right away the yellowing bruise he had missed while making love to her. He had been too concentrated on other parts of her delectable anatomy to notice it.

"You've got a pretty good bruise," he said. "You need to have that checked out."

"I already did."

"Oh yeah, what hospital was that?"

"Very funny. I'm a doctor, Jed. I checked it. There is nothing broken."

"Yeah, well, I want a second opinion. When we get back to the house, I'm going to call and have Admiral Hackett come over to check it."

"Jed, there is no reason to make that poor man come over from the hotel to..."

"Abbey, I'm calling him." Abbey looked into Jed's eyes knowing she had lost this battle. There were times when she could talk her husband out of things, wheedle her way around him, but when Jed Bartlet put his foot down he could be as stubborn as...well as stubborn as her.

++++

Abbey was right, the house had come to life while they had been having their little roll in the hay. Everyone was up and preparing breakfast, trying to get an early start as most of them were leaving that afternoon.

"Did you have a nice ride, dear?" Beth asked, not looking up from the eggs she was scrambling.

"Very nice ride, Mom," Abbey gave Jed a sidelong glance and they both tried not to smile.

Leo had noticed right away the little bits of hay in Abbey's mussed hair, the brightness in her eyes, the redness on her cheek and neck that looked an awful lot like whisker burn. But it was those kiss swollen lips that were a dead giveaway to him. She looked like a woman who had been completely and thoroughly tumbled.

"Are you sure you're all right, Abbey?" Emily asked. "You're looking awfully flushed."

"It was a long, hard ride, Mother," Jed said tongue in cheek, causing Abbey to give him a sharp elbow to his ribs.

Leo nearly choked on his bacon. Jed gave his best friend a self-satisfied smile and winked.

+++++

Ellie and Zoey Bartlet were looking for their parents. They were on their way out to go dancing at a local club and wanted to let them know they were leaving. They found the two of them, along with Leo, reading in the library.

"Mom, Dad, we're heading out," Zoey said, just poking her head in.

"Whoa, wait just a moment, young lady," Jed called out. Zoey rolled her eyes at Ellie and entered the room. Jed's eyes narrowed at the minuscule skirt and high heeled boots his youngest daughter was wearing.

"Yes, Father?" She asked sweetly, knowing what was coming.

"Don't you think that skirt is a little short?"

"No."

"That wasn't a question, Zoey, it was a statement."

"Whatever it was, I don't think it is too short."

"Well just so you know, it is."

"I don't hear you complaining when Mom wears short skirts and high heels."

"That's different."

"How is it different?"

"It just is," he said uncomfortably and looked to Abbey for support.

"Don't look at me," Abbey said, crossing her arms, "I'd like to hear this too." Jed looked at all three women, knowing he was outnumbered per usual. He looked to Leo for support but his old friend merely shrugged knowing Jed was beaten.

"Your mother is not my daughter...I don't want...," he began to stammer, "Oh never mind, I know when I'm licked. Go have fun."

"Thanks Daddy," Zoey grinned leaning down to kiss her father on the cheek.

"Just remember, sweetheart, you aren't 21 yet."

"Yes, Dad, like I'd forget with you reminding me all the time."

"Smart ass," Jed grinned fondly and watched as both girls left the room.

"By the way," Abbey said, once the girls were gone. "What were you going to say?"

"When?"

"You started to tell her why you didn't want her wearing that skirt when you began to trip all over your words."

"Oh, then," he said a bit sheepishly. "I was just going to tell her that I didn't want boys feeling about her the way I feel about you in your short skirts and high heels."

"Oh Jed, you're priceless," Abbey laughed, shaking her head.

+++++

Later that night, while Jed and Abbey slept soundly, the ringing of a phone caused them to stir. While most people awakened startled and with fear at 2 am phone calls, neither of them did. Late night phone calls simply meant emergencies at the hospital, or a crisis at the White House. They did not have the ominous threat of bad news that most people received at this hour. But this call was different, it was not the line that the White House used. It was their cell phone, the number only their closest family and friends had. Because it was that that phone Abbey propped her head on one elbow to listen in when Jed picked up the phone.

"Hello," Jed answered sleepily. "Yes...what is it?" He sat right up, suddenly wide-awake. Fear clutched at Abbey's heart. This couldn't be good. "What's wrong?" He asked, running his hand through his hair. "Oh my God, no."

TBC...