welcome to congress

[imnotrobin]

California's 48th has been red for as long as most people can remember but Sam runs a good campaign on the issues and tries his best to deflect everything his opponent throws at him. There's the usual mud-slinging, most of which is fixated on the fact that Sam had once accidentally dated a call girl and then not-so-accidentally continued his friendship with her after he knew her chosen profession.

He thinks it helps that Ainsley's by his side. She makes an excellent candidate's partner and while she's still just his girlfriend, he has a ring in his pocket that's burning a hole and he thinks tonight is the best time to do it. He'll propose to her now, before they call it, and no matter what happens, hopefully she'll be with him through it all.

"Ainsley? Could I borrow you for a moment?" Sam pitches his voice a little lower, just enough to be audible above the excited din of the ballroom they've rented out to hold their party in. It's getting down to the wire, with the votes, and he's still deadlocked with the republican candidate. It might come down to the last few precincts before one or the other of them pulls away.

"Away from the cameras and the people? There's something I wanted to ask...talk to you about."

Comments

[imnotrobin]

"Well, of course. Anyone on my staff has to be familiar with going across the aisle," Sam says, giving her a slow, soft grin. "Bi-partisan works for us so there's no reason that it shouldn't work for my entire staff."

And he trusts Ainsley's judgment as much as he trusts his own.

[theirlawyer]

Ainsley leans up to kiss him as she works him free of his shirt, taking special attention to undo his pants next, walking Sam backwards until he's standing in nothing but his boxers and she's got her hands all over that body of his that belongs to her now, exclusively and in the way that thrills her. "We should get you an op-ed, with Vanity Fair, or some other puff piece that'll talk about the wedding and give you a chance to air your opinions."

[imnotrobin]

"Yeah, something that I can wear something casual and look approachable," Sam says, winding his hand in her hair and tugging her up close for a kiss. "Something you can be proud of and want to put on the coffee table."

It's a random thing but he's a little distracted at the moment. A lot distracted.

[theirlawyer]

"Like a yachting enthusiast," is her reply, because she can absolutely picture him in a Ralph Lauren commercial, though she supposes that she has her place there too and shouldn't talk so loudly when the finger can be pointed right back at her. She grins and slides in to kiss him, up on her toes as she winds her arms around his waist.

"Sam," she says, voice a touch husky, "take me to bed."

[imnotrobin]

"Better than looking like a yachting enthusiast," Sam says, finishing up with a completely random thought. He kisses her as he backs her up toward the bed, unwilling to break contact with her even though it would make getting into bed a hell of a lot easier.

God, he's never been in love with someone as much as he loves Ainsley and he's just happy she's agreed to be his.

[theirlawyer]

"You're very handsome when you look like a yachting enthusiast," she teases, leaning up to kiss him and having to strain now that her heels are off and the height difference between them is as far as ever. She knows she doesn't want to just be a wife, knows she wants to be more, but she can't help worry that she's going to get pigeonholed into it.

There'll be time to worry about that later, though.

[imnotrobin]

"I look much better when I'm your fiance," Sam says, sliding his hands under her to lift her up into his arms. There isn't far to go to get to their bed but Sam wants to make it romantic and special because this is their first time together as an engaged couple and he's still high on the election and all the ramifications of it.

[theirlawyer]

Ainsley shifts her stance and laughs brightly when she realizes what it is Sam means to do. "Well, aren't you just a regular gentleman," she says with a delighted grin, leaning up to kiss him. "I think you and I should consummate this engagement before the night gets away from us and you start getting phone calls." The last thing she needs is Josh Lyman interrupting this to gloat and praise.

[imnotrobin]

"Really good idea," Sam says, thinking that if someone interrupts them, he can't be held responsible for the inevitable sound bite that follows. He's really into getting to spend some time with his fiancee since the next four years of their life isn't going to have a lot of quiet time. He guesses that's the choice you make when you become a career politician.

He lowers her down onto the bed and follows, lips finding hers for a kiss.

[theirlawyer]

If Josh interrupts them, Ainsley is going to have to inform him that his friendship with Sam is on probation. She eases back onto the bed, stretching out comfortably as she kisses him, taking small joy in the feel of the engagement ring sliding over Sam's bare skin. "I really like the ring," she says, into the kiss.

[imnotrobin]

"Yeah? I was hoping you would," Sam says. He's pleased that his choice pleases her and that he hasn't screwed up the first step in what he hopes is a long and happy relationship.

"What else would the future Mrs. Seaborn like?"

[theirlawyer]

"I like that you won," she replies, sprawling back on the bed as she stretches her arms above her head, wiggling her hips as she gets comfortable. "And I like that tomorrow, I get to meet with your team and talk them through strategy and maybe media training. Somewhere in there, I'm sure we'll have to hire a wedding planner," she concedes.

[imnotrobin]

"We could talk about that at length but I would rather not talk right now," Sam says, stretching out alongside her and dipping his mouth down to catch hers in a deep, passionate kiss.

There is little he loves more than kissing Ainsley and now he's going to get to do it every day for the rest of his life and know she's his.

[theirlawyer]

Sam is one of the few people in the world that can capture Ainsley's attention whole-heartedly. She's not thinking about anything else once he starts to kiss her like that, and it always throws her for a loop, but she's so stupidly in love with him that she can forget his politics.

Wiggling back a little more, she peers up at him curiously. "We're still using protection, right?"

[imnotrobin]

"Oh, yes, we are. Unless you want to skip?" That is entirely up to her. Sam has always thought he wanted to be a father someday but someday's never come along. Now, it seems, they can start talking about that eventuality but they both have big careers that Sam wants to build up before they take a little time away to start a family.

"It's up to you, Ainsley."

[theirlawyer]

"Protection," is all she says with a firm nod. "Which isn't to say I don't want a family with you, Sam, because I do, but we're going to be so busy with career and personal lives that the last thing we need is a little Seaborn interrupting everything because you need to become President," she informs him. "Which means a little time in office getting your feet wet."

As usual, she's started to ramble in a way that's distracted from what they're doing.

[imnotrobin]

"Or you're going to run for President," Sam says. He's not entirely certain he's the one that's going to end up in the White House professionally but that's neither here nor there. The most important thing, at the moment, is spending some time building their marriage without the surprise of children.

"Protection it is," he promises, leaning over to snag a condom from the bedside table. "And then we'll talk about kids much, much later."

[theirlawyer]

"If we're planning to get me to run for president, we need to start working on my groundwork," she says, which isn't to detract from him or the moment, but it definitely means a lot more planning needs to happen. Ainsley takes advantage of the moment to sprawl back and grin as she watches Sam.

"I understand why so many women fell at your feet when I look at you like this," she praises.

[imnotrobin]

"Well, you know, I've only got one woman now," Sam says, sliding on the condom and moving to cover her. "And she's pretty demanding of my time so I don't care about those women who are falling at my feet. I only care about you."

[theirlawyer]

"You always know how to say the right words," she praises as a thrill rushes through her. "I almost know why you used to be a speechwriter, Mr. Seaborn," she teases with a smirk, eagerly staring at Sam as she moves her fingers up and down his hips slowly. "Come on," she coaxes softly. "Enough talk."

[imnotrobin]

"More action?" Sam asks, leaning in to kiss her slow and deep. He loves to kiss. Maybe that makes him a sap but Sam is fine with that particular appellation because there is nothing more satisfying to him than kissing a woman soft and slow until her toes curl and her back arches and she's melting with him. He particularly likes it with Ainsley, who is so often wound up tight and needs the release.

[theirlawyer]

Ainsley tries to keep as close to him as possible, as if she's trying to merge them both together, desperate for more touching and proximity. "Sam," she breathes out happily, already feeling all the tension from earlier and the worry bleed away. Everything is perfect. Sam's won, they're engaged, and they're on the right path.

She doesn't think her life could actually be better, right now.

[imnotrobin]

Sam thinks they're going to be an amazing team. There's no way he won't keep getting elected with someone as stunning and brilliant as Ainsley by his side but he's not worried about the next election. He's living in the moment.

He finds her hand and pushes it up over her head, skimming the other along her body as he kisses her slow and deep.

[theirlawyer]

Ainsley curls her fingers into his so they twine together, a dazed look on her face from the kiss that segues into bliss as she leans back and sinks back into more kisses and touching, waiting for Sam to make the next move.

[imnotrobin]

Sam tears himself away from her mouth but it's a very difficult thing; as much as he wants to keep kissing her, there's other things he'd rather be doing with their limited time.

He trails his lips down her neck and to her chest, along the curve of one breast before looking back to her face. "More?"