The third day of the Bartlet vacation was spent around the cabin enjoying the amenities that had been provided to them. They puttered around out on the lake in the paddleboat that had come with the cabin, the kids dangling their feet over the edge of the boat into the water and dragging their little fishnets.

"Catch any fish yet?" Jed asked them.

Nicholas pulled his stick out of the water and looked into the empty white net. "Nope. I keep trying." With a determined look on his face he dipped the net back into the water.

"I fear for anyone who gets in that boy's way when he sets his mind to doing something," Abbey said. "Kind of like another Bartlet male that I know."

Jed smiled at her. It always filled him with a warm feeling of pride when Abbey compared Nicholas to him. Oh, he knew there were a lot of his traits that had found their way into his daughters but it was different somehow when it was a son, another male. He knew Abbey felt the same when it came to her daughters.

The smack to his cheek from a wet net startled Jed and caused him to jump.

"Aislinn! What are you doing?"

Aislinn giggled at the look on her father's face and the water dripping down his cheek. She was bored with trying to catch fish with Nicky and was ready to move on to bigger and better things. "Me pedal." She started to clamber up onto Jed's lap.

"That's fine, sunshine, but I don't think you can reach the pedals."

Aislinn stretched out her little legs kicking with frustration when they barely made it past her father's knees.

"Why don't you just sit on daddy's lap and help him pedal," Abbey suggested.

"Okay." Aislinn snuggled into her father's chest, giggling again as she rubbed her soft cheek against the crisp chest hair that tickled her face.

"The ants go marching one by one hoorah, hoorah. The ants go marching one by one hoorah, hoorah, the ants go marching one by one, the little one stopped to suck his thumb," Jed paused to pull Nicky's thumb out of his mouth with a smile and a wink. "And they all go marching down into the ground to get out of the rain�" The children picked up Jed's lead and soon the whole family was singing about marching ants as they pedaled their way back to shore.

After a picnic lunch by the water and an afternoon playing "Candyland" and "Chutes and Ladders", Abbey put the twins down for a nap and hopped into the shower to prepare for the evening ahead. By the time she emerged wearing just a towel Jed had changed into a pair of chino's and a deep blue chambray shirt that brought out the blue in his eyes. He was reclining back on the couch doing a crossword puzzle his bronze hair still damp and his glasses low on the bridge of his nose. He looked very relaxed and very, very sexy.

"Well other than telling me that you're going to feed me you won't tell me where we're going tonight but can you at least tell me how to dress?" She asked.

"Show me what you were thinking of wearing."

Abbey pulled a sundress out of the closet and held it up for his inspection.

"That should be fine. But, you might want to bring a sweater for later in the evening."

Abbey nodded and set to dressing. Jed loved to watch his wife dress, for even when her moves were economical they were highly erotic. He watched her slide a silky pair of French cut panties up over her hips and thought about later tonight when he would slide them back down. He watched her push her breasts together to hook the clasp on her matching bra and he squirmed, as his pants grew tighter in the groin. He gazed back down at his crossword puzzle trying to keep himself in some semblance of control; they did have dinner reservations after all. By the time he looked back up Abbey was dressed and she was finishing drying her hair.

Jed continued to observe her, watching her stand before the mirror putting on a pale pink shade of lipstick and fluffing her hair. The thin summer sheath that she wore was pale yellow and dotted with tiny roses. It fell to just above her knees and the spaghetti straps left her shoulders and arms bare. She had left her copper hair loose and flowing to her shoulders, just the way he liked it best. She turned from the mirror and moved to slide her feet into a pair of matching yellow sandals, the high heels doing something to her tanned bare legs that caused his groin to tighten and ache once again. God, she had fantastic legs. It was hard when he looked at them not to think about those shapely calves and thighs wrapped tightly around his hips holding him locked to her body, inside her body.

"Jed?"

"Hunh? What?"

"You were a million miles away." She began to spritz herself with perfume.

"Just trying to come up with a five letter word for wild cat."

Abbey lifted a skeptical eyebrow. "You couldn't come up with feral?" She lifted her hair and turned her back to him.

"Actually," he got to his feet to help her with the clasp on her necklace. "I was thinking more along the lines of, Abbey." He bent his head and nipped the soft skin on her neck before allowing her to let her hair fall.

Abbey laughed. "Somehow, I don't think that's going to fit."

Jed grabbed her hips and pulled her to him. "Maybe not, but I think it fits."

"Really? Hoping for a little action tonight, are you." She ran her hand over her husband's chest.

"Hell, yes." He traced his finger under the delicate chain that ran along her collarbone. "I think�"

"Mumma?"

Abbey turned from Jed to see Nicholas in the doorway sucking his thumb his fine blond hair sleep tousled and his worn Tigger tucked under his arm.

"Hey, sweetheart."

"I waked up." He rubbed his eyes sleepily.

"I see that. Is Aislinn still sleeping?"

Nicholas nodded. "I hungwy."

"Well, Izzy's going to be giving you supper soon, but you can have some watermelon if you want."

Nicky's lip began to quiver. "Want Mumma." He clutched on Abbey's leg.

"Honey, mommy and daddy are going out for supper. Izzy is going to give you and Aislinn supper."

"NO!" He buried his face against Abbey's thigh. "No want Izzy. Want my mumma."

"Nicholas." Abbey knelt before him tilting his chin to look into his watery blue eyes. To her this had always been the hardest part about being a parent, leaving your child when they so desperately wanted you to be with them. Guilt was a horrible thing. "Mommy and daddy are going out to supper to a grown up restaurant that wouldn't be any fun for you. You get to stay here and play with Panda and Max and Aislinn and maybe you could show Izzy how you learned how to play Chutes and Ladders today. Wouldn't you like that?"

Nicholas nodded reluctantly. "Me pay Ladders."

"Yes, you can all play Chutes and Ladders and tomorrow, if you're a good boy for Izzy tonight, we can all take a walk to the river and go fly fishing. Would you like that?"

Nicholas nodded again and Abbey lifted him onto her hip to go and wait for Isabelle to make her way over from the cabin she was staying in with some of the secret service and the NSA's. Never having employed a full-time nanny, Abbey was in part gratified that it was she that her children most wanted to be with not the nanny.

****

The Blue Lion was a cozy restaurant set in a small white house. Abbey and Jed dined privately by candlelight out on the patio. It was a lovely warm night, the breeze lightly ruffling their hair and causing the flame to flicker romantically. Always ready, within reason, to experiment with local cuisine Jed chose to try the grilled elk tenderloin. Abbey was less daring and instead chose the Thai shrimp risotto.

"You know sometimes I forget just how nice it is to have a meal with you," Abbey sipped her Chardonnay.

"What do you mean? We eat together most of the time."

"I'm not talking eating together. I'm talking about dining with you. Just you and me on our own away from the White House. You know, away from the kids and away from interruptions and talk of politics, just you and me discussing music and books and movies and plans for the rest of the summer. It's like being on a date again."

"Yeah without worrying about the first kiss or what base I might make it to."

"Is that what you were thinking about when we were dating and went out to dinner? What base I'd let you get to?"

"No, of course not, dear," Jed backpedaled. "My mind was always on the scintillating conversation."

"Yeah, sure it was. And here I thought you were so different from other guys." She shook her head sadly. "Now all these years later I find out that you weren't any different from them after all, that you were thinking with your penis, too."

"Abbey!" Jed glanced around to see if any waiter had caught her last line. When he realized they hadn't he turned back to her with a sly grin. "God, I love your mouth."

"No kidding." Abbey slipped a piece of shrimp between her lips her tongue darting out to lick the sauce off her lips.

"Yeah, that too." Jed's voice was husky, his mind filled with erotic visions of other nights when she made that move, other nights when it was HE that she was dining on, not shrimp risotto. "But, come on, can you blame me? No man could sit and have dinner with you and not be thinking about how and where he'd like to touch you. I used to try to keep my mind on the conversation but then you'd look at me with those big green eyes and start twirling your hair around your finger and I'd just want to bury my hands in your hair and kiss you. You'd cross your legs and I'd just want to reach out and run my hand up under your skirt. Some things never change." He rested his hand familiarly on her bare knee stroking the smooth skin there.

"No, I guess they don't."

"Except that now I know you won't shove my hands away."

"You sure of that? You're a bit cocky." She clamped her legs primly shut so Jed's hand could not continue it's upward movement.

"Yeah, I guess I am pretty sure. After all, I do have an ego the size of Montana."

"That you do, my love." With a soft laugh she lifted her wineglass to him in salute. "That you do."

****

Satiated from their dinner and after dinner drinks, Jed placed a thin rose colored sweater over Abbey's shoulders and they walked out onto the grass to spend an evening listening to music under the stars at the Grand Teton Music Festival. The music was classical and sitting on their blanket under a tree reminded Abbey of summer nights in the Berkshires listening to the Boston Pops, something she and Jed loved to do when they were back home.

Jed lay stretched out on the blanket with his head in Abbey's lap and her fingers running through his thick hair. Since becoming President it was so very rare for him to completely relax that it felt odd to be at such peace. Abbey leaned back against the tree gazing up at the big sky and the thousands of sparkling stars. The lovely music filled the night air; the breeze played over her bare skin and Jed's head was heavy in her lap. It was one of those very few perfect moments when all seemed right with the world. She felt a sudden urge to sneak away with Jed deep into the night shadows and make love to him under the stars with the orchestra drowning out their cries of passion. The image of the two of them naked, arms and legs tangled around one another as they strained together under the moon was so vivid it caused Abbey's breath to catch in her throat.

"Abs, you all right?" Jed looked up at her from her lap.

"Mmm�" she nodded. "Jed, I want you."

"What?" Jed turned again, unsure if he'd heard her correctly. While Abbey matched him in the passion department with a sex drive that was just as strong as his, it was usually he who was unable to keep his lust under control.

"You heard me. I'm just sitting here thinking how much I'd like to be making love with you right now."

"Okay, let's go." Jed sat up.

"I didn't mean we have to leave this second," she protested.

"You can't say something like that to me and expect me to lay underneath this tree listening to music the rest of the night. I'm only human, Abbey."

Abbey laughed. "Well, I suppose the concert IS almost over. We won't create too much of a stir.

"If anyone asks just say the nanny called and said one of the kids doesn't feel well. One of the benefits of having a young child, we always have an excuse to leave early."

****

Back at the cabin Jed was surprised when Abbey wrenched herself from his embrace and grabbed the heavy quilt that covered their bed tugging it off and into her arms.

"What are you doing?" There was a distinct sulk in his tone. "I thought you wanted to make love, not do laundry."

"I did. I do. Part of this erotic little fantasy I've been having all night includes doing this outside."

"Outside?" Jed was surprised. Abbey had always enjoyed the sensuality of making love out of doors but since becoming First Lady she had become a bit more circumspect about where they had sex. Being trailed by secret service agents could definitely put a damper on one's sex life.

"You got a problem with outside?" She held the quilt tightly to her chest.

"Me? A problem with where you want to have sex? You sure you remember who you're talking to here?"

"Yeah, that's what I thought." A big grin spread across her face as Jed grabbed a couple of pillows before following her out to the deck.

"We have to stay close in case the kids wake up," she told him as she spread the quilt out across the wooden planks of the deck. "In fact, you better shut the drapes."

"Yeah, wouldn't want any little munchkins wandering out here."

"No, we wouldn't want that."

By the time Jed turned back around after fixing the drapes Abbey had divested herself of her sundress and stood in the moonlight wearing the high cut panties and her lacy bra.

"I see you're ready to get right down to business tonight." He moved forward reaching a finger out to toy with the tiny gold loop in her naval.

"You always were a quick study." Her breath caught in her throat as that finger moved to trace along the lace edge of her panties just above her pubic bone. Jed kissed her then, long and hard, his tongue sliding into her mouth as his fingers slid into her panties covering her soft curls with his palm and making her moan. Abbey's fingers tore at the buttons on his shirt impatient to make him as naked as she was.

Jed's hands gripped the soft flesh of her rear to pull her closer to him and he felt her fingers at the zipper to his pants, felt her shove them down off his hips, her fingers reaching greedily for his penis. She was the aggressor tonight, her hunger as exciting to him as his own. She grabbed his hands pulling him down with her to the blanket and he lay stretched out gazing up at the multitude of stars in the sky while Abbey's lips traced patterns over his chest and his belly sucking and nipping at his skin until he was moaning in near agony. His hips began to move against her soft belly as her lips closed over his flat male nipple. She felt the wetness of him rubbing against her and sat up away from him breaking the contact. With a sensuous smile she rubbed the liquid of his emission into the softness of her belly then straddled his hips.

"Abbey�" He groaned as she toyed with him, taking just the tip of him inside her then releasing him.

Abbey smiled knowing she couldn't toy with him for long, it had been a night of foreplay and she was more than ready for the consummation. She placed her hands on his chest, over his nipples and sank down on him taking his penis full and deep. Her eyes closed at the exquisite sensation of his thickness penetrating her so deeply and she gave a soft sigh of contentment that ended with a sharp gasp of pleasure as he thrust his hips up at her shoving himself even further, all the way to his hilt where pleasure and pain warred together.

"Oh Gooodddd�" she moaned, as she slid herself back up and down Jed's long length meeting his thrusting hips. She closed her eyes again, living for the moment, the breeze licking at her pebble hard nipples, the scent of pine trees and fresh clean water washing over her. The moment was primal, their mating as natural as God had intended when he created man and woman.

Jed's eyes moved from the darkened sky to where his hips were joined with his wife's. His hands moved up to cup over her breasts, his fingers playing with her nipples as he watched her head fall back, her bright hair spilling back over her shoulders, the moonlight caressing her nude form. He watched her bite her lower lip as her pleasure grew in intensity, felt her fingernails dig into his ribcage where her hands had been bracing her movements.

Then, needing more than just the contact where their bodies were joined, Abbey leaned forward placing a hand beside each of Jed's shoulders. Slowly she dangled her breasts over his chest rubbing her sensitized nipples against his chest hair. He groaned loudly as she touched her nipple to his at the same moment that she kissed him, her hair shielding them both from the night enveloping them in the sweet scent of apple blossoms.

Lying flat against his body now, Abbey was able to move her hips in a faster rhythm grinding herself against him. Jed's hands were gripping her rear pulling her to him harder and faster. Her breath started coming in short little gasps and her climax hit her hard and fast. She came with a harsh cry clenching around Jed like a vice, her movements slowing until she collapsed on him. Jed's hips continued to move slowly against her drawing out her orgasm and causing her breath to catch in her throat with the little aftershocks. But just when she thought it was all over he rolled her over onto her back pulling her knees up over his hips. She cried out loudly as he surged into her completely and fully, her body still overly sensitized from her climax. As Jed began thrusting vigorously within her finally able to get the speed and friction and penetration that he needed, her body started to strain for him. Jed felt her calves tighten around his hips, felt her heels digging into his back and her nails into his shoulders. She was gasping his name, her body tightening all over again and just as she cried out Jed felt everything within him flow to that one carnal spot. He felt himself fill and swell and with a deep animalistic groan into her hair, he came over and over his body pulsating with the strength of his orgasm.

After a few long moments resting heavily on top of her Jed had the presence of mind to roll onto his side. Abbey shivered as he withdrew from her body; the air now cool on her sweat dampened skin.

"Cold?" Jed asked, pushing the hair tenderly back off her face.

"Mmm�" Her limbs were too languid to move.

Jed pulled the quilt up around them both and pulled her in close to him his arms wrapped around her body. They lay together like that tangled in the warmth of each other's arms and in the cocoon of the quilt. Abbey's head lay on Jed's chest, her fingers toying with the silky hair under his arm as she gazed up at the beautiful night sky.

"Was this what you had in mind when we left the concert?" He asked, his lips nuzzling the top of her head.

"Absolutely. Better than I'd imagined."

They were lying quietly then, sleepily; their satiated limbs heavy with fatigue when they heard the haunting, lonely howl of a wolf deep in the woods. Jed felt Abbey shiver.

"They aren't close," he assured her.

"I know. It's just such a sad, lonely sound."

"We should feel a kinship with them. Did you know that when a wolf mates it mates for life."

"I think I did know that."

"And speaking of mating for life. Do you realize that it's after midnight?"

"Well, I believe it is."

"And do you know what that means?"

Abbey looked up at him a soft smile curving her lips and love shining in her eyes.

"Yeah, I do. Happy Anniversary, babe.

TBC...