“O say, does that star-spangled banner yet wave
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave?”
Mallory points at the lyrics on the screen. “See?”
Jake stands behind her at their bedroom desk, his hands on her bare shoulders.
“It’s a question,” she says. “Does the flag still wave? Right there: question mark!”
“So?”
“It goes to show you that these dumb motherfuckers in this country don’t even understand what the hell they’re singing. It’s the first verse of four. This verse merely poses the question.”
“Nobody cares, baby.” He kisses the top of her head.
“That’s exactly the problem. The greedy fucks were happy to be apathetic as long as nobody with dark skin or breasts was in charge—”
“Come lie down.”
“I can’t. I can’t relax until this fucking election is over.” She rises letting the towel drop from her waist. Reaches for her yoga pants. “I’m going for a run.”
“Not yet.” He skims his hand down her back and palms her bottom, his wrist hugging her hip the way she likes. Jake is nearly a foot taller than Mallory. From the first moment he pulled her close years ago, he has been her shelter. “Let’s play,” he murmurs at her earlobe.
“How can you think of sex after seeing those polls?”
“I’ve got a poll right here.” His eyes smile as he nudges his half-hard cock toward her thigh.
She laughs in spite of her angst.
“Honey,” he says. “It’s going to be okay.”
“I’m terrified.”
He holds her face with both hands. “Nothing’s going to change who we are.”
“Those people are dangerous.”
“You’re safe,” he says. His hands lower to her clavicle. His fingertips brush the gully of her skin and bones there.
“No one’s going to be safe if that man wins.”
“Shhh.”
She wants to hush. She wants to diminish to pooled sensation, to surrender to the nerve endings waking everywhere his fingers trace: down around her convex places, her pink places, her soft, softest hidden places. From nipples to sternum, along each rib-groove-rib, back to every ridge of her spine, and down and down and down.
“Mallory, we’re family.”
“My shelter?”
“It’s not a question.”
###
Photo: Public Domain | Used under CC0 1.0
This post was written for Wicked Wednesday, a site where writers share erotic stories (fiction and non) every week. The fun is hosted by the energetic Marie Rebelle of Rebel’s Notes, whose endeavors you can support at Patreon.
Read all the fabulous Wicked Wednesday “Anthem” entries here!
Melina Greenport 
Yes. I love that he is her shelter, her rock, even in the face of frightening things like this upcoming election.
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Thank you so much for reading & taking the time to comment, Livvy! xxM
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Love!!
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Thanks, dear! I intended to try to write a sex scene, but the ending snuck up on me. xxM
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I love this!
I wonder how many people are feeling like her… anxious and scared for the upcoming elections. The entire world is watching…
Rebel xox
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Thank you, Marie. Everyone I know is terrified. What a horrible situation. Scary to know so many hateful people are emboldened these days.
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I’m terrified of what might happen, and I don’t even live in the US! Actually – much more horrified about the outspoken racism and misogyny that this election has seemed to unleash than I am about the candidate himself. In any case – very nice take on the prompt! I feel like we’ve all been there in a relationship – in a conversation where one person is really passionate about the subject and the other is trying to draw their attention away from it.
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Yes, I agree Jo! The outspoken racism and misogyny shocked me; I guess I was naive. It’s horrible seeing so many people feel like they have a license to enact irrational hate.
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Oh, this is just lovely. That feeling of anxiety, frustration and fear mixed with the attentions of such a wonderful safe place.
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Thank you, Happy! I was hoping this piece might offer a little balm.
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This is a very powerful piece. Her fear comes across as so real and his strength is glorious but there is also a little hint of something else, the suggestion is a the beginning of a dystopia novel maybe, where the only safe places will be the ones created in intimate relationships.
I hope with all my might that turns out to be a plot for a novel and not a real world thing.
Mollyxxx
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Thanks, Molly. Your comment gives me goosebumps. I share your hope!! (Immersing myself in work this weekend or would be going stir crazy). xx Hugs to you.
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I can relate to her on multiple levels. I’m pretty scared, too, and I’ll lean on my rock if the worst happens. Only one more day until we find out (assuming no recounts) – trying not to let it send me into a panic.
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