May woke to the sound of the shower running. She looked at the alarm clock—5:33 a.m. She rolled onto her back and looked up at the ceiling. She sat up, propping herself on her elbows. The blanket slipped to her belly, exposing her breasts. She was still naked.

Her head was pounding, her body’s way of reminding her she had too much to drink the evening before. When she slipped out from under the sheets, the aching between her legs reminded her that drinking alcohol was not the only thing she did to excess last night.

She and Jessup had made love long into the night. She couldn’t remember a sexual experience that was as hot, as long and as satisfying as the one she had the evening before. Jessup was a thorough and patient lover. He seemed to anticipate exactly what she wanted before she did. And he gave her plenty of it.

May ambled into the bathroom naked. Jessup was in the steamy shower, his back to her. She admired his incredible body, lean and muscular. She hoped he enjoyed the evening as much as she.

“The water’s hot,” he said, realizing she was standing in the doorway. “Come on in.”

She smiled and opened the shower door, and stepped inside. He greeted her with a long, warm kiss, allowing the steamy water to roll over their faces.

“Last night was incredible,” he said.

She smiled, “I was hoping you’d think so. You’re not just saying that?”

He took her hand and slid it down his stomach and then below. She smiled.

“Oh, my god… again.”

He nodded, “Yep, again. You do it for me, May.”

“Settle down, cowboy,” she said. “One more time and I doubt I’ll walk straight for the rest of the day.”

He chuckled.

“I have a headache and I need coffee,” she continued.

“Roger that,” he said. “I took the liberty of going downstairs to the kitchen to put coffee on. It should be ready. I’m done in the shower. Why don’t you finish up and come on downstairs? Breakfast should be ready soon.”

“You’re making breakfast, too?”

“Didn’t have to,” he replied. “When I went down to make coffee, I ran into Consuelo. She’s making breakfast for us.”

“Oh Jesus, Consuelo is here already?” She moaned loudly, imagining what kind of slut her father’s housekeeper must have thought she was. In town one day and already bringing a hot guy home for the night.

“She is. I’ve been up for an hour. She and I had a great chat. She really loved your father. She loves you, too.”

May rolled her eyes thinking only part of that was true.

“I need to get ready, so keep breakfast warm,” May said. She looked down; he was still fully erect. “Maybe you should calm down a little before heading downstairs.”

He smiled, “Good suggestion.”

Forty minutes later May descended the stairs. She could hear laughter coming from the dining room. When she walked in she saw Jessup and Consuelo sitting at the dining room table, chatting and laughing.

May grinned and shook her head, wondering if this man could charm the pants off every woman he met. She suspected he could. When Consuelo saw May, she stood.

“Have a seat, Miss May. I’ll get you coffee. Your breakfast will be ready soon. How do you like your eggs?”

“Just wheat toast, please. I couldn’t eat anything too heavy right now. Thank you, Consuelo,” she said.

May sat in the chair. Consuelo sat a piping hot cup of coffee in front of her. She smiled and reached for the milk and sugar.

“I’ll just be in the kitchen getting your toast,” Consuelo said. “Call me if you need me.”

“Did you sleep well?” Jessup asked.

She looked back to make sure Consuelo had indeed left the room, then turned to Jessup and smiled, “In between those hot sex sessions, yeah I slept pretty good.”

“Are you still fully committed?”

“To more hot sex? Oh, hell yeah!”

He chuckled, “No, to going into the office and facing your demons?”

“One hundred percent,” May answered, immediately. “Yesterday was a wake-up call. That asshat Marbury tried to bully me into signing that proxy twice, once in Starbucks and then in the afternoon at the shareholder’s meeting. When that didn’t work, he sent two goons to do his dirty work.”

“I see it has you riled up,” Jessup noted.

“You’re damn right,” she said. “There’s more of my father in me than I let on sometimes, but yesterday pissed me off. If Marbury wants a fight, I’ll give him one.”

“And I know you will,” he said.

“I need you with me, Jessup,” she said. “I can’t do it alone.”

“I’ve seen asshat like Marbury manipulate others my whole life,” he said. “I feel like I got you into this, May. I won’t abandon you, I promise.”

She leaned over and kissed him, “That’s what I wanted to hear. I’m going in, Jessup, all guns blazin’.”

“I like it. You sure did a one-eighty.”

“Thanks to you. I won’t lie. When I first arrived, I felt alone and overwhelmed. I let Marbury and the other investors push me around.”

She touched his arm, “I don’t feel alone now. You gave me strength, Jessup.”

“Do you know what you’re going to do this morning?” he asked.

“Yeah, I have an idea,” she said. “Get yourself another cup of coffee and I’ll explain.”