Chapter Eight
When the alarm went off at six o’ clock, Samson and April had only been asleep for a few hours. She jerked awake, disoriented, and Samson reached over and pulled her back. He wanted nothing more than to keep her in his arms and sleep through the morning. They could share a late breakfast and spend more time exploring each other’s bodies.
But there was a meeting in two hours, and Samson smelled like sex. He kissed the top of April’s head and pushed himself out of the bed. April reached for him as he left, but he gave her a kiss and whispered for her to go back to sleep. He turned on the coffeemaker, took a quick shower, and called down to the front desk to make a few requests. He woke April again with a mug of hot coffee with milk, sugar, and cinnamon the way she liked it.
“Oh… Thanks.” April covered her mouth as he leaned in for a kiss, which he placed on her cheek.
“You have enough time to take a shower and prepare yourself for the meeting,” he told her. “I’ve also ordered breakfast for us.”
“I don’t have any clothes, or my makeup...”
“Someone will be up with something for you to wear momentarily. Don’t worry about that.”
“Well. You’ve taken care of everything, haven’t you?”
Samson sipped his coffee. “This is not the first time I’ve taken an early meeting after a long night.”
“Then maybe you should have enough experience not to talk about previous conquests.”
Samson looked at her carefully to see if she was really offended, but she was smiling behind the mug. “I know you prefer open communication, but I love when you tease me.”
“I kinda like the teasing, too.” She looked at the clock and bit her lower lip.
Samson put his hand on her knee and squeezed. “I should let you go.”
“You should.” April looked at his hand. “Or you could tell me about this meeting while I drink my coffee, and you can fondle my leg all you like.”
“Can I fondle your foot, too?”
“Um, yes.”
“How about your thigh?”
“Samson!”
It was a very good morning, as mornings after went. Teasing, flirting, joking. Less business than she originally suggested. She disappeared into the shower after she finished her coffee. Then, although he had already washed, he slipped in with her after about ten minutes to surprise her. She squealed, then swatted at him and finally allowed him to wash her hair and rub her shoulders.
Their breakfast together was a bit rushed as a result, but they managed to get themselves together to head down to the conference room with several minutes to spare.
Samson led the way and initiated greetings. April straightened her back, and with her hair primly pinned on top of her head, gave a firm shake to each of the representatives waiting for them. Once they were all seated, Samson spoke first, explaining without embellishment what his company could do for theirs. The back and forth went quickly, but from a glance or two to April in between, he could see that she was following and making notes in some illegible shorthand.
“If there isn’t waste at your company, I wouldn’t worry about downsizing,” April said, picking up a question from James Coleman, who seemed extremely hesitant about being bought out. “We’ve had exactly one layoff at the new acquisition in Houston. While your business might be bigger, performance would still be the determining factor for the assessment of any employee. Mr. Bennett doesn’t make decisions like that lightly. The man laid off was given more chances than I would have given.”
“You admittedly have a shorter temper,” Samson teased. April shrugged. “She’s right, though. There were multiple warnings before that happened. If I were to take over your business, I would not be firing anyone out of hand. I would, once I’m done in Houston, come to this location for several months to help with the infrastructure of the company, hire a few extra experts if necessary, and ensure that your management can handle the amount of business you are getting. I would expect a collaborative approach. I’m not interested in having cookie-cutter buildings across America.”
As the conversation continued, he felt April’s leg brushing against his. He knew how cool she could remain in the middle of under-the-table business, and they proceeded as though he weren’t playing footsie with her while talking about financials.
When they broke for lunch, Samson collected his papers and then followed April into an empty conference room, where he discovered she wasn’t wearing any panties.
He also discovered, after lifting her onto the black tablecloth, that her thighs were in fact as strong as he’d imagined. She hitched herself up against him and held on as he positioned her there. Anticipation had already readied her for him, and she caressed the sides of his head, begging with her eyes for more of the pleasure she’d never known until the night before.
Ever the gentleman, he gave her what she needed. He pushed himself inside her, more forcefully this time, and groaned at the hot, wet feel of her all around him. She gasped and clenched her muscles around him. With a bit of a chuckle, he put a finger to his lips.
It was a thrill to have her there, where anyone could walk in. He didn’t care if anyone saw him. She, however, likely would, so he was cautious for her sake.
Her hair began to fall loose and her cheeks reddened. One shoe fell off as he rocked his hips into her, and she ground her hips upward to meet him. Mewling quietly, she dropped one arm down and gripped the fabric of the tablecloth. Then, her eyes flew wide open and her lips formed a circle.
He could feel her muscles clench, her body jerk, and then relax. As he finished, her lips still gave little twitches around him, and he groaned softly and leaned down to kiss her.
“Your hair is a mess, my dear,” he whispered.
“That’s not the only mess,” she muttered.
***
“Coleman will have his secretary fax you the necessary documents.” Samson adjusted the monitor and turned to the bellhop to direct where he should put April’s luggage.
“If I’d come with you, she wouldn’t have to. I could take care of it from there,” Babette said a bit sullenly from the Skype window.
“You’re not missing much. Better weather. Hold on.” Samson got up and fetched some money from his wallet. “Is that everything? I think that will be all for now.”
He turned back to the computer to see that Babette’s camera had tipped downward and was now only filming her ample cleavage. “Babs, you need to pull the camera up a bit.”
She sighed and fixed the camera.
“I only have a few more instructions. Listen carefully.”
When he finished up with Babette, Samson heard the television from the bedroom and went in to see April lounging in her button-up blouse and a fresh pair of purple briefs.
“When did you get here?” He sat on the edge of the bed.
“When I realized you’d moved all my things up here without asking.”
Samson folded his hands over his knee. “I thought it would be more cost-effective. Am I too presumptuous?”
“Yes. Although not without warrant, given this afternoon.” She shifted a bit. “I’m only lying here like this because it hurts to sit.”
Samson laughed and leaned over to brush his fingers over the wisps of hair escaping her bun. “Do you want me to be gentler with you?”
“… Maybe.” April tilted her head and pointed at the screen. “Do you ever watch yourself?”
“I don’t tape myself having—Oh.” It was a talk show he appeared on a few weeks ago. “Not really. I used to get a bit anxious about it, and watch to make sure that I was being personable enough, but I’ve done so many now.”
He moved his hand down her back. “This isn’t even a good one. You should watch the one I did two years ago for the same show.”
“Oh?”
“Yes. The host—” He pointed to the screen, “—his name is Al Bell, got me playing with this pile of puppies.”
“That sounds amazing.” She grinned up at him. “Are you a dog person?”
He shrugged. “I wanted one when I was a kid, but my father was very strict. He wouldn’t let me have a pet.”
April rolled over to face him. “Really? He seemed like such a calm guy.”
“The set of parents Lana grew up with were distinctly different from the ones I suffered through.” Samson kicked off his shoes and settled himself on the bed. “Father was establishing himself as a lawyer. Mother drank too much. They were both very rigid in their expectations for me. I spent a lot of time in boarding schools, and was glad for it.”
April was frowning deeply. “I had no idea. Lana’s such a daddy’s girl. She’s friends with your mother on Facebook and goes on vacations with her.”
“I’ve been told that parents normally relax between the first and second child. When the second child comes twelve years later and they can afford to have a nanny discipline her, then they can also afford to spoil her.” Samson glanced up at the laughing image of himself next to the host. “I love my sister, but we weren’t raised by the same people. My father would never have paid for an apartment for me or given me a ‘loan’ the way he does her.”
“Maybe it’s also sexism,” April suggested. When he gave her a dubious expression, she expanded, “He expects his daughter to need the help. He thinks less of her capabilities, even though Lana is very smart and good at what she does and could definitely make it on her own. For you, he expects independence and strength without support.”
“I wouldn’t have thought to call that ‘sexism.’ It sounds like him, though.” Samson pursed his lips. “He’s the same with mother. She’s a cunning woman, moving in social circles to quietly get her way, but he acts like her only job is to plan social events for his clients.”
April nodded and sat up, crossing her legs over the blanket. “It’s funny that you’re not really the same.”
“I’m not?”
“No. I mean, you’re a playboy, definitely, and I’m not sure… Well, I’m not sure about a lot of things. But you treat me like an equal in the workplace at least. You value the women you work with based entirely on what they can do for the company. I noticed that in the meeting today, too. Sarah Crenshaw was the only other woman there, and they kept talking over her, but you silenced Mr. Coleman so you could hear what she had to say.”
Samson wrinkled his brow and thought back. “I honestly don’t remember that. I remember Crenshaw talking about how their firm had plenty of talent but needed more people with management and finance experience. That was something we needed to address, so I was glad she brought it to the table.”
“Yes, and Coleman was talking over her until you held your hand up and asked Crenshaw to continue. As a guy, you’re not really expected to notice. But I do. And I notice when you make sure everyone gets the opportunity to put an opinion in. I’m not accusing you of anything. I’m giving you a compliment.” April twisted her fingers. “You kind of did that for me with Hutchinson, too. I appreciate it.”
“You’re the better designer,” he said flatly.
“I’m just saying that not every boss is going to recognize people on their merits. A lot of bosses are going to look at who you are before they can see what you can do.” April rose onto her knees and cupped his face with one hand as she gave him a firm kiss.
“Well, I’ll take the accolades for that, if I must.”
“Don’t expect a cookie every time you behave like a decent human being.” April kissed him again. “Though you sure pounded my cookie last night.”
“Your cookie?!” Samson sputtered.
He would have protested further, if she hadn’t been pushing him back on the bed.