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.