“Still waiting for it to wear off. Maybe I’m the nympho,” she said with a thoughtful frown. Then she looked up at me and braced myself for what she was about to say. “Enjoy it, just make sure you don’t fall for him.”
Yeah, because I hadn’t already had that talk with myself. “That’s easy for you to say, you’ve been doing this for two decades already.” She stuck her tongue out at my joke and tossed a grape at me. “Seriously, that’s my problem. I need to just stay away from him altogether.”
“I don’t see that happening.” She was right, but that was my only option.
“See these,” I plucked at the Tetris leggings I wore. “He brought these along with a Xena nightgown and chocolate chip cookies with candy in them.” It was silly and sweet, and that, combined with the sex, made it hard to remember that he was trying to take over my company. To essentially steal it from me. “I need to stop, but I can’t.”
It made me feel weak and pathetic to know that someone had such power over me. Especially Blake, because I knew he would drop me the minute he didn’t get his way, or the minute he did.
“You can’t really control whether or not you fall for him, especially when really good sex is involved. I’ve fallen for some real clunkers. But as far as the company goes, he can only do it if you let him. Fight back. Read over those shareholder agreements, I’ll bet there’s some good stuff in there you could use. The old timers have nothing but good things to say about Arden.”
“Thanks Tal, that’s a good idea.” I filed that information away for later, took a deep breath and asked about Kyle.
“I don’t know. I mean, he’s Kyle. Hot, dry and boring. But so, so hot. We’re only compatible in the bedroom but he insists on doing the whole dating thing, which…ugh,” she rolled her eyes and took three big sips from her glass.
“We’re a hot mess, aren’t we?” Both of us twisted up over men who weren’t good for us, but were damn good to our bodies. “Just tell me that at some point the sex will get worse or the effect will lessen. Please.”
“Nope. Usually they do something so bad that even great sex can’t make up for it, so we go back a few times to test that theory. And then we leave, remembering them as the jerk with the good sex.”
Shit. That’s not what I wanted to hear, and all through lunch and plenty of other topics, I couldn’t’ stop thinking about her words. If I kept sleeping with Blake he would get my company and…, “No, I can’t even think about it.”
“Then think about this. Connie Wood has shares and she believes takeovers are impolite.”
“You’re the best. I’m sorry that I’m such a wreck.”
“Hey, don’t worry about it, we all have our moments. This is yours.” She glanced at her watch and stood. “I need to head out. Kyle and I are actually having a night in at his place, so by morning I’ll know where this is going.”
“Good luck.” I gave her a hug, some cake and sent her on her way. The rest of my day was free and I spent the morning cleaning, which meant I could be a bum or get a jumpstart on more work. Or I could sit on the couch and fantasize about the way Blake had taken me in a cave on a new hiking trail he’d shown me. He was insatiable and I wasn’t complaining.
A knock at the door pulled me from my thoughts and I grinned at my forgetful friend. “What did you forget this time?” It wasn’t Talia. It was Blake, looking sexy as hell in his boy next door jeans and crisp blue t-shirt.
“I forgot which shade of pink your nipples are, dusty rose or strawberry?” His words came out a deep growl and he stepped inside, kicking the door and locking it behind him.
I stepped back like his touch burned. “We’re not doing this again, Blake.”
“We already are.” His hand snaked out around my waist and pulled me close so he could taste my neck. “I know you feel my cock pressing against you and I bet if I slipped my hands into your panties, you’d be dripping for me.”
He was right. “This needs to stop.”
“But why stop when it’s what we both want?” I wanted to protest his words but he spun me around so we were face to face. “Kiss me.”
“What?”
“Kiss me. Prove you don’t want me by kissing me and walking away.”
I could do that. Easy. And I would, after a quick pep talk. Kiss Blake and walk away. Simple. I held his face in my hands, taking one last look into those deep blue eyes before I kissed him goodbye. Our lips touched and just like that everything was combustible. Blake tasted like coffee, one of those iced coffee drinks with plenty of sugar and I couldn’t get enough.
My body, my mind, all forgot that we were supposed to kiss him and walk away. His tongue clashed with mine, invaded my mouth while his hands explored my body, lifted me up against him so I could feel that he was just as ready for me as I was for him. I couldn’t stop this and he knew it too, because he carried me to the bedroom where we stripped down quickly and I climbed on top of him, took his hard length into my core and rode him until my mind stopped shouting that this was a mistake.
I knew it was bad, but I couldn’t bring myself to care.
Not right now.
“The whole line will have a retro feel, but with a much better fit and the colors just a pop brighter. Plus, the limited edition part will drive people to buy.” I looked around at all the well dressed, perfectly coifed creative department, each of them looking at me with a blank stare. I was starting to feel like an idiot. “What do you think?” I thought it was a great idea, but I was high on sex, so maybe it only sounded good in my head.
April stood and stared at me until she broke out in squeals of delight. I think. “I love it! I have so many ideas with Chevron bibs, rainbow parkas and, oh my god, retro stripes!” I could only stare in awe as she went on and on, ideas spilling from her mouth like water.
“That’s all up to your team, but I’d like you to incorporate a way to fix a small gold number for the limited edition, make it seem more exclusive.” The room began to buzz with ideas and everyone’s head was now buried in their sketchpad.
April stepped up and hugged me, she was strong for someone so skinny. “We’ll have mockups for you by the end of the week Boss.”
I frowned. “Uh, April, it’s already Wednesday.”
“Oh, that’s plenty of time. Look how excited everyone is. I’ll have Talia book us for Friday after lunch?”
I still wasn’t used to having someone else solely responsible for my schedule, but it did free up a lot of my time. Lately it had been spent pretending to schmooze the shareholders, but I really just needed to see where each of them stood. Who was friendly, and who wasn’t. They were all friendly enough, but miles away from being trustworthy. Talia was right about Corrine Wood, but the rest were up in the air. Although it still caused me plenty of stress, I wasn’t as worried as I once was. Hargrave and his big legal brain had gone over each of the shareholder agreements with me. They had all been created at different times as Arden needed more funds, and because he knew his friends or business partners or whatever, he knew just what to include to screw them over if he had to.
I hated that I might have to, but I was prepared to.
Maxim Malone, shareholder and man whore, stepped into the elevator with me and flashed a grin that said he was picturing me naked. In his mid-fifties, Maxim had a head full of thick silver hair and light blue eyes which looked vibrant against his perma-tan.
“Ms. Masters, I had hoped after our last discussion you might take my suggestion. Women were meant to wear skirts.”
What he meant was that he’d talked down to me about my wardrobe and assumed I would listen. “I listened and then made my own decision, Mr. Malone. But now that I have you here, I’d like to talk to you about the shares you’re currently shopping around. I want first refusal.”
He looked at me like I just stank up the elevator and I rolled my eyes, of course he didn’t notice because once again his gaze was fixed on my cleavage. “I’ll consider it.”
“I really hope you do.” My tone was int
entionally ominous, my confidence on a high note after Hargrave’s visit.
“Was that a threat?” He laughed like I was some damn kitten, practicing using her claws.
“Of course not, Maxim. It was a warning. I’d hate to see you find yourself without shares. That would be a shame after all the money you made over the years.” The bell sounded and the doors slid open. I stepped out first. “I may not be Arden, but I am a Masters, and this is my company now. I’ll do what I have to do to keep it. Remember that.” As soon as I stepped off the elevator, Talia was at my side in her ridiculous but fabulous heels.
“What was that about? It looked tense.”
“Oh that? That was me flexing my muscle and telling him that I won’t be pushed around.”
“Good for you. Some guy named Sly called but he refused to leave a message. Said you’d know what it was about and how to reach him.”
I smiled. He was the private investigator Hargrave had recommended. “He’s right. I do.” My phone buzzed in my pocket and when I caught a glimpse of the screen, I almost tripped over my own feet.
Blake sent a text. I have three words for you. Edible. Body. Paint.
That sounded much better than dealing with another Malone, or thinking about Blake fucking me while also buying up shares of my company. “Do I have anything that can’t be moved or cancelled?”
“No, why? You have a hot date tonight?”
“Not a date, but an evening that a trip to the salon will make a lot more satisfying.”
“Say no more, consider the day rescheduled. And grab some whipped cream, you won’t regret it.”
My mind raced with the possibilities and I grabbed my bag and jacket before hightailing it out of the office for the rest of the day.
Look at me, playing hooky for a guy.
Will wonders never cease?
Blake
“Just one more, Poppy. Give me one more.” I loved urging her on when she didn’t think she had anything left to give. Her chest heaved as she sucked in deep breaths, her skin was slick with sweat and pink from exertion. Hard blush pink nipples pointed at the sky while she continued to pulse around my fingers.
“I don’t think I can, Blake.” Her words came out in sharp pants, her fingers still tangled in my hair like she couldn’t let go.
“You can. Trust me?” It was a loaded question given our situation and as our eyes collided, electricity passed through us, between us, charging the air all around us as I slowly pulled my fingers from her body. “Look at that, Poppy. You’re close. Give it to me.” I took one slick finger and pressed it between those round, pale cheeks until she moaned, squirmed to adjust to the new invasion. “You like it?”
She nodded, moaning and arching into me, hands still gripping my hair hard enough to sting. “It feels good, but odd. Like I’m full but on the edge of…something.” Just listening to her talk about how she felt in those shallow, gasping breaths as she teetered on the edge of pleasure, straining to reach out and touch it, had my cock hard and leaking.
I leaned forward, swiping my tongue through her sweet cream while one finger plunged her pulsing core and another explored her untouched hole. Slow and steady my tongue and fingers worked, pulling the orgasm from her in bits and pieces until she exploded all around me. Fiery cries of pleasure and the scent of sex permeated the air. She was a sensual vision, tits bouncing as the orgasm tore through her violently, erotic moans making it hard to stay in control.
“Blake, please. I need…more.”
I couldn’t wait to give her more either. While her body still shook, I slid deep inside her, loving the way her body clenched me tight, the way she arched into me, offering up her sweet tits to taste. “Poppy. Sweet fucking Poppy.” Deeper and deeper I plunged while she begged for more, legs gripping my waist tight, forcing me deeper than I knew I could go.
“Yes, Blake. Like that.”
“Fuck!” Her sexy little whispers and cries, those throaty moans undid me. I snapped, rearing my hips back and pounding hard and fast, like the devil had control of my body, while I got lost in the pleasure of us. It was like our bodies took over, took control out of our hands, so desperate to bring us closer to that orgasmic precipice, that it was on a laser focused mission. Pleasure, absolute and complete.
The faster my hips moved, the more hers swirled and rolled to keep up, each of us pushing the other until there was no where for us to go but over the edge. Right into the deep, dark abyss of pleasure. Satisfaction.
Explosion.
I groaned as I pulled her on top of me, our bodies still tangled together. “You’re a dirty girl.” A sensual laugh bubbled up out of her, sending vibrations from my chest all the way down to balls. I couldn’t stop touching her, my hands roamed over her hot, slick flesh, puckered from the cool air and my touch.
“I thought it might be nice to try something new, but I didn’t expect to feel everything.”
My skin heated at her words. “I wasn’t too rough, was I?” When she let me strip her naked and I found her totally bare, my baser instincts kicked in and I went a little wild.
“Not at all. It was great, the best thing I ever felt.” Her skin glowed with luminous satisfaction. “And these sheets made it feel like we were having sex on a cloud.”
“Totally worth the outrageous cost then.” And I made a mental note to thank my brother for the advice. Poppy might not be materialistic, but she appreciated the feel of Egyptian cotton on her soft skin.
My cock slipped from her pussy and the moan she let out, hit me in the base of my spine. “God, it’s like I can’t get enough!” Her hips rolled and she slid back and forth, up and down the length of me, coating me in her still leaking pleasure.
“I can’t say I don’t love to hear that, but I have something for you,” I quickly left the bed and headed for my kitchen. Poppy had yet to come to my place until now, so I wanted to make sure she felt welcome.
“You just gave me something really great,” she called after me, making me laugh.
“Get your mind out of the gutter,” I called after her, but I hadn’t needed to shout because she’d followed me downstairs.
“You landed me in the gutter Blake. Before you, I wouldn’t even know how to get there,” she said with a grin, offering me the pinstriped boxer briefs she peeled off my body earlier. “I borrowed a t-shirt, hope you don’t mind.”
“You wear it better than I do,” I told her, my gaze on the pink nipples showing through my thin white undershirt. “Sit. I have moussaka.”
Her blue-green eyes widened and her mouth formed a sexy little ‘o’. “Lasagna and Greek? I might have to reward you,” she purred, licking her lips. It would’ve been nice if that lip lick was for me, but her gaze was squarely on the casserole dish.
My cock twitched at the promise in her words, and I turned with a wink. “I’ll take any reward you have to give, but first, we refuel.”
She happily grabbed two plates and folded her body into one of the chairs, scooping up big servings and eating. We talked about movies and books, hiking trails we loved and family.
Anything.
Everything.
Well, everything except the big pink elephant we steadfastly refused to talk about. OAA and the moves we were both making behind the scenes to ensure victory. “That was delicious. Thanks, Blake.”
I took the plates to the sink and put the dish back into the warming oven. “Anytime. Now, I believe there was talk of a reward?”
She grinned for a beat, and then took off up the stairs.
Like a giddy lovesick fool, I chased after her.
“This, Blake! This is what our stuff should look like!” Lacey was all worked up about something and it wasn’t until she shoved her tablet in my face that I realized what it was.
It was a new ad for Out & About Adventures and the pages were colorful and vibrant, with a retro feel.
“That little sneak.” I knew I shouldn’t be amused or impressed, but I was both. We’d spent the whole weekend toget
her, eating and talking and fucking, and not once had she mentioned the new limited edition retro line. “It’s good.”
“Are you kidding? It’s better than good,” Lacey insisted, leaning forward so her elbows rested on her knees. “This is fun, flirty and smart. The limited edition thing will help OAA surpass us. Once again.” I knew what those folded arms and angry scowl meant, she was preparing for a lecture.
“So why aren’t you doing this? You always complain that our shit looks too outdated but Poppy and her team managed this!”
She growled at me and smacked both hands on the desk, so hard I knew her palms had to sting. “Because your little tyrant Greta, thinks she’s the Vera Wang of outdoor adventure wear! She won’t listen to anyone but you and you don’t seem to give a damn.” She stood, knocking the big ass club chair over in her wake. “It’s just easier to buy the competition instead, of…, I don’t know, actually beating them!” She paced the length of my office complaining about hardheaded men and their stubborn ideas.
Since it would be a few minutes before Lacey wound herself down enough to talk, I picked up the phone and made a call I should have made weeks ago. Max Malone. He only had seven percent but that was seven more than I had at the moment. “Max, its Blake Sayers.” I smiled at his exuberant greeting. “Yeah, that’s true. But I’ve been busy. Now though, I’m ready to talk business.”
“Tomorrow at noon. Meet me at the Regency Hotel. I have business there,” he said with a hint of smugness that said his business was female related and that female was not his wife.
“See you then,” I told him and ended the call, looking up to find Lacey glaring down at me.
“You aren’t seriously going to keep doing this are you? Fucking her at night and maneuvering to steal her company during the day? I’d stab you in your sleep.” She scoffed and shook her head, ready to make another point for me to ignore.
“Lacey, stop. I’m not listening to you. This is how it has to be. This is how it was always going to be.” Even if I did like Poppy more than I anticipated, more than I really should, it didn’t matter. Once this was all done and I had control of OAA, she would hate me.
His Takeover: An Enemies to Lovers Romance Page 8
