by Lia Lee
Samson wanted her. Really wanted her. It had been almost impossible for her to believe that his teasing was based in something real.
She felt herself beginning to come a second time, and little needy noises came from deep in her throat. She clutched at his shoulders and curled her fingers through the back of his thick hair. For a moment, she couldn’t breathe or think. Her body gave in to his with an explosion of pleasure.
“Oh, Samson…. Oh my God.”
She drew in a sharp breath as his hips jerked forward one last time. He let out a roar, and a grunt, and then his muscles went slack as he seemed to crumble over her. This great man made weak between her thighs.
After he slipped out, he pulled the condom off, tossed it in the wastebasket, and lie next to her with a smile.
“You are so, so lovely,” he whispered, running his fingers through her hair. “I love your curves. Your thick thighs. I love how you smell…”
“It’s a copy of DNKY—”
Samson shook his head and laughed. “I did not mean your perfume.”
“How I smell? Oh!” April would have blushed if she weren’t already flushed and sweaty.
“I find it hard to believe that no man has ever told you how good you smell.” Samson nuzzled her neck.
“No.” April petted his hair, suddenly realizing again that she was lying naked, and much less buzzed, with her boss. She curled over on her side and draped her arm over her breasts.
“Feeling shy now? You’re the one who groped me in the bar.”
“I know, I just…”
“This won’t affect you in the workplace, April.” He kissed her nose. “We had a good time, and I adore you. I promise that you won’t have to give up your employment for this.”
“As long as you promise. Can I get that in writing?” she teased.
“I’ll write it on the hotel stationery. Mm.” He kissed her forehead. “You’re so tight down there. It must have been some time. You came three times!”
“Maybe you’re just amazing in bed. I hear tell that you get around,” April said, trailing her fingers over his abs.
“I do indeed. But I can tell when a woman hasn’t been satisfied for too long.”
“I…” April looked up and met his eyes. She could see little gold flecks in the rich brown. “I haven’t ever been satisfied.”
Samson frowned. Then he blinked. Then he pushed himself up a little to look at her seriously. “You what? You’re a virgin?”
“Well, not anymore!” She laughed.
He did not laugh.
“Does that bother you?” April crossed her arms over herself.
“Not really. I might have taken more time if I had known.”
“I beat you out three-to-one. I think for this round, I definitely came out on top.”
Samson chuckled and wrapped her up in his arms. “You don’t have the experience to know this, but if the man you’re with doesn’t make sure you do, he’s not worth your time.”
His hand moved down the small of her bare back.
“Now that I think about it, I feel honored that I was the first to pluck this ripe fruit.”
“Hm. Yes.” April pressed herself against him and laid her head on his broad chest. “Thanks ever so much for plucking me. I was beginning to think I’d never get plucked.”
Samson rested his cheek against the top of her head. April couldn’t believe that this had happened. But at the same time, she was so very glad that it had. And before the evening was over, it happened twice more.
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.
Chapter Nine
The trip to Chicago had been eye-opening. On the business end, they had accomplished their goals. Samson convinced the new firm that he would be able to make them a more lucrative business without micromanaging them, and the members of the firm offered designs and projects that would be worth Samson’s time. April still wondered whether Samson had needed her there to look over the creative work, but he allowed her to take the lead on that part of the meetings, and she was grateful to have the chance to prove herself.
In other matters, she was even less certain. They’d been fooling around so much on the trip that April was afraid that she would end up as the next mystery girl for the tabloids. They’d had sex in every available space in the hotel as well as a few public places and one private tour of
a bootlegger back room. She once trained for a marathon and been less sore than she was when she came back from Chicago.
And, unsurprisingly, when they got back late Sunday evening, Samson wanted to pop by his office to check on a few things. April came with him, and before he looked at a single file, Samson snatched a condom from a stash under Babette’s desk. Consequently, they had to tidy up the papers there before going into his office to get their notes ready for the office meeting the next day.
April returned to Lana’s apartment at around one o’ clock in the morning and collapsed on her bed in a heap as Damien ran around in excited circles on the floor. It was the first time she’d been alone in a bed in a week, and she curled over on herself, grateful to have the space to wriggle around but missing his body around hers at the same time. For someone who had learned to keep people at a distance, she was failing spectacularly with Samson.
But it wasn’t just his body that called to her now. It was everything about him. His cleverness, his rational mind, hell, even his ego. Everything about him made her want to be near him, always.
“I’m in so much trouble,” April murmured.
She opened her laptop. With only a little guilt, she turned on one of her favorite interviews with him and listened to it as she changed into a tank top to sleep in. She would miss the Chicago weather. It was probably worse in winter, but it had been perfect during their trip.
Once she was ready for bed, she picked Damien up and dropped him on the bed, and then reached over to turn the laptop off, but hesitated. What was that interview he said she should look at? The one with puppies? She did a quick search and was rewarded quickly with the most current interview as well as two others. She curled up with the laptop and lie back on her pillows to watch Samson playing with puppies as she scratched Damien’s head.
The interview was mostly silly, superficial things. He’d apparently been dating a model by the name Kitelynn at the time, and Al Bell, who April noted didn’t seem to age, spent a few moments joking about the model’s name.
