Page 39 of Takeover
Coal-gray fabric draped elegantly down Michael’s very long legs, and black leather suspenders peeked from beneath a perfectly tailored jacket. When Michael raised his hand to check the time, a silver hint of a cuff link caught Sam’s attention. Michael dropped his arm too fast to make out the design of the link, but nothing glinted from Michael’s other cuff. He held a takeaway coffee cup that smelled of good beans and chicory.
The hair on the back of Sam’s neck rose. Was Michael wearing the Copernican link? A sign of… something?
“I’m not late, am I?” Michael’s strong voice rattled the marrow of Sam’s bones.
“No, right on time.” William answered, which was good, because Sam doubted he could put two words together. He had to find his center really fucking soon because he could not be seen like this. Sam took a slow breath and fought to normalize his heart rate.
Michael wore a suit as if he’d been born into power, as if he lived in one. So very different from the way he looked in khakis, tropical prints, and Birkenstocks. His tie was a swirl of blue and black, with hints of blood red, and even when Sam rose, Michael seemed to tower over him, tall and lean, with impossibly broad shoulders.
Commanding.
William must have felt that too, because he stood straighter, with an air of alertness, and had put out his hand. “Nice to see you again, Mike.” Gone was the hostility of the previous evening.
Michael took the offered hand and shook. “William.” He turned. “Sam.”
Instinct overrode sense, and Sam reached out to shake in greeting. Michael’s hand was electrifying and warm, his grip strong and confident. The silver at Michael’s wrist was, in fact, the link Sam had given him. Holy shit.
“Michael.” Somehow, Sam managed to say the name without sounding as breathless as he felt. His cock threatened to harden, a serious problem, given that he would be speaking to an audience in a half an hour. It was a damn good thing Michael never dressed this way in the office.
“I noticed a beignet café on our adventure last night. Stopped in this morning for nonbland coffee.” He held up his cup. “Highly recommended if you want a local taste.”
“Have to remember that for tomorrow,” Sam said.
William snorted. “Not me. Mornings come too early here.”
Michael smiled. “Better here than New York City? Three hours might kill you, William.”
William snorted again.
Michael gestured toward the conference area. Other suited men and women headed that way. “Shall we?”
William took the lead, with Sam and Michael falling into step behind. They entered the main conference area, where the opening keynote would be given. William surged forward to clasp hands with Vijay Malik, the CEO of Sundra Networks, but Sam lingered behind. Off-kilter and more than a little aroused by the man standing next to him, he needed some space to get his head on straight. He had to give his speech after the keynote, and Michael—wanted him. He was certain.
The hotel brew did nothing but cause Sam’s taste buds to shrivel, especially after the smell of Louisiana coffee wafting from Michael’s cup. He dropped his coffee into the nearest trash can. “Awful doesn’t begin to describe that.”
Without a word, Michael handed his cup to Sam. It was full, practically untouched.
He shouldn’t have, but he gave in and took a sip, then allowed himself a sigh at the rich flavor and sharp taste. He looked at the coffee. “Damn. If I had known this was close by, I’d have asked you to wake me.”
“You’ll be awake tomorrow.”
Sam nearly coughed out his next sip at the assuredness of that statement. “You know what they say about assumptions.”
A flash of teeth before Michael’s expression settled into a very professional mask. “I’m not assuming.”
A bolt of lust flew straight to Sam’s cock. That they were playing this game here, of all places, minutes before Sam had to climb on a stage and give his talk made the whole experience surreal, tantalizing, and terrifying. Especially when they’d pretty much told each other they wouldn’t do this anymore.
Except, of course, he’d started this round by brandishing the cuff link, because he couldn’t keep away from Michael. He’d known what Michael would do, how he’d respond.You’re playing with fire.
He took another draw of Michael’s coffee. “Do you mind if I finish this?”
“Not at all. I bought it for you.”
For him? Warmth, but not from lust, settled into Sam’s center. He didn’t say anything because he couldn’t, for the second time that morning.This man will undo me.Hell, he already had. Repeatedly. It’s why he kept sticking his foot outside the security and safety of being the straight, but prudish, CEO.
The closet was suffocating him. Slowly. Michael was a lifeline. And maybe Sam’s doom.
“We should sit. They’ll start soon,” Michael said.
