Page 14 of Takeover
Michael stood, and once more, Sam realized just how tall Michael was. “I’m going to hold you to listening, though. And protecting these folks.” He waved at the door.
Sam rose, his legs surprisingly steady. “I’d expect nothing less. I’m glad to have you on board.”
Michael chuffed a laugh. “Let’s see what you say after a couple of manager meetings.”
Sam rounded the desk and walked toward the door. “I may surprise you.”
“You already have.” Michael’s voice took on that smoky quality that sank into Sam’s ears and straight to his balls. Sam couldn’t help looking up into Michael’s face and the amusement that danced there.
Sam held out his hand and Michael took it, his grip firm and his hand warm. Every second they touched, Sam wanted to fall to his knees, unzip those khakis, and go to heaven. Or hell. Everything about Michael turned him inside out. Michael knew the true Sam. Everything he tried to hide.
They let go at the same time.
“Well,” Michael said. “This is going to be interesting.”
Sam croaked a chuckle. He reached for the door handle and opened the door slightly. “We’ll make it work.” There was no other option.
Michael looked down, but his continued amusement was almost catching. Sam followed his gaze.
Sam had been right. Boat shoes without socks.And I know you.His skin tingled.
“Thank you for the straight talk,” Michael said.
“Anytime.”
Michael glanced up, then turned and left Sam’s office.
Sam closed the door with care, then leaned his forehead against the wood. Interesting wasn’t even close to the right word. Having Michael near and not touching him—not begging Michael to touch him—would be sheer hell.
Sam pushed himself away from the door and returned to his desk. He’d deal with all of that later. Right now, he had to get ready for another meeting.
If only his hands would stop shaking. He curled them into fists and shoved thoughts of Michael aside. He couldn’t let one single fuck, a quick fling, get the best of him.
Even if it had been the best night of his life.
Chapter Three
Michael strodealong the North Shore Trail, past PNC Park, and toward the Fort Duquesne Bridge and wiped away the sweat that threatened to trickle into his eyes. The weather was unseasonably warm for early May, but he wasn’t about to complain, even if he had to break out shorts for his afternoon walk.
The office building had a gym with showers, but nothing beat being outside, tromping pavement, climbing steps, and crossing bridges. Quite a workout, if you walked at a decent rate, plus sun, city, nature, and a bunch of other office dwellers outside getting healthy. Walkers, runners, bikers—everyone flocked to the trails when the weather turned nice.
A sunny day in Pittsburgh? You savored those like fine wine.
Plus, he needed out of the office and away from Sam, at least for a bit.
Sam had been fine as CEO so far, winning over the engineering staff in the last couple of weeks. His business sense seemed spot-on and he understood much of the technical aspects as well. The man could even code, though Sam admitted he was horribly rusty. Yes, he was hard-nosed and pushing everyone to meet deadlines, but he was also often the first person in the office and one of the last to leave. Sam practiced what he preached.
The office followed Sam’s lead, plunging into a working pace Michael hadn’t seen since the early days.
Sam wasn’t the usual type of CEO, and not simply a suit. Michael reluctantly agreed that the board had done something right for a change. Sam wasn’t the board’s pawn, and they seemed to be letting him work toward their mutual goal of acquisition.
Michael and Sam had even managed an easy business relationship, on the surface.
Underneath, Michael still undressed Sam in his mind and fantasized about bending that taut body over the executive conference room table and fucking him until they both came. Leave Curaçao behind? Hardly. He relived that night far too many times. Only it wasn’t the thrill of undoing a man of power anymore—it was all about the Sam he knew now.
How easy it would be, too. A whisper, a suggestion, he could have Sam on his knees. He’d caught Sam watching him when no one else was looking, the subtle flush and the shifting of his suit coat to hide a larger-than-normal bulge in his trousers.
No, Sam hadn’t put aside their time together either. The desire was there, burning as hot as ever.
