“Tammy, can you have Jessica come see me please?” If she was going to apologize, it was at least going to be on her terms. Everything with Samantha was a power play. Jessica knocked on Samantha’s open door tenuously.
“Jessica, please come in and have a seat,” Samantha said with a forced smile. Jessica took the seat she had been directed to. She looked both irritated and intimidated. Being called into Samantha’s office was rarely an enjoyable experience. There was a reason she had a reputation for being the office enforcer. She had impossible standards and was free with her critiques when someone failed to meet them. Jessica had gotten a dose of that last week and wasn’t excited for round two. Still, when Samantha Cane calls you to her office, you show up, take notes, and keep your mouth shut.
“I wanted to clear the air between us quickly this morning,” Samantha started off neutral, trying to disarm Jessica a bit while easing herself into the distastefulness of apologizing. “Last week I was very direct with my critique of your work. If I was short with you, or I didn’t provide you the necessary direction, I want to apologize. Perhaps my comments would have been more appropriate in a private setting,” Samantha crammed enough conditional statements into her apology to avoid any actual culpability. Saying she wanted to apologize wasn’t actually apologizing after all. Still, Jessica seemed placated sufficiently judging by her satisfied smirk. That smirk was a mistake. Now Samantha was irritated. Her mind flashed back to Jessica’s hand on Connor’s arm the previous week and she snapped.
“As I am sure you are aware, this is a very important time for this team and I need to ensure we are all focused and contributing.” Not flirting like a dog in heat with the hired consultant. The unsaid implication wafted in the air between them. Jessica shifted in her seat uncomfortably, not meeting Samantha’s eyes. Samantha was pleased at the thought that even if Connor wanted to flirt with Jessica, she wouldn’t reciprocate. Jessica was more afraid of Samantha than she was attracted to Connor. A victory was a victory, even if she had to imply threats to get it.
“I understand. I am committed to this team and this merger,” was Jessica’s timid response.
“Great! I’m so glad to hear it. And, I glad we had this chat. I look forward to seeing the improvement in your work this week.” Jessica’s eyes flared at Samantha’s words. She wanted to argue, but one look from Samantha kept her silent. She shuffled out of Samantha’s office biting on her lip to keep back the retort she desperately wanted to throw at Samantha. Turning her eyes back to her screen with satisfaction, Samantha continued on with her Monday morning routine when she heard the familiar husky voice from her office door.
“You are the queen of passive aggressiveness!” Connor said with a chuckle as he flopped into a chair in front of her, making himself at home. It hadn’t escaped Samantha’s notice that he didn’t knock. Her eyes snapped back to her office door where Tammy was hovering, her eyes pleading for forgiveness for allowing the intrusion. Some gatekeeper Timid Tammy ended up being. One look at Connor’s smug face was all it took for Samantha to know he had been eavesdropping on her chat with Jessica, too intrigued by it to interrupt earlier.
“Is there something I can help you with this morning, Connor?” She kept her tone cold and detached, making sure he knew she didn’t appreciate his familiarity.
“There is something I can help you with,” he paused just long enough to peak her interest. Her thoughts turned naughty faster than she wanted to admit. Connor's smirk told her he knew exactly the thoughts she was having. “You know you are not well liked in this office? And with conversations like that I’m not surprised.”
“I don’t much care for being liked. I am respected,” was her curt response.
“No. You are feared which isn’t doing our team any favors.”
Our team? Samantha cringed at the realization Connor was trying to include her on his team when she had only been concerned with being at the top of the pyramid. She tried to ignore his words, but they rang true. She had power, but she wasn’t part of the team. She remembered the meeting where he had brought everyone together, engaged with everyone and actually gotten them excited about the merger. That wasn’t a skill she had. She doesn’t play well with others.
“I can help you with that. Smooth over some of those rough edges of yours,” his voice wasn’t placating or condescending. It was sincere and sweet. Still, Samantha wasn’t ready to admit she was wrong. Never admit weakness.
“Who I am has gotten me where I am today. I think I am doing just fine, thank you.” Samantha was trying hard to believe it. She wanted to be enough on her own. She needed to be.
“Fair enough. My services are here if you change your mind,” his voice had taken a vaguely sexy tone with the innuendo. “Now, on to what I actually came here for. It seems like your poor assistant is afraid to schedule any meetings now without your explicit say-so. She must respect you too much,” he said with a smirk and a wink.
“What meeting would you like to schedule?” she ignored his teasing.
“We have a video teleconference with Hiro today at three.”
“Hero?”
“Hirotami Kojima, the principal at Keiretsu Holdings.”
“Oh, Hiro,” Samantha said sheepishly trying to hide her embarrassment. She had been so busy handling her side of the merger that she hadn’t been involved at all with Keiretsu Holdings. “I wasn’t aware he wanted to have a meeting. Isn’t it a bit early in the process for that?”
“We’ve exchanged a bunch of e-mails back and forth now and I think it is the perfect time to put a face to a name. We aren’t looking to make any actual policy decisions. Mainly, we are just going to be setting the agenda for our trip to Tokyo next week.”
“Excuse me? Our what?” Samantha was in shock. She had no idea she was supposed to be going to Tokyo. She had just assumed Mr. Slone would be doing all the senior executive engagements. Why was Connor always one step ahead of her? It drove her crazy.
“I talked to Slone about it this weekend at lunch.” Of course Connor was having lunch with her boss over the weekend. They were best friends now! “He isn’t keen to leave Abby for an entire week. Plus, he said he has complete confidence in your abilities,” Connor said with his flirty voice again.
“Abby?” Samantha was reeling this morning from all the information she didn’t have, but Connor did.
“Abigail Slone, his wife.” Connor’s networking skills were on a whole new level. Samantha couldn’t keep her eyes from rolling. If she were honest to herself, she was a little jealous. She wasn't a people person and she knew it had hurt her career.
She was sure Mr. Slone’s confidence in her was largely based on Connor’s endorsement. While she was extremely appreciative of the opportunity Connor had laid at her feet with this trip, she was also extremely annoyed that it wasn’t based on her actual accomplishments. She had worked so hard. To be gifted this trip based on Connor’s sweet talking was insulting. She had shown enough dedication and competency over the past several years to earn this trip entirely on her own merit. What was that saying about gift horses?
“You do have a passport, right?” Conner pulled Samantha out of her irritation and self-consciousness.
“Of course I have a passport!” Her indignation was potent. She had a passport. It had never been used, but she knew it existed somewhere in her apartment. She really hoped it wasn't expired.
“Great,” Connor ignored her hostility. He was good at that, treating her like she wasn’t abrasive. “So, video teleconference at three, and we’ll finalize our travel details on Wednesday night.”
“Wednesday night?” Samantha felt like she had been behind the curve this entire conversation. Connor had that effect on her. She was never really in control of herself when he was around.
“I am taking you to an art gallery opening. Pick you up at seven.” It was a statement, not a question. Samantha had no vote in the matter. After taking a moment to revel in the confusion in her eyes, Connor got up and strut
ted out of her office.
Samantha watched the sexy figure of Connor Grayson leaving her office in his pink shirt with a smile she couldn’t prevent. He was the only person who made her feel out of control in a way that both excited and infuriated her. He was brazen and confident. He was everything she wasn’t. She craved to have more of him even as her mind screamed danger warnings between her ears.
Chapter Fifteen - The Second Date
The video teleconference went smoothly, largely due to Connor’s charm. Samantha was amazed at how he seemed to have an instant report with Hiro based simply on an e-mail conversation. How did he do that? How did he make everyone feel like they were the most interesting person in the world? Maybe she could learn a few things from him, not that she'd ever tell him that.
By Wednesday, Samantha was almost used to seeing Connor at work. She was still hyper-aware of every moment they were alone together, but he was exceptionally professional. He wasn’t any more affectionate or familiar with Samantha than he was with any other member of the team. Samantha told herself she was appreciative and thought they were on track to stay work colleagues. In reality, she was irritated he didn’t flirt with her. Mercifully, he didn’t flirt with anyone else either. Samantha was still jealous of pretty much anyone else who held Connor’s attention for longer than five minutes, but he was sensitive of not give special attention to anyone, much to Jessica’s disappointment.
Samantha was too busy overanalyzing their interactions to get much work done. Wednesday night came quicker than she thought it could. Despite the trepidation, Samantha was looking forward to seeing Connor out of work again. Thoughts of their kiss still caused her to flush, but she refused to admit they could be anything other than professional co-workers who happened to have a past.
The decision on what to wear this time was quicker for Samantha. She wore a trendy dark blue lace dress with a full skirt hitting her high on the thigh, sheer on the arms and low cut on the back. It reeked of sex. She rationalized the outfit to herself by claiming it was the only thing she owned hip enough to wear to an art gallery opening. Samantha would never admit it to herself, but she constantly wore dresses around Connor to increase the chances of feeling his hands against her naked thighs.
Connor was prompt at seven. This time Samantha was waiting for him on the curb, avoiding the awkward text. Something told her he still didn’t trust her enough to be alone in her apartment. Smart man.
“You look amazing,” Connor’s voice dripped with desire, causing Samantha’s lips to curl into a smile at the small victory.
“So do you,” she wasn’t lying. Connor was in another bespoke suit with a crisp white button down shirt. Unlike at work he wasn’t wearing a tie. Instead the top two buttons of his shirt were undone, letting just the hint of his masculine chest to peek out. Samantha’s mouth watered just at the sight of the extra bit of his tan skin. She couldn’t help but wonder if his body was still as toned and luxurious as the last time she had run her hands along it night after night. Without realizing it, she was biting her bottom lip at the memory. The sight made Connor chuckle knowingly. The same memories flooded his mind after seeing her long legs and bare back in that dress. He squirmed uncomfortably in his seat, his pants suddenly tighter than before.
They drove silently to the art gallery, unspoken desires and lust thick in the air as they drove. Connor had thought long and hard about what to do on a second date with Samantha. Their first date had been less than great. An intimate dinner was too much for two people who had so much they were trying not to say to each other. He had thought about taking her to a movie or a play, but that seemed like a waste of time. Why bother going on a date when you spent the entire time not talking to each other? Plus, too long with Samantha under the cover of darkness could lead them down a dangerous path. He wanted to be with her, but he needed it to be more than sex. This time, he wanted all of her.
For their second date, he needed something with more distraction than dinner but more engaging than a play. When he received the invite to this art gallery opening it seemed like the perfect option. Now that they were here, wandering around the gallery it seemed just as awkward as their first date. Neither were art experts and he struggled to find something to say to her about any of the pieces. He was never this self-conscious around women. But, Samantha wasn’t just any woman. She was the one that got away, the one he still wanted. They ended up hovering around each other, not talking, like planets trapped orbiting each other without ever getting closer. After half an hour they were both noticeably frustrated by the awkwardness. Connor was ready to push the boundaries to close the distance.
Samantha felt a hand slide across the naked skin at her back as she stood in front of an abstract painting, more stunned by the price than wowed by the art. The feel of his warm fingers on her back suddenly made her aware of every inch of skin on her body. She tingled from head to toe, trying to stifle the moan his simple touch was instigating in her throat. Nothing but work colleagues for sure.
“Is this your favorite?” The feeling of his steamy breath on her neck drove her crazy. She leaned back into him, intensifying the tingling across her body with the contact.
“I hate it actually,” she said in a half whisper to him. She wasn’t concerned about someone else hearing her comments, she just wanted to hold onto the growing feeling of intimacy between them.
“And, why is that?” his voice was calm and even in her ear. Was he not as affected by their connection as she was? He had to be.
“If I’m going to pay the price of a new car for something to hang on my wall, it better be something nicer than I could do on my own with twenty bucks and a bottle of wine.” Connor chuckled at her words. The sound stirred something in Samantha, something other than her desire. The sound of his sweet laugh caused an ache in her chest. She longed to hear it again. She tried to push the feeling aside and focus on the lust she had felt just moments before.
“So, you are an artist now too? Is there anything you can’t do Samantha?” there was a tenderness in his words that was disarming. Without thinking Samantha turned her eyes up to his. What she found there took her breath away. Like hers, they held lust and desire, but underneath there was something deeper, more pure. There was longing and devotion. It drew Samantha in against her will. She leaned in and pressed a soft kiss on his lips. They were both captured in a moment of pure tenderness as the rest of the world drifted away. Samantha pulled away first, like she always did. She didn’t let her eyes meet his again. She didn’t say a word to him. She just walked away, refusing to acknowledge the moment they had just shared.
Samantha was desperate to run away. She needed to put distance between herself and Connor, physically and emotionally. She was hoping with distance the longing that she saw in his eyes would fade away. If she could get far enough away, the devotion she felt growing in her heart would wither. She had to find a way to push him away to protect them both. She couldn’t give him what he wanted. She couldn’t be what he needed.
Samantha rounded the corner of the gallery and her eyes lit up at the sight of a handicapped bathroom. It was secluded in the corner of one of the shows. If she lingered by one of the sculptures, she was sure she could maneuver Connor into it before he had realized what was happening. Suddenly, she knew how to kill the longing in Connor’s eyes. She was going to drown it in lust and smother it with desire. After all, if their relationship was about sex, she could pretend it wasn’t anything deeper.
She had her ambush set. She was still, staring at the wire sculpture in front of her like a spider laying in wait for her pray. Less than five minutes later, Connor was next to her, placing his hand on the small of her back again, dipping his fingers into the skin just above her hips. Samantha closed her eyes to focus on the sensation, warmth radiating from his hands across her body. Snapping out of her reverie, she remembered her plan. Make tonight about desire and sex, not longing and devotion.
“There is something special I wanted to show you
,” her words were haughty. She tried to keep her tone even as desire started to overtake her. She wanted to have him in the only way she could. She grabbed his hand and led him towards the bathroom. As she got to the door, she turned around to face him.
“How about it, Lucky? For old time’s sake?” she quipped with a sexy smirk, refusing to let go of his hands. Samantha couldn’t read his face. There was certainly desire in his eyes. Samantha was familiar enough with that. There was also a hint of something else. Was it disappointment? Before Connor could pull back, Samantha opened the door to the bathroom and pulled Conner in with her. As soon as the door closed she pulled him to her. The awkwardness that had surrounded them most of the night melted away as they both gave in to their passion.
One of Samantha’s hands had a fist full of Connor’s shirt. The other, she dragged through his hair, grabbing the back of his neck, and pulling him down to her. Connor was resisting slightly as their lips first pressed together. His body was stiff, his hands at his sides. Samantha’s kiss was a challenge. Touch me. Be with me. She kissed him without him kissing back, pressing her body into his with wanton desire.
“Please kiss me,” the plea left Samantha’s lips before she could think about what it meant. She hadn’t intended to beg him. She had hoped to seduce him, make him a slave to his own desire. Instead, she was the one desperate for his touch. Her soft plea broke down Connor’s last resistance. His hand reached up to her hips, pulling them against his, before sliding up her side, grazing her breast, brushing across her jaw and settling at the back of her neck curled in her hair.
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