by Gina Drayer
Mike licked his lips and bent down, trailing his tongue through her folds in one smooth movement. Her hips bucked off the bed, and he hooked both arms around her thighs, holding her in place. And that was it, the last bit of control she had over the situation shattered. He licked and sucked, and she couldn’t find the will to care. His relentless ministrations pushed her closer to that sought-after edge. She rocked against the pressure, seeking that release, but his hands stilled her.
His finger slid along her slick opening, plunging in, and Holly cried out. Close, she was so close, and he was taking her higher with each nibble and suck. One more finger as he sucked hard on her clit and that was the nudge she needed to soar from the high he brought out of her.
She closed her eyes as her entire body shuttered. The wave of orgasm crashing into her with such force she forgot to breathe.
6
Be yourself
In a heated negotiation, it’s important to be comfortable. You’re more effective if you're authentic. If you’re trying to be something else, people will see right through you, and you’ll lose credibility.
How the fuck did he get so lucky? Holly was a stunning woman, but her style and put together beauty had nothing on the wild, bohemian look she got as she climaxed. It really was better than Mike had ever dreamed and he never wanted to leave the bedroom.
Maybe his head injury was more serious than all of them thought because right that second he didn’t care about any of his problems—the company, his father’s legacy, the inevitable hostile takeover. He couldn’t think of anything else except for the woman underneath him.
He wanted to hear her screaming in pleasure again. She carried around so much built up tension, and he wanted to be the one to offer her release.
He unhooked his hold on her legs and stretched out beside her on the bed as she caught her breath. But he didn’t want to let her come down too far, for fear that she’d come to her senses and leave. Mike reached into the nightstand and pulled out a condom.
“You’ve got some skills.” Holly was leaning up on her elbow, watching him. “I don’t think I’ve ever come that fast from oral. What’s your secret?”
He was a little taken aback by her forward question, but then again, his mouth was just on her pussy. They’d moved past polite conversation.
“Six years of the trombone.”
“Hmm,” she murmured and moved to straddle him. “Let me show you what twelve years of horseback riding can do.”
The look on her face sent an electric jolt straight to his cock. Her hand found the head of him and guided it to her entrance. She was slick, the wetness from her earlier climax making it easy to slide along her tight passage. Once fully seated, Holly leaned back and closed her eyes as if lost in the feeling. And fuck, it felt like heaven.
They both stayed still as she adjusted to his size. Being inside of her was amazing and right. It didn’t matter what they were outside of those bedroom walls. All he cared about was how it felt to have her on top of him right then and there. Everything else floated away.
Her hips lifted and she rocked at a pace that was too slow and just right. She was tight as she slid along his cock, her walls contracting around him with every stroke. The pressure was almost more than he could handle.
He focused on her, watching her face as he filled her. She continued using those firm thigh muscles, setting a pace for her own pleasure. Her eyes fluttered closed as her hand reached up to cup her breast, pinching her nipples. A moan escaped her lips as her inner walls tightened.
“Fuck, sweetness,” he cried. “You’re killing me.”
He couldn’t say anything else—at least not coherently with her moving like that. It was a special kind of torment, but he didn’t want it to end. He held on as she squeezed his cock with each thrust. Up and down became the same with each squeeze and release.
His climax was building. He tried to hold it off, but it was going to be close.
“I’m so close,” he said, barely recognizing his own voice.
He couldn’t go without her. Reaching between them, he rubbed her clit in rhythm to her movements. It didn’t take long before she lost pace—her breathing becoming shallow pants. His other hand moved to her hip, pressing her down firmly against his finger.
“Mike! Oh, God, yes.” She tossed her head back, letting go of everything. Her words turning into incoherent moans and whimpers. But it was hearing his name on her lips as she cried out her release that completely did him in.
Still shuddering with her release, she fell forward, her hands braced on either side of his head, but he continued to move, gripping her ass hard until he followed. The orgasm hit him with such intensity that all he could do was hold on and ride it out. The initial ripple grew into an all-encompassing climax with such intensity his vision went dark.
“That was fantastic,” Holly said right before she collapsed on his chest.
He chuckled and slipped an arm around her, shifting them into a more comfortable resting position. She snuggled into the cradle of his arm and sighed as he stroked her hair. They stayed that way for a long time. He knew any second now she’d snap out of her post-coital bliss and leave.
“Thank you,” she whispered into the dark. As her breathing settled into a soft, steady rhythm, Mike relaxed.
He hadn’t expected tonight. Hell, he hadn’t expected Holly Carver at all.
Over the past few months of negotiations, he may have imagined taking her a million different ways, but nothing prepared him for the reality of it. And now that he’d had a taste, he wasn’t sure how he could ever go back to business as usual.
7
It’s not personal
Asking for yourself is difficult because it can feel like a personal rejection if you’re turned down. Don’t fall into that trap. You can’t negotiate effectively when you’re emotional, so don’t take setbacks personally.
The fresh smell of brewed coffee woke Holly. She stretched, enjoying the dull ache in her muscles that only came from a night of being well used. It hadn’t been her intention to stay the entire night. Hell, it hadn’t been her intention to have sex with Mike. But she had, and now wasn’t the time to start doubting that decision.
She found her discarded shirt at the foot of the bed and put it on. Then cleaned up a bit in the bathroom.
Even though she vowed to accept consequences of the prior night, as she finger brushed her hair, her busy mind kept going over the choices that had led her there. She shouldn’t have come in and most definitely shouldn’t have accepted the drink. But it wasn’t the one beer’s fault, and she knew it.
What had possessed her to kiss him? There had been this irresistible draw to the man that she couldn’t explain. She wasn’t sure exactly what it was, but she’d felt it, even from their earliest phone conversations. And now they’d crossed the line she swore she’d never cross with any client. How was she going to close the deal for her company after what had happened? Every time she closed her eyes, she could feel his hands gripping her hips as he came.
Fuck.
She pushed the conflicting thoughts out of her head and made her way toward the tempting smells of coffee and breakfast. Maybe after some much-needed caffeine, she would be able to figure out what she was going to do next.
The sound of a top forty pop song filled the kitchen. Mike stood at the stove with his back to her. His loose fitting pajama bottoms that hung deliciously low on his hips, giving Holly a fantastic view of the defined muscles of his lower back. He was swaying to the music. His hips causing the muscles of his back to flex.
Like a fine piece of art, she sat and appreciated his fit frame. She remembered the feel of those well-defined muscles moving under her fingertips, flexing with each thrust of his hips. She was still surprised by the solid body he hid under the business suits. It had been like a present wrapped in plain brown paper. Something, completely unexpected. And it was a package she wouldn’t mind unwrapping again.
There was something s
o domesticated about waking up to him making her breakfast. She hadn’t had that kind of normalcy since she was a kid. Frequent travel meant a lot of hotel continental breakfasts and stale airport coffee.
As calming as it was to sit there, she also felt a little out of place. This wasn’t her life. She was just visiting. Although as he reached up to get a plate out of the cabinet, the long lines of his muscle getting taunt, she sat back and decided to visit for a little longer.
“Morning,” Mike said without turning around. “I didn’t want to wake you.”
“But then I’d have missed the show,” she said, teasing. “Once you get out of the security business, you could charge good money for that.”
“Are you serious? You’ve never danced in the kitchen to your favorite song,” he said, shaking his hips to the beat.
“No. I’m hardly ever in the kitchen. I don’t cook. And I don’t dance either.”
“What? How can you not dance?” he said and placed his hand over his heart as though she’d just admitted she liked to kick puppies. “Not even when you’re alone?”
“No. It’s just not my thing,” Holly said.
“Maybe you’ve just never had the right partner.” The music shifted to a slow power ballad. He smiled, slow and easy, spreading across his face until it lit his eyes. “Dance with me, sweetness,” he said and held out his hand.
She didn’t want to dance, but there was something about the earnest way he looked at her she couldn’t resist. Taking his hand, Mike pulled her into his arms, against his chest, and started swaying to the music. His hands drifted down under her t-shirt and cupped her ass, pulling her firmly against him. They stayed like that for several beats of the song, both of them enjoying the feel.
“Did you sleep well?” he whispered against her cheek, breaking the silence.
“Actually, yes,” she said a little surprised. It was actually the best sleep she had in a while.
“I can imagine. A different bed all the time,” he said. Then as if realizing how that sounded, he pulled back, adding, “Because of your traveling. Besides, no matter how nice it is, a hotel room isn’t home.”
“I don’t really get that,” she said, laying her head on his chest. She couldn’t remember why she didn’t like to dance because this was amazing. She closed her eyes and absorbed his heat, letting his scent surrounded her.
“What don’t you get?” he asked, pulling her back to the conversation.
“Oh,” she said, giving herself a mental shake. “The whole need to be home to relax. I really don’t mind the travel.”
“But don’t you just want to crash in your own bed. Be back in your own environments.”
She shrugged. “I like seeing my family when I’m in town, but other than that, my place doesn’t hold any magic powers. Now if I had a house like this to come home to, I might feel differently.” Holly wasn’t sure why she added that last part. She’d never longed for domestic life. If anything, she avoided it vehemently. But waking up to breakfast, slow dancing in the kitchen with a man who totally rocked her world last night, had her yearning for something more in her life.
“Home doesn’t have to be a place,” he said, trailing kisses down her jaw to her neck, “it’s a feeling.”
Holly let out a soft moan and inched her fingers under the waistband of his pants, teasing the firm muscles of his ass.
A loud cough from the other side of the room broke the spell and Holly jumped back like a teen caught necking in the school library.
“Sorry. I didn’t know you had company.” Joe Brighton stood in the middle of the living room staring at the ceiling.
Holly couldn’t imagine how this must look to Joe. Well, that’s not exactly true. It looked like exactly what it was. She’d slept with his nephew and was making out with him in the kitchen. She started backing toward the bedroom.
“I should go get dressed.”
“Holly—”
“No,” she said, holding up her hand. “Talk to your uncle.”
She disappeared around the corner and ran back to his bedroom. What had she done? This was exactly the kind of complication that ruined deals. Hell, it ruined careers.
8
Understand the organizational nuances
All organizations are unique. What works for one company might be poorly received. And negotiators should always be prepared for some pushback.
“Mike, I’m sorry,” Joe said as soon as Holly was out of earshot. “I would have called. I didn’t know you and Holly Carver were… ”
Joe floundered, and Mike took pity on his uncle. “It’s fine. What can I do for you?”
“Are you okay?” Joe asked, pointing to his bandaged forehead.
“It’s nothing,” Mike said, dismissing his concern.
Mike wasn’t in the mood for small talk. He needed to get rid of his uncle and go after Holly—figure out where her head was at. But then he noted his uncle’s tired eyes and slightly crooked tie. God, he was such a selfish bastard. This deal was falling apart, and it wasn’t just his problem. His uncle was just as tied up in this deal as he was. The big difference was that at least Mike had something to fall back on. But Joe? This company had been his life for the past twenty-five years. Personal feeling for Holly aside, he needed to focus on this sale.
Leaning back against the counter, he got straight to the point. “Did you talk to Heather?”
“She’s agreed to the sale, but you’re not going to like her terms,” Uncle Joe said, coming into the kitchen. “She wants half.”
“Half of what?” Mike stared back at his uncle in disbelief. “She already got more than half in the will. Dad left her his entire estate—everything except the company. She’s got to be fucking kidding.”
“I’m sorry, Mike. This isn’t what your dad wanted for you.”
“Then why the fuck did he leave me with this mess?” Mike yelled, unable to keep his voice down. This was a mess. He wanted to punch something.
“He knew he was dying. He wanted to make sure both of you were taken care of.” Joe pinched the bridge of his nose and let out a long breath. “He loved Heather. The only thing he ever wanted was for you two to get along.”
“She’s not a child,” Mike said, flatly. “If she wanted a relationship with me, she had seventeen years. Fuck. I guess I’ll give her the money. It’s not like I have any other options.”
“Listen, I know you were planning on using the money to start your own firm. I can chip in some money from the sale of my stock.”
“Uncle Joe, I appreciate the offer, but you earned every penny. If this is the only way—”
“I can try to talk to her again,” Joe offered.
“No. I should go see her. Dad, in his infinite wisdom, left the company to me. This is my burden.”
Joe nodded and got up, but just before he left, he added, “For what it’s worth, I think you made the right call selling. My brother may have wanted you to run his company, but this was our dream. You deserve to have one of your own.” Joe looked back toward his bedroom. “Your own family, perhaps?”
A vision of Holly holding a plump baby with green eyes popped, unbidden, into his head. She was a woman a man could make a life with; a challenging one for certain, but one he could enjoy forever.
Mike shook those thoughts away and looked back at his uncle. “Why don’t we focus on selling the company? Then, maybe, we’ll see how the rest of that goes.”
“Sounds like good advice,” Joe said with a laugh. “I’ll see you on Monday.”
With that, Joe left, and Mike went back to the bedroom to find Holly. “It’s all clear,” he said.
“I need to go.” Holly was dressed and put together again. He knew that the little bubble they’d entered last night had finally popped and that was the end of it. But he wasn’t ready to let her go.
“You should at least stay for breakfast,” he said.
“I don’t think that’s a good idea,” she hedged, glancing between him and the bedroom door
like a trapped animal.
He wanted to insist she stay, but he knew the harder he pushed, the more she’d push back. So instead, Mike opted for a little guilt. “I understand. I’ll just catch a taxi back to the hotel for my car. But I really need to eat something before I leave.”
The worry line above her brow deepened and she glanced at his head. “Are you feeling okay this morning? Last night, we didn’t …” Holly blushed, but then caught herself and replaced the shield. “You were supposed to take it easy, and that’s not exactly what happened.”
“No, it wasn’t,” he said a laugh. “But I’m fine. Nothing a pound of bacon and a few dozen cups of coffee won’t cure.”
Her shoulders relaxed, and she let out a long breath. “Well, if there’s coffee, I guess I could stay.”
As victories go, it was a small one. Mike handed her a cup of hot coffee, putting out the sugar and creamer on the counter. Then he went back to the stove for the rest of the breakfast he’d prepared.
She sipped her coffee. Some of the tension from earlier was already melting off her posture.
“I’m sorry about Joe. He had some news for me about the sale,” Mike said, then almost instantaneously kicked himself. He didn’t want to bring up the sale. Even though it was a pressing issue for both of them, it didn’t feel like the right time. So in a less than smooth fashion, he switched the subject. “I hope you’re hungry.”
He dished the scrambled eggs onto a big platter that was already piled high with bacon and set it on the counter next to some biscuits and bowl of sliced fruit.
“That’s quite the spread,” she said with a grin. “A lot more than I usually eat for breakfast. I guess you have quite the appetite.”