Page 64 of Takeover-
Chapter Nine
Morningin the streets of New Orleans in July was like walking inside a humid oven. Sam folded his suit jacket over one arm and quelled his desire to take Michael’s hand as they strolled down Canal Street back toward their hotel. Michael had slung his jacket over one shoulder. His suspenders stood out against his white shirt.
It was only the intensity of the sex they’d had in the shower that morning that kept Sam from getting hard. Still, he admired the view, along with the thought of leather on flesh. His, preferably. He drew in a mouthful of wet air and grinned.
The morning hadn’t turned out so bad after all. A good hard fuck and then coffee with his lover. Couldn’t complain about that, even if the conversation from earlier still lurked in the back of his mind.
Sam took a sip from his takeaway cup. He could do this. He wanted Michael. Wanted to be out. Wanted—a normal life.
They both held their second coffees—the first they had consumed over fresh beignets and laughter in a French Quarter café. That had been a welcome respite, a glimpse at the kind of life possible. But as they neared the hotel, Sam’s doubts crept forward, the ones that told him this wouldn’t work, that he was foolish to try. He’d never held a successful relationship before grad school and he’d been playing the straight man for too long. But for Michael? Damned if he’d let go now. Time to throw everything on the line. Go get help and get his head screwed on the right way around. Kick the past into… well, the past.
The hotel rose above them. Those who knew Sam as a CEO, as the man who saved companies, they would be inside the doors. He was supposed to have lunch with William and Vijay Malik. While William acted happy about the deal with Sundra, his interest in Four Rivers at this juncture set entirely different nerves jangling. Especially given the information Fabian had offered. William was a venture capitalist, not a technologist—the only thing that should interest him about the deal was the buyout, even if he were running some sort of investment scam.
Perhaps he should have gone to the strip bar with them last night… to suss out William’s mind. Then there was the question of what William had known about Michael’s original role at Four Rivers—surely the board must have been aware of the news articles, the photos?
Yet they hadn’t given Michael his due. William also knew Michael was gay—had that come before or after the board had taken over?
“Stop that,” Michael said. He grinned in that way men do when they’ve gotten everything they’ve wanted.
Sam had likely worn a similar expression earlier, after Michael had come down his throat. “Stop what?”
“Thinking. You have that look.” The grin faded. “Whatever you’re worried about, it will be okay.”
They paused at the corner and waited for the light. “I know. It’s not about us. I’m enjoying this, being with you. I’m just worried about the merger and what could go wrong. Three weeks is a long time.”
Michael chuckled. “It wasn’t when it came to finishing the release.”
Now that was true. Remarkable things could happen in three weeks. Or horrible ones.
The light changed. “You going to be able to behave yourself?” Sam couldn’t help teasing. What he said earlier was true. He’d be happy to shout from the rooftops that he was Michael Sebastian’s lover. But they’d have to be careful for the time being.
“I’m the very soul of discretion,” Michael said. “Most of the time.”
Sam snorted and took another sip of his coffee.
“You going to be okay?” From Michael’s tone of voice, Sam knew he meant coming out. Dealing with the past.
“Yeah. I’ll find someone to talk to. Get my shit together. About time I did, really.”
“Good.” Michael grinned before he put on a more professional smile.
They entered the rotating door of the hotel, and Sam slipped back into the role of CEO. “I believe Greta has some people she’d like you to meet.”
Michael nodded. “She said she’d join me here at nine to fill me in on the day.”
The lobby bustled with conference attendees. Sam glanced at his watch. Quarter ’til. They weren’t even late.
They weren’t, however, the first ones. William stood near the self-service coffee bar, stirring too many packs of sugar into his coffee. He looked up and his attention flicked between Sam and Michael, his expression unreadable.
Shit. Sam smoothed over his own features and took another draw on his coffee. The niggling voice in his brain screamed at him to step away from Michael.
You’re overreacting.William was an idiot with a big wallet and a knack for surrounding himself with people who had financial and business sense. There’s no way he’d have guessed there was anything between Sam and Michael other than work camaraderie. The worst accusation William had leveled at Sam was that he acted like a programmer.
Sam nodded to William.
William tossed his stirrer and joined them. “Should have come with us last night, Randell. You missed an amazing set of tits.”
William spoke loudly, turning a few heads. Sam tried not to wince. He didn’t dare look at Michael. “One more drink, and I’d have been asleep in the back of the joint. Glad you and the others had fun.”
