I’ve been a part of a dozen or more large client deals, but this feels different. This is real money, like personal-ish money, with a building and business changing hands. This is a lot of pressure, but I seem to be the only one freaking out on the inside and I don’t have a proverbial dog in the fight or a dollar that’s being spent. Everyone else is cool, calm, and dare I say collected, to finish out the idiom.
After the second look from Jax, I tuck my hands under my legs to stop myself from fidgeting and picking at my nails. Sammie sits and moves with such calm grace, so I try to imitate her, to exude the power she has. Literally, she walks into a room and you can almost feel the gust of wind that plows in after her, smacking you in the face. I walk in, and it's like pew, pew. Like the amount of wind you get from having a butterfly flap its wings in your face. Butterfly meet Pterodactyl.
Fuck.
I nearly laugh out loud at the latest smut trend I was seeing pop up on my feed. Dinosaur smut, and now all I can think about is a having sex with a pterodactyl or perhaps a Jurassic night at Allure. I cover my mouth and clear my throat. My go to for embarrassing moments, or if I need to stop laughing during meetings, I take a sip or sixteen of water. Effective for covering smiles and laughs.
Sammie inquires how the night went and our, mostly the guys, thoughts about how it looked. The changes. They discussed finances, and I tried to hold my shit together when they were talking about annual revenues and expected projections for the balance of the year, as well as for the next two to five years.
Fuckin’ aye, sex really sells.
They talk some more about future plans, expansions to both the property and expanding to Texas potentially, and lots of other things, all casual. At the end, Callum hands Sammie a folder, which she immediately hands to Davis without looking at it, then stands up.
“Thank you so much for the time and the conversation. I will have our lawyers look over the offer and let you know.” She reaches out to shake everyone’s hand before turning to leave, then pauses when she gets to the door. “Everlee. Would you walk me out?” She glances at the boys, who all have furrowed brows, but don’t speak up.
I stumble over my words, then agree, running over to meet her.
When we step through the door, Davis paces two steps behind us and she links her arm in mine. “Darling,” she coos in a soft and silky voice. “These men seem to adore you and want you included. Do not be nervous, do not be shy. Take the place you have earned by their side.”
I look up at her, shocked.
“They are men of power, yet they treat you as an equal. Own that darling. Few men will. Often times they’re too scared of looking inferior to a strong woman and will continue to oppress and belittle you to make themselves stand taller. These men, from what I can see, are confident in every aspect of their lives. So I say again. Take your seat at the table and never back down. They clearly see your worth and value, so you need to as well. You’re welcome to come to Allure anytime I’m there or call me and I’ll be happy to teach you and give you the confidence.”
“To be a domme?”
She laughs, like I just told a funny joke at tea time, whilst eating a crumpet or two. “Darling. If you’d like to be a domme that will take time, I’m simply talking about confidence.”
When we get to the door, Davis runs around and opens it for us - her. She pauses, pulling her arm out of mine. “It was lovely getting to chat with you. I look forward to any future chats we may have. Ta-ta.”
“Ta-,” I start then stop, “Good bye.”
I close the door, then press my head against it. She’s like a sorceress, weaving her fingers through my mind to control me. I was close to saying yes ma’am, a few times and then damn near said ta-ta at the end like I’m some sort of English aristocrat. I don’t know if that’s what they say, but they might and that’s what I’m going off of right now.
EMMETT – LEOPARD PRINT THONGS AND DONGS
Fifteenafterfour.Lizzyand Tony are going to be here in fifteen minutes and the baked beans aren’t finished yet, potato salad still needs to be mixed and the hamburgers. Shit! Where are the hamburgers?
I throw open the fridge and shuffle through all the shelves and drawers in a slight panic.
“What’s going on in here?” Everlee asks walking in wearing a white eyelet dress with puffy lace sleeves. Her hair is put up in a sloppy bun on her head and she looks damn delectable. I don’t know what you call them. Fashion was never my strong suit. The fact I know it’s an eyelet is amazing and really, that’s only because she was running around the house earlier yelling something about finding her eyelet dress. Last night, Knox was in her room and I think he thought it’d be funny if he hid it from her. But Everlee, being the cunning little fox she is, started crying, saying that it used to be her mother's and she wears it on this day every year… it’s a tradition yada yada… Knox felt bad and gave it back to her. She wiped her crocodile tears away, popped up, and slipped it on in the middle of the living room. When Knox went to apologize, she told him she was kidding and then threatened him for future shenanigans.
Knox was dumbfounded and the rest of us were rolling on the floor laughing.
He’s potentially met his match with her. We all have in some way or another. It’s interesting to sit back and watch the family dynamic now that she’s here and how she molds to each of us so completely, yet so differently. If I was a religious man, I’d say she was created for us, because that’s the only thing that could explain how perfect she truly is.
Her arms wrap around my waist and I feel a calmness surround me. When I turn in her arms and hug her back, she presses her cheek against my chest. “I can’t find my hamburgers. I marinated them and was ready to roll them into patties, but the meat is all gone.”
“Not the meat,” she teases. “I do love meat, especially yours.”
I chuckle, rubbing my hand over the top of her shoulder, knocking her sleeve off.
“Emmett,” she warns cautiously, her eyes meeting mine. Her pupils are completely blown and her breath is shallow. God, I fucking love this woman. Always so eager and ready to take and give. My cock twitches in my pants, even though I know it’s not the right time.
“What? I’m not going to do anything,” I say, leaning in and planting a kiss on her neck.
“Emmett.” She fidgets her hands pressing up against my chest, but not pushing me away.
“I hear you,” I say, trailing kisses down her collarbone.
