Merger to Marriage (Boardrooms and Billi - By Addison Fox Page 0,7
body tight and fitted to hers. “Now.”
The rush of want and need, passion and pleasure, gripped them both. And as Mayson rode the pleasure, she knew she’d never regret this night.
Chapter Two
TWO MONTHS LATER
Mayson changed the resolution on her computer screen, amping up a sepia wash that bathed the image before her in a warm glow. She sat back with a satisfied smile and rubbed a kink out of her neck. The color had done exactly what she’d hoped, slightly dulling the photo’s background while adding an ethereal glow to the actress staring back from the screen. The actress’s pose, one of over five hundred they’d captured, reminded her of lazy mornings spent in bed with a lover, which only served to send her mind straight back to the one person she’d diligently avoided thinking of since her sister’s wedding.
Holt.
Without the slightest effort, sense memories assailed her. She felt the heavy pads of his fingers as he ran the tips of them down her spine. Felt those same fingers curl around her hip before drifting lower to cup the heat between her thighs.
No matter how many times she tried to pull herself back—to remind herself it was a moment in time and nothing more—the slightest thing had her mind racing back to those long hours before dawn she’d shared with Holt.
“Are you all right?”
Keira rushed across Mayson’s office like the carpet was on fire, snapping Mayson from the image of Holt’s arms.
“I’m fine.” She made a point to glance back at her oversized computer screen before looking up again. “Why?”
“You look awfully pale.”
“Just because you’re still gloriously tanned from two weeks in Tahiti followed by weekends at your beach house doesn’t mean the rest of us should be mocked for it.”
Her stomach did bother her, Mayson acknowledged to herself, now that she’d been fully dragged back into the here and now. She ignored the slight upset and vowed to cut back on the coffee. Her third cup had already gone cold at her elbow and she thought better of taking a sip.
“But are you sure you’re all right?”
“Keira, I’m fine. Really. It’s just been a busy couple weeks.” She pointed to the layout on her screen. “Take a look, though. The work’s been incredible lately.”
Her sister walked around the desk and Mayson flipped from the image she’d been toying with to the one they’d chosen for the cover. They’d managed to land the hottest starlet in Hollywood for the cover of their women’s magazine, and the photographer’s work on the shoot had been inspired.
“What is she dressed in?”
“Body paint.” Mayson pointed out some fine detail on the photo. “But unlike everyone else who has ever done body paint, she’s blended into a live-action background that changes. We’ve got a video we’re matching up to it with the issue online and on tablets.”
“It’s gorgeous.”
“Her publicist thinks so, too, and already has the cover leaked to the morning programs. This one’s going to fly off the shelves.”
Keira gave her a quick hug. “Beautiful work. And further evidence of why you are our head of design. You’ve got the eye, little sister.”
Mayson sat back in her chair and offered up a triumphant smile. “Thanks.”
“What else have you been working on?”
A quick glance at her calendar open beside her had her groaning as she pointed. “Take a look.”
“That’s impressive. Although, I don’t know why you bother to write it down. It’s all up here.” Keira tapped against her forehead.
“I like to be prepared.”
Keira followed the touch with a quick kiss. “I know. I also know you’ve been working way too hard lately.”
“I like what I’m doing.”
The words were out—part defense, part truth—and Mayson reached for her computer screen to turn it back around. The move kept her hands busy and her eyes averted, and she hoped it would be enough to get Keira to drop the subject.
“It doesn’t mean you don’t need rest now and again.”
Mayson sighed, wondering why she ever thought her pit bull sister would drop anything. Instead, she offered up a quick smile and a lot of cheeky attitude. “What’s the matter? You afraid I’m eyeing the CEO’s seat?”
“Like I could tear you away from your photos and layouts for that to happen.”
“You never know.”
A knock at the door had them both turning, and Mayson was secretly grateful for the interruption of her other sister, Camryn. “Come in. Please. Our all-business-all-the-time CEO is giving me a hard time.”
“I thought vacation was supposed to chill you out,” Camryn, their middle sister and