Chapter 32
CHAPTER 32
CALEB
I ’ve received a message from April letting me know the Wednesday meeting is a go. The local telephone tree has started spreading the word.
Wes pulls a face and asks why I’m bothering, especially when the building is in ruins. When he uncovered her lack of insurance, he was all for cutting her loose. It’s the reason I’m working around him. I’m tired of his shit, and I’m not sure how much more I can take. At least the board have come back in favour of Jaxson’s changes. The fire turned out to be a game changer, although Elana warned me, they have their eyes on me. Donald is still concerned about a scandal derailing everything.
I let myself into the apartment. It’s still early, as my last meeting was cancelled. I saw it as the perfect opportunity to escape, before Wes or any of the others could collar me.
I need to run. Not on my machine, but with the wind hitting my cheeks. Something I haven’t managed in a while.
“Hey, you’re home early.”
I jump, glancing at my watch guiltily. It’s just turned three. “So are you,” I add, turning around as April appears behind me. The breath leaves my body in a whoosh as I take in her tight leggings and toned abs, fully visible under her sports bra. There are definite advantages to arriving home early.
“We really must stop meeting like this,” I say, giving her the once over as she crosses her arms over her chest and scowls at me.
“Well, I was heading to the gym for a run,” she says, making to move past me.
“I’m heading to the park for a run myself. Want to join me?” I say before adding. “If you think you can keep up.”
April stops and spins on the spot, the gracefulness of the move reminding me of her job.
“I think it’s likely to be the other way around, Mr Corporate,” she sasses.
I bite the inside of my mouth to prevent the grin that threatens. I can’t be successful because April raises an eyebrow, and her hands move to her hips.
She is not aware of how sporty or competitive my siblings and I are. Elijah set his sights on the Olympics before life threw him a curve ball. Gabriel swims miles daily. I run and swim. Kat runs marathons. Only Harper is a mystery. I know she exercises, but no one is sure what her poison is, and she holds it close to her chest.
“Let me get changed.”
I pull off my suit jacket as I make my way upstairs. My bedroom is on the opposite side of the apartment to April’s.
I switch out of my office clothes and pull on my training gear. My heart rate rises in anticipation of what’s to come. I need to run. I always do when the politics overbear the corporate, and I need to clear my head. April is busy stretching when I make it downstairs. She holds out a bottle of water for me, keeping one for herself.
“Thanks,” I say, taking it off her. “Ready? ”
“You not stretching?” she asks, her brows furrowing.
“I’ll stretch when we get there,” I say.
She looks at me with an odd expression, and then clarity hits. “Please tell me you’re not having Mason drive us to the park?” she says, her tone incredulous.
I find myself unable to hold her gaze. “Er.”
“Stretch!” she says, continuing her own regime. I copy her moves, stretching out hamstrings, quads, glutes, calves. “Don’t forget your groin,” she says, stretching out her own. “I don’t want to be carrying you home.”
The word home on her lips sends an unexpected warmth through my body.
“You can tell Mason to stand down. We’re running to the park. I’ve worked out the back route, so we won’t be dodging pedestrians.”
“Lead the way,” I say, following her into the elevator, my eyes drawn to the smooth outline of her toned behind. The memory of how it felt to have her ass in my hands as I slammed into her, her moans echoing in my ear, comes storming back.
“Eyes up, Corporate,” she says, and I feel myself blush.
This is where I’m pleased my shorts are loose, and she can’t see the semi I’m now sporting.
We travel down in silence and make our way through reception. The staff greet both me and April. She’s made quite an impression. There are no airs and graces, and I find being around her and not having her expect anything from me refreshing.
As it’s still early, the pavements are quiet. April sets off, and I match her stride for stride. We run in silence, and before I know it, we hit the park.
We follow the trail, the greenery in contrast to the concrete of the rest of the city. We’re fortunate that several spaces have been established and protected for the population.
“Do you want to use the equipment?” she asks as we approach one of the first sets of built-in gym equipment. Her voice is steady. It’s like she’s not just run for twenty minutes solid.
“You?” I say, my voice not quite as steady. Outdoor running is not the same as the treadmill. Something I need to remember. I need to get home and run around the family estate like I did growing up. The fresh air of the New Forest is vastly different from that of a city filled with traffic.
“Two reps,” she says, grinning at me before making her way over to the body press.
I watch her sculpted muscles contract, my mouth becoming moist. She completes a set and gets up, making way for me. I sit down and take my turn before we switch again. This continues as we make our way around the park. Monkey bars, bench dips, bench presses. She matches me one-for-one. She teases and jests, making me laugh. It’s clear she’s in her element, and I love to see a more relaxed April. Another reminder of our night in New York, when she was carefree. I have not seen that part of her since, at least not until today.
She stops, and I narrowly avoid running into the back of her.
“Rain,” she says as the first large drops hit. She throws back her head and smiles at the sky. “I love running in the rain.”
I failed to notice the dark clouds coming in. Too distracted.
We continue running, the rain getting heavier and heavier, until we’re splashing through groundwater, droplets firing up and into the air .
“Come on,” she says, turning and grinning as she hits the street, leaving the park behind. Time to head home.
Lightning flashes overhead, followed by a rumble of thunder. People around us run for cover as the rain takes on another level of power. April’s hair is flattened to her head. My t-shirt and shorts have become a second skin.
Another flash and an instant rumble goes off. Lightning hits one of the nearby buildings, the crack deafening. I grab April’s wrist and pull her into an enclosed doorway.
“That’s too close,” I say, breathlessly.
She is also gasping for breath, but when she looks up, her eyes twinkle as large water droplets run down her nose. I don’t think she’s ever looked so beautiful.
Her eyes lock with mine, her chest heaving. I watch in fascination as her pupils dilate. A shiver runs through her, and I pull her into my arms, erasing the distance between us.
“What are you doing?”
“We’re soaking wet. I’m sharing body heat,” I say, looking down while manoeuvring her until her back is up against the wall.
Her lips part, drawing my eyes, a slight flush spreading over her skin.
“But we’re both wet, not sure how effective it will be,” she says, biting her bottom lip.
“I don’t know,” I say, pulling her closer, willing my body to behave itself but failing miserably. My fingers ache with the need to touch her. I have done for days. Having April Wilson in my space is torture.
I lower my head, my tongue snaking out, moistening my lips, water streaming down my face from my hair.
April lifts her chin, her breath quickening. I’m not sure who moves first as our mouths crash together. Her hands snake up behind my head, her fingers stroking the hair at the nape. I press myself against her, my desire obvious—and then she’s gone.
She rips herself out of my arms and sets off in the direction of the apartment. I call after her, but the sound of the rain drowns me out. I drop back against the wall, my head tipped back.
“Shit,” I say, knowing there’s no way I can chase after her in my current state.
I bend forward and try to get my breathing and body under control. When I’m finally able, I set off. Taking a steady jog back home, not wanting to pull any of my now cold muscles.
When I enter the apartment, I can’t see April, but I notice a pool of soaking clothes left inside the door on the tiles.
I groan. She stripped before heading upstairs, clearly wanting to protect my wooden floors. Who is this woman, and where has she been all my life? I’m not as conscientious, plus I don’t need her catching me in my boxers. Instead, I stand outside her room, dripping all over the floor. I can hear the shower running inside. A low moan echoes through the door, and my body hardens. The thought of her naked, her hands running over her smooth skin. I turn and make my way to my room. Stripping off my clothes and leaving them in a heap on the bathroom floor.
I step into the spray, groaning as I take my stiff cock in my hand. One hand smashes against the wall as I lean forward, my head and shoulders under the spray, my fist working my dick with desperation. I close my eyes, imagining it’s April’s hand and mouth. It doesn’t take long with those pictures in my mind before the telltale pressure builds. I throw back my head, moaning into the spray, hot cum spurting from my now tender dick. I shudder as my orgasm continues to rip through me, the water washing away the evidence .
I breathe deeply before washing myself off. I take my time, enjoying the warmth and post-orgasmic glow. When I finally make it downstairs, April is no longer in the apartment, her wet clothes are gone. A note telling me she has gone to see Samuel and that there’s food in the fridge for me should I want it.
I take it out, disappointed. I’ve enjoyed our evening meals together. I’m just hoping our little doorway incident hasn’t ruined it… that April isn’t running scared.