Between the Lanterns(43)
Once again, August wondered if he was making the right decision to sell his invention to this global network of crooks and monsters. He had sounded so confident when talking to Samantha about this in his workshop, but that was more to put her mind at ease. Inside, he still felt guilty about the thought of taking Credit and living like a king while Montek took his hard work and put their dirty signature all over it.
“No, Mr. Stevens,” August said, trying to hide his disgust. “I will not be sellin’ you Woodrow. I’ve told you that won’t happen.”
Joshua Stevens’s voice went from happy to irritated in an instant, as he heaved an enormous sigh and grunted in reply, “Then why have you tied up my line and wasted my time, Mr. Lurie? I have a business to run.”
“You mean stealin’ other people’s ideas and passin’ them off as Montek’s original inventions?” August let slip, immediately regretting the words, as he was trying to get Mr. Stevens on his side temporarily.
“Mr. Lurie, go fu…”
Before Mr. Stevens could finish that thought, August interrupted and said, “I’m sorry that was rude of me, Mr. Stevens. I do have somethin’ to discuss with you. Somethin’ that I think you’ll be very interested in. I know it’s somethin’ that Montek would love to get a hold of.”
Joshua’s attitude changed to positive once more as he replied, “Well, now. I am interested. I’ll be at your shop tonight. Will 7 pm work for you?”
“Mr. Stevens,” August said, sounding confused, “don’t you even want to hear about it? You have no clue what it is I am tryin’ to sell you.”
“Look, August,” Mr. Stevens said, “I won’t bullshit you. If it’s something you came up with, then I am going to want it. And if I want it, Montek wants it. I’ll see you at 7:00.”
Joshua disconnected the call without another word.
Samantha snuck up behind her husband who was standing in between the lanterns just staring at his cellphone in a confused silence. She had overheard a little of his side of the conversation and knew that he had been talking to that thief Joshua Stevens. It bothered her that they had to deal with him. It bothered her that they were going to deal with Montek at all. But it was for the best. The Credit Montek would pay for the SameSoul would cover any expense the Lurie family ever had for the rest of their lives.
She put her arms around August’s waist and whispered in his ear, “Sweets, I was just getting rid of some old clothes, and I found some pretty sexy underwear. I need your help to decide whether to keep it or not.”
August had not heard his wife walk in and jumped at her touch. Once he recovered and turned around, he had to do a double take… giving Samantha a once-over from top to bottom, taking in every inch of her body. To his surprise, she was not wearing any sexy underwear for him to look at.
“Uh… what sexy underwear, babe?” he asked, his mouth going dry and his pulse quickening. “You’re nekkid as a jay bird.”
“Oops. Whatever shall we do now?” she pushing her body against August.
Her husband ran his calloused hands up and down her silky smooth skin. The juxtaposition of his rough, dark complexion against her soft, tanned skin always made him smile. He smelled her long, black hair, and the aroma combined with the touch of her naked body made him instantly hard. In between the lanterns, he looked at his wife and smiled.
“I have a few ideas,” he told her, “but you’re gonna have to sign a waiver.”
Samantha pushed back from him with a crooked grin on her face, and feigning shock, said, “A waiver, sweets? Whatever for?”
August spun her around and pushed her towards the dinner table in a rush, and answered, “I can’t be held responsible for how quickly this will be over. You’re butt nekkid and sexier than anyone has any right to be. I just don’t want you gettin’ all angry at me for finishin’ before you do.”
Samantha put her hand under his shirt and ran her fingernails up and down his back. August groaned and pulled her tighter to him.
She grabbed his face in both of her hands, and in a stern voice said, “I’ll sign yours, as long as you sign mine, which states you must use any means necessary to make amends, sweets.”
At that, August picked her up, placed her on the table, and stripped naked as fast as he could. Samantha put her feet on top of the table, making it easy for him. She bit at his lip as he worked. August braced himself on the table’s edge with his hands, pushed with his feet for strength, using his hips for the intricate movements. Back and forth. Over and over.
After a while, Samantha realized that her husband had lied to her, as she finished long before he did. August was untiring, more so than he had been in a long time. More so than her husband had ever been, if truth be told.
Samantha came again and shrieked in triumph. She grabbed onto her husband and urged him to go faster and harder, wanting him to feel that same moment of pure joy. He finally did, and then fell onto his wife. Sam held him, both of them gasping for air and smiling as they tried to move, but couldn’t. Eventually, August pushed himself up just enough to kiss the love of his life. She held onto his face while they shared each other’s oxygen. It lasted for as long as either could stand before they broke apart. The lanterns hovered in the air, slowly changing from warm to cool colors. They rotated around the table, creating a calming effect.