A Moment of Bliss

by Heather McGovern

  Her breath was a sharp inhale, before she let it out, shuddering in his arms.

  He sucked harder before gently closing his teeth over her. And she arched her back, pushing against his mouth, shifting her hips beneath him.

  Roark moved to her other breast, giving it the same attention. He kept at it until her fingers were in his hair, gripping his scalp. The cool distance of her work demeanor broke apart when they were like this. To say he didn’t love it would make him a damn liar. In fact, the difference between professional Madison and passionate Madison made it that much hotter.

  He moved lower, kissing the soft skin of her stomach, working at the zipper of her pants and tugging them off. Her high heels fell to the floor.

  He caught her hips and reached back, cupping her ass and lifting her up. Roark lowered his head between her legs, kissing her through her panties, breathing in her heat.

  “Oh. . . .” Madison’s hands moved helplessly through the air like lost butterflies, before landing on the duvet. She twitched and writhed in his arms, but he wasn’t letting her go anywhere. He held her hips in place, licking and sucking at the satin until she was soaking wet and her legs were trembling.

  “Roark . . . Roark.” She reached for his head.

  He hummed against her core.

  Her fingers curled into his hair, but suddenly she was wriggling free. He rose up, confused, until she shoved at her panties.

  Roark slid the thin straps off her hips and down her legs, tossing her panties aside. She worked at her bra as he all but jumped out of his shoes and crawled back onto the bed, shifting Madison across the bed until the top of her head was at the edge. She was spread out and lovely beneath him, warm and wanting.

  He’d wanted her since day one, spent days and days fighting it, and the last two trying to be patient. It would be too easy to rush this, give in to what he wanted, but the one thing he wanted more was to feel Madison fly apart against his tongue.

  “Come here,” he said, reaching for the band on her braided hair. “May I?”

  She hesitated. Her hair was never down when he was around, except once in the forest. He knew there was some reason she kept it up, maybe for work, but he loved seeing the waves around her face.

  Madison touched the end of her hair. “Okay.”

  Roark pulled the band free, threading his fingers through her hair, from the bottom to the top, until all of her hair fell loose in loops and waves, to brush the top of her shoulders.

  Finally, he let himself look at the rest of her. From the flush of color in her face, the spark in her bewitching eyes, the pert tips of her breasts, down to the strip of hair between her legs, she was better than anything he’d ever imagined. Madison, laid bare for him to see, lit a fire inside of him.

  He didn’t want to just have sex; he wanted her to experience mind-blowing pleasure with him, because of him. If this was all they’d have together, then he wanted it to be unlike anything else.

  Not just because Madison was beautiful and smart, but because—

  “Looking at me like that, I swear to god, Roark, if you don’t touch me soon, I’m going to die.” Madison’s voice shook with need.

  Roark caressed the length of her body as he eased between her legs, nudging her thighs wider with his shoulders. He kissed the inside of each thigh, the smooth skin of her legs brushing over his arms, then against his sides. He brushed the tips of his fingers up and down the soft folds, finding her wet and pink. He hadn’t seen her yesterday, only felt, but the sight of her stoked that fire until it became a twisting need.

  She lay spread before him and he was at once humbled and really fucking pleased about being here with her right now.

  He ran the back of his hand over her, brushing his knuckles against her cleft, up and down, until a shiver ran through her. He kissed her there, right at her core, and her thighs clamped against his sides.

  He licked and sucked, Madison’s body drawing tight around him, until she began to unwind with every brush of his tongue. He touched his thumb to the soft flesh, kissing and rubbing until her back arched and he knew he’d found the right place.

  Roark covered her with his mouth, a growl of satisfaction at the taste of her, another when she flexed her thighs in his grip and went back to grabbing at his hair.

  “More . . .” she ground out, tilting her hips, pressing herself against him.

  Her body arched like she was trying to sit up. “Where’d you learn—oh God.” She fell back against the bed and didn’t try to sit up again. She reached for his hair again, fingertips pressed against his scalp.

  He rumbled his approval against her flesh. She gasped and yanked his hair. “Yes. That.”

  Roark did it again. He did all of it again, over and over, sucking roughly at her clit. Madison writhed beneath him until her whole body tightened, legs squeezing him, fingers in his hair. She cried out as she trembled and pulsed against his mouth.

  He held on to her, soaking up every sensation, every bit of her climax, until her limbs flopped down, as if boneless.

  He eased up to see her face.

  “What. . . .” She squeezed her eyes shut and didn’t finish the question.

  Roark crawled up, kissing the smooth skin of her legs and stomach along the way, enjoying how she flinched and shivered at the touch. He propped himself up and waited as she barely shook her head, eyes still closed. “Seriously. What just happened?” She turned her head to look at him.

  “Was that okay for you?”

  Madison pushed him over onto his back, only a quick flash of a smile before her lips crashed into his. He brought her with him, pulling her half on top of him, wrapping his arms around her to hold her naked body against his.

  She leaned away, holding herself up with an arm on his chest. “You still have on too many clothes. That is not okay.”

  “Your fault. You didn’t undress me all the way.”

  She leaned over, kissing him again as she straddled his hips. Roark held her, opening to her kiss, giving as good as he got, relishing the way that Madison didn’t hold back. A little puff of frustration puckered her lips as she battled with his belt, getting it undone and tugging at his pants.

  “Lift your hips.” She slid back and jerked his pants down his legs, along with his boxers.

  His erection sprung up, very happy to be free. In true Madison fashion, she didn’t look away, lower her gaze, or bat her lashes. She didn’t hide her approving grin or the carnal flash in her eyes.

  It made him want her all the more.

  Chapter 14

  Roark pulled her down and kissed her again.

  Madison’s hesitations melted away, her earlier doubts gone; there was only him and now. She’d had her reasons for thinking they should wait, but those reasons were dust, blown away by the strength of what Roark made her feel.

  Beautiful and accepted exactly the way she was. And it made her free. Free to enjoy him and everything they did.

  She slanted her mouth over his and slipped her hand between his legs, brushing past the length of his cock to run her hand over his balls.

  He sucked in a breath, sharp enough to make her lean back and look down at him. “That okay for you?” She parroted his earlier question.

  As he managed to nod, she did it again, squeezing gently, and then wrapped her hand around him. She stroked the hard, smooth length of his cock, smiling at his every reaction.

  The more she touched him, the more lost to her touch he looked, and the more the pleasure bloomed inside of her.

  With her free hand, she reached for his face, cupping his jaw and rubbing her fingertips over his stubble.

  “I like your scruff,” she murmured. “It feels . . . nice. Especially just a minute ago.”

  Barely a huff of laugh escaped him, as she kept drawing pant after moan from him. She eased down his body and when she wrapped her lips around him, Roark went from breathing heavily to not breathing at all.

  Peeking up, she could see him. He bit his lips hard, pinch
ing his eyes closed.

  “Fuck.” He exhaled.

  She wasn’t gentle or teasing in her touch or with her mouth. She licked and sucked and took. Roark quivered and shook beneath her, muttering encouragements until some choice profanity fell from his lips.

  “You . . .” He waved a hand at her, attempting to sit up.

  She stopped but kept one hand wrapped around him. “What?”

  “You have to stop.” He held himself up with one arm.

  Madison tilted her head to the side. “You sure about that?”

  He held his body so tight, he looked like he’d pop. “I’m—yeah. I’m not going to last if you keep doing that.”

  “Maybe, but you did this to me. Twice. I intend to have the same effect.” Madison leaned to the side, her leg draped over his, brushing the fine hairs on his thigh with her fingertips.

  He grabbed the hand she danced along his thigh and pulled her forward, kissing her. “You’re having the same effect. Trust me.” He rolled against her so his erection, the proof of her effectiveness, was trapped between them. “But I want to be inside you. I’m not eighteen anymore. You keep up with that and . . .” Roark gave her a knowing look.

  She tucked her face into the crook of his neck. “God, I want to too, but I don’t have a condom—”

  “I do.” Roark released her and rolled off the bed. He dug through their clothes and into his pants for his wallet. He stood, triumphant, a foil square in his hand.

  Madison smiled at the view. She couldn’t help it. Sex with Roark was amazing and titillating and everything sex should be. There was no undercurrent of pressure. She was free.

  “Amusement is not what I’m going for right now.” He attempted to look stern in all his naked glory.

  She grabbed his forearm, tugging him back onto the bed. “You know I’m not laughing at you. It’s just . . . I’m happy.”

  Roark knelt beside her on the bed and rocked back on his heels, studying her. With his stormy-sky eyes, he saw her. More than she’d shown anyone.

  “I’m happy too,” he said.

  Her nerves buzzed with so much of what she kept hidden being slowly exposed. She didn’t want him to know it all, but there was relief in his understanding a little.

  She reached for him, continuously drawn in by the paradox of the no-bullshit businessman and the blithe, playful man.

  Their kiss was languid, unhurried, like they had all night to explore. And in truth, they did.

  Madison took the foil from his hands, helping him roll the condom on before pushing at his shoulder. She kept shoving until he lay down.

  Roark stretched out on the bed beneath her, giant cat-who-got-the-cream smile on his face.

  Madison stroked him once more before climbing up to straddle his hips. His hands were a warm, solid reassurance as he caressed her thighs, her hips, her waist.

  She rose above him, using her hand to guide him against her core.

  Roark’s slow, contented inhale made her gaze lock with his.

  “Damn,” he said, reaching up to brush her hair back over her shoulder. “You’re even more beautiful like this.”

  Madison eased down on him, inch by inch, pressing into him until he was deep inside her. The stretch was a tingling need for movement, for friction.

  She leaned down to kiss Roark, rocking her hips back and shivering with the pleasure.

  “Good?”

  Madison hummed against his lips. She kissed his jaw, the slight stubble tickling her lips.

  Roark tilted her chin back, kissing and sucking along her neck, just the way she liked.

  She rocked back and forth again and again, searching for the rhythm and motion that would make her body sing.

  Roark shifted beneath her. Holding on to her waist, he planted his feet, knees bent behind her, his hips tilted. He rocked into her, counterpoint to her movement, and the effect made her grab at his chest.

  “Sit up a little,” he said, his voice gravelly, sounding as needy as she felt.

  She held herself up, just enough, with both of her hands on his chest, pressing back against him and rolling her hips.

  With each roll, he thrust into her, the friction and force exactly what and where she needed.

  “Dear . . . god.” She moaned, curling her fingers into his flesh.

  “Yeah.” He ground out the words in response, gripping her hips tighter.

  Madison tossed her head back, grinding down on him with all the strength her thighs and abs could muster.

  He thrust into her, the bed shifting back and forth with their efforts. Madison held on, feeling the tension build once more in her spine.

  “Yes . . . Like that.”

  Below her, the sweat on Roark’s brow and over his body made him glow. Life was unfair, that he looked that good when sweaty. Mixed with the flush that crept over his cheeks and down his neck, coloring the top of his chest, he was absolutely edible.

  How could he be so strong and capable but also so delicious that she wanted to devour him? “I’m gonna—”

  Roark nodded stiffly, his jaw already clenching. “Fuck yeah, me too.”

  With his words, her orgasm hit her, fast and fully. No slow rise this time, but a blast of pleasure so unexpected she cried out, pinching her eyes shut.

  In a haze, she managed to open them and watch Roark come. The line etched between his brows, the look of pure bliss on his face. Even as he rode the last waves of his orgasm, still pulsing inside of her, he pulled her down on top of him and kissed her long and deep and so thorough, she knew. One night with Roark would never be enough.

  * * *

  Roark went to the bathroom to clean up, then slid back in bed with her, curling on his side to mirror her position. “Hey.”

  “Hey.” She tucked the blanket around her, snuggling down, reminding herself to relax. She wanted to be here with him and if he wanted pillow talk, she should be able to handle it.

  Maybe.

  Better to keep it light though. To talk about what just happened not only meant talking about what just happened, but what if it jinxed the whole thing?

  What they had was too good to risk jinxing. They were happy, enjoying each other, and he still found her appealing. Too much talking, too much digging around in the life and times of Madison Kline, and all of that would end.

  She was pleased they hadn’t waited, but the possibility of this going further for longer, left her at a loss.

  “I’m glad we didn’t wait until after the wedding is over. I think another couple of weeks would’ve been pretty . . .” He didn’t finish the thought.

  “Yeah,” she answered, unsure of what to say but knowing she had to say something. “And I . . . I don’t think this will affect our work or anything.” She was trying to convince herself as much as him.

  “No. Of course not.” He didn’t sound so sure either.

  “We’ve got a lot of the work out of the way, and stuff, and . . . we won’t let this interfere.” In truth, she wasn’t worried about the work. The event would be spectacular. She was worried about them, and how she should behave around someone she was working with and sleeping with. This wasn’t what she did. The few lovers she’d had over the years weren’t men in her life. They were dates, easily compartmentalized and then brushed away if they wanted too much.

  “Have you ever . . . ?” Madison slowly raised her eyebrows.

  Roark mirrored her expression. “Have I ever what?”

  “Have you ever had sex with someone you do business with?”

  “No!” He shook his head. “I don’t normally—this isn’t something I—no. The answer is no.”

  “Me either. This isn’t how I carry on.” Her foot brushed against his ankle, and she left it there.

  “Yeah. But like you said, it won’t be a problem.”

  “No, of course not.”

  “And it won’t mess with what we’re doing. Daily operations and your planning, everything; it will be business as usual.”

  She stopped w
ith her foot on his calf. “So . . . you think this is something we should continue to do, right” Anyone else might not have to ask, because they’d know. But she wasn’t anyone. The casual confidence with which some people carried on affairs and even relationships was foreign. She understood doing everything for herself and being by herself. Navigating a tryst with a business partner? She didn’t have a clue.

  Roark worked his jaw. “Well . . . yeah. I want to. Don’t you?”

  She smiled, relief washing over her, warming her like sunshine on a cold day. She slid her foot back down to slip it under his ankle. “Very much.”

  Roark moved his feet to capture hers between his ankles.

  She struggled to pull her foot free, and he laughed at her fruitless effort. “That’s cheating. Let my foot go.”

  “Only if we’re done talking. I can’t concentrate with your knee rubbing up my thigh. That is cheating.”

  She let her mouth fall open. “I was not rubbing your thigh.”

  “When your foot is halfway up my leg, what do you think is happening with the rest your leg?”

  Madison reached over and pinched him, giddy that she’d survived their talk without botching things up.

  Roark cried foul as he rolled over and pinned her beneath him. “What if I pinched you?”

  “Don’t you dare.”

  He laughed, holding himself up on one arm.

  “You’re not going to move, are you?”

  “Nope.” He brushed her hair back over the pillow.

  She never let her hair down in front of anyone, not anymore. But his reaction to it was unmistakable. “You like my hair like this.” It wasn’t a question, but she studied his face, waiting for his response.

  “I like your hair, period. I thought the braid tonight was very hot, but then I wasn’t sure if that was leftover horniness from this morning, or if braids were really that hot and I’d never noticed.”

  Madison bumped his leg with hers.

  “I’m being serious,” he argued. “I like it up too.”

  “Good thing, because I never wear it down while working.”

  He nodded, gazing down, giving her plenty of time to say more.