A Moment of Bliss (13 page)

Roark refilled her glass. “You know, you're supposed to savor the wine.”

“I'm aware.” She bit off the words.

When Wright and Dev reappeared with main-dish options, Wright set down the first plate, announcing, “This is the stuffed trout special. In my opinion, a must-have.”

Roark tossed his head back and laughed. “Oh, you
have
to serve trout to the Trout.”

Madison was too busy trying not to choke on her wine to respond.

“Try these too, though.” Devlin pointed to the other plates on the table. “The fillet is the best you'll have. That's my vote for the menu. Better than a chicken option.”

Roark cut into the steak. “You would favor the priciest dish.”

“Because it's the best dish,” Devlin argued.

“I love steak too. It's definitely on the menu.” Madison regarded Roark as she cut a bite for herself. She wasn't taking Devlin's side because she loved steak—she did—but to squash a pointless spat before it began.

She knew the two of them cared about each other, but she could also tell their constant competition was born of some need to be accepted and respected by the other.

Roark might not realize it, but the brotherly antagonizing didn't go one way. He pushed Devlin's buttons as much as Dev did his.

“See?” Devlin asked as they both chewed.

“We'll let you guys finish,” Wright interjected, tugging at Devlin's arm.

They sampled a bit of everything, but her mind was made up and Roark agreed.

By the time Devlin and Wright returned she was full, and confident this wedding would have the most well-fed guests in rock and roll history. “Definitely the steak and trout for the seated reception.” Madison pointed to the risotto and vegetable dish and a Portobello kabob. “The vegetarian options for sure. We'll need one both nights.”

“And the hors d'oeuvres?”

Roark handed over both notepads. “Here's what we voted for.”

“Any suggestions?”

“No.” Madison was adamant. “Everything here is perfect, and whatever sides you choose to go with, I trust you.”

Wright looked like she'd given him a Michelin star. “Are you sure?”

“I'm positive.”

Dev elbowed him, looking delighted.

“O-okay. I'll jot down what I'm going to make though and give you the list tomorrow. Just in case.”

“Can we get you guys anything else? Dessert? More wine?”

“No,” they said in unison.

Wright and Dev cleared the plates away, leaving Madison, Roark, and the rest of the wine.

As Roark would say,
cool
. She could do this. All she needed was a work topic.

Roark provided the opportunity. “I don't think Wright grasps the concept that you're going to love whatever he comes up with. Including side dishes. He's insecure that way, so you'll have to approve his list.”

“I will. And thank you for thinking of him for the wedding cake. If that works out, then I'm down to just a few items and then it's all logistics.”

“So, do you want to go for another run tomorrow?” Roark asked before taking another sip of wine.

Madison held his gaze, refusing to let him win this little game he played. She was going to stick with her plan and ignore the thick, strong leg pressed against hers, the heat seeping through fabric to warm her skin.

“I don't know. Why?”

“It's good exercise. Actually, I was thinking, after all that food, I could use a walk. Tonight.”

She wasn't sure if he meant a “walk” or a walk. Either way, she already knew, if he asked, she wouldn't say no. She didn't want to say no. Even with what this deal meant, as nervous as the prospect of letting him in made her, and as much as her career needed this wedding to be her total focus, everything within her wanted
him
.

“You want to go?”

Madison's chair screeched across the floor as she shoved it back to stand. “What do you think?”

Roark slid his chair back and stood, holding out his arm so she could lead the way out of the restaurant. Once out the door, he headed outside onto the veranda. She let him lead the way down the stairs and onto a path that wound around to the back gardens of Honeywilde. Her short heels wobbled on the pea gravel and Roark offered his arm. Madison stared at him rather than take it.

“I don't want you to fall. The last thing I need is you on crutches.”

She tucked her hand under his arm, holding on to him. Roark had no idea how rare this was—as in, never—or what it meant that she was letting him
lead
her anywhere. Before, hell would've frozen over before she'd let a man lead her on a nighttime stroll. Now, here she was.

Roark slid his arm down to hold her hand, gently squeezing it before stepping off the pea-gravel path, in-between a row of lily greens, and onto the firm ground.

“This will be easier on your shoes,” he said, but he didn't let go of her hand.

Sex was one thing, holding hands was totally different. One was straightforward and she could do it and focus on the physical pleasure and
only
the pleasure; the other led to an elaborate maze of emotions she wasn't equipped to handle. Messy and complicated and something she'd never succeeded in.

Why she was allowing this to happen, she had no idea.

They wandered about twenty feet off the path, to a clearing that led to the sandy beach and swimming area of Lake Anikawi. She glanced up to find the moon full and round in the clear sky, the light reflecting off the water in bright ripples.

“Wow,” she breathed.

“I know.”

The moon shone on them like a spotlight, like the universe shining a light on them, as if to say
Look what you're doing, Madison. You're doing the very thing you swore you'd never do again. And you're fully aware you're doing it. So don't get mad when it blows up in your face again.

She was on a moonlit stroll, with a man who went from smelling like cookies to evergreens and earth. The kind of guy who could keep her warm in the middle of an ice storm, pulled out chairs, and liked to touch her hair. What the hell was wrong with her?

She closed her eyes and muttered a curse.

“What?” Roark turned, looking concerned. “You okay?”

“I'm fine.” She wasn't fine, she was an idiot. An idiot standing there, studying his face, the straight nose, the strong jaw held tight, wondering how strange it'd feel to look around in a couple of weeks and not see him there. “You said you wanted to walk. We aren't walking.”

He grinned, rocking back on his heels to glance at the ground. “Like you didn't know that was an excuse to get you out of the restaurant and somewhere private.”

He finally looked down at her, that mischievous glint in his eyes.

“You're awful.” She went to drop his hand but couldn't. Because she didn't want to. This wouldn't end well, it never did, but what if she enjoyed it for now? Being with Roark, however short the time might be, promised to be amazing in so many ways. What if she allowed herself at least that much? A moment to experience bliss.

“I told you I wasn't doing so great at behaving,” he said.

“Are you even trying?”

Roark tilted his head. “Sort of?” His voice was a self-deprecating plea. Strapping guy, oozing self-assuredness but attempting to look pathetic. The tactic wasn't working.

This time, Madison tugged him forward. “You say that, but you attempted to feed me from your fork, rubbed your legs against mine under the table, and are taking me on a moonlit walk.”

“No, see, when I say I'm trying, I mean I'm trying to seduce you. I'm no master of seduction, but rubbing my leg against yours and attempting to feed you are indications of my sexual interest, to emulate what we did this morn—”

Madison put her hand on his chest to stop him. “I know why you're doing it. You don't have to explain.”

He dipped his chin, with a slow sweep of his lashes like he'd done the day they met, before he grinned. The devilish boy underneath the layers of responsible gentleman.

“Stop. Don't look at me like that.”

“Is my attempt at seduction working?” Roark stepped closer.

“You're ridiculous.”

“Answer the question. Is it working?”

It was working way too well.

He pulled her close, placing a hand on the small of her back, his warmth surrounding her, engulfing her senses.

“Are we going to dance now? I thought you weren't a romantic.”

“Believe me, I am not trying to dance with you. Can't dance worth a damn. I was thinking about kissing you though.”

Madison looked up at him. Playfulness lit his eyes. She wondered if the same light filled her, because giddiness was a good look on him. She liked seeing it there, some of the seriousness peeling away to reveal the heart of someone who wanted to be happy in the moment.

Her resolve was already in tatters, and Roark's longing look, the palpable need to throw everything into the night sky and live, finally broke her.

To hell with caution and to hell with fear stopping her from having so much as a taste of life.

Madison licked her lips. “Stop thinking about kissing me and do it.”

R
oark kissed her and she opened to him immediately. Petal soft and as perfect as he remembered. He sucked on her bottom lip, releasing it long enough to murmur, “I thought about you all day. About doing this.”

“Me too.” She pulled him down again. This time, the rough slide of her tongue luring him closer. She tucked her body against his and looped her arms around his neck.

He took advantage, running his hands down her back, over her hips. Madison was tall, and firm with lean muscle. All softness reserved for her lips, the slight swell of her hips and curve of her breasts, her round bottom.

He eased one hand lower, brushing over her ass, murmuring his compliments.

“It's nowhere near as awe inspiring as yours,” she said, smiling.

Roark chuckled, dipping his head, his mouth to her ear to whisper, “I beg to differ.”

He cupped a hand against her face, stroking his thumb along her jaw until she relaxed, tilting her chin back. Down the line of her throat and over her skittering pulse, he followed the path of his thumb with his lips, leaving a trail of kisses. Low on her throat, he breathed her in and kissed the tender skin, before sucking and biting gently.

“Roark?” Madison dug her fingers into his arm, holding on.

“Yeah?”

“I don't want to wait to be with you.”

He leaned away just enough to look at her. “Me either. What do you say we ditch that plan? Try for new and improved.”

She laughed, the full one that she usually hid behind her hand, except this time she didn't.

“If we go back in through reception, we'll probably run into Sophie and get the look.”

“And Devlin and Wright if we take the veranda,” she added.

He shook his head, looking around. “I've got it.” He took her hand and led her back through the lily rows and onto the pea-gravel path, until they stepped onto the inn's lower patio.

“The basement?” she asked.

“There are rooms down here, remember? And it's entirely vacated now that Trevor's gone.” He tipped over every potted plant on the patio until he found the spare key.

Madison reached for him as soon as he was within reach, tugging him forward by the front of his shirt.

Roark leaned in, taking her mouth with his. Madison's soft exhale was probably the closest she'd ever come to acquiescence. The force of that will was one of the things he liked most about her.

He kissed her softly, meaning to keep it that way. Keep it light and playful, and easy enough to back away from, but then a little sound rose in her throat. The same sound as this morning, and it was his undoing.

Roark pulled Madison into him, pressing her to the glass door as he parted her lips and kissed her in all the ways he'd fantasized about all day. Her fingers curled into his shirt, clutching him close, her lips and tongue hot against his.

He managed to break away long enough to get the door open and they stumbled into the basement level of the inn. In the pitch dark, it should've been a bit drafty and creepy, but all he felt was Madison.

She clung to his arm, her body snug against him, the warmth from her kisses lingering on his lips. He stole one more kiss, something to think about while he tried to find the damn light switch.

He held on to her with one hand and patted along the wall with the other. His fingertips brushed the switch and he flicked it up, two floor lamps on either side of a huge sectional sofa slowly brightening.

“Welcome to the unused floor.”

She stepped toward him, brushing her fingertips against the front of his shirt. “Aka, somewhere to go that doesn't include going upstairs and bumping into your family.”

Roark reached up to touch her cheek, cool from the night air. He tucked his hand under her chin, tilting it up just that little bit more. “Think this will do?”

Madison pressed her lips to his. She tickled the seam with the tip of her tongue until tendrils of want, hot and thick like flame, licked through his body, making him groan.

She smiled at his reaction. Cupping the back of her head, he took her mouth, no tickling or teasing. He buried the promise of everything he wanted into it. All he wanted to do to her, everything he wanted her to do to him, searing her onto his brain so it'd be enough to last long after tonight.

He had to break away to catch his breath, and she leaned with him, breathing just as heavily.

“Is th . . . ?” Madison cleared her throat and tried again. “Is that an empty guest room?” She pointed to the door behind him.

Roark caught his breath. “Yes.”

“Thank god.”

He led the way, shoving open the door and turning on a floor lamp. The room was neat and nondescript, clean and never used. He hadn't even thought about this hideaway as an option until their moonlight walk.

Madison stepped around him and backed toward the bed, that provocative smile on her lips. “This is already better than a patch of grass.”

He followed until they bumped against the edge of the bed. She leaned back as he kissed her, tugging him forward by his tie so they both fell. They bounced once, his heart thumping in his ears, his body buzzing with anticipation.

He eased his way up the bed, strong enough to scoot Madison up with him and kneel over her thighs.

“You look so pleased right now.” Her eyes twinkled and shined.

He jerked at the knot in his tie. “You have no idea.”

“Has it been awhile?” She sat up and moved his hand away, working the knot open so she could slide the tie from around his neck.

“I . . .” Roark shrugged as she started on the buttons of his shirt, her gaze intent on his. “Yes, but that's not why I'm so pleased. I'm here with you. That's why.”

She glanced away, too fast for him to see the words register. When she turned back, her expression was carefully serene. “How is it even possible that it's been awhile for you?”

“Work, I guess, and life? I don't get out a lot? I don't know.”

Madison reached for his cuff links, deft in unclasping them before pushing the shirt off his shoulders and down his arms. She tugged at his undershirt and slipped her hands beneath to brush at the sensitive skin low on his abs.

He flinched, bowing forward and capturing her hands to hold them in place. “That tickles.”

“I know.” She grinned. “I'll stop if you take the shirt off.”

Roark tugged at the back of his undershirt, pulling it over his head.

“You're a hot guy though, and not a creep,” Madison blurted.

He tossed his shirt aside and reached for the soft knit of Madison's sweater. “Thank you, but you know how it is. If you're busy, it's hard to . . .”

He had to tread carefully here. A phrase like
find someone
was the kind of heavy wording that'd make Madison shut down. Holding his hand on a night stroll had been a big step for her, he could tell. He wasn't going to push too hard, so he settled on warm but neutral. “Work makes it hard to meet someone you mesh with.”

She studied him, looking deep into his eyes as he finally got the little bastard buttons of her sweater undone. “Yeah.” She glanced away. “I don't mesh well in general.”

“Hey.” He touched the sharp line of her jaw until she looked at him again. “You mesh fine. Just have to find the right people.”

When the tightness around her eyes finally relaxed, a soft smile curling her lips, he peeled her sweater away and she raised her arms, letting him pull the shell over her head.

Madison leaned back, unusually vulnerable and bare, fair skin in black satin, looking like something to be worshipped.

That's exactly what he planned to do.

He dipped his head, kissing gently over the swell of each breast. He placed his hand against her back to hold her up, then he went lower and, through the silky smoothness of her bra, sucked her nipple into his mouth.

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.