by Tiana Cole
Someone started singing in the back room and Madison turned to see her supervisor, Amanda, belting out a song with her arms in the air. Madison grinned and turned back to grab her glass of red wine which the bartender was sliding across the wooden bar top toward her. Madison handed him a twenty dollar bill that had been wadded up in her pocket. She lifted the drink, taking a sip as she waited for the bartender to get back with her change.
A feeling rushed over her, like chills making the hair on the back of her neck stand on end, but more intense. Madison felt it from the tips of her toes to the very top of her dark brown curls and it sent her head swiveling back and forth to find its source.
She suddenly became aware of a figure moving in close to her.
She spotted the smart black shoes first, and then the neatly pressed suit pants. Letting her eyes trail slowly upwards like a caress over a broad chest, Madison already knew who to expect standing next to her. His shoulders were broad enough to make her feel tiny and delicate as he towered above her, and even above the smell of beer and wine that permeated the small bar, Madison caught the scent of Christopher's aftershave. It wound around her like a tether, slowly yet inexorably pulling her closer and closer to him.
His chin had darkened since his morning shave and his hair was slightly ruffled as though he had been rushing. But, as usual, his eyes were staring straight into hers.
There was no surprise, only curiosity in her voice as she questioned him. “What are you doing here, Christopher?”
“I remembered the name of this place,” Christopher said. “I hope you don't mind. You mentioned it when I saw you last. A birthday party, right?”
“Don't you think this is a little on the creepy side? Are you stalking me or what?” Madison picked up her glass and took a long sip of wine. It swirled through her mind in a haze and she relished the way it dulled her thoughts, and her conscience. All that filled her brain was the man standing in front of her, and the alcohol rushing through her mute her sense of self-preservation that would have normally had her running for the door, or at least in the opposite direction. Instead, she stayed, subtly leaning closer to him just to feel the warmth of his body just a scant foot from her own.
“If that's what it takes,” he said, and his voice was low and barely audible above the pounding music but she could feel it rumble against her ear.
“If that's what it takes for what?” She whispered the question back breathlessly, unsure how he possibly could have heard but eventually he answered.
“For you to spend some time with me. An hour, just us. Just to talk, so you know why I'm acting the way I am. So that I can explain everything. Then, after that, you decide what happens next. If you want me to, I'll get out of your life and you'll never have to see me again.”
“Except for when you and your wife come into the hospital. Don't forget that little fact.” Her words came out more slurred than not, but she didn’t notice. She couldn’t notice anything but the powerful, magnetic man standing in front of her, drawing her closer with every beat of the stirring music. She drank some more, the mixture of champagne and wine making her head spin.
“I haven't forgotten,” he said slowly, almost cautiously. “But I'm sure we could work something out, so that it's not awkward. But I'm hoping that after what I have to say, you won't send me away.” He looked down at her, an expectant light shining in his brown eyes. She stared up at him and was standing so close that for the first time, she noticed the little flecks of gold that were strewn across his dark eyes like stars. Remembering her coworkers just a few yards away, Madison took a hasty step backwards.
Madison looked towards the back room. She saw Cassie dancing with Rosario and she knew Rosario was close to being drunk. There probably wasn't much point in even saying goodbye as she wasn't likely to remember much about her birthday party at this rate. Madison might as well leave.
She knocked back the rest of her wine. There was more in her glass than she thought, and she felt a little woozy as she slipped off the bar stool. She just slightly lost her footing in the heels she was wearing and Christopher caught her around her waist, held her up until she regained some of her balance. Not an easy thing to do with Christopher Knight’s arms wrapped around her.
“Careful there,” he said softly against her cheek. She felt her skin light up from his touch. A jolt going straight from every place that his body made contact with hers to her already damp center. Every second spent in his embrace had the heat rushing through her ratcheting even higher.
“I'm fine,” Madison whispered huskily as she finally righted herself. “I have to go.” She pulled away reluctantly, and it felt like she was losing a part of herself. The very touch of his strong arms holding her upright had done something to Madison. It was like a light switch turning on inside her. She felt the electricity low in her stomach, making its way to a point between her legs. She realized every time she took a step she could feel the effects of him sliding warmly between her thighs.
Unsteadily, she made her way through the people crowding the bar until she finally made it to the doors and pushed her way through.
Christopher followed her out. The evening air was cool and she shivered slightly as she recalled the jacket she had left thrown over a chair still inside. But the thought of going back in there, having to talk to her coworkers after seeing Christopher was as unappealing as the prospect of possibly having to fend off the over eager Spence again.
“Please, Madison, let me offer you a lift home,” he said as he noticed her shivering. “You look cold and it's quite a few blocks to your apartment.”
Madison looked up at the sign at Coco's, squinting through her sudden double vision that had it blurring between one shape and then two, and then coalescing back together again. She must have drank more than she realized, Madison thought as she glanced at the bar entrance and then back at Christopher. The ever decreasing sober part of her mind told her that she should walk home, or go back inside and grab her coat, but the bigger part of her just shrugged happily at the thought of spending more time with him.
Finally, Madison shrugged. “Okay, thank you.”
With Christopher leading, they walked to his car which was parked just around the corner. They did not speak, but she listened to his breathing and felt the silent wave of a connection that seemed to link them together.
He ran around and opened the passenger side door before helping her to get in. He shut her door then walked around to the driver’s side and got in. Still not saying a word as he started the engine and drove off towards her apartment. Madison dazed for most of the drive, wrapped in a warm, alcohol-induced cocoon that sheltered her from the recriminating thoughts that would normally be running through her head at the situation.
She just sat back, and enjoyed the feeling of being close to this man that had tugged at her heart and body for so long. She pictured the first time she had met him, months ago at the hospital tour. She had been awed by how handsome he was, almost intimidated by him. The thought made her giggle now.
“What’s so funny?” Christopher asked with a lopsided smile at her from across the car.
“Nothing.” Madison grinned back with another chuckle. “It’s nothing at all.” Thoughts and memories of all the times they had met, had talked, rolled through her mind in a hazy blur that came to stop as Christopher pulled the car up in front of her apartment and got out to help her again.
He walked her to the door of her building, their bodies close together. So close that Madison just wanted to curl up against all of his heat and drown in it. Her hand was dangerously close to holding his and his body was giving off an intense sense of longing for her. She felt it strongly, as if it were coming off of a satellite instead of a man. She cast him a sideways glance from underneath her lashes. And he really was all man. The thought flitted hotly through her mind as her eyes trailed down his tall, muscular frame.
Madison stopped outside the door and looked up to thank Christopher. Her gaze froze on
his, trapped for a mere second, for eternity as they both stood so close together on the front step. She watched some sort of battle as emotion after emotion flew across his features, but finally they resolved into one, only one. Desire. Hard, hot, and full of lust. She felt an answering pull from deep inside her as he took another step closer, eliminating the remaining distance between them.
Immediately, she felt his arm on her back like a brand against her skin, pulling her impossibly closer to his warm body. She weakened and allowed her body to fold. The cold night air was a distant thought as her wide eyes watched as his full, pink lips slowly lowered to hers. She couldn’t breathe, she couldn’t move. And she didn’t want to.
With a groan containing months of pent up frustration and denial, she reached up on her toes to meet him halfway, kiss for kiss. The contact sent a bolt of electricity zinging through her and she gasped against his mouth. Christopher's tongue slipped between her parted lips. He made purposeful movements with his tongue inside her mouth and she responded, their kissing lustful and uncontrolled, quickly growing from a spark to an inferno as their lips moved together.
Coming up for air, Madison tilted her head back. He was unstoppable, as was her desire for him. He trailed sweet kisses form the corner of her kiss swollen lips across her flushed cheeks and around her earlobe. Christopher's tongue found a soft, sensitive part of her neck and she felt the tips of his teeth bite down on her skin.
She let out a slight moan. She couldn’t have held it in if she had tried, and with Christopher holding her so tightly in his strong arms and the champagne blurring her thoughts, she didn’t want to. The door to her building suddenly opened and a couple stepped out, sending them an odd look, but neither of them noticed. Madison put her hand out to keep the door open, and stepped in with Christopher, still holding her by the waist. It was like he was afraid to let go, afraid the spell would be broken.
But Madison was tired of fighting whatever was between them, tired of fighting her own wants and desires. She wanted him so badly that her entire body ached with it. No, she needed it, she corrected as he continued to ply his talented mouth against the sweet curve between her neck and shoulders. The spot that sent fire racing through her veins in uncontrollable waves.
The light bulb in the entrance hall was flickering. Madison lived in an old building and usually cursed it whenever there was a malfunction, but she was blessing it now as it suddenly switched off completely for a few seconds. Christopher wasted no time and was able to find her open mouth, pushing his tongue inside and making sounds of pleasure as he held her closer still. His mouth worked against hers until she was matching his moans with ones of her own.
Suddenly, the light flicked back on and Madison looked at the stairwell leading up to her apartment. With her hand held firmly in his, she led him in the right direction. She was walking swiftly up the stairs, Christopher was following, and there was no need for words.
They both knew what they needed right then, what they had needed desperately for months but had denied themselves.
Her keys rattled in the doorway and as soon as the door flew open, Christopher had hold of her face and was kissing her again. Their bodies pushed the door closed. Madison tried to reach for the light switch, but couldn't find it. She was losing her balance and she stopped kissing Christopher, briefly, holding her hands against his chest.
They were both out of breath, their chests heaving up and down as they stood like this for a brief second. Madison looked at Christopher in the shadows of the room and slipped out of her shoes. She let her purse drop to the floor and pulled off her sweater so that she was just in her cotton dress. Christopher stood opposite her, also trying to make out her face in the darkness.
Standing just inches from each other, Christopher took his shoes off by using the toe on the heel of each foot. He undid his pants and eased them down, stepping out of them as he began to unbutton his shirt.
He was wearing just his underwear now. Madison looked down and put her hand against his cock. It was rock hard. She inhaled and felt his hands on the back of her dress. He found the zipper and pulled it down. He got to his knees as he brought her dress to the floor. He began to kiss the skin on her lower stomach. He grabbed her buttocks and pushed his face into her silk panties and kissed her through them.
The wave of passion that took hold of them at the front door welled up again as Madison pulled off her panties and spread her legs as she was standing in front of him like an offering. He pushed her trembling legs apart even further and she had to grasp her hands to each of his shoulders to stay upright.
She couldn’t hold back the deep moan that rolled out of her as his tongue slipped between her center, lapping at her dampness.
“Damn, you’re so sweet.” He whispered roughly against her spread thighs.
Softly, he trailed the slightest of kisses down one side, and all the way back up, sending waves of pleasure sweeping through her and she wasn’t sure her legs would hold her as he did the same on the other side. Urgency filled her as tension began to build, tingling from where his lips made contact straight to her wet core.
“Please.” She begged on a ragged moan that turned into a loud, low grown as Christopher bent his dark head again and began licking and kissing exactly where she needed. She could feel every muscle in her body tense as he rhythmically pressed his hot tongue to the little bud at her center. He swept a large hand up her thigh and around, positioning a finger at her opening with his mouth continued its magic.
She threw her head back as his finger thrust slowly inside her, the friction almost too much as he worked it in tandem with the motions of his mouth sucking at her. It felt like heaven. She thought she might just die then and there, and another squeal of pleasure burst through her swollen lips as he added a second finger.
“Please, Christopher. Please, I need you.”
He must have understood what she meant as a second later his hands were at his hips and he was lowering himself to the floor next to her.
Madison didn’t even notice the hardness of the wood slats as his hands moved over her once more, discarding the rest of her underwear until she was utterly and completely naked underneath of him. She squirmed impatiently as his fingers found the tips of her dark nipples, teasing them in the darkness until they were tight peaks.
He leaned down, and she felt his breath on her just a second before the hot cavern of his mouth closed over one taut nipple, causing ripples of pleasure once more through her body. She was already strung so tight she felt like she might snap at any moment, but she laced her fingers through his thick dark hair, holding him close as his mouth worked on her.
With a sudden moan he pulled back. “I’m sorry, Madison. I can’t hold back any longer.”
“I don’t want you to.”
He slipped out of his underwear and pinned Madison to the floor, pulling open her legs and running his hands roughly between her legs, stroking at the wet opening and then licking his fingers with another groan of pleasure.
He got on top of Madison and he could feel her need to have him inside her in the tightness of her muscles, the tension running through her entire body. Madison's legs wrapped around his waist and pulled him closer until he was fully and deeply inside her, grinding with such vigor that she could feel sparks from the floor on her back.
His thrusts were rhythmic, hard, and long. She dragged her nails into his back and then grasped at his buttocks to make him push deeper.
“Harder,” she whispered, “Harder. Don't stop, please, don't stop.”
Her words spurred him on, but brought him close to the point of coming. He eased back on his climax until he knew she was further along with hers. But he could hardly stop himself coming, so he rolled onto his back, pulling Madison on top to straddle him.
She cupped the mounds of her ample breast as she rode him in fast movements, her hips hot on his thighs. He wet his thumb and rubbed it over her clitoris, as she let out a loud moan and moved even faster, rubbing
her clitoris against his thumb and squeezing her own nipples.
Her back arched: she was coming, screaming loudly, and feeling him heaving his lower body up and down as he released his orgasm with a gut-felt moan.
Her orgasm was still coming in hot waves. He held his thumb hard against her while she rode out the multiple spasms until she was worn right out. Madison collapsed on top him, panting as she savored the feeling of bliss that wrapped warm and tight around her. They lay there like that for several moments until their breathing began to return to normal. Madison waited just another minute, mesmerized by the racing sound of his heartbeat pounding beneath her ear.
Finally, with a sigh, Madison pulled herself off Christopher and lay beside him on the floor, cradled on the pillow of his shoulder. She turned her head up to face him. He must have seen something swirling in the depths of her dark brown eyes because he opened his mouth to speak before she could even get anything out.
“Don't say anything,” he told her, his voice soft and secret in the darkness. “It had to happen, and you know it did.”
She looked back up towards the ceiling, and felt a hot tear stream from her eye and onto the floor. She squeezed her eyelids shut tight against any more. The last thing she wanted was to cry in front of him. Christopher turned to her and wiped it away without another word. Then he picked her up.
“Which way is the bedroom?” he whispered.
She pointed and he carried her through the doorway. They got into bed and curled up together. She could feel his strong body against her back, his breath on the skin of her neck, and his arms tight around her.
“Please don't cry,” he said, holding her even closer against his chest.
