Once Upon a Time in Bliss Read online

  “Hey, I know I acted like a massive asshole earlier today.” He had a grim look on his face that changed to charming when he brought his hand around from his back and showed her the perfect white rose he offered her. “Would you please let me make up for it?”

  There were a thousand reasons to say no. She could do it gently. She could remind him that the first chance they’d had to prove they could manage a relationship and still work together they’d blown. She could point out that there was still the hope of a cure out there.

  Or you could live in the moment, my love. You could stop being so in that head of yours and let yourself feel.

  Sometimes she could still hear her father’s wise voice in her head. He’d done so much, taken so many chances to bring his family to a better place.

  “Ariel, please. I’m sorry I treated you like that. I took out my bad day on you and it wasn’t fair. I wanted our night together. I planned it all out, but I forgot that the only really important part of the night wasn’t the restaurant or the hotel. It was that we got to be together. Be with me for a while.”

  She took the rose from his hand, all thoughts of why this was a bad idea flying out of her head. “Yes.”

  But she wasn’t nearly as dressed as he was. “Give me a minute to change.”

  He shook his head. “You look beautiful and we’re only going to the kitchen.”

  “You dressed for the occasion.”

  “I was also the asshole who challenged the authority of my commander in the field. Trust me, I like this far better than dropping to the floor and giving you a hundred like I…” He shook his head. “Not going there.”

  She stepped in, putting a hand on his face. “It’s okay. Let the visual piece go and tell me what you felt.”

  He pressed his cheek against her hand. “No therapist stuff tonight. I promise I’ll write it down later and talk to Kai about it, but I want you to stop thinking about me as a patient. This can’t work if you don’t. Please come to the kitchen with me. I managed to shove everyone else in the media room. They’re watching a football match. Well, Rebecca is reading on her e-reader and rolling her eyes when the guys yell at the screen, but the kitchen is on the opposite end of the floor. I promise it’s quiet there.”

  She was still in the slacks and blouse she’d worn this afternoon. They were casual and comfortable. Certainly not something she would wear on a date. Robert was far better dressed for the occasion.

  A vision of a private dinner where he was in a suit and she was wearing absolutely nothing floated across her brain. Sir wouldn’t want her in clothes. Sir would want to see nothing but her own skin so he could touch her everywhere, whenever he pleased. They could spend long hours like that. She wouldn’t worry about anything at all but pleasing her dominant partner.

  “Come on.” He used that deep voice on her she’d heard him use at The Garden. Like her, Robert spent at least one night each weekend playing. She’d seen him paired up with some of her friends, but never had he taken one to a privacy room or up to his flat.

  She hadn’t indulged herself in sex in a long time.

  She followed him down the hallway and sure enough, heard someone yelling from the far end about a ref’s call. Poor Rebecca.

  Robert led her away from it, his loafers making no sound over the carpet. This part of the club was comfortable, much more like a home than downstairs, and it made her wonder if Peter often had guests he put up here. She’d talked briefly to the man and he appeared to be very interested in teaching and training new D/s couples.

  Were she and Robert going to be a D/s couple?

  She stopped that line of thinking. This was nothing more than a pleasant way to spend an evening with a man she liked enormously.

  With a man she might be falling in love with.

  About Lexi Blake

  Lexi Blake is the author of contemporary and urban fantasy romance. She started publishing in 2011 and has gone on to sell over two million copies of her books. Her books have appeared twenty-six times on the USA Today, New York Times, and Wall Street Journal bestseller lists. She lives in North Texas with her husband, kids, and two rescue dogs.

  Connect with Lexi online:

  Facebook: Lexi Blake

  Twitter: authorlexiblake

  Website: www.LexiBlake.net

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  Other Books by Lexi Blake

  Click to purchase

  ROMANTIC SUSPENSE

  Masters and Mercenaries

  The Dom Who Loved Me

  The Men With The Golden Cuffs

  A Dom is Forever

  On Her Master’s Secret Service

  Sanctum: A Masters and Mercenaries Novella

  Love and Let Die

  Unconditional: A Masters and Mercenaries Novella

  Dungeon Royale

  Dungeon Games: A Masters and Mercenaries Novella

  A View to a Thrill

  Cherished: A Masters and Mercenaries Novella

  You Only Love Twice

  Luscious: Masters and Mercenaries~Topped

  Adored: A Masters and Mercenaries Novella

  Master No

  Just One Taste: Masters and Mercenaries~Topped 2

  From Sanctum with Love

  Devoted: A Masters and Mercenaries Novella

  Dominance Never Dies

  Submission is Not Enough

  Master Bits and Mercenary Bites~The Secret Recipes of Topped

  Perfectly Paired: Masters and Mercenaries~Topped 3

  For His Eyes Only

  Arranged: A Masters and Mercenaries Novella

  Love Another Day

  At Your Service: Masters and Mercenaries~Topped 4

  Master Bits and Mercenary Bites~Girls Night

  Nobody Does It Better

  Close Cover

  Protected: A Masters and Mercenaries Novella

  Enchanted: A Masters and Mercenaries Novella

  Masters and Mercenaries: The Forgotten

  Lost Hearts (Memento Mori)

  Lost and Found

  Lost in You, Coming August 6, 2019

  Long Lost, Coming February 4, 2020

  Lawless

  Ruthless

  Satisfaction

  Revenge

  Courting Justice

  Order of Protection

  Evidence of Desire

  Masters Of Ménage (by Shayla Black and Lexi Blake)

  Their Virgin Captive

  Their Virgin’s Secret

  Their Virgin Concubine

  Their Virgin Princess

  Their Virgin Hostage

  Their Virgin Secretary

  Their Virgin Mistress

  The Perfect Gentlemen (by Shayla Black and Lexi Blake)

  Scandal Never Sleeps

  Seduction in Session

  Big Easy Temptation

  Smoke and Sin

  At the Pleasure of the President

  URBAN FANTASY

  Thieves

  Steal the Light

  Steal the Day

  Steal the Moon

  Steal the Sun

  Steal the Night

  Ripper

  Addict

  Sleeper

  Outcast

  LEXI BLAKE WRITING AS SOPHIE OAK

  Small Town Siren

  Siren in the City

  Away From Me

  Three to Ride

  Siren Enslaved

  Two to Love

  Siren Beloved

  One to Keep

  Siren in Waiting

  Lost in Bliss

  Found in Bliss

  Siren in Bloom

  Pure Bliss

  Chasing Bliss

  Siren Unleashed

  Once Upon a Time in Bliss

  Back in Bliss, Coming September 10, 2019

 

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