With one arm locked securely around me, Dante slips his hand underneath the fluff of my taffeta skirt, up my leg, and then urges my thighs apart. My knees go weak, and I grip the rail tighter for support. When he slides his finger straight into me, I jerk in response, my body going into overdrive with that one simple touch.
“You’re always so hot for me, Francesca,” he murmurs, slipping another finger inside. “So hot…so wet…”
He starts working my clit with his thumb, making small circles just the way I like. It’s impossible for me to stay completely still, yet I’m acutely aware of the thirty-foot drop below. Tossing my head back, I grip the rail harder even as Dante tightens his grip on me.
“I’ve got you,” he says, fingering me faster. “Just let go.”
And I do.
Because even though I’m high above the ground, I know I’m in no danger of falling. Dante will always catch me. Be my solid ground, my foundation.
A hard shiver goes through me as the twisting heat between my legs reaches a peak. I grab his shoulders tight and look into his eyes, moaning his name softly so he knows how close I am, and suddenly I can’t hold back. Coming hard and deep, I fall into the orgasm like I’m free-falling, riding his fingers like they’re his dick. My whole world is nothing but white-hot pleasure.
As I float back down to earth, I realize I’m still in his arms, his cock sliding ever so slowly inside me until I’m completely full of him. He lets out a long breath and then starts thrusting, faster and faster. Clinging to him, I muffle my moans in the fabric of his jacket as he pounds into me, pushing me to the precipice of another release.
With a groan, Dante picks me up, still inside me, and spins us around so he can push my back against the wall of the house. I wrap my legs around him, tilting my hips, drawing him deeper. So deep, I can’t keep quiet anymore. As soft whimpers spill from my lips, Dante pushes into me harder and harder, fucking me so good I can barely stand it, the pleasure ratcheting up, up, tighter, harder. Higher. It’s like we’re dancing again, our bodies in perfect sync.
Suddenly, I’m tipping into oblivion once more, my cries pitching higher and more desperate as I gush around Dante’s cock. With a fierce moan, Dante comes inside me, holding me tightly to him as he shudders his release. And then we’re kissing again, whispering words of love, bathed in silvery moonlight as the distant music wraps itself around us.
It’s perfect. He’s perfect.
Everything about this night is perfection.
28
Frankie
I just love givingmoney away.
It took the whole weekend to recover from the Gala, but now it’s Monday and I’m well rested and ready to dive back into work.
The staff is gathered in the tasting room for a briefing, and I’ve just addressed them with congratulations for putting on such an extremely successful event—followed by my gleeful announcement about the bonuses they’ll each be receiving out of the vineyard’s profits. The looks of shock and delight on their faces fills me with joy. They’ve earned it, and I’m glad Dante agreed to giving them something in return for their hard work.
He’s standing in the back, observing and clearly letting me take the spotlight on this. I’m glad to do it. This ismystaff, after all.
“I have one more announcement,” I call above the excited hum. Locking eyes with Greg, I motion him over. “I’ve enjoyed my time working here with all of you, but moving forward, I’ll be spending the bulk of my time on back-of-house details. So, I’m promoting Greg from tasting room manager to tasting room director—he’ll basically be getting a well-deserved raise, and hiring someone else as his assistant manager. So get those resumes polished up, team.”
Another cheer goes up. Greg’s cheeks grow pink as he gives a little bow.
“But that’s not all,” I say. “Greg, you want to tell them your news?”
I step back, and he moves to the front of the room.
“Thank you so much. And everyone, I do apologize for missing the Gala—but I had a pretty good reason.” He glances at me with a smile. “I’m happy to say that I’ve completed my Sommelier qualifications.”
The staff starts applauding and shouting their congratulations, and the meeting breaks up as everyone rushes to surround Greg with love and support. I give his arm a squeeze and slip off to the side, watching everyone until Dante appears beside me.
Kissing the top of my head, he slips an arm around my waist and says, “I have to run into town for a meeting at the bank. But I’ll meet you at home for dinner…and dessert.”
He gives my ass a covert squeeze before stepping away.
I can already feel my cheeks heating as my mind fills with all the things I want to do to him—and have done to me. I wonder if I could sneak a can of whipped cream from the refrigerator later…
Realizing how late it’s getting, I say my goodbyes and try to banish my dirty thoughts as I head to my office. The halls are quiet today, as if everyone is still basking in the success of the Gala. Pausing outside my door, I smile at the new name plate on the wall.Francesca Bellanti.
I run a finger over the engraved lettering. Finally, a name I can be proud of.
Settling in at my desk, I start going over the merger paperwork for Bellanti Vineyards and the Abbott Winery again. There’s a bunch of legalese that I can’t fully parse—the finer points of merging one business to another. In the back are unofficial-looking typed notes, probably the work of Jessica when she was still assisting Dante. I also come across some cursory agreements for what look like personal loans and their repayment terms, but I quickly flip past those pages since they don’t seem applicable to the merger. Until a name jumps out at me.
