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“Daniel, I feel like an utter fool,” she said, but she tried again anyway. “I don’t know
. It’s fragrant.”
Daniel chuckled. “Of course it’s fragrant, Lily. What does the fragrance remind you of?”
She smelled the wine once more. “It reminds me of berries.”
“Swirl it in the glass,” Daniel said, showing her. “That releases the aromas a little more. Now smell it again.”
“Berries still. A little…wood, perhaps? Maybe some cinnamon?” She swirled and smelled again. “This can’t be.”
“What?”
“I’m getting…” She stuck her nose far into the glass, touching it to the wine. “Coffee, Daniel. It has a slight coffee smell.”
Daniel kissed the drip of wine off of her nose. “I knew you’d have a good nose, Lily. As an artist and writer, you have heightened senses of sight, hearing, and touch. It’s not surprising that your sense of smell is enhanced also.” He swirled the wine in the glass, closed his eyes, and took a long sniff. “I do believe you’re right. It does remind me a bit of coffee. But I’m smelling the cinnamon and berries much more on the surface. You did amazingly well for your first time.”
“What now? Do we just smell it, or are we going to drink it?”
“We’re not going to drink it yet,” he said. “We’re going to taste it.”
“What’s the difference?”
He held the glass to her, smiling. “Take a sip, but don’t swallow. Let it rest on your tongue for a moment.”
She obeyed.
“Now swish it around a little. Let it coat every part of your mouth. Good. Now swallow slowly if you can. Each part of your mouth will register a different part of the wine’s complexity. There, what did you think?”
“It was… I don’t know. Warm, a little spicy in the back of my mouth. But on my tongue it was fruity, like layers of dark grapes. And blackberries. And currants.”
“Very good.”
“Aren’t you going to taste it?” Lily held the glass to him.
“Of course.”
He took the glass from her, set it on the table, and kissed her gently, prying her lips open with his tongue. He glided smoothly over every inch of her mouth. She was breathing heavily by the time he lifted his head.
“Definitely blackberries and cinnamon. But mostly my favorite flavor of all. You.”
“You are a wizard with words, Daniel,” she said dreamily, her pulse racing. “It’s no wonder women have been falling all over you for so long. You’re a master of lines.”
“That wasn’t a line.”
“Oh, that’s an even better one.” She closed her eyes and let out a soft breath.
* * *
Daniel gazed at her beautiful face. Her lashes were so long that they touched her cheeks when her eyes were closed. So very beautiful. How could he convince her he was telling the truth? That he wasn’t simply feeding her lines that were tried and true? Her complexity and intelligence captivated him. She had awakened feelings in him that he didn’t know he was capable of having. He touched her cheek gently.
“Open your eyes, love. I want you to taste something else.” He reached onto the table for a chocolate. “Have you tasted chocolate bonbons before?”
“Papa brought some from Prince Albert’s exposition in London a few years ago. They were wonderful.”
“Then I know you’ll like these. This is a dark chocolate truffle from Belgium.” He held it to her mouth. “Take a small bite.”
“Mmm, delicious. I’ve never tasted anything like it.”
