“This is fondue. Have you ever had it?”
“No, actually, though I’ve heard of it. It’s Swiss.”
“Yes.” He gestured to the pot nearer to them. “This one is made with Gruyère cheese and dry white wine, with just a touch of cherry brandy. You take a piece of bread, put it on the fondue fork, dip it in the cheese to coat it, and eat it off the fork. Go ahead.”
Lily dipped the bread in the cheese mixture and swirled it around a bit, but when she pulled out the fork, the bread was gone. “I lost my bread.”
“Poor angel,” he said. “Now you have to pay the price. Anyone who loses his bread in the fondue pot has to kiss someone else at the table.”
“But you’re the only other person at the table,” Lily said, giggling.
“I guess you’ll have to kiss me then.” His eyes gleamed at her. “I don’t know how I shall tolerate it.”
“I think you’ll live.” Lily bent her head to kiss his mouth lightly.
“That was no punishment.” Daniel caught her lips with his, coaxing them open and devouring her mouth. “There,” he said. “I hope you’ve learned your lesson. Now try again.”
Lily placed another piece of bread on her fondue fork and swirled it in the cheese carefully.
“It’s hot, so blow on it a bit first,” Daniel said.
She obliged and then put it in her mouth. The tart creaminess of the cheese and the dry fruitiness of the wine exploded on her tongue. “My, that’s wonderful.” She put another cube of bread on her fork and dipped it in the cheese. “This one’s for you.” She blew on it and fed it to Daniel. “Good?”
“Excellent.” He reached for a glass of wine. “Now take a sip of this. It’s the same wine we drank last night.”
Lily took a drink, letting the berry flavors of the wine join the lingering tanginess of the cheese. “Oh, that’s good.”
Daniel took a sip. “I agree. Most culinary experts claim that one should drink a white wine with a cheese dish such as this, but I prefer red with just about everything.”
“How dare you defy the conventions like that?” Lily said, smiling as she speared another chunk of bread and immersed it in the creamy mixture. “I’m going to be two stone heavier by the time I leave Laurel Ridge.”
* * *
The thought of Lily leaving Laurel Ridge jarred Daniel. He took her fork from her before she could eat, grabbed her cheeks, and drew her to his mouth, feasting. She tasted of the cheese and the wine, but mostly of the earthy, sensual flavor that he had come to know as her own. Intoxicating. They were both gasping when he ended the kiss.
“Don’t you want any more to eat?” Lily rasped.
“No, I don’t believe I do.” He stood up with her in his arms and devoured her lips again. “I want to take you to bed. Now.”
“But we haven’t tried the fruit yet. Or the other pot—”
He silenced her with another ravening kiss, as he worked the fasteners on the back of her gown, his heart thundering so hard he thought it must be audible.
“Yet you make a very strong argument…” Lily sighed softly as he kissed her cheeks, her ears, her neck.
“I’m going to love you until dawn, Lily,” he said huskily. “You’re not going to get a wink of sleep tonight.”
“Who needs sleep?” she replied in a low voice. “Take me to bed, Daniel.”
He set her on the bed and removed his own clothing quickly. His arousal sprang from his trousers. Lily’s gazed burned into him.
“See something you like?” he asked.
She flushed, the redness meandering across her creamy skin. God, she was beautiful.
“Take me quickly, Daniel. I want you inside me.”
“Anything you wish.” He lay down beside her on the bed. He gently lowered his hand to stroke her. “You’re already wet. My God, I can’t get enough of you.”