SOPHIA
After we finish the first wine tasting, we’re shipped off to another vineyard. Danny insists on sitting next to me, which means Roman is upfront with his cousin. Danny puts her hand on mine.
“Tell me about you, Sophia. I know the work shit. Tell me about the real you.” She insists.
I don’t know what to say to that. I don’t feel like the most interesting person in the world, but I don’t want to sound like I’m reading her a resume either. I swallow.
“I was an Economics major in college, and then I got a master in finance at Brown; before that, I lived with my mom in Scottsdale. She and my dad have been divorced for what seems like a long time. I felt like I hadn’t seen him much, so I’m happy I’ve been getting more time to see his life.”
“And how do you like New York?” She pushes.
“It’s great!” I shake my head. “There are so many things to do and see. I think it would take me a lifetime to get through all of it.”
Danny bounces in the car and puts her hand to her belly. She smacks at Massimo. “Watch the bumps, Mass.”
“I thought you enjoyed being jostled.” He chuckles
Danny purses her lips to hide a smile. “I do, but the baby doesn’t.” She shakes her head at me. “You have to keep them in line, or they forget all their manners.”
I laugh a little, and Nick takes my hand. “That’s good advice, Danny. Especially considering how gentle Sophia is.”
“Gentle?” Danny snorts. “You have plenty of power. Sometimes you have to flash it a little.”
“Or flash a lot, either way.” Gunner smirks.
The memories of last night flood me when I meet his eyes. Gunner was … gentle. I don’t know if it was because of our conversation before we had sex or if it was because we had such a huge dinner, but he took his time with me, kissing across my back as he slid my clothes off, bringing me to gentle easy orgasms that seemed to last forever. The roughest he got was pulling my hair as he fucked me from behind.
And after … he stayed. I expected him to tell me he needed to go to sleep, but instead, we cuddled together. I stroked across the scars on his chest, and he told me stories of basic training, of how he met Nick. Nick was always falling behind, always second-guessing orders, trying to weigh out the reasoning.
And Gunner was the obedient sort. Easier to obey and get the job done quickly so they could escape the hostile zones. But the darkness that had lurked in his eyes told another story – a million more stories, I’m still sure he won’t say.
“We’re here,” Massimo says, pulling me from my thoughts.
I help Danny out and she grunts then grabs my hand. “Feel.”
“What?”
It feels wrong to have my hand on her stomach, but she rubs over the back of my fingers, then jumps slightly as I feel a harsh bump to my palm. She laughs. “He’s so ready to start playing. He’s going to be a soccer star just like us.”
“You play?”
“Played. I was injured before I could get to Mass’s level, but that’s where I was heading.” She shrugs. “Instead, I took a coaching job.” She lowers her voice. “Don’t tell Mass, but I’m glad things happened like that. It brought me to him.”
“That’s romantic.”
“Which would go right to his head.” She laughs. “He can never know.”
“Oh, I already know everything, tesora.” Massimo wraps his arms around her, kissing her cheek as he rubs over her belly.
Despite all of Danny’s determination to look like a hard ass, I see her glow when he touches her. She leans against him and looks up at him with a bright smile. Massimo practically carries Danny to the waiting man and woman team.
I love being in the vineyard. It hides the rest of the world, so it’s just us, living the very best life we can, safe from everything else that could be lurking around us. Nick runs to catch up with Roman and Gunner, and Holden takes his spot beside me.
Holden rubs his fingers over the back of my arm, and I lick my lips. “Hi.”
“Warm enough?”
“I am. Are you having fun?” I bump his hip lightly. “Going to get absolutely drunk?”
“Maybe.” His hand moves to the small of my back. “Wine is one of my weaknesses.”
“You have more?” I blink at him. “I had no idea.”
“You know more than most.” His voice deep, almost a growl, as he looks me over. “Nightmares. Agoraphobia … you.”
I blink at him, and a smile pulls at his lips. My face heats and is probably as red as the wine when we get to the tasting table. This one is outside, letting us see exactly how expansive the vineyard is. It looks like it goes right to the ocean. Peaceful and warm.
Oh, the ocean. We’ll have to go there. I’m sure I can buy a bathing suit somewhere. I lean over and take the rest of Danny’s glass. She mouths “thank you” at me, and I nod, tasting the sweetness, then diving in.
“This is amazing,” I say a little too loud.
The woman beams. “You like … the sweet wine?”
“Yes! It’s delicious,” I reply.
“I’ll take two bottles,” Roman says softly.
I press my lips together and shake my head at him, and he shrugs. We go between whites and Rosé wines before we’re allowed to wander. I take Holden’s hand and walk through the enormous casks of wine, then through the wine cellar.
Holden shakes his head as he looks at some of the labels. I rub his sides. “Any of this up to your taste?”
He nods, but then he’s called away. He kisses my palm softly and then nips the side of my hand. It goes right through me. These men only make me lustier for them. Nick joins me and based on the fact he makes a beeline for me, I’m wondering if he even likes wine.