by Hélène Soper
He pulled a blanket out of the tote bag and spread it out on a patch of grass with the flourish of a matador, sat down, and extended his hand to invite her to join him. She slipped her fine-spun hand into his, dipped into a curtsy, and allowed him to guide her to the blanket. The schoolgirl giggle she tried to smother behind her hand was delightful. He couldn’t resist tucking a wayward lock of her silky hair behind her ear. She sighed and let her cheek melt into his palm.
Luc reached back into the bag and pulled out a bottle of wine, two stemless wine glasses, a small charcuterie board protected with plastic wrap, a corkscrew, and two linen napkins. An extra pair of hands would’ve come in handy. One pair to never let go of this woman, the other pair to lay the world at her feet.
“You never cease to amaze me, Luc Christianson.”
“And you’re good for my fragile ego, Avery Lewis. Can I pour you a glass of our 2010 ‘Old Vines’ Pinot Noir?”
Avery snorted. “Fragile ego my ass! Did I ever tell you that Pinot is my favorite grape variety?”
Luc chuckled. “I may have heard that once before. Why do you love Pinot?”
Avery lay back on the blanket with her hands behind her head and gazed at the night sky while starlight danced on her ivory skin.
“Lots of reasons I guess. I don’t mean to quote Sideways here, but this is what I honestly believe. It’s the viticulturist’s grape. You have to be meticulous in the vineyard, all season long, and even then, if Mother Nature doesn’t cooperate just so, you could end up with boring wine. If the winemaker can have a gentle hand in the cellar, Pinot can be so expressive of the place where it’s grown. Here in Niagara we can grow Pinot Noir every bit as wonderful as some of the top sites in Burgundy. In particular right here on the St. David’s Bench, where yours is grown. Here in the silty clay loam soil the wines develop an earthy quality that just floors me. And in the top vintages, the strawberry and raspberry notes add a layer of freshness. I love that each time you take a sip you discover another layer. It’s not in your face like a Cabernet Sauvignon, but it can be every bit as age-worthy and food friendly. Pinot is beguiling like a sexy woman — enticing and pretty on the surface with a solid backbone made to stand up to the most complex dishes. Yet, it’s soft enough to enjoy sipping on its own with a good friend on a starry night.”
She looked up at Luc and smiled with a tenderness and strength that punched him in the gut. She got it. She fucking got it. He was mesmerized.
“I’m speechless. No wonder you’re the writer and I’m the dumb jock who needed an English tutor.”
“Whatever,” Avery said with a playful punch to his shoulder. “You can’t play that role with me, mister. I know better. You were a successful Bay Street corporate lawyer. You can’t be dumb and make it to partner like you did.”
Luc feigned pain in his shoulder where she’d hit him, rubbing it and giving her a rare hearty laugh. “OK, OK, you got me there. But it worked when I wanted the prettiest girl in high school to tutor me in English, didn’t it?”
“You think you’re so smart now? Are you going to open that bottle or just tease me with it?”
“Darlin’, I don’t tease. Unless I think you need to be teased.”
An overwhelming need to kiss her, bind her to him in such an intimate way drove him to connect. Pure, carnal instinct fueled his craving to claim her as his own. That need vanquished his guilt and compelled his body to do what it ached to do every time he thought of his Avery. He couldn’t hold himself back any more than the relentless pounding of waves on the shore could cease on command.
Luc bent down, cupped the back of her head in his palm, and gently pressed his lips to hers, their eyes locked together. He wanted to devour her but knew she needed to come to him on her own terms. He couldn’t lose control like he did the last time they were together. She deserved a man, not a horny teenager who couldn’t keep his shit together. She needed to be cherished, savored, honored.
Then, Avery took control of the kiss, shaped it, heated it, demanded it. She threaded her fingers through his thick, wavy hair and pulled him down on top her. Her tongue flicked at his lips, asking for entry, which he eagerly obliged.
He took her lead and plunged into her mouth, dueled with her tongue, reveled in every breath and taste. Sensuous purrs emanated from her throat, fueling his raging hard-on to the point of pain. God, she was delicious. He pulled back without losing contact and was floored by the flames he saw in her eyes.
“Can you let me take control, beautiful girl? I promise to take good care of you.”
She arched into his body. “Yes, Sir. I would like that very much.”
He ground his leaden cock into her pelvis, letting her know how much she lit him up. He slipped one hand under her hair and squeezed her nape. Not to the point of discomfort, just enough to let her know he accepted and appreciated her acquiescence. Her body bowed up into his. He filled the gap between her back and the blanket with his other hand, anchoring her to him, and rolled them so she was on top. Her pelvis locked into the cradle of his like the perfect key filled its mated lock. His cock pulsed in response to her hips rocking to find the spots where their notches lined up. Gold-spun hair shined in the moonlight as it cascaded over her shoulders forming a silken curtain that blocked out the rest of the world. It was just Luc and his beautiful girl.
He looked up, and her gaze captured his. Deep in those fathomless pools of sky blue he saw a different woman. Gone was the fear that supplanted every other emotion. Instead what he saw was a sexy, sultry, relaxed Avery who appeared to be completely at ease with him. A woman who owned her sensuality and wasn’t afraid to bare it to him. He liked that look on her face. A lot.
Luc slid his palm along her shoulder, up her neck, wrapped his hand with the golden strands and gently tugged. Her eyes darkened with smoldering desire the moment her scalp prickled with pinpoints of pleasure-pain. Surprise and understanding swept across her face. Her rose bud lips parted on a gasp, leaving her mouth open to his invasion.
Luc took her mouth like a man possessed. His tongue easily slipped past her teeth as she met him stroke for stroke. There was nothing tentative about this kiss. She inhaled him, giving as good as she got. All the while gyrating her hips like she was riding him in the Kentucky Derby. And those sexy little sounds she made had him so close to the edge he prayed he didn’t blow right in his jeans. Control. He needed to keep a tight lid on his intensity. He couldn’t overwhelm her again. Time for a breather.
She let out a disappointed growl when he pulled his head back, breaking the connection with a soft pop, and rolled them so they were seated facing each other. He avoided her heated gaze and grabbed the corkscrew and bottle of wine, giving himself a moment to summon Master Luc’s control.
“How about that glass of wine I promised?” Luc’s voice sounded as if his vocal chords had been through the crusher-destemmer.
“I think you’re teasing me.” The corners of her swollen lips curled up into a sexy-as-hell half-smile.
All he could do was groan. Her breathless voice told him she wasn’t unaffected either.
Luc made quick work of the capsule and cork, poured a small amount of wine into his glass, and brought it to his nose. Once he confirmed this was indeed a good bottle, he poured Avery several ounces of the aromatic red nectar into the other glass and handed it to her. “I hope this bottle matches your eloquent description.”
“I’ve had this wine before so I know it’s wonderful. But, I thought you were long sold out of this vintage. Thank you for this special treat.”
“Stick with me, little girl, and I can find more where this one came from,” Luc said with a mischievous waggle of his eyebrows.
A grateful grin stretched her delectable lips as she took the stemless glass from his hand, lingering long enough for them both to feel the sparks arc between their fingers. He watched in awe as Avery closed her eyes, lifted the glass to her nose, and inhaled deeply, letting the aromas envelop her senses. She was so beautiful in th
e moonlight, honoring his family’s wine with such reverence and care. His eyes were transfixed on her succulent lips as they parted just enough for her to place a small amount of the wine in her mouth. She held it, sucked in a little air, rolled it around with her tongue and swallowed, throwing her head back, exposing her elegant neck. He didn’t think it was possible, but he got harder, making it uncomfortable to sit.
“Mmmm. Even better than I remembered.”
Luc was gobsmacked. Now who was teasing whom? He was thankful his muscle memory was able to pour himself a glass and take a sip without wearing half the contents of the bottle.
“You never did answer my question about why this block isn’t planted.”
He half chuckled, half growled, his nose grazing the indent behind her ear to release more of her mouthwatering scent. “That’s because you distracted me.”
“Oh, well, that was purely intentional.”
Luc took Avery’s glass and placed it beside his on the blanket, palmed her hips, and pulled her back between his legs, leaning her back against his chest so they could both enjoy the night sky. Their bodies nestled together like staves of an oak barrel — they more than just fit, they were meant to snug together to give each other impenetrable strength.
D/s required trust. Not just physical but also emotional. Avery had opened herself to his scrutiny, but he hadn’t allowed her the same courtesy in return. If he wanted to explore this growing connection between them, he needed to lay bare his soul. Get it all out there so she knew exactly why he’d been a cold bastard for the past five years. And why she was the only one who threatened to smash to smithereens the fortress of ice he had built surrounding his heart. It was time.
He handed the glass back to her and began.
“When Mom and Dad planted this vineyard, they left three open blocks back here away from the winery, tucked up against the Niagara Escarpment. One was for their home, one for me, and one for Gen. Sophie would get their house when they retired to Florida.”
“That sounds so wonderful Luc — all of you living close to each other yet still having your own space.”
“That’s what they wanted, and we did too. Still do. We each went off to explore our own lives, make careers for ourselves, always knowing there was a place to come home to.”
“Your mom and dad built their home so why not you and Gen?”
Luc closed his eyes, took a fortifying breath, and continued. “I was ready to make a move out of Toronto soon after Ella was born. I wanted to raise her in my family’s way of life, not in the concrete jungle and monster homes in Toronto’s subdivisions. Syd went along with the initial stages of meeting with architects and designing her dream home. After a few months it was obvious she’d either had a change of heart or was never sold on the idea of moving here in the first place. I figured that if we just kept going with the planning she would get into the process and fall in love with the idea. I was wrong.”
Avery stroked his calf, quietly reassuring Luc he was safe with her, like she was safe with him.
“We argued about it constantly. She wasn’t prepared to give up practicing law, and she couldn’t believe I was willing to walk away from my firm when it was clear I was on the partner track. Truth is, I was getting more and more disillusioned with the whole corporate law scene. Too much posturing, too many fake smiles, way too much money being thrown about with little care for the people involved. I wanted to come back to my roots. Literally and figuratively. The day of the accident, I was on the phone with them as it happened. I was in the office trying to close yet another deal.”
Luc could feel the tears pricking the back of his eyes. Avery slid her arms over his, encircling her waist and squeezed, compelling him to continue.
“I was supposed to go to Barrie with the girls to see Syd’s parents. We argued big time, and I used work as an excuse to beg off on the trip. I just needed some time alone. Now that I’m home I know it was the right move for me. I’m happier here in Niagara, at Sky Hill, rather than in Toronto at my old firm. What does that say about me and my relationship with my family? What if the accident never happened? Would we have moved down here? I’m not so sure. Sometimes I wish I had been driving that day so I would have died with them.”
Avery gasped and spun so she was kneeling between his legs, her eyes level with his. She grabbed his face between her hands and forced him to meet her gaze.
“Don’t you dare say that, Luc.”
The conviction in her voice astonished him. His vision tilted as Avery pillowed his head on her chest. Warmth seeped into his body from each point where they touched. He didn’t deserve her tenderness. That was when the dam broke. Luc couldn’t control his tears.
It’s my fault I’m still here and they’re not.
18
“It’s getting late and you probably have to work tomorrow. I’m sorry for dumping my shit on you. I don’t know what came over me.”
Luc wiped his face with a napkin, stood, and gathered their things. Master Luc had returned — cool, aloof, in control. Distant. Avery’s head spun like she was on a carnival ride, unable to lock onto solid ground while her surroundings whooshed by in a blur. The man went from all but inhaling her, to sharing his deepest wounds, to shutting her out in less time than it took to finish a glass of wine. Did he think she would turn away from him or pity him? She needed to shut that shit down now.
Avery not-too-gently palmed both sides of his face and lifted his head so he could see her fury. “Don’t you dare blame yourself for a freak act of God! It was snowing. They lost control and got caught in a multi-car pileup. What you’re feeling is survivor’s guilt. You’re a good man, Luc Christianson. You need to let it go. Savor the good memories and move forward. Build your dream home. Honor them but live for you.”
Luc’s lips appeared to be glued together, but she wasn’t sure if he was fighting to keep words in or straining to get them out. Guilt still swirled in his eyes as his internal battle for control over his emotions furiously waged. But he didn’t discount what she’d said. That was something.
The guitar strum ringtone of Luc’s cell phone broke the heavy silence that sat between them.
“Hey, Dad. What’s up?”
Avery watched Luc’s face with concern as his eyes shifted and filled with worry and his eyebrows slashed low on his forehead.
“No, I haven’t seen Merlot. I’m around the corner at the open blocks. I’ll make my way back to your house and look for him on the way.”
Luc helped Avery up from the blanket and relayed his conversation to her. His dad had arrived home with their German shepherd, Merlot, nowhere to be found. Normally the gregarious dog was an enthusiastic welcoming committee or ferocious guard dog, depending on who approached the house. Tonight, he was conspicuously absent. Even his dad’s repeated calls didn’t bring his faithful companion bounding to his side. His dad was rightfully concerned.
They jumped into Luc’s car and slowly made their way toward his dad’s home, careful to scan the sides of the roads. Dogs and cats were notoriously vulnerable to speeding cars on these dark and fast country roads, not to mention the packs of coyotes always on the prowl, though a coyote attack on a strong, large dog like Merlot would be very unlikely.
As Luc turned the car in to the long driveway leading to his father’s home, the headlights illuminated something lying at the edge of the lawn, half in the drainage ditch that ran alongside all the rural roads in the region. Luc angled the car to point the headlights toward the object, and Merlot’s face came into view.
Avery instantly knew something was wrong. She had her car door open before Luc slammed the gear into park. She took off running toward the limp form.
“We found him!”
Avery heard Luc’s voice and his footfalls running up behind her where she knelt next to Merlot’s head. Still with his phone to his ear Luc bent down to feel for a heartbeat under the dog’s front leg while she put her face next to the dog’s nose, praying she could catch a wisp
of a breath against her cheek.
“He’s breathing!” Avery exclaimed.
“Dad, hang up and call Tom Martin. Tell him we’re heading to the clinic and for him to meet us there. No, it’s OK, you stay there, and I’ll call you as soon as I get any news.”
Luc shoved his phone back into his pocket and ran his hands over Merlot’s body checking for signs of major injuries. There was no blood on the grass, but it was better to be extra cautious in case he had internal injuries. When his hands showed nothing obvious he cautiously wedged his strong arms under the dog to cradle him against his chest.
“Easy buddy. You’re OK now. I’m going to get you to your friend Doctor Tom and he’ll fix you right up. Everything is going to be fine.”
Avery’s heart was in her throat. The last time she saw this beautiful animal he was the picture of health, now Merlot looked like a rag doll. His breathing was labored and he used every last bit of energy to look up at Luc with sad eyes as if to say, “help me,” and drag his tongue across Luc’s chin. A tear left a salty trail down Avery’s cheek.
“I’ll drive.” Avery didn’t wait for Luc to agree. “You get in the back with Merlot. Cradle him in your arms to try to stabilize his body and keep him as still as possible. He’ll draw strength from you.”
Luc hesitated for a split second. She gave her head a terse nod to let him know her directive was not a suggestion. The keys were still in the ignition and the car running so she opened the passenger door, pushed the seat forward and helped guide Luc and Merlot into the small back seat. Luc may be a Dom, but Avery was a mama bear when someone she cared about was hurt.
They pulled into the vet’s parking lot just as the lights inside the small building came on. Avery stopped right in front of the main door, shoved the gear into park, turned off the ignition, and leapt out of her seat before Luc popped the passenger seat out of his way. Together they entered the clinic and handed off Merlot to the vet and his assistant who were awaiting them. As the gurney rolled through the doors leading to the treatment area the sweet dog lifted his head and looked to Luc with what could only be described as thanks. Silent tears streamed down Luc’s face.