by Kenna North
“You have more staff than I expected. But I guess running a vineyard is a big job. It’s nice that you provide lunch for them every day.”
Nora didn’t look convinced as she cut into her pork roast. I’d already tried it and knew it was hot and savory, cooked to perfection. If I was going to get to the bottom of her frustration, I realized I’d better start talking or resign myself to a very lonely several days.
“So, how was work today?” I asked with a smile. This was what I was here for anyway, right? To learn. Of course, I wanted her to tell me all about what she did from day to day, sharing the mundane details that would make me part of her life. Maybe it was foolish of me, but I wanted to feel that connection to her. That sense that we were more than two people who just happened to occupy the same room.
“It was okay,” was all she said between bites of food.
“Surely there was more than that,” I said, nibbling at the delicious meal as I pushed for her to open up and share more with me. My stomach twisted and I wondered again if maybe I was getting the way of something she ought to be doing.
“I just want someone who can take care of things in the office so I can do my job and make sure the grapes and wine part of things are taken care of,” she said, dropping her fork and looking at me.
My heart skipped a beat and for a moment I’d thought she meant me. I wanted nothing more than to blurt out that I could do that. I could handle the business side of things and let her tend to the fields and soil, and everything else.
“That isn’t too much to ask,” I told her. “The person in the office should be able to handle calls, distribution, and advertising without having to bother you. It isn’t that hard.”
“That’s what I think. But Michelle constantly comes to me to double check the things she’s already taken care of. Why do I need to approve every little thing she does?”
I knew why – because she wanted Nora’s attention and approval. She was trying to show Nora how capable she was and wanted her boss to know it. Not too far off from my own agenda, really, and I squirmed uncomfortably in my chair. Maybe I was no better than Michelle, throwing myself at Nora in hopes of getting something in return.
“I did it all by myself before I hired her,” Nora continued, “but now that we’re using more fields, I needed someone to keep the business end of things organized. The thing is, I feel like Michelle should be able to do her job without constantly asking for my approval each step of the way, but I’m also concerned she doesn’t fit in with what I envision for the company. But those fields need more attention than the office does. I don’t think my grandfather had used some of these fields in a couple decades, so it’s a delicate process, getting them to produce the way we need them to.”
Since Nora seemed to enjoy talking about the wine more than the business end of things, I shifted the conversation by asking, “Do I get to try some of these wines you’re making?” I loved wine, but had never really savored it or learned much about what differentiated the types of wine beyond red and white.
“Would you really like to?” she asked, cocking her head to one side as she looked at me as if unsure if I meant it or was just humoring her.
“Nora,” I looked her straight in the eye, “I’d love to. I want to know everything I can about what goes on here and a great way to start is by trying what you make, the great wines that everyone loves.”
“Okay,” she said, standing up. “Wait here and I’ll be right back. I have the perfect merlot to go with tonight’s meal.”
I watched her walk out of the room, lean muscles enhanced by the low lighting. Nora moved with confidence and authority, and I pushed my thighs together as I felt my body react to hers. It really ought to be a crime for her to wear tight, sleeveless shirts. At least her frustration had dissipated. She seemed excited to share this with me, and I knew that no one else understood what it felt like to love something so much, to want someone to appreciate what she did.
She returned with three bottles, a corkscrew, and six wine glasses. Each glass was a slightly different shape. She set each bottle on the table, next to two of the glasses and began opening them.
“We’ll just let these two breathe while we taste the first one,” she said, her face finally relaxed into a smile that reached her eyes. She poured me an inch or so of wine into one stemmed glass and then swirled it. “Let it rest for a moment and then smell it. Let the bouquet fill your nose. A good part of wine is the scent, the smell. Many people don’t realize that, but more than half of the flavor in a wine is taken in through the nose, which is why the glasses are shaped the way they are, so you can fully enjoy everything about it.”
The way Nora explained it, the passion in her low voice, made me wonder how it might feel to have her feel the same way about me. My breath hitched and I tried to shove aside memories of my adolescent crush on her, back when I’d close myself in my room at night and touch myself, wishing Nora’s fingers – not mine – were the ones on my skin.
The realization that I was wet hit me and I clamped my thighs together even harder, especially as Nora continued swirling the wine and said, “This opens it up. Try it.”
She handed me the glass, our fingers touching. Even though there was no static, I felt the electricity between us and struggled to catch my breath. I wanted to tell her that it’d be easy enough to open me up. Instead, I followed her example and before she could drink, I held up my glass for a toast.
“To love,” I said. I had no idea what possessed me. Maybe it was arousal that emboldened me. But I didn’t think about it beyond that as Nora stopped and looked at me, her expression unreadable. Backpedaling, I added, “I mean, to love something you do, to understand it opens doors that you could have never known existed.”
“Well said.” She smiled and clinked her glass gently against my own.
We drank simultaneously, my own drink a long, deep one. The smell and taste of the wine made my head swim. Or maybe it was just being here with Nora, the way she made my pussy ache. There was only one way to get relief and I knew a little self-love wouldn’t go a long enough way tonight.
As I lowered my glass, I saw her sipping her wine and watching me over the rim of her glass. “This is delicious,” I said, truly meaning it and holding my glass to up to look at the color of the liquid. It provided some small distraction from her towering presence.
“Wait until you try the other two,” Nora said. A smile crossed her face as she looked at me. “The third bottle is paired with our desert. Each wine is meant to go with different flavors or moments.”
Feeling even bolder, I rasped out, “Which one is for the best moment in my life?”
“That bottle is waiting in my private reserve, for when the time comes.” Her response came out like a low rumble, the timbre of it holding a promise of something far wickeder than what I’d had in mind.
My entire body tightened and I held the wine close to my nose, breathing in the scent. It allowed me to avert my gaze and focus instead on the thing that gave her so much fulfillment. Maybe if she saw that I, too, loved what she loved...
From the corner of my eye, I saw Nora set her wine glass down and take her seat. I placed mine next to my plate and picked up my utensils. The conversation flowed much more naturally after that. She asked me about college and, from then on, we drank and ate, emptying half of the bottle. The tension didn’t dissipate, though. It swirled around us, growing heavier with each moment.
When she served dessert, she poured fresh glasses from the second bottle. The rich flavor mixed well with the chocolate soufflé. I began to feel a bit light-headed and tipsy, which only increased the tingles flowing through me.
We talked about the winery and how she’d learned all the things about it, improved on the process, and where she wanted it to go in the future.
There with the wine and arousal coursing pleasantly through my body, and Nora’s voice wrapping around me like velvet, I wanted nothing more than to be a part of that future.
I couldn’t stop watching Abby as she sipped on the wine. She was a natural when it came to tasting and I drank up her company like she drank the merlot. She was a wonder and her company was as intoxicating to me as the alcohol was to her. Of course, she had no idea just how beautiful she was, how natural and sweet, without even trying. I’d missed that artlessness.
“What’s the last one for?” Abby asked, pointing at the final bottle on the table.
“That’s for after dinner,” I answered, “for sitting and relaxing before bed.”
“Oh, I like the sound of that,” she said.
I didn’t know if she meant the wine or bed, but that didn’t stop my body from reacting. Thoughts swirled through my head of her in bed, naked and spread out on my sheets. I knew I wanted to enjoy her like a fine wine, savoring her and getting drunk on her. It’d always been an unspoken taboo, though, not to touch my best friend’s little sister. Not to look at her as anything more than the girl next door.
Now, though, I didn’t want her to leave. I wanted to keep her here, by my side and in my bed, and show her what it meant to be desired. After spending all those years around her, looking but not touching, I knew it was time to cross that line.
It was the only thing that would alleviate the frustration that’d filled me from the moment I saw her at the airport. If I didn’t say or do something, I knew I’d go out of my mind with wanting her.
We moved to the living room with the third bottle. Abby settled on the couch, crossing her legs underneath her. I stared at her creamy thighs, seeing her shorts riding up toward her crotch. She leaned back, closing her eyes and stretching. I watched the thin material of her shirt mold around her breasts as they strained against it, her nipples apparent under the sheer material as she did so.
“What are you thinking about?” she asked, and I realized she was watching me as I stared at her.
“Nothing,” I said, turning away to pour a glass for each of us from the last bottle. “I was just thinking how great tonight has been. It’s been so long since I’ve been around anyone who enjoys wine for what it is, instead of just thinking of it as a business.”
“I could do this every night for the rest of my life and be happy,” she said, looking at me from underneath her eyelashes.
I was sure it was just the wine talking, or at least it was the wine making me think that she wanted what I wanted. My tongue drilling into her velvety pussy, my hands holding her in place while she writhed beneath me. I turned away, uncrossing my legs so I could lean over and pour the wine.
When I handed her the glass, our hands touched as they had before and electricity shot through me, only adding to the blood flow in other places. I growled, my passion growing each moment. I wanted nothing more than to taste the wine on her lips and continue on to taste the rest of her. But I couldn’t take advantage of her when she was buzzing. I knew she would regret anything like that in the morning and I couldn’t take the chance of doing anything that would make her leave.
No, I’d have to steal her heart the way I’d brought this vineyard back to prosperity – with care and passion. I decided then and there that Abby wouldn’t be going home. I’d make her at home right here.
“Another toast?” she asked.
“Okay,” I said, holding my glass in the air as I sat down on the other end of the couch. “Here’s to making the impossible work.”
She looked at me, squinting as if trying to figure out the meaning behind my words. Clinking the glasses against one another’s, I offered her a half smile before taking a drink. Her answering smile was enough to reassure me that, buzzed or not, I could seduce my way into her heart. As much as I wanted to lean over her, to kiss her, I didn’t want her to feel intimidated. I’d take this slow.
“Oh my god,” she said, holding up her glass to look at the wine. “That is amazing! I never realized the huge difference in wine. I could drink this whole bottle by myself.”
“But you can’t,” I said. The look of disappointment on her face made my heart ache and I hastened to add, “I just meant that it wouldn’t be good for you. Besides, you have to share with me.”
“Well, I like that idea,” she purred before sipping at her wine. “I can’t think of anything I would rather do then share anything and everything with you.”
I hid my smile by taking another drink. She couldn’t be flirting with me. She was only here to talk business, nothing more, I reminded myself. But I wasn’t stupid. I knew the signs. Abby wanted me, but that was the wine talking at the moment. She wasn’t the type to throw herself at me, even drunk. Damn, it was still cute and I couldn’t resist teasing her.
Abby giggled, taking another drink. She pushed her feet under my thigh, wiggling her bare toes as she did. “Oh, my feet are killing me,” she said as she stretched out. “Walking in those airports always makes them ache.”
“Oh really,” I said, leaning over to set my glass on the table. Maybe it was the wine that made me do what came next as I pulled one of her feet out from under my leg. “Maybe I can help you with that.”
I gripped her foot in both hands and began to knead it with my fingers, my thumbs digging into the muscle on the bottom of her foot. She sighed and leaned back, sliding down the couch. I watched her eyes close as her legs fell apart. My hands did their job as my eyes took in her body, stretched out in front of me. My own underwear became uncomfortably wet as I watched her tits rise and fall with her breaths. So beautiful, just laid out before me, wanting to be touched...
Abby pulled her other foot out from under me and put it on my lap. It brushed against my crotch and I couldn’t help but twitch in response. Abby opened her eyes and looked at me, smiling as she turned her glass up to empty it.
Reaching out to set her glass on the table, she moaned. I’d moved my hands to her calves, digging into the tense muscles there. She opened her legs more, knees separating as she breathed heavily through open lips. Her blonde hair cascaded over the arm of the sofa, looking soft and touchable.
“Mmm,” she mumbled, watching me through half-lidded eyes. “You keep that up and I’ll let you do anything you want to me, Nora.”
A growl rose in my throat, as I rubbed her leg up to the knee. I knew this was going to get out of control if it went much further. Seducing her was something I wanted to take my time with, not do in the heat of the moment just because we’d both had some wine. Inhibitions be damned, though, I wanted her.
Of course, there was the question of whether or not she was even a lesbian. I’d known from a young age that I was and I’d kept it a secret until I got to California. My parents still didn’t really know, though they’d figure it out eventually. Abby... it was possible. I didn’t remember her really showing interest in anyone when she was a teenage, but I also hadn’t seen her much since then.
As I wondered how she might respond if I kissed her, Abby sat up, uncoiling her body toward me. Tucking her legs underneath her, she leaned forward, placed a hand on my chest, and our lips touched.
So much for wondering.
For the briefest moment, I thought the kiss wouldn’t end, that her hand would continue to move lower, giving my body something to finally get out its frustrations with.
And then she fell into me, her face sliding down my chest.
Giggling, she put a hand on my shoulder and pulled herself back up so we were eye to eye.
“Oopsie,” she said, smiling at me. “You must have moved. Or the world did.”
“Okay,” I said, standing up. “I think it’s time for bed.”
“Oh, bed sounds so lovely.” Abby rolled onto her back, stretching languidly and her body unfolding before me.
I could see her breasts pressing against the thin material of her shirt again, her nipples still prominent and hard. I clenched my fists to stop myself from reaching down to touch her. I wanted to tear her shirt off of her, baring her breasts to my hands, lips, and teeth. I wanted to peel back her pants and shove my hand into her
panties to feel her wet pussy.
But I restrained myself. Even with the throbbing ache of my own body, the taste of wine lingering on my lips reminded me that she wasn’t fully in control of her senses. With every ounce of willpower in me, I held myself in check from taking the only woman that I’d ever wanted and now wanted all the more. She was a feast for the eyes, though, and my eyes devoured every inch of her, but my hands stayed by my sides.
“You can take me to bed,” Abby cooed, reaching her arms toward me. “That sounds wonderful.”
I bent over and slipped an arm under her shoulders, helping her to her feet. She stumbled against me and her head fell onto my shoulder. Before I could process what was happening, she turned and nibbled on my neck as I guided her toward the stairs. The floral scent of her shampoo filled my senses and I couldn’t help but press my nose into her hair, to take a long, deep breath so I could smell her.
Then I was on the steps, ascending them carefully and tugging her along with me. It took far too long to make it to the top, but then we were finally moving toward the bedrooms. Abby licked at my collarbone, her hands sliding around my neck to pull herself closer. I growled again, wanting nothing more than to drop my mouth to hers. I wanted to taste her lips so badly; to push my tongue into her mouth, to feel her soft body against mine.
“You’re supposed to be walking,” I reminded her. “Help me out, here.”
“Oh, but I am helping you, Nora. I’m letting you know how much I want to help you with anything and everything in your life.”
I rolled my eyes and told myself that it was just too much wine, she didn’t realize what she was doing. The long flight, a big meal, and some good wine would make anyone do things they might regret the next day. I tried to move quickly down the hall to her room. Anything to put some distance between us.
Entering the bedroom, I pushed the light switch plate with my elbow. I managed to usher her to the bed, but I couldn’t help but hold her against me – her arms around my neck helping – as I pulled back the blanket and sheets. Pushing her down to a seated position on the bed, I disentangled her arms and she fell back against the feather pillows. As much as I hated to leave Abby there, I knew every moment brought me that much closer to giving into the temptation to bury my tongue in her slick cunt, wrap my arms around her, and use her to slake every ounce of desire rushing through me.