“Follow me.” Zack laughed. “I’ll give you a quick tour first and then you are free to roam, and eat and drink.”
After a brief tour of the beautiful vineyards and a small, underground cave that held his wines, Zack led them to a small, Craftsman-style bungalow.
“This is my guest home for you to use during your stay today. Please make yourself comfortable.”
Zack turned to Micah. “I have everything you requested. You are free to use either the indoor or outdoor kitchen.” He held up his phone. “Just text me if you need anything at all.”
When he left, Micah somehow managed to keep a straight face, despite the fact that he was so excited about the day ahead he could burst.
Jasmine followed him in to the kitchen and folded her arms. “What are you up to?”
“Up to?” Micah opened the refrigerator and glanced over his shoulder.
Every time he looked at Jasmine, she seemed to morph into something more beautiful than before. His eyes were fine, twenty-twenty vision. It wasn’t the wine, as he hadn’t had any yet. It wasn’t that he felt inwardly pressured to compliment her.
She just plain wowed him.
“Don’t play innocent with me,” she warned with a shake of a finger.
He shut the refrigerator and took the plastic wrap off a tray of French artisanal cheeses. He picked one up with a toothpick and walked over to her.
“Shhh.” He kissed her more quickly than he wanted to, then fed her a piece of cheese.
“Hmm, it’s so creamy. What is this?” she asked, her mouth full.
“Cantalet, from Auvergne in south-central France, made with cow’s milk. It will pair very nicely with Zack’s Cabernet.”
“Which you still haven’t opened yet,” she said, snagging another piece of cheese from the tray.
He grabbed the corkscrew Zack had left him, and got to work. “By the way, I’m not up to anything,” he said, after pouring them two generous glasses.
He clinked his gently to hers. “Other than making you happy, for today at least.”
“Just today?” she asked, taking a slow sip.
He did the same, and raised his glass. “Today is all we’ve got, and I intend to take full advantage of it.”
“So where do we start, Micah?”
“Right here, or rather outside.” He picked up the bottle of wine and motioned her to follow him. “It’s too nice to cook inside today. Will you help me take everything to the kitchen out there?”
“No problem.”
He slid open the patio door and they placed their wine glasses on the bistro table.
“I hope you aren’t a picky eater.”
“Only when I’m cooking,” she said, laughing. “What’s on the menu?”
“You know I love barbecue, so I’ve got to show you how to move around a grill.”
They went back into the house. Micah stood in front of the refrigerator and handed her the ingredients for the food he planned to prepare. Jasmine placed them in a two-handled basket so that she could carry everything in one trip.
“How does Chipotle Orange Chicken, and Portobello Mushrooms Stuffed with Spinach and Artichoke sound?”
Jasmine smiled. “Yummy! I’m ready to learn.”
Once they got everything outside, Micah started the grill, while she washed the vegetables. He showed her how to julienne the red peppers, and how to properly debone a chicken.
“So tell me about Zack. Where did you meet?”
Micah laid each piece of chicken carefully on the grill. “Culinary school in Hyde Park. He was a very successful executive chef at several Michelin-rated restaurants in Los Angeles, and then decided to become a vintner. As he said on the tour, tastings are private and by appointment alone.”
“Did he say why he decided to change careers?”
“No, he never said, and I didn’t ask.”
He refreshed their glasses, finishing off the first bottle. “Besides, does anybody really need a reason for doing something that they love?”
They both sat down, and Jasmine propped her feet on his lap. “I’m surprised he didn’t make us squish the grapes with our toes.”
He cupped her heels in his hands and began to massage them. “Do you really want to ruin that pretty pedicure?”
“You would just have to paint them again,” she smiled, demurely, as she fought not to squirm with pleasure in her seat.
Micah raised a brow, and he massaged his way to her toes, and then slowly back to her ankles. “Feel good?”
She took a sip of wine and placed the glass back on the small table next to her.
“Oh yes, definitely. I could get used to this.”
He pulled her onto his lap, fully aware that he was already hard for her. He wanted her to know it, too.
“So could I, Jasmine.”
Micah nuzzled her neck for a long time, petting her with his nose, swabbing her ear with his tongue, loving the way her soft moans vibrated against his lips.
He cupped her cheek with his hand and stroked it gently with his fingers. Her skin felt silky smooth.
“What are you thinking right now?” he asked, gazing into her eyes.
She wriggled her ass, getting more comfortable in his lap. Her soft roundness seemed to do a slow melt into him and Micah fought the urge to grab on to it.
“That I don’t want to think about anything.”
Micah touched his forehead to hers. “I can certainly take care of that for you.”
He kissed her tenderly at first, from one corner of her mouth to the other. With one hand clasped at the back of her neck, he made every millimeter of her wet and luscious lips pop with pleasure.
He melded his lips to hers, teasing them open with his tongue. She welcomed him with a low moan of his name. Their tongues, tasting of wine, darted in and out of their mouths, in a sort of cat-and-mouse game, of which both were the winners.
Micah paused and gazed into her eyes before delving his tongue into the soft indent of skin at the base of her neck. She threw her head back and grabbed his head with her hands as he planted kisses along the ridge of her collarbone.
Jasmine played with the tiny curls at the back of his head, her fingers trying to grab purchase where there was none, as she squirmed and twisted in his lap.
Without lifting his lips from her skin, he twisted, too, trying to get comfortable, but his growing manhood made that impossible. She seemed to realize it, or maybe she just wanted to feel him, because the next thing he knew, she was straddling him.
Though they were both still clothed, he could feel her hot sex on him, and he moved his hips to get as close as he could. She moaned against his neck, and then kissed him from collarbone to ear, her lips like fire on his skin.
Micah massaged his hands up and down her back in slow motion as Jasmine swiveled her pelvis against him. He joined her, matching her movements, until they were both breathless.
Jasmine abruptly stopped moving and leaned her forehead against his shoulder, but still maintained the pressure of her sex against his rock-hard penis. She was panting slightly, and he knew that her body had almost gone over the edge from their grinding together, so she was holding back.
He gathered her into his arms and kissed her gently to calm her down. He was pleased that she wanted to wait and take things slowly. With her help, he slipped her tank over her head, until he was face-to-face with the sheerest lace bra he’d ever seen. It seemed as fragile as the sensual moment between them, so much so that he was almost afraid to touch her.
But then his desire for her took over. His mouth began to water, and he began to trace the swell of her cleavage with the tip of one finger. She wasn’t overly huge, nor small either, but she was perfect for him and he started to lean in.
Before his mouth landed, he looked up into her face. He had to be sure before proc
eeding further. Her eyes were bright with desire for him, and he felt his heart quicken when she took his hand and laid it on her breast to encourage him to go on. He could have kissed her for that, and he would, but right now he had to taste her.
“Jasmine, I’ve dreamed about you.”
He let his eyes cast hungrily over her sweet-looking flesh, to her dark nipple and even darker areola pooled around it, both so thinly veiled beneath the sheer fabric. He could have sworn her nipples hardened just from his gaze.
With a quick swallow, he unclasped her bra from behind, releasing her breasts. He was delighted to find them more beautiful than he’d imagined, her nipples like flower buds ready to burst.
And so was he.
Naked from the waist up was about all he could take at the moment, she was so sexy, so wanton. She was his true temptation.
“Lord, woman. I don’t know where to start. You’ve got me perplexed.”
And hard as a rock, he thought, as she began to grind against him again.
Micah gulped as she brought his head to her chest, her hips moving, her tone low and wicked. She cupped her breasts in the palms of her hands.
“Tell me which one tastes better, Chef.”
He leaned his head forward and drew one tight nipple, slowly into his mouth. She lifted her chin and moaned, and he released her. The sight of her wet tit, and knowing he’d made it that way, made her moan for him, and made him immediately latch on again.
Jasmine arched her back a bit more, pressed her flat, tight abdomen against his shirt, as he massaged one breast, while suckling the other. She continued to cup her flesh in her hands, as if she wasn’t willing to let him have her completely. He inhaled her scent, warm vanilla, and the taste of her in his mouth was unforgettably sweet.
Closing his eyes, he traced one nipple with his tongue, his own excitement growing at the tight beading of her areola. Low moans rolled from her lips in approval, and as he continued the tender movements, she began to pant lightly. He kept extending the area of his moist caresses, laving outward across her soft skin until she finally dropped her hands, eyes closed, her head swaying from side to side.
He took over and raised her breasts with his own hands, gently licking the underside of each one. She grabbed his head, and her breath came in spurts, and he realized he’d discovered a very sensitive spot.
“M-Micah,” she moaned, as he began to trail kisses down the center of her stomach, supporting the small of her back with his hands. “What about the food? We don’t want it to burn.”
Just above her navel, he swore, his balls about to burst. “I almost forgot.”
He helped her to her feet, and then slipped her bra back over her arms and clasped it. “I’m only putting this on because you are a total distraction.
“Am I?”
She turned around, breathless. He pulled her to him tightly, wishing he didn’t have to let her go.
He kissed the side of her neck, near her ear. His mouth salivated with need, thirsty to taste more of her.
“You know you are. Let’s continue this after lunch,” he murmured. “We’re not even halfway done.”
He watched, regretfully, as she slipped back into her tank top. But when she kissed him and moved against him again, he knew that she agreed.
Chapter 7
Jasmine propped her elbows on the granite countertop and watched Micah do his magic, still reeling from his kisses, her loins and breasts heavy with desire. Her head felt woozy, like she’d just woken up from a deep sleep, but her mind was clear. Micah Langston was a powerhouse of a man who knew how to please a woman. She could barely wait to go to bed with him.
But she would wait because judging by the delicious smells emanating from the grill she was in for a culinary treat.
They chatted while he made a black bean salad with melon and cilantro. Thunder rumbled low in the distance and they both looked up. Bay Point and much of Northern California had suffered from a serious drought for the last several years, so rain was always welcome.
“I’m glad we’re under cover,” Jasmine said, crossing her legs.
He picked up a pair of tongs and flipped the chicken pieces. “We’re together, that’s all that matters.”
At his words, her thoughts turned to her ex-boss. Though she was attracted to him, she never let him know it. Nor did she ever do anything to deserve his unwanted sexual advances. The experience had left her cautious of herself and others. She’d questioned her intentions and those of every man who’d wanted to date her.
“Why are you being so good to me?”
Micah turned and raised a brow. “Do I need a reason?”
“No, but I’d still like to know.”
After closing the cover of the barbecue, he washed and dried his hands.
“Listen to me. I don’t want to hang a plaque on this moment. Or put it into a box and wrap it with a bow.”
He braced his palms on the counter and continued. “It’s like food, right? The first time you taste something new. That burst of unbelievable flavor on your tongue. The satisfaction that you were blessed enough to even sit at the table. That’s how I feel when I’m with you.”
Micah covered her hands with his, then her lips with kisses, and things began to heat up between them again. She was almost glad the counter separated them because it wouldn’t take long before she’d be crawling over it and into his arms.
He broke the kiss, and when she opened her eyes, he was smiling into them.
“Do you associate everything with food?” she asked, smiling back.
“Not everything, but I will say this,” he whispered, making the moment even more intimate. “Your lips taste amazing.”
Jasmine laughed and pulled away. “Then we better stop right now before I make you even hungrier.”
Micah growled in good spirit. “Help me set the table, will you?”
She found bamboo placemats, along with water glasses, plates and silverware, in the cupboard. After arranging everything on the bistro table, she opened up another bottle of wine and got two fresh wine glasses.
“Everything smells delicious, Micah.”
He walked over and set a basket of bread down. “Now close your eyes while I plate everything.”
She did as he asked, hiding a smile behind her hand at the seriousness of his tone.
“Bon appétit,” he announced. “That’s French for dig in.”
“I know what it means,” she said, opening her eyes. “I’m from New Orleans, remember?”
Jasmine inhaled the wonderful aromas in front of her. She picked up her fork and started to eat. The chicken was tender, with just enough spice. The vegetables had the perfect amount of crunch.
“Everything is so good,” Jasmine said.
“Thanks! Zack made the vinaigrette that’s on the salad.”
“It’s wonderful. He should bottle and sell it.”
“I’ll tell him you said so,” Micah said. “When we got here, I could tell that he liked you. So much so, I was afraid he was going to snag you away from me. He’s done it before. Zack can be quite the charmer when he wants to be.”
She took a sip of water. “Care to talk about it?”
“There’s nothing to talk about. I didn’t fight it because I didn’t care about the girl.”
“But you care about me?”
“Yes, I’m surprised you can’t tell.”
“I guess I’m just feeling overwhelmed. Everything is happening so quickly.”
“Not really. You and I have been busy.” He put down his wine glass and reached for her hand. “I’m willing to go at your pace. I have all the time in the world.”
It started to rain, and she sat back in her chair, suddenly feeling morose and burdened. She thought of Lucy, and how she’d put her whole life into the restaurant, and wondered why she never marri
ed. She wasn’t sure if she wanted to suffer the same fate.
She wanted a man. She needed a man. Someone as good and as kind as Micah, not to mention sexually stimulating.
“No you don’t. None of us have enough time.”
“That’s true, but distractions can make us appreciate the time we have together, can’t they?”
Jasmine nodded, hoping she didn’t appear ungrateful. “I’m just worried that if things continue to go well between us, I won’t have time for a relationship, and nor will you.”
“I understand, but you told me your background is in marketing. It’s not like you’re going to continue to work for Lucy for your entire life.”
“Maybe I will,” she said. “Lucy is going to retire soon and she wants me to take over the restaurant. I tend bar, but she wants me to learn all aspects of the business.
“Is she in good health?”
“Yes, though she is more tired than usual and can’t stand on her feet as long as she used to. I think she wants to transfer ownership as soon as possible, just to be on the safe side.”
The look on his face was as skeptical as she felt.
“Do you want to own and run her restaurant?”
“I’m not sure. Some days I think I do, others I don’t.”
“Owning any business isn’t like working a nine-to-five.”
“Yes,” she replied sadly. “I’m learning that very quickly. Although, I enjoy meeting and talking with all the customers.” She thought of a few she didn’t like. “Well, most of them.”
“How is business? I remember when I was a kid, it was nearly always packed.” He laughed. “Lucy’s had the best food.”
“It still does,” she asserted proudly. “We’re doing okay, but we’re convinced that the new gourmet burger place is one of the reasons why our dinner rush is down so dramatically. Or it could be one of the other new places.”
He stared at her, and she felt her eyes begin to moisten under his gaze. It was too soon to let him know how deeply concerned she was about her grandmother and the restaurant. This was her problem to solve. Then why couldn’t she stop talking about it with him?
“Lucy is worried sick. Sometimes I think her tiredness is not due to old age, but depression. I know the mayor is looking to bring even more restaurants to Bay Point, but hopefully not too many more.”
Winning Her Heart Page 9