“I think you see more colors than I do.”
“You haven’t had much chance to look at stars, that’s all.”
Toni turned her head to study Syrah’s profile etched by the starlight. “And I’m supposedly the complicated one.”
Syrah’s arm slowly fell to her side. “I’m finding it very hard to understand you.”
“I really do think I’m straightforward.”
She turned her head sharply, but her lips were curved in a smile. “But not straight.”
“Not in the least.”
There were stars reflected in Syrah’s eyes, flickers of silver mingling with that deep, alluring gold. It’s the stars, Toni thought, that make her look as if she wants me. It’s the stars.
She told herself it was the stars when Syrah leaned into the inches that separated them and their lips met.
They both drew back immediately and Syrah scooted up onto the hood of the car, wrapping her legs with her arms. “I’m sorry, I don’t know why I did that.”
Toni couldn’t help but smile. “Maybe because we both wondered what it would be like.”
She nodded.
Toni willed herself to at least look calm as she leaned against the car. “The hood is warm.”
“Yes, feels good.”
“So I think I see the red star. The Pleiades aren’t so much stars as a group glow.”
“I know when I was a girl I could count four out of seven. But these days this is the best it gets.” She unwrapped a little, sliding to the edge of the hood. “It’s hard to see anything clearly with so much interference.”
Toni shifted just enough to study Syrah’s face again. “Our world is full of noise. But tonight it seems very quiet.”
Syrah turned her head and the invitation was there in the tremble of her lips, the unfocused gaze that seemed to reach no further than Toni’s mouth and the restless movement of her hands on her thighs.
Toni lost track of the world. The stars might have winked out for all she knew, suspended in that desirous, vulnerable look. She captured one of the restless hands, shivering as she coiled her fingers around Syrah’s. She felt the shudder that unfurled in Syrah’s arms, then their bodies wound together, close and hard, lips seeking and finding equal pressure.
Toni knew she said something, but she couldn’t hear her own voice over the pounding in her ears. Their kisses surged from one to another with increasing intensity until Syrah’s legs wrapped around Toni’s hips and their rhythm became mutual.
She had not felt this fire for Mira in a long time, and last night Caroline had only blown on low embers. This fire was hot and real, and the little noises Syrah made as they kissed only sent the flames higher.
Toni let herself feel Syrah’s bare arms, then the curve of her back just under the hem of her sweater. She wanted Syrah’s sweater out of the way, but she still had some control left, though it was rapidly weakening. Every movement of her hands seemed to bring a responsive shudder from Syrah and their hips were locked in a frustrating dance. The sweater wasn’t the only thing she wanted Syrah to take off. Her own clothes were too tight and too confining.
She gasped and broke their kiss at the thought of their bare breasts touching and felt a clench high up that stunned her. She moaned, realizing too late how excited she was and Syrah caught her in a fierce grasp, pulling Toni onto the hood, on top of her warm, rolling body.
“Like that?” Syrah’s hands were at Toni’s zipper. “I didn’t think…We shouldn’t.”
“We shouldn’t.” Toni groaned. “Yes, just like that, please.”
Syrah’s hands slipped inside Toni’s underwear, making space for her hands to move. Fingertips grasped Toni’s hips, then nails grazed the sensitive skin of her inner thighs. “That’s it,” Syrah said softly, then she arched hard under Toni as her hand closed over Toni’s swollen, slick center.
“Please.” She could find no other word.
“Kiss me,” Syrah whispered. “Kiss me while I touch you.”
Unraveling, she fell into Syrah’s mouth. Their tongues danced in a sensual, intimate give-and-take while Syrah’s fingers slowly stroked every nerve between Toni’s legs.
I can’t protect myself like this, Toni thought wildly. It wasn’t the vulnerable position, her legs spread over Syrah’s hips. Something else was completely exposed and it was Syrah’s gaze that touched it, caressed it. She reared back to try to get away from the way those eyes were trying to possess her and found Syrah’s fingers were slipping inside.
“Oh, please,” she choked out, her mouth dry.
“Yes,” Syrah said through clenched teeth. “Just like that. Let me feel you.”
Toni couldn’t help but let most of her weight fall on Syrah when the first climax washed over her. Syrah was kissing her, now, fiercely, and she thrust down hard on Syrah’s fingers as muscles tried to tighten and relax at the same time. She heard a short, sharp cry, realized it was her and buried her face in Syrah’s neck.
She could have melted on top of Syrah, but nerves shivered awake as Syrah whispered, “Please let me have more of you.”
Toni shifted slightly, feeling the delicious pressure of Syrah’s fingers still inside her. Gathering what strength she had, she pulled her own shirt over her head and loosened her bra.
Syrah moaned, a low, sexy sound that ended as she captured Toni’s nipple between her fingers. They kissed, and Toni realized she was dancing for Syrah and she never wanted to stop. She’d never felt this kind of release before, this kind of abandon.
“Oh…oh, you feel so good.” Syrah’s voice was silken. “I don’t want to stop touching you. I’m sorry, I didn’t think we would do this… You feel so good.”
“Don’t stop.” Toni silenced Syrah with a kiss and let the searing pleasure of skin on skin claim her. Every time she pushed back against Syrah’s fingers she heard one of those wonderful little sounds from Syrah and they were getting increasingly frantic. Syrah’s pleasure was so palpable that Toni felt another surge of tightness inside.
It was happening so quickly and Syrah’s stunned expression echoed Toni’s peak. They both cried out, sharp, sweet, and suddenly they were both laughing, kissing, settling into a comfortable embrace as their hips slowly continued to move.
Syrah’s hands smoothed Toni’s back. “I really didn’t think we would…do this.”
“Neither did I.” Toni kissed Syrah’s earlobe, then she nibbled lightly at it to feel Syrah shiver again. “I really wanted to, but I thought I had more control than this.”
“I’m glad you don’t.” Syrah leaned back enough that they could be face to face. “I’m glad I don’t either. I’m just feeling…well…”
Please don’t say you feel sorry or foolish or guilty, Toni wanted to plead. She didn’t want to hear inappropriate or one of those things.
“I’m feeling surprised.”
“That we’re here?”
“No. Okay, well, on the hood of your car, yeah. I’m surprised.” Syrah gazed up at the stars for a moment. “What I meant was, though, that I…could do that.”
“What? Make me feel that good?”
She nodded shyly. “I’ve never responded like that while touching someone else.”
“Oh. You mean you…” Leaning close, Toni whispered, “You came with me?” She felt another nod against her cheek. “Wow. I’m sorry I was distracted. I wanted to be quite aware when you came for me the first time.”
A shudder traveled the length of Syrah’s body. Her voice was a blend of uncertainty and boldness as she said, “Well, I didn’t exactly come for you. I came with you.”
“And that’s different?”
“It sure as hell felt different. It was quite, quite nice.”
“I think we need to be sure,” Toni said, trying to tease just enough to help Syrah relax again. “I’d hate for you to be confused on that point.”
“What did you have in mind?”
“A little of this.” Toni shifted her position so that she could pul
l Syrah’s sweater off. “A little of tha—” Toni bit back a gasp. “Dear heaven, you’re so incredibly beautiful.”
“Touch me,” Syrah breathed as she unhooked her bra. “Touch me.”
The womanly swells Toni had glimpsed under the wet T-shirt were under her palms now. Responsive nipples made her mouth water. Syrah was so divinely female. Cupping her breast was like holding a feminine secret. Toni leaned forward to softly kiss one plump tip and shivered when she felt it harden against her lips.
Another of those small sounds, something between a whimper and a plea, brought Toni’s head up to kiss the panting mouth as she gathered Syrah’s breasts in her hands. Syrah’s vulnerability was going right to Toni’s head, leaving her dizzy. “You are so very beautiful to touch.”
In the starlight Syrah’s expression flickered from fear to desire, back and forth, and Toni touched her with all the tenderness she felt inside.
“I won’t hurt you.”
A cool breeze drifted over them and Toni could feel Syrah withdrawing. “Not tonight, I know you won’t tonight.”
Not ever, Toni wanted to say. Her hands stilled. It wasn’t a promise she could make.
They kissed again but Toni knew Syrah had shut down. The starlight had only lasted so long, Toni thought.
Softly, she asked, “Do you want your clothes back?”
“I think so.” Syrah turned her head away.
Toni softly kissed the shoulder nearest her and felt Syrah tremble. “Oh, honey, don’t cry.”
“It’s just reaction. I’m okay.” The dark eyes that turned toward Toni were brimming with tears. “This wasn’t a good idea for either of us.”
“No, no, it wasn’t. I don’t say that to hurt you, Syrah.” She let herself, unseen, touch Syrah’s hair as she pulled the sweater back into place. “We both…I guess we both need to think what this means.”
“If it means anything.”
“It does. It does to me.”
All the fear Toni had felt earlier, trying to keep some kind of distance from the pleasure of Syrah’s company, then the fervor of her kisses, Toni could see all that fear in Syrah’s eyes now. It was that same disbelief and worry that by the time she pulled back it would be too late.
She has more than her heart to lose through knowing you, Toni thought as she pulled her own clothes back into some semblance of order. Her jeans were soaked. What had been sexy was rapidly chilling to discomfort. She wished she could take Syrah back to Netherfield, to bed, but Caroline was there and ye gods, what a tangle. Nor did she fancy waking up to Bennett’s slashing wit, or Anthony’s undoubted hurt to find out Toni had seduced his daughter.
This hadn’t been smart, not at all. Her stomach lurched as she recalled the moment she hadn’t been able to pull back and had lost herself in Syrah’s arms. It hadn’t been smart, but nothing in her life had ever before felt so right.
Chapter 9
Shifting in bed, Syrah knew the alarm was not far off but she still told herself she was trying to sleep. Rolling over with a sigh she scratched her nose and the aroma on her fingertips washed over her.
Toni.
Sleep was impossible. After pulling on work clothes, she made her way through the lower fields toward the oldest and smallest fermentation building. The rough-cut stone created a low temperature for slow yeast reactions, resulting in their most mellow, longest peaking reds.
The interior was damp and cool and Syrah hoped it might mellow her, too, but she doubted anything could. Even though her limbs felt like lead, her heart kept missing beats every time she remembered what it had felt like to hold Toni in her arms.
Methodically working her way through the barrels with the testing meter, she relived the night before, everything from the surprising invitation to dinner and the conversation that had side-stepped important things and left so much unsaid. At times she had felt so unschooled, unsophisticated. She was sure someone like Caroline Bingley was never at a loss for words or actions.
How could she have seduced Toni like that? Even when she’d seen those bruises in the starlight she simply hadn’t cared that Toni had been with anyone else. Toni had been responding to her, she was sure of that, not just the romantic spring night and one drink at dinner. Something tingled and ached like never before, but she had been stupid, stupid to grab Toni like that, as if there had been no yesterday and would be no tomorrow.
And then, like some child, she’d gotten scared about what it meant to be making love so intensely and broken the mood. Toni had wanted her and even now Syrah’s body felt simply unreal.
She finished her measurements and notes and walked back to the house, hungry but not sure she could eat. Toni had said today was the last day she’d be at the winery, but she wasn’t going home for a week, maybe. Would she ask Syrah out again? Should she ask Toni for a date? What did they do now, after that awkward hug and peck good-bye?
Toni’s rental car was in the small lot when Syrah regained the house. She braced herself, or tried to, but her stomach still lurched at the sight of Toni casually leaning against the counter, one elegant hand wrapped around a mug of coffee.
At least, Syrah thought with satisfaction, it looks like she got as much sleep as I did.
If anything, Toni’s eyes were haunted. “Good morning” was all she said.
“Good morning. How are things penciling today?”
“Better than yesterday, though there’s a great deal of uncertainty remaining.”
“Not to mention a lot of noise.”
Toni nodded, gazing into her coffee. “A great deal of noise.” She sighed when her cell phone rang and walked by Syrah without a glance on her way to the patio.
Syrah made herself eat a little toast, and coffee seemed to settle her jumping stomach. Every so often a snatch of Toni’s conversation drifted toward them. Syrah wondered who “Crystal sweetie” was and why “Doc” was so happy. It wasn’t her business.
She settled at the computer to download the distributor orders for the day and checked her e-mail. With a jolt she recognized the same sender who had sent the mysterious note from “A Friend” yesterday.
Even though she’d showered she felt as if she could still smell Toni on her fingertips. She heard the breath of wonder that Toni had let out when she’d first touched Syrah’s breasts. Her finger hovered over the delete button, but again, remembering that more was at stake than anything she might feel for Toni, she made herself open the message.
“Dear Ms. Ardani,” she read.
I know what I’m about to tell you isn’t going to be easy to hear but if I can save you the torment I have suffered at Toni Blanchard’s hands, it will be worth the risk to me. If she ever knows I broke my silence my entire family will be ruined. Below I have included some links to articles about Blanchard’s business practices and numerous editorials pleading with her not to close down factories and sell off holdings in small towns all over the country.
Her excuses about her tactics always sound sincere, and to my everlasting regret her charm and attractions got the best of me. Our affair was highly painful for me as I believe she took pleasure in the fact that I was so dependent on her. When I tried to leave her and had to borrow money she promptly bought up my marker and now holds it over my head to ensure my silence.
Don’t believe her lies. Don’t let her get too close. She is a master of manipulation.
* * *
Once again, it was signed, “A Friend.”
Numbly, Syrah reviewed the links in the e-mail, then chose the last and clicked. The browser hopped to a page from the Valdosta Journal headed by an editorial titled, “Blanchard Pulls the Plug— Factory Closing Tuesday.”
Though her eyes blurred with tears, she made herself read every last word about lies and false hope, about promises to help then fading out of sight. The other links led to similar articles, including one that detailed the possibility of a grand jury investigation into the purchase of a bankrupt high-tech company in Silicon Valley. Was that the real reas
on Toni didn’t work in that part of the state now?
She hadn’t wanted to trust Toni, hadn’t wanted to think she was really here to help them. Yesterday she had let herself think that maybe Toni didn’t have a calculator where her heart ought to be, and last night…last night…she had felt something she’d never known she could.
She closed all the screens, fighting to breathe, and escaped to the vineyard again. Her throat ached too tightly to cry.
“I don’t know where Syrah can have gone, but if you like I’ll have her call you.” Anthony scratched his head, obviously puzzled by his daughter’s absence.
“It’s okay, I’ll call her to say good-bye. I’m glad that we were able at least to solve a few problems, temporarily. I, or one of my colleagues, will be back in two months to review the projections so we can assure the court that everything is going according to plan. At that time…” Toni made herself look him in the eye. “At that time we may have to consider some painful alternatives while there are still choices and no one is forcing a course of action on us.” Stop saying us, she told herself. There was no us.
“I am going to think long and hard about what to do, too. We’ll be careful with our expenses, that I promise as well.”
Toni found a smile. “You’ve no idea how good that is to hear. A number of companies I’ve worked with never even want to promise that.”
She shook hands, accepted his greetings to be passed on to her father, and then left the Ardanis behind her, or so she sincerely hoped. She regretted last night with Syrah, and she’d been acting out of character from the moment she’d arrived. She needed to apologize to Caroline, too, and then go home. Missy’s pool was tempting, and so was the sunshine, but she needed to get home and back into some kind of balance.
She now knew the drive to Netherfield well and was surprised to find, though it was hardly past noon, Missy’s convertible in the driveway.
“Toni, you’ve done wonders!” Missy beamed at her from the common room, surveying the heavy crimson wallpaper.
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