His familiar baritone pulled me from my impure thoughts. His stare shouldn’t have made me feel small, but it did. He’d always been one step ahead of me, with the ladies, in school, and now with his business. Bennett Monterosso always had it all. He watched me as I approached, his lips in a firm line. He adjusted his tie and cleared his throat. “When did you get into the city?” The cool tone of his voice lacked the genuine interest that I’d once been privy to.
“Just tonight.” I raised my eyes from his and took in the spectacle of the room. The candle light, the dark rich color of the stone, it was decadent. “You’ve outdone yourself… very extravagant… I’m—”
“Impressed? You should be. I’m not going to lie, Gage. When you called, said you were coming to town, I was confused. I thought things with… us… well, I thought—”
I leaned in closer, his signature scent polluted the space between us. My whisper was just low enough he could hear. “Don’t worry, your dirty secrets are safe with me.” I chuckled as I backed away. Bennett’s posture stiffened.
“My secrets?” His grin was smug. “If I remember correctly, we both have skeletons that best stay in the closet.” He placed his hand on my shoulder, his grip tighter than I liked. “Come on, Gage… let’s get a glass of wine.”
I let him guide me to the back of the room. I’d come here to see him, to reconnect and get the information I needed so I could go back home and do what I needed to do. The past should be just that… history, it shouldn’t fucking follow you like it did me. Bennett, on the outside, was shiny, expensive, controlled. But I knew better; as much as he knew me, I knew him too.
“It’s been too long.” The lie spilled from his lips with ease. It pissed me off.
“Seems just like yesterday to me.” I could lie too. It felt like an eternity since I’d been back here, back home. Living in California wasn’t my ideal situation, but my job kept me far away. There were too many miles between me and my past, but I’d take it.
Bennett ordered two glasses of Shiraz from the server behind the bar before his stare met mine again. The creases around his eyes softened. “Can I be candid?” He almost sounded vulnerable. It threw me.
“Always.”
“It’s been hard… without you.” He swallowed.
It had been hard, but he didn’t need to fucking know that. I hated that I needed him and I hated that I was here to destroy his perfect world.
Gage Calibri. I hadn’t seen him in five years, not since… not since that night we’d both been so fucking drunk. I’d known Gage my whole life. Our families had been close, we’d gone to the same private school, and played on all the same sports teams. In college we were kings; it was there we had shared our first girl… from that point our appetites for sex grew, changed. We were both born of privilege, had all the things a girl would want in a man, but we both needed more. We were spoiled. My desire to control and his need to physically dominate was a nice combination, but as the years went on, his tastes grew darker and I could no longer condone his actions. That last night it all came to a head and we parted ways. But not a day went by that I didn’t wonder, wonder if he’d fallen completely into the darkness if he’d ever actually hurt anyone.
“I never wanted to leave, Bennett. That was your fucking choice.” His jaw pulsed as the server placed two glasses of red wine down in front of us.
“Are you still with—”
“Clara? No, we broke shit off right after we got to Cali.” His dark brown eyes shifted and scanned the room before meeting mine with a glare.
“So you’re in California then?” I asked.
He nodded. “For now. I’ve been in Phoenix for the past few months, though.”
“Remind me again what it is you actually do?” I grinned as his lips turned up at the corners. I could never figure out what the hell he was going to do with a Master’s degree in chemistry. He was the academic, and I was the business man. My charm worked well… I was able to help my family’s winery go from a corner shop in SoHo to a bi-costal enterprise. My father’s hobby was now my livelihood.
“Don’t you remember? It’s similar to what I did here before I left. I’m a freelance chemist. Right now, I’m contracted with a big Botox firm in L.A.” He sipped from the glass, and his nostrils flared.
My smile grew. “The wine, it’s good?”
“It’s amazing. You’ve done well. When did you leave Wyatt and Barnes? Before or after they went under?”
The company I had worked for fell apart when the CEO decided to line his pockets with everyone’s pensions. For a moment, I’d lost everything. My life of privilege hung precariously off a ledge for about a year or so. “After.”
“How’d you manage to pull yourself out from that?” His perceptive eyes searched mine.
I inhaled as I prepared the lie I’d told so well by now. “I was able to get one of my father’s old friends to help invest in the Winery. We slowly built it up, and now… well now… it’s a heavy competitor.” My smile felt fake and his eyes narrowed.
“You must be proud.” I didn’t miss the hint of resentment in his tone.
“I am.”
The haunting sound of the cello silenced us. We both turned and looked toward the center of the room. The woman from earlier was playing a song I recognized from the radio, but the way it played across her bow sent chills up my spine. Her talent was unbelievable, and I suddenly couldn’t give a fuck about Gage, our past, or the new secrets that ate at me every day. Right now, I watched as her lips trembled, and her toes pressed firmly against the ground as the arch of her foot lifted. Her eyes closed; she was magnificent.
“She’s something.” Gage’s deep voice startled me.
“She is…” I chanced a glance at him and I saw it. That lust, it was there and I knew it would be. It had always been me to pick our next girl, our next conquest — Gage and I had such similar tastes, but he’d always let me pick. I was the collector. He coddled my control issues. “It’s funny how some things never change.”
“How do you mean?” His brow creased as he stared at me.
“If this was five years ago… we’d have already made a plan to have her.”
“Haven’t you, though?” Gage’s jaw tightened.
I had. This woman would be my choice tonight. It’d been too long since I actually wanted something, someone. I was too busy, but there was something luxurious about her mouth, and her eyes, when they found mine, begged me to show her more than her simple life. Her shoes didn’t match the expensive dress, the fake leather obvious, making it easy for me to see that she most likely struggled to keep her music career afloat.
Gage threw back the rest of his wine in one swallow. “You haven’t changed at all, Bennett, and neither have I.” The way he said it, it was like an invitation. He chuckled as he turned to walk away. “I’ll be in touch.” It felt like old times for just that split second. I hadn’t lied when I said it had been hard without him. It had. I’d done something so stupid, and I knew if he’d been here he would have stopped me. But now, he was a stranger, a guy I used to fuck girls with. A guy who would fuck this girl, right now, if he had the chance. Spoil her, ruin her, like he always did.
“Looking forward to it.”
I wasn’t sure if he heard me… and honestly, I wasn’t sure I really cared anymore. My life was too goddamn complicated to be bothered with the return of Gage Calibri. I took a gulp of my wine and let the flavor rest on my tongue before it fell smoothly down my throat. Tonight was about my success. I’d pulled myself up from near destruction. The music ended and the room applauded lightly, drawing my attention back to her.
The past had pushed its way back into my seamlessly constructed life tonight. Might as well take what I wanted.
I smiled as the woman’s eyes followed Gage’s form through the room as he left.
Just like old times…
The crowd slowly thinned throughout the evening. After I played my last set, I figured I’d enjoy some wine. It was the
n, sitting at the bar, that the man who’d watched me all night finally made his move. My time in college taught me more than just how to be the best musician; it taught me exactly what I shouldn’t want in a man. The dirty tumbling in my dorm room sheets, the tattooed bad-boy music majors, the pot head wanna-be rock stars — I’d had my fair share. But once I realized I was destroying everything I’d been working for, letting myself drown in these men that wouldn’t care if I lived or died as long as they got their piece of ass, I grew the hell up. Renee still fed her ego through sex. I fed mine through accomplishment: my chair position on the symphony stage and my composition. It was the only way I knew how to survive. I knew this man, with his dark eyes and handsome jawline, could be every bit as destructive as the slackers from my first years at college.
His rich cedar, bergamot, and sage scent filled my lungs as he moved into my personal bubble. “Thank you for performing. It really made the night special.” He held out his hand. His deep voice resonated in my chest, and my heart reacted to the sound.
“You’re welcome…” I let him take my hand in his; the warmth of his skin on mine was pleasant. “…and thank you…”
I let the words hang in the air like a question.
“Bennett.” His smile widened, and his thumb lingered against mine as our hands separated. “Monterosso.”
Holy shit. I sat up straighter and let my gaze drop from his. He’d hired me to work tonight… well, his assistant had, and here I was thinking he was about to drop a pick up line. “Thank you for letting me play, Mr. Monterosso. It was such an honor. This place…” I looked around at the expensive lighting, the well-planned interior design, the general splendor of it all. “…it’s a pleasure to be a part of your Grand Opening.”
“Please, call me Bennett. Mr. Monterosso makes me feel old.” His full lips spread into a confident grin. “The pleasure was all mine. Your talent is exceptional Ms.—”
“Selene… oh god, it’s Selene. I’m so rude.” I felt the blush fill my cheeks; my chest felt light and my ears were burning. “Selene Cavalier.” I flicked my eyes to his for a spilt-second, and the warmth spread all over my body. His eyes were almost too observant. Again, as he did earlier while I played, he watched me, making me feel like a small bird in a cage.
“Selene, you should let me get you a glass of wine as a thank you.”
“I already have one.” I lifted my glass from the bar and took a sip of the blackberry Merlot. It was dry with a slight sweetness that I liked. I wet my lips tasting the faint berry flavor.
Bennett swallowed and stepped in closer. The heat rolling off his broad form was intense. He had to be over six feet tall; with his sharp jaw, his angular nose, I didn’t think he could be any more intimidating. But as his large left hand settled on my knee while he leaned in to whisper in my ear, I almost forgot to breathe. His right hand gently moved my hair over my shoulder. “I’d like to show you the private stock collection. It’s in the cellar. Very rare tastes. Are you game, Selene?”
The rational portion of my brain misfired as his hot breath tickled my ear. I nodded as he pulled back; his deep brown eyes now sparked with desire. I took the last sip of my wine; his gaze still piercing through me. He took my hand in his, and my heart skipped. “Follow me.” It was a dare, and I accepted it.
His fingers laced with mine as we walked through the crowd. The patrons smiled at him as we passed, a few stopping to say hello. He just nodded and kept moving. If there was ever a time for me to stop and think, it would be now. But, my curiosity was going to kill me one of these days. Bennett was over the top attractive; I liked how without even trying, he demanded attention. He made me feel sexy, something I wasn’t used to. I hadn’t done anything spontaneous in so long, and, with the buzz of the wine, this sexy stranger — a successful business man — I figured, why not? What could be the harm?
We moved in silence down a spiral stairwell, and he released my hand as we neared the end. He took a set of keys from his pocket and opened the door at the bottom of the stairs. He stepped across the threshold into darkness. Within seconds, his face was illuminated in dim light and he smiled. “Sorry, had to turn on the lights.” He reached his hand out, and I took it. He led me into a large room, the ceiling low, with rows and rows of wine bottles. “This is my private stock.”
My mouth popped open in awe. “This… is all yours?”
“It was my family’s, but now it’s mine.” His eyes narrowed for a moment, and he released my hand.
I didn’t ask for further explanation. I figured the “was” of it wasn’t something he wanted to talk about. He disappeared down one of the long aisles, and I made my way to a small bench on the other side of the room. There was a slight mugginess to the room that made the air seem old. The fabric bench felt cool against the back of my thighs as I sat down. Bennett appeared with a bottle of wine and a corkscrew.
He moved over to where I was sitting. “May I?” he asked and gestured to the chair.
“You may.” My smirk made him grin as he sat next to me. I had a feeling he wasn’t used to asking for things.
“This bottle of wine was purchased in Italy, ten years ago. I was there on a holiday with my best friend, and we celebrated finishing our undergraduate studies. We each bought a bottle and said we had to drink it with someone we didn’t know…” He brought his free hand to my arm and ran his fingertips along the surface causing goosebumps to erupt down my spine. “…to share in the celebration of a great accomplishment. Like we had in graduating from college.”
“What if I haven’t done anything worth celebrating? What a waste that would be.” I had accomplished a great many things, but how could he know that?
“The way you play music… alone… is a magnificent achievement.” He used the wine key and opened the bottle. The pop of the cork echoed in the room. “My friend said once I opened it, I had to drink it just like we had that day — straight from the bottle. Enjoy the absurdity of sharing with a stranger.”
He handed me the bottle, and I brought it to my lips. The tart flavor made my jaw ache. “Oh god, that’s terrible.”
Bennett’s laugh filled the room and brought back my previous blush. He made me feel young, and I hadn’t felt that way in so long. “It really is. But, it’s the thought that counts.” His smile was apologetic as he took the bottle from me and placed it on the ground.
“You’re not going to taste it?” I asked with a bit of incredulity in my tone. My wide smile wavered as he leaned in further. Only a few precious inches separating me from this glorious stranger.
“I plan on it, Selene.” His eyes dropped to my mouth, and my heart started to full on sprint. His hand rested just above my knee again. The heat soaking through to the bone. His fingertips moved slowly up my thigh, and the thin fabric of my dress moved with ease.
Even though the room was chilled, it was thick with humidity and bathed in soft hues of warm light. The feeling of his fingertips on my skin was overwhelming. I didn’t know this man at all. I’d spent maybe ten minutes with him… this beautiful man with his tragically dark voice, his deep brown eyes penetrating mine. Our breath mixed with the scent of cork, dust, and wine — an intoxicating combination. His hand now between my thighs made every mundane worry I had disappear; made the life I’d led before his touch seem limited.
He leaned in and for a moment I thought he was going to kiss me, but instead, he spoke softly in my ear. “Let this happen.” His teeth pulled at my earlobe.
My head fell forward in submission, and he lifted my chin with his finger. “Yes.” It was the only word I knew in that moment.
Our eyes met just before the warm heat of his mouth found mine... his tongue licking, seeking, breaking me wide open.
Nothing could have prepared me for the taste of her. The bitter remnants of wine hardly broke through the subtle hint of nutmeg and mint. She tasted like autumn in Central Park; the cool flavor of peppermint mixed with the warmth of her spiced tongue drove my pulse faster with each pass
of my lips on hers. She moaned into my mouth, and I captured the syllable with a groan of my own. My finger slid under the seam of her cotton panties, and the feel of her smooth, bare skin caused the low rumble in my throat to escape and my teeth to drag across her jaw, nipping a line to that heavy pulse point just below her ear.
The slick feel of her arousal coated my fingertips as I brushed against her clit. Selene gasped and brought her hands to my face, pulling me, forcing me to look at her. My fingers slipped easily inside her, and her upper lip trembled as we watched each other in silence. This was exactly what I wanted, what I craved… the obedient quiet she was providing: the hushed breath; her soft mewling; no words, just the delicate sound of pleasure. I slipped a third finger into her tight pussy, pushing her limits.
My thumb pulsed around her tender skin, and her eyes dropped from mine as her head fell forward, her hips began to shake, and her moans became cries. She grasped my shoulder and rocked against my hand, shamelessly fucking herself with my fingers. I watched as she shattered… as she came in loud shuddered notes.
The urge to make her mine with my mouth couldn’t be tamped down. I moved slowly into a kneeling position peeling her panties down her legs. My hands moved to her waist, pulling her forward to the edge of the bench. Again she offered me that profound silence that I preferred, as if she knew me as if we’d done this before. She submitted her body and her words to me. I had a feeling this wouldn’t be the only time I’d allow myself to have this woman.
Her dark brown eyes watched me as I spread her legs, my hands gripping her upper thighs. I wouldn’t leave bruises; that was Gage’s thing. I only gripped enough to show my demand. I never asked, I just did. My lips kissed softly at the apex of her thighs and she shuddered. Her smell was unique. The feminine scent of pussy mixed with her woodsy perfume was a heady aroma. I swallowed down my need as my tongue lapped softly against her. Her hips circled, and her legs began to shake; still sensitive from her earlier climax, she came again too quickly. Even though I was displeased, I knew… I would have her again.
Beneath the Vine Page 2