The Winemaker's Dinner: Appetizers

by Rusilko, Dr. Ivan

  Placing her empty wine glass on the table, Jaden steadied herself with the chair beside her and stood. Dizziness overtook her as the wine rushed to her head, and she grasped the edge of the table for support. When she was certain her lightheadedness had passed, she retrieved her purse from the back of the chair and went in search of the ladies’ room.

  Chapter 2

  “The Way You Look Tonight”

  A PORTION OF THE FIRST FLOOR of the estate was open for the party. A coat check, parlor, and washrooms were accessible to guests, and a group of women now formed a line in the hallway, waiting their turn to use the restroom. The beauty of the gardens and grounds was nothing compared to the grandeur of the house itself. Fine marble covered the floors, majestic frescos adorned the ceilings, and a large spiral staircase ornamented the main foyer of the mansion. Although Jaden had never been to Italy, she suspected that this might be what the interior of the Vatican looked like. Taking her place in line, Jaden awaited her turn.

  A few minutes later, she held a clean cloth from the stack on the counter beneath the cold water before placing it against her flushed neck. She sighed as the chill on her heated flesh helped to focus her disjointed thoughts. She was furious with herself for having even considered trying to attract the attention of a guy like him. Jaden gave herself a stern look in the mirror and tossed the washcloth into the basket before nearly stumbling out of the bathroom. She steadied herself and returned to the fresh air of the outdoors.

  Jaden followed a footpath that led from the mansion and wound through the main garden. Stars shone like tiny diamonds in the inky sky, and the sound of flowing water entranced her. She sought the source of the liquid music and, hidden behind a row of hedges, found an extravagant fountain among a paradise of lush tropical flowers and exotic greenery in the center of a lawn. The sleek contours of the basin glimmered in the moonlight.

  Kicking off her heels, Jaden walked across the grass, giggling as the prickly blades tickled her feet. Leaning over to caress the ledge of the enormous fountain, her fingers trailed along the cool, black marble. A light mist floated through the air and covered her skin as she watched the water cascade from a small spout, creating abstract patterns in the pool below.

  She peeked over her shoulder to make sure no one was watching before taking a seat on the ledge. The temptation to soak her feet was too powerful to ignore. Balancing herself on the edge, she swung around and submerged them beneath the rippling surface. Cold water splashed against her legs, and she tilted her head back, closing her eyes and listening intently to the cacophony of sounds around her, letting them quiet the cacophony of wine-soaked thoughts still swirling in her mind. Just then a tantalizing scent floated by on the breeze. Mmmm…Jaden thought, her mind beginning to work. A hint of cigar and something deliciously male…

  “Excuse me, Miss. Are these your shoes?” A deep voice echoed in the night air.

  Jaden’s eyes whipped open, and she spun around, almost losing her balance and toppling head first into the fountain. Standing just a few yards behind her was Mr. Oh So Sexy, the gorgeous man she’d been eyeing all night—and evidently the source of that amazing smell. “Yes?” she replied with a quavering voice.

  “I wouldn’t leave these lying around if I were you.” Dangling from the tip of his finger were her black Manolo Blahnik slingbacks. With slow, deliberate steps, he sauntered over to join her on the ledge of the fountain.

  Jaden’s breath hitched in her throat as she became aware of the proximity of their bodies. She could feel the heat radiating from him. It warmed the bare skin of her arm. That scent of man and cologne and fine cigars clung to his jacket and became more and more overwhelming as he approached. Jaden savored every moment of it, inhaling deeply and breathing him in. Goose bumps rose on her forearms with the feeling of a million tiny pinpricks, and she shivered.

  Mistaking her excitement for chill, he removed his jacket and wrapped it tightly around her trembling frame. His fingers brushed her bare shoulder as he pulled it around her and fastened two of the buttons.

  “Thank you,” Jaden whispered.

  In the distance, partygoers reveled and danced, but the only sound Jaden heard was the frantic beating of her heart. She gripped the ledge of the fountain, her breathing erratic as the moonlight reflected in his eyes. Up close, his brown eyes looked like smooth chocolate on a hot summer’s day. Jaden imagined diving into their cocoa depths.

  “Are you still cold?” he asked. Raising his hand to straighten the lapel of his jacket, he brushed aside a loose tendril of jet black hair that had sprung free from her jewel-encrusted clip.

  “I’m fine,” Jaden replied, but her mind was unable to make sense of what was happening. “Why are you here?”

  “I’m here on business. Networking,” he answered matter-of-factly.

  “That’s not what I meant.” Jaden shook her head. “Why are you here…now…with me?”

  He offered a warm smile and shrugged his broad shoulders. “I saw you wander off in this direction, and when you didn’t return, I started to get worried.”

  “You were watching me?”

  “No,” he corrected her with a hint of amusement. “I was watching you watch me. There’s a difference.”

  “Oh,” was all Jaden could manage. She looked away, embarrassed at having been caught in the act.

  Jaden could feel his fingers trace the faint line of her cheekbone, and she turned to see him smile when she shivered in response to his touch.

  “A man would have to be blind not to notice when a beautiful woman like you looks his way.” He cupped her cheek in the palm of his hand.

  Jaden knew she should pull away, demand that he release her, but the desire she felt for this stranger kept her frozen in place. Every instinct in her body screamed at her to run away before she could do or say something she’d regret when the haze of the wine finally lifted. But despite the nagging impulse to flee, she shifted closer to him on the ledge.

  She leaned in, her eyes fluttering shut as the pad of his thumb caressed her cheek with smooth, unhurried strokes. Her breathing ceased as she felt his lips gently brush the sensitive skin beneath her ear. His raw, masculine scent once again overwhelmed her, and her body quivered in response.

  His hand left her cheek and wound possessively around her back, trailing down the length of her spine and dipping beneath his jacket to trace seam of her panties through the fabric of her dress. He pulled her closer, pressing their bodies tightly together, and placed a line of heated kisses along the nape of her neck.

  Suddenly bold, Jaden grabbed a fistful of his hair and pulled his head back. Their eyes locked in a lustful stare. A low, thunderous groan escaped him, and his lips parted as she crushed her mouth to his. The smoky, sweet essence of cigars and cognac still lingered on his lips, and the taste of him flooded her mouth.

  He returned the intensity of her kiss, and their caresses grew less and less restrained. His warm hands roamed freely over her body beneath his jacket, and he pressed against her, his tailored pants doing very little to disguise his growing enthusiasm. After a few moments he pulled away, breathing heavily. “Why don’t we go somewhere a bit more private?” he suggested, his voice hoarse.

  “I…” Jaden tried to think through the haze of lust consuming her. “I don’t even know your name.”

  “Ivan,” he said fiercely, still breathing hard.

  “I’m sorry, I can’t,” Jaden whispered, her voice thick with regret. Her mind flashed back to the woman in the slinky black dress who, less than an hour ago, had clung to him like wet towel.

  “Why can’t you?” Ivan asked, almost pleading. “Is something wrong?”

  Jaden slid back on the ledge, determined to put some distance between them. She needed a minute to think, a minute to clear her thoughts before she made any rash decisions. Her body longed for the feel of his hands again, but her mind kept drifting to the woman in the black dress.

  “You should go back to the party, Ivan. Your girlfriend
is probably waiting for you.”

  “What girlfriend? What are you talking about?” His confusion was evident.

  “The blond woman who couldn’t keep her hands off you?”

  “Who—the blonde with me earlier?” He laughed. “She’s not my girlfriend. She’s a business acquaintance.”

  “That’s not what it looked like,” Jaden scoffed.

  “Are you jealous?” Ivan smiled, looking intrigued.

  “Why would I be jealous? I don’t even know you,” Jaden said indignantly. The jacket around her suddenly felt constricting, and she struggled to free her arms.

  “Let me help you.” Ivan unfastened the buttons and removed the jacket, laying it neatly across his lap. He looked toward the party in the distance. When he spoke, his voice was soft and sincere. “It’s funny how a feeling can take a few seconds or a few years to surface. When I first saw you, I knew there was something there, something I couldn’t put my finger on. It drove me wild.” He ran a hand through this thick brown hair, smoothing the mess her recent passion had made. “Whether you want to deny it or embrace it, the choice is yours. But I know you felt it too. I could tell when you kissed me.” He looked up and smiled.

  “Ivan, I—” A roar from the crowd echoed loudly through the garden. Evidently the band had transitioned into the perfect song. Jaden smiled as the familiar tune drifted through the air.

  “You like Sinatra?” Ivan asked.

  “Maybe,” she said playfully, realizing she’d begun to move with the music. “I do love this song.” Jaden felt some of the tension in her body begin to dissolve, and she smiled. Ivan was a stranger, but he’d made her feel things that had lain dormant for too long.

  “If you love listening to him, you must also love dancing to him,” Ivan said with a boyish grin. “You’re practically dancing already.” He stood and faced her, offering his hand. “May I have this dance?”

  Hesitantly, Jaden let him lead her to the center of an impromptu grassy dance floor. Dew coated her feet as their bodies began to sway. Jaden rested her head on his chest and wrapped her arms around his broad neck as the romantic lyrics of Sinatra’s “The Way You Look Tonight” began to swirl through the air around them.

  They moved slowly across the lawn, and she smiled at him, placing her cheek against his. A low grumble in his throat grew into a vibrating hum. Her smile widened as the gentle purr of his voice transformed into the song’s soft, sultry words, and he began to sing in the faintest yet most seductive way.

  With her arms firmly around him and a smile on her face, Jaden couldn’t help but join his serenade. Their voices melted into a harmonious blend, fueled by unbridled passion. This was one of those moments she knew was destined to remain with her forever—a complete stranger had captured her heart, even if just for one brief song.

  Ivan lifted his head and gazed intently into her eyes. Cupping her chin and bringing her mouth to meet his, he whispered against her parted lips, “Come back to my hotel with me.”

  “Okay,” Jaden managed to whisper before his mouth closed over hers.

  Their bodies, and their tongues, danced in unison. Jaden trembled, and Ivan’s grip on her tightened as she melted into him. His mouth pressed into hers, hard and fast, her lips pliable as she granted him entry.

  The song slowed, as did the fierceness of their kiss, but their bodies stayed pressed together. Ivan lifted his head and panted, “Are you ready to go?”

  “I have to find my roommate and let her know where I’m going,” Jaden explained, suddenly very practical. “Where are you staying?”

  “The Windsor Arms.”

  “Give me five minutes,” Jaden replied, her breath coming in short gasps. “I’ll meet you back here.”

  “You’re joking, right?” He laughed. “There’s no way I’m letting you out of my sight.”

  “I have to tell Tasha I’m leaving,” Jaden insisted. “She’ll kill me if I just run off.”

  “Your friend already knows you won’t be accompanying her back to the hotel tonight. Besides, I think she has plans of her own.” Ivan turned and pointed to where Tasha and Michael moved swiftly and gracefully across the dance floor together.

  “All right,” she conceded. “Lead the way.”

  Jaden followed Ivan across the garden, through the mansion, and down the front steps to a black limousine. She tried to be carefree, but something still nagged at her. Why would Ivan assume Tasha knew of her plans? Digging her cell phone out of her purse, she flipped on the screen. Sure enough, there was one new text message—from Tasha. Be safe and have fun! it read. Jaden made a mental note to find out what that was all about, but she tucked it away for later.

  Her mind at ease, tonight was now all about Ivan and picking up where they’d left off in the garden. Silently, Jaden slid into the backseat of the limo and smiled as Ivan pulled her into his embrace.

  Chapter 3

  “Sex On Fire”

  A SHIVER RAN DOWN Jaden’s spine as Ivan brushed aside a stray lock of her hair. Suddenly feeling the need for fresh air, she pressed a small chrome button on the arm of the car door and lowered the window. The fire that consumed her was not something that could be measured in degrees, nor be extinguished by a gentle wind. It was born of passion and pure need, and it threatened to overwhelm her.

  “Are you okay?” Ivan asked, inching closer on the seat.

  “Why, do I not look okay?” Jaden replied, her already shaky voice cracking on the last syllable.

  “You look absolutely stunning. But if I didn’t know better, I’d say…” Ivan hesitated and raised his hand to her cheek, lightly trailing his thumb across her cheekbone. “You seem afraid.”

  Jaden could feel her cheeks flush and was thankful for the darkness inside the car. Shifting uncomfortably on the seat, she murmured, “It’s just that it’s been a while since…”

  “Since you’ve felt this?” Ivan asked, slowly lowering his hand to trace the V-neckline of her dress. He caressed the silky fabric where it hugged her breasts, and she felt her body quake yet again in response. “Or what about this?” he whispered and pressed his lips to hers, slowly drawing her bottom lip between his.

  The taste of wine and salt air filled her mouth as the kiss deepened, growing rougher as Jaden pressed her body against his, demanding that not a sliver of space exist between them. Ivan tasted her lips with his tongue and dove deep into her mouth.

  Ivan pulled back, cupping Jaden’s cheeks in his hands, and rested his lips tenderly on her forehead, both of them gasping for breath that wouldn’t come. His eyes glimmered in the light of passing streetlamps. Tentatively, she placed her hand on his thigh, caressing him lightly with the tips of her fingers and stopping when she felt him tense beneath her touch.

  Expeditiously removing her hand from his leg, he warned, “If you so much as touch me, I’m a goner.”

  Jaden smiled. Having this effect on him was more of a turn-on than she’d ever imagined. She intended to indulge. But her smile was short lived as Ivan once again caught her lips with his and snaked his tongue into her mouth with slow, delicious strokes. He’s trying to drive me insane, Jaden thought. But then all thoughts vanished from her mind as he laid her down on the backseat. His arousal pressed firmly into her leg, and the leather creaked as he lay on top of her, pinning her against the padded cushion.

  Jaden clawed at his clothing, needing to remove all barriers that separated them, needing to feel Ivan’s skin against hers, but the sound of tearing fabric caused her to freeze. “Oops,” she said with a giggle.

  Ivan paused to investigate, and Jaden saw that the stitching on the shoulder of his jacket was torn. But torn fabric seemed the least of his concerns. With no more than a slight shrug, he reached between them and found the hem of her red silk dress. He skated his hand beneath the fabric to explore her thighs. Jaden arched her back, and he moved his fingers that final inch to caress the thin strip of silk between her legs, which was now moist with anticipation.

  Jaden froze again
as a voice echoed over the speaker.

  “Excuse me, Dr. Rusilko. We’re here.”

  Panting like a runner after a 5k, Ivan pressed the intercom button and responded, “Thanks, Drewe.” Turning his attention back to Jaden, he smiled. “We’re here.”

  “Thank God,” Jaden chuckled. “Any more of that and I’d be a goner.”

  “Me too,” Ivan replied breathlessly as he sat up, releasing her.

  Dr. Rusilko, huh? Jaden now knew Tasha’s assumption was one hundred percent incorrect. It wasn’t just his looks that had gotten him where he was. He was a doctor…but of what?

  Not waiting for the driver, Ivan flung the car door open and towed Jaden behind him as they rushed toward the hotel hand in hand, giggling and laughing like teenagers. They hurried past the bored-looking attendant at the front desk and the concierge who greeted them like royalty. Ivan acknowledged the bearded man with a smile and slight nod, and he picked up his pace, almost running for the elevator.

  As the brass doors slid open, Ivan stepped into the elevator and pulled Jaden into an embrace, falling clumsily against the glass wall. They clawed at one another, practically tearing their clothes off, and it took her a minute to realize the elevator wasn’t moving. She looked at Ivan and found he had come to the same conclusion, and he smiled sheepishly while reaching over to press the button marked P.

  “We’re going to the parking garage?” Jaden teased. “I thought you had more class than that, doctor.”

  “P isn’t for parking, trust me,” Ivan grunted and crushed her against the wall again.

  She could feel his excitement growing as his eager hands found her breasts. She rested her head against the glass, her heart beating wildly as he plucked and flicked her nipples through the fabric, eliciting a moan of pleasure from deep within her. Jaden reached down and grasped his zipper. Lowering it and gripping him firmly, she was pleased to discover that Mr. Oh So Sexy was also Mr. Oh So Well Equipped.

  The elevator halted, and Ivan hastily stepped back and zipped his pants. As he turned, Jaden moved behind him and slipped her hands into his pants pockets.