Page 12 of The Vineyard Crush

Heat swirled low in my belly just watching the damp denim cling attractively to those thickly muscled thighs as he crouched down. Under the cascading spray of the shower later, I couldn’t expel the tantalizing images burned into my psyche. My skin still tingled with the phantom rush of grape juice trickling in winding rivulets, as if Ridge’s calloused hands had been the ones trailing those teasing paths.

Shameless lust blazed through me at the thought of him storming in to find me alone in the throes of our impromptu food fight. He’d fix me with that signature scorching glare that could melt steel before growling husky reprimands for making such a salacious mess.

My knees went wobbly just imagining the way he’d quickly close the distance between us. Maybe he’d haul me flush against that powerful frame as punishment, the hard planes of his body meshing sinuously with my softer curves. Thick fingers would trail through the sticky juices coating my skin, smearing crimson paths along my neck and décolletage.

An obscene moan tumbled past my lips as I envisioned Ridge’s mouth descending to lap up those winding rivulets with broad, ravenous strokes of his tongue. He’d suckle at the hollow of my throat, nibbling lush trails along my collarbones while I ground shamelessly against his hardened arousal.

Blazing heat lashed through my core at the thought of him paying merciless homage to my grape-stained breasts. That wicked mouth would lavish absolutely sinful attention to my aching peaks until I writhed and whimpered beneath his fervent ministrations.

Perhaps he’d even yank my skirt up over my hips to sate his ravenous cravings more fully. I could already feel the delirious bliss of Ridge’s calloused hands skimming up my thighs as he bent me over the edge of that vat. My slick folds would throb with wild need, begging for him to plunder my molten depths with that wickedly talented tongue…

The shrill ringtone of my phone jarred me from my fantacy. Dammit. I struggled to steady my breathing, come down from the high of arousal pulsing hot and wild through my veins.

Grabbing a towel, I quickly dried off and wrapped the plush terry cloth around my torso before snatching up my cell and answering with a breathless, “Hey, big brother.”

Leone’s familiar baritone filtered through the line. “Hey Em. How are you settling in at the vineyard? Mom driving you up a wall yet?”

A tremulous laugh tumbled out as lingering tendrils of my lurid fantasy still clung. “Not yet, but I’ve avoided mom as much as I can. But there has been no backhanded remarks about how I should be living my life or my weight or—”

“Seems sus,” he cut in with a teasing snort of mock skepticism.

I rolled my eyes good-naturedly. “Well, we’ll see if that lasts. How about you, though? Your big bad boss still keeping you buried in paperwork?”

“Oh, you know it,” my brother groaned on a sigh. “The merger has her barking orders around the clock like a damned tyrant.”

My lips curved in a mischievous grin. “So I guess that means no pretty little assistants to…ease the tension?”

A pregnant pause, then, “You’re disgusting, you know that?”

Leone’s affronted tone had me doubling over with laughter, mood considerably lighter for having connected with my closest confidante. I could practically envision the flush of embarrassment coloring his fair cheeks.

“Just keeping you honest, bro. Maybe get laid once in a while and you wouldn’t be so uptight.”

After a few more rough jabs back and forth—Leone dishing it right back at me as always—our conversation drifted to more PG subjects. The vineyards, the winery’s operations, how the folks were holding up as newly-minted empty nesters.

“Sorry Em, gotta run. Dinner’s supposed to be a working one, and I’m already behind on these reports—you know how Peterson gets.”

“Play nice with your boss,” I said with a teasing lilt.

“Go take a cold shower, sicko.”

My laughter echoed off the tiled walls. “Love you!”

After disconnecting the call, I finished towelling myself dry before padding into the bedroom to dress for dinner. My gaze kept straying to the storage room visible through the cracked door as memories of the erotic encounter I’d imagined played in vivid detail.

Slipping into a mint-green cotton sundress, I turned this way and that before the full-length mirror to inspect my reflection. The neckline dipped just enough to tease a subtle hint of cleavage, while the flirty hemline skimmed the middle of my thighs.

Much too modest for the molten scenarios unfolding in my subconscious, but it’d have to suffice for now. A throbbing ache still gnawed hungrily between my legs no matter how much I tried to will the arousal away.

With a steadying breath, I smoothed my palms down the silky fabric and gave myself a mental pep talk. Get it together, Emma. You’re an independent woman now. Not some bumbling teen crushing hard on the football captain anymore.

You’ve got this. Don’t let that delicious cowboy stud rattle your cage any more than absolutely necessary. Dinner with family, then you can escape back here to…attend to your needs properly.

Bolstered by my firm words, I gave my reflection a saucy wink and strutted out of the room with my shoulders back and chin lifted in determination.

Rules of seduction 101: Always meet his sultry gaze with equal heat. With confidence and poise. Don’t let Ridge sense how thoroughly flustered he renders you, no matter how irresistibly brooding or temptingly dishevelled that man appears…

As I stepped into the intimate dining room of the bed and breakfast, my gaze instantly locked onto Ridge. Of course, the only open seat left was right beside him.

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