The main terrace had been set with the kind of care only Valentians devote to a meal. Candles flickered gently in the night breeze, casting golden light over antique china and polished silverware that gleamed beneath the stars. From the kitchen drifted a symphony of herbs and slow-simmering sauces.
Lucy appeared carrying a tray of antipasti-dark olives, local cheeses, cured prosciutto, and tiny tomatoes that looked like jewels.
“Buon appetito, ma’am,” she said warmly before retreating.
“She really outdid herself,” Christian remarked, pulling out my chair. “Lucy always saves her best dishes for special occasions.”
“It seems our arrival is quite the occasion for her,” I said, noticing the meticulous attention to detail.
“It’s the first time I’ve brought a wife here.” He teased lightly as he poured olive oil into a small dish. “That deserves a proper celebration.”
Christian opened a bottle of wine, filling our glasses with a deep ruby liquid.
“This one is special,” he said, swirling it. “From Sophie Vineyard, vintage 2015. We only produce it in exceptional years.”
“Named after your grandmother?”
“Yes.” His gaze softened. “These grapes come from the oldest vines on the estate, planted by my great- grandfather. When my grandfather took over, he dedicated the finest vineyard to my grandmother.”
I tasted it, letting it linger on my tongue. It was extraordinary-complex, deep, with notes of dark fruit and a whisper of spice that stayed long after the swallow.
“It’s magnificent,” I whispered, genuinely impressed.
Dinner unfolded with wild mushroom risotto, followed by veal so tender it fell apart at the touch of a fork. Dessert was a perfectly trembling panna cotta topped with fresh berries. When we finished, Christian rose and extended his hand.
“Would you like to see the vineyards under the moonlight?” he asked. “It’s a Kensington tradition to show the estate beneath the stars.”
The night was perfectly warm, the sky so crowded with stars it hardly seemed real. We walked down a stone path winding between the vines, bathed in silver moonlight. Silence wrapped around us, broken only by the crunch of gravel underfoot and the distant hum of cicadas.
“I’ve been coming here since I was a child, and it still takes my breath away,” Christian said, his voice low, more intimate in the dark. “This place has always felt more like home than any mansion in Verdania.”
“I can see why.” I paused to brush my fingers lightly over a vine leaf. “There’s something magical here.”
We followed the trail as it rose gently to a small natural lookout. From there, the whole estate stretched before us, drenched in moonlight. Christian stopped just behind me, close enough that I felt the warmth radiating from his body.
“It’s even more beautiful in the morning,” he murmured, his voice dangerously close to my ear. “When the sun rises over the hills.”
“You’ll have to show me,” I answered, my voice huskier than I meant it to be.
“With pleasure.” His hands settled lightly on my shoulders. “This dress… it suits the landscape perfectly.”
I turned slowly to face him. Moonlight sculpted shadows along his face, highlighting the strong line of his jaw.
“I’m glad you approve of my choice,” I said, trying to keep my tone light despite the hammering of my heart.
“I more than approve.” His fingers traced lightly along the strap of my white dress. “Though I admit I’m curious to see what you chose in Virelia the other day.”
Heat crept up my neck to my cheeks.
“You mean the shopping you caught me doing?” I asked, feigning innocence.
“Exactly.” His eyes never left mine as his hand slid down my arm, leaving a trail of heat. “That black set with the red accents was… unforgettable.”
His lips found mine with an urgency that stole my breath. I answered with equal intensity, my hands roaming across his chest before twining around his neck. The kiss deepened, our tongues teasing, provoking, while his strong hands pulled me firmly against him.
In one swift movement, Christian lifted me, my legs wrapping around his waist as he turned us, carrying me a few steps deeper into the vineyard rows. My heart pounded wildly as his lips traced a burning path down my neck.
“Here?” I asked breathlessly, as he lowered me gently onto the earth between the vines.
“Why not?” he replied with a smile that made me melt. “No one’s going to interrupt us.”
“My dress… it’ll get dirty,” I protested weakly as his fingers slid along my thighs, pushing up the light fabric.
“I can fix that easily.”
Before I could answer, he seized the hem of my dress and, with one decisive tug, tore through the delicate fabric, leaving me exposed in nothing but the black lingerie with red details.
“Christian!” I gasped, half shocked, half aroused by his audacity.
“I’ll buy ten more to replace it,” he murmured against my skin, his lips trailing down the curve between my breasts while his hands explored my thighs. “But I doubt any of them will look as perfect on you as this lingerie.”
The contrast of the warm earth beneath my back and the heat of Christian above me was intoxicating. His hands were everywhere-exploring, teasing, discovering spots that made me moan softly. I tangled my fingers in his hair, pulling him into another devouring kiss as my nails grazed lightly down his back through his shirt.
“You’re driving me insane,” he whispered, his voice husky against my ear as his fingers toyed with the edge of my panties.
I arched my back as his hand slipped beneath the delicate fabric, finding the center of my desire with devastating precision. I bit my lip to stifle a louder sound, my body responding instantly to his touch.
“Don’t hold back,” he murmured, nibbling at my ear. “I want to hear you. We’re alone out here…”
His words, combined with his skilled movements, sent me spiraling toward the edge. I cupped his face between my hands, locking eyes with him as our bodies moved in perfect sync. The moment was intense, charged with an intimacy that went far beyond the physical.
With trembling fingers, I began unbuttoning his shirt, desperate to feel his skin against mine. Christian lifted slightly to give me better access, his eyes never leaving mine as I slid my hands over his exposed chest.
“Zoey…” My name on his lips sounded like a prayer.
I pulled him back to me, our bodies aligning perfectly. The scent of earth, vines, and wine mingled with the perfume of our passion. At that moment, there was no contract, no six-month deadline, no world beyond that vineyard.
Then suddenly, a sharp sound cut through the night. Christian’s phone buzzed insistently in his pocket. He froze, his forehead pressed against mine, both of us breathing hard.
“Ignore it,” I whispered, pulling him back to me.
He looked tempted, but when he checked the screen, his expression shifted.
“It’s my grandfather,” he said, reluctantly pulling away. “I have to answer.”
:..
I remained lying among the vines, my body still thrumming with desire as Christian stepped away to take his grandfather’s call. The torn dress barely covered me, the black lingerie with red accents glowing under the moonlight. The night breeze caressed my overheated skin, slowly pulling me back to reality.
The minutes dragged on as I stared up at the stars, my mind tangled with conflicting thoughts. What were we doing? This marriage had an expiration date-six months, no more. It was just a business arrangement. I wasn’t supposed to get involved. For Christian, it would always be simple. Attraction. Sex. For me, it wasn’t nearly that simple.
Christian returned, slipping his phone into his pocket. His steps were steady as he approached, but his face carried a worried shadow in the moonlight.
“You’re overthinking,” he observed, sitting down beside me between the vines. “I can practically hear the gears turning in your head.”
I tugged the torn fabric of my dress around me as best I could, suddenly feeling exposed.
“I think we should head back,” I said simply, avoiding his eyes.
Christian frowned, clearly frustrated, but nodded.
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.