Forged in Stone - Alyssa Rose Ivy Page 0,66
this way. Less distractions.”
“I guess you don’t have to worry about someone ignoring you to mess around on their phone.”
“I take it you are speaking from experience.” There was nothing judgmental in his words, and he seemed to care about the answer.
“Yes. And I’m not innocent of it myself. It feels kind of good that I have no clue where my phone is. I think I left it at the castle.”
“I can assure you, no one is going to take it.”
“I wasn’t worried.”
“Are you hungry?” He ran his finger over my hand.
“Not really, but if you are…”
“Would you prefer a drink first?”
“You have alcohol here?”
“Of course we do.” He smiled. “You think my wine knowledge comes only from my Charleston visits?”
“No…”
“I have some I want you to try.” He dropped my hand and walked into his simple kitchen. A wooden table, a large cabinet, and a fireplace filled up the entire room.
He pulled out a bottle from the closed cupboard in the cabinet. “A friend of mine makes this one. It is a very similar grape to the pinot noir.”
“Oh perfect.”
“Would you prefer to sit inside or out?”
“Outside because I know you like that better.”
He laughed. “That is not the point. I want you comfortable. May I suggest a compromise?”
“Sure.”
“I’ll get glasses for the wine, and then I can show you.”
I looked around the dimly lit kitchen while James collected two glasses.
He led the way into an atrium open to the sky. He set the glasses and bottle down on a table and quickly lit two candles. A padded lounger was the only other piece of furniture in the room, and a thick blanket and a pillow lay on top of it.
“This is where you sleep most nights?” I already knew the answer to the question.
“It is inside, yet outside.”
“I bet it’s nice, although cold on a night like tonight.” I wrapped my arms over my chest.
“Remember, I don’t get cold the way you do.”
“This was a good choice for tonight.” I sat down on the edge of the lounger.
James sat down beside me and poured the wine. He handed me my glass before picking up his own and leaning back. With his free hand he guided me back to lean against him. I reached for the blanket, and he took it from me, carefully covering us up.
“You are good at setting a romantic mood.”
“Am I?” He rubbed my back gently. “I don’t have much practice.”
“Wine, candle light, a blanket. It’s pretty much perfect.”
“I am only sharing with you what I enjoy myself.”
“I guess we have a lot in common.”
“You sound surprised.” He set aside his wine before moving behind me. He began to massage my shoulders. I moaned. It felt so good.
“Now I like that response.”
“It feels so good.”
“Something else we both enjoy.”
“We come from different worlds. Is it normal we have a lot in common?”
“We are not defined by where we are from.” He continued his work on my shoulders.
“Should we be defined by where we are going?”
“I prefer to view people by what they hope to achieve, and who they hope to achieve it with.”
“Sounds reasonable.” I moaned again. I hadn’t realized how uptight I was.
“I could listen to you make those noises all night.”
“I could enjoy you doing that all night.”
“And I would, except there are other things I want to do with you.” He ran his lips over my neck.
“Could you put this down?” I held out my wine glass.
He took it and placed it on the table. “Where were we?” He ran his lips down my neck again.
“Right here.” I closed my eyes and focused on the feel of his warm lips on my skin. I relaxed back into him.
“May I make you more comfortable?”
“Yes.” I knew exactly what he was asking, so I wasn’t surprised when he started undoing the laces on the dress. “But if you really take that off, I expect you to keep me warm.”
“Do you want me to take it off?” He hesitated with his hands inside the back of the dress.
“Desperately.”
He laughed with his lips pressed against the back of my neck. “Desperately? Then I wouldn’t want to leave you waiting.” He slipped the sleeves off my arms, and the dress fell down to my waist.
“Take off your shirt too,” I ordered without turning around. “I want to feel my skin against yours.”
“Demanding are you?”
“I am desperate after all.”
He pushed me forward slightly, and when he settled me back against him, his chest was bare.
“May I remove this