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“Thank you. She’s the reason why I fell in love with the craft all those years ago.” My mouth curls into a wistful smile. “Even in her absence, she continues to motivate me and my son to carry on what she started.”
“You’re doing her legacy proud. I can see how passionate you are about your work.”
Speaking about Valentina is not easy for me, and I’m eager to move on from the topic. “Well, I can say the same for you. What made you get interested in the craft?”
“Oh, it’s a long story,” She laughs.
“I’ve got time.”
She bites on her lip, her gaze meeting mine. “Well, right after college, I landed myself a corporate job, working in sales. It paid well, but I dreaded waking up to go to work every morning.”
I nod at her to continue, intrigued.
“My co-workers and I started this thing where we would sample a new wine each Friday. It was the only thing I looked forward to each week.” Her eyes sparkled at the memory. “I’d discovered a new passion—staying up for hours just reading about all the different kinds of wines there are. Until one day, I decided I’d had enough. So… I quit and followed my passions.”
“That’s quite the leap of faith,” I comment.
In her excitement, she moves close enough that I can smell her powdery perfume. She smells delicious, but I find myself wondering instead what she’d taste like.
“I guess life’s too short to not at least try and make your dreams come true. Right?”
Her hand accidentally brushes up my arm as she speaks.
My eyes flick down, drifting to her plump lips.
Before I can stop myself, I reach out and cup her face.
“Enzo…. I—”
My lips crash into hers. And somehow, she is kissing me back just as passionately.
Her hands go to my hair, and I grab her waist, pulling her body flush against mine.
She groans in my mouth, tugging me closer.
The heat of her body radiates through the thin material of her dress.
Our mouths never leave each other’s as my hands begin to dip lower, grabbing a handful of her ass that has been teasing me all evening.
“Fuck, Quinn,” I whisper against her mouth, pulling away for a second.
She presses against the front of my jeans.
A low moan escapes my throat, as she begins to grind against me.
I want to take her right here, right now.
“Enzo,” she groans out as I my hands learn her curves, teasing her as she’s doing to me.
My mind is swimming.
But the moment I open my eyes, I freeze immediately, dropping my hands to my sides.
“What happened?” she asks, confused.
No wonder. Just a moment ago I was trying to fuck her in the middle of the room.
A moment ago, when I hadn’t noticed that my wife’s portrait stared down at us.