Chapter 75
Chapter 75
Asher’s POV
I hesitated, then turned to her fully. “I want you to be proud of me.”
She paused, her hands resting lightly on my arm. “Asher, I am proud of you and of what you’ve done so far. You are a good man, and you’re going to do great things with this,” she gestured around. “You don’t have to prove anything to me.”
Her words, so simple and sincere, unraveled something in me. I didn’t deserve her faith, not with the secrets I was keeping, but in that moment, I wanted to believe her.
We stood there in the quiet, her gaze locked with mine, until the weight of it gave way to a shared grin. Moments later, we were giggling uncontrollably, slipping on the juice–slick floor as we tried to balance.
Once the grapes were pressed, we poured a small glass of the fresh wine and tasted it. Ivy made a face. “You know what would make this better?” she asked, tilting her head thoughtfully.
“What?”
Her grin widened as she leaned in. “What if we added this to the wine from our dinner in the garden–the Midnight Mirage? I think the blackberry and grape flavors will perfectly complement each other.”
My eyes widened. “You’re a genius.”
“Obviously,” she quipped, her eyes sparkling as she smiled.
I rushed to grab a bottle of the Midnight Mirage from one of the wooden crates stacked in the old cellar. Then I poured myself a glass, the scent of oak and dark berries swirling around me. Reaching for the glass of freshly squeezed grape juice we made earlier, I tipped it into the wine, watching as the vibrant color deepened and swirled into something entirely new.
I raised the glass to my lips. “Cheers.” I tipped my drink toward her before slowly taking a sip. The first taste hit my tongue, and I froze. Sweet, tangy, bold -a perfect blend I hadn’t expected. My eyes widened, a grin breaking across my face. “Damn,” I muttered to myself, swirling the glass and taking another
sip.
Ivy leaned closer to me and raised a brow at my reaction. “Good?” she teased, her voice laced with curiosity.
“Here.” I stepped forward, offering her the glass. She accepted it, her lips curling around the rim as she took a sip. I watched her shamelessly, my eyes following the small droplet of wine that trickled down the corner of her mouth.
Her eyes lit up, but before she could speak, I set the glass down and cupped her face, pulling her close. My lips claimed hers in a passionate kiss, the taste of the wine mingling between us. Sweet and intoxicating, it felt like several sparks went off as we kissed. My hands roamed her body and cupped her ass as my tongue probed her mouth, loving the taste of the wine even more now.
When I finally pulled back, her breath hitched, and I couldn’t help but grin at the dazed look on her face. “Come on,” I said, grabbing her hand. She barely had time to set the glass aside before I tugged her toward the office door.
“Asher!” she laughed, trailing behind me, but I was a man on a mission.
Bursting into the front office, I found Stacy at her desk, typing away. She looked up, startled, as I strode in with Ivy in tow.
“Stacy,” I said, holding up the glass like it was a trophy. “Try this.”
She blinked at me, confused but intrigued. “Uh, sure?” she said, standing up as I thrust the glass into her hands. She took a tentative sip, her eyes widening immediately. “Wow, this is incredible!”
“Right?” I exclaimed, turning to Ivy, who was watching the exchange with a radiant smile. “It’s perfect.”
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Chapter 75
Stacy nodded vigorously, already reaching for another sip.
“Come on,” I said again, taking Ivy’s hand once more and practically dragging her down the hall.
We burst into the tasting room where my team sat, a mix of notes, glasses, and half–finished bottles spread across the table. They looked up, clanded, as burst through the doors.
“Mr. Sterling?” one of them asked hesitantly, clearly thrown by my uncharacteristic energy.
I dropped the glass on the table. “Take a sip.”
They shared curious glances.
“Go on,” I urged them.
A woman picked up the glass and took a small sip.
“I think I finally found what was missing in Midnight Mirage,” I explained.
The woman’s eyes lit up in excitement. “Okay, this is good…” She passed the glass to the man standing beside her.
“It was her,” I gestured at Ivy, beaming with pride. “We’re naming it Ivy, by the way,” I declared, cutting straight to the point.
“Wait, what?” another asked, looking between me and Ivy, who was now blushing furiously.
“The wine,” I said, grabbing another glass and pouring a generous amount of the concoction. “Taste this. It’s perfect, and it’s hers.”
One by one, they tried it, murmurs of approval and surprise filling the room. Ivy stood beside me, her cheeks pink, her smile dazzling. I couldn’t stop myself, I kissed her again, right there in front of everyone, earning a few chuckles and a mock groan from my team.
As the night wore on, the wine flowed freely. Back in my office, Ivy and I sat on the couch, the bottle between us. We were both tipsy, Ivy laughed too loud at everything I said.
I couldn’t stop kissing her – her lips, her cheeks, her neck. The taste of the wine lingered on her tongue, and with every sip, it seemed to grow more intoxicating. My hands roamed her body as I deepened the kiss. She pulled away and looked past me at the door. “We sh–should lock the door,” she said, giggling.
I pulled her onto my lap and ran my hands down her thigh. She wrapped her arm around my neck.
“Why?” I asked in a husky voice.
Her cheeks flamed. “Someone could walk in on us…”
I brought her hand to my lips and kissed it. “We better give them a good show, then.”
She shifted on my thigh, her dress hiking up. “That’s risky…”
“Only for them.”
