His features tightened as he stared down at her while he pumped into her, and all she could do was hold on, because her body was fully tuned in and ready to explode again. All she had to do was reach down and help herself along.
“Yes, do it,” Finn said.
His words excited her. The way he looked at her thrilled her. The way he snaked his hand up and down her leg as he twisted inside her excited her. She had to face that being here with him was the pinnacle of everything.
She was so close. And when she climaxed, he came down on top of her and gathered her in his arms, taking her mouth with his while he shuddered against her. It was a hot, passionate, intimate kiss as they both came apart together.
After, she felt his ragged breath on her cheek while she worked to take in a few deep breaths of her own. She was so sweaty that her skin stuck to his. He scooped his hand around her butt and lifted her off the bed, carrying her into the bathroom. He disposed of the condom, then turned the shower on so they could both rinse off.
She wound up her hair and stepped in after him. The water felt cool and such a relief to her tortured, hot body. Finn soaped up her back, his movements slow and tender. He rinsed her, then allowed her to return the favor. She loved the feel of his body under her hands, the way his muscles flexed with her touch. She was reluctant to let go of him, but she did and he rinsed off, and then they got out.
After she dried off, she started to grab her clothes.
“Nope,” Finn said, lifting her up and carrying her to the bed. “I’ve got you naked now and you’re staying that way.”
He climbed onto the bed next to her. She rolled to her side and propped her head up on her hand.
“Oh, so you’re going to hold me prisoner here?”
He trailed his fingertip between her breasts. “You’re free to leave anytime you want.”
As if she’d move from this spot, with him touching her and looking at her the way he was. She rolled over onto her back. “I guess you can have your way with me, then.”
He moved over her, his lips inches from hers. “I love the way you suffer, Brenna.”
She laughed, and then he kissed her.
CHAPTER
• • • • • •
twenty-one
THE FALL HARVEST was Brenna’s busiest time of year. It was crazy hectic, but also fun, especially since the entire family pitched in to help. They typically didn’t have weddings that weekend because of the harvest, and because they invited the public to come out and help to pick the grapes, something the entire community enjoyed every year.
Though they hired seasonal help, it was a community outreach—and also excellent marketing for Red Moss Vineyards—to bring in friends and neighbors and put out the invitation on social media for harvest day.
Besides, who didn’t want to come out and stomp grapes? Other than Brenna, of course. She’d done plenty of that when she was younger, and while it was fun, her stomping days were over. Now she directed the action rather than took part in it.
Her day began at five a.m., though the official start time was at seven. She was up early, meeting with her dad and the staff to go over everything that needed to be done and make sure all the buckets and boxes were set up at the vineyard. By six a.m. people had already started to arrive, and fortunately they had staff there to direct the visitors to parking and the waiting area.
There were large pots of coffee along with juice and water for those waiting, but Erin, Honor and Mom were taking care of their guests so Brenna could be free to deal with vineyard business today.
“Excited?” Finn asked.
She nodded. “One of our best days of the year.”
He pulled her close and brushed his lips across hers. “Have a great day.”
She smiled at him, relieved that he understood how utterly swamped she was going to be today. She likely wouldn’t have a moment to spare. “We’ll catch up later.”
He nodded. “If you need something, yell for me.”
By the time Brenna and her team were ready, the staging area was filled with excited people who were ready to start picking grapes and filling buckets and bins. Since her dad was not at all into public speaking, it fell to Brenna to launch the harvest, so she walked up to the front of the group.
“Good morning, everyone. Thanks so much for coming to Harvest Day at Red Moss Vineyards. On behalf of the Bellini family, we welcome you and hope you’ll have a wonderful time harvesting grapes. We’re going to divide the groups into pickers, fillers and stompers. If you want to stomp grapes, you can follow Finn Nolan over there to the left-hand side, and he’ll lead you to the grape-stomping holding area. Pickers will be led by my father, Johnny Bellini. He and his staff will lay out all the rules about picking grapes. Then we’ll have loading groups take the grapes and load them into buckets and dump them into the stomping bins.
“I want you all to know that every part of this process is vital to making wine, so we appreciate all of you showing up to help us out. Once we’re finished, a champagne brunch will be served and everyone gets a T-shirt, courtesy of Red Moss Vineyards. Is everyone ready to get started?”
Cheers and claps went up and Brenna felt that initial thrill of excitement zipping through her nerve endings.
“Okay, everyone, follow your leaders, and let’s have a fun harvest!”
She waited while everyone dispersed. It all went well, no one seemed confused and as she walked among the lines of the grapes, her team had everyone in order.
“Owen came today,” Honor said. “I wasn’t sure he would.”
Brenna smiled as she noticed him having a conversation with their mom. “I’m glad he did. He hasn’t missed a harvest for as long as we’ve known him. The breakup with Erin was hard on everyone and Owen has distanced himself since then.”
Honor nodded. “Yes, he has. I think Dad calling him and asking him to come really let him know that all was forgiven.”
“I hope so. Erin is over it, she’s happy, and it’s time for everyone to move on now.”
“Exactly.” Honor smiled. “Oh, Colt is here. I need to go.”
Brenna squinted in the morning light to get a look at this guy that Honor had been dating. Ruggedly good-looking for sure. Honor threw her arms around him and Colt grabbed two giant handfuls of her sister’s ass. Right there in the open in front of everyone.
Ugh. Brenna could only hope her parents hadn’t seen that.
“What the—” Erin had come over. “Is that the infamous Colt she’s been gushing over?”
“Yes.”
“Handsy, isn’t he?” Erin glared at him.