AJ’s Serendipity

Greek Alejandro Melonakos hadn’t been shopping for the love of his life during a routine market run for his restaurant, yet that was exactly who he found.

Excerpt Chapter 8

Going into his kitchen, AJ pulled down two glasses and filled one with water and left the other unfilled as he used one hand to hold the empty glass and wine bottle while the other hand held the water. He set the items on his coffee table before going back to the kitchen and taking some snacks from the basket that remained from their picnic. 

“Here we are,” he said, putting the items next to the previous ones, and he earned Samara’s smile. “I’ll get the wine opener and then I’ll be ready to join you.” 

“No rush,” Samara said, but he disagreed. He was in a hurry to spend alone time with her, and had been for the past three days. 

He finally returned and sat next to Samara, their thighs brushing as he settled on the edge of the couch and opened the bottle. He poured the wine half-full in the glass and then presented it to Samara. 

“Have a taste,” he said lowly. 

Samara put down the glass of water she had just sipped from and took AJ’s glass. Her nose scrunched up as she took in the aroma, and then she tipped back the glass for a taste. She licked her lips as she pulled the glass from her mouth. 

“Well?” 

“Not bad,” Samara conceded, then took another sip as if to confirm her judgment. “Yeah, not bad. I’m not used to wine, but that’s not bad at all.” 

“We can get you a bottle tomorrow,” AJ promised. “I’m glad you liked it.” 

“Thank you,” she said, handing the glass back to him. AJ plucked a grape and held it up to her mouth. “What are you doing?” 

“You don’t want?” AJ asked, rubbing the fruit against her lips. Samara’s eyelids fluttered, and then she opened her mouth. AJ made sure his fingers followed the grape between her lips, and he stroked her tongue briefly before pulling out his fingers and placing them into his own mouth. 

“So sweet. I wonder if that’s you or the wine,” he said, his eyes intense on her. 

Samara’s breath caught, and he watched her swallow the grape before responding. “The wine.” 

“I don’t think so,” AJ said. “What I tasted was much sweeter than the wine.”