Gwen jerked to attention, her wine nearly spilling. There wasnt anyone more beautiful than she was. That wasnt her ego talking. It was simply the truth.

She threw her wine glass across the room. The crystal shattered. The ruby-red liquid dripped like tears down her off-white walls and splashed on her white carpet.

Gwen dropped her face into her hands. Shed saved herself for himnearly six long years of deprivation. Living like a fucking nun! Turning down hundreds of offers from menmany of them very rich and handsome menbecause she was waiting for Rick Rousseau!

Bastard. Liar. Traitor.

She heard her own voice cry out. When she began to slide off the sofa it was like she couldnt prevent ither bones had melted in the heat of his betrayal. Her knees hit the plush carpet. She fell forward, pounding her fists into the rug. /Bastard! Liar! How could you do this to me! You were supposed to be mine!/ Gwen regained consciousness when the morning light slipped through the slats of her miniblinds. Her mouth felt as if it were stuffed with sand.

Her head pounded. She opened her eyes to find herself crumpled on the living room floor. When she raised her head she was treated to the horrific sight of cabernet sauvignon on the wall, dried like trails of blood on pale skin.

Instantlyseamlesslyher thoughts turned to Bennett Cummings.

It didnt happen often, but Josie was rendered speechless the moment she stepped from the outdoor balcony and into Ricks suite.

The bathroom is right through there, Rick said, carrying the bags through the room and nodding his head to the left. He disappeared into what looked like a huge dressing room with walk-in closets. Josie heard the thud of the bags hitting the floor.

We should have everything you need, Rick called out, but let me know if theres something extra you might like.

Josie remained silent, staring. The first eye-opener had to be the bed.

It was quite old, and quite large. It was made of a dark wood like mahogany, and the headboard was carved in an ornate pattern of ocean waves and dolphins and sea birds, and it stretched all the way to the ceiling, which had to be ten feet high. The footboard was carved in the same motif and was about four feet high.

The whole vision was covered in what looked like decadent cotton and silk in a muted bluepillows of every size, sheets, down comforter, coverlet. The bed was so high up off the floor that there were his-and-her step stools on either side.

A dresser and mirror took up most of the opposite wall. Made of the same mahogany and carved in the same fancy design, the dressing table was topped with gray marble and the mirror frame stretched all the way to the ceiling.

The room was rounded out by a huge fireplace, several groupings of settees with tables and lamps, six floor-to-ceiling windows, and an antique Persian carpet.

You okay?

Josies mouth must have been hanging open unattractively. She tried to collect herself. Dear God, Rick, she whispered.

He laughed, moving toward where she stood in the center of the huge room. Most of the furniture in here is original to the house, he said, kissing her cheek. This place has a pretty colorful pastwould you like me to tell you the story?

I love stories, Josie said.

Then lets get comfy. Rick guided Josie to the bed and helped her up one of the step stools, kind enough to steady her by placing his hands firmly on her ass.

Youre a true gentleman, she told him.

Id hate for you to injure yourself, he said, patting her behind protectively.

Rick laid Josie on her back, propped her up comfortably on pillows, then stretched out beside her. He cleared his throat. Once upon a timewell, in 1883, to be precisethis place was built as a hotel for travelers from the Sonoma Valley train station up the road. Rick played with Josies hair for a few moments, then dragged a fingertip down the length of her nose.

About ten years later, a mysterious woman bought the property. She was a biracial daughter of a former slave with some bad-ass entrepreneurial skillsshe turned the hotel into the regions premier bordello.

No! Josie tried to sit up but Rick soothed her shoulders back down.

Oh, yes. Just relax and let me tell you all about it. He kissed her lips softly and continued. So Madame Toulouse, as she was called Youre making this up.

I am not. Rick kissed the side of her neck. Madame /Too-loose/ made sure there was always plenty of live music, liquor, and immoral babes to go around. Apparently, she did a bang-up business.

Okaynow I know youre making this up, Josie said, rolling her eyes at the bad puns.

She became a very rich woman, Rick continued, as he unbuttoned the first three buttons of Josies shirt. Local law enforcement turned a blind eye to the shenanigans, mostly because they were blind drunk and holed up behind locked doors like the rest of the regulars.

Ah, yesthe birth of undercover work.

Rick nodded. Youre the funniest woman Ive ever met, have I told you that?

You only say that because Im letting you unbutton my shirt.

He leaned forward and kissed the now exposed tops of her breasts, moaning in delight. Rick looked up at Josie. Youve also got fabulous breasts.

Josie smiled, grabbing one of his hands and placing it on her breast. So how exactly did you get your hands on all this splendor?

Rick chuckled. Well… He grabbed one of her hands and pressed her palm against the front of his jeans. An upstanding and hardworking family bought the property in the 1930s.

Josie moved her hands up and down his erection. Is this a long story?

Yes, and getting longer by the second, he said. Ricked yanked off his jeans and boxers, then his shirt went flying. He returned his attention to Josie, pulling her top down so that he could unhook the front closure of her bra. When one breast popped free, his mouth was there to catch the nipple. He repeated the process on the other side.

All the while, Rick had somehow managed to unbutton the top of Josies jeans and his fingers were already exploring the outside of her pussy lips.

Josie arched her hips in need. Are we getting to the climax of your story?

Rick laughed. Youre so impatient, Josie. Then he ripped off her shirt and bra and threw them to the floor. Next, he pulled down her pants and underwear and tossed them aside. They got hung up on the edge of the footboard.

Rick then dragged his lips down the front of Josies body, leaving little electrical shivers of pleasure as he went, stopping only at the rise of her mound. He began nibbling on her flesh.

You know, he said, already laughing, the family who bought this place from Madame Toulouse turned out to be real busy beavers.

Josie shook with silent laughter. Please. Im begging you. No more.

Really, they were! Rick returned his attention to between her legs, a region he obviously considered his own personal playground. The idea excited Josie so much the muscles in her thighs began to tremble. He was torturing her!

The land here was very fertile, he said, letting his fingers push open the plump and wet outer lips. When his fingertips found her swollen little clit she began to pant. When he put his mouth on her and dragged his tongue back and forth from her clitoris to the entrance of her wet opening she nearly swooned.

The wine flowed, he said, nuzzling her. They plowed thousands of new acres of vineyard land One finger entered Josie.

She gasped.

And they added an olive grove that produced gallon after gallon of slick, golden liquid He inserted a second finger. Josie shuddered.

For three generations it just kept getting better and better and better … Rick slid in a third finger while simultaneously placing his tongue on her clit and licking and sucking on the hard little pebble of nerve endings. That was itJosie was gone.