A Sip of You (The Epicurean Series) by Sorcha Grace

laze around and think. Kind of like last night’s massage, which had not relaxed me. At all. But at least that had ended well. I thought again about the handcuffs, the honey, and how I felt with that red silk scarf tied across my eyes. I felt a chill race through me even though it was toasty warm in the sun. That feeling of surrender and of letting William control my pleasure had been incredible, like nothing I’d ever felt with him or with anyone else before. I rubbed at my sore wrists, which were still bruise-free. I couldn’t wait to feel it again.
    By dinnertime, I was bored, antsy, and lonely. The house with the grounds and the vineyard was an enormous estate, but I still felt trapped. And a little pissed. My cell had been by my side all afternoon and though I had picked it up a zillion times, I hadn’t gotten so much as a text from William. I couldn’t wait any longer, so I finally gave in and punched in a text of my own.
    Where are you???
    I waited and waited. Nothing. This was what I feared.
    Fine. I decided to call him. It rang and went straight to voicemail. Which pissed me off even more.
    I stayed on my chaise. The sun had already set, but the outdoor heaters were lit and the well-placed landscape lighting created a warm halo of light over the whole pool area. Fernanda all but insisted that I eat dinner, and as she walked up carrying a tray, I was desperate enough to finally ask her if she knew anything. I’d wanted to ask her all day, but I had held my tongue. “Do you know when Mr. Lambourne will be back? It’s getting late.”
    “No, Miss Kelly, I’m sorry. I don’t.” She smiled and shrugged as she set the tray down on the table next to me.
    “Do you know where he is? I haven’t heard from him since this morning, and I’m getting worried.”
    “Mr. Lambourne is a very busy man, Miss Kelly. I am sure he’s fine and will be back soon.” She was polite, but her look told me this sort of non-communication from William was not unusual. “Can I get you anything else, Miss Kelly?”
    I quietly sighed in frustration as I looked at the beautiful meal set out for me. I wasn’t very hungry, but I didn’t want to offend Fernanda and maybe she really didn’t know where William was or when he’d be returning. “No, I’m fine. Thank you, Fernanda. This looks delicious.”
    “Enjoy your dinner, Miss Kelly.” Then she turned and walked back toward the house.
    I ate the warm chorizo and spinach salad I’d chosen for dinner—which was super fresh and delicious—and drank the entire carafe of white wine that came with it.
    And I kept waiting.
    ***
    I’d always loved swimming. I was on swim team when I was a kid and I surfed most of my life too. I spent hours in the water, I felt at home there and completely comfortable, which is how I started photographing surfers. I was a strong swimmer and a halfway decent surfer, but managing heavy camera equipment while out on a board in riotous surf required strength and confidence too.
    I went back up to the empty master suite after dinner and sulked some more. When William walked in the door, I wanted him to know exactly how mad I was. But, surprise, surprise, I was too antsy to stay in the room. I needed to do something, and looking about, it dawned on me what. I found a skimpy red string bikini in my Narnia-like closet and pulled it on. I felt decadent wearing a bikini in January, so I texted Beckett a picture and typed, How’s the snow? before heading back down to the pool for a swim.
    It had been a while since I’d worked out in a pool, but after a few laps, my body relaxed and I focused on the repetition of my movements. I must have been swimming for the better part of an hour when I surfaced and spotted William sitting in a chair just a few feet from the edge of the pool. Finally , I thought. I was relieved, and excited too.
    I wiped my eyes, half expecting him to be a mirage. My heart was already pounding from exertion, but it beat even harder from