“ I know , you said .”
She smiled . “ See ? You ’ re already learning things about me .”
“ I know you ’ re a good swimmer . An astonishing kisser . You make your own wine , which is the coolest thing I ’ ve ever heard ,” he said , moving closer . His eyes watched her mouth , seizing upon the lushness of her bottom lip . She had seen it before , in men : that determined gaze as they moved in for something they wanted .
him .
“ Did you like my wine ?” she asked , immobilizing
“ I did . I usually prefer bourbon , but it was very good . Sweet .” She had served it with dinner earlier , a rich red that paired perfectly with the pasta .
His hands pushed the water around , creating little eddies . She could see what was coming next , it was so strong she could almost pluck the idea from the air around his head .
“ Not as sweet as you , though ,” he said .
“ I use a secret ingredient in my wine ,” she said , floating on her back . “ Did you know that a form of lotus flower grows here ? You wouldn ’ t believe it to look at this little lake , that something so exotic could live here . Some people call them water lilies , but they ’ re not exactly the same thing .”
“ So what I drank , that was flower wine ?” he asked . At the mention of it , a metallic taste flooded his mouth , like pennies . Or blood .
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