The vineyard stretched endlessly under the starlit sky, rows of grapevines casting shadows in the moonlight. Tessa’s heels sank slightly into the earth as she wandered away from the gala, her champagne flute dangling loosely in her hand. Her boyfriend, Ethan, was back at the estate house, networking with colleagues, his attention fixed on climbing the corporate ladder. He hadn’t noticed her slip away, her silk dress shimmering as she sought a moment of freedom from his predictable world.

She’d felt restless all evening, the weight of routine pressing on her. Ethan was kind and dependable, but his touch had grown mechanical, his kisses perfunctory. Tonight, she craved something alive, something reckless. That’s when she saw him—Javier, the vineyard’s enigmatic groundskeeper, leaning against an oak barrel near the edge of the field. His shirt was unbuttoned just enough to reveal a glimpse of tanned skin, his dark eyes catching hers with an intensity that made her breath catch.

“Lost, señorita?” His voice was a low rumble, accented and teasing, as he stepped closer. The air smelled of earth and ripe grapes, and Tessa’s pulse quickened.

“Not lost,” she said, her lips curving into a daring smile. “Just… exploring.”

Javier’s gaze lingered on her, taking in the way her dress hugged her hips, the way her auburn hair spilled over her shoulders. “This place has secrets,” he said, closing the distance between them. “Care to discover one?”

Her heart pounded, but she nodded, letting him lead her deeper into the vineyard. They stopped at a secluded clearing, where a blanket was spread beneath a gnarled olive tree, as if he’d planned for this moment. The audacity of it thrilled her. She set her glass down, the champagne forgotten, as Javier’s fingers brushed her wrist, sending sparks through her veins.

“You’re not here with anyone?” he asked, though his smirk suggested he knew the answer.

“Does it matter?” Tessa’s voice was bold, her body leaning toward him, drawn by a magnetic pull. Ethan’s face flickered in her mind, but the thought dissolved as Javier’s hand slid to her waist, pulling her close.

Their first kiss was electric, his lips firm and unyielding, tasting of red wine and forbidden promises. Tessa’s hands roamed his chest, fingers tracing the hard lines beneath his shirt. He groaned softly, his grip tightening as he pressed himself against her, the heat of his body igniting hers.

They sank onto the blanket, the cool night air a contrast to the fire building between them. Javier’s hands were skilled, peeling away her dress with reverence, his lips following the path of exposed skin of her neck, her shoulders, and the curve of her breasts. Tessa gasped, her body arching as he teased her, his touch both tender and commanding.

“You’re trouble,” he murmured against her skin, his breath hot as he kissed lower, making her shiver. She tugged at his belt, desperate to feel more, to lose herself in this stolen moment. When their bodies finally met, it was a slow, deliberate dance, each movement drawing her deeper into a haze of pleasure. The vineyard was silent except for their ragged breaths, the rustle of leaves, and the rhythm of their connection.

Tessa’s world narrowed to the sensation of Javier’s hands, his lips, the way he moved with her, pushing her toward a peak she hadn’t reached in years. When release came, it was overwhelming, a wave that left her trembling beneath him, his own climax following as he whispered her name like a secret.

They lay there, tangled and breathless, the stars above indifferent to her betrayal. Guilt crept in, but it was muted by the afterglow, the thrill of being wanted so fiercely. Javier traced a finger along her jaw, his eyes searching hers. “Come back tomorrow night,” he said, half-question, half-challenge.

Tessa smiled, pulling her dress back on. “Maybe I will,” she lied, knowing she’d return to Ethan’s side by morning, her secret buried beneath the vineyard’s soil. She walked away, her body still humming, carrying the memory of a night where she was no one’s but her own.