* * * *
It took time for both to compose themselves before Tyler cancelled his meetings for the day. Marshall Sliss protested until he learned the Admiral and his wife would be inspecting the grounds of their estate. At that point, the Marshall backed down, wishing them well.
He and Toosia took ground transport down to tour their estate with the caretaker and chief operator of the winery. Throughout the tour, they held hands, embraced warmly, and stared into each other’s eyes. As far as Tyler was concerned, this was a date he would never forget. He sensed Toosia felt the same despite being apprehensive about showing affection. They didn’t say much but held excited discussions with various staff throughout the winery.
The chief operator, Kiiren Oslaan, was the tenth generation caretaker of the estate’s winery. The Admiral held no memory of him, but did remember the man’s father and grandfather. Kiiren informed them he’d taken over operations after his father had suffered health problems five years earlier, and although Kiiren was the youngest in his line, the winery had vastly improved under his tenure.
Kiiren was excited to show them the awards and accolades the winery had received over the last two of their finest years. According to Kiiren, this year’s harvest was looking even better, and he assured Tyler they would receive several hundred cases for the estate cellar. Kiiren was affable and talkative, and both Tyler and Toosia were able to escape from their emotional meeting from earlier.
Although the Admiral rarely showed interest in his family’s wine production, Tyler was more than pleased to have inherited such a wonderful operation. He was fascinated by the process that created the wines, and Kiiren’s intense passion for the business was infectious. It was one of the best times Toosia and the Admiral could remember. They felt like an old couple, familiar and warm, while excited as if on a first date. Since becoming Onyalum, Tyler had never felt so happy. He wished the day would go on forever.
After the tour, they ate lunch at the winery before heading back to the Palace where the Marshall and staff had prepared an incredible dinner just for the two of them. They both laughed at the Marshall’s obvious desire to foster their newfound relationship, but both accepted it graciously. They finally parted, retiring to separate rooms to bathe and dress for the romantic evening.
Tyler donned the Admiral’s finest formal uniform while Toosia dressed in an elegant gown of dark blue. The gown clung to her body, outlining the shape beneath. It was breathtaking, and Tyler showed his approval with pulses of light flickering across his face.
When they both met in the dining room, Tyler helped Toosia into her chair, lightly kissing her cheek before taking his own seat. The kitchen staff did not disappoint as they were lavished with multiple courses of exquisite foods from all over the planet. With each course, samples of the estate’s best wines were served at the perfect temperature. Tyler felt like a King.
Several hours later, the dinner concluded, and Tyler excused the staff so he and Toosia could retire to the couch in front of the large fireplace. The fire burned brightly, filling the room with a dancing glow of yellow gold. Toosia, barefoot, stretched her legs out along the couch, settling into Tyler’s arms.
The moment was peaceful, and so happy after the day they’d enjoyed. He gently caressed the skin of her arm, his hands moving gently across her body, feeling familiar curves he longed to explore. He felt hot and excited as colors flash across her exposed skin.
He wanted to take her, to make love to her like the dream from the night before, but he held back. He didn’t want to ruin the road to reconciliation by rushing into the physical part of the relationship. Although he sensed she wanted to make love, she held back, tentative in the renewal of their emotions.
They held each other well into the night, both succumbing to sleep by the warmth of the fire. Tyler woke late in the night, only embers glowing softly. Tyler noted one of the staff had placed a blanket over Toosia as she lay curled up with her head on his lap.
She looked peaceful, and he didn’t want to disturb her. They’d both drank a lot of wine that day, and though Tyler was used to it, she probably wasn’t. He slipped out from underneath her and stood up. He was stiff, but felt good for sleeping upright on the couch.
She didn’t stir from his movement, so he gently shook her trying to wake her. She rolled over and continued to sleep. He didn’t want to leave her on the couch, so he wrapped her in the blanket and carried her back to her room. She was light in his arms and didn’t wake as they made their way to her quarters.
He put her in bed, removing her gown and covering her with sheets. She rolled from him towards the center of the bed. Quietly, he left her room and headed to his own. He couldn’t remember when he had ever felt this good without being really high. The wine helped, but the feelings of love he felt for Toosia were more powerful than any drug he’d tried before. He felt a fearful elation from the emotions.
As he lay back to sleep, he could almost feel her against his body. He imagined her naked skin caressing his, both dancing with the colored lights of arousal. As his fantasy grew, the wine sent him into a peaceful sleep.