Bottoms Up

By Jessica Crafts

Unrequited love can be a burning flame that can consume you, but when Megan and Dominic come together, it could spark a fire that will light up the night.

Megan has had a crush on Dominic since middle school, and now she's visiting his family vineyard, a business he single-handedly pulled up from failure to suc

• Language: English
• Publisher: Bacchanal Press
• Release date: Nov 14, 2023
• ISBN: 9798868999123

Jessica Crafts

Jessica is a good girl who likes to think she's almost as sassy as her heroines... at times. It is her belief in true love and lasting passion that inspired her to write stories about loving alpha males and the women who adore them. She has a not-so-secret addiction to horror movies and cute, fuzzy animals; they both make her want to cuddle!

Book preview

Chapter 1

Why do you do this to yourself, Megan? Marie asked me.

I looked down at the bright fuchsia luggage beside me, my cute khaki shorts, and the flowy flowered shirt that hugged my breasts. I dressed comfortably and screw anyone that didn’t like it. Marie thought I should try to dress hot so all the men would drool and chase after me. I felt that if a man had to be baited and trapped, instead of wanting me as I really am, then he wasn’t worth having.

I don’t know what you’re talking about, Marie. I sniffed, refusing to have this discussion with her again. Just help me put the bags in the trunk. I really want to get to the airport and get this vacation started.

Whatever. Marie threw the luggage into the trunk of her VW bug without ceremony. You just want to see Dominic again. It’s been more than seven years, right?

It isn’t him that has me all excited, I lied, slamming the trunk and little too hard and moving to get in the passenger side. It’s the vineyard. I just finished a bachelor’s degree in marketing and business management, and Dominic took his family’s failing business and turned it around from facing bankruptcy to a Forbes Fortune 500 company in less than a decade. I think I can learn a few tricks from him. That’s all.

I bet you want to learn a few tricks from him, Marie muttered, turning the key in the ignition.

Look Marie. I glared at her as she pulled away from my house. Dom was my brother’s best friend in high school, and it’s true that I had a crush on him. He was six years older than me and way out of my teeny-bopper league. Okay?

Teeny bopper? Really? Marie glanced at me as she merged onto the highway and headed toward the airport. Who says teeny bopper? Is everything hunky-dory and peachy-keen too? Gee, golly, I bet you’ll have a whiz-bang time!

Shut up and drive, I said, my jaw tightening between laughter and anger. Besides, Nick would never let anything happen between his best friend and me. This trip is strictly business. Who knows, maybe I can even get him to be my first client in the advertising business I want to start.

We fell silent as Steve Miller began singing Dream Weaver on the oldies station. I had a crush on Dominic since before I knew what sex was, a dreamy-eyed pre-teen sighing and staring at him with puppy dog eyes. I followed Dominic and my brother Nick everywhere they’d let me. I watched them play pool in the basement, laughing about cheerleaders at school, and talking trash about how hot their science teacher was. I tagged along when they went to hang out at the mall. I saw more action movies than I care to admit, just so I could sit next to Dom in the dark. I was totally smitten.

But then he graduated high school and moved to wine country, where his grandfather ran a vineyard. I only saw him once more, when he came to visit for the holidays while I was in high school. He was still so fucking handsome it made me wet just to be in the same room with him. I spent most of the night in the other room, watching him through a doorway. Every time he looked over, I looked away because I didn’t want to look like some love-struck little girl.

I pulled my legs together as thoughts of him made my heartbeat leap and other parts of me react in a similar fashion.

Chapter 2

I saw Megan coming toward me. She’d become a beautiful woman and was a vision of beauty as she moved toward me. She stood out from all the other women with her beige shorts and flowered shirt, rolling a ridiculously bright suitcase behind her. All the other women disappeared around her. They thought tight jeans and showing all their assets in skintight clothes made men watch them, but they could never have what Megan had without even trying. All the old feelings came flooding back to me. I hadn’t seen her since I went to visit on a Christmas almost seven years ago. I felt my cock stiffen as I watched her move toward me.

She saw me and waved; her smile brightening the whole airport. I tightened my jaw and raised a hand. I couldn’t show how much I wanted to just run up to her and hug her, hold her against me, and never let her go. She was my best friend’s kid sister, and I knew she couldn’t feel the same way I did. I couldn’t take my eyes off of her. When she got to where I was waiting, I moved to take her suitcase.

How was the flight? I asked, rolling my eyes as I turned away. It was a lame question, but I couldn’t clear my head enough to think of anything better to ask.

Fine, but I’m glad I’m here, Megan said, moving to hug me.

I returned the hug, awkwardly patting her back, and leaning away so she didn’t feel my arousal. I didn’t want her to think I was some kind of pervert and scare her away. I’d been anticipating her visit since she first emailed me to ask if she could come out.

Walking to the car, we made small talk about weather and airplane food. I glared at an older man who looked at Megan with appreciation. Noticing me watching him, he turned bright red and looked away. Megan was mine, and no one else had any right to look at her. At least, not in that way. I reminded myself