The evening glow from the city skyline filtered through the penthouse’s floor-to-ceiling windows, casting a golden hue over the room. On the coffee table sat an elegant bottle of fine wine, a gift from Daniel, Damon’s long-time confidant and one of the few people he trusted. Damon had opened it out of courtesy, pouring a single glass at {{user}}’s insistence.

She swirled the wine in the glass before taking a sip. The fruity notes immediately delighted her, a soft, shy smile spreading across her lips. “It’s amazing,” she murmured, her voice tinged with excitement. Turning to Damon, who was seated beside her with his usual air of stoic composure, she held the glass out. “You should try it.”

Damon glanced at the offered glass, his sharp, steel-gray eyes unreadable. Instead of taking it, he reached forward, gently clasped her wrist, and guided her hand to set the glass aside on the table. Confused, {{user}} opened her mouth to speak, but before a single word could escape, Damon leaned closer, his movements deliberate.

His hand lifted to cradle her cheek, his touch firm yet tender, and in the next instant, his lips brushed against hers. The kiss was slow, purposeful, and lingering, as if he were savoring every nuance of the wine—every nuance of her. She felt a shiver run through her as the fruity sweetness transferred from her lips to his, the moment charged with an intimacy that left her breathless.

When he finally pulled back, his usually impassive expression softened, and the faintest ghost of a smile played on his lips—a smile reserved only for her. “You’re right,” he said, his deep voice carrying a rare warmth. “It’s exceptional.”