Chapter 356: SS4 03: The Honeymoon Addiction Package

"You must be the honeymoon couple," an old woman said as she waltzed up to Ambryan and Eve. Her salt and pepper hair was tied back by a flowery headwrap. bun. 

She held out her hand to Eve first. "I'm Ericka, Ernie's wife."

A boost of loud music boomed behind her. All their heads turned towards the merry group. From Eve could guess, most of the people present were also couples. There were also children playing near the fields.

A large basin that could fit 20 people say under a huge tree. Vintage songs played out of the speakers and everyone wore clothes from the 40s. With the fields in the background, the party resonated a simple life aesthetic.

As if it was that easy to live without today's technology—except for the music player they used.

A group of men came from the fields, carrying buckets of grapes on their shoulders. They dumped them one by one inside the large basin.

Ericka chuckled a little before she shifted her attention back on Eve. "I trust you have no spare clothes? We prepared a dress for you. Come. Let's get you changed."

Eve blinked as Ericka dragged her to the back of the house. She glanced over her shoulder, staring at Ambryan with wide eyes. He nodded his head as a form of encouragement. Ernie clapped him on his upper back.

"We get visitors from all over the world here," Ernie started to say. They walked towards the group. "There are others like you who came on this day during their own honeymoon trips. Be warned. They'll probably tell you this place is magic for love."

Ambryan arched an eyebrow. "Hm?" 

The first couple they passed by beamed a little too wide for his taste. It was the wife who spoke up first. "Are you and your wife on your honeymoon? You're so lucky to be here right now. Legend says the marriage lasts when you go grape treading around here."

Ernie laughed heartily. "That's only a myth and you know it. It's great for tourism though so thank you."

"It's true and YOU know it," the wife insisted. Her eyes flickered back to Ambryan. "We've come here every year since our first visit during our own honeymoon. And look! We're still happily married to this day!"

Ambryan wore a polite smile. 

Although the husband hadn't talked, the way his eyes sparkled in his wife's direction reminded Ambryan of himself. They should be a few years older than him—probably got married around his age. 

To many, the myth sounded absurd.

As for Ambryan...

"I'd very much like to stay happily married," he played along. "If grape treading helps with that, I'm more than glad to be here." 

"That's the spirit!"

"Sorry to keep you waiting," Ericka announced when she stepped out of the house. Eve trailed behind her, wearing a floral summer dress that reached down to her knees.

"Are you sure I can wear this?" Eve couldn't help but asked. The dress turned out prettier than she expected. It was a shame to have it stained by grape treading.

"Trust me. You'd want to wear a beautiful dress for this."

"Alright, gather around, everyone," Ernie said, clapping his hands and walking along the basin. "Since we have new faces, let me explain how this goes. Ericka and I will go first, followed by oldest friends and newcomers will be last."

"I hope you're light on your feet ladies," he added. "Ericka, dear. Will you do me the honors?"

Ernie bowed to the waist and offered his hand to his wife. Ericka accepted it with a cursty. "Yes."

In one swift motion, Ernie swept his wife off her feet and placed her inside the basin. The music started to play louder. Their close friends followed suit. Ericka led a simple dance. Each woman who entered the basin fell in sync with the steps while their partners clapped their hands to the beat.

"I knew you probably liked my wine commercial the most," Eve teased her husband as they waited for their turn. "But I didn't think you'd like to live it."

"You think I did this on purpose? I didn't know about this either," Ambryan replied.

Eve narrowed her eyes at his face. "Liar. You probably had fantasies of bathing me in wine like the addict you are."

"And why would I do that?" He questioned, crossing his arms over his chest. "Are you suggesting the wine would taste better on you?"

"So you have thought about it!"

"No. But…"

"But…?"

Ambryan looked above her head. Then, he grinned at her face. "But I do want to find out."

Eve felt the ground leave her feet. She clung to Ambryan until he placed her inside the basin. Eve held up her skirt like she saw the others do. Ambryan stayed in front of her, clapping along as he was supposed to do.

An inner debate commenced in Eve's head. Her hands clenched the fabric. Everyone was enjoying their time. She didn't want to ruin it with her pride. With a huff of breath aimed at her bangs, she mimicked the dance steps. 

The steps were half-circles, starting on the left. The ladies swayed their hips after each turn while their eyes landed on their partners. 

At first, Eve made sour expressions when she and Ambryan made eye contact. Then, she shifted to silly faces until a full-blown smile eventually bloomed on her lips.

Seeing her mood lighten up, Ambryan almost believed magic did exist in this place. The ladies held onto the edges and hopped in a clockwise direction. They played among themselves, forgetting about their partners and holding hands.

Ambryan felt a tap over his shoulder. Ernie had come up behind him. "I know I should have warned you… but it's considered bad luck to do so."

Ernie and several men grabbed Ambryan by the arms. They hauled him up to the basin where Ericka took off his shoes and socks. It happened all so fast. Next thing Ambryan knew, half of the women had trapped him on one side of the basin.

The other half had taken Eve.

Both groups closed the gap between the couple and pulled them away from each other. This happened numerous times as they circled each other. Eve eventually managed to kiss his cheek.

Unfortunately, Ambryan slipped the next second. The juice seeped onto his back. 

The women who held Eve nudged her towards him, causing her to stumble as well. She landed on top of Ambryan.

Everyone seized handfuls of squished grapes and rained it down on the couple. Cheers and well wishes were given to the couple. 

Eve stayed on top of her husband. Ambryan sat up with his hands on her waist. His hair stuck up in different directions and her shoulders shook with laughter. 

When he gave her a questioning look, she wiped her hands on his cheeks. Ambryan turned his head away as if traumatized by the time she pinched him earlier.

Eve dabbed a finger to her tongue. "Wow. It does taste better on me."

Ambryan leaned over. "And where's my share?"

"Why not taste yourself?" Eve shut her eyes as soon as the words left her lips. "That sounds off somehow."

"Of course, it does. You should be the one I should taste."

Eve bolted off him and ran around the basin. Ambryan rose to his feet, rolling up his sleeves. He charged for his wife who wriggled her way in between people to slow him down. 

Ambryan predicted her movements. He made a blind guess which direction she headed for and tackled her by the waist. They rolled over the batch of grapes, completely soaked from the juice.

He hovered on top of her this time. 

The sweet taste of fermented grape juice looked so inviting under him. He brushed off the hair strands that clung to her face. Eve had gone under a spell as if there were only two of them in the world right now.

How couldn't it feel that way when she saw nothing else but his face? The violet hue in his eyes seemed endless and deep.

Ambryan slowly aimed for her juicy lips. 

Hands gripped him from behind and hauled him off. Whoots and cheers filled his ears. Eve scrambled to also get up. Her cheeks had reddened as the grapes under her feet.

It wasn't fair for Ambryan to see. The flush on her face only made her more desirable. 

Ericka skipped towards her husband. She folded her arms on the edge of the basin and propped her chin. "I think Mr. and Mrs. Hathaway had enough. Don't you?"

"Ah, my scheming wife." Ernie chuckled. "The bath for the guest room upstairs should be free for the next hour."

"Maybe even two hours."

Another chuckle left his lips. "It's your call."

Eve felt the stickiness of the grapes when she stepped off the basin. Her dress clung to her skin like glue. Someone offered her a towel which she gladly accepted and wrapped around herself. 

She and Ambryan climbed up to the second story of the house. The music sounded faint and far away. The guest room had a small bathroom. Eve found it as soon as she opened the bedroom door.

"Do you want to go first or—?"

Her words died in her mouth.

Ambryan had kicked the door closed and cradled the back of her head, trapping her in a kiss. The sweet taste finally reached his senses. One taste and he wanted more—like how a dying man craved water.

Eve suddenly felt the bed hit the back of her legs. 

Ambryan laid her down. 

"Ambee, we can't do this here," she breathed out once Ambryan moved to her jawline. "We have to clean up."

"I am cleaning you up."

"You know what I mean!"

"It would be a waste to wash this off by water."

"You are too addicted to wine." Eve snorted.

Ambryan stopped to meet her eyes. "I do like wine. And I love you. How can I not be addicted to this new combination?"