Happy Valentine’s Week

by Desiree Holt

The history of Valentine's Day the day for lovers (and great sex) — and its patron saint — is shrouded in mystery. But we do know that February has long been a month of romance. St. Valentine's Day, as we know it today, contains portions of both Christian and ancient Roman tradition. So, just who was Saint Valentine and how did he become associated with this ancient rite?

One legend contends that Valentine was a priest who served during the third century in Rome. When Emperor Claudius II decided that single men made better soldiers than those with wives and families, he outlawed marriage for young men — his crop of potential soldiers. Valentine, realizing the injustice of the decree, defied Claudius and continued to perform marriages for young lovers in secret. When Valentine's actions were discovered, Claudius ordered that he be put to death.

Other stories suggest that Valentine may have been killed for attempting to help Christians escape harsh Roman prisons where they were often beaten and tortured.

According to one legend, Valentine actually sent the first "valentine" greeting himself. While in prison, it is believed that Valentine fell in love with a young girl — who may have been his jailor's daughter — who visited him during his confinement. Before his death, it is alleged that he wrote her a letter, which he signed "From your Valentine," an expression that is still in use today. Although the truth behind the Valentine legends is murky, the stories certainly emphasize his appeal as a sympathetic, heroic, and, most importantly, romantic figure. It's no surprise that by the Middle Ages, Valentine was one of the most popular saints in England and France.

Forget the roses. Nothing says Happy Valentine’s Day like an amazing bottle of fine wine. Pairing it will great chocolates, music, and food add up to the perfect formula for love.

But chocolate wine says it all. A special drink for lovers that appeals to all the senses. Where can you find it besides your local wine shop? Why at Valentino’s, the gourmet food and wine shoppe around which the mini-series Valentino’s Delight revolves. It’s by the Sassy Seven and is all part of the terrific new series from Decadent, The Edge. Like hot sex? Hot love? Sex with strangers?Sex with reunited lovers?All flavored with chocolate wine?

Then dip your toe into this new series.

Here’s a taste from my contribution, Lust Becomes You.

Blurb:

Kylie Monroe fell in love and in lust with Sam Cooper, reaching new highs of ecstasy as they explored the world of BDSM.  She foresaw a rich life together filled with love and erotic sex. When Sam dumped her to pursue success in the legal field, telling her there was “always tomorrow,” she never quite recovered from the hurt. Ten years passed leaving Kylie gun-shy in the love department and frustrated in the sex department. Nobody could replace Sam. Then on a snowy Valentine’s Day she had an unexpected opportunity to reconnect with him. But could Sam persuade her their love was real this time? Could he woo her back with the kind of sex she’d been missing?

Excerpt:

“Hey, Kylie. What brings you out on a night like this?” Valentino hollered to her from behind the counter where he was wrapping wine and chocolates. “Valentine’s Day and romance, like everyone else?” he laughed. “I love it.”

No wonder. Valentino’s Gourmet Food and Wine Shoppe was packed with smiling people besotted with that stupid guy in diapers. What the hell was she doing here, anyway, with all these people who thought celebrating a guy in a diaper was romantic.

Buying your annual bottle of chocolate wine, the kind you and Sam drank, and weeping over it like some idiot.

The shop was jammed tonight, people everywhere looking over the Valentine’s food basket specials and the cutesy little wine wrappers and cork screws special for the day. In the wine tasting corner people were sampling the specials of the day while others nibbled on tiny crackers and gourmet cheese while they waited their turn in line. It was enough to make you sick.

“Hey, Val,” she heard one of the clerks shout. “We making deliveries tonight?”

“Now? You gotta be kidding me. The driving’s so bad I told the kid to go home after his last stop. Who is it, anyway?”

“Sam . He wants a half a dozen bottles of that chocolate wine.”

“What?”

Kylie froze in place. Sam ? In this city? If he was ordering chocolate wine it had to be her Sam.

Hers? He hadn’t been hers in forever. Not since their last time together when he’d said they needed to get settled in their careers before getting into anything serious. Funny. She’d thought they were already serious. She’d never mentioned her desire for BDSM to any of the men she’d tried to be interested in. They’d run as fast as they could. But god, she missed it. And Sam.

Was he married? Single? Engaged? Did he even remember her?

Without thinking she hurried over pushed her way through the crowd to Val.

“I’ll deliver the wine for you.”

Val was so startled he almost dropped the bottles he was wrapping. “Kylie, it’s freezing out and we’re expecting more snow. Besides, I don’t expect my customers to fill in for my delivery guy.”

“Where does he live? Is it far?”

The people in line were groaning their dissatisfaction at the interruption.

“Only in the next block, but–“

“I know him. I think. Is he a lawyer?”

Val nodded as he continued to wrap and sack purchases.

A lawyer. Sam . Chocolate wine. It had to be the right one.

“Well, then. It will give me a good chance to say hello.” She forced a smile. “Really. Okay?”

He shrugged. “I think you’re crazy but if that’s what you want you got it.” He looked over his shoulder to the clerk still holding the phone. “Tell  his order’s on the way.”

She buttoned up her coat again and wrapped her scarf tightly. Pulled her gloves on and took the tote bag from the clerk who’d gotten it ready.

Be sure to visit me at www.desireholt.com