The First Kiss: Welcome Amanda Forester, Author of A Wedding In Springtime!

The First Kiss

by Amanda Forester

The first kiss.  There is nothing else like it.  It is the moment when intentions are made clear and two people move from friends or acquaintances toward becoming something entirely different.  It can be a powerful attraction, or it can be an alert you've made a terrible mistake.  Either way, that first kiss will always be memorable.

In my new release, A Wedding in Springtime, Eugenia Talbot has every reason to be wary of Mr. Grant. Five minutes into her presentation at court, the notorious rogue, William Grant, makes her laugh before the queen, ruining her debut. To hush up the scandal, Genie needs to make a brilliant marriage, and fast.  Genie's aunt hires a matchmaker to find a suitor—anyone except the infamous William Grant—but amiable Genie shows a disturbing tendency to follow her heart.  When a traitor creeps closer, threatening to ruin more than just her reputation, Genie and Grant are drawn into a dangerous world of deceit and intrigue, where losing their hearts could mean their ultimate undoing.

Here is an excerpt from the moment when everything changed for them, their first kiss.

The weather was indeed unstable, and the few raindrops were soon joined by others, until throngs of raindrops plagued them from above. The rain turned into a deluge, and Grant found it necessary to seek shelter or face death by drowning. He took Genie’s hand, and they both ran along the path. He expected complaint, as he would get from any finely bred London female, but Genie had been raised in the country and was made of sterner stuff. She merely smiled and ran along with him.

Finding a large willow tree, he ducked under the branches, pulling Genie next to him. The space was crowded with multiple branches, forcing Grant to pull her close. This was a disaster, stuck with a debutante under a tree in the torrential rain with his boots surely ruined.

Far from seeing the horror of the situation, Genie’s eyes were dancing. She screwed up her mouth, trying not to smile.

“My boots are ruined,” said Grant, stating his most pressing concern.

Genie began to laugh.

“I see you have no regard for my boots!”

“I do apologize!” said Genie between giggles. “But here we are stuck under a tree and all you can think of is your boots?”

“You would too if you knew how much they cost.”

“Yes, indeed. I did not realize they were so dear. I am sure my bonnet is quite ruined too.”

It was no great loss, but Grant said nothing. Despite the chill, he was suddenly quite warm. Genie stood next to him, close, inches away. He could touch her merely by shifting his feet. He would not, of course, but he wanted to. When was the last time he had been so attracted to a debutante of all things? When had he last been attracted to anyone this way?

Genie started to shiver, standing still in the cold. He guessed her long pelisse was borrowed from Louisa, since it was fashionable in style, but it was also made of muslin and not intended for inclement weather.

Grant put his hands on her delicate shoulders and gave them a gentle rub. “You are soaked, poor thing. Here, take my coat.”

“No, no, I couldn’t. You would be too cold.”

No, he wouldn’t. He was not cold at all. He was practically sweating he was so hot. He unbuttoned his coat, but Genie shook her head.

“Here, we can both be warm.” He opened his coat and wrapped it around her, drawing her to him.

“I do not think… is this proper?” Genie put her hands against his chest but leaned close to allow him to wrap his coat around her.

“No, not proper I fear,” confessed Grant. He was truthful, even if he was a cad. Genie felt delicious. He wrapped his arms around her and drew her closer, reveling in her small frame, her gentle curves. She laid her cheek on his chest and he had to stifle a sigh. This was what he wanted. He wished he could stay under the tree forever, boots be damned.

His arms around her rubbed her back. He wished to reach further down but dared not; he could not let this get out of control. Yet in plain truth, it was already out of control. Genie sighed and melted into him. There was no other word for it. She fit with him—warm, soft, perfect.

Genie looked up at him, her blue eyes deep and inviting. “I am quite warm now, thank you.”

Grant was beyond warm. He prided himself on his ability to avoid complications with the gentler sex, but with Genie, he was a stupid schoolboy.

“I think it is letting up a bit. Perhaps we should try again to make it to the carriage?” Her voice was airy, her breathing fast, and he could feel every time she inhaled, pressing her bosom against him.

“Perhaps,” murmured Grant. He did not care about the carriage or his reputation or anything except the blue of her eyes and the rose pink of her lips. He leaned down closer, slowly. This was the time she should pull away, but instead, she tipped her head up to him. This could not happen; it must not. He stopped moving and yet still drew closer. As if moving of their own accord, their lips met. For one beautiful moment, he pressed his lips to hers and a tingling shock coursed through his body, energizing, waking parts of him, stinging him to life.

He pulled back slowly, taking a gulp of cool, moist air. What was he thinking?

I hope you have as much fun reading A WEDDING IN SPRINGTIME as I had writing it! I love to hear from readers so come visit me at my website, facebook, or twitter.

What was your most memorable first kiss!