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?
What was your most memorable first kiss!
