In honor of Valentine’s Day I am posting one of my favorite kissing scenes! It’s from The Duchess and the Dragon. Drake (a duke on the run for his life) has become an indentured servant, training under Serena’s father as a silversmith. Serena (a sweet Quaker girl) has gone to the shop to bring them their lunch. Her father leaves to run an errand and they find themselves alone together…

Serena’s father trusted him alone with her.

 That single thought warred with the intense desire to kiss her. With her face just inches from his, he drank in the creamy skin, the green and brown flecks in her eyes, the golden brows, the soft, pink lips. Just one brush of her lips, he told himself, would quench this growing thirst for her.

He knew it wasn’t true, that one kiss usually led to wanting more and more. But he couldn’t seem to help himself. Every muscle strained to grasp her to him. His imagination replayed what it would look like to see her fiery hair down and around her shoulders, and even though he was supposed to be the one world-wise and self-controlled, he felt as eager as a young man with
his first love. He’d never longed for a woman the way he longed for her.

“Serena,” he whispered as he bent toward her. How he loved the sound of her name.

She turned, wide-eyed, but with acquiescence evident in the way she strained toward him.

He lowered his head, keeping his gaze locked to hers, anticipating the rush of her breath when she finally released it. Her lips were soft, hesitant and compliant, wanting to follow and learn. Her breath was sweet. It was heady, teaching such innocence.

He had not known such sweetness existed.

She seemed entirely willing to go where he led her. Her movements matching his, her hands sliding up his chest to rest on his shoulders. He groaned, eyes shut, splitting in half with desire and guilt, trying to hold on to the reasons they must stop.

He broke free from the kiss, but then, instead of backing away as he’d planned, his lips moved to pepper kisses along the side of her neck and throat. Her blouse didn’t have any buttons . . . ah, the Quakers, maybe they had the right idea after all. He pulled the top bow slowly, unable to think beyond wanting to see more of her in the dusty sunlight.

Suddenly, she reared back, gasping, staring at him wide-eyed. “Thou mustn’t . . . we mustn’t!” She dragged in a long breath and stepped away from him. “Please, forgive me.”

Drake’s mind and body rolled with the turmoil so that he didn’t at first comprehend. Was she taking the blame? Shaking his head he looked at the floor. What a fool, trying to make love to a saint. He would burn in the abyss for certain now.

“No, Serena, it’s my fault. I beg your pardon.”

He looked up to see her reaction and caught his breath. She was just so beautiful. He had never seen her blush so thoroughly, but her eyes were steady and remained fixed on his. Such a mix of innocence and passion.

In a rush she turned them to another direction. “Art thou ready for thy button lesson?”

For more kissing scenes from other authors (like Julie Lessman!) visit Faith and Fiction on Fire! I will be posting another love scene from this book later in February at Faith and Fiction on Fire. Happy Valentine’s Day! XOXO!!