Laurel O'Donnell's Blog, page 67
August 22, 2013
First Kiss Friday – A Knight’s Reward by Catherine Kean
Today’s First Kiss Friday featured guest is Catherine Kean, author of medieval romance A Knight’s Reward. Welcome back, Catherine! Here’s the first kiss between Gisela Anne Balewyne and Dominic de Terre.
Dominic stepped in front of her. He took her face in his hands and gently, but firmly, tipped it up.
Her eyes huge and wet, she stared up at him, tears glistening like rainwater on her face. Her hands came up to clutch his arms.
Lowering his voice to a husky rasp, he said, “Never will I regret wanting to kiss you. Or, for desiring you as I did years ago.”
Moisture brimmed along her lashes. “Dominic—”
“You are mine, Gisela. You always will be.”
“Walk away,” she said on a sob. “Forget me.”
“Never.” He pressed a tender kiss to the hair tangling over her brow.
She thrust her shoulders back, fighting him even in her desire. Misery shadowed her gaze like a black cloud obliterating the sun. “Please! Trust me when I say—”
“Trust me, Sweet Daisy.” Coaxing her chin upward even more, he leaned his body against hers. With a gasped protest, she dropped back to sit on the table’s edge. The wood squeaked at her weight.
Before she could squirm away, he nudged her legs apart with his knee. Cloth whispered, the sound akin to an impassioned sigh.
A flush stained her face. “You are a bold man.”
He smiled. “Aye.” What irony, that days ago, when she’d tended his ribs, she had stood in a similar fashion between his legs. Then, she had treated his physical discomfort. Now, he must tend her. He wouldn’t ease bodily pain, but would assuage her emotional torment rooted in their parting long ago.
“Dominic, if you do not let me rise this instant—”
He chuckled. “You will what?” He kissed her temple. “Beat your fists upon me?”
She glared at him, but reluctance defined the set of her mouth. “I could not hurt your sore ribs.”
“Scratch my eyes out, then?”
Desperation lit her gaze. “How could I wound you? How, when I still . . .” Her voice faded. She bit her lip, obviously trying to stifle her unspoken words, and looked away. “Oh, Dominic.”
“Mmm?” He waited, holding her face in his hands. He kissed her eyebrow. Her eyelid. The salty path streaming down her face.
“Dominic,” she moaned.
“Sweet Daisy.” Dipping his head, he brushed his lips over hers. A tender memento of the love they’d once shared.
The instant their mouths touched, awareness catapulted through him. The stunning force of it snatched his breath, made him draw away for the barest moment. He shuddered, humbled by the sheer power of the physical connection.
The fierce passion between them remained, despite their years apart.
Gisela is yours, as she was before, his mind whispered. Prove that then, now, and always, she is the purest half of your soul.
She, too, must have felt the jolt of desire. She went very still. Blinking tears from her damp lashes, she looked up at him with longing and reticence. Then, her gaze fell to his mouth. Yearning darkened her eyes.
An answering need coursed through him in a swift, potent surge. He kissed her again. His mouth swept over hers, urging her to kiss him back. Asking her to return the pleasure he offered her. Demanding she acknowledge the desire between them.
A ragged cry broke from her. She seemed unable to resist any longer, for her eyelids closed. Her lips parted, accepting all he offered. Taking, yet giving in return.
Their lips moved in perfect rhythm. As perfect as years ago.
Give. Take.
Nibble. Suck.
“Gisela,” he groaned. His tongue slid into her mouth. With a hungry sigh, she curved her body to meet his thrusting tongue. Her fingers, clutching his arms, curled into his tunic sleeves. Her grasping fingertips dug into his skin.
“Gisela.” He kissed her faster. Deeper. Never could he devour enough of her sweetness. He bent closer, his hands sliding from her face into her hair. His fingers buried into the silken strands, holding her head firm, holding her closer to his body and heart.
Laurel O'Donnell - Author - Medieval Romance Novels, Paranormal Romance Novels and Urban Fantasy
August 18, 2013
Inspirational Quote Monday! Twisted Saying #3
It’s Inspirational Quote Monday! Here’s the next altered quote. Hope you get a chuckle out of this one! ”We have enough “youth”. How about a fountain of “smart”?”
Laurel O'Donnell - Author - Medieval Romance Novels, Paranormal Romance Novels and Urban Fantasy
August 15, 2013
First Kiss Friday – Immortal Relations by G. D. Ogan
Today’s First Kiss Friday featured guest is G. D. Ogan, author of paranormal romance Immortal Relations. Welcome G. D.! Here’s the first kiss between Gary Logan and Magdalena.
The roof had parapets similar to an old castle, we walked around enjoying the view; from this vantage point much of the city was visible until other buildings blocked the remainder. We continued to stroll around the outside while she told me more of the history of the city and her family. Impulsively, I turned and said, I know it’s probably inappropriate for me to say it, since I’m much older, but you have been so kind and gracious to me that I think I’m falling in love with you. I’ll understand if you can’t feel the same way toward someone like me and I hope my expressing the way I feel won’t make you leave and keep me from being with you anymore. I’d rather be just a friend with no possibility of developing a deeper relationship than to never see you again! Saying that brought up some deep feelings of loneliness I wasn’t able to suppress; tears suddenly welled up in my eyes and, ashamed of those tears, I turned away from her.
She grabbed me from behind and spun me around so fast my head took a second to follow the trajectory of my body. When my face caught up with the rest of me, she kissed me gently on the mouth saying she had similar feelings toward me, but there were complications for us to do much about those feelings. I wiped my eyes and felt as if my heart would leap out of my chest; with my emotional high it took a minute to recover. If this was a dream I prayed I’d never wake up.
Looking deeply into her eyes as she had done with me, I said if it is a matter of your immortality and super-human strength a solution is to change me!
Now she looked confused. What makes you think I’m an immortal?
I’ve thought it from the first, only an immortal could move from one side of a four-lane road to the other in less than a second, I saw you reflected in a window suddenly disappear from one side of the road then you were just inches behind me when I turned around, which caused me to jerk back, and almost fall. With lightning speed and amazing strength you kept me upright and when you recognized my father in the picture and my legs failed me, again your strength helped me over to a bench.
When we’ve been at the café, you didn’t eat or drink, and I’ve never seen you eat or drink anything. You have strength that surpasses the strongest weight lifter, but wield it with total gentleness. You smell of sugar & cinnamon and are the most kind, considerate and lovely companion I could dream of. You’ve captivated my heart in the time I’ve been with you. Your hands and lips are cold like stone, yet you move with grace and fluidity of motion and your touch sends electrical shocks through me, which I want to last forever! You ask me how I could know. How could I NOT know?
You recognize I used the term immortal. I hope you realize I do so, not out of fear of the word vampire, but because I wanted to state my feelings before I asked you to explain how you became a vampire. I believe when you knew my father you were fully human!
And yes, I realized you are in fact ‘the great aunt’ you described to me. I knew it because of the way you expressed her love for him and the catch in your voice when you spoke of him.
I went down on one knee, and then looked up at her, “We’ve been together for only two days, yet I feel I’ve known you all my life! If you’ll allow me, I’ll spend forever with you any way I can; I prefer as your companion, but if not, I pledge you my blood if you need it. I want you to understand, my statement of love is unequivocal, I want to be with you any way you’ll have me…and forever!”
Then, I sensed a presence coming from behind, I stood, turned and saw a hooded figure running quickly toward us and I tried to move to defend Magdalena and myself. Seeing my almost comical protective stance, the figure stopped and said, “Oh mother, I’m so happy for you!”
Magdalena introduced me to her daughter Eviana; who as she dropped her hood the city lights revealed a beautiful young woman of perhaps eighteen years of age. I stared as she looked so much like her mother, with dark brown hair, and brown eyes, dressed similarly to her mother in a black pants suit, but with a hood rather than a scarf. I extended my hand; saying I’m happy to meet you and I thanked her for supporting my statement of love for her mother.
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Laurel O'Donnell - Author - Medieval Romance Novels, Paranormal Romance Novels and Urban Fantasy
August 11, 2013
Inspirational Quote Monday! Twisted Sayings #2
It’s Inspirational Quote Monday! Ready for the next slightly altered saying? Hope you grin! ”It’s not whether you win or lose, it’s how you place the blame.”
Laurel O'Donnell - Author - Medieval Romance Novels, Paranormal Romance Novels and Urban Fantasy
August 8, 2013
First Kiss Friday – Project Homecoming by Jackie Leigh Allen
Today’s First Kiss Friday featured guest is Jackie Leigh Allen, author of contemporary romance Project Homecoming. Welcome Jackie! Here’s the first kiss between Brian O’Neill and Nat Rodriguez.
The dance came to an end too soon. The lights went up and people started to leave.
“Great party,” Mrs. Andrews said. “You’ll be hearing from us.”
“Yes,” Mr. Anderson added. “From the enthusiasm of your clients tonight, I can see you’re going to get great things done with them.”
“It’s all thanks to Nat. This was her idea,” Brian said.
A blush rose in her cheeks, and her eyes danced with excitement.
“I had a lot of help from everyone, including Brian.”
She squeezed his hand and he held onto hers, liking the warmth, the togetherness.
They said good night to the Fishers, Win and Emily, and Win’s grandfather.
“You throw a lovely party. We look forward to more.” The new Mrs. Winston looked up at Win’s grandfather with a twinkle in her eye.
Snipe and Heather came by, carrying equipment.
“Let me help you with that,” Brian said.
“Oh, no you don’t,” Larry said, coming up to take Heather’s load. “We’ll clean everything up. You two go on home.”
Brian looked at Nat. “Shall we let them?”
“I’m all for it.”
He held her jacket, smoothing it over her shoulders, letting his hands absorb her heat for a moment then followed her to the door. Seated in the Porsche he hit his classical music station and Clair de Lune tinkled out. “Not much moonlight tonight, so it’s good we have the song. What’s your kind of music besides dance music?”
“I do like salsa. Sometimes I sing along with Celia Cruz, but this is good, too.”
“It was a great evening, wasn’t it?”
He glanced her way at a red light and watched a smile spread across her face.
“Great. Everyone had a good time. Everyone felt part of the success.”
He walked her to the door, took the key from her and opened it. She looked up.
“Thanks for driving.”
He almost drowned in her chocolate eyes. A happy death, but not one he was ready for.
He dropped her key on the table by the door and took her head in his hands. His lips were on hers before he could think this was a bad idea and when he touched her soft, giving lips, the time for thinking was over. He ran his tongue along the seam of her lips and she opened her mouth. He tasted chocolate and spice that must be Nat’s own. A spurt of energy went straight from his lips to his groin. He held her for a moment longer then stepped back.
“Good night,” she whispered.
“A very good night.”
Laurel O'Donnell - Author - Medieval Romance Novels, Paranormal Romance Novels and Urban Fantasy
August 4, 2013
Inspirational Quote Monday! Twisted Sayings #1
It’s Inspirational Quote Monday! This month I’m going to switch it up a little bit. I’m going to present you with common sayings with a twist! Pay attention. Hope you get a little chuckle out of this twisted saying – “Money isn’t everything, but it sure keeps the kids in touch.”
Laurel O'Donnell - Author - Medieval Romance Novels, Paranormal Romance Novels and Urban Fantasy
August 2, 2013
Winner of the Birthday Contest!
Congrats to Janie for winning the Audiobook of The Angel and the Prince! Enjoy!
Laurel O'Donnell - Author - Medieval Romance Novels, Paranormal Romance Novels and Urban Fantasy
August 1, 2013
First Kiss Friday – The Immortal American by L. B. Joramo
Today’s First Kiss Friday featured guest is L. B. Joramo, author of paranormal historical romance The Immortal American. Welcome L. B.! Here’s the first kiss between Violet Buccleuch and Jacque Beaumont.
“Ah, chére, you are torturing me, you know?” His grip softened, but remained glued to my arms.
“No, I don’t know. I want you to tell me everything about yourself. I want to know every tiny detail, so I can carry that with me when you leave me. I haven’t asked for one thing, not even rain when I needed it, and I ask you to stay and you won’t.”
A tear slid down his cheek, as he clutched at his heart, like I had inserted a dagger through his breastbone. He shook his head and we swayed, as if the earth had forgotten how to hold onto its gravity— back and forth, hither and thither. Jacque held his breath, and when he finally inhaled his face was mere fingerbreadths from mine.
He whispered, “Forgive me . . .”
I opened my mouth, but could not offer any words, as I realized his face was lowering to mine.
“Stop me, Violet. Stop me. Please, stop me.”
I didn’t.
His lips softly landed on mine. A miraculous warm breeze shuffled all the white, pink and lavender wild blossoms around us, creating a soft vortex to shelter us in our kiss. They sky wasn’t gray; it was white and pink. All of nature surrounding us was in love— the oak’s green branches reached out to embrace us, the weeping willow ceased its crying, and the pine trees stood as sentinels for our kiss. Jacque caressed my lips with his own, softly feathering mine, until I submitted and began to move my own lips with his. We melded our lips, then our tongues. It was me that forced my tongue in his mouth. In our kiss he clutched at my waist, at my back, pulling me tighter against him, as I pushed my body to his.
Suddenly he pulled away from me, huffing on my face. “What are you doing?”
I wasn’t sure if I wanted to laugh or cry at his question, the absence of his lips on mine. “What am I doing? What are you doing?”
He looked baffled and bewildered, but he answered all the same. “I’m being selfish and taking from you and . . . I’m in love with you. I fought it as best as I could—”
“As have I,” I blurted, feeling wild and brave. So that was what a Noreastern storm might feel like. I did feel powerful for finally admitting my feelings, but I also knew what destruction I could wreak.
He blinked. His head jerked, then tilted,then jerked again. He began to shake his head as his eyebrows drew together. “Non . . .” He let go of me completely and stumbled away.
Recklessly, I followed but allowed him a couple feet’s distance. “Non . . . Serait-cevrai?”
I nodded just once. “’Tis true. I fought my . . . love as well. But, I love you, Jacque. I do.”
I touched my lips. They were raw and swollen. I looked up at him, his eyes taking in my mouth, and he must have thought about the fact that I loved him as well.
He fell to his knees. “The gods are cruel.”
I bumbled to my own knees in front of him.
He reached for my face, my cheeks between his hands, looking at me like a man who had just been told he was going to die. “I didn’t believe in love like this.”
I chuckled, despite my pain. “I didn’t either.”
Laurel O'Donnell - Author - Medieval Romance Novels, Paranormal Romance Novels and Urban Fantasy
July 28, 2013
Inspirational Quote Monday! #30 of 2013
It’s Inspirational Quote Monday! Here’s the quote for the week – “If the essence of my being has caused a smile to have appeared upon your face or a touch of joy within your heart, then in living – I have made my mark.” – Thomas L. Odem Jr.
Laurel O'Donnell - Author - Medieval Romance Novels, Paranormal Romance Novels and Urban Fantasy
July 26, 2013
Birthday Contest! Win an Audiobook!
It’s my birthday this week! As a celebration to all my fans, I’ve decided to run a contest. One lucky winner will win an audio copy of The Angel and The Prince! In order to be entered, there’s only 2 things you need to do -
1. Comment and wish me a Happy Birthday
2. Subscribe to my blog. It’s on the left hand side
3. Tweet or Facebook about the contest
This contest will close on July 31st! I’ll announce a winner on August 1st.
Good luck!
Laurel O'Donnell - Author - Medieval Romance Novels, Paranormal Romance Novels and Urban Fantasy
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“What do you want from me?”
Perhaps it was ridiculous, Ryen thought. Men never seemed to have a problem with taking what, ...more
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