First Kiss Friday with Aurrora St. James
Welcome to a new week and my First Kiss Friday Blog. Today’s guest is Dragonablade Publishing author Aurrora St. James who has an excerpt from her story Tempting the Reclusive Earl. Isn’t this cover beautiful? We hope you enjoy this first kiss scene. Happy reading, my lovelies!
Excerpt: (Bellamy finds Christian on the balcony at a ball after he confronts an informant.)
Christian took hold of her upper arm and steered her into the shadows. “Bellamy, why are you out here? Your reputation could be ruined.” He crossed his arms over that wide chest and glared down at her.
She lifted her chin. “I’m helping you find Dale.”
“I don’t need help.”
She waved at where Waler had been. “He planned to share the information with you?”
He pressed his lips into a thin line.
“I heard the terrible things he said to you,” she added softly.
Christian looked away.
She laid her hand on his arm. “I don’t understand their cruelty.”
“It doesn’t matter.”
“It does if it hurts you.” She cupped his cheek and made him look at her.
He sucked in a sharp breath at her touch. Whatever else she meant to say disappeared beneath his intense gaze.
The air changed between them. Grew charged in a way she couldn’t describe. Every sensation magnified. The coolness of his cheek from being out in the chilly air, beneath her gloved hand. The solid muscle she felt beneath her palm when she laid her other hand on his chest. She heard him swallow and watched his sensuous lips part.
Heat curled in her belly and her nipples pebbled. She inched closer.
Christian move his hands to cup her waist. The warmth of his palms seared through her thin gown, warming her even more. His gaze dropped to her lips.
She pressed closer until their chests brushed.
“Bellamy.” Her name was a soft sigh on his lips. It washed over her like a caress.
She wanted to kiss him, she realized. He was frustrating and shy, and at times achingly vulnerable, and she wanted to kiss him more than anyone she’d ever been with.
“Christian,” she whispered as she slid her hands up to wrap behind his neck.
He startled at her touch, and she saw the desire-filled haze begin to clear from his eyes.
No. She wasn’t letting this moment pass. She threaded her fingers into his hair, angled his head down, and kissed him.
He froze. Several seconds ticked by.
Did she read this wrong? Did he not want this? She pulled back, cheeks going hot as embarrassment swamped her. “I’m sor—”
Christian slanted his mouth over hers and kissed her back, hard. He let out a soft growl before maneuvering her farther into the shadows until she felt the cold stone wall against her back.
Yes. She licked his lower lip and clung tighter to him.
His mouth parted on a small gasp.
She gripped his hair and pulled him closer, opening her mouth to his.
He didn’t immediately deepen the kiss.
Was this more shyness or was he unsure of what to do? Either way, she wasn’t going to allow him to back away from this moment. Bellamy swept her tongue against his. Once. Twice. In response, Christian tentatively brushed his tongue over hers, the motions slow and hesitant. Had he never kissed anyone like this?
Somehow that made this interlude even more sexy. She pressed closer and took his lips with hers again.
Christian followed every swipe of her tongue until he grew more confident in his kiss. He wrapped his arms tightly around her, molding her to his body as their mouths fused together.
Heat shot straight to her core. She slid her hands down his chest and under the bottom of his tailcoat, wrapping around his back, and when his hard thickness pressed into her belly, she moaned and pressed into it.
Christian pulled his mouth away. He panted against her lips.
Her body thrummed with delicious desire. Heat shot through her from every place his hands touched. She leaned forward for another kiss.
He jerked his head away, avoiding contact. “I… I’m sorry,” he rasped, before he released her and quickly stepped back. Cold air rushed between them, chilling her heated skin.
She stumbled a step toward him, brain still addled and her blood still pounding from the kiss. What was he sorry for?
“I sh-shouldn’t have…” He took another step back and ran a shaking hand through his hair. “Forgive me, Miss Bennett.”
Miss Bennett? The formality shocked her back to her senses. “Christian wait. I kissed… you.”
He spun around and was gone before the last word was out.
Tempting the Reclusive EarlBook 2 in the Taken by Destiny series- Tempting the Reclusive Earl
By Aurrora St. James
Destiny brought her. He’ll fight to keep her.
Christian Albury, the Earl of Huntington, prefers his inventions to people. When he discovers that someone is stealing from him, he is forced to leave the comfort of his workshop to investigate the matter. Being highly intelligent has its advantages, but not in the shark-infested waters of a London Season where his social awkwardness makes him an outcast. When he meets a beautiful woman who claims that one of his inventions brought her from the future, Christian does what any self-respecting recluse would—he ignores her request for help and avoids her. A decision he fears left a bad impression on her.
Bellamy Bennett just became the new face for a famous perfume company’s ad campaigns. Even though modeling isn’t as fulfilling as it once was, she’s hoping the work will provide the means for the next chapter of her life. But when her sister goes missing, Bellamy rushes to find her, only to end up two hundred years in the past—and in the arms of a handsome but exasperating Earl. He may be the only person who can help her get home. He’s also avoiding her. But Bellamy is persistent and the more time she spends with Christian, the deeper her feelings grow for the brilliant but shy man.
When Christian’s time travel clock is stolen, he discovers a depth to the theft that threatens his entire estate and could keep Bellamy in the nineteenth century forever. And when an old enemy resurfaces to threaten all he holds dear, Christian will discover how much Bellamy means to him and just how far he will go to protect her.
Note to readers: This book is a sexy, time travel Regency romance featuring a heroine who goes after what she wants, a shy earl looking for the man who stole from him (while trying to figure out what to do with a confident, sexy woman), funny side characters, and a guaranteed happily ever after. It is the second book in the Taken by Destiny trilogy. Book 3 to be released in this fall.
Pre-Order Link: https://amzn.to/3OHaEf2
First Kiss Friday for Book 1, The Earl’s Timely Wallflower: https://sherryewing.com/2023/03/31/first-kiss-friday-with-aurrora-st-james/
Author Bio:
Aurrora St. James writes sexy historical and paranormal romances featuring tough heroes, strong women, quirky characters, and a touch of humor added in for spice. She loves coffee, making her own journals, old B, C, and D-movies, and the magic of a happily ever after.
Social Media Links:
Website: http://www.aurrorastjames.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AurroraStJamesAuthor/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aurrorastjames/
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/ladyaurrora/
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/aurrora-st-james
Facebook Reader Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1562285277340374/Twitter: https://twitter.com/AurroraStJames
