Borrowing on several other blogs' concepts (thank you to Abi and others) I have decided to do a contest of my own blog here with different rules and a description that varies according to my blog's theme.
What is the prize you ask? You can win one copy of any of the books I have available right now. They are It's Not About Me, It's Not About Him, or my edgier e-books Danger at the Door and First Impressions...(e-books are open worldwide, but trade paperbacks to US and Canada only. Sorry y'all, but I ain't rich despite what people think of authors and their pay.
Here is how I will pick the winner. The person who writes the best kiss wins their choice of one of my books. Post no more than a page or two, please. Who will be the judge? Me. And you know I love edgy. Anything goes as long as there are no disgusting words or salacious implications. In other words, edgy is good but nasty is not. :)
That said, I will share a yummy kissing scene from each of my books. So in total you will get four yummy kisses to read. These are real, published scenes. I will post the page they are on as well as the book title so you will get four yummy examples of what I am looking for. (Ironically, two of my kissing scenes involve ice cream. Hmmm... is there a theme here?) Then you tell me which scene is your favorite. Then post your own. That's it.
So again... read my kissing scenes and tell me which one you like best and why, then write your own (can be published already or written on the spot.) One entry per writer please. Easy peasy, right? If you post about this contest and refer friends (and say so in your comment) I'll give you an extra entry. I'll choose a winner on Valentine's Day.
So what are you waiting for? Come on, read my heady kissing scenes and then impress me with your stuff!
**** so here is my stunning example from my first book, It's Not About Me, from pages 162-163.
An unmistakable look of longing came into his eyes. It made her skin tingle. She had the distinct impression he wanted to kiss her.
She moved closer and lifted another chunk of frozen banana from his shirt. Holding it in front of his lips, she whispered, “Want a taste?”
As though hypnotized, he opened his mouth, and she popped the morsel in. When he closed his lips and slowly licked them, she followed her impulse and stood on tiptoe, cupping his face with her hands.
She wanted to be his first kiss. God help her, but she couldn’t stand it anymore. She needed to know if the chemistry she felt between them was real.
He gazed back at her, looking startled at first. Then his eyes darkened, but he didn’t move.
Overwhelmed by his scent, his closeness, the need to know what it would be like to kiss him, she leaned into his broad chest. Time froze. She brushed her lips against his mouth, terrified he’d pull away, somehow sensing he wouldn’t.
He didn’t kiss her back at first. Hesitating, she pulled back slightly to gaze deep into his eyes. In their depths she found the same hunger that burned in her heart.
She closed her eyes, her lips seeking his, savored the taste of him as she found his upper lip. Sliding her mouth across his, she tugged on his lower lip, silently teasing his senses, aching for his love.
She sensed that something profound had awakened inside him. With a moan, she kissed him deeply until he responded with like passion. His sudden fervor surprised her, yet pleased her beyond anything she’d imagined.
As she reveled in his kisses, the strength of his arms around her gave her a rush like no other. Passion exuded from him as his mouth met hers kiss for kiss. The unspoken longing that released in their embrace was so intense she thought for certain they’d burst into flame.
****How as that for Yummy, eh? Here is one from It's Not About Him, from pages 104-106.
Stepping back to get a better look at him, Susie met his gaze. Her eyes grew heavy as the masculine scent of him intoxicated her like a drug. She wanted to kiss him and tell him how much she missed him, but her body felt stiff, frozen in place. She could only move her eyes, which were now straying to his lips.
Without saying a word, he wove his fingers into the hair at the nape of her neck. “I’ve really, really missed you,” he whispered.
His gaze lingered on her eyes, her mouth. Straying back and forth. But he held back, as if assessing her reaction before he made a move.
Against her wishes her throat tightened, and again her eyes filled with tears. She struggled to say something meaningful, but all she could do was swallow repeatedly.
When she found her voice, she murmured, “I have a confession to make.”
Her heart flipped at the intense look in his eyes. A lazy smile spread across his handsome face, and his hazel eyes flashed with amusement before darkening.
“Tell me. I’m listening.”
She cringed, averting her gaze. “I lied to you. I’m . . . sorry.” Peering at him through her bangs, she anticipated anger, but found none.
His brow crinkled, and a nervous grin replaced his confident one. “You lied to me? What are you talking about?”
“About your kiss. When I told you that. I didn’t mean what I said.”
Touching her chin, he tilted her face up to meet his gaze. “You didn’t mean what?”
Her pulsed pounded so hard she heard its flow echoing in her ears. “I didn’t mean it when I said . . . ”
His eyes softened further. His voice a throaty whisper, he said, “You lied?”
“Yeah.” She cast her gaze down.
“If you lied, that means you enjoyed it, right?”
She nibbled on her lower lip. “Yeah, I did.”
The tone of his voice deepened. “A lot or a little?”
A bubble of joy bounced around in her stomach and threatened to pop. Jeff hadn’t pushed her away or laughed at her.
With a low chuckle, she responded, “A lot.”
Jeff eased closer. “Mmm. Me too.”
He brushed his warm lips against hers once, then twice.
Curving her arms around his neck, Susie pulled him closer and melted against him, the intensity of his kiss turning her knees
to mush.
“Susie . . . I need you. I want to be with you so much.”
God help her, but she wanted him too. Last year she would’ve laughed if anyone had even suggested that someday she’d have feelings for Jeff. And now seeing him was all she thought about. How quickly things changed.
Once again, he dipped his head and tasted her lips slowly, with an agonizing tenderness that made her forget the extra weight she carried. For a moment she allowed her heart to feel the intense joy welling up inside. To know he wanted her was a heady feeling.
****Now for a scene from Danger at the Door, page 75.
Her nerves tensed when she realized he would be leaving any minute. She didn’t want to see him go. Glancing up, she captured his gaze and licked her lips.
His eyes traveled to her mouth. That stupid habit was going to get her in big trouble one of these days. But she couldn’t help it. The tension in her body caused that automatic response.
"You want bakni before I go?" The soft sound of his voice made her knees weak.
What does a girl say to an offer like that? No? She’d be a fool to turn him down. So instead, she nodded, her eyes never leaving his.
Everything transpired in slow motion as he stepped closer. She could hear the sound of his erratic breathing and held her breath. His lips hovered and met hers in a tentative manner at first. Then he draped his arms around her as he angled his head to caress her lips more fully. He secured the back of her head with one hand as he suckled her, engaging one lip at a time, and exploring her mouth with abandon. The desperate, husky moans emitting from low in his throat made her body hum. His tongue slid against hers in an intimate dance and her body pulsed as she pressed against him. She wanted more, needed more. It didn’t matter that they hadn’t known each other very long. She yearned for intimacy.
To experience things with him she had no business desiring. Not yet.
When he pulled away, an intense, bereft void filled that place, making her throat tighten. She couldn’t say what she really felt. What she wanted to do was beg to go with him. Worse, to make love to him so he wouldn’t forget her.
But that would be too needy, and she realized he wouldn’t want her to come with him. His business was personal, and she had no part in it. The thought saddened her.
"Ah, Laney, your lips are sweet like med. Your eyes remind me of blue lake near hometown. So deep and wonderful." He touched her cheek. "But we must wait.”
She swallowed hard and bit her lip. He was right, of course, but it didn’t make the desire pulsing in her go away. Her body throbbed, and oh, it was a heady feeling.
"I call you soon. I must go now." His large fingers stroked the side of her head, tracing her cheek, her jaw, until his hand touched her chin and slowly slipped away.
She sensed his eyes on her and she nodded, refusing to look at him for fear she’d get tearful again. A sob crept up her throat, and she squelched the pain.
The door clicked shut. She leaned against the frame and sucked in a breath as she tried to keep her tears at bay. "God, help me. The way I feel… This can’t be right."
Trust me. And wait.
****And last, from First Impressions, pages 47-48.
She glanced away, nibbled on the corner of her mouth, and nodded.
"Good. I want you to know you can always trust me, okay?" As he turned her face toward him again, he peered deep into her eyes. He suddenly felt emotionally naked. Exposed. He was sharing his heart with her, and yet he sensed that she wasn't ready to share her heart yet. Not with anyone. That made him indescribably sad.
She laughed nervously and announced, "I don't feel like eating anymore, but my empty stomach still hurts."
His appetite had waned, too. "How about ice cream? It's always good for the soul."
"Now there's a man after my own heart."
Jimmy smiled as warmly as he could and tried to think positively. Things were improving and he didn't want to lose the momentum. He pulled a half-gallon of chocolate chip ice cream out of the freezer and set out two dishes. He sensed her watching him as he filled the bowls and returned the carton to the freezer.
"What do you want to talk about?"
"Let me think." She took a bite of her ice cream and offered him a spoonful.
He grinned and opened his mouth.
She slid the ice cream inside with her spoon. The look on her face was incredibly sensual.
"Yummy, huh?"
He nodded.
She smiled shyly and handed him her spoon. "Feed me now?"
Suppressing a delighted moan, he slid a bite of ice cream into her mouth and waited for her response. The game they were playing was getting him hot enough to squirm. It didn't help that they were alone in his kitchen. It would be so easy to take things further if they didn't slow things down…
Licking her lips as she watched him, she then closed her eyes and swallowed.
That action was all he needed to push him over the edge. He needed to taste her again or he'd go mad just thinking about doing it. Setting his bowl on the counter, he gently grabbed her arms and lowered his mouth to hers. She responded more fervently than he'd anticipated as their cool, sweet tongues engaged. The sensual kiss made his head swim with pleasure.
He moaned. Everything in him tensed and heated as they explored each other like two hungry singles deprived of affection for far too long. He sensed her arm moving and wondered what she intended to do with her hand. He was eager to find out and made a move of his own.
A crash made him jump back.
"Oops. I missed the counter." She giggled.
He sucked in a deep breath. What was he doing kissing her like that? Things were getting way too hot for a weak man like him to be engaged in. In fact, he'd been so into the heat of the moment that everything melted away but the sensation of her mouth on his and his desire to overwhelm her with himself. All thoughts of God and his plans to remain pure had vanished. He had wanted her so much it scared him.
He shook off the thoughts and shifted his attention to the spill. God needed to help him get his self-control back.
"Not a problem. I'll get you another bowl." Glad for the diversion, he quickly cleaned up the mess and dished her up another dessert.
"Now, where were we…?" He popped a spoonful of ice cream into his mouth and tried to suppress a delighted smile as he thought about that awesome kiss. He needed to keep his thoughts pure. Being around her made that tough.
"Sure you want to go there again, mister?"
"I'm fighting it." He swallowed hard. Truth was he wasn't fighting much at all.
She laughed and winked at him. "Maybe we better go outside."
