Sunday Smooch

Welcome to another LoveCats DownUnder Sunday Smooch!


Today we have a smooch from Prince of Scandal by our fabulous guest author Annie West, who writes for Mills & Boon Sexy, but first ...

the winner of last week's Sunday Smooch Giveaway is -- Helen!


Congratulations, Helen! Can you please contact Sharon Archer at

sharon (at) sharon-archer (dot) com

and she'll send you a copy of The Man Behind the Badge.

And now for today's Sunday Smooch from Prince of Scandal by Annie West ...


Ruling prince...
Raul, Prince of Maritz, is furious that an archaic law is forcing him to wed. But scandal and unrest has dogged this prince for years, and a marriage to recently- discovered princess, Luisa Hardwicke, will help bring stability to the monarchy.

...reluctant princess

Only Luisa is an outspoken, mud-splattered, farm girl, who isn't going to come quietly! Even as she's reluctantly transformed into polished perfection, Luisa challenges Raul at every turn, and he finds himself anticipating their wedding night with an excitement he never imagined he’d feel...


‘I want to marry a man who makes my heart race and my blood sing-’

Strong hands closed on her upper arms and she gaped up at the starkly sculpted face suddenly so close. A passing light played over him. Far from being coolly remote, heat ignited in Raul’s eyes. His expression sent adrenaline surging.

His head lowered and his warm breath feathered her face.

‘Like this, you mean?’

***

Raul’s mouth claimed Luisa’s, pressing, demanding, till on a gasp her lips parted and he took possession.

Too late he realised his mistake.

The spark of indignation that had urged him to silence her grievances flared higher. Hotter. Brighter. He tasted her and heat shimmered, molten in his blood. He delved into her sweet, lush mouth and discovered something unexpected.

Something unique.

He slanted his mouth, demanding better access. Needing more. A ripple of stunned pleasure reverberated through him. He’d suspected almost from the start that there was something unique about Luisa. But this…!

His tongue slicked across hers, laved and slid and explored and there it was again.

An excitement, an anticipation he hadn’t felt since he was a green boy.

Still it persisted. The feeling this was different.

He tugged her satisfyingly close between his wide-planted legs. His other hand slid up into the thick, silken mass of bright hair that had caught his eye as he’d walked into the salon this afternoon. He’d wanted to touch it ever since.

It felt even better than it looked, soft as seduction.

The fire dropped to his belly, kindling like a coiling Catherine wheel that jetted sparks in all directions.

Tension screwed unbearably tight as her hand fluttered at his neck, a barely there touch that weakened his knees. When she slid both arms over his shoulders to clasp his neck a great shudder rocked him.

How could a kiss ravage his senses?

Trying to staunch the feeling that he spun out of control, Raul moved his lips to the corner of her mouth but she turned her head. Instead of an almost chaste caress, he found himself transfixed as her lips opened beneath his. Her body pressed close and her tongue slipped into his mouth in a move that he’d have called tentative if it hadn’t sent every blood cell in his body rushing south.

Her kiss was slow and deliberate. Unbelievably provocative as she treated him to a devastating sensual exploration that almost blew the top off his head. Shivers of delight coursed through him.

Raul slid a hand under her long coat, over the tight curve of her bottom. His splayed fingers dragged her close, where that flicker of heat was now a blazing furnace.

He swallowed her gasp, returning her kiss with growing fervour. Every nerve was sharp and aware, as if it had been an age since he’d held a willing woman.

Luisa tasted like sunshine, felt warm and soft and luscious like a summer peach.

Heat spiked in his groin. The audacious notion rose that here, now, they should let passion take its inevitable course.


Prince of Scandal was released in the UK in May. It will be available in Australia and New Zealand in June, and in North America in August. To be in the draw to win a signed copy, simply answer Annie's question!

"When I wrote Prince of Scandal I based Prince Raul's quaint, picturesque capital on a city I knew and loved (if you're curious, you can see the photos on my website at http://www.annie-west.com ). If you were dreaming of a Cinderella story, where would you set it?"

Come back next Sunday, when the winner of today's giveaway will be announced -- and a smooch from Ice-Cold Lover by Mel Teshco will be posted!