Sunday Smooch: What Happens in Charleston...

Welcome to another LoveCats DownUnder Sunday Smooch!

Today we have a retro smooch from What Happens in Charleston... but first:

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


Can you please contact Robyn at robyn-grady (at)
hotmail (dot) com to receive your copy of The Goddess!


And now for today's Sunday Smooch from Rachel Bailey's What Happens in Charleston...  

This book was originally released last year, but is being re-released in Australia and the UK in a special 2-for-1 with Kathie Denosky's Sex, Lies and the Southern Belle. These two books are the first two in a continuity set in Charleston, called Kincaids: A Southern Seduction.

When What Happens in Charleston was originally released, we had a smooch from Matthew and Susannah on the LoveCats, so today we'll share the second smooch from the book.

Money has always given Matthew Kincaid whatever he wanted. Yet now his son needs something even his millions can't buy. The widower's sole recourse is the surrogate who gave birth to his child - for she is also the boy's true biological mother.

Susannah Parrish needs no prodding to offer her assistance - a child's life is at stake. But to their mutual surprise, the minute she's back in Charleston and residing in Matthew's home, passion consumes them. Is this a relationship doomed by deception? Or is it the one chance at a love they both secretly crave?


Scene set-up: [Matthew and Susannah have been trying to keep their attraction under control, but not having much success. After sharing a meal and a decadent dessert, they're starting to wonder why they're staying away from each other at all.]



“New plan.” He leaned fists on the counter either side of her, holding her in place. “You come to my bed now.”


She opened her mouth to protest, but he laid a finger across her lips. “We go into this with no illusions, and no one will be hurt. We’ll keep it separate from Flynn and he’ll never know. You’re leaving soon, so this will be short-term. We’re both adults, we can deal with that. What we can’t deal with is fighting this attraction,” he said fiercely. “It’s too damn strong. At least, it is for me.”


“Doubly so for me,” she said through a dry throat. Yet, a rebel part of her mind protested…she’d never slept with someone knowing it would go no further—purely for the physical pleasure. Could she do it? Indulge her desire for him and not let her heart get involved?


If the choice was between never experiencing Matthew’s lovemaking or trying something new in having a short-term physical relationship, then the decision wasn’t difficult at all.

Original US cover - still available

“All right.” She met his gaze. “Let’s go with your new plan.”

A shudder racked his large frame. “For days, I’ve barely been able to look at you without imagining touching your skin. I’ve wanted to kiss you right here—” his lips touched the place where the column of her throat met her shoulder “—so badly it’s been keeping me awake at night.”

The heat of his tongue on the vulnerable skin was intoxicating, drawing her under his dark spell. She brought her hands up to his shoulders so she didn’t fall…and for the simple pleasure of touching him.

“What’s been keeping you awake at night?” he murmured against her skin.

An image flashed into her mind—the bare skin she’d glimpsed on his neck when his top buttons had been undone that first morning. With fumbling fingers, she undid his shirt buttons to halfway down his torso and splayed her fingers on the warm skin she uncovered.

“This,” she whispered, running her fingertips over the crisp hairs that were scattered across his chest, the heat inside her building.

He drew a sharp breath between his teeth. “Just that?”

“Starting with that.”

In one smooth motion, he grabbed the back of his shirt, pulled it over his head and discarded it. The expanse of muscled chest that stood before her sent sharp anticipation zinging through her veins. His arms slid around her waist, and she leaned forward and pressed her lips to his skin.

“Susannah,” he rasped then pulled her face up to kiss her hungrily. It was as darkly decadent as their first kiss, but this time it was so much more. There was no need to hold back; she could give free rein to all the passion she’d been holding in check, all the primal need that reared up inside her.

Although this kiss wasn’t merely about giving—it was about taking what she wanted. And she wanted Matthew.

 

You can find What Happens in Charleston in Australia and New Zealand here, or in the UK here, or still available in the US with its original cover here.

To be in the draw to win a signed copy of What Happens in Charleston... simply leave a comment. And since this is Matthew and Susannah's second kiss, why don't you let us know about something that you tried twice and liked just as much the second time. :)

Come back next Sunday, when the winner of today's giveaway will be announced -- and a smooch from These Haunted Hearts by Anna Campbell will be posted!