Welcome to
another LoveCats
DownUnder Sunday Smooch!
the winner of last week's Sunday Smooch
Giveaway is Cindy Hamilton!
Cindy, can you please contact Annie West :
Annie (at) anniewest(dot) com to receive your copy of Rebel’s Bargain!
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And now for
today's Sunday Smooch from Louisa George's Modern Tempted book: Enemies With Benefits
Back cover blurb:
The last man on earth she should hook up with!
Poppy Spencer has
discovered that there’s one thing worse than Christmas alone in her flat, and
that’s spending it with Isaac Blair- her sworn-enemy-turned-reluctant-flatmate!
And that’s not just because he knows all her secrets…but because his
sexy-as-sin smile and taut physique are making her all hot and
flustered-despite the icy cold outside!
Unless a casual hook-up
is just the thing she needs…? It’ll certainly break the simmering tension
between them. The trouble is, with their history, this is going to be anything but casual…!
KISS scene…
Lead-up. Poppy’s experience with sex and relationships has been very limited and not very pleasant…she’s struggling with
her feelings for her flatmate who she finds irritating in the extreme…she’s
trying to prove to this disbeliever that snowflakes and Christmas can be
magical and they find themselves having a snowball fight…
She screamed. Shivered. Turned. ‘Aww! What the…? You are the most
irritating, stupid, insensitive…’ Chasing after him, scooping snow as she ran
she threw a hard ball at his back, the smile finding its way back onto her
mouth. ‘One more time, Isaac and I swear…’
He threw one back at
her. Missed by a mile. On purpose. ‘What? You love snowball fights? What you
going to do? Go on. I dare you.’
She threw another one.
It lamely hit his leg. He ran and caught her up, reached out for her arm,
grabbed it.
She spun around in the
snow, dark eyes flashing with anger, heat, frustration.
Heat. It slammed
through him like a thousand volts as he touched her.
Her body shook and she
glanced down, surprised, at her trembling hands. Looked up at him for answers.
He didn’t have any. He didn’t know what the hell was happening here either.
Her voice was thick
and hoarse. ‘No. No. You’re not worth it.’
‘Oh, really?’ The
electric force that had shimmied between them all evening spiked, stole his
breath. He pulled her to him, slamming his body against hers. He needed to kiss
her. To taste her again. Because one tiny kiss had been in no way enough last
night.
If she had given him any indication that she did not want this as much
as he did then he would have walked. But she kept staring at him, searching his
face. Confused. Hungry.
‘Really. You are so
not worth it. Not worth it all.’ But this time her voice was hushed and thick
and told him exactly what he needed to know.
He watched the
movement of her throat as she swallowed, brushed a snowflake from her cheek.
‘Poppy…’
‘Yes?’ She stuck her
tongue out again and caught another one, smiled in a way that shot hot spikes
of need through him. Ran her tongue along her top lip leaving a wet trail that
he ached to taste, and half drove him mad with desire. Her eyes widened and he
was sure she didn’t realize the effect she was having on him. Either she had to
stop or he had to… ‘You have got to stop doing that with your tongue.’
‘Why?’ Her breathing
sped up, her lips parted just a little.
He tipped his head
closer to her mouth, unable to do anything else but stand here, with her,
holding her. ‘Because I have other ideas for it.’
Poppy heard the catch in her throat and felt the shiver run the length
of her body as he pulled her to him by her coat lapels, pushed away her scarf
and slid his mouth over hers. Felt her body ease against his. Felt the thick
outlines of his heavy coat against hers- frustrated by the barriers. Grateful
for the barriers.
Because she knew they
were on different planets of experience, of expectation. She didn't want to
kiss him. Didn't want to want him.
But she did. Wanted
him to run his hands over her body. Wanted to see what it felt like to feel
desirable, to be desirable; to Isaac.
And hell, she needed
to stop hiding, stop processing. Start living. Start feeling- but she didn't
know how. Wanted him to show her the way, but was afraid of what he'd think of
her. And she sure as hell couldn't ask.
As he slowly licked
across her bottom lip, any further thought fled her brain. Her body stopped
processing anything beyond its innate feral response; the flashes of light and
heat in her belly, the tingle in her breasts, the wet of her mouth.
She opened her mouth
unable to resist the pull of him any more, wound her arms around his neck. Felt
a strip of bare skin against her arm- that one inch enough to fire more light.
More heat. Lost herself in touch, smell. Taste.
Louisa
is giving away a copy of her book to one lucky commenter! So her question
to you is: Poppy and Isaac have a number of flatmate rules they have to adhere to; what would your number one rule be for sharing a house with someone?
Come back
next Sunday, when the winner of today's giveaway will be announced -- and a
smooch from Jenny Jones’ Twelve Days at Silver Bells House will be
posted!
Hi Louisa
ReplyDeleteWOW loved that smooch I really enjoy stories with snow in them :)
If I had a flatmate one of my rules would be that I would have to have my space because there are times that I really love to curl up with a good book
Have Fun
Helen
Having your own space is essential, right? When I'm in the middle of a good book I don't want any interruptions, but really, with two teenagers in the house I'm always getting asked for something!
DeleteWow, loved the smooch. That book was already on my to-read list but I'm glad to know it was a good idea to add it.
ReplyDeleteIf I had a flatmate, the number one rule would be clean up after yourself!
I'm with Helen though about the need for space, I think it's why I love living alone so much.
When the US version get released? I want that cover - since I saw all three on the Christmas blog a few weeks ago.
Hi Lyn! Absolutely I'd definitely have to agree to them tidying up...I know this is a bit of a theme for me, but with teenagers in the house I feel like I'm either constantly nagging or clearing up!! LOL.
DeleteEnemies With Benefits won't be released in US until February!! I know, odd decision by the powers that be....but it's because it's part of a series and I think they're being released as a special package-the sparkly xmas cover is only the digital version I think. The cover above is the UK version, which you can get from M&B website or from Book Depository (free postage!!). Hope that helps! If you have trouble getting the cover you want let me know via my website contact form. Thanks! x
There must be something wrong with me. The first thing I thought of was, "Don't touch each other's food!" I have often heard of one flat mate buying food ingredients and then the other flat mate eating them all (but denying it, of course)! There are so many examples today (and in years gone by) of people taking advantage of the generosity of others or just taking advantage of others. It's not right.
ReplyDeleteHi Laney4, no I don't think there's anything wrong with you at all, and see further down, no-one wants their food stolen!
DeleteRed hot smooch, Louisa!
ReplyDeleteHmmm, flatmate rules. Being the most undomestic of goddesses, when I shared it was always useful to have agreed 'rules' about cleaning up.
Hi Jen, I agree about that too! There's not much worse than coming home after a day's work and having to step through someone else's rubbish/mess!!! A chores timetable usually works well!
DeleteGreat smooch and Enemies With Benefits is a great title. Love it.
ReplyDeleteHi Tammy! Yes, I lucked out on the title and the cover this time!
DeleteWow, what a smooch! I love flatmate stories.
ReplyDeleteMy golden rule would be: You do not eat, touch or even look at my Twisties. Twisties are not to be shared.
There is nothing worse than craving Twisties (or your preferred junk food) only to find someone has eaten it!
Hi Jeanie! I live with two teenage boys and if I have something special as a treat I hide it where no-one can find it! Otherwise there'd be too many hands on my twisties!
DeleteGreat smooch thank you.
ReplyDeleteMy number one rule would be not to invade my personal space. Since I would consider the entire flat to be mine that rules out sharing a flat with anyone I guess. I did share with my sister years ago, but that's family.
Hi Mary, sharing with family is a whole different matter, eh? You can say what you honestly think/feel and they still have to love you!
DeleteHi Louisa,
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely smooch. I could imagine that snow fight scene so easily!
As for house rules? I think tidying up after yourself has to top the list.
It would be top of mine, Annie!
DeleteHot excerpt! My number one rule - toilet seat down!
ReplyDeleteI hear you, Sharlene! (Two teenage boys...need I say more?)
DeleteFab smooch, Louisa! Enemies with Benefits sound like a great read. :-)
ReplyDeleteMy number one rule would have to be: Knock before coming into my room…and please wait for a "come in" before you do enter please. I like my privacy. ;-)
Michelle, that would be so nice...I absolutely agree! I used to have a sign on my door that said 'writer at work' and people used to respect that- now it's fallen off and broken I have far more interruptions!
DeleteGreat smooch, Louisa! I love the sound of Enemies with Benefits :)
ReplyDeleteMy number one rule would be separate bathrooms - my bathroom is my private space and I'm not so good at sharing it.