Sunday Smooch with Jennifer St George

Welcome to another LoveCats DownUnder Sunday Smooch!

Today we have a smooch from  Jennifer St George but first 


... the winner of last week's Sunday Smooch Giveaway is ..... Hina Tabassum 


Can you please contact amelie (at) amelieberlin  (dot) com to receive your prize.

And now for today's Sunday Smooch from Jennifer St George.

Blurb

Heiress Lady Zara Ravensdale and Xavier Hunt, the gardener's son, were once inseparable. But before their romance had a chance to bloom, it was crushed by scandal and betrayal. 

Xavier is now an international celebrity and sexier than sin while Zara is deep in debt, running Ravensdale Manor as an upmarket hotel to make ends meet. Unable to forget the past, Xavier returns to the manor, determined to exact his revenge on the Ravensdale family – once and for all.

Together again, passions reignite and the old chemistry becomes impossible to ignore. But Xavier and Zara are both keeping secrets and neither can forget their troubled history. Will they be able to uncover the truth of that night or will Xavier's need for revenge tear them apart forever? 

  

The Billionaire's Passionate Revenge is the third book in the Billionaire series.

Scene set-up
Xavier has just won a BAFTA (British Academy of Film and Television Arts) award for his gardening television series. Zara accompanied him to the gala awards night and an awards after-party. They have just arrived back at their hotel after a passionate smooch was interrupted by a group of Xavier's fans. So this scene is really a post-smooch and a prelude to another but I just love the teasing mood in this scene. I hope you enjoy.

Smooch  - 

They arrived at their floor and he unlocked the door to the royal suite. She stepped into the marble foyer and marvelled again at the amazing space. She’d read that the suite had recently been renovated to the tune of two and half million pounds, and every penny spent was exhibited in its luxury appointments.

‘This has been such a magical night, Xavier.’

He took her hand and led her into the living room. ‘You speak as though the night is already over, whereas I’m thinking, beautiful suite, more champagne, dim lights . . .’

Her heart beat a little faster.

‘So you sit right here,’ he said. ‘And I’ll order some room service.’

She sat, sinking onto the cream sofa. Xavier strode to the desk. The man looked incredible in his Alexander McQueen tuxedo, the outfit so different to his usual attire of jeans and T-shirt.

He stripped off the jacket and threw it over a chair, his broad shoulders barely contained by the classic white shirt. Picking up the phone, he ordered champagne and chocolates.

Something buzzed beside her. She forced her gaze in that direction. A mobile phone hummed. Must be Xavier’s. He mustn’t have taken it with him to the ceremony. She picked it up and held it for Xavier to see. He nodded and finalised the order. She glanced at the scene and her eyes widened. Fifty-three missed calls.

She pushed off the sofa. ‘Xavier, you have over fifty missed calls.’ It buzzed in her hand again and she read the caller ID. ‘Julia Templeton,’ she announced holding out the phone to him.

‘That’s my assistant.’ He took the phone gently from her hand and returned it to the coffee table. ‘I’ll call her in the morning.’

The screen lit up again. Another call.

‘But there must be something important going on,’ she insisted. People calling at two in the morning never brought good news. The muscles in her neck tightened. She’d learned that from experience.

‘It’ll just be people calling to congratulate me.’ He slipped his arm about her waist, touching his lips to hers. ‘They can all wait. We’ve got more important priorities.’

Zara glanced down at the screen. ‘But that’s Julia calling again, and it’s the middle of the night. Assistants don’t do that unless it’s important.’

Xavier was still for a moment. ‘Later,’ he said again, kissing the line of her jaw. But she couldn’t move her mind from the phone and all those missed calls.

‘Please, Xavier.’ She pushed him firmly from her body. ‘Just call her back, make sure everything is okay and then I can relax.’

He looked down at her, an amused expression on his face. ‘Well, anything to make you happy.’

‘It would.’

He picked up his phone. The tension in her neck eased.

‘I’ll only call her back if you go into that bedroom and slip into something more comfortable.’

She smiled. ‘Your wish is my command.’ She turned and presented him with her back. ‘Unzip me,’ she asked in her best sultry voice.

His fingers touched the sensitive nape of her neck. The spicy tang of his aftershave teased her nostrils. He drew the zip down her back, oh so slowly, trailing his fingers over her skin. She sucked in a breath. His hands glided onto her shoulders to slip the dress from her body. She stopped him and turned.

‘Call first, then I’m all yours.’

‘You really are trying to kill me.’ The rise and fall of his chest showed he was already breathing hard.

Walking into the bedroom, she could feel Xavier’s gaze tracking her movements. Turning, their eyes met. He stepped forward.

‘No,’ she said, holding up her hand. ‘Good things come to those who wait.’ She allowed her dress to drop to the floor, giving Xavier a glimpse of her standing simply in her strapless black bra, knickers, stockings and high heels, before she pulled the door closed behind her.

An anguished groan sounded from beyond the door. She smiled and ran her hands down her body. He’d better be quick with that call.

* * *

Xavier is a celebrity and he's recognised wherever he goes. Have you ever seen a celebrity? Perhaps sat in the same restaurant. Caught the same plane. Did you engage with them, or just flick a glance from a distance? I'd love to hear. One commenter will win a copy of The Billionaire's Passionate Revenge.

Come back next Sunday, when the winner of today's giveaway will be announced and a smooch from Rachel Bailey will be posted!

The Billionaire's Passionate Revenge is available from Amazon, iBooks, Kobo, Google Play and other e-book retailers.

Smooch Graphic by WebWeaver