Sunday Smooch with Clare Connelly

This week's smooch is coming to you from Clare Connelly, but first, the winner of last week's Sunday Smooch Giveaway is Sarah Lehman, who commented over on Facebook. Sarah,  please get in touch with Amy Andrews to claim your e-book of Playing with Forever (one of the hottest books I've read all year!)  

Today's smooch is from INNOCENT IN THE BILLIONAIRE'S BED, a passionate story of forbidden desire and need... and the innocent lie that threatens to pull it all apart. I'll have a paperback copy of the book to give away to a commenter (anywhere in the world), either here or over on Facebook, where we are now cross-posting. If you don't follow LoveCats on Facebook, you've really got to wonder why? Ha! Lots of fun conversations happen over there - come join us!

Tempted by the tycoon’s touch…

Rio Mastrangelo doesn’t want anything from the father who never acknowledged him. So when he unexpectedly inherits an island paradise, he’s determined to sell it as fast as he can! But the potential purchaser who lands on his shores is not the spoiled heiress he’s been expecting—and her luscious body fills him with a rush of hot, undeniable desire.

Cash-strapped Tilly Morgan accepted a payment to impersonate her best friend, but she hadn’t bargained on sexy Rio. When a storm hits, trapping them together, there’s nowhere to run from their raging hunger—and passion threatens to uncover Tilly’s every vulnerability…

“I absolutely loved where INNOCENT IN THE BILLIONAIRE’S BED just swept me off to… This book will capture you heart, body, and soul and will leave you breathless.”

—NEW YORK TIMES bestselling author Vanessa Fewings

The hero of this story, Rio Mastrangelo (whom I fell completely in love with while writing this story) is my 'Hero of the Month'. If you want to learn more about the inspiration behind the character, you can read about him here.

Here's what's happening in the scene you're about to read an excerpt from...

Stranded on a Mediterranean island with the man of her dreams, Tilly is trying to remember all the reasons she can't act on the desire she feels for her super-sexy, billionaire host. Only, a thunderstorm has struck Prim'amore, taking out the electricity generator for the small shack they're sharing, and an already flammable situation gets set to explode! When Rio goes to investigate the damage, Tilly insists on accompanying him, despite Rio's strong objections. He doesn't want Tilly to get hurt in the wild storm, but Tilly isn't a woman to be told what to do! This scene comes after a lot of resisting temptation and being strong; they're at breaking point and the storm pushes them over the edge...

‘What is it?’ she shouted. ‘Why do you seem so angry with me?’

‘Angry with you?’ He pulled the door to the cabin inwards. ‘You think I’m angry with you?’

‘You’re shouting at me!’ she yelled back. ‘Why?’

He shook his head; water droplets fanned out, splashing against the walls. ‘Because!’

‘That’s not an answer. What is it? I’ve already… I said I was sorry about yesterday.’

He closed his eyes for a second, and when he opened them she felt as if he was trying to get a grip on his temper. His eyes were a storm that raged as intensely as the one outside. He swore sharply—a sound that tore through the house as he moved towards her quickly, crushing her body with his far bigger one, pushing her back until she connected with the wall.

His kiss had the strength of an ocean. His tongue drove into her mouth, clashing with hers, his hands pushed at her shoulders and his legs kept her pinned to the wall.

‘I am not angry with you, cara,’ he muttered into her mouth.

The words came to her from a long way away. Her senses weren’t capable of absorbing anything but this—this feeling that was tearing her body apart with a need she had never known possible.

Her fingers pushed at his wet clothes; they stuck to his body stubbornly and she groaned into his mouth, pushing her body forward, needing closeness, wanting more. So badly wanting more.

He had far more success—tearing the dress over her head, breaking the kiss for the smallest moment possible in order to shift the fabric over her face. Her mouth chased him, seeking him, needing him, hating his absence. Her pulse was louder even than the thunderstorm.

His hands ran over her sides and she shivered.

‘You’re cold,’ he said, lifting his head.

She shook her head. ‘No.’

‘You are covered in goosebumps,’ he pointed out thickly, the words dragged from him.

‘Not cold.’ She shook her head and pulled at his shirt, bringing him back to her.

His kiss was everything that had been building up inside her since she’d arrived on Prim’amore. It was all the longing and wanting, the needing and watching. It swirled around them both, churning them, changing everything.

Her fingers tangled in his hair and he groaned into her mouth—a guttural sound that perfectly expressed what she wanted. He pushed at her, guiding her, pulling her, until she was through the door to her bedroom. But he didn’t stop. His body kept pushing at hers until she fell backwards onto the bed, a tangle of limbs and desire.

His mouth on hers was demanding; she gave him everything. But then he moved, dragged his stubbled jaw down her body, pushing at her bra so that he could take a nipple in his mouth.

His tongue flicked at it relentlessly, and the pleasure was so intense it was almost too much. She cried out, her hands needing to touch him, to feel him. She pushed at his shirt and finally he paused, so that he could remove it for her. She drove her nails along his back, feeling his supple skin as he turned his attention to her other breast, his fingers picking up where his mouth had left off. She arched her back as pleasure throbbed hard in her abdomen.

‘I am not angry with you,’ he said again, though she was no longer worried he was.

She nodded, words failing her. He brought his mouth to hers and his kiss was gentle. Slow. Deep. As if he could taste her soul and wanted to cherish her.

It was the most erotic thing she’d ever felt.

‘Rio…’ she whispered, her skin flushed, her heart thumping.

Rain lashed at the window and lightning struck, but it was mute to them. Only the thundering of their own need registered.

Here's my question for you: If you were going to be stranded on a deserted, tropical island for a sultry week, who would be your partner of choice and why? No real-life spouses allowed ;) 

Come back next Sunday when the winner of today's giveaway will be announced, and don't forget to follow us on Facebook so you never miss a LoveCats purr-post.