Sunday Smooch with Clare Connelly

Welcome to another LoveCats DownUnder Sunday Smooch!


Today we have a guest smooch from Clare Connelly but first 


....... the winner of last week's Sunday Smooch Giveaway is Nadia!


Can you please contact amy (at) amyandrews (dot) com (dot) au to receive your copy of Playing It Cool.






 And now for today's Sunday Smooch from The Sheik's Christmas Mistress which appears in Clare's A CASACELLI FOR CHRISTMAS  anthology - four stories featuring one dynamic and powerful family. 

Charlotte Faber falls head over heels for Sheikh Malik Desara the first time she sees him. And she thinks he's falling for her too. Until their holiday comes to an end and he proposes... for her to be his mistress!

 Malik might be all-powerful and super wealthy, but he isn't at liberty to marry a wife of his choosing. His future's been mapped out for him since birth. But the beautiful Charlotte captivates him in a way he's never experienced, and he will stop at nothing to keep her in his life, and in his bed. 

Charlotte Faber’s in a Swiss ski village to look into the mystery of her parentage. She doesn’t want to be derailed from her research, but when she walks into a bar and hears a tall, handsome man singing the most beautiful version of Hallelujah imaginable, every single cell in her body is intrigued … Later, in the warmth of his limousine … 

“Fancy,” she said with a dry tone, as he effortlessly uncorked the bottle, smothering the loud ‘pop’ with the palm of his hand.

“You don’t like champagne?” He asked, pausing in the act of filling a glass for her.

“It’s just a bit of a step down from the Ukrainian wine I usually drink.”

He laughed throatily. “You are being sarcastic.”

She shrugged. “This is so not the norm for me. Riding in the back of some space-ship car, drinking a bottle of champagne that probably costs a month’s rent on my flat, with a strange man I can’t decide if I’m annoyed at or...” she tapered off, her cheeks warm as she realised what she’d been about to say. Wildly attracted to.

“Yes?” He urged, his lips tilted in undisguised amusement.

“Even more annoyed at.” She substituted crossly, but his mocking glance showed he understood exactly what she’d been thinking.

The silence was anything but comfortable for Charlotte. Every second she spent in his company was doing strange things to her central nervous system. She could have sworn her skin had actually begun to tingle. Finally, he spoke. “So because this is unusual you want to end it?”

“No,” she contradicted. “I’m not ending anything. You kindly returned my coat, and that’s the end of our business together.”

“I think you’re wrong,” he said quietly, handing the champagne to her.

“Oh, do you?” She was surprised that her fingertips wrapped around the stem of the glass. Even more so when she lifted it to her lips and tasted the incredibly fine liquid.

“I think our business together is just beginning.”

She laughed, in spite of the way her bones seemed to melt at his softly spoken words. “That’s such a cheesy line,” she chided. Who cared that it had the exact effect he’d intended? Her heart was racing, her nipples straining against the soft fabric of her shirt.

She was excited. Very excited.

“Not one I’ve ever used before,” he promised huskily.

She found his declaration difficult to believe. He was too effortlessly charming. Too confidently suave. “That doesn’t matter. I’m not the kind of woman you think I am.”

“Oh? And what do I think you are?”

She rolled her eyes, self-conscious suddenly. “I know the way I look. I know that men see big breasts and blonde hair, and think I must be lining up for one night stands.”

“And you’re not?” He asked, leaning forward, so that his face was only an inch from hers.

“God, no!” She shook her head, but when she realised that it brought her mouth within striking range of his, she cleared her throat and pressed back in the seat. “Look, to each their own. I think it’s great that women can have a healthy sex life in this day and age. I’m not a prude. But I don’t appreciate being hit on by men I’ve just met. Even if you are as sexy as they come.”

Malik didn’t know whether he wanted to laugh in amusement or groan in frustration. He was not accustomed to being turned down. Even before he’d ascended to throne of Ashan, he had never found it difficult to entice women into his bed. The problem had been kicking them out when they no longer interested him. But the desire this woman had flared in him was intense. He wanted to explore it.

And yet, there was something about her that was even more appealing than the way she made him feel. She was fascinating. Like a bug under the microscope, he was enjoying watching her squirm.

“You think I’m sexy,” he repeated, and this time, when he moved closer to Charlotte, his mouth hovered just above hers.

Charlotte gulped nervously. “Yes.” It was just a whisper. A soft admission of thought-guilt.

“Good.” He took possession of her mouth, as he had wanted to do from the first minute he’d seen her. He’d intended it to be a light kiss, but the second they connected, his body sparked with electricity, and the kiss blew out of his control. His hands hungrily ran the length of her body. He balled her shirt in his fists and lifted it, so that he could feel her warm skin beneath. Her heart shuddered beneath his touch as he skimmed his hands over the lace of her bra. He lowered his mouth, nibbling and tasting the sensitive flesh to the side of her neck.

Charlotte’s moan was almost his undoing, but he forced himself to remember who he was, and where he was. His driver was completely scrupulous but Sheikh Desara had a reputation and a code of honour to protect. Public love-making was not acceptable. With eyes that glittered with promise, he lifted his head, but he kept his hands where they were, in contact with her generous curves.

“Invite me into your hotel,” he demanded, moving his thumb in a rhythmic pattern across her sensitised nipple.

Charlotte was tempted. Oh, so tempted. But she knew she couldn’t do it. She shook her head. “I told you, I don’t go in for one night stands. One kiss isn’t going to change that.”

Malik’s respect grew, for he knew how torn she was. Her desire for him was as great as his for her, yet she was sticking to her original declaration.

“I understand,” he surprised her by saying. “I have no interest in a one night stand with you, anyway.”

“You don’t?” She squeaked, immediately regretting that she’d said ‘no’ to what would undoubtedly have been a night of mind-blowing sex with this guy.

“No.”

“Oh.” She cleared her throat then handed the champagne back to him. The disappointment was gripping. “Then if you’ll just get my coat...”

“First, I want you to promise me something,” he said quietly.

“What is it?”

“Have lunch with me tomorrow.” He named the finest restaurant in the resort town, run by a famous French chef.

“I... but why?”

“I should have thought that would be obvious.” He said smoothly. “I don’t want a one night stand with you. But I do want you.”

Charlotte lowered her eyes, her mind buzzing with doubts. “So lunch is what? A pre-cursor to seduction?”

He reached over and lifted her chin with the pad of his thumb. “Yes.” He would have her. It was written in the stars as surely as her cheeks were flushed with desire and her pupils dilated with lust. Before he returned to Ashan, he would have conquered Charlotte Faber. Body, mind and soul, she would be his.

The Cascelli anthology is full of festive magic and traditions – and debate over what constitutes a truly great Christmas pudding! I’m a little torn on traditions. My husband’s family have a really old pudding recipe – as in seven generations. BUT it’s a wine-free pud, and that seems all kinds of wrong to me (my homemade fruit mince could drive a car on its fumes alone…). My mum used to make pomanders with us every year, so the smell of cloves makes me want to break out into carols regardless of the season. We also used to forage wild flowers and kindling to make our own wreaths – something I now do with my kids every Christmas. What’s your favourite festive tradition? Do you stick with the time-honoured or have you made up your own? 

Clare is giving away a signed paperback copy - open internationally - of the anthology (four books for your reading pleasure!!) to one lucky person who comments below!

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

Smooch Graphic by WebWeaver