Sunday Smooch - The Italian's Bold Reckoning by Annie West

Welcome to another LoveCats DownUnder Sunday Smooch!

Today we have a smooch from Annie West but first 


... the winner of last week's Sunday Smooch Giveaway is Franca Poli.


Can you please contact Melanie at melaniemilburne(at)gmail(d0t)com to receive your copy of 'Wedding Night With Her Enemy'.


And now for today's Sunday Smooch from Annie West's THE ITALIAN'S BOLD RECKONING.

 He’s lured her back. Will she take the bait?

He believed their passion could never fade. Yet it’s a year since Matteo De Laurentis lived with his gorgeous, talented, obstinate wife. Angela insists they’re mismatched, but Matteo refuses to give up the only woman he’ll ever love. Italy’s sexiest leading man is determined to get his wife back. By whatever means necessary.

 Angela is desperate to avoid working on this film with the handsome, charismatic actor-turned-director who happens to be her estranged husband. It was a mistake ever to think she could hold her own in his glamorous world. But now she’s trapped in Venice, unable to escape the one man who turns her brain to mush and her body to a blaze of passion.

 Is Matteo taking revenge to a whole new level, taunting her with everything she’s given up? Or is this seductive torture as difficult for him as it is for her? She can only pray he never discovers her secret weakness – that she’s still desperately in love with him.

Scene set-up

Matteo and Angela have been separated for twelve months. Now Matteo has forced his wife's hand, bringing in the lawyers to ensure she abides by her contractual obligation to work on his new film. There are issues to be resolved between them but their feelings for each other are still there, especially desire.

Smooch  -

Angela saw the fire in Matteo’s eyes, felt the strung-too-tight rigidity of his tall frame, and expected to be devoured.

She ached for him, was ready to lose himself in a rush of passion.

But her husband had other ideas.

It was as if, after twelve months apart, he was intent on learning her all over again.

His face blotted out the light and his mouth touched hers, gently brushing her lips.

A quiver ran through her from the barely there point of connection where her lips trembled, to the back of her scalp where tiny pinpricks of sensation exploded. It sped right down through her melting vital organs to the soles of her feet in four inch stilettos that waved helplessly somewhere above the polished floor.

Angela had no point of reference but him. His tall frame against her, his arms, rigid as steel girders, lashing her to him, his straight shoulders supporting her arms. His breath warmed her face and the rich scent of mountain pine and spicy male skin teased her nostrils.

Matteo’s mouth slid along hers, sealing her lips, but not yet entering. She’d forgotten how soft his mouth was, for in repose his face was all hard masculinity. She felt the brush of his short beard, rasping against her chin, awakening long-dormant nerves.

Eagerly Angela angled her head, pushing closer. Matteo slicked his tongue along the seam of her lips.

Instantly, hungrily, she opened for him, needing the give and take of his open-mouthed kiss. But he’d already moved, his mouth at the corner of hers, then nipping at her bottom lip, making tingles of delight wash through her.

‘Matteo.’ It was barely a sound, more a vibration on the heavy air between them as he bit gently at her earlobe, then lower, nibbling down the side of her neck. She arched in his hold, her head flung back in abandon.

Angela’s heart beat double-quick time. Surely it throbbed too high in her chest, as if seeking to escape.

‘You drive me crazy.’ The words rasped against her throat, a graze of lips and whiskers and warm lips. She clutched the back of his skull, fingers buried in the thick comfort of his glossy hair. ‘I want every part of you, Angela. I want to start at the top and work my way down and then start over again.’

THE ITALIAN'S BOLD RECKONING is about a reunion and a new start. Matteo goes to great lengths to get Angela back in his life so they can sort out the issues that drove them apart. If you'd had an argument or disagreement with your partner what gesture would you like your hero (fictional or real) to make as a start to bridge the gap between you?

I'll give away an e-copy of 'The Italian's Bold Reckoning' (via Amazon) plus a Harlequin book of mine featuring a sexy Italian hero to someone who leaves a comment.

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

Smooch Graphic by WebWeaver