First Kiss Friday – The Long Road to You by Jane Leopold Quinn
Today’s First Kiss Friday featured guest is Jane Leopold Quinn, author of western romance The Long Road to You. Welcome Jane! Here’s the first kiss between Nick Gabriel and Margee McPherson.
Jake and Nick are The Brothers Agee. Jake’s story came first in Jake and Ivy. Ivy, the properly brought up and schooled American girl fell in love with the Flamenco, tried to break her bonds of propriety, and flee to escape the threat of an arranged marriage.
After Jake and Ivy’s happily ever after, Nick realized that he yearned to quit roaming, settle down, and find his own home. His visit to Jake’s ranch brings along the discovery of the neighboring ranch owner, Margee McPherson. Margee’s feistiness, independence, and beauty make Nick think of the life he needs now and how long the road has been to this place and time.
Blurb
Nick Gabriel, orphan, outlaw, reformed man, yearns for what his brother Jake has—land, a home, and best of all, a loving wife. Nick pulls a woman off a rearing horse, slamming her sexy, lithe body against his, the impetuous action setting him up to lose his heart.
Margee McPherson’s whole world revolves around running the ranch her father left her and handling the creepy ranch foreman she also inherited. Years before, she’d made a mistake that ended tragically. Now, she won’t allow the drifter cowboy, Nick Gabriel, to get anywhere near her no matter how tall, dark, and handsome he is, and how much she longs to be in his arms.
Both have secrets in their pasts. Will Margee’s fear and guilt keep her from moving forward with her life? Nick’s fallen in love with the beautiful rancher. Can he prove to her his roaming days are over? And will they survive their past secrets, finding the love they didn’t know they craved?
First Kiss
He reached for her clenched fingers and covered them, wrapping his big hand around her smaller one. Cradling her face in his other palm, he brushed tear after tear off her cheeks with his thumb. “Sh,” he murmured. “I’m sorry. I know you miss him, darlin’.”
She snuffled, then stood in one quick awkward movement leaving his hand suspended in mid-air. Taking a few steps away, she put physical, if not emotional, distance between them.
“I’m so sorry, Nick.” She hated her wavering voice. “I didn’t mean to fall apart like that.”
“It’s all right, sweetheart.” He climbed to his feet, taking a step toward her.
She blotted her eyes with a hanky pulled out of her pocket and made an effort to control herself. Close. A big man and towering over her, he was suddenly too close. She was right there, inches from him, so close his breath warmed her face. And God help her, she focused on his mouth and gave a strangled moan.
Her eyes narrowed, her lips parted, and she lifted a hand to trace his with a fingertip. She licked her lips anticipating the feel of his. Her body flooded fully hot, craving the need to be in his arms.
His response was lightning quick. Tightening his hand around her nape, slipping his fingers up through her hair, holding her head so she couldn’t escape, his lips met hers. Her arms were trapped between their bodies. He arched his back and lifted his lips for a second. “Around me,” he ordered. She obeyed and slid her arms around his waist. Their bodies slammed tightly together again. He took a deep, raspy, groaning breath, re-angled his head, and joined their lips again—hard. Hungry and frantic.
She nestled against him, shuddered and slid her arms up the middle of his back, pulling closer, then whimpering when his lips devoured hers. Every nerve in her body begged for more. More mouth. More him. He clamped his arms tightly around her. She felt his hardness and heat. He was obviously ready for her. Potently ready. She knew that much about men.
Tearing her lips off his, she gasped for breath. “Oh God.” Making sharp little nips down his jaw and over his neck, she stopped at the top button of his shirt.
He slid his hand firmly over her breast, stroking the underside with the heel of his hand. Her heart beat franticly when he cupped her.
“Ah.” She shivered.
The heat of his hand surrounded her hard nipple. He compressed it between thumb and forefinger.
“Yes…” she gasped.
Suddenly he gripped her upper arms and gently but firmly pushed her back, his gaze questioning. “Margee, are you sure?”
“Wha…? Sure of what?” She hid her face in her hands, not realizing she’d started sobbing. “I’m so sorry.” She had to get away as fast as possible. Running to her horse, she raced out of the meadow at breakneck speed through the thick-set trees.
Oh God, what have I done? She’d wanted his kisses, even his hand on her breast. Once you’d tasted pleasure, you never forgot it. It was wonderful. But wrong. And you couldn’t forget the anguish either. But why had he stopped?
Riding for all she was worth, her tumultuous thoughts, fierce feelings, her eyes narrowed against the wind, she galloped into the ranch yard, flung the reins around the rail, and ran into the house. In her bedroom, she paced the floor from one end to the other, not even attempting to contain her sobs. So strong, they caused actual physical pain. Her stomach ached, her throat scratched. She shook all over with mixed shame and longing.
She’d repressed all the sensual carnal feelings she’d become acquainted with in Florence. Repressed the memory of her agonizing loss and had shoved it so far down in the deepest recesses of her mind. But Nick’s body pressed tightly against hers, his lips and tongue—thick and muscular, just like his body—filling her mouth, his hands kneading… “Oh God,” she gasped aloud, then bit her lips at the memory of his fingers squeezing her nipple. She’d wanted to feel his skin under her hands, wanted his arms around her.
Bio
Sensual fantasies were locked in my mind for years until a friend said, “Why don’t you write them down?” Why not, indeed? One spiral notebook, a pen and the unleashing of my imagination later, and here I am with more than a dozen books published. The craft of writing erotic romance has become my passion and my niche in life. I love every part of the creative process — developing characters, designing the plot, even drawing the layout of physical spaces from my stories. My careers have been varied — third grade school teacher, bookkeeper, secretary — none of which gave me a bit of inspiration. But now I’m lucky enough to write romance full time — the best job in the universe! And I’m fortunate enough to have found my own happily ever after husband.
Jane Leopold Quinn
My Romance: Love With a Scorching Sensuality
http://janeleopoldquinn.BlogSpot.com
https://twitter.com/jelquinnauthor
Amazon Author Page http://amzn.to/1DfiXkP
Jane’s Books
Ellora’s Cave
Indie
Siren
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Thank you, Laurel, for featuring my western today! I love all my books, but my westerns were the first things I ever wrote and are special to me.
Hi Jane –
Thanks for sharing that hot kiss! And thank you for being my guest.
Laurel