Valentine's Day Kissing!

In celebration of Valentine's Day I'm totally copying Christine Fonseca's post "Just Kiss Already" who is copying from Christina Lee's call for a smooching day to put a snippet of a love/kissing scene from one of our books or work-in-progress.

Dang, I love this photograph!

Here is my excerpt from my historical edgy belly-dance SECRET RITES OF THE GODDESS (Scholastic, Summer 2012):

This is a forbidden love because Jayden is betrothed to someone else and even if she wasn't she's not supposed to marry someone from an unknown tribe, making this double-trouble for her.

Kadesh moved toward me and his nearness made me ache all the way to my toes. “The moment I saw you that day on the bluff—I knew you were meant to be mine.”

“Kadesh, please don’t say these things.” I put up a hand. “Someone will overhear you.”

He caught my fingers and my heart thudded against my ribs as he kissed each one then pressed my palms to his mouth. “I’m going to come back for you.”

I knew he wasn’t trifling with me. I knew deep in my bones that I could trust him.

The sounds of the wedding party fluttered toward us. More drumming, singing. Laughter. I smelled ripe fruit and roasted lamb. Wood smoke covered the stars like gauzy linen. I knew I should get up and return before I was missed, but I didn’t move.

Kadesh’s face came closer and I could feel his breath on mine. “Let me seal my promise to you with the vow of my love,” he whispered, and before I could say another word, he gathered me to his chest. His lips covered my mouth with an intensity I didn’t think was possible.

I felt myself rise in his arms and my eyes closed. Hot, lovely darkness dipped and swirled. I tasted his mouth and smelled the spicy fragrance of his skin. And then he swept his cloak around me, enclosing us together. Kadesh’s heart pounded against my breast and for a moment it was as though we had become one person.