Welcome to my First Kiss Friday blog. I’m so happy to have you here with us today including my friend and guest C.H. Admirand. C.H. has an excerpt from her new release The Duke’s Lance! We hope you enjoy this first kiss scene and be sure to read all the way to the end to learn about her giveaway! Happy reading, my lovelies.
Excerpt:
She struggled to her feet, braced a hand to the wall, and dug deep to ignore the tearing pain shooting through her wrist. Biting her lip, she put distance between herself and where her captor and the auburn-haired member of the duke’s guard fought. Would he set her free? With her back to the wall, she inched her way to the other window, stumbling twice, but catching herself before she fell. Her half boots crunched on the broken glass in counterpoint to the sound of flesh pounding flesh. Finally, she felt the edge of the window frame. Her prayer of thanks was cut off when strong hands wrapped around her waist and pulled her backward through the window!
“Ye’re safe now, lass.”
The voice she’d never thought to hear again soothed her jagged nerves. She was spun around until she could look into the eyes of her rescuer. “O’Malley! How did you find me?”
He brushed a lock of hair out of her eyes and gently took hold of her hands, swearing when she cried out in pain. “Where are ye hurt, lass?”
“Please, don’t leave me here?”
“I did not come all this way just to leave ye behind, lass. Where are ye hurt?”
Helen didn’t answer him fast enough. He grabbed hold of her wrists, and she groaned.
“Forgive me, lass, but if ye’d have answered me…” He gentled his hold on her. “Which wrist?”
“The right one.”
“Is that yer only injury?” She shook her head and moaned, while he frowned. “Where else?”
“My chin aches, and the side of my face stings.”
He gently cupped her face and studied her closely. “Ye’ve a few cuts and scrapes, nothing deep.” Helen started to lift her hand, and O’Malley took hold of it. “Yer hands have a bit of dirt and grit on them—’tis best not to get any of that on yer face. Let’s get ye out of here. I’ve arranged for ye to be tended to.”
“How did you know where to find me?”
“There aren’t that many roads north to Flemington Gatehouse.” His expression darkened. “From the look of yer hands, and the disturbed dirt Flaherty and I found where ye tried to save yerself when ye tripped over that rock in the road, we guessed someone must have come up from behind ye.”
“How did you know? Were you there? If you were, why did you let him take me?”
“Ah, lass, did ye hit yer head then?”
“I don’t… No, I did not! I was grabbed from behind and a large hand covered my mouth and nose.”
O’Malley gritted his teeth, then cleared his throat to speak. “Could be the terror of what happened that has ye rattled, lass. Ye’re not thinking straight if ye believe that of me. I was not there, and I never would let any blackguard abduct ye.” He reached into his frockcoat pocket and pulled out a black cloth. “Easy now, while I wrap this around your poor wrist.”
“Is that a cravat?”
“Aye, the lads and I carry spares—they’re handy for binding wounds, or tying a blackguard’s hands together.” He trailed the tip of his finger along the line of her jaw and tapped her chin. “’Twill only take a moment. If it helps, close yer faery eyes, lass.”
She did without hesitation, trusting him, while he immobilized the joint with the cravat. She could not hide her wince of pain as he fastened the knot. “I’m sorry to cause ye discomfort, but we need to ensure that if yer wrist bones are cracked, or broken, that they don’t shift out of place.” He lifted her in his arms and carried her over to a fallen tree…a distance away from the building. Setting her on it, he warned, “I’ll try not to hurt ye, but I need to fashion a sling for ye, and I need both hands to do that.”
She was silent as he moved her arm. “Hold it against yer waist for a moment. There’s a lass. I’ve already used me spare, and will have to use the one I’m wearing. I hope ye don’t mind.” Helen watched as he removed the cloth from around his neck and explained, “I’m going to slide a corner of me cravat under yer arm now.” He paused and told her, “I’m not after startling ye, lass, but I cannot fashion a knot behind yer neck without moving the hair that slipped from its pins.”
She lost the ability to speak, positively mesmerized by the intensity in his eyes and the sight of his strong neck. She nodded.
“I need to pull ye closer, lass, otherwise I may bump yer wrist, which I do not want to do. May I?”
Her gaze locked on his, and this time she answered, “Yes.”
Helen could not look away from the width of his neck and muscles of his throat.
His voice rough, he grumbled, “Ye’d best stop looking at me like that, lass. ’Tis not the time or place to be thinking what ye’re thinking.”
She licked her dry lips. Even in the waning light, she could see that his eyes had darkened. “How do you know what I am thinking?”
“Ah, sweet Helen, ye’re innocent to be sure if ye’re asking me that. I’ll kiss ye senseless once I tie off this knot. Mayhap it’ll satisfy yer curiosity until Flaherty and I deliver ye to Widow Dawson.”
Confused, she wondered if the widow was a close friend of O’Malley’s. She had heard that some bachelors preferred forming an attachment with a widow rather than an unmarried woman. The thought of him with another woman had her rubbing the ache in her heart.
“Are ye feeling pain in yer chest?”
The concern and intensity of his gaze had her answering honestly. “I am.”
“How long has it been happening?” She didn’t answer quickly enough. He took hold of her arms and pulled her closer. “Yer heart may be reacting to yer fear, but it could be something more serious, lass. Answer me question!”
Unable to control the reaction she always had whenever she was worried, she bit her bottom lip.
“God in Heaven, lass. Don’t be biting yer lip now!”
It was then that it hit her… O’Malley was not just worried about her. He cared for her…mayhap even deeply! “Which would you have me do first, answer your question or stop biting my lip?”He scooped her into his arms, stared deeply into her eyes, and lowered his mouth toward hers. His lips hovered over hers for a heartbeat. With a moan, he took her mouth in a possessive, devastating kiss that numbed her body from head to toe. The last thing she remembered was the wondrous thought that O’Malley had indeed kissed her senseless.
The Duke’s Lance (Book 12)
By C.H. Admirand
“Who in the world would marry me, just to ensure that I stayed at Wyndmere Hall?”
“That would be me, lass.”
The winsome, ebony-haired lass with the violet faery-eyes captures O’Malley’s heart when she steps down from the carriage, but it is the ugly dark bruise on her cheek that has his protective instincts offering his strength and the protection of his name.
O’Malley’s stubborn pride takes a hit when the lass thanks him, but refuses his offer.
Helen Langley accompanied her mistress, the duke’s ward Emily, to Wyndmere Hall after a perilous journey from London. The broad-shouldered, green-eyed, handsome giant barely knows her, yet offers her marriage.
Helen cannot accept O’Malley’s offer, her past could ruin their future!
O’Malley is willing to wait when she leaves for the Borderlands intent on securing a position as a companion. But the man who murdered Emily’s father has Helen in his sights and follows her. When she is abducted-twice-Helen must decide whether to trust O’Malley and accept his offer, or keep her past hidden and live with the pain of her broken heart for the rest of her life.
Danger stalks in the night, but it will have to get past The Duke’s Lance before he will let harm come to those he has sworn to protect with his strength, his honor, and his heart.
Buy Links:
Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DY2XZ3J6
https://www.amazon.com/Dukes-Lance-Regency-Historical-Romance/dp/1967169047
Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0DY2XZ3J6
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Dukes-Lance-Regency-Historical-Romance/dp/1967169047
Amazon AU: https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B0DY2XZ3J6
https://www.amazon.com.au/Dukes-Lance-Regency-Historical-Romance/dp/1967169047
Amazon CA: https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B0DY2XZ3J6
https://www.amazon.ca/Dukes-Lance-Regency-Historical-Romance/dp/1967169047
About the Author:
If we have not met yet, I’m delighted to meet you! Here’s a little bit about me…
I have been writing romance novels for almost half my life, well at least for the last 30 years. I’m a diehard romantic and have to confess the broad shoulders and wicked glint in the brilliant green eyes of a stranger had my breath snagging in my breast, my heart beating madly, and my future flashing before my eyes. At the age of seventeen, I’d met the man I knew I was going to spend the rest of my life with.
I write Historical & Contemporary Romance featuring characters that I know so well: hardheaded heroes and feisty heroines! They rarely listen to me and in fact, I think they enjoy messing with my plans for them. Over the years I have learned to listen to them! I have always used family names in my books and love adding bits and pieces of my ancestors and ancestry in them, too!
C.H.’s Social Media Links:
Website:
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/stores/C.-H.-Admirand/author/B001JPBUMC
BookBub:
https://www.bookbub.com/authors/c-h-admirand
Facebook Author Page:
https://www.facebook.com/CHAdmirandAuthor
GoodReads:
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/212657.C_H_Admirand
Dragonblade Publishing: https://www.dragonbladepublishing.com/team/c-h-admirand/
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/c.h.admirand
YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCRSXBeqEY52VV3mHdtg5fXw
Giveaway Opportunity!
C.H. Admirand is giving away the e-book copy of The Duke’s Lance or winner’s choice from her website. The first day of Spring happened last week. Bring on the warmer weather! To be in the running for her giveaway, tell us something about he Spring Season you look forward to. C.H. will leave this giveaway open through the weekend and a winner will be selected on Monday. Good luck, everyone, and thanks for stopping by. Good luck!
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