Ciao a tutti! Wow - I've really got to work on my time management... I was a bit pressed this week and didn't have a Thirteen prepared, so I hope you'll like what I've put together for you: Two peeks at my two Works-in-Progress, with a little something in common.
The first is from the Ask Me if I'm Happy prequel, None So Blind. The second is from my cycling novel, 27 Stages.
So please, allow me to share with you:
The first is from the Ask Me if I'm Happy prequel, None So Blind. The second is from my cycling novel, 27 Stages.
So please, allow me to share with you:
Thirteen Paragraphs and Thirteen Lines:
Two First Kisses
A revamped mock cover with new photo. Don't worry - this is NOT the final version!
"Davide?" Her soft voice brought him out of his reveries and heat rushed to his face at his being caught out.
"Scusami, Letizia - I was, um…" There was no way to say what he'd been thinking without it sounding like he had no idea what he was doing. He did, sort of, but he was ridiculously out of practice now. "Could I see you again?"
She laughed, sending what little confidence he had into a nosedive onto the brick flooring.
"Of course you can! The sooner the better," she added, moving closer to him, her keys jingling in her hand. "Now kiss me goodnight like a good boy."
Relieved to have that mystery solved, he did as he was told, giving her a light, careful kiss at one corner of her mouth.
"Hmm…" Letizia pursed her lips, wearing an expression somewhere close to disapproval. "Try again."
"I'm sorry?"
"Try again," she repeated, tapping her mouth with a slender fingertip.
"I didn't want to push too much."
"Push, Davide; push."
He leaned in again and her arms wrapped gently around his neck to draw him closer still. This time her lips parted slightly under the gentle pressure of his own and the soft heat of her mouth sent paradoxical chills down his spine and into his belly. Before he could draw away she tightened her arms around his neck and pressed closer, the slow sway of her hips enticing his arms around her waist to hold her against him.
At last they separated and his hands rested at the swell of her hips while her fingers straightened the collar of his shirt, her eyes fixed on his. "Better," she murmured, trailing her fingertips over his jaw down to his chin before she moved away toward the door. "Call me and we'll decide when to meet again."
He nodded, unable to speak, and smiled as the door swung shut behind her.
--from None So Blind (c) Kimberly Menozzi
With luck, this is how Federico would feel afterwards. For now, we'll see Abby's POV.
I was trembling. Too many thoughts were running through my mind to keep them all contained, and it took more effort than I'd expected not to run away with them.
Reaching up, he rested his fingertips against the back of my jaw, his thumb just beneath my chin. My eyes closed against the fresh dizziness which swept over me as he tilted my face upward. His lips brushed over mine, so lightly his warmth seemed a figment of my imagination. The next kiss was scarcely more than gossamer tracing the shape of my mouth, until his lips pulled oh-so-gently at mine and lingered there for an eternity or so before withdrawing.
He pressed closer and his mouth sought mine again. His lips pressed and parted mine gently but firmly, and I felt the warmth of his breath, and the fleeting soft, wet touch of the tip of his tongue to my own.
When we parted, he rested his forehead against mine. The warmth of his skin made my blush burn underneath it as he exhaled a quietly satisfied sigh. I opened my eyes, and as he drew away, his eyelids fluttered open an instant later.
I wanted to close my eyes again, childishly thinking the act could somehow hide me, but I didn't. Instead his gaze penetrated mine, his eyes reading my own until I was certain he saw every thought I'd had about him since we'd met.
--from 27 Stages (c) Kimberly Menozzi
So, there you go! A double thirteen! I hope you've enjoyed what you've read here today. With luck (and work, always work), both books will be out soon.
And in the meantime, I reckon I could keep giving little tastes like this to tide you over.
And you know, the occasional little something-something wouldn't go astray.
You know.
Something-something.
Luca Argentero, Italian actor and occasional inspiration for Davide.
Ciao for now!
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