Earlier this week, I read this fun post written by Andi at the Radiant Light blog. She provided short excerpts from several kissing scenes and I enjoyed her post so much that it inspired me to write this post. After all, I’m a romance author and the opportunity to write kisses between my characters is a huge job perk. And, after all, it is almost Valentine’s Day. 🙂
So here are four excerpts from the kissing scenes I’ve written that stick out most in my memory…
“A combination of shock and mind-spinning sensation submerged Meg. Bo. Her Bo. Bo Porter — her crush, her friend, her employee, her calm — was kissing her. And oh my. What a kiss. The most perfect kiss that heaven had ever dreamt up. Tender and passionate. Full of endless longing and eternal promises.
His hands burrowed into her hair. Her own hands reached up in answer. She couldn’t believe she was touching him — his chest, his neck — weaving her hands behind his head to draw him closer. Cold chills sizzled against the backs of her knees in glaring contrast to the hot and demanding heat pulling at her from the inside.
When Bo finally lifted his head his expression was stark, honest, intense. His color high.
“I love you,” he said.
Plainly, just like that.
She gawked at him.
“I love you. I do. And I want to marry you.”
This kiss, from Undeniably Yours, is memorable for me because it breaks the dam of Bo’s restraint and causes him to suddenly and astoundingly state his emotions and intentions to Meg outright.
“I’m not . . .” he spoke haltingly, his voice raspy, “ . . . good enough for you.“
“Of course you’re good enough—”
“No.” He inclined his head so that his forehead rested against hers. Their eyes closed, breath intermixing. She could sense his struggle and his despair.
“None of us are perfect,” she murmured.
His hands rose to frame her jaw on both sides. “I’m more imperfect than most.“
“Not to me.”
He groaned, then kissed her….”
This excerpt is from A Love Like Ours. Jake was such a brooding, wounded hero. I remember this kiss clearly, even many years after writing his book, because this moment was a mammoth turning point for him.
“You almost died and you didn’t contact me.”
She stepped close to him, scowling, her hands balled on her hips. “I didn’t almost die.”
“You could have died, Britt, and I’d have been on the other side of the world.”
“But I didn’t die!”
“But you could have. And I’d have been wrecked.”
“Any of us could die any day, driving our cars or walking down the street–“
He let out a rumble of frustration, stepped forward, and cut off her argument by taking her face in his hands and kissing her.
The shock of his mouth against hers wasn’t cold or dominating. The stunning contact was all glowing, sparkling warmth. Soft, firm lips. His lips. Against hers. Passionate and urgent to communicate something to her that he’d been unable to communicate with words.
I’m kissing Zander. ZANDER is kissing me.
He smelled like expensive cologne and sun and heat and ocean. His breath blended with hers so that she couldn’t tell where his exhale ended and her inhale began. Every sensation was packed with miracles and overwhelming surprise and deep commitment. Britt’s pulse thundered.
She’d had no idea, no idea, that kissing him could be like this, that kissing him could set her soul on fire–“
This kiss, from Sweet on You, is one of my favorites for a few reasons. One, Britt and Zander have been friends for thirteen years and this is their first kiss — so it changes their relationship dynamic irrevocably. Two, I had a blast moving them straight from a tense argument into each other’s arms.
“He was a fool because his stupid heart that hadn’t yet made one right decision was giving itself piece by piece to Genevieve. No amount of structure or routine or control was good enough to hold it back–
A knock sounded on his front door. His attention cut to the foyer as his pulse began to pound.
His footfalls loud in the quiet, he made his way to the door and opened it.
Gen looked beautiful, standing there with her delicate face and long, thick hair. She gave him a raw expression of apology. Then she launched herself into his arms and kissed him.
The shock of it barreled him back a few paces. He carried her with him, not wanting to drop her.
Like a landslide, his mighty defenses fell. His hands speared into her hair. Need roared, blotting out thought and light and sound and worries. He was kissing her hungrily. He’d waited his whole life for this, and his world was never going to be the same, and all he wanted was more.”
The above scene, from Stay with Me, is memorable for me because I loved writing about a heroine who flings herself into the hero’s arms, stunning him in the process.
Happy Valentine’s Day, everyone! May February 14th give all of us reason to cultivate gratitude for the loving relationships — of all types — that the Lord has so generously entrusted to us.
Which kissing scenes (from my books or any author’s books) stick out most in your memory?
Becky Wade
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Bo Porter has been my book boyfriend ever since he walked onto the page! I still remember that scene!
A recent kiss that I read that is sticking with me is the library scene in Janine Rosche’s This Wandering Heart. Actually, all of her kiss scenes are memorable!
Bo Porter is definitely my book boyfriend, too! 🙂 And I’m glad you gave a shout-out to Janine. Hooray for memorable kisses!
I love “Undeniably Yours”, as a book, the most, and I love the whole scene that leads to their first kiss. *Swoon* But Jake and Linsey’s kiss was so exciting, too! And I love that book too! 🙂 I think you accidentally skipped it, though!
Ha! There were several different sections of Jake and Lyndie’s kiss. Dialogue. Emotion. Kissing. Dialogue. Emotion. Kissing. It went on for pages! I had a hard time finding a concise excerpt that would provide an authentic glimpse into that scene. I’m not complaining, though! I got to re-read all those pages and re-live those moments.
What a great post! So thankful of course that Zander and Britt were included!!!!
What a way to start the day! 💙
Right?! Good morning! 🙂
The first one that pops into my mind is Sam and Genevieve… I could feel that oomph when she launched herself at him. LOL But oh, the one with Dru and Gray? I love that one!
“Gray had moved inside her cabin. He waited for her in the foyer.
She walked purposefully toward him, kicking the door closed as she passed it. At the same time, he walked toward her, the tension between them snapping, his eyebrows drawn down.
Her body met the unstoppable force of his, and she kissed him. No sweet words. No tentativeness. No slow caresses. Just a millisecond of difference between the two of them standing feet apart and the two of them kissing in complete and total and hungry accord.”
WHEW! The kicking of the door is the best!
The kicking of the door! That kiss is definitely memorable, too. 🙂 Thanks for quoting it here! It makes me smile.
I love all the kisses in your books, but Zander drew me in with his broodiness. The whole friends-to-lovers trope is one I love to hate, because it’s so angsty. They never discover love at the same time, and they drag the reader along with all their worries of whether love will work between them or if it will ruin their long-standing relationship! You did a great job with them!
Thank you! I’ll admit — I found that trope challenging. They started out on page one knowing each other very well and liking each other tremendously. Generating sustainable romantic conflict from that starting place was tough. But, ultimately, I was so glad I tackled their story. At the end of the day, I loved writing it.
Well I’m a happy little puddle now 🙂 That Zander-Britt kiss is one of my enduring fave Becky Wade kissing scenes. Umm… but where’s Ty? 😉
I had a feeling you’d ask that question!!! LOL!
I thought I could do it… I thought I could go a whole day without mentioning Jora… but alas, I just can’t do it. True to You is my favorite in everything!
“He lifted his hands slowly, reading every nuance of her expression as he did so. Reverently, he edged aside the fall of her hair so that his fingers skimmed both sides of her neck. Then his palms rested there, cradling her head and jaw with exquisite gentleness, as if she was precious to him.
The feel of his rough, masculine fingers against her skin sent a thrill of goose bumps racing down her arms. He could probably detect the thrumming of her pulse in her veins. Where had her breath gone?
He dipped his head toward hers, stayed himself, then asked her a question with a slight lift of one eyebrow. Do you want this? He was an experienced man. Confident. Direct. In no hurry. And unwilling to come on too strong too fast and rattle her.
She answered with a wobbly smile. Yes! Yes, John.
Her hands rose of their own accord to wrap around his forearms, the scent of bergamot enfolded her, then their lips met with wonder, exploration, devotion.”
My favorite part is a few lines later…
“She might pass out -”
She would not pass out!”
#TeamJora
YES! I love Jora and sooo glad you gave in to the urge to share their kiss. <3
I can relate to Nora! All this kissing is making me a little light-headed. 😉
Whew…yes and thank you!!!!
My pleasure! 🙂
A Love Like Ours and Sweet on You were two of the greatest kisses I will have to agree. I adored that whole scene in A Love like Ours, and of course the beach scene with Zander and Britt was amazing. Great scenes all around.