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“This sizzling hot
historical and its compelling characters will leave
you panting for more! Monica Burns writes with
sensitivity and panache. Don't miss this one!”
—
Sabrina Jeffries, NYT bestselling author
“Burns' story is
hotter than the desert sands! She succeeds with a
classic captive/captor romance akin to a Johanna
Lindsey classic. Relax and enjoy the sizzling show
-- complete with a lesson in bananas and seduction.”
—
RTBOOKreviews
"After reading the bio posted on her website, I was
afforded a deeper understanding into the wealth of
emotions she poured into Kismet. Tenacious, sassy
heroines and strong, sexy heroes are her signature style
and she’s boldly penned one of the best books I’ve read
in years."
—
TwoLipsReviews
"The imagery that Monica Burns paints of Moroccan and
the people is mesmerizing. So captivating is the love
story that is truly romance at its best, purest and most
captivating that you will regret not absorbing every
word on the page."
—
Book Junkie
"...a wonderful historical fiction voice. The way she
builds up the attraction between her hero and heroine
shows her skill as an author..."
—
Babbling About Books, and More
The romance is passionate and the end is
heartbreaking, leaving the reader in a puddled mush of
tears and smiles.
—
Lovin' Me Some Romance
"All in all, this book is a sweet morsel just waiting
for you to devour it. I hope you search it out, read it,
and love it. I sure did!"
—
The Romance Dish
"The [supporting] cast, including the villain and the
nomadic Berber/Amazigh tribes, enhance a terrific
captivity historical."
—
Harriet Klausner
#1 Amazon Reviewer
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Excerpt
(unedited)
“Since we’re both
determined to have our own way, I propose a wager,
monsieur.”
“Of what kind?”
“I wager that in less than five minutes, I
shall return to Isabel’s reception unescorted.”
“And if I agree to this wager, to what
spoils the victor.” Arms folded across his chest, he
shook his head in amusement.
“If I fail to persuade you into letting me
return to the reception alone, then I shall come to your
bed as per your original offer.” She offered him her
most beguiling smile. “However, if I succeed you agree
not to seek me out during the rest of my stay in
Marrakech.”
His dark eyes narrowed as he contemplated
her words. Determined to convince him to take the bet,
she stepped forward until she was a hair’s breadth away
from him. The spicy scent of him teased his nose, and
she reached out to trace the line of his scar with her
forefinger. Beneath her fingertip, she could feel the
tension tightening his jaw. She marveled at his
self-control. There were few men she knew who possessed
the steely discipline necessary to hide the desire she
instinctively knew he was feeling. When he swallowed
hard, she knew without a doubt she would win.
“Why do I sense deception on your part with
this wager,” he said in a dry tone of voice.
“I give you my word there is no deceit
involved. I am simply gambling on the merits of my
persuasive abilities, nothing more.”
He studied her for another long moment, his
dark gaze searching her face with an intensity that made
her skin alternate between hot and cold. With an abrupt
nod of his head, he captured her chin with this hand.
“Very well, I agree to the wager,” he said
with a skeptical laugh. “However, I think you’re simply
putting off the inevitable.”
The amused cynicism in his voice sent her
heart skittering out of control. He’d regained his
confidence, and it unnerved her. Willing herself to calm
her rattled sensibilities, she glided her hand over his
and gently freed herself of his grip. Stepping away from
him, she released a soft laugh, her self-assurance
returning as she caught the flash of desire in his dark
gaze.
“Tell me, monsieur, if you were to
win this wager, what do you expect for your one night of
pleasure? Me or the illusion?”
“I have no need of illusion, chérie.”
Although there was amusement in his voice, his eyes
glittered with assessment.
“Then you are a most unusual man.”
“More flattery?” His mouth quirked with
irony.
She smiled but didn’t answer. Instead, she
looked away from him to study the large cluster of
yellowish green bananas dangling from the tree. Each
fruit attached to the plant was long and thick and
pointed toward the top of the tree as opposed to growing
in a downward fashion. Erotic and suggestive, the plant
could not have suited her needs any better. Her head
tipping to one side, she glanced at him over her
shoulder.
“I’ve enjoyed bananas at home, but I’ve
never seen them growing before,” she mused with
deliberate curiosity. “Do they all look like this? With
the fruit…pointing upward?”
Dark eyes narrowing with the realization
that perhaps he’d made a mistake in agreeing to the
wager, he nodded but didn’t speak. She turned away from
him before she let her mouth curl in a smile of
satisfaction. The man had no idea how persuasive she
could be.
“Do you like bananas, monsieur?” She
reached out and slid her fingers over the length of one
particularly thick stalk of fruit. With a quick snap,
she broke off the banana while she allowed her breath to
catch in her throat before she released it as a soft
gasp of pleasure.
“Not particularly.”
The hoarse sound of his voice pleased her.
Clearly, she was on the verge of making the fruit
appealing to him. Her movements designed to be sensual
and elegant, she turned to face him. Biting back a
smile, she tipped her head and eyed him with mischief.
For the first time since she’d met this man, she was in
control. It felt good.
“What a pity. I find them quite…enticing.”
She said with a smile.
Her gaze didn’t leave his face as she
snapped the stem of the fruit to break open the peel.
With delicate moves, she pulled back the yellow skin of
the banana to expose the fleshy white meat of the fruit.
His expression was unreadable, but he betrayed his rapt
attention in other ways. The way he held himself rigid,
and the tic flexing in his face. Then there was the fire
darkening his intense brown eyes.
Tipping her head back in a slow, elegant
manner, she parted her lips and swirled her tongue
around the tip of the fruit. Eyes closed, she sighed
with pleasure and slowly drew the banana into her mouth.
The sharp hiss of his breath filled her ears and she
quickly pulled the fruit from her mouth to eye him with
innocent concern.
“Is something wrong?” she asked. He
swallowed hard, and simply shook his head. Smiling, she
sighed. “I hope you don’t mind me indulging myself. I
adore bananas. They’ve such an…erotic quality.”
Not waiting for his answer, she closed her
eyes then tipped her head back again to demonstrate the
skill she’d learned years ago. Slowly, she slid the firm
flesh of the fruit in and out of her mouth. With each
leisurely stroke, she took more of the banana into her
mouth until he rewarded her efforts with the choked
sound of a man struggling not to cry out.
Certain of his undivided attention, she
gently bit down on the fruit to free it completely from
its peel. In the next instant, she swallowed it whole.
The dark growl he made vibrated across her skin, and she
smiled with triumph. As if she were just awakening from
an afternoon of lovemaking, she opened her eyes in a
lethargic manner.
Lightly, she touched her fingers to first
one corner of her mouth then the other as if to wipe
away any lingering residue from her lips. The jubilant
taste of victory flooded her mouth. The man had just
experienced the illusion of Allegra Synnford, courtesan
extraordinaire. Her gaze shifted downward to where his
erection created a natural tent inside his sherwals, and
she returned her gaze to his face.
Aware that she needed to retreat before his
ardor subsided, she stepped to one side of him, her
shoulder pressed into his. She turned her head and noted
the taut white lines of tension at the corner of his
mouth. He knew he’d lost their wager and he wasn’t happy
about it. She needed to tread carefully. Gloating might
easily be her downfall.
“Forgive me, monsieur, but I must
return to the reception before I’m missed,” she said
softly. Extending her hand, she brushed it over his
erection. His jerked at the touch and dragged in a sharp
hiss of air. “Thank you for a most…stimulating tour of
the gardens.” |
