STORMBOUND WITH A TYCOON  Silhouette Desire by Shawna Delacorte reissued by Harlequin in ebook

G-EXCERPT #3: (kiss)

The light from the fire bathed her face in a soft golden glow and reflected in the depth of her eyes. He had never seen anything so captivating and beautiful in his entire life. The sight literally took his breath away, leaving him momentarily speechless. He had never wanted anyone as much as he wanted her at that moment.

Panic squeezed his insides. Logic screamed at him to go upstairs and lock himself in Justin’s bedroom before he did something foolish—something he knew he would end up regretting. His desires overruled his anxieties, effectively managing to shove his panic aside. He picked up a couple of the large floor pillows stacked against the wall and placed them in front of the hearth. He took the wine glass from her hand and set it on the mantel next to his.

“I believe you were telling me about your public relations work.” The huskiness that accompanied his words left him uneasy—a huskiness he feared would belie his outer calm. He took her hand and gave it a gentle tug.

“I think we’d be cozier over here, closer to the fire.” Was he asking for more trouble than he already had? Deep down inside he knew the answer, but chose to ignore it.

“I don’t know if that’s a good idea…” Her words trailed off before she could finish what she was trying to say. He coaxed her to her feet and escorted her the few steps to the floor pillows. The warmth of his touch traveled from her hand, up her arm and spread through her body. It was the type of sensual heat that radiated from the inside, one far more intense than could ever be generated by a fireplace. She feared what the night would bring, but was helpless to resist. She had allowed herself to become trapped in the pull of his magnetic sex appeal.

As soon as she was seated on the pillow he retrieved the wine glasses from the mantel. He handed one of them to her, but seemed somewhat distracted as he settled himself on the other pillow. He furrowed his brow in concentration, took a sip from his glass and stared into the fire as if lost in thought. She studied his profile, the worried expression on his face and his tensed muscles. Something was troubling him. She had seen it earlier, and now she saw it again just as the touches of vulnerability had shown from time to time. Perhaps his life wasn’t as charmed as she had assumed.

“Are you okay?”

He glanced in her direction, a hint of confusion covering his features. “Am I okay? Certainly. Why do you ask?”

“You seem…well, sort of preoccupied. Is…” She wasn’t sure about how to proceed. “Is there something wrong?” She hesitated, then cautiously asked, “Something you’d like to talk about?” A sadness in his eyes touched a spot deep inside her, a poignancy that connected on a very human level, bypassing the sensual pull and creating a surprising feeling of closeness. She touched his arm and ventured a tentative comment. “I’m a very good listener.”

Dylan turned his gaze on her, once again capturing her essence and pulling her very soul into the depths of his eyes. She swallowed hard, but didn’t look away. A troubled expression covered his face, a hesitation that said he was turning her words over in his mind. He glanced at the fire for a moment. When he returned his attention to her, all the uncertainty she saw just seconds earlier had been replaced by his easy manner and smooth charm.

“Why would you think something was wrong? What could be better than this? We have a nice fire, a bottle of good wine…” The practiced smile faded. The warmth of his touch spread across her cheek, then his lips were on hers. It was not another quick brushing as before. This was a kiss, a very real kiss that sent a wave of excitement crashing through her body. This was wrong…totally and completely wrong. He was the wrong man. What they were doing was wrong. So why did it feel so very right?

STORMBOUND WITH A TYCOON, a Harlequin Desire by Shawna Delacorte, is an ebook reissue available at  http://ebooks.eharlequin.com (do search for author name Shawna Delacorte).  Also available at Barnes and Noble in NookBooks www.bn.com and Amazon for Kindle  www.amazon.com   Information is available at my website   www.shawnadelacorte.com

BLURB:

Wealthy, jaded playboy Dylan Russell had sought an isolated cabin in the woods to escape his fast-paced life and reconsider his future. He wanted solitude…but awoke to a woman in his bed! Nothing had prepared Dylan for the sight of his best friend’s sister…or the sensual spark that embracing her ignited.

After a canceled project, publicist Jessica McGuire looked forward to days of relaxation. She never expected to encounter the man who had stirred feelings deep in her soul years ago. Stranded with her in a storm, Dylan beckoned her closer with his bedroom eyes. But would Jessica have to be content with only a few nights of passion when she yearned for his love for a lifetime?