#RomanticFridayWriters: I Should've Kissed You

Hello everyone! I'm back doing Romantic Friday Writers which means I'm back writing again after a 2-month break. Can someone give me an halleluyah! LOL.

It tell you it feels great to be writing again. It's like chains have been broken and I'm released from captivity. Seriously. :)

Right. Before I get to today's post I've got one quick announcement. 

HIS TREASURE nearly scooped another award. It was a runner-up at the 2012 Swirl Awards in the novella category. You can check out the rest of the winners at the Swirl Awards website. Getting the news has worked wonders in inspiring me again. So a big woohoo!

Now, on to RFW. This week's challenge is to write 600 words of prose or poetry for the theme I Should've Kissed You. 

Since I've been out of the RFW loop for a while I really wanted to participate this week. So I've just written this piece this afternoon. It's going to be part of a Christmas story I'm writing titled His Christmas Wish. It's still very rough and it's longer than 600 words. Sorry. But I hope you enjoy reading it. Feel free to critique it. As always I love your feedback.

***

Joshua Inemo-Spiff waited outside, ready to confront his future. The late afternoon sun kissed his back with heat rays. On reflex, he rolled his shoulders and massaged his neck.

Romantic Friday Writers: Greener Pastures

Hello readers, welcome back to Romantic Friday Writers. This week's challenge is to write a piece of prose or poetry to the theme 'Greener Pastures.' I've chosen to revise a short story I wrote about 2 years ago. I hope you enjoy this piece of flash fiction.

Word count: 600

Eyes raised, she glanced at the round brushed aluminium clock on the wall. 8.05pm.

Slowly, a frustrated sigh whooshed from Abi’s lungs, her earlier excitement fizzing into the humid summer evening air.

Romantic Friday Writers: Stuck In The Middle

Hello everyone! I'm glad to be back with Romantic Friday Writers. This week’s challenge is to write 400 words of prose or poetry or excerpt to the theme Stuck In The Middle.

I'm taking a break from a hectic schedule. All I can say is that I'm looking forward to some downtime this summer.

So I've chosen a snippet from An Engagement Challenge. You can read the blurb here.

In this scene, the heroine Ijay discovers that her fiancé Vincent and her ex Paul know each other. Guess who’s stuck in the middle. LOL. 

Yes, I know it's not supposed to be about love triangles. But I hope you enjoy reading it anyway.

Word count: 396

Romantic Friday Writers - Yes, No, Oh Alright Then

Hello readers, it’s a new month. Gosh, I can’t believe it’s June already. The year is flying by. Are you on track with your annual goals? Me, I’ve met some of my half-year goals but off on a couple. But I’ve got a month to work through, so here’s hoping. There's still so much to look forward to this year.

So welcome back to Romantic Friday Writers. This week’s challenge is to write 400 words of prose or poetry for the theme Yes, no, oh alright then.

As it’s all about indecision, I’ve chosen a snippet from His Strength, book 2 of my Men of Valor historical romance series. In this excerpt Nneka, the heroine, is caught between what her mind wants and what her body obviously desires. The hero, Ikem, is not making the decision easy for her. J

NOTE: I’ve heavily edited this piece because I know some RFW members prefer their romance on the mild side. If you want to read the spicy chunk that was cut out, pick up the ebook or read some of it here.

Enjoy. And as always, I’d love to read your thoughts.

Word Count: 400 words

RFW - Night On The Town (Picture prompt)

Hello readers! Welcome back to Romantic Friday Writers. This week we have a picture prompt challenge. We are supposed to respond to this picture with a flash fiction piece or poem of 600 words or less.

I've tried something different with this piece of flash fiction. It was written in a hurry but I hope you enjoy it.

Word count: 550 word (FCA)

RFW - She Wears My Ring

Source

Hello readers. Welcome back to Romantic Friday Writers. It's a writing challenge to write 400 word to a prompt. It could be flash fiction, an excerpt, or a poem.This week the prompt is She Wears My Ring.
Do you want to push your boundaries as a writer? Do you enjoy writing challenges? Click the link above to join the RFW group.

I've chosen an excerpt from a story I started writing in December 2011 titled The Gift of Christmas. It is still a work-in-progress, so feel free to comment or critique if you wish. I'd love to know what you think. Enjoy. :)

RFW - The Long Cool Aphrodisiac

Hi everyone, this is the first Romantic Friday Writers for February. And guess what? It's got a love theme. :)

Yep, the theme is The Long Cool Aphrodisiac. I'm sharing a snippet from A Valentine Challenge. In this scene Michael is infuriated with Kasie because she's been winding him up all evening. It's also obvious he's extremely attracted to her. But she's not making it easy for him. So the sparks are certainly flying. lol. Enjoy it. Don't forget to let me know what you think.

Word Count: 394 (MPA)

His Treasure Wins LRC Best Book Award plus RFW

Hello readers! I have two items to cover in this post.

Firstly. His Treasure is the LR Cafe Best Book of 2011 Winner!

If you remember my post where I'd mentioned the nominations and asked you to vote, I'd written that I wasn't expecting to win. I mean there were books in the same category from well established authors like Kat Martin, Kim Harrison and Sherrilyn Kenyon. Not to mention others. So I wasn't expecting to win. I mean, I was totally flabbergasted with the results. If you live anywhere near the south east of England and heard a woman screaming yesterday. That was probably me.

Romantic Friday Writers - New Year's Resolution

Hello readers! I'm back from a long hiatus from Romantic Friday Writers. This is the first challenge for the New Year and not so coincidentally the theme is New Year's Resolution. As always, the challenge is to write a piece of prose/poem/flash fiction of no more than 400 words.

My snippet today is from a work in progress titled Making Scandal. It's the second in a contemporary romance Essien trilogy series. This is Mark and Faith's story. This story is in its early stages, so bear with me if things don't make sense yet.

The Healer’s Warrior WIP excerpt Part 2

My image of Ugo. The Protector by Sterling Brown 

This week I’m sharing an excerpt from my paranormal romance work-in-progress The Healer’s Warrior. To find out more about the story and read the first part of the excerpt, click on the link to go to yesterday’s post.

To read the other submissions for Romantic Friday Writers, go here. The theme for this week is Haunting in celebration of All Hallows Eve.

To read the other submissions for Weekend Dirty Dozen, go here. I’m sure there’ll be a few spooky stories with bite there too.

Whispers - snippet from His Treasure

Hi readers, this week I’ve got a double challenge.

The first 12 sentences of this snippet are for the Weekend Dirty Dozen blog hop. It is a blog fest for romance and erotic writers to share 12 sentences every weekend for promotional purposes on their websites and blogs of their new releases and WIPs. Please use the link when you’re done to visit the Facebook page or blog to see who else is participating in the hop.

For Romantic Friday Writers, each Friday members post 300-400 words of romantic prose or poem on own blog based on a theme for the week. This week’s theme is Whispers. Use the link to see other submissions for the week.

I’m sharing a snippet from His Treasure, my debut historical romance novella set in pre-colonial West Africa. It is published by Breathless Press and out in December 2011. Click here to read the blurb.

For this scene, Adaku is with her friend Ifeoma at the New Yam festival when she hears worrying rumors about her husband Obinna that could change their marriage.

Romantic Friday Writers - First Love

Hi all, I’ve been quiet on the blog for too long. In between trying to write book 3 of the Men of Valor series and completing line edits on Book 1 for a deadline on Sunday, I’ve come up for air. So you know I’m alive and well, albeit harassed.

This week the Romantic Friday Writers challenge is to post 400 words of flash fiction/excerpt/poem with the theme of First Love.

I am sharing a snippet from my second ever contemporary novel titled Reunited. This book is due out early next year – date to be confirmed. The story is in Lagos, Nigeria. This scene is part of the prologue. Ike Thomas, the hero, is a new graduate on youth service at Lara’s (the heroine) school as a geography tutor. Lara is a final year senior school student and develops a huge crush on him.

I’m sure a few of us can remember having crushes on young teachers at school. Well for Lara there’s a happy ever after, though it came ten years after this scene. I hope you enjoy this snippet.

Romantic Friday Writers - Blue Moon

This week I’m posting my entry to Romantic Friday Writers a day early. Since I did a post on Monday, I’m skipping the Thrusty^TM Thursday post this week.

The RFW challenge this week is to write a piece of flash fiction/poem/excerpt of 400 words max with the theme of Blue Moon.

I’ve chosen a snippet from my current work-in-progress, a contemporary romance titled Just My Luck. To see the previous snippet from this manuscript go to Romantic Friday Writers: Lunch Date.

In this scene Wale and Trina are still having lunch in the restaurant. Unable to resist her effusive charm, he kisses her. However they are interrupted by an unhappy customer. I hope you enjoy it. Let me know what you think at the end.

Romantic Friday Writers - Lunch Date

Welcome back to Romantic Friday Writers. This week the challenge is to write flash fiction/poem/excerpt for the theme of Lunch Date. I'm sharing a snippet from a story I started writing on Wednesday. It is a contemporary romance set in Lagos, Nigeria titled Just My Luck.

A brief summary of the story so far: Trina has a flat tyre. Wale, a stranger who happens to look like her favourite actor, stops and helps her out. He invites her out to lunch. It’s the next day and she’s currently waiting for him in the restaurant after taking a phone call from her ex who she’s now termed ‘stalker’ Steve. This bit is the first time she sees Wale after last night. I hope you enjoy it.

Word Count: 400 (MPA)

Romantic Friday Writers - Heart Stopper

Welcome back to Romantic Friday Writers. This week's theme is heart-stopper. I’m sharing a snippet from HWB. In this scene, Kola does something he’s never done with any other woman. He kisses Tari of his own volition. It’s a heart-stopping moment for him. I hope you agree. Enjoy.

Word Count: 400 (MPA)

Romantic Friday Writers - New Horizons

Hello readers, welcome back to Romantic Friday Writers. You will have to forgive me as I've been bogged down with writing and editing I've been unable to post regularly for RFW. It's redlines and deadlines for me at the moment.

This week's theme is New Horizons and I've chosen a snippet from one of my completed novels title The Tycoon's Spurned Bride. It is set in Lagos, Nigeria. In this scene, the heroine Ebony meets the hero Felix for the first time. Or so she thinks. I hope you enjoy it. Of course let me know what you think at the end.

Romantic Friday Writers - Voices

This week on Romantic Friday Writers the theme is voices. 

My submission is a piece of prologue I wrote a few weeks ago when an idea came into my head. It’s starts of a bit on the dark side but don’t worry it’s ultimately a romance. The title of the story is His Captive. But I also think this piece works well as flash fiction. So join me as we take a walk on the dark side on RFW.

Word Count: 399

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                              Image is courtesy of jamesloveless.com

Romantic Friday Writers - Coming Home

This week on Romantic Friday Writers, the theme is Coming Home. My contribution is a new story that came to me last night.

Tonye Hume, the prodigal son, returns to his childhood home in Port Harcourt, Nigeria for the first time in fifteen years. In his case, he is back successful and wealthy. And his father is dead. Yet his return awakens so much from his past that he’s kept buried – secrets, betrayal and pain.

The scene I’ve chosen is when he sees his former youthful crush Kambili for the first time after so long. She is one of the reasons he left his home in the first place.

Romantic Friday Writers - Surrender

This week you’re getting a double whammy as I’m participating in Romantic Friday Writers. This week’s theme is Surrender and my submission is the first kiss from Her Weekend Bodyguard my current contemporary romance work in progress.

For previous excerpts, go here.

 Here it is:

***
 “Kiss me. You know, lip to lip.”

“I don’t do kissing or cuddling for that matter,” Kola’s gruff response back.

“No? Even for me? Just this once? You did promise to give me whatever I asked for. Was that a lie?”

Kola shook his head, a frown marring his features. “You don’t know what you’re asking, Tari.”

“I know exactly what I’m asking for. You make it sound like it’s something greater. It’s only a kiss, Kola.”

“And if I kiss you, you’ll stop this silly game you’re playing?” Kola’s eyes turned a deep dark chocolate hue with need that matched her own.

Tari nodded. She’d do anything to get him to kiss her, even if it meant playing dirty. “You’re such a spoilsport. Just kiss me, will you.” Flashing her best sexy smile, she bunched her fists in his t-shirt to pull him closer.

Kola lowered his head and she knew he was going to oblige her. Standing on tiptoes, she leaned into him meeting him halfway. He growled before their lips met. At the same time he pushed her backwards until her back hit the wall behind squashing her in a sandwich between the firmness of his body and the plaster of the kitchen wall.

When their lips connected, it was a possession, an incursion. Kola’s heat invaded her. Sensation flooded her body. Placing both hands against the wall, he pressed into her. The rigid wall of his chest pushing against her hardening nipples, his burgeoning arousal pressed against her belly, his day growth rubbing against her cheeks. She had never been so turned on. Combusting on the spot, she felt heat throbbing incessantly between her legs. All she could think about was getting to the bedroom, the large bed in it and having this hunk of a man quenching the ache between her thighs.

Then he broke off the kiss and stepped back. It was like stepping under a freezing cold shower after being under the baking heat of the sun. She had been that engrossed, that overwhelmed, that lost in the kiss.

“Lunch will be ready in five minutes,” his voice was husky as he turned away from her and went back to sorting out lunch as if nothing had happened. She leaned against the wall, mouth swollen, her core throbbing, her body trembling like a leaf.

She wanted Kola now more than ever.

***

So as first kisses go, do you think it hit the spot? Share your thoughts.

Don't forget to check out who else is participating this week by clicking on the Romantic Friday Writers link above when you've commented.