Kiss of Scandal

Released today from Ravenous Romance, my 1855 Russian set historical, Kiss of Scandal!

Blurb: In the wreckage of a friend's death, Countess Katria Markova finds her perfectly ordered life, irrevocably altered. Russian politics proves more dangerous than the front lines of war, and when her fiancé’s future is threatened by rumors of treason, their cat-and-mouse game ends. In its place, a political game, where their very lives are at stake, begins.

Count Nikolai Orlov will do anything to clear his brother’s name. Anything except put Katria in harm’s way. Attracted to her from the moment they met, he’s spent their time together breaking the wall that surrounds her heart. He wants the passionate woman beneath, wants to shatter her cool exterior.

With her life in danger, Nikolai’s only course of action is to exact revenge. From the snowy streets of St. Petersburg to the River Neva’s icy depths, they search for the answers to clear Nikolai. But in their search, will they lose each other?

Excerpt:

The fingers of her left hand twitched in her skirt, the only telltale sign she was anything other than completely composed.

He wanted to shatter that composure, watch her passion consume her. Needed to do so. Wanted to taste that passion, feel her around him as he took her. His own control close to breaking, he smiled wickedly at her. The blue-green of her eyes darkened, deepened. She took a step closer, the break in her pretense widening.

Katria wasn’t as immune to him as she pretended.

In two quick steps, he crossed the room and had her in his arms. Before she could react, he kissed her. Beneath him, she opened. Her mouth was hot on his, greedy. Taking all he doled out. A small mewl of pleasure vibrated along his lips.

With a growl, he deepened the kiss. Backing her to the wall, uncaring of the voluminous skirts she wore, Nikolai lifted her. Felt her sigh, her fingers in his hair.

Surrender was so close he could taste it in the sweetness of her kiss.

“Nikolai.”

Breathing hard, he pressed his forehead to hers. He wanted to have her now. Kissing down the delicious length of her neck, he knew another crack chipped open through the wall surrounding her.