Today I’m sharing the first kiss between Mara and Jacques in Rogue’s Hostage, my French and Indian War historical romance.

Blurb:

Fate delivered them into each other’s arms. Will love set them free?

The Pennsylvania frontier, 1758.

Mara Dupré never got used to living in fear. As danger lurks in every shadow, supporting her husband’s farming efforts while France and Britain battle in the New World has worn her down. But her life shatters when an invading war party kills her spouse, and she is taken captive by a dashing French officer.

Lieutenant Jacques Corbeau thought he’d lost his honor years ago. But something about the feisty woman whose scalp he saved from his Indian partners tugs deeply on his desire to redeem his past. And now as they undertake a dangerous trek to return to the fort, he swears a silent oath to protect her with his life.

As Mara plots her escape to freedom and tries to wear down her handsome captor with suggestive advances, she’s surprised by his staunch valor. And though Jacques would gladly bed the fetching widow, he’s determined to banish his misdeeds and atone for his actions.

Will their tragic union fall to a murderous musket, or can they find everlasting love?

Rogue’s Hostage is a gorgeous standalone historical romance. If you like strong characters, enemies-to-lovers stories, and richly detailed histories, then you’ll adore Linda McLaughlin’s sensual adventure.

Buy Rogue’s Hostage to untie the bonds of desire today!

The First Kiss comes right after he says, “This is what I want.”:

Jacques stared at her through half-closed eyes. The anger, frustration, and desire that fired his blood merged into an overwhelming need to kiss her. He claimed her mouth with his own, smothering her lips, knowing the kiss was rough and aggressive, but unable to stop. He wanted to silence her, subdue her, and make love to her all at once.
Her hands beat against his chest in time with the wild drumming of his heart. Then she went still, enduring his embrace, lips clamped tightly together.

Desire won out over anger. He eased the pressure of the kiss, letting his tongue trace the fullness of her lower lip, coaxing her mouth to open. His hand loosened, let go of her hair, and stroked the back of her neck.

“No,” she whimpered, wrenching her mouth away from his.

He drew his head back, his chest heaving, his breathing harsh and ragged.

“Why?” she asked. “What was that for?”

“That, madame, was my reward.”

Mara stared at him for a moment before finding her voice. “Reward? For what?”

Jacques glared at her. “For saving your life after being shot by your husband. For worrying about a woman stupid enough to run off into the wilderness and get lost.” He took a deep breath before adding. “In short, for behaving like a gentleman.”

Releasing her, he turned and walked away, but on hearing her hoot of laughter, he stopped, his shoulders stiff, and spun around to face her.

“Gentleman?” she sputtered. “Libertine, you mean.”

He glared at her until she quit laughing. “You would do well to guard your words, Madame Captive.”

She took a deep breath. “I may be your captive, and for now you can tell me where to go and what to do, but you will never have the right to dictate what I think or say. Never!” She spat out the word contemptuously.

Jacques’s temper flared again. One kiss hadn’t been enough. He began to walk toward her. “You are a woman of spirit. I find that quite…alluring.”

In celebration of my birthday month, Rogue’s Hostage is on a Kindle Countdown Deal for 99 cents at Amazon.com and Amazon.uk.

Today is the last day, so grab your copy now!

Linda