Two weeks ago, before RWA #12, I asked you about your hero. Now it’s time for the ladies. So tell me, when your heroine first realized she was in love. Here is an excerpt from LORD BEAUMONT’S BRIDE.
Serena lay in bed and touched her lips.
It seemed if they’d crossed some sort of invisible barrier tonight that had held them back before. His heat and his need were tangible. As for her, flames of desire flickered just below her surface, ready to rise again at the thought of him. Yet, somehow she knew, despite their passionate kisses, he still held her at a distance. Something held him back from declaring his love for her.
It was too late to guard her heart. She lost it when he’d pleaded with her to rescue him from the young ladies at the soirée. She wanted her marriage to be a sharing of power and love—most definitely love—and he remained silent. There could be few worse things than to be hopelessly in love with your husband and have him not feel the same.
ellaquinnauthor
Ella Quinn ~ Author 
Wonderful Post Ella! I just love the chemistry and emotion between Serena and Robert!
here’s an excerpt from my book Godric, where the heroine Emily realizes she loves him, however subtly it comes about.
“Emily, there is something I would like to discuss with you.” He gently withdrew, and sat up close to her.
“What is it?” Emily’s eyes narrowed, suspicion and worry clouding the sunny warmth in her heart. Please don’t ruin what we’ve just shared…please.
“Because of this new development”—he waved a hand over the rumpled bed sheets—“I’ve done more than threaten your virtue, I’ve destroyed it completely. Your uncle won’t take you back.”
Emily moved to sit up, bringing the sheet up instinctively to cover herself. “You wish to send me away now?” He’d tired of her already. Emily knew that must be it. Grief settled over her like a thick wool blanket, smothering her. Blood thundered in her ears until she heard nothing but a dull roar.
“What?” His brows drew together and his eyes widened. “Send you away? Lord no! I want you to stay here, stay with me. You need never concern yourself with your uncle again.” His thumbs stroked her cheeks. The gesture soothed her and calmed her, but her chest still twinged painfully, awaiting the death blow she knew he’d someday deliver to her heart.
“You want me to stay here with you? For how long?” She had to have some answers, even if they were painful ones.
“Yes…” The first question he answered without hesitation, but the second question he lingered over, for a moment. “You will stay as long as you like once this business with your uncle is over.”
Emily blinked slowly, trying to banish the burn of tears. He was not offering marriage or love, but time together and companionship. If it was all she could have of him, she would take it.
I will think about the consequences tomorrow.
“Then I will stay.” Her agreement brought him back down on her again with eager kisses.
“What about breakfast?” she asked in a sated daze after they’d once more tumbled wildly across the sheets. The grandfather clock outside chimed nine times. The morning hours slipped away as they lay amid the destruction of pillows and sheets.
“Breakfast?” Godric’s hand traced designs on her collarbone. She lay back against his chest. One arm of his lay wrapped around her upper body while fingers danced across her skin. She watched as one formed a decisive pattern over and over again.
“What are you doing?”
His lips curved into a smile against her cheek.
“Writing my name on you.”
Emily caught his hand and turned his palm up until it faced her. With her left hand she held his hand still and used her right index finger to draw her own name in an invisible signature. When she was done she brought his palm to her lips and sealed her name with a kiss. Godric covered her hand with his and nestled their paired hands on her waist. The soft silence between them was warm and secretive. Beyond Godric and their bed nothing else existed. It was so easy to cast aside her fears and worries.
Was there ever a moment better than this? Nestled in his strong arms, she felt strong herself. They could conquer the world, just the two of them. It was just an illusion, but she couldn’t blame herself for allowing one moment to imagine what life could be with the handsome, brooding Duke of Essex who broke into smiles just for her and made her laugh and cry out with pleasure. He was a treasure, each breath, each kiss shared between them, tied her heart with strings, connecting her to him. No matter how far away from him she’d someday be, she’d always feel that cosmic pull towards him; fall into the gravity of his being. Whatever else happened in the future, this moment, this perfect single instance, would always exist. A sunny memory bathed in love and bottled in her heart. It would never be enough, but she would take whatever came her way until it ended.
Great excerpt, Lauren.
When the hero saved her from the gold-digging, Protestant-sympathizing (this is 1558) viscount that locked her in his house in an attempt to ruin her reputation and force her to marry him so he could have her fortune 😉
Hi Courtney. Thanks for posting.
Lovely post Ella….enjoyed reading it 🙂
Thanks Christine. I can’t wait until you post again.
Both excerpts were wonderful. My heroines spend a lot of time in denial. When they finally have to admit they’re in love, it’s at the most vulnerable time in their lives.
Hi Angelyn, I can’t wait to read an excerpt. Hint.
Lord Beaumont’s Bride sounds better with every posted excerpt! The excerpts and comments are wonderful, too.
In my latest release – Remedy Maker, Patience the Wood Nymph finds out she’s in love with her healer, the centaur Rhycious when she “feels” him as a circling warmth in her chest as he’s returning for her after a battle.
Great post!
Hi Sheri, Thanks for commenting.
Love your excerpt. Great job!
Thanks, D’Ann.
I have the most HORRIBLE time writing love scenes. I write in YA so I really need to do better but I have the emotional maturity of a fourteen year old boy. I can’t even write a kissing scene!
LOL. You’re too funny. Read more historical romances.
Oh Lord Beaumont’s Bride sounds wonderful!
This is Charlee – My saucy pirate in the Pirate Princess. Petra has saved her life and offered her his heart.
Charlee smiled, but didn’t look up. “I must express my pleasure to the chef. He out did himself with this feast. What’s the occasion?”
His heart hammered in his chest as he studied her. “Must there be a formal occasion to celebrate life…and love.”
At his last words, her head snapped up and she met his gaze.
He barely stifled a gasp at the sight.
The hardness of her face had completely melted and in its place resided an openness that waited to be filled. Her eyes pooled with tears, not the tears of bitterness and betrayal, but tears flowed from a clean place. “I’ll celebrate with you though I’m not worthy of such love.”
“None of us are worthy, Princess. Isn’t that why we celebrate?” His arms tensed and fingers itches to reach out.
“Petra…” She scooted beside him. “I’ve been wrong. Not just my deeds, which are despicable, but I’ve been wrong.” A single tear ran down her ivory cheek. “You’ve shown me love from the moment we met. I want your love. All of it for as long as you’re willing to give it.”
“You have it….”
She placed her fingers on his lips. “Let me finish. I know I’m unworthy…”
He shook his head, but allowed her to continue.
“My heart is broken, but if you want it—it’s yours.”
Hi Kary. That is so sweet. I loved it. Thanks for liking my excerpt.
Great post, Ella. I can’t wait to read that book in print!
Me too.
That was a great excerpt. I would definitely read more!
My hero and heroine, Patrick and Kelsey, are actors and she realizes she’s falling in love after their first kiss scene. She goes on to deny it as long as she possibly can.
Here’s an excerpt…
As soon as Andy yelled ‘cut’, Kelsey picked up the pace and ran behind a black utility van owned by the studio. Patrick watched and waited for her to emerge from the other side. When she didn’t, he knew something was wrong. He wanted to go to her, but the memory of the previous night was still fresh in his mind. He didn’t want to push his luck, so he turned and walked away.
Kelsey had to get the tears to stop. She struggled with how real that kiss felt and was trying to reason it away. She felt what Julia felt, that was all. She found a little relief in that thought. It was all about the characters. It had nothing to do with Patrick. Nothing to do with his soft, warm, inviting lips.
Stop it! she screamed silently. That wasn’t real; it couldn’t be. He did that way too often.
Kelsey heard talking on the other side of the van and pressed her back against the vehicle to listen.
“Did you see that kiss?”
“Oh my god. That was so hot. I wish he’d kiss me like that.”
Kelsey’s cheeks reddened and she lightly touched her lips.
“Oh, I know. I wish anyone would kiss me like that. It looked so passionate.” They mumbled something else, then giggled and walked away.
Kelsey rubbed her cheeks one more time, making sure they were dry. She walked around the front of the van, holding her head high, acting stronger than she felt. Andy was watching the scene on one of the field monitors, looking for any reason to do it again before they moved on. She scanned the crowd and couldn’t find Patrick anywhere.
“Kelsey,” Veronica called from her left. Kelsey turned and smiled at her. “That was awesome,” she squealed. Kelsey nodded unenthusiastically. “Have you been crying?” Veronica took a step closer and stared at Kelsey’s eyes.
“I was supposed to, remember.”
“Not really. It’s called acting,” she joked but stopped when Kelsey didn’t laugh. “Do you want to talk?”
Kelsey shook her head. “There’s nothing to talk about.”
“Why were you crying?” she leaned in and whispered.
Kelsey shook her head as the tears brimmed over again. What was she supposed to say? She was falling in love with Patrick? What was wrong with that, right? Kelsey didn’t think Veronica would understand. She would probably encourage her, and Kelsey didn’t want that.
She didn’t want to love him.
Wow, great conflict. That was wonderful.
Thanks!
Powerful post Ella! Really felt Serena’s longing. Enjoyed it! 🙂
Hi Karen. Thank you. That means a lot.
Great excerpts, ladies! Katarina, my heroine from Only Scandal Will Do, comes to realize her love rather late in the game–and in a scene that’s actually not in the book. But here’s the scene where she voices that realization to herself:
When she reached her rooms, Margery helped her out of her breeches and dressed her for bed, though the sun still shone high in the sky. Once the maid had left, Kat lay down, drew the covers over her head and gave in to the tears she had fought ever since Duncan had rebuffed her.
“Oh, God!” she wailed miserably into her pillow, “now I’m thinking of him as Duncan.” And had done so since that encounter in the park, when she’d begun to fall in love with her husband.
From that day, she’d desperately wanted to know his true feelings for her. Did he feel affection for her, as his actions indicated? Or had he indeed married her just to circumvent a scandal in the making and produce an heir? Was he still using his rake’s tricks to seduce her into his bed?
She would have said the first, until he’d jerked back at her touch. That cringe spoke as no other gesture ever could. He did not trust her, believed her capable of another vicious attack.
They’d come so far from where they’d started and now…now… Vicious sobs wracked her. She was right back where she’d been in March–not knowing who the man in the golden mask was or what he intended to do with her.
Jenna, wonderful. I love that this book is published.
Those are all such great passages, ladies! Perhaps one day I’ll have my own to add. At the moment, my characters are contemplated the big “L”. Very nice post, Ella.
Melissa, thank you so much.