First Kiss Friday

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Every Friday I share the first kiss from a book. This week it’s Submerged Hopes by Chloe Holiday.
Deaf archaeologist Nerissa’s underwater excavation is complicated by her hot Navy diver interpreter.
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Crazy, to be drinking beer and dancing with her interpreter–and at his house, no less. Starry-eyed as a teenager and intoxicated by Nick’s sex appeal. Lulled by the feeling of acceptance, or safety, when he’d done no more than dance with her. This was unprofessional, risky. As the team leader, she should draw the line. She should go. And she would–just one minute more.

The distance evaporated; his arms gathered her in. Nerissa lay her head on his shoulder and sighed as her heart yielded.

Nick stroked her hair and she closed her eyes, swaying in his embrace, surrounded by vibrations and the scent of ocean and earth.

The reverberations stopped, ending her trance.

I have to stop this. His biceps hard under her palms, she pushed away, ready to sign “thanks for the dance and lunch.” Make it clear that this was no big deal and she hadn’t just succumbed.
Blue eyes searched hers, then traveled to her lips. Nick cupped her jaw, gently tipping up her face, and bent his head. His mouth brushed hers, tentative, then bolder.

Nerissa stilled, drunk on sensation: the heat of his body, warm breath on her cheek, the rasp of his five o’clock shadow–

Five o’clock! She gasped and tore herself from his arms. She staggered backwards on legs wobbly as a newborn colt. “I’ve got to go,” she whispered.