Welcome to Week 12 of Medieval Monday! In case you missed our previous posts, fourteen medieval romance authors are sharing a “First Kiss” scene from one of our books. We’ll post our scenes in small excerpts from now until May 10, with plenty of links so you can catch up whenever you join us.

To see all the posts for today, visit our Facebook Group, Medieval Romance Lovers. We’ll have fun giveaways every Friday, so be sure to drop by and comment on the Friday Giveaway post!

Our snippet this week is from The Lady of the Forest by Barbara Bettis, a wonderful medieval romance with an action-packed plot. This week’s steamy first kiss will leave you wanting more! Enjoy!

She instinctively sought his warmth. Henry met her half way.

The brush of his lips robbed her of breath. A reflexive action to pull back was hindered by his grip on her shoulders, holding her firm. Yet she didn’t feel threatened. She let him pull her closer—or did she sink into him?

His lips were gentle but a bit rough. A good rasp. A comforting rasp. A rasp that again sent an unfamiliar ache to her core. The ache burst into a throb of need, and the tips of her breasts crumpled into knots. His mouth opened just enough for his tongue to stroke her lips as he’d done before. The sensation tightened her throat. Air. She needed air. She wrenched her mouth away.

Check out last week’s with Bambi Lynn: http://www.bambilynnblog.wordpress.com/

Follow along next week with Daryl Devoré: https://daryldevore.blogspot.com/

He must pursue his enemy; she must protect her people. Can their love survive the duties that drive them apart?

When her elderly husband dies, Lady Katherine fakes her own death and disappears into the forest with others escaping the brutish new lord. Determined to protect her people, she knocks the wrong man senseless. But Lord Henry isn’t an enemy, he’s the brother of her childhood friend. Although his tender confidence tempts her, she’s bound by duty.

Henry of Chauvere has found the one lady he wants for his own, never mind she’s tied him hand and foot. When he learns the king has ordered her to wed Stonehill’s ruthless new master, he insists Kate seek haven with his sister. But she won’t desert her friends. Henry vows to solve her problem, provided he catches a traitor before the threat from Kate’s past catches her.

When a daring rescue compels Henry and Kate to join forces, their attraction grows into love. If only duty didn’t drive them apart.