Monday, December 21, 2009

Kissingfest Day (or whatever it's called)

So, I guess today is a some kind of blogosphere kissing holiday or something. I've been very much enjoying reading all of posts. Will I come out of my blog darkness for kissing? Uh-yeah I will. :)

Here's a scene from my novel Searcher It' actually just an almost kiss, but those are the best kind, am I right?:


Stifling laughter, we duck back along the outer rim of the camp. After sneaking the long way around, we draw closer to my tent. I feel a pang of regret. I don’t want this moment to end.

“That’s yours over there?” Owen asks.

“Yeah. Guess I’ll see you in the morning.”

“I’d better walk you all the way to your door,” he says, making a serious expression. “You never know what might happen to a kid like you.”

I elbow him in the side, but laugh. When we reach the door to my tent, I turn to face him.

“Thanks for protecting me.”

“My pleasure.”

It’s quiet for a moment—only the sound of crickets and Hector’s sleepy guitar. I cast my eyes around, wanting to prolong the conversation, but unsure of what say. Owen lingers, at a lack for words as well. A gust of wind sweeps past us, and I pull my jacket closer.

“You should go in,” he says. “It’s starting to get cold out here.” He reaches out and brushes his hands down the length of my arms. “Are you cold?”

I’m shivering, but not from the wind. I look up to him, trembling inwardly. He keeps his hands wrapped around my arms. This close, I can see every detail of his face, the line of his dark brow, the strong angles of his cheek bones. His large, amber eyes gaze down at me with an intense, but unreadable expression.

“Jetta . . .” He pulls me closer. It’s like a surge of hot sparks have burst in my chest and spread over my skin. Breath catches in my throat. Owen’s hands move up my arms again, and then he grips my shoulders. His face moves closer. I can feel his warm breath on my cheek. The world around us has frozen.

And suddenly he pulls back. He squeezes his eyes shut for a moment.

“I—I’m sorry.” He lets out a frustrated breath. “I had a few drinks tonight, I didn’t . . . I didn’t mean to . . .”

I shake my head. “But—”

“Goodnight Jetta.” He turns abruptly on his heel and is gone in a few strides.

I stay at the door to the tent for a moment, my insides reeling with a thousand emotions. I can still feel the warmth of Owen’s hands on my skin, a burning imprint.

33 comments:

Wendy Sparrow said...

Ahh. Almost kisses are really good. Yours was awesome.

Natalie Whipple said...

Are you kidding? I hate alomsts. ARG. But yeah, good:)

Natalie said...

I loved it Renee! Almost kisses are the best.

Nicole Settle said...

Ack! I love almost kisses but they're so frustrating! Poor Jetta!

Kara said...

Oh dang, I hope they really kiss later in the novel. I enjoyed that- nice job :) Might have to go post my almost kiss scene now.

Unknown said...

Good for him to do the hard thing and leave her....I think. He wanted to kiss her but didn't because he had been drinking. Now I want to why???? Why was it wrong for him to kiss her?

I guess I'll have to wait for the book, right?

Mary E Campbell said...

Very nice. An almost kiss always leaves us wanting. Love how he stopped himself. Kissing is definitely a good reason to blog again. Thank you for your comments about my scene.

Renee Collins said...

Wendy-Thanks! :)

Natalie-haha, I love the tease. I was going through Searcher and I noticed that I have like four almost kissing moments. lol

Natalie-Thanks, I agree.

Nickles-Definitely frustrating! I wonder why I'm drawn to that? :)

K.M.-Well, (spoiler alert) they do! But it's actually a very sad scene. You should definitely post one!

Elle-Yes, it was the right thing for him to do. He is actually a little too old for her (she's 17, he's 25,) plus he's kind of responsible for her, so he doesn't want to abuse him position. Poor Owen. :)

Mary-I am definitely having a good time with this kiss fest :D

The romantic query letter and the happy-ever-after said...

Two things. The first is my awe at your first person POV. The other is your brilliant almost kiss that made me think of that song 'what would happen if we kissed' so very good.
Warm regards,
Simone.

Patti said...

Leaving readers frustrated. I hate it, but it's great at the same time. Love the name Jetta.

V. S said...

I loved it! I love the tension between an almost kiss! Seriously, it rocked!

Tere Kirkland said...

Love the tension of the almost kiss. It makes the first actual kiss so much more satisfying!

S.H. said...

*sighs* I love it. You captured the frustration and the moment so well. Now I'm curious about just how hot the actual kiss will be ;)

Jennifer Shirk said...

Great! And yes, almost kisses are THE best! :)

storyqueen said...

Love how she can still feel his warmth....sigh.

Shelley

Miriam Forster said...

That was intriguing! I love tension scenes like that, they're almost more fun than the eventual kiss.

Can I play? This is the closest to kissing my characters get in Flute...

“Lissandra!” Taris’s hand on her arm sent a shock through her. His voice was pleading.

“Are you going to tell them where I am?”

Lissandra turned, meeting Taris’s uncertain eyes, so close to her own. The scar on his throat was even paler against his sun-browned skin.

Without thinking, she reached up and touched it with her fingertips. His pulse beat against her skin.

“No,” she said. “They will find you soon enough, without my help.”

Dropping her arm, she stepped back. “Good luck with the building.”

Glad you came out to play for a bit!

Sara Raasch said...

I love that line about the sparks moving over her skin. Awesome!

Julie said...

I really hope they kiss later...poor Jetta! I could feel the tension!

Melissa Hurst said...

I love almost kisses. The tension is what makes them so appealing. I see that this is from a YA dystopian. I'm currently working on one of those, too:)

Sara {Rhapsody and Chaos} said...

Oh. I can so feel the longing at the end. So frustrating - you definitely hit the mark!!

Jade said...

That was a really cool scene.

I'm with you, almost kisses and lots of tension rocks!

Renee Collins said...

Simone-Thanks! I'll have to look that song up. :)

Patti-I love her name too. :) Thanks!

V.S.-Yes, tension! It's great, isn't it? :)

Tere-Definitely, it's better when they have to work for that kiss!

Stephanie-He he, yes, there definitely are a few hot kisses later in the book. :)

Jennifer-Thanks!

Renee Collins said...

Shelly-That was a little tidbit from personal experience. :)

Miriam-Nice scene! I could picture the moment well. I seriously am looking forward to reading that book! :)

Sara-Yep, sparks fly. :D

Julie-They do! Though, I must warn you, their romance is kind of doomed. :(

Melissa-Dystopian has always been a favorite of mine, from way back. I'm very excited/surprised that it's getting so popular!

Sara-Thank you! :)

Jade-I think a fictional relationship without tension can be a bit dull. Real relationships, well, that's a little different. :D

Amalia Dillin said...

Oh, I'm a sucker for Owens, and UST. Nice Scene! Thanks for sharing!

Sherrinda Ketchersid said...

Ooooo, very sigh-worthy! I love an almost-kiss! Those are the best...full of tension that just keeps building. Thanks so much for joining in on this kissing party! You made my day!

Jenni James said...

oooh! So romantic! And awesome tension! I LOVE this scene!

Jenni

Anonymous said...

I don't quite know how to say it, but there's such a strong sense of mood/time/place in your teaser without you clobbering us over the head with description. Seriously, this is good writing.

sanjeet said...

you kidding? I hate alomsts. ARG. But yeah, good:
Work from home India

Renee Collins said...

Amelia-I love the name Owen too! :)

Sherrinda-Thank you for having kissing day! It was so much fun! It should become an annual tradition. :)

Jenni-Thanks!!

Deniz-Wow, thanks so much for the kind comment! You seriously made my day. :)

Kasie West said...

Man, I've been out of town and missed this "Kissing Day". Whyeee???? I love almost kisses. They make the eventual real kiss that much better. :) Great job. I want to read this book. :)

Hope you have a great Christmas.

Hayley Lovell said...

Such a cute almost kiss scene! But sad, I could feel her anxiety. Well done.

Jessie Oliveros said...

I liked the sparks bursting out of her chest and spreading all over her skin because I believe I have felt that before. Hi, I'm a little late on commenting, but it is good to be back.

Candice said...

Um, okay, somehow I missed this. I must have been on vacay or something. But I loved this the first time (even in third person) I still love it! Ah, Owen...