#KissingDayBlogFest Entry: A Kissing Scene from RANSOME’S CROSSING
As mentioned Saturday, today I’m participating in the first annual (?) Kissing Day Blog Fest. Great thanks to Sherrinda, Katie, and Krista for coming up with the idea.
Want to participate? Click here for the guidelines. Want to read everyone else’s posts (46 and counting!), click here for the list of participants.
Without further ado, here’s one of my favorite kissing scenes from Ransome’s Crossing (one of many!)—one that I wrote two years ago.
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Julia tucked her book by as four bells signaled ten o’clock. William was usually back in the cabin by now. Though she risked his ire by leaving the cabin unaccompanied, she exited through the wheelhouse. The sailor at the wheel and midshipman of the watch both knuckled their foreheads.
“Good evening, missus.” The third lieutenant touched the fore point of his hat.
“Good evening, Lieutenant Eastwick. Is Commodore Ransome about on deck?”
“He’s aft, on the poop deck, ma’am.”
“Thank you.”
Eastwick looked like he wished to say more, but stepped aside. “Ma’am.”
She climbed the steep ladder-steps to Alexandra’s highest deck—the roof of their cabin. One solitary figure stood at the stern, silhouetted by the moon and stars, his back to her. Halfway across the deck, she stopped. Was she making the situation worse? Not knowing his current temperament, she could not be certain if her presence would be welcomed or if she would make him angry by her willful disobedience.
She turned to leave, trying to be as silent as possible. The water and the wind gave her some measure of cover—until she gasped when her toes smashed into the raised dining-cabin skylight. She hopped on her left foot, pain shooting through the two small toes of her right one.
“I used to do that all the time.” William’s deep voice was soft as his hands settled on her waist to steady her. “Except I was more likely to break glass than toes in these shoes.”
“I . . .” Embarrassment clogged her throat.
“Here, try to put some weight on it.”
She did. Though it hurt, she wasn’t about to let on that it did. “I think the pain is beginning to subside.” She finally noticed the sextant and journal he’d set down on the deck. “I had no wish to disturb you.”
“Come, let us get you to the cabin where you can sit.”
“No. I believe I am well.” She gritted her teeth and put weight on the throbbing foot.
“Then I shall be glad of your company, if you would join me in a stroll.”
Though each step felt worse than the step before, Julia took William’s arm, grateful for the support he offered—and his acceptance of her presence here when they both knew she had broken her promise to not come on deck unless accompanied by him.
“I have just finished calculating the distance between Alexandra and Audacious. The convoy is still far too spread out for my liking. And after this weather, we are likely to have thick fog by morning.”
Julia looked out into the silvery blackness. “How have you taken measurements when the next ship is but a shadow in the dark?”
William stopped at the aft railing. “See the yellow light there?” He pointed slightly to the left.
“Yes, I can just . . . oh, is that a signal light?”
“Aye. Each ship in the line has one. It is how we communicate after sundown.”
“Is it very dangerous to have the convoy spread too far?” The wind blew loose curls into her face.
William reached up and gently brushed the hair back. “I am not overly concerned. We shall see where we stand in the morning, and I will make adjustments then as needed.” His palm cupped her jaw, and he caressed her cheek with his thumb.
Julia’s knees nearly buckled. She held onto the balustrade with every ounce of strength.
His eyes, deep blue as the night sky above, roved her face, then rested on her mouth—followed by the soft touch of his lips.
She released her grip on the railing and rested her hand on his shoulder, raising up on her toes—
Her gasp of pain ended the kiss. William looped his arm around her waist for support, then pressed his forehead to hers. “Foot feeling better, is it?”
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KayeDacus.com 
Aw, that was sweet. Pride in the way once more. It is so nice to get a sneak peek at Ransome’s Crossing.
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Thanks, Carla! Having written this scene more than a year before I started writing this book, I was really anxious to get to this scene when I finally started RC.
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Oh, that is such a cool tid bit. I bet it was hard keeping it tucked away all this time. I can’t wait to read the rest!
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Now I’m looking forward to Ransome’s Crossing even more . . . Sigh.
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Thanks, Regina.
Release date has moved up to June 1—only six months away!
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Aww! So happy to see William and Julia married finally! 😉
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Thanks, Alexandra! It was fun to get to explore their relationship after the “happily ever after” ending.
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Very nice:-)
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Thanks!
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Oh my…the was sigh-worthy indeed! I loved it, Kaye! I loved it when he rested his forehead against hers….so sweet!!! I am so glad you participated in this and I think this is going to be such fun all day long! You’ll definitely have to sneak your reading in with lots of breaks at work! 🙂
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I’m trying to read as much as I can—but getting ready to drive an hour and a half over to Mandeville for a book signing, so will have to read the rest this evening.
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So fun! Love the scene. 🙂
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Thanks, Nicole!
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Stupid toes! Totally ruined the moment. *sigh* Nice moment.
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I love foiling my characters!
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Great scene! I’m sad that her foot ended it so quickly–but I loved William!
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Can’t let them be too happy for too long.
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*sigh* love julia and william! can’t wait to read this one, kaye. 🙂
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I’m thrilled by the fact that I was able to sell this as a trilogy so I could continue to spend time with William and Julia.
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Lovely. A nice sweet kiss. You can never go wrong with that. 🙂
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Thanks, Karen!
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William and Julia are such a love match!
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OOh! I loved this! Awesome! The tension is already there–and er, can I just say this guy is hot???
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Wow, this was nice. I enjoyed the characters and the tension and their sexual attraction!
Thank you for sharing!
I have a few kissing scenes on my blog! Come over and let me know what you think of them. 🙂
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