It's weekend, and time for more Rainbow Snippets! The Rainbow Snippets group on Facebook asks its members to share six sentence snippets from their work each weekend. Check out the group's Facebook page to read all the snippets and add lots of great books to your TBR. You'll find all sorts of books with the common thread that the main character identifies as LGBTQ+
For today's snippet, I'm sharing more from The Envoy's Honor, the newest book in my Chronicles of Tournai series, which is now out everywhere. The Envoy's Honor is an adversaries to lovers romance between two men whose devotion to family and country is putting them on opposites sides of a dispute that it will take careful diplomacy to get everyone out of safely. Unwitting attraction complicates matters, of course, and just when they might be getting closer, someone is murdered. But at least they know neither of them could've done it since they were...together...at the time. And there are more dragon shifters in this one!
Since it's Valentine's weekend, I decided to skip ahead in The Envoy's Honor and give you Griffen and Kirill's first kiss, which comes in the middle of an argument. (This is much longer than six sentences, but I thought it was necessary to set the scene—sorry!)
“I was hoping we could trust each other enough because of common interests,” he said stiffly.
“Common interests?” Kirill let out a short laugh. “What would those be?”
“Wanting the best for both our countries. Perhaps building a mutually beneficial relationship between them?” Griffen’s irritation was growing in the face of Kirill’s obstinacy, but Kirill’s flashing eyes had his desire growing too.
Kirill scoffed. “All you care about is Corentin.”
He was rapidly running out of patience at Kirill’s refusal to believe, even though he did, in some part of him, understand why. Nevertheless, his frustration won out, which he’d kick himself for later. “And, according to you, getting you into bed.”
Kirill lifted his chin a fraction. “Yes, and that.”
“Then I suppose I should get started on trying.” Griffen surged forward and kissed Kirill. As soon as he did it, he regretted the action. Kissing Kirill was a bad idea, and kissing Kirill when Kirill hadn’t invited him to was even worse. Still, it was a moment before he could tear himself from those soft lips.
Once he did, he stared into Kirill’s eyes. Kirill seemed frozen in front of him, and Griffen froze too. How would Kirill react? Was Griffen about to be hit? He wouldn’t blame Kirill if he did.
But Kirill didn’t hit him. He shook his head and muttered Griffen’s name, before snaking a hand behind Griffen’s neck and pulling him against his body. And into another kiss.
“Common interests?” Kirill let out a short laugh. “What would those be?”
“Wanting the best for both our countries. Perhaps building a mutually beneficial relationship between them?” Griffen’s irritation was growing in the face of Kirill’s obstinacy, but Kirill’s flashing eyes had his desire growing too.
Kirill scoffed. “All you care about is Corentin.”
He was rapidly running out of patience at Kirill’s refusal to believe, even though he did, in some part of him, understand why. Nevertheless, his frustration won out, which he’d kick himself for later. “And, according to you, getting you into bed.”
Kirill lifted his chin a fraction. “Yes, and that.”
“Then I suppose I should get started on trying.” Griffen surged forward and kissed Kirill. As soon as he did it, he regretted the action. Kissing Kirill was a bad idea, and kissing Kirill when Kirill hadn’t invited him to was even worse. Still, it was a moment before he could tear himself from those soft lips.
Once he did, he stared into Kirill’s eyes. Kirill seemed frozen in front of him, and Griffen froze too. How would Kirill react? Was Griffen about to be hit? He wouldn’t blame Kirill if he did.
But Kirill didn’t hit him. He shook his head and muttered Griffen’s name, before snaking a hand behind Griffen’s neck and pulling him against his body. And into another kiss.
Find out more about The Envoy's Honor here. Thanks for reading today, and I hope you're all staying safe and well. Happy Valentine's Day!
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