Welcome to my First Kiss Friday blog. Let’s welcome my guest Emily Royal who has an excerpt from her novel Tomboy of the Ton. I love this cover and I’m certain what’s inside is a fabulous read! We hope you enjoy this first kiss scene. Happy reading, my lovelies!

Excerpt:

“You are not to come to my house again,” he said. “I don’t want Mother further distressed. As for my cousin Beatrice, I’ll not have her tainted by your influence.”

“Tainted?” Henrietta asked.

“Aye,” he said. “Beatrice is due to be presented at court, and as such, she must be schooled in the manner befitting her station. Grubbing around in the dirt with the local urchin is hardly a fitting education for a young woman of her sensibilities.”

The arrow, shaped by his words, hit home. Orphaned she may be, but this Beatrice, who Lord Thorpe clearly deemed the epitome of ladylike perfection, did not sound like the sort of creature Henrietta would want as a friend. In fact, she was determined to hate her.

“Better an urchin who grubs around in the dirt than a pompous ass who treats the world with contempt,” she said.

“You’re hardly a paragon,” he replied. “You’re either wallowing in the mud, diving into the lake, or shinning up trees like some godforsaken guttersnipe. It’s most unladylike for a young woman your age. What sort of a man is your father, to let you run wild like this? You ought to be thrashed. I should drag you to your father and insist he does it himself.”

“Then why don’t you!” she cried. “Why not destroy me like you’ve destroyed your mother?”

“You little hellcat!” he cried. “I ought to throw you off my land.”

“Try it,” she challenged, “if you’re man enough.”

She raised her fist, and he caught her wrist and pulled her hard against him. She struggled in his grip, but he held her firm, while she grasped his arms and strained to pull free. Panting, she tilted her head back and met his gaze. Their bodies pressed against each other, the faint rhythm of his heartbeat pulsing against her chest.

Then, a flare of passion ignited in the depths of his eyes, and he lowered his mouth to hers.

At first, she resisted, then she clutched at his sleeve, while his warm lips slid over hers. The tip of his tongue stroked the seam of her mouth—at first gently, then, with more insistence, almost desperation, as if he were a man dying of thirst.

With a sigh, she granted him entrance, and he slipped his tongue between her lips, stroking the inside of her mouth, claiming every inch of her, marking her as his.

And she was his. Her body thrummed with life, and a wave of passion rose deep within her. Strong, dominant hands held her firm as if invisible chains bound her to him.

Then he hesitated, uncertainty in his expression. The wave receded, and a little mewl of frustration escaped her. Clutching his sleeve, she pulled him closer and curled her tongue round his.

What the devil was she doing?

She stiffened in his arms and pulled free. He released his hold and stepped back, the passion in his eyes no more than dying embers. Passion she had longed to see.

Then the passion turned to regret and disgust.

“Forgive me,” he said, shaking his head. “I shouldn’t have done that—not with you, of all women.”

Her gut twisted in shame. Did he find her so repulsive?

She lifted her hand to strike him, but he caught her wrist.

“You’ll have to be quicker than that, Miss Hellcat, if you’re to best me.”

Hellcat, was it?

Anger flared at the arrogance of his tone, and she struck him, clawing at his face.

“Ouch—you little ruffian!” he cried, releasing her. “I’ll thrash you myself!”

Before he could catch her, she lifted her skirts and set off at a sprint, while his curses echoed across the lawn. She didn’t stop running until she reached home.

---

Tomboy of the Ton
By Emily Royal

A thorn in his side, or the woman of his dreams?

Henrietta Redford wishes she were a boy—after all, boys are masters of their own fate. Casting her dolls aside, she climbs trees, plays at swordfighting, and indulges in practical jokes.

Once she’s had her come-out, Henrietta has promised her father that she’ll settle down and marry. Any eligible man might do, but it certainly won’t be Giles Thorpe—the older boy from the estate next door, whose arrogant disdain of her tomboyish ways only increased as he grew into a man.

Until they share a passionate kiss…

After inheriting an earldom when his profligate father died, Giles understands the dangers of irresponsibility. The infuriating tomboy next door is the epitome of recklessness and the last woman he should associate with—no matter how fast his heart beats at the sight of her delectable form.

When scandal threatens to ruin the Thorpe family name, Henrietta, unbeknown to Giles, is his best hope for salvation. But Henrietta will have to sacrifice everything—including the man she’s grown to love.

Buy Link (Amazon/KU): https://mybook.to/TomboyOfTheTon

Author Bio:

USA TODAY Bestselling Author Emily Royal is a mathematics geek who grew up in Sussex, England and has always had a passion for romance and hot alpha males in need of redemption. After graduating from Oxford and enjoying a brief dream of becoming an airline pilot she started a career in financial services to indulge her love of mathematics. She now lives in rural Scotland with her husband, two daughters and menagerie of pets including Twinkle, an attention-seeking boa constrictor.

When not working on algebra, writing or keeping Twinkle from slithering over the keyboard, Emily enjoys painting, baking, playing the piano, and can often be found wandering in the Highlands of Scotland looking for inspiration.

Links:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/eroyalauthor

Amazon author link: https://www.amazon.com/Emily-Royal/e/B07NCBKJZ4

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/emily-royal

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14834886.Emily_Royal

Website: http://www.emroyal.com/

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