When Eva Diakou is offered a job on the Winterwood estate, she expects nothing but four months of back breaking work. Jobless and lonely, she has little choice but to accept. But things on the Winterwood estate are nothing like Eva was led to believe. Why has she been given one of the plushest rooms? Why is there nothing to do? And why is she so captivated by the strange statues adorning the estate?

Adam Winterwood is paying for a crime he never committed. Trapped for so many years, he is waiting for the one person who can keep him alive...or set him free. When Adam and Eva meet, sparks fly. Yet, neither realizes the sacrifice they will both have to make.

And it will all be decided by The Kiss.

Excerpt

“Come in please,” he said and pulled her into the room.

It was as beautiful as Eva remembered and her eyes went straight to the flowers she had arranged on the bedside cabinet only yesterday. They were roses, white and red to match the room. The lights must have been turned on by someone and they gave the room almost a seductive air. Eva’s gaze fixed on the huge bed, draped in red silk... waiting.

He turned to face her, one hand continued to hold hers whilst the other shot out to shut the door. It closed with soft thud, leaving them completely alone. She waited for him to say something but he didn’t, he just continued to assess her with his eyes.

Eva bit down on her lip and tried to take steady, calming breaths. She had never felt so nervous in her entire life. The adrenaline was pumping through her body and once again her nipples were tingling.

The air around them was pulsing with what Eva suspected was desire, and it was impossible to think properly around it.

You’re probably imagining it. He probably just wants a drink made, a bath run or something. But those thoughts fled as soon as Eva realized his thumb was making little strokes up and down the side of her hand.

He lifted his other hand and fingered the curl which had escaped.

“Your hair is beautiful,” he said. “A beautiful color, the light makes it shine in the most amazing ways, like chocolate. It was the first thing I noticed when I came through the front doors. I saw it and had the most overwhelming desire to touch it. Release it for me please Eva, let me see it as it should be.”

“What?” Eva said for want of any other response, was he freaking serious?

He sighed and reached round for her braid. In one swift motion he pulled out the band holding it and freed her hair. As she knew it would if fell in a shock of riotous curls. He smiled and pulled the curls into his hands.

Eva squeaked.

“Beautiful,” he said. “As I knew it would be, as you are.” He shook his head slightly, seemingly bemused. “I didn’t expect this.”

“Expect what?” Eva asked, her words little more than a whisper. Dear God this can’t be happening.

“You.”

His hands moved from the curls and stoked slowly along the sides of her face. Her skin tingled in the wake of his touch.

“An unexpected development but a welcome one,” he continued. “I wonder what it means?”

“I... erm... I...” She didn’t know what to say. She couldn’t believe this was happening, Is this gorgeous, correction, the most gorgeous man I have ever seen seriously coming on to me? It seemed he was and Eva didn’t know what the hell to say, or do.

“Now, Eva,” he said playfully, pulling her out of her frenzied thoughts. “What I have to wonder is whether the woman beneath the curls is just as wild.”

Eva squeaked again. She had no experience of this, never before had she been the object of such practiced seduction. She didn’t know how to respond.

“Well, Eva?” he asked. “I have to say I suspect she is. No one can have such a devastating smile and not be.”

She bit down hard on her lip but nothing happened, she was not dreaming, this was real. What the hell was she supposed to do?

He sighed again and decided for her. Before she had time to even consider his words he pulled her to him and then his mouth was on hers and there wasn’t time to even protest.

His lips were cold, maybe from being outside but they moved over her with a sensuality that she could not help but respond to. His kissed Eva with a thoroughness she had never experienced, almost like he was trying to consume her. His lips coaxed hers, his tongue made patterns over her lips, plunged into her mouth until she could do nothing but kiss him back.