[Note from Frolic: We’re so excited to welcome author Naima Simone to the site today. She’s sharing her favorite literary kisses with us. Take it away, Naima!]
With Valentine’s Day upon us, of course my mind drifts to the man nearest and dearest to my heart. No, no, not Jason Momoa, although I can see why you would make that assumption. I’m talking about my husband. Twenty years we’ve been married, and even after all this time I can tell you the moment I knew he was “the one.”
No, not when we were in the club and the first time I saw him shake what his mama gave him then drop it like it was hot. Like burning hot.
No, not that New Year’s Eve we were all a little too, uh, happy on cranberry and vodka and he announced to the whole house party that he loved me. Nope, not even then.
The moment I knew my husband was “the one” came with a kiss. One utterly perfect first kiss on a dark, couch-less living room floor. Yes, couch-less. We were college students, after all.
The Kiss.
And I put it in all caps because it is all important. Think about it. In Pretty Woman, we waited with abated breath for that moment when Vivian would finally be vulnerable enough to break her “no kissing” rule with Edward and let him in—literally. Or how many of us hold out for those last two minutes in Hallmark movies when we know our hero and heroine will finally, finally—after two hours of near misses and emotional, romantic tension—kiss?
Oh yes, no matter where the The Kiss falls in the book or a movie, it is instrumental. Chaotic. Explosive. Soft. Turbulent. Passionate. A revelation. Confusing. A blessing. An utter shitfest.
It’s perfection.
When I think of The Perfect Kiss in romance books, three come to mind. Don’t get me wrong, there are so many books and wonderful kisses to choose from. *sigh* So many. But these three immediately pop in my head, so I’m rolling with ‘em! Here we go…