New Year's Blog Hop

Happy New Year! To celebrate the start of 2013, I'm participating in the New Year's Blog Hop sponsored by author Carrie Ann Ryan. I'm giving away a $10 Amazon gift card, and the grand prizes for the blog hop are a Kindle Fire/Nook Tablet, $300 Amazon/B&N gift card, and a large swag pack. See all the details below for how to enter!

Here's a special deleted scene from LIFE ON THE EDGE, the first book in my EDGE series. It's a glimpse at what New Year's Eve 2001 would've been like for Emily and Sergei if certain events in the story hadn't happened ;-)

****

Aubrey rushed into the kitchen, shrugging her coat over her shoulders and flipping her blonde hair over the collar. "Em, I need help carrying the champagne and glasses upstairs."

I turned away from my conversation with Chris. "We're going on the terrace? It's snowing."

"It's tradition. We have to."

I'd been hoping to sneak up there for a private toast with Sergei, so my plans would have to change. "Let me grab a jacket," I said while Chris stepped in and gathered a handful of plastic glasses from the counter.

As I snaked through the living room crowded with our party guests, I tapped on Sergei's and Trevor's shoulders and let them know we were going upstairs to toast. I assumed our other good friends were already on the terrace since I didn't see them inside. After stopping in my bedroom and throwing on my pea coat, I met everyone outside, where tiny flakes were lightly falling. 

Chris popped the cork on the bottle, and it shot over the balcony and into the trees, eliciting a raucous, "Ohhhh!" from all of us. Aubrey and Nick lined up the glasses on the wrought-iron table, and Aubrey signaled to Chris to pour the drinks.

Marley snatched a full glass and laughed as she quickly put her hand over the top."I don't want snow in my champagne."

Once the eight of us had drinks, we gathered in a tight circle. Trevor peered at his watch and started the countdown with thirty seconds left before midnight. Across the circle, Sergei's blue eyes gleamed in the lantern light as he gave me a look I'd come to know well. The quick look no one else would notice but that told me how much he wanted me in his arms. My pulse sped up with anticipation.

Trevor reached ten seconds, and we all joined him in the countdown, getting louder with each number. Fireworks exploded in the distance in the moment before we screamed, "One!"

"Happy New Year!" Chris bellowed above everyone.

We all tapped our glasses together and downed the contents. I exchanged hugs with each of my friends and saved Sergei for last. He put his arms around me, and I whispered in his ear, "My room in ten minutes."

His hand squeezed my waist as confirmation, and I swiftly moved over to Chris, who poured more champagne into my glass.

"What's your resolution for 2002?" he asked.

"Hmm..." I sipped my drink and pondered the question. I could say, Win an Olympic gold medal, but that was partly out of my control. I decided to go with, "No regrets."

"I'll drink to that," he said and raised his glass to mine.

A few minutes later, I snuck away and ducked into my bedroom, leaving the lights off so no one would notice me. Not long after, Sergei stealthily backed into the room and shut the door, encasing us in total blackness. I heard the lock on the door knob click.

"No one's going to catch us this time," he said.

My eyes hadn't adjusted to the darkness yet, so I could only feel his body approach. The sizzling energy grew stronger with each step he took. His hands grasped my shoulders, and I jumped and let out a tiny laugh. He massaged my neck and drew me toward him, bringing me closer to his warmth.

I pressed my palms to his hard abs and then slid them over his chest, rubbing the soft knit of his sweater. Feeling my way upward, I touched his cheek, and his stubble tickled my hand.

"Happy New Year," I said softly.

Faint light slipped through the blinds, allowing me to see the dark outline of Sergei's tall figure. He bent his head toward mine and our lips crashed together, not holding anything back. We both knew we only had a few minutes to be alone.

Sergei's fingers sank into my hair, sending a shiver through me, and I wound my arms around his neck, holding him tighter. I didn't want to let him go, but the longer I kissed him, the less willpower I'd have to stop. I tilted my head back slightly, and Sergei's heavy breaths fanned over my mouth.

"We should probably go," I moaned.

Sergei rested his forehead against mine. "I wish we could go back out there together... really together."

"I know." I sighed. "But I'm trying to look on the bright side. Last year all I could do was dream about giving you a New Year's kiss."

In the pale light, I watched his lips curl upward. He cradled my face in his hands and kissed me gently. "Funny, I had the same dream."

****

Read more about Emily and Sergei in LIFE ON THE EDGE (currently on sale for 99 cents) and EDGE OF THE PAST!

And now for the giveaways! You can enter to win the $10 Amazon gift card through the Rafflecopter below. In order to be eligible for the grand prize giveaway, please leave a comment and include your email address.

To hop around to the other sites on the blog hop, check out the list here.

a Rafflecopter giveaway