Promises Exclusive Extra

I am SUPER excited today because today is one of my favorite posts of all times!!! Amber Garr wrote one of the scenes in her book, Promises, in a different POV!!!!  Can you tell by all the exclamation marks that I'm excited about sharing this with you?  Now I am going to stop rambling and just let you read the scene!

A Different Perspective

When Tess suggested a guest blog where I rewrote a scene from another character’s perspective, I thought that was the coolest idea ever, and I instantly knew which one to work on first.  So here is a scene from Promises where Eviana and Kain share their first kiss, but this time through Kain’s eyes.  Enjoy!!

“It’s fine, mom.  Stop pulling,” I gently pushed her hands away from my jacket.  She’d been primping and prodding me for the last twenty minutes, as though she needed something to focus on.

“I just want to make sure everything looks perfect when you ask her,” she said, brushing invisible lint off my sleeve.

“I don’t have to look perfect.  I’m sure she’ll say yes.”  I sighed and tried to clear the doubt from my head.  Eviana would agree to stand by my side at the appointment ceremony.  Tomorrow she would be my wife, so it would only make sense for her to be the one to pin the shield on me today.  Right?

“I’m so proud of you,” my mother whispered.  She rested her hands on my cheeks and smiled up at me.  “Your father would be proud too.”  Her eyes glistened with fresh tears that regularly reflected her grief.

I gently lifted her hands, gave them a quick kiss, and swallowed the lump in my throat.  “Thanks,” I said.  “Now, let me go up there and ask her.”

She gave me another hug and then left to prepare for the ceremony.  I only had one more task to do, and it was waiting for me upstairs.  

Turning to make my way to Eviana’s room, I crashed into a petite person.  She giggled when I grabbed her arms to prevent us both from falling to the ground.

“Sorry, Marisol.  I didn’t see you,” I said, well aware of the way she was looking at me.  Marisol had a big crush, and she made no attempt to hide it.

“That’s okay,” she beamed.  “At least you caught me in time.”  She wrapped her arms around my waist and pulled me against her.  “You’re so strong.”

I peeled her hands away from my back and stepped to the side.  “Is Eviana still upstairs?” I asked, trying to get out of this situation.

Marisol rolled her eyes and grabbed for my hand.  “Yes, she’s still in her room.  Probably taking to Brendan.”

It wasn’t meant to be a jab at me, but I couldn’t help feel a stabbing pain in my stomach.  I hoped Eviana wasn’t speaking with her boyfriend, or if she was, I hoped they were ending things.  In one more day, she would have to marry me.  It seemed like she was more open to that idea the past few days, and I was finally starting to get excited for what was waiting for us.  Brendan was a kink in the plan, and one that I didn’t have time to deal with right now.

I slid away from Marisol and yanked my hand out of hers.  “Thanks.  I need to go talk to her.”

Marisol shook her head and watched me walk up the stairs.  I could feel her glare boring into my back.  Hopefully someday soon she would find another guy to obsess over.

My heart hammered in my chest and I had to wipe the sweat from my palms three times before reaching her open door.  I knocked lightly, still trying to get my nerves to calm down.

“May I come in?” I asked.  She had been sitting in front of the mirror, but stood when I spoke.

“Yes, please come in.”

For the life of me, I couldn’t move.  Eviana and I had known each other since we were children, but it was obvious to me now that we weren’t kids anymore.  Her blue gown reminded me of the ocean and perfectly matched my ceremonial suit.  I couldn’t remember the last time I saw her in formal attire, but I knew this moment would forever be etched into my mind.  She looked beautiful and I think I forgot how to breathe.

 “Are you okay?” Eviana asked, looking at me with concern and a slight grin.

I shook my head and smiled, trying to get my composure back.  “You look really beautiful, Eviana.”  I walked forward and held out my hand.  When she placed hers in mine, I felt energized.  There had always been a connection between us.  Even when she denied it, I knew that there was something there.  “I am a lucky guy,” I finally said, and kissed the top of her hand.

She dropped her gaze to the floor.  “Thanks.  You clean up nicely too.”

I laughed and moved us further into the room.  She was hesitant at first, but then sat down on the edge of the bed next to me.

 “I need to ask something of you,” I said.

“Sure.  Anything,” she replied quickly.

I sighed and rubbed my forehead.  It was now or never.  “I would like for you to be the one to pin the shield on me tonight.”

“What?” she asked in shock.  It was pretty much the reaction I was expecting.

 “We are to be married tomorrow.  A few hours does not matter to me.  You will be my wife and our clans will be united.  There is some unrest amongst us, and I think that our show of unity will let those naysayers know that we cannot be divided.”  There was a lot more to that statement than Eviana knew, but I hoped it would be enough of a hint for her to understand what I was asking.

She was speechless for a second.  “Won’t your mother be upset?”

“I’ve already talked to her.  She understands.”  I looked at her, with her golden tiara and blonde curls framing her beautiful face, and grinned.  “She’s ready for us to be married too.”  Something I said made her uncomfortable, I could tell by the way she tried to return my smile, so I grabbed her hands.  “I would be honored if you would do this, Eviana.”

 “Of course I’ll do it Kain.”  

And then I let all of my self control disappear.  I bent forward and kissed her.  I still don’t know what happened to me, but I do know how surprised I was to feel her kissing back.  When her hands touched my face, I pulled her closer to me.  I’ve wanted to kiss her for so many years, and with all I’d been dealing with the last couple of days, I couldn’t get enough of her comfort.

Her warm lips and gentle, yet eager touch consumed me.  I don’t know how long we spent in that kiss, but something in me wanted it to last all night.

Suddenly I wondered what I was doing.  Jumping away, I walked to the other side of the room.  It wasn’t right for me to push myself on her like that.  Guilt quickly surged through my body.

 “I am so sorry.  I…I shouldn’t have done that,” I stuttered.  Touching my mouth, I noticed that my lips tingled and I could still smell her perfume.  “Please forgive me.”

Surprising me, Eviana crossed the room to join me and grabbed my hands.  “You have nothing to apologize for.”  She smiled up at me, the twinkle in her eye apparent.  “Like you said, we are to be married tomorrow.”

 This was an uncomfortable situation and I appreciated her trying to diffuse it.  “So it was like a practice kiss?”  

She laughed.  “Yes, that was the practice kiss.”  

I ran my hand through my hair and blew out a deep breath I didn’t know I was holding.  “I’ll meet you downstairs then.  Thanks.”  

I quickly turned and walked out of the room before she could hear my heart pounding or change her mind about the kiss.  Even though this marriage was not Eviana’s idea of what teenagers should be doing with their life, I was definitely looking forward to spending more time with her.  Especially now.

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