Havana Heat
Romance Set in Paradise Book 1
By Kim Knight
Genre: Romance
Release Date: May 12, 2017
Havana Heat is
book one of the Romance Set in Paradise Series of modern, steamy, suspenseful
and romantic stories, set in exotic locations around the world. In Havana Heat
readers are transported to the paradise of Cuba’s capital Havana, following the
romantic heat build between Spaniard Detective Sebastian Garcia, and London
born and bred wedding planner Melinda Jones. Melinda’s path crosses with the
handsome and charming detective at Casa De Amor Hotel as a guest at her
client’s exotic location wedding. Both characters are in search of a slice of
paradise, away from their own troubled love life back home. Once their paths
cross the romance and sizzle begins.
When all hell
breaks out at Casa De Amor Hotel, and conflict builds over their past, both
characters are faced with a decision to take a risk and see out their romance,
or walk away. Forever asking themselves what could have been. Romance, thrills
and excitement await in book one of this modern romance series set in paradise.
The code will be valid from 12th -14th May.
Available on Smashwords 15% discount code
GQ72L.
Sebastian takes Melinda’s hand as they leave
the dance floor of Casa De Amigos. They weave their way in and out of the
crowds. The crowds have built up the bar is now busy with local Cubans and
tourists, enjoying the ambience of cheap cocktails, beers, the wide screen TV
and small dancefloor to salsa.
As they exit the bar into the late afternoon
sunshine, the humid heat does nothing to cool down their perspiring bodies hot
from all their dancing.
“Sebastian, which way from here? I have no
idea where I’m going.”
Sebastian looks down at Melinda fanning
herself with one hand. With the sunshine on her smooth brown skin, Sebastian
can’t deny that his attraction toward Melinda is growing. His eyes sweep up and
down her curvy body as he admires her sundress and wedge heels. He wonders to
himself what’s underneath her sundress, his mind runs wild as he fantasises
about the kind of underwear Melinda likes to wear, and the kind of underwear he
would like to see her in. Tearing his eyes away from her he hides his smile.
“Hmm, let’s try this direction.”
“Okay, let’s go.”
With a warm glow inside of each of them they
take off in the opposite direction from where they came. Walking along the hot
pavement they admire the colourful array of pastel colour buildings and
downtown hotels they pass, as they walk deeper into the town. Local
youths pass them on moped bikes zooming down the main road, along with 1950s
era Cadillac cars which catch Sebastian’s attention.
“The cars out here are really something, a
real throwback in time.”
Melinda follows Sebastian’s gaze over to the
main road as he smiles and admires the retro Cadillac cars.
“Totally, there’re amazing aren’t they. But
totally fitting with the Spanish architecture and colourful buildings.”
Within a twenty minute walk the sea comes
into view in the distance.
“Well, look what we’ve found.” Smiling Melinda
tugs at Sebastian’s arm.
“C’mon let’s go check out the beach, we have
time for a stroll before we head back.”
“What about food?”
“That’s what the hotel’s for.”
Melinda calls over her shoulder as she takes
off jogging toward the beach. Sebastian smiles, then ups his pace to keep up
with her.
“Wow, this looks like some kind of paradise.”
Melinda kicks off her wedge heels as she
steps onto the warm sand. Sebastian joins her removing his comfortable
plimsols.
“Sure does, the water is so blue.”
They walk farther onto the beach toward the
water’s shore. Melinda and Sebastian take in the ambience of the beach.
Palm trees slightly lean to one side as they sway in the light sea breeze. The
sand is clean with a bright sugar white colour. The beach is calm but busy with
sun worshipers stretched out on their beach loungers, and groups of friends
playing volleyball. A few teenagers splash around in the sea making fun of each
other. Taken back by all of Santa Maria del Mar beach’s beauty both of them lower
their shades as they walk along the coastline at a leisurely pace, with the
warm sea water washing over their feet. As they stroll farther up the coastline
a secluded area of rockery comes into view, they head over and settle
themselves on the sugar white sand to admire the aqua blue sea.
“So tell me a bit more about yourself
Sebastian, other than work how do you spend your time?”
Sebastian thinks for a moment of late his
free time has been consumed with morning the absence of his late girlfriend
Anna, and what he could have done to ensure Anna felt needed and valued as his
partner. A vision of Anna appears in his mind’s eye as he stares out into the
calm sea. Sebastian rubs the back of his neck and tries to push his vision of
Anna’s face to one side.
“Ah, to be honest … not much. I guess I’m
kinda boring.”
Melinda let’s out a small laugh and looks up
at Sebastian.
“I’m sure you’re not, seriously you have no
hobbies or interests?”
“Hmm, I like music— a lot, and to work out I
guess, books interest me too.”
“What kind of music and books? I love them
both.”
“I listen to a lot of classical, flamenco and
modern music. When it comes to books obviously, crime is my thing.”
“Of course, Mr. Detective. And …”
“And that’s about it Melinda. I never
realised how boring I am until you asked me that question.”
The pair crack up laughing.
“No girlfriend back in London then?”
Sebastian looks down at Melinda sitting by
his side, his reflection in her large oversized sunglasses stares back at him.
Damn she looks hot in those shades runs through his mind. Suddenly he feels
overwhelmed and confused. He loves Anna and is still not quite over losing her.
At the same time his attraction to Melinda is becoming more obvious to him. Her
style, beauty, rhythm to a salsa beat, and bubbly sense of humour appeal to him
in a major way.
“Did I say something wrong Sebastian? You’re
looking at me like I’m some kind of alien.”
Sebastian snaps out of his weird trance of
heartache over his late girlfriend, and lust over the ebony skinned beauty with
exciting potential by his side.
“No sorry... I don’t have a girlfriend as
such no.”
“As such? What does that mean?”
“It’s complicated—I”
With disappointment Melinda cuts Sebastian
off as she gazes out at the deep aqua sea.
“Hmm, it always is with you men isn’t it.”
Thoughts of all the wasted dates she had been
on over the last year run through her mind.
“No, I mean it’s complicated as she… she died
almost one year ago.”
Melinda looks up at Sebastian as he stares
off into the sea again.
“Oh, my Sebastian I’m sorry I didn’t mean
to—”
“It’s okay, honestly by now I should be
coming to terms with my loss. Well at least that’s what my shrink tells me.”
“You see a doctor?”
“Yeah, I have been for a while now. He helps
but I know that the main bulk of the work to deal with my grief is down to me.”
“It’s hard, grieving is different for
everyone.”
Melinda places a sympathetic hand on
Sebastian’s upper shoulder for comfort. The comfort comes as a surprise to him.
He takes her hand in his and squeezes it. Before he knows what’s come over him
he places a light kiss on her hand, then slowly makes his way up her arm with
gentle kisses. Melinda does not resist him as he leans in closer and places a
light kiss on her collar bone. The warm light breeze, aqua sea and lazy palm
trees, mixed with too much Tequila and beer arouses them both. Without
hesitation, their lips lock in a deep passionate kiss. Sebastian takes full
control as he explores Melinda’s mouth with his tongue, while running his hand
up her right thigh. Her skin feels smooth and clammy to touch as he raises the
hem of her sundress and parts her thighs.
As his hand travels farther up her thigh she
hesitates for a moment conscious of where they are sitting, under a palm tree
fully exposed to passers-by. Even though they are sitting in a much more
secluded area of the beach, they left the crowds behind. Melinda breaks away
from his kiss, not because she wants to but more for the sake of embarrassment,
should a passer-by see them. Sebastian’s kisses are soft and gentle. It feels
very much to Melinda like one of the sincerest kisses she has had in a long
time.
“Let’s go for a swim.”
Sebastian laughs out loud.
“A swim? With no bathing suits?”
Melinda gives him a cheeky smile as she
lowers the straps of her sundress, then stands up and steps out of it. She
reveals a matching lime green bra and panties set, the colour emphasises her
smooth chocolate skin tone.
“Who needs bathing suits, there’s no one here
and this could pass for a bikini did you see what those other girls were
wearing back there?”
Melinda points back toward the direction they
came from and laughs.
“No shit, those bikinis were out there.”
“C’mon last one in pays for the taxi home.”
Sebastian gets on his feet and removes his
cotton shirt and shorts as quick as he can. Glancing around nervously he dumps
his clothing and Rolex watch next to Melinda’s sundress, and then races down to
the shore. He catches up to Melinda and scoops her up from behind, as he runs
with her down into the warm aqua sea. She playfully screams and shouts
protesting to be put down, secretly the thrill makes her heart race. Melinda
can’t remember the last time she let herself go and had some fun, done
something crazy and completely let go. Today, almost five thousand miles from
her west London home is the day she let go, with a total stranger. It occurs to
her that her safety could have been at risk by wandering off with a strange man
on an island. She looks on the flip side, then again Sebastian is a detective,
from her home town in London too. He’s there to serve and protect the public—
you can’t get more safe than that.
Playfully launching Melinda into the water
Sebastian dives in, then picks her up again by her legs this time. Playful
screams escape Melinda as she holds onto him as tight as she can and looks down
at him. She wraps her legs around his body as he cradles her with a firm grip
on her behind.
“You are crazy Sebastian!”
“Me, crazy? What do you call going for a swim
with no bathing suit, in broad day light?”
The pair crack up laughing as Sebastian
lowers her to her feet in the water, they stand face to face in the warm sea
with slight waves crashing around them. Sebastian’s six-foot-three well built
frame towers over Melinda’s five-foot-six height. Melinda looks up into
Sebastian’s large brown eyes and for the millionth time she takes in the
handsome Spaniard’s face with sharp features, his low cut hair and great body,
large brown eyes and tanned olive skin. His tribal body art tattoo covering his
whole shoulder and arm area to his wrist, emphasises his sex appeal. Taking a
deep breath to regulate her heartbeat she melts at the sight of him, standing
in front of her with the strong sunlight behind him. Melinda’s senses are
awakened by his playful side and the paradise surrounding them. Her lust over
the gorgeous Spaniard kicks in. Taking the lead starting from his elbows placed
at his side under the water, she runs her palms upwards over his strong toned
arms, toward his shoulders. As she stops at his shoulders she takes a step
forward in the water into Sebastian’s personal space. Without removing her eyes
from his intense gaze staring down at her, she slowly continues to move her
palms over his chest. Her heart flips at the curves which define his toned
torso. Sebastian responds as her hands settle on both sides of his equally
toned waist. Leaning toward her into her personal space he gently bends down
and blesses her with another one of his gentle loving kisses. They embrace in a
passionate hug in the water with Melinda’s arms wrapped around his neck and
Sebastian holding her waist. Sebastian is not sure if it’s the warmth of the
Caribbean sea and strong hot sun on his back, or Melinda’s curves he explores
under the water that bring him to a complete arousal. His need to feel her more
intimately take over, as he slowly moves both of his hands from her curvy waist
line then stops under her ample bust line. With ease, he lifts the underneath
section of her lime green bra now soaked and fully exposing the outline of her erect
nipples as the thin material clings to her breasts.
Signed Copies Up for Grab's
Over on Kim Knight's Author Page!
Kim is thirty
four (born in 1983), and from London in the UK. She’s a mother to a beautiful
toddler and a proud author of four romantic suspense novels and novellas, which
includes the romance series Romance Set in Paradise released in May 2017. Kim
started her journey as a traditionally published author after she scored a
publishing contract with a USA based publisher. She was over the moon! However,
it became clear to Kim that things were not as she expected. Therefore, she set
out on her own journey, she dived head first into the world of self-publishing
and republished two of her fictional stories, and became a proud self-published
author also. Something great was unleashed, she’ll never look back in
regret.
As a reader
she’s head over heels in love with romance, historical fiction, crime fiction,
African- American, suspense and thriller genre books. At present Kim is writing
a romantic suspense novel, and brainstorming steamy romance novella ideas. As a
writer, Kim enjoys creating stories with a diverse and multi-cultural line up,
within the romance, romantic suspense, general thriller and crime genres. When
she’s not reading, or writing stories of her own her other passions include
practising her French, fashion, make-up artistry, spending time at her sewing
machine dressmaking, watching make up and beauty tutorials on YouTube, letter
writing and being a mum.
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