Kissing - legends and myths. Check these out!

"You may conquer with the sword, but you are conquered by a kiss."— Daniel Heinsius (1580-1655)

The legends and myths surrounding the kiss are many. Those most familiar may well be the ones in which an explanation has remained the most elusive. But no more!
Below you will find a few of the more common legends and myths; tales that have been spun and re-spun for centuries. Read on and enjoy!

Kissing the Blarney Stone
The Blarney Stone is a stone set in the wall of the Blarney Castle tower in the Irish Village of Blarney. The castle was built in 1446 by Cormac Laidhiv McCarthy (Lord of Muskerry) — its walls are 18 feet thick (necessary to thwart attacks by Cromwellians and William III's troops).
Kissing the stone is supposed to bring the kisser the "gift of gab." But it's hard to reach — it's between the main castle wall & the parapet and kissers have to lie on their backs, then bend over backward, holding iron bars for support. It looks dangerous and can be, if you fall. We suggest you stretch by touching your toes for at least 30 seconds before you make the attempt. That way your back muscles are prepared for the shock of the backward pull.
The origins of the Blarney Stone's magical properties aren't clear. One legend says that an old woman cast a spell on the stone to reward a king who had saved her from drowning. Kissing the stone while under the spell gave the king the ability to speak sweetly and convincingly.
Another legend tells that the stone was given to Cormac McCarthy by Robert the Bruce in 1314 thanking him for his support in the Battle of Bannockburn. In an argument over the general rule of Queen Elizabeth I, the queen told McCarthy that he was giving her "a lot of blarney". Thus the legend was born.
Kissing Under the Mistletoe
There are many beliefs surrounding this plant, which makes it one of the most intriguing of the kissing legends. In 18th century England it was believed the mistletoe could make or break a woman's marital prospects.
A mistletoe in England would be hanging in a doorway in the shape of a ball. It would be brightly decorated and otherwise enticing. A woman standing under such an irresistable ornament would just have to be kissed!
But this kiss would be unlike no other, because as legend has it, it could lead to a deep romance (or at least a long-term relationship). However, if for some reason no one kisses the woman under the mistletoe, she would not be free to marry for at least a year!
The origin of the belief that the mistletoe had magical powers, began in pre-Christian Europe. It was said to have the power to ward off theft from fairies, unlock the secrets of dreams and to promote fertility.
In one particular legend, the mistletoe was the sacred plant of Frigga, the goddess of love and the god Balder's mother. Balder had a dream that he died, which disturbed Frigga since all life on Earth would cease if this dream were to come true. She begged all things on Earth to bring no harm to her son, but she forgot the mistletoe. Her enemy Hoder devised a scheme to use the plant to kill Balder.
The son did come back to life however, through his mother's efforts, and her tears were said to have transformed into the white berries of the mistletoe. She later proclaimed that all who pass under the plant would have no harm come to them, only a kiss, a token of love.

So here are a few things I didn't know about kissing. Just thought I'd share them with you.

A KISS A DAY KEEPS THE PLAQUE AWAY!
Kissing is good for you because...
....it helps prevent tooth decay. Dr Peter Gorden, Dental Advisor at the British Dental Association, explains. "After eating, your mouth is full of sugar solution and acidic saliva, which cause plaque build up. Kissing is nature's own cleaning process,'' he adds. "It stimulates saliva flow and brings plaque levels down to normal."
....it relieves tension. A passionate kiss is a great relaxation technique, says stress consultant, Michelle Kay Mcnabb. " When your mouth is in a kissing position, you're almost smiling and, as our emotions and body language are so closely linked, it's almost impossible to smile and feel tense at the same time, " she explains. "Also, your breathing becomes deeper and your eyes close when u kiss - that's what u do when u relax. It's a perfect way to shut out the world."
...it helps you lose weight. "A long kiss makes the metabolism burn up sugar faster than usual," says Claire Potter. "The calories burned depend on the intensity, but u can rely on 10 calories for every 10 minutes."
...it slows the ageing process. "Kissing helps to tone your cheek and jaw muscles, so they're less likely to sag," says Cosmo's Fitness Consultant, Claire Potter.
...it increases fitness levels. Your heart is pumping, your pulse is racing..."If kissing is exciting, you release adrenaline into the bloodstream and your heart pumps more blood around your body," says Dr Susan Hotchkies. "It's a great cardiovascular workout."
...it is a good indication of what's to come. Kissing a new man gives you the perfect opportunity to check out his pheromones - the chemical messengers that signal sexual attraction. " The first kiss is always a good way to work out if there's any chemistry between you, "says Paul Brown, a sexual and marital therapist. " In humans, it's thought that smells plays a vital part in subconscious attraction, and if your pheromones aren't 'in tune', you're unlikely to hit off in other areas."
And finally, ...it boosts self - esteem. There's nothing better than a passionate kiss for a major dose of feel - good factor. "In theory, when u're kissing, you're happy. And when you're happy, you feel good about yourself," says psychotherapist Paul Zeal. (doesn't it make you feel like kissing someone now?
There u have it... Why Kissing Is Good for YOU!!!

Check out my previous post for the kissing quote of the day. It rings true in this excerpt from TIGER'S EYE, book two of my haunting 'Bride's Inn' series. What is it about the hero kissing the heroine that rocks my soul? Is it because that shared kiss seals their fate, binds them together, sets them up for more?

In TIGER'S EYE, Jake Roper has come to Bride's Inn with an agenda of his own, but when he meets Miranda Hollander, he realizes he's met his match - and discovers that through the fine art of kissing...

***********

When he walked into the kitchen, Miranda was there. She stood near the stove, stirring a tall pot. She had changed into a pair of sleek, black pants and a white blouse, which nipped in at the waist. The stark contrast of black and white highlighted her dark head full of silky hair and her big, purple eyes.
He leaned against the doorjamb, watching as she tossed some hair over her shoulder. Lifting the cover off the pot, she dipped a spoon into something that smelled absolutely wonderful. He watched the steam rise from the pot, her nose wrinkling. Oh, how he loved looking at that little nose…
She pursed her lips to blow on the liquid in the well of the spoon. His member sprang to life at the sight of those pursed lips. How he wished she’d wrap them around his cock…she’d bend her head to suckle him, her long dark hair swirling around her shoulders…the silky strands would spill over his thighs and…
Miranda gazed at him, her eyes large and round.
“Hello nymph,” he smiled.
She dropped the spoon in the pot, letting go of a startled squeak.
Jake approached, watching as she stuck her index finger into her mouth.
Shit. This wasn’t good. He imagined it was his cock. His jeans felt uncomfortably tight as they pulled around his stiff, swollen member.
He heard her whimper then she pulled her index finger from her mouth, glancing at the reddened tip.
“Miranda,” he reached for her finger, placing the tip in his mouth, his tongue sliding across it. Slowly, he pulled her finger from between his lips and blew on the reddened skin. She didn’t say a word as he turned on the coldwater, placing her finger under the faucet. “You should be more careful,” he told her.
Miranda pulled her hand from under the running water and reached for a towel. “And you shouldn’t sneak up on people,” she retorted, drawing her silky black brows together.

He longed to run his fingers over the crease between her eyes. He wanted to kiss away everything that bothered her. Jake took hold of her hand once more, leaning down to trail his lips over her index finger. Then they traveled up the back of her hand where he stopped just long enough to lift her palm and place a gentle kiss there.
Miranda’s breath left her body in a whoosh. The sound made him hard as stone.
He drew her into the circle of his arms, where his mouth fused with hers. Her lips tasted sweet, yet salty, like the broth she sipped. His body leapt into flames when he got a taste of her, his blood simmering like the pot of liquid bubbling on the stove. Jake expected her to push him away, but she didn’t, her arms twining around his neck, rising up on her toes to meld her mouth with his. When the tip of her tongue slid across his lower lip, Jake pulled her tight against him, his swollen shaft brushing across her mound. Her breath hitched, her breasts pushing against his chest, the feel of her nipples against his t-shirt acting like the sweetest aphrodisiac.
“Miranda, are you…oh!”
He turned, sheltering Miranda from Serena’s prying eyes. Placing a kiss atop her head full of shiny dark hair, he whispered. “We’ll finish this later. Unless you want to stay and help me fix a leaky uh,” he grinned, ‘…pipe?’
“You ass,” she hissed, but then her face softened, a tiny grin lighting her face. “Fix it yourself,” she finished on a huff.
She turned but not before he reached out to pat her bottom.
Life couldn’t possibly get any better.

*************

copyright 2007 by Catherine Chernow. This excerpt is subject to edit & may differ from the final version.

TIGER'S EYE...available for preorder now from www.ResplendencePublishing.com

A kiss seals two souls for a moment in time. ~Levende Waters

Beware where you kiss!

In some places kissing is a crime - it's illegal in Indiana for a mustached man to "habitually kiss human beings", in Hartford, Connecticut it's illegal for a husband to kiss his wife on Sunday, and in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, it's a crime to kiss a stranger.

And now that you're sufficiently warned, check out my previous post for a kiss between Seth and Serena from LADY IN WHITE...it will take your breath away!

Brought to you by www.CatherineChernow.com

We turned on one another deep, drowned gazes, and exchanged a kiss that reduced my bones to rubber and my brain to gruel.~ Peter De Vries

Kisses...sweet, deep, or the kind that make you weak in the knees - that's what I love to celebrate here at THE FINE ART OF KISSING BLOG SPOT. The first book of my 'Bride's Inn' series takes place in an old inn nestled on the rocky northern coast of Long Island. Serena Reilly has come to 'Bride's Inn' to care for it's owner, elderly Clarise Masters. One dark and stormy night, a darkly handsome, mysterious visitor arrives at the old inn, scaring....and kissing Serena senseless. But the handsome rogue, a man who Serena comes to know as her dark prince, a man who stirs Serena's deepest, most erotic desires, isn't all that he seems...and neither is she...

So without further ado, here's a kissing scene from my latest release - LADY IN WHITE, from www.ResplendencePublishing.com

*****

Serena wished the prowler outside would disappear like that strange woman, but more pounding and door rattling soon followed.
She hurried back to the kitchen. Thinking quickly, she grabbed the first thing she laid eyes on--the skillet from the stove. She held her breath as she heard the front door fly open, banging against the doorjamb, wind and rain following in its wake. Heavy footfalls echoed as the door closed against another gust of wind.

Armed with the heavy pan, she flew out of the kitchen and swung it with all her might at the intruder, but he turned, lifting his arm to ward off her attack, ducking his head as the skillet came flying towards him. She lifted the pan again, but he dodged the blow once more, snaking an arm around her waist, lifting her clear off the floor, her arms and legs flailing as Serena sailed through the air. The skillet slipped from her hand and crashed to the floor, sliding across the puddles of milk.

She landed on her back on the couch in Clarice’s parlor, the breath whooshing from her lungs as a heavy weight descended on her, pinning her to the cushions.
The intruder locker Serena’s hands in one swift movement, forcing them above her head. She squirmed under his weight but realized her mistake when she felt the hard length of him against her thigh. A handsome, chiseled face and dark eyes met her green ones.

“This is a hell of a way to get acquainted,” he said lightly.
He had the sexiest smile; it seemed…familiar.
“Seth Masters,” he continued to grin. “I’m Clarice’s nephew.”

She groaned. How could she not have recognized him? Clarice had scores of photos of him scattered around the house and always referred to him as 'that darling boy.'
But this was no boy. He was all man…and becoming more so with every move Serena made.

“Let me up,” she demanded.

“Uh-uh.” He shook his head, keeping a tight hold on her hands. Droplets of water that clung to his shiny dark locks dripped onto the couch…and her.

She squirmed again, her pelvis colliding with his groin. His grin widened when Serena brushed against him. The water from his hair continued to drip onto her face, one droplet landing on her heated cheek. She swore she could hear her skin sizzle as the moisture slid down the side of her face.

“This isn’t a joke,” she felt the start of tears. Her legs trembled, followed by the rest of her body. Her pulse raced, she could feel it beating at the base of her neck. She shoved against him, but he didn’t move, he simply held her captive, both of her hands swallowed up in one of his. Panic tore through her in that instant. It clawed at her insides, causing her to squirm and push harder. “Get off me!”

Thunder boomed in the distance, followed by a crack of thunder. Serena couldn’t be sure in that moment if the vibrations she felt came from that or her trembling body. When she gazed into his face, he still wore that same, sexy grin.

“I’ll release you if you stop your squirming.” His self-satisfied grin remained in place as he spoke. “I think I’ll be safe enough, now that I’ve taken your weapon.”

Serena blinked once, knitting her brows into a frown.
He laughed, running the pad of his thumb gently across her furrowed brow. “Your frying pan. You scared the shit out of me.”

“I scared you! Why you—” Serena reached out to smack him, fear making her lash out. Her heart and pulse still raced like a runaway train and he had the nerve to say she scared him!
Another crack of thunder shook the house. She cried out, but stopped when she felt his arms slide under her shoulders, pulling her against his chest.

“Hey, it’s okay,” he crooned in her ear, his warm breath tickling her lobe. “I’m sorry I scared you.” He continued to hold her as thunder boomed in the distance. “Don’t be frightened of the thunder,” he whispered. “Just listen. The storm’s moving away. There’s more time between each crack of thunder, and soon it will drift into the distance.”

His deep, soothing voice washed over, easing the tension from her body. Her speeding pulse and heartbeat slowed to a normal, steady rhythm as she listened. His hands worked magic on her stiff shoulders, kneading the tense, tight muscles. Thunder boomed once more, but it sounded far away, just like he’d said.

“See?” he murmured in her ear, seeming to read her thoughts. “The storm’s almost over.”

That one might be, but the one raging inside her grew as his hands moved to the base of her neck, his fingers skimming across her skin. A shudder of pure pleasure snaked down her spine as he settled his big body between her legs, but this time, she didn’t struggle. Shocked by her reaction to the feel of his muscled thighs, her pulse resumed its frantic beat. Serena knew she should push him away but when Seth shifted and pulled her close, cuddling her against his chest, she felt safe, protected, and for one crazy minute, cherished. He smelled of wind, rain, and a scent that she could only describe as him—a combination of citrus and musk. Serena inhaled deeply causing her breasts to rise up against his chest. Her nipples peaked when she slid them across the rough material of his shirt.

“I wouldn’t do that,” he said pulling back slightly to look at her. His motion only made things worse as the tiny buds at the end of her breasts hardened in response.
Her face heated when she caught him staring at her breasts, the dark-brown crests of her nipples lay outlined against the thin silk of her pajama top.

“I didn’t know women still blushed.” He perused her face lazily. “You have a beautiful mouth,” he said softly, just before his lips claimed hers, her combined sound of pleasure and protest muffled as his mouth teased hers into oblivion.

Seth nibbled her lower lip then he kissed the corner of her mouth, right where her little beauty mark lay. Her arms curled around his neck, pulling him closer. Oh, his mouth was pure heaven! Each time he sipped at her lips, her breasts tingled and a delicious, throbbing ache built between her legs. She surrendered, giving in to the sublime feel of his mouth as she slid her lips across his. She parted her lips just a little, allowing Seth’s tongue to slip inside. He ran the tip gently across her teeth, enticing her to engage in a bold game of hide and seek as his tongue battled playfully with hers. When he eased his tongue from the inner recesses of her mouth, she felt strangely bereft, but Seth filled the void quickly, fusing his mouth with hers, his lips a moist, fiery brand. She felt his chest move, heard his ragged intake of breath. Her own breathing grew frantic as he angled his head and kissed her first one way…then another…and another…as though he couldn’t get enough of her. Her toes tingled and curved upwards when he deepened the kiss, his mouth consuming hers. She let go of a deep sigh, a moan filled with every ounce of pleasure his magic mouth wrought on hers. As the delicious, pounding ache intensified between her legs, her breasts grew heavy. Serena shifted beneath him, her legs filled with restless urgency. She lifted one foot and ran the tip of her big toe against his muscled calf, her instep skimming the rough material of his jeans.

Seth shifted his body. In a bold move, he reached out to capture one of her breasts in his hands, running his thumb against the swollen crest. He lowered his head again, his mouth covering hers as he slid the hard length of his erect member against her thigh, the tip nudging the folds of flesh covering the little bud that lay hidden there. Serena loved the feel of the rough denim of his jeans as he slid his groin against the thin, silky material of her pajamas.
Seth shifted his body, the tip of his rock-hard cock stroking her clit as the delicious, throbbing ache grew into a crescendo of exquisite pleasure. Serena dug her nails into the cushions beneath her, reveling in the sweet torture. Each time he nudged the little cleft between her thighs, the silky material of her pajamas rubbed against her clit.

“Serena! Serena where are you?”

The sound of Clarice’s voice sent them both tumbling off the couch into an inglorious heap of entwined body parts. Seth scrambled to his feet, extending his hand. Serena grabbed for it like a lifeline as he pulled her upright. Dizziness made her head swim.

“Easy,” Seth crooned in her ear, his warm breath caressing the sensitive skin of her lobe. “I’ve got you,” he murmured as he steadied her trembling body, his hands spanning her waist.
When the room stopped spinning, Serena gazed at him. His jet-black hair was swept back from his forehead, the strands glistening as the few remaining beads of water clung to the ends. Dark, penetrating eyes bored into hers, making her feel like he could read her every thought. She noticed a little cleft in the center of his beard-shadowed chin. As if on reflex, she lifted her hand, the tip of her finger resting inside the small indentation.

“Seth, you darling boy, you’re a day early.” Clarice stood in the doorway, smiling.

Serena dropped her hand. Her body trembled, but it had nothing to do with the chill in the air. He was a dark prince, a rogue…

A man who would shatter her heart without a moment’s thought.

********
copyright 2007 by Catherine Chernow

Now that you're all hot and bothered - why not visit your favorite 'kissing spot?' Here's a few that I know of near me...

Best Spots to Kiss in New York

Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts
Columbus Ave, New York, NY Stage your own theatrical moment by the dramatically lit fountains in the courtyard.
Art Bar
52 8th Ave, New York, NY It's so dark inside this West Village hangout that no one will know what you're up to.
Empire State Building
350 5th Ave, New York, NY Though many have gone before, go ahead and steal a kiss as the city twinkles beneath your feet.
Daniel
60 E 65th St, New York, NY Few people know that amorous couples can make reservations for dessert in the lounge at the sumptuous French classic.

More Romantic Ideasback to top
Bubble Lounge
Website
228 W Broadway, New York, NY A sparkly standby that makes any occasion special.
La Lanterna Caffe
Website
129 MacDougal St, New York, NY Coffee is just the beginning at this quaint, romantic cafe.