Kiss The Rain cover by NIRA
series, Stories

Kiss The Rain Anthology Floods Your Heart This November

Kiss The Rain

Hi, besties! Looooooongest time!

If you’ve been following me on social media, Instagram, especially, you’d have noticed that I teamed up with some talented women (romance authors, specifically) to start and build a community of–you guessed right–indie romance authors.

So, drumroll, as I introduce the Nigerian Indie Romance Authors (NIRA). We’ve been working behind the scene to ensure that you guys and every other person that is a sucker for sweet love stories, get the best out of romance in Nigeria from independently published authors.

If you want to know more about us, I suggest you read this >>>> Meet The Nigerian Indie Romance Authors (NIRA)

Now, to the good news! NIRA has decided to bless you this November with beautiful love stories from fourteen romance authors. The anthology is called Kiss The Rain, and it’s going to run for seven days, from the 1st to the 7th. And the best part? It’s all free!

Kiss The Rain is a collection of fourteen stories from fourteen romance authors, celebrating the heartwarming and complex connections between lovers around the nostalgic setting of a rainstorm. From the thrills of newfound love to tender flames being rekindled, the anthology takes you on a journey of pure romance.

Kiss The Rain promises a delightful mix of adorable “meet-cutes,” drama, humor, emotional rollercoasters, and sizzling chemistry from unforgettable characters.

When it rains, two hearts collide.

You can absolutely read it all here, on this blog. But you have to subscribe to my email list to get daily updates when the posts drop.

I know you can’t wait, so, I’ll do you a big one and drop excerpts from each story for you to salivate on until November comes.

A Drop of Fantasy by Nky Omeka

He gave me a look I couldn’t interpret. Wow, and he called me sexy too! It had been a long time since any guy complimented me in that way. He was right, though, I could use a bit of mood-lifting. That insane idea I’d been nursing returned to my headβ€”my sexual fantasy. Yeah, I could do that crazy shit here. An exciting feeling took hold of my body. Why not? I’d been a good girl for so long, and what did I gain from that?

My facial expression softened as I peered at him closely. Despite his incredible physique, I observed he was quite young and put his age at twenty-five or twenty-six. Ugh! He was a baby. 

Did I say a baby? Okay, I was probably mad because this guy I’d just called a baby could change how I was feeling right now. I’d figured that I wasn’t only tipsy, but was also hornyβ€”really horny. Perhaps it was due to the weather, or my crazy thoughts, or this stranger and the weird way his eyes had been eating me up since I entered the bar. Yes, I noticed he’d been checking me out too.

Back To The Beginning by Maranatha Abutu

We had been hanging out at least twice a week, but anytime I asked if she wanted to see my apartment or if I could see hers, she turned me down.

I had just come back from meeting some investors in California and desperately needed to tell her how I felt. So, I requested her services as a chef for home service. It took a lot of lying and begging.

I lied that I would be back that night, leaving instructions with my security man to say the same.

I hid upstairs nearly an hour after she arrived, waiting for the perfect time to surprise her in the kitchen.

When she eventually got over the hurt of my deceit, we started talking, and I asked about the progress of opening her restaurant. 

She got so excited talking animatedly about it, telling me about a location she had her eyes on and some equipment she was trying to ship in.

While listening, my heart started pounding faster, and I felt a physical pull to her. I didn’t realise when I had moved from the kitchen counter until I was standing right in front of her at the other side. 

Before I could stop myself, I leaned forward and kissed her gently on her lips.

Fanasiba by Sally Kenneth Dadzie

Abuja city lights twinkle like distant stars outside floor-to-ceiling windows as you stare into the night from Deze’s hotel suite. You’ve just come back from a meeting that ran late, the type that leaves your tie askew and your collar open. You’re about to do something stupid, a thing that happens only in the movies. Despite the echo of Deze’s doubt in your mind, you’re determined to push ahead.

β€œShe’s not going to listen to you, Zulu.”

β€œI’ll try.”

β€œTry? And if she listens, you’d want her to give up everything and ride into the sunset with you? Are you thinking at all? She’s married to TJ already. Or you think the igbanku I traveled to her village for last week was a joke?”

You push your hands into your pockets in disregard to Deze’s words.

β€œEvery room in this hotel is booked! In short, every hotel in Maitama. This is the wedding of the decade, Zulu, and you will not use your dick to spoil my work!”

β€œDick? So, you think this is all about sex, that I don’t care about my happiness or Fana’s?”

Hello Stranger by Rosemary Okafor

Against my better judgment, I wrapped my arms around him, my heart pounding so hard I knew he must have felt it. He smelled of warmth, excitement, and a distant, elusive love. The ocean of exhilaration that swept over me was overwhelmingβ€”a particular kind of horror, feeling such powerful emotions without the memories to anchor them.

I still couldn’t fully remember who he was, but I knew who he wasn’tβ€”a wizard sent by my stepmother to steal my destiny. 

In his arms, I felt special, as if we were old lovers cruelly separated by jealous forces, now reunited after many years.

β€œWait—” I pulled back slightly, looking up into his face… that jawline and cheekbones and skin a rich, deep shade of brown. And his eyes set beneath well-defined brows that arched with a natural grace. And then it hit me. I knew this man. From Facebook. The profile picture, the intimate chats. We had stopped communicating. I didn’t know why. But I remembered the day I stumbled upon those old messages earlier this year and reached out. He never replied.

What happened? Where did we start? And when did we end?

His name was Ifeanyi.

Love on Ice and Bamboo by Feyi Aina

I can’t have him beside me. I can’t have him physically near me or my resolve will shatter like a piece of glass sculpture triggered by a tuning fork. I am not mad at him, no matter how angry he is, I’m attracted to him.

It’s a thought that explodes into me the closer he gets. Something I figured out the moment he hugged me out on that deck when I arrived.

He doesn’t even have to touch me to wreak havoc. All he needs to do is breathe and I’ll crumble. Look at me, and I’ll fumble. Smile and I’ll tumble into his bed for all I care to know because ten years haven’t erased all I worked hard to hide from myself. It’s part of why I want to leave.

I’m still in love with Aare Akosunle, and it’s possibly the reason I’m still single. No other guy could compare. Now that I’m here, everything from the past is merging into my present. Including the way that I feel about him. It’s no longer only about the project. It’s about him.

Love’s Gentle Rain by O.J Ebubeoha

We raced into the airport like two crazed people. One look at me, and you’d think I’d just run a cross-country race. I was panting, breathless, and had hair stuck on my face and lips. Josh, my fiancΓ©, on the other hand, looked like he just skipped around his backyard, barely breaking a sweat.

I didn’t wait to fix my appearance before I dragged him into the check-in area. As soon as we handed our tickets to the attendant, she scanned it and gave me β€˜the look.’ That one where you know without being told that something is wrong.

We didn’t make it. 

My tiny tote bag slid out of my hand. My heart went from a merry-go-round to ice-cold in an instant. Placing one hand on my hip and the other around my neck, horrified that we had missed our flight after carefully planning this trip for weeks, I turned to look at my partner, eyes wide and empty, only to find him biting his lips and looking away from me in an attempt not to laugh.

Pissed, I moved toward him. He stepped back, taking a protective stance, but still unable to wipe that stupid smile off his lips. I didn’t know if to cry, laugh, or scream at our situation because we did this to ourselves. 

One Week In October by Adesuwa O’Man Nwokedi

I should have thought this through. I grit my teeth as the feel of her soft hands on my neck, her silky legs beneath my hands, and the soft push of her breasts on my back threaten to ignite parts of me that have no business burning, not under this rain…and not for a colleague.

Forcing my attention to the task of getting us both to dry safety, I try to ignore the heat that licks down my spine and the blood flowing all the way south. Thankfully, we get to the elevated rise, but as I lower her, as her soft body slides down my back, a raw, feral yearning makes me step away, tempting me to run back into the pouring rain to calm myself.

β€œThank you,” she says, causing me to turn to her. 

Big mistake.

Passionate Recall by Emem Bassey

They ate their meal in silence, with long stares in between. 

“Enjoyed the meal?”

She nodded with a smile. “Yes. Thank you,” she said, before sipping her juice. 

Tense silence ensued. Kennedy cleared his throat. “I recall this silence from the past. Means you want to talk, Ani.”

Smiling, she placed her glass of juice on the table. “Can we be as honest as we used to?” She held his gaze.

He frowned, and nodded. “Sure.” He sat up, arms on the table.

“What are we doing, Kennedy?” she asked in a shaky voice. Ani was intentional about never getting hurt again by any man.

He held her gaze. “Rekindling the best love story of my life.” 

Heart melting but flustered, she choked. “Even after I ran?”

Kennedy’s mouth twisted, reminding her of his broody nature. Taking a deep breath, he said, “You had a reason.”

Rainbows and Rainstorm by Mobolaji Olanrewaju

There was confusion on his face for a moment, and she knew the exact moment the name clicked because his expression became guarded. His fingers were tapping against his cheek, the way he usually did whenever he was nervous. Oh, Toye! She had no intention of hurting him.

β€œI see.” 

β€œI…” Where would she start from? β€œI am bisexual.” She blurted out, watching his face, but his expression didn’t change. She began to get worried. It would hurt her badly if he rejected her. β€œI realised that I was in the past few weeks I have been with Loretha. She is an amazing woman, and I love being with her. But…I went to see her today to end what we had going between us.” 

β€œDear God! Sam, what an insult to me! I’ve been sharing you with another woman? Not even my fellow man, oo. You won’t be the death of me.” He got on his feet and paced away.

β€œI didn’t sleep with her,” she mumbled as she stared at her feet.

β€œWould you have?”

β€œWhat?”

β€œWould you have slept with her if the opportunity presented itself?

Raindrops and Heartbeats by Precious Osikha

As the clap of thunder flew through the night, she walked into the living room, finding Owen asleep on the couch. She approached him, her eyes tenderly admiring him. He looked so peaceful, like a cool sea under the sky.

Gently, she pressed a soft kiss to his cheek. Just as she was about to turn away, Owen’s arm suddenly reached out, catching her by surprise. Her heart skipped a beat as he pulled her back toward him.

“Wait,” he whispered, his voice low and warm. “Were you trying to sneak away without saying goodnight?”

She stared at him, eyes wide in shock. “Iβ€”I thought you were asleep,” she stammered, feeling a blush creep across her cheeks. 

Owen smiled softly, adjusting his position on the couch. He sat upright and gently drew her across his thighs, their faces inches apart.

“I wasn’t,” he murmured, his gaze locked on hers. “How can I sleep when you’re this close?”

Oh, goodness! Her breath caught in her throat. His words sank in, making her heart sprint. For a moment, neither of them moved, just staring into each other’s eyes. If ever there was a perfect match for a staring contest, it was them. It was as though they were peering into the very heart of the ocean through their stares.

Rained Out by Mosunmola K. Rose

β€œOh, hi. Did you need something?” 

He looked back at me. β€œYou, Tasha. You.” 

β€œJide, I don’t understand.”

β€œI have stayed away for eight weeks, and I refuse to do it any longer. Just tell me what you want and I will do it, Tasha.” 

I looked at him as I felt heat creep further under my skin. If temptation and backsliding was a thing, it was standing right in front of me. 

Clearly, I needed to explain, so I did just that. β€œLook, Jide, what happened between us is the past. It was a moment of weakness. I figured you had also moved on. I am not interested in a relationship. Matter of fact, I don’t do relationships.”

β€œTasha, are you saying you want a friends-with-benefits situation?” 

β€œAbsolutely not, Jide, I am a Christian. You were my one point of weakness in the last five years. It can’t happen again. I don’t plan on sleeping with any man that is not my husband. And at this rate, I do not intend to get married. So, thank you, but no, thank you.”

The Matchmaking Plan by Amaka Azie

Afam cast a sidelong glance at Uloma. She looked stunning in her colourful leggings and tank top. With her braided hair packed atop her head in a messy bun, her perfect facial structure and angular cheekbones were on full display. 

She bit into her chicken, her full lips on the soft meat, evoking the sudden image of her mouth on his skin.

His body pulsated with desire, and he shifted on the grass and placed a hand over the front of his shorts to hide his physical reaction to her.

Out of nowhere, he had an overwhelming need to burst his own bubble. Only one way to do it.

β€œAre you in love with your boyfriend?” 

She stiffened, his bald question obviously shocking her. With each passing second of her silence, he grew increasingly anxious about appearing too nosey, yet he wanted to know the painful truth, to rid himself of any lingering expectations.

Us Before Anyone Else by Sophia T. Bernard

It was nearly ten on a viciously rainy night, and he stood at her gate, sodden and dripping wet, and managed to look fiercely determined.

He made her want to forget everything else and throw herself against him. He’d come when she was feeling alone, when she’d wished she could call him to the rescue.

Wrapping her arms around her front, to hold herself in check, Adanna asked, β€œDoes that talk have to be tonight?”

β€œYes. I was in Benin when you called yesterday and couldn’t leave until past six today. It was a slow drive down with the downpour.”

β€œIt was a risky, unnecessary thing to do.”

β€œI disagree.” He pointed at the gate. β€œOpen, so I can drive in the car.”

Swallowing a sigh, and the futile urge to argue, she unlocked the driveway gate, and he drove inside, parking his car right behind hers in the garage. As they had not shared a room in a long while, because she’d craved the distance, she settled him in the room next to hers and furnished him with towels to dry off.

You Are My Dream by Glory Abah Mogbo

β€œShut up and drink,” I cut him off. 

He stands, looming over me, a dangerous air about him. Grab me by the hand. Touch me. Just one touch. Shit! I’m going insane, and I’m not even drunk yet. I finish off my bottle and reach for another.

β€œYou need to leave,” he growls.

β€œYou need to drink.”

β€œI don’t need a babysitter.”

β€œI need a drinking buddy.”

He stares, eyes hard and dark, sleeves rolled up, showing off his muscular underarms. 

I gulp. 

What is it about you that makes me so thirsty?

With a resigned sigh, he takes the offered bottle of beer and plops into the single settee, taking a long gulp of the beer. 

We sit in silence, drinking. 

Lightning flashes outside the window, casting the room in an eerie glow. A heavy bolt of thunder and loud drops of rain hit the roof. β€œIt’s better this way,” I say.

He says nothing.

Sally

Author. Screenwriter. Blogger

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8 Comments

  1. Rosemary Okafor says:

    This is so beautiful, Sally.

    1. Thank you!

  2. Nky Omeka says:

    I enjoyed reading the entire thing, so beautifully done. Well done, Sally.

    1. Thanks, babe

  3. Yaaay! Sally is back with a bang! November is looking great already! Thanks Sally! So looking forward to this!

    1. Welcome back too. Thank you!

  4. Jane says:

    I enjoyed reading this.
    My God, I can’t wait to read all the stories.

    1. Me too

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